really short chapter
Two way street
Elise
Bernier/Miller
Ryan gave a small smile as Steve finished a story about San Jose. Keeping his word, Steve had paid for the coffee, and they were sitting in the small shop together, speaking quietly. The small shop, in Buffalo’s art district, was empty but for them. Still close quarters caused Steve to unabashedly press his leg against Ryan’s. Ryan had been trying to keep up with the stories, but he was distracted by the heat radiating from the contact. He focused on Steve’s hands, as they wound and released the handle of the cup. Steve caught him staring a few times as the forward sipped his tea, a bit of it staying on his lips, glistening. Ryan nodded and said, “I’m sorry you miss home... and have to deal with our winters.”
“I’m from Quebec. You don’t know a real winter.” Steve said, chuckling.
Ryan began to nervously swirl his coffee. It wasn’t like he’d never been to coffee with anyone before, it just felt like a date, and Ryan would much rather return home. Steve sighed and looked at his cup of tea. “So, Ryan, be honest with me, yes?”
Ryan nodded, his stomach instantly twisting, and Steve continued, “When did you fall in love with Campbell?”
This snapped Ryan out of his staring contest with the coffee cup. “I’m not in love with Brian.”
“You’re taking his leaving pretty hard.” Steve said, “Tell me... It’s ok.”
Ryan sipped his coffee then said, “No. No its not ok. You can’t accuse me of being gay and think its ok. Brian was my best friend. Only friend, really. I’m not like the other guys.”
Furrowing his eyebrows, Steve said, “What do you mean? You’re nice enough.”
“Right.” Ryan said with a shrug, “Listen, I have to go.”
“Ryan,” Steve said, eyes growing sad, “I didn’t mean to offend you, I just want to get it out in the open, yes?”
“I’m open.” Ryan said quickly, “We’re cool. No worries. I’m just busy today.”
Steve jumped up as Ryan began to leave, affectively knocking his tea and hissing as the hot liquid spilled over his hands. Ryan immediately went to his side, picking up Steve’s hands and wiping them with his shirt. “Shh... it’s ok, just a spill... hold on...” Ryan said softly.
Steve smiled as Ryan picked up the cup, and began to wipe the tea. They were still holding hands. Steve felt Ryan’s body freeze, and his hands begin to slip away, but he held onto them. “Thank you...”
“I...” Ryan said, “I have to go.”
“Busy.” Steve said, “You’re always busy.”
Ryan gave an apologetic smile and left the coffee shop, eyes flitting away. Steve sighed, digging into his pockets to pay the bill.
Elise
Bernier/Miller
Ryan gave a small smile as Steve finished a story about San Jose. Keeping his word, Steve had paid for the coffee, and they were sitting in the small shop together, speaking quietly. The small shop, in Buffalo’s art district, was empty but for them. Still close quarters caused Steve to unabashedly press his leg against Ryan’s. Ryan had been trying to keep up with the stories, but he was distracted by the heat radiating from the contact. He focused on Steve’s hands, as they wound and released the handle of the cup. Steve caught him staring a few times as the forward sipped his tea, a bit of it staying on his lips, glistening. Ryan nodded and said, “I’m sorry you miss home... and have to deal with our winters.”
“I’m from Quebec. You don’t know a real winter.” Steve said, chuckling.
Ryan began to nervously swirl his coffee. It wasn’t like he’d never been to coffee with anyone before, it just felt like a date, and Ryan would much rather return home. Steve sighed and looked at his cup of tea. “So, Ryan, be honest with me, yes?”
Ryan nodded, his stomach instantly twisting, and Steve continued, “When did you fall in love with Campbell?”
This snapped Ryan out of his staring contest with the coffee cup. “I’m not in love with Brian.”
“You’re taking his leaving pretty hard.” Steve said, “Tell me... It’s ok.”
Ryan sipped his coffee then said, “No. No its not ok. You can’t accuse me of being gay and think its ok. Brian was my best friend. Only friend, really. I’m not like the other guys.”
Furrowing his eyebrows, Steve said, “What do you mean? You’re nice enough.”
“Right.” Ryan said with a shrug, “Listen, I have to go.”
“Ryan,” Steve said, eyes growing sad, “I didn’t mean to offend you, I just want to get it out in the open, yes?”
“I’m open.” Ryan said quickly, “We’re cool. No worries. I’m just busy today.”
Steve jumped up as Ryan began to leave, affectively knocking his tea and hissing as the hot liquid spilled over his hands. Ryan immediately went to his side, picking up Steve’s hands and wiping them with his shirt. “Shh... it’s ok, just a spill... hold on...” Ryan said softly.
Steve smiled as Ryan picked up the cup, and began to wipe the tea. They were still holding hands. Steve felt Ryan’s body freeze, and his hands begin to slip away, but he held onto them. “Thank you...”
“I...” Ryan said, “I have to go.”
“Busy.” Steve said, “You’re always busy.”
Ryan gave an apologetic smile and left the coffee shop, eyes flitting away. Steve sighed, digging into his pockets to pay the bill.