Fic: You're one big sugar rush (I've always dreamt that I'd be your favorite) [6/14]
Title:‘You're one big sugar rush (I've always dreamt that I'd be your favorite)’ [6/14]
Author: jen_jm
Pairing: Gabe/William, Butcher/Sisky, Ryland/Vicky-T, Alex/Nate vs Alex/Tom, others minor pairings.
Rating: NC-17 overall
Word count: 80,000 total words
Warnings: Upper East Siders AU (it needed a name, didn’t it?), but this is NOT a Gossip Girl AU.
POV: third
Disclaimer: Completely not true. I doubt Gabe can actually write softwares, anyway. It’s all fiction.
Author’s Notes: title from Cash Cash’s ‘Sugar Rush’ and Cobra Starship’s ‘The scene is dead - Long live the scene’
As ever, feel free to report any mistake. Constructive criticism is welcome, feedback makes me happy!
Summary:“Can I offer you a coffee, then?” Gabe tried once again, not too hopeful, but to his surprise, the singer didn’t flip him off.
“Why?” William asked, genuinely curious about all that interest.
“Because,” Gabe just said, shrugging a little, but at the boy’s stubborn look, he gave in and smiled. “I like your voice.” - Gabe Saporta is a rich 26 years old computer nerd who lives in the Upper East Side. William Beckett is a broke 22 years old musician who works as a bartender and lives with his best friend in Brooklyn. When they meet in the subway where William is playing their worlds collide in more ways than one.
Crossposted
Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 || Chapter 5
Chapter 6 - The one with the housewarming party
Gabe stopped in front of the apartment door when he heard loud music playing inside. He smiled to himself when he realized William was singing along and knocked. He got no answer and tried again, while Cash Cash continued playing at full volume. After a few seconds he brought his hand to the doorknob and found the door wasn’t locked, much to his surprise; he glanced inside and he was welcomed by the view of a shirtless William standing in front of the stereo as he sang and swung his hips to the rhythm of the song.
“So you do actually like them, uh?” Gabe commented as he closed the door after himself and let the bag he was holding fall on the couch.
William turned around, caught off guard, and stopped singing. “Guilty as charged,” he admitted as he slowly reached Gabe, still dancing. “I’d make a fortune as a go-go boy, wouldn’t I?”
“You would,” Gabe agreed and took off his coat, then laughed as they boy circled his neck with both arms and dragged him closer to the stereo. “But I prefer you as a fully dressed bartender.”
“Bartenders pick up more guys than you think, you know?” William objected, genuinely amused.
“Only the cute ones,” Gabe replied then gave in and started dancing as well, just as Sugar Rush started playing. “This one--”
“This one’s totally our song,” William finished for him with a wide smile, then sang along for a few lines, while one of his hands trailed to Gabe’s hair. When he stopped singing, he pulled Gabe closer and kissed him. “How was your day, honey?” he added once he pulled back and batted his eyelashes.
“Definitely brighter now,” Gabe replied with a brief laughter, then stopped dancing and sat on the couch, dragging William in his lap. “You’re in a good mood.”
“I just heard from Sisky and Butcher,” William informed with a wide smile, then reached for the stereo remote and lowered the volume. “The exhibition started well, he already sold a painting.”
“That’s great,” Gabe agreed, genuinely happy for the boy. “I should take a look at them too, I’m still looking for a Christmas present for Vicky. And she loves art.”
“He’s gonna be back on Sunday, you can ask him,” William proposed and sat back on Gabe’s thighs. “He’s really good,” he added, then gestured the guitar resting on the armchair in front of them. “He made that drawing.”
Gabe looked at the lion head on the sound board, surprised. It was incredibly detailed, he hadn’t noticed it the first time, but then he had been too focused on William to really pay attention.
“Why the lion?” he asked with a little frown, looking back at the boy.
“You’d laugh at me if I told you,” William just said with a shrug.
“I won’t, I promise,” Gabe reassured him as he brought his hand to the small of his back and stroked the naked skin.
“It’s one of his concept arts, he says it represents my music,” William explained, then took a deep breath and added, “And also The Lion King is my favorite Disney movie.”
“So there is a softie heart in there after all,” Gabe replied as he pointed his index finger to William’s chest.
“Don’t ruin my reputation,” William warned with a glare as he gripped his finger and twisted it enough to make him flinch. “I’m a cynical and overcritical bitch.”
“No, you’re not,” Gabe objected, then pulled him in a passionate kiss without leaving him the time to retort. William gave in and smiled against his mouth, letting the warm hand on his back sooth him.
Once they broke apart, William glanced at the bag next to them and frowned. “What did you bring?”
