Thunder & Lightning
Thunder and lightning… nothing ever seemed to scare him, except thunder and lightning. I couldn’t help but smile every time we got a storm. Even now, at age twenty-four, he cowered in a corner when he heard a thunderclap. Isaac and I always made fun of him for it. He brushed it off but I knew it really upset him when we made jokes on his behalf. When we were younger he used to pad over to my bed and beg me to let him sleep with me. I would allow it, of course, and it became the norm for me. As I sat in the seat of my bedroom window, I looked out at the sky. I took a drag of my cigarette and noticed the dark warning clouds moving rapidly towards our house. Showtime.
Isaac was over at his girlfriend’s house so Zac and I were home alone. I took it as a guarantee he wouldn’t want to sleep alone if it stormed like it was calling for. As the clouds turned from a light grey to practically black, I heard the low rumbling beginning in the distance. Flicking my cigarette out the window, I decided to let it open for just a few minutes longer. BOOM! The thunder banged loudly, making it feel as if the whole house was shaking. Like clockwork my younger brother entered my room, trying to be nonchalant. “Damn, did you hear that? Big storm comin,” I observed, half teasing.
He frowned, leaning against my doorjamb. “Yeah I hear it. I’m gonna get some candles and flashlights because they said it could storm like this all night.” My brother stood in one spot for a minute; I think he was waiting for me to invite him into my bed.
“Good idea actually. I have some candles in here already but a flashlight wouldn’t hurt. I really don’t wanna get up to pee and break my neck.” As he turned to set out on his mission, I added, “So come back in as soon as you find one ok?” I got a soft smile in return as he exited my room. I won’t lie- I was being a bit selfish. Our first kiss happened this way: a thunder storm led him to my bed, we ended up kissing each other and by morning we revealed our feelings for one another. So for me, lightning was a sure sign that something good was about to happen. Within minutes he was in my room again carrying two flashlights, his pillow and enough food to last our entire family a week. I chuckled out loud, “How the hell could you carry all that food? Do you really think we’ll need all that?”
“Hey, I’m a growing boy,” he shrugged, smiling. Suddenly the thunder banged loudly and the lights flickered. I could almost visibly see the panic run across his face. “So how shall we entertain ourselves if we can’t watch TV or get online?”
“Well, there’s always reading… or swapping stories…”
“Or spit.”
“What?”
“You said we could swap stories. I said we could swap spit,” he replied with a mischievous grin.
“Who says that after age ten?” I joked. Then the lights went out. Almost instantly one of the flashlights came on, flooding my room with a dim glow. “Hey keep that on me a minute, I’m gonna light the candles.” He did as I asked while I pulled my lighter out of my pocket and began walking around the vicinity and lighting every candle I had placed in it. Surprisingly it didn’t take very long until I was flopping down on my bed beside Zac. “So how’s stuff been with you and whats-her-name?”
He groaned. “I didn’t want to go out with her in the first place Tay- you know that.”
“Yeah well I thought maybe after you went out you might have changed your mind.”
“Nope. Still gay,” he sighed matter-of-factly. “And the only girl I want is you Tay-Tay.”
“Whoa, who said I’m the girl?”
“I did. You’re prettier than me.”
“That’s true,” I retorted, taking a jab. Lightning flashed, making my whole bedroom look like I turned every light in the house on. I felt my brother shudder beside me. Lying down on my stomach, I pulled my pillow up close under my chin. “I never would have guessed you’d be gay. I bet everyone thinks it’s me.”
“Well YOU of all people were my first kiss. What do you expect? Besides, you ARE gay.”
“Well, not entirely. I actually LIKE my girlfriend remember?”
“Then you’re half-gay.” I could hear offense in his voice.
“I’m only gay for you Zaccy.” Then he laid down beside me on his stomach.
“I guess I’m supposed to thank you for that?” I could hear the venom in his words; I had truly offended him this time.
“I didn’t mean anything by it,” I cooed, rubbing his back. BOOM! The thunder had to be practically right on top of our house by now. The rain pounded on the window pane in a soothing rhythm which I began drumming out across Zac’s back with my fingertips. His shoulders loosened a bit as the beat calmed him. “Don’t be mad at me?” I whispered, bumping my nose against his.
“God damn you Taylor,” he muttered, smiling. Lightning flashed again but this time he didn’t jump. I noticed how beautiful his eyes were as he laid there looking at me. No- looking THROUGH me. I knew no matter what he’d always have my heart. I was seeing this girl, and she was amazing and I was pretty fond of her, but I knew I would never be complete without Zac. Funny how I acted like the strong one when without my brother as my soul mate I’d fall apart. Out of nowhere his lips brushed against mine and I felt myself melt into him. Then as if mother nature knew how I felt, the thunder clapped right over our heads, vibrating throughout the house. I ran my hand up my lover’s arm, shivering within myself as I felt his bicep move under the skin. His fingers tangled themselves in my hair as our lips moved in perfectly soft unison. I would never be able to have this feeling with anyone else, I knew that. I wanted to show Zac how much I truly loved him. So despite the fact that I wanted more than anything to rip his clothes off and screw like monkeys, I just kissed him. I kissed his lips, his cheeks and even his eyes as I ran my hands up and down his arms and back. He didn’t seem to mind though, and he reciprocated my actions with mirrored ones. The lightning flashed, startling him a bit. I opened my eyes when he pulled away. Scanning his face, I noticed he didn’t look terrified like usual but he looked calm and content. The candlelight accentuated his gorgeous features perfectly and my heart skipped a beat. Cliché I know but I don’t know how else to describe it. Pressing our lips together again, we wrapped ourselves up in each other’s arms, kissing lazily until we both started to fall asleep. I know it would have been the perfect opportunity to make love to him but sometimes you can make love with just a touch. And that’s what I’d like to think we did that night.