“Funny movie,” Gabe replied as he dug out a DVD copy of Zoolander. “And a bag of marshmallows,” he added, taking the sweets as well.
“Very well done, señor Saporta,” William declared as he stood up. “I’ll set the DVD player, you get us a beer in the fridge, yes?”
“Yes, sir,” Gabe replied, then stood as well and went to retrieve their drinks. “Before I forget, are you busy on Friday?”
“I’m working this Friday,” William said and a second later he turned off the stereo. “But I can swap shifts with someone, if you have something in mind.”
“Vicky and Ryland are throwing a party to inaugurate the house before the wedding and, you know, I was wondering if you’d want to come with me,” Gabe proposed as he walked back with their beers.
“Are they okay with that?” William asked with a careful glance, just as the TV screen came alive.
“Trust me, Vicky would kill me if you said no,” Gabe confessed and felt immediately relieved when the boy smiled.
“I’ll be there,” William declared with a solemn nod, then turned off the lights and reached him on the couch. Gabe smiled and kissed him on the cheek as the movie started.
~~
Three days later
“You’re not working tomorrow,” Alex announced as he joined his boyfriend in his kitchen.
“It didn’t really sound like a question,” Tom replied with a confused look.
“It wasn’t one,” Alex said with a smirk, then rested his chin on the boy’s shoulder. “Just say yes.”
“Okay, yes,” Tom gave in, amused and still a little suspicious, then turned around to face him. “I can ask Mike to cover for me, he owes me for Monday night.”
“Good,” Alex whispered against his lips, then kissed him briefly.
“Mind to elaborate?” Tom laughed a little and shook his head, curious.
“Vicky and Ry are having their housewarming party,” Alex explained, then placed a few small kisses on the boy’s jaw. “I wasn’t gonna be there, but since my boss rescheduled some meetings, I’m going. And I want you there,” he added, but at Tom’s surprised expression, his smile faltered a little. “If you want, of course.”
“I want,” Tom confirmed, genuinely happy about the invitation. “I like parties and I like those two, they’re a nice couple.”
“And you still have to meet Gabe,” Alex pointed out with a slow nod.
“Your ex-boyfriend? Oh, I can’t wait,” Tom declared with a wicked smirk, gaining a slap on the arm. “Hey!”
“He’s a good guy,” Alex said, rolling his eyes. “He’s always been there to help me whenever I needed, even when we weren’t together anymore.”
“I think I’m gonna like him,” Tom admitted as he pulled his boyfriend closer. “As long as he keeps his hands to himself.”
“Don’t worry, he’s seeing someone and he’s really, really into this guy,” Alex reassured him, laughing a little, then kissed him. He pulled back when his cell phone rang and he whispered a curse.
“Work?” Tom leaned back against the counter, smiling.
“Yeah, one of meetings was rescheduled for today and I’m late,” Alex replied, not too thrilled about having to rush to work. “I’ll call you tonight,” he added, then placed one last kiss on Tom’s lips.
“I’m working tonight, come by at the pub when you’re done,” Tom said, walking him to the door. Alex nodded his approval and headed outside, already dialing his boss’ number.
~
Later that night
“Tom, right?” Nate asked as he sat on one of the stools at the counter. When the bartender nodded and addressed him a confused frown, he added, “I’m Nate, Alex’s friend.”
“Oh, right, Nate,” Tom replied, trying to bite back the sarcastic smile that was fighting to rise to his lips. “What brings you here?”
“Just waiting for my friends,” Nate said, taking a sip from his beer. “So, you two are really getting along, uh?”
“Yes, we are,” Tom confirmed, then took a dish towel to dry the newly washed glasses. After a few seconds of awkward silence, he spoke again. “Look, I know who you are, he told me about you,” he added with a sigh, not really annoyed, just tired. “You’ve had your chance, you blew it, now stay out of this, you owe him that.”
“Who the hell d’you think you are?” Nate looked at him straight in the eye, unbelieving. “Just because you’ve been fucking him for a week, it doesn’t mean you know him.”
“Really? When was the last time you asked about his job? When was the last time you tried to help him out of a writer’s block?” Tom questioned him, resting both his hands on the counter.
“You did that?” Nate laughed a little, bitter and incredulous. “Right.”
“I’ve seen more of him in a fucking week than you’ve cared to notice in a year,” Tom retorted, glaring at him with raw hostility, which almost intimidated the other boy. “Maybe I don’t know everything about him, but I surely know him better than you do.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Nate replied, equally pissed off. He was about to add something, but Alex reached them right then and eyed both of them.
“Having fun without me?” Alex addressed them a grin, then leaned over the counter to place a kiss on Tom’s lips. When the other two boys just looked at each other, he frowned. “What?”
“What d’you think?” Tom showed a sarcastic smile, then stormed over to a table to retrieve some of the dirty glasses.
“What did you tell him?” Alex immediately asked, his good mood completely gone as he moved his eyes to Nate.
“The truth,” Nate just said, holding his gaze. “He doesn’t know you.”
“And you do?” Alex arched an eyebrow at him, unbelieving. “Last time I checked, you weren’t even willing to have dinner with me.”
“I’ve changed my mind,” Nate replied, trying to step closer, but the boy just moved back, angry.
“I’ve changed mine too,” Alex retorted as he tried to ignore the way his heart clenched. “And you have no right to ruin this for me, Tom is a great guy and I happen to like him.”
“More than you like me?” Nate whispered, not too sure he wanted to hear the answer.
“Right now?” Alex laughed bitterly, unable to stop himself even when he saw the hurt in the boy’s eyes. “Right now I don’t like you at all.”
Those words hit Nate like a slap and he barely paid attention when Alex walked away and reached the point where Tom was serving. When he managed to look up, he saw them talk quietly, then Tom nodded and gave in to a smile as Alex leaned closer to kiss him.
Nate felt his stomach twist unpleasantly and stood, leaving a few dollars on the counter to pay his unfinished beer. He put on his coat and headed for the door, only to find himself facing Gabe, who was on his way in.
“Hey, Nate, what’s going on?” Gabe immediately asked, seeing his expression, then saw Tom and Alex not far and understood. “Oh.”
“I need to go, sorry,” Nate tried to walk past him and the other boy stopped him, just as he made eye contact with Alex. From the angry glance the boy was addressing them, Nate probably had a good reason to want to go, so he just let him, then watched as the door closed after him.
He saw Alex excuse himself from Tom with a kiss and the bartender went back to work, while Alex reached Gabe with a glare.
“What happened with Nate?” Gabe asked without leaving him time to say anything.
“He and Tom had a conversation,” Alex just said, then took a deep breath and gesture his friend to a free table. “I don’t know if he’s trying to scare him off or what, but he has no right to come here and tell Tom he’s just a fuck for me.”
“Which he’s not, right?” Gabe asked with a raised eyebrow as they sat down.
“No, he’s not,” Alex confirmed and rolled his eyes at him, exasperated. “And that son of a bitch comes in here and tells me he changed his fucking mind and he wants to date me. Well, fuck him.”
“You really don’t want to give it a shot?” Gabe saw Tom behind the counter and had to repress a smile when he realized he was keeping an eye on them. Maybe he really was a good kid, after all. “I mean, you’ve wanted him for months.”
“What for? More humiliation?” Alex rested back against the chair and let out a sigh. “No, I just wanna be with Tom right now and see where this goes.”
“He seems great,” Gabe admitted as he glanced at the bartender. “And, you know, I’m happy if you’re happy.”
“What about your date?” Alex asked him, smiling a little. “I still have to meet him. All I know is his name and it’s kind of a common one.”
“Trust me, there’s nothing common about him,” Gabe replied, shaking his head with conviction. “You’ll meet him tomorrow, he’s gonna be at the party.”
“I can’t wait,” Alex confessed with a smile, then gestured the waitress to come over, just as Vicky and Ryland entered the place.
~~
The following day
Gabe looked around at the crowded house, then glanced at the clock, unsure. He, Alex and Nate had been helping Vicky and Ryland to set the house for the party, so he’d told William to come there. Still, the boy was half an hour late and Gabe was really starting to hope he hadn’t changed his mind. Or hadn’t got lost in the Upper East Side.
“Seriously, they haven’t spoken to each other all day,” Vicky said as she leaned against the wall next to him, holding a glass of red wine. Gabe followed her gaze and realized she was talking about Nate, who was talking to Ryland, and Alex, who was showing Tom the view from the windows.
“They’ll talk, sooner or later,” Gabe reassured her with a nod, trying to sound convincing. “Just give them time.”
“I hope you’re right,” Vicky conceded with a sight, then turned to look at the nearby door when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Gabe immediately said, gaining a knowing smirk from her. He opened the door and smiled widely when he saw William standing there with a hand on his hip. “You came.”
“It’s a hell of a place to find on my own, you know?” William whined as the door closed, still glaring at the boy.
“I’m happy to see you too,” Gabe replied, pulling him closer, then leaned in to kiss him. William relaxed and put his hands on the boy’s shoulders, and pulled back only after several seconds. “Missed me?”
“Maybe,” William admitted with a little smirk, then turned to look at Vicky when she reached them. “Hey, Vicky, it’s good to see you and your wonderful house.”
“It’s good to see you too, sweetpie,” Vicky greeted him and pulled him in a brief, heartfelt hug. “I’m glad you could make it,” she added, then hooked her arm around his. “Here, let’s steal you from your boyfriend for a little while.”
“Vicky,” Gabe warned her, silently glad to see William smile at the ‘boyfriend’ part. “Don’t traumatize him.”
“You can come with us, you know?” William replied, gesturing him to follow them as they headed for the buffet table next to the windows.
“I’ll get us something to drink, first,” Gabe said, then disappeared from his view.
“Let’s see, you need to meet the only one in the group you haven’t met, Alex,” Vicky informed with a determined nod. “He’s a script writer, so if you have complains about shitty TV shows, they probably weren’t written by him, ‘cause he’s a damn genius.”
William laughed a little at that and waved at Ryland and Nate as they walked by, then resumed following Vicky. When she stopped, he looked in front of them and froze on the spot as his eyes met Tom’s and both their smiles disappeared.
“Alex, get your ass here,” Vicky called her friend, who was a few feet away, then noticed something was wrong.
“Hey, wait for me, would you?” Gabe glared at her and handed William his glass, then circled his waist with an arm, half hugging him from behind. He placed a kiss to his cheek, but didn’t get any response, so he followed his gaze and felt his stomach twist. “Tom?”
“You knew he’d be here?” William asked in a whisper and put his untouched drink on the nearby table.
“Alex told me last night,” Gabe replied, then pulled back and tried to make eye-contact. “They’re, you know, dating.”
Tom reached them just then with Alex, who looked just as confused about that situation as Gabe was.
“William?” Tom just said, but William shook his head and turned, walking away quickly.
“Wait, your William is Gabe’s William?” Alex asked, looking at Tom first, then at Gabe, who just frowned and followed his boyfriend.
He found him in the bathroom, where the boy was splashing fresh water on his face. For a minute he just stood there, looking at him and it didn’t take him long to understand what was going on. William looked up at him, but didn’t say anything, unsure.
“Ex-boyfriend?” he asked with a little smile, taking a step inside. William nodded and Gabe let out a soft laughter, much to the boy’s annoyance. “No, hey, wait.”
“What? Wanna entertain yourself some more?” William spat, trying to regain some composure.
“Shut up,” Gabe replied and shook his head as he closed the door. He reached the boy and cupped his cheeks with both hands. “I’m laughing because Alex is my ex-boyfriend.”
William’s eyes widened for a moment, then he gave in and stopped trying to push Gabe back. “I just need a minute.”
“If you’re uncomfortable, we can go,” Gabe proposed with a shrug, trying to look at him in the eye. “Have dinner somewhere, just you and me.”
“No, it’s just--” William took a deep breath, resting back against the sink. “The break up wasn’t exactly a peachy, lovely one,” he explained, finally looking at Gabe. “I wasn’t prepared to see him.”
“To see him? Or to see him with someone else?” Gabe offered, but immediately regretted it when he saw the anger in the boy’s eyes. “What happened between you two?”
“He cheated on me, then he had the guts to call me a whore in front of everyone,” William replied, then chuckled bitterly and looked away. “It was almost a year ago.”
“I know what it feels like,” Gabe told him and brought a hand to stroke his cheek.
“Really?” William just arched an eyebrow at him, but didn’t try to step back.
“Hey, Alex isn’t the only ex I have, and I’ve always been good at picking the wrong guys,” Gabe replied, then moved his hand to the side of the boy’s neck. “That’s why I was trying so hard to impress you, I--” he stopped and just let the sentence hang there, then added, “You’re one of a kind and if he’s been such an asshole to you, it’s his loss.”
“You know how to cheer someone’s ego up, don’t you?” William huffed out a laughter and rested his forehead against his boyfriend’s shoulder. “I need to get over this, he doesn’t mean anything to me anymore.”
“You’ll get over the pain, it’ll only take a while,” Gabe whispered against his ear, hugging him. It was the first time the boy was openly talking about his feelings and he hoped he wasn’t going to ruin everything with his next words. “And maybe someone else who does mean something.”
“I’ve met you a week ago,” William said, pulling back, but his tone was more surprised than angry.
“So what? I can’t like you after a week?” Gabe shrugged, trying to look unconcerned, but his worry was clearly showing in his eyes. “Do I need to remind you I had a crush on you before we even really met?”
“That was creepy,” William admitted, laughing, then relaxed against him and hesitated for a few seconds. “I do like you, Gabe, I just-- I don’t know what I’m ready for.”
“You said it yourself, it’s been a week, I don’t wanna get married,” Gabe replied with a nod, maintaining eye-contact.
“Yet,” William added for him, smirking.
“Let’s just see where this goes,” Gabe proposed as his smile widened. “And if you don’t feel like going back to the party, we can sneak out.”
“There’s no need to,” William replied, then took another deep breath. Someone knocked on the door and Gabe almost told them to fuck off, but bit it back.
“William, are you in there?” Tom asked from outside, sounding obviously worried.
“I have to talk to him,” William whispered on Gabe’s lips, closing his eyes. When he opened them again, he saw his boyfriend nod and head for the door. He saw Gabe glare a little at Tom as a warning and felt his lips curve up in a smile.
~
“What’s going on in there?” Alex asked as soon as Gabe appeared in the living room.
“Well, not much, just that your boyfriend is my boyfriend’s ex-boyfriend,” Gabe explained with a frown, still a little confused.
“I need a beer,” Ryland declared and headed for the drinks, shaking his head.
“What did William tell you?” Vicky asked after glaring at her fiancée for a moment.
“That they broke up badly about a year ago,” Gabe just said, glancing at the nearby hallway. “They’re talking now, I guess it’s a good sign.”
“Is there something I can do?” Vicky asked and they both turned to look at her, surprised.
“Yes, enjoy your party, we’ll take care of the drama,” Gabe replied, then placed a kiss on her temple, grateful. She didn’t look convinced at all and looked at Alex, who just nodded to reassure her. As she gave in and reached Ryland, Gabe took a deep breath. “This is gonna be complicated.”
“Tom mentioned an ex-boyfriend named William, but I never thought it could be your William,” Alex said with an apologetic tone, almost angry. “I didn’t even know your William knew Mike and Tom.”
“I did,” Gabe admitted, looking at him in the eye. “William told me he and Tom weren’t talking to each other, but I had no idea it was something like this.”
“You could have told me, you know?” Alex addressed him a brief glare, then glanced at the hallway, worried.
“Really? And say what, ‘the guy I’m dating doesn’t talk to the guy you’re dating’?” Gabe let out a soft, unbelieving chuckle.
“Better than nothing,” Alex pointed out with a raised eyebrow.
“No, you would have thought I was trying to push you away from Tom, to make you change your mind about him,” Gabe objected, starting to get annoyed by his friend’s reaction. “Which I wasn’t, because I never thought he’d stick around.”
“You used to know me better than that,” Alex said, his voice turning a little calmer and sadder. Gabe felt his stomach twist at the disappointed look in his friend’s eyes and grabbed his arm, then pulled him in the quiet hallway, just a few feet away from the bathroom.
“I still know you better than you think, that’s why I thought he wasn’t gonna stay, I thought he was just a fuck, a revenge,” Gabe paused and stopped Alex when he tried to protest. “But then I saw you two together last night, I saw the way you were afraid Nate was gonna push him away, and I realized he’s gonna stick around for a long time,” he added, then smiled at the surprise on Alex’s face and continued, “Just, you were already pissed off, so I figured that it was better if you found out about William today.”
“I’m such an idiot,” Alex huffed out and shook his head, clearly relieved.
“Yes, my friend, you are,” Gabe confirmed with a pat on the shoulder, then his smile faded as he eyed the bathroom door once again. “How long d’you think this is gonna take?”
“I don’t know,” Alex admitted with a shrug, but he was worried as well. “I just hope they both come out alive.”
Gabe rolled his eyes at him, the rested his back against the wall, waiting.
~
“So, big mess, uh?” Tom started, hesitant and almost sure William was going to get mad at him. Surprisingly enough, the boy nodded and huffed out a soft laughter.
“Gabe’s right, it is kinda funny that his ex-boyfriend is dating mine,” William admitted as he leaned against the sink with his hip. “And we didn’t even have to set you two up.”
Tom laughed a little as well, resting his back against the door. He knew better than trying to get physically closer, he knew William would probably misinterpret it. And it would bring back bad memories from the last time they had talked. “You’re not yelling at me,” he said once he managed to stop his train of thoughts.
“I don’t wanna ruin my voice,” William joked, but it sounded weaker than he’d expected and he cleared his throat. “It’s been almost a year, Tom, I got over it. Maybe not completely, but enough to not yell.”
“I miss you,” Tom admitted with a little smile then stopped the boy, who was already opening his mouth to protest. “I miss talking to you, miss your snarky jokes,” he paused and took a deep breath. “I miss being friends.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that and even if I were, things wouldn’t be as they used to be,” William replied, but much to the other’s relief, he wasn’t angry.
“I know,” Tom said with a slow nod, then hesitated for a few, long seconds before speaking again. “I never had a chance to say I’m sorry,” he paused and looked away for a moment. “For all I’ve done, including that punch.”
“Yeah, that wasn’t nice,” William agreed and his expression hardened at the memory. “Neither were the words you used, or the way you humiliated me in front of everyone.”
Tom used all his willpower to hold his gaze, accepting every word without fighting back. It was the chance he’d waited for months, probably the only chance to set things right.
“I should have apologized a long time ago,” Tom admitted with a serious look in his eyes.
“I wouldn’t have listened,” William replied with a raised eyebrow.
“Why are you listening now?” Tom frowned a little, not completely sure he wanted to hear the answer.
“Because maybe, if we can talk to each other again, if I can see your good side again, then I might forget how much I want to smash your face into a wall,” William said without a trace of amusement in his voice, then sighed. “And Alex is Gabe’s best friend, if you two are together, I’m afraid we’ll be around each other often and I don’t want any useless drama."
“I’ve changed a lot in the past year,” Tom informed with a little smile. “You’ve changed too.”
“No, I’ve always been awesome,” William objected and let a little smile tug at his lips.
“I’m happy you found someone,” Tom said and his tone sounded sincere, which surprised the other boy. “Alex says he’s a great guy.”
“He is,” William just said, then bit on his lower lip, unsure. “I think we should go back in there,” he added with a nod towards the door.
“Yeah, before they kick down the door to make sure we’re not killing each other,” Tom agreed with a little smile, than took a step towards the boy. “Just one last thing.”
“What?” William arched an eyebrow at him, hesitant, but didn’t move back when he reached him.
Tom tilted his head up a little and pressed a kiss on William’s cheek, slow and careful, then pulled back and looked at him in the eye. “I’m sorry for everything,” he whispered, feeling a knot form in his throat.
“And one day I might feel sorry for saying around that you’ve been in jail for robbery,” William replied and did his best to not look too satisfied at the horrified expression on Tom’s face. “What? I was furious,” he added with a shrug.
“Alright, fair enough,” Tom said and shook his head, unbelieving, then chuckled and looked up at him. He turned and headed for the door, but felt William’s hand on his arm and stopped.
“We’re not friends, you know that, right?” William reminded him, conscious that the boy already knew that. “We’re just being civil. I can’t give you anything more than that, not right now.”
“It’s more than I hoped for,” Tom admitted and waited for William to nod before he opened the door and stepped out.
William left the bathroom right behind him and they both stopped when they saw Alex and Gabe waiting not far, both with worried looks on their faces.
“Want to go?” Gabe asked as soon as William reached him.
“No need,” the boy said and placed a kiss on his shoulder, thankful, then turned to face Alex. “So, Vicky was telling me you write TV-shows.”
“I do,” Alex confirmed with a highly confused frown, but then glanced at Tom and saw him nod.
“Well, what about you tell me what you write and I give you merciless but completely honest reviews?” William proposed, hooking his arm around Alex’s, then walked them back towards the party.
Gabe and Tom both watched them go, then looked at each other, a little amused. “Has he always been this way?”
“Well, if you ask him, he’ll tell you he’s always been awesome,” Tom replied with a smile, then took a deep breath, looking at the boy in front of him. “Has Alex always been so self-confident, or was it the Nate thing that pushed him so far down?”
“He’s a writer, he’s always had his insecurities,” Gabe replied, then turned to look at him in the eye. “But never this much,” he paused and showed a little smile. “You’re good for him.”
“I thought Nate was your friend, aren’t you supposed to take his side?” Tom asked with a chuckle, surprised.
“Nate is my friend, but Alex,” Gabe replied and glanced at the crowded living room not far, where the boy was explaining something to William. “Alex is Alex, with his cheeky jokes and the loud attitude, but no one ever takes the time to see if there’s something more than that, no one ever sees just how amazing he is. You do and he deserves that.”
“I’m glad to know you don’t completely hate me,” Tom pointed out with a relieved smile, then gestured Gabe towards the party. “Wanna get something to drink?”
“Sure,” Gabe accepted and felt his hostility for the boy fade a little.
~~
A/N:it could have gone worse, trust me. It almost did, but then I stuck to my ‘no killers’ plan, so here it is. LOL
Well, I’m finally back after the hiatus and I hope this was worth the wait. :P
In case you’re interested, I also have a stickam now, because… well, I’m not sure why, but I do. And I may or may not be there ranting about stuff after the updates, so if you feel like chatting a little bit, you can find me here. I'll warn you on twitter, anyway.
Also, remember, if you want the soundtrack, just say so in the comment. :D
See ya next week with the Christmas chapter, people.
JM
Author: jen_jm
Pairing: Gabe/William, Butcher/Sisky, Ryland/Vicky-T, Alex/Nate vs Alex/Tom, others minor pairings.
Rating: NC-17 overall
Word count: 80,000 total words
Warnings: Upper East Siders AU (it needed a name, didn’t it?), but this is NOT a Gossip Girl AU.
POV: third
Disclaimer: Completely not true. I doubt Gabe can actually write softwares, anyway. It’s all fiction.
Author’s Notes: title from Cash Cash’s ‘Sugar Rush’ and Cobra Starship’s ‘The scene is dead - Long live the scene’
As ever, feel free to report any mistake. Constructive criticism is welcome, feedback makes me happy!
Summary:“Can I offer you a coffee, then?” Gabe tried once again, not too hopeful, but to his surprise, the singer didn’t flip him off.
“Why?” William asked, genuinely curious about all that interest.
“Because,” Gabe just said, shrugging a little, but at the boy’s stubborn look, he gave in and smiled. “I like your voice.” - Gabe Saporta is a rich 26 years old computer nerd who lives in the Upper East Side. William Beckett is a broke 22 years old musician who works as a bartender and lives with his best friend in Brooklyn. When they meet in the subway where William is playing their worlds collide in more ways than one.
Crossposted
Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 || Chapter 5
Chapter 6 - The one with the housewarming party
Gabe stopped in front of the apartment door when he heard loud music playing inside. He smiled to himself when he realized William was singing along and knocked. He got no answer and tried again, while Cash Cash continued playing at full volume. After a few seconds he brought his hand to the doorknob and found the door wasn’t locked, much to his surprise; he glanced inside and he was welcomed by the view of a shirtless William standing in front of the stereo as he sang and swung his hips to the rhythm of the song.
“So you do actually like them, uh?” Gabe commented as he closed the door after himself and let the bag he was holding fall on the couch.
William turned around, caught off guard, and stopped singing. “Guilty as charged,” he admitted as he slowly reached Gabe, still dancing. “I’d make a fortune as a go-go boy, wouldn’t I?”
“You would,” Gabe agreed and took off his coat, then laughed as they boy circled his neck with both arms and dragged him closer to the stereo. “But I prefer you as a fully dressed bartender.”
“Bartenders pick up more guys than you think, you know?” William objected, genuinely amused.
“Only the cute ones,” Gabe replied then gave in and started dancing as well, just as Sugar Rush started playing. “This one--”
“This one’s totally our song,” William finished for him with a wide smile, then sang along for a few lines, while one of his hands trailed to Gabe’s hair. When he stopped singing, he pulled Gabe closer and kissed him. “How was your day, honey?” he added once he pulled back and batted his eyelashes.
“Definitely brighter now,” Gabe replied with a brief laughter, then stopped dancing and sat on the couch, dragging William in his lap. “You’re in a good mood.”
“I just heard from Sisky and Butcher,” William informed with a wide smile, then reached for the stereo remote and lowered the volume. “The exhibition started well, he already sold a painting.”
“That’s great,” Gabe agreed, genuinely happy for the boy. “I should take a look at them too, I’m still looking for a Christmas present for Vicky. And she loves art.”
“He’s gonna be back on Sunday, you can ask him,” William proposed and sat back on Gabe’s thighs. “He’s really good,” he added, then gestured the guitar resting on the armchair in front of them. “He made that drawing.”
Gabe looked at the lion head on the sound board, surprised. It was incredibly detailed, he hadn’t noticed it the first time, but then he had been too focused on William to really pay attention.
“Why the lion?” he asked with a little frown, looking back at the boy.
“You’d laugh at me if I told you,” William just said with a shrug.
“I won’t, I promise,” Gabe reassured him as he brought his hand to the small of his back and stroked the naked skin.
“It’s one of his concept arts, he says it represents my music,” William explained, then took a deep breath and added, “And also The Lion King is my favorite Disney movie.”
“So there is a softie heart in there after all,” Gabe replied as he pointed his index finger to William’s chest.
“Don’t ruin my reputation,” William warned with a glare as he gripped his finger and twisted it enough to make him flinch. “I’m a cynical and overcritical bitch.”
“No, you’re not,” Gabe objected, then pulled him in a passionate kiss without leaving him the time to retort. William gave in and smiled against his mouth, letting the warm hand on his back sooth him.
Once they broke apart, William glanced at the bag next to them and frowned. “What did you bring?”
“Funny movie,” Gabe replied as he dug out a DVD copy of Zoolander. “And a bag of marshmallows,” he added, taking the sweets as well.
“Very well done, señor Saporta,” William declared as he stood up. “I’ll set the DVD player, you get us a beer in the fridge, yes?”
“Yes, sir,” Gabe replied, then stood as well and went to retrieve their drinks. “Before I forget, are you busy on Friday?”
“I’m working this Friday,” William said and a second later he turned off the stereo. “But I can swap shifts with someone, if you have something in mind.”
“Vicky and Ryland are throwing a party to inaugurate the house before the wedding and, you know, I was wondering if you’d want to come with me,” Gabe proposed as he walked back with their beers.
“Are they okay with that?” William asked with a careful glance, just as the TV screen came alive.
“Trust me, Vicky would kill me if you said no,” Gabe confessed and felt immediately relieved when the boy smiled.
“I’ll be there,” William declared with a solemn nod, then turned off the lights and reached him on the couch. Gabe smiled and kissed him on the cheek as the movie started.
~~
Three days later
“You’re not working tomorrow,” Alex announced as he joined his boyfriend in his kitchen.
“It didn’t really sound like a question,” Tom replied with a confused look.
“It wasn’t one,” Alex said with a smirk, then rested his chin on the boy’s shoulder. “Just say yes.”
“Okay, yes,” Tom gave in, amused and still a little suspicious, then turned around to face him. “I can ask Mike to cover for me, he owes me for Monday night.”
“Good,” Alex whispered against his lips, then kissed him briefly.
“Mind to elaborate?” Tom laughed a little and shook his head, curious.
“Vicky and Ry are having their housewarming party,” Alex explained, then placed a few small kisses on the boy’s jaw. “I wasn’t gonna be there, but since my boss rescheduled some meetings, I’m going. And I want you there,” he added, but at Tom’s surprised expression, his smile faltered a little. “If you want, of course.”
“I want,” Tom confirmed, genuinely happy about the invitation. “I like parties and I like those two, they’re a nice couple.”
“And you still have to meet Gabe,” Alex pointed out with a slow nod.
“Your ex-boyfriend? Oh, I can’t wait,” Tom declared with a wicked smirk, gaining a slap on the arm. “Hey!”
“He’s a good guy,” Alex said, rolling his eyes. “He’s always been there to help me whenever I needed, even when we weren’t together anymore.”
“I think I’m gonna like him,” Tom admitted as he pulled his boyfriend closer. “As long as he keeps his hands to himself.”
“Don’t worry, he’s seeing someone and he’s really, really into this guy,” Alex reassured him, laughing a little, then kissed him. He pulled back when his cell phone rang and he whispered a curse.
“Work?” Tom leaned back against the counter, smiling.
“Yeah, one of meetings was rescheduled for today and I’m late,” Alex replied, not too thrilled about having to rush to work. “I’ll call you tonight,” he added, then placed one last kiss on Tom’s lips.
“I’m working tonight, come by at the pub when you’re done,” Tom said, walking him to the door. Alex nodded his approval and headed outside, already dialing his boss’ number.
~
Later that night
“Tom, right?” Nate asked as he sat on one of the stools at the counter. When the bartender nodded and addressed him a confused frown, he added, “I’m Nate, Alex’s friend.”
“Oh, right, Nate,” Tom replied, trying to bite back the sarcastic smile that was fighting to rise to his lips. “What brings you here?”
“Just waiting for my friends,” Nate said, taking a sip from his beer. “So, you two are really getting along, uh?”
“Yes, we are,” Tom confirmed, then took a dish towel to dry the newly washed glasses. After a few seconds of awkward silence, he spoke again. “Look, I know who you are, he told me about you,” he added with a sigh, not really annoyed, just tired. “You’ve had your chance, you blew it, now stay out of this, you owe him that.”
“Who the hell d’you think you are?” Nate looked at him straight in the eye, unbelieving. “Just because you’ve been fucking him for a week, it doesn’t mean you know him.”
“Really? When was the last time you asked about his job? When was the last time you tried to help him out of a writer’s block?” Tom questioned him, resting both his hands on the counter.
“You did that?” Nate laughed a little, bitter and incredulous. “Right.”
“I’ve seen more of him in a fucking week than you’ve cared to notice in a year,” Tom retorted, glaring at him with raw hostility, which almost intimidated the other boy. “Maybe I don’t know everything about him, but I surely know him better than you do.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Nate replied, equally pissed off. He was about to add something, but Alex reached them right then and eyed both of them.
“Having fun without me?” Alex addressed them a grin, then leaned over the counter to place a kiss on Tom’s lips. When the other two boys just looked at each other, he frowned. “What?”
“What d’you think?” Tom showed a sarcastic smile, then stormed over to a table to retrieve some of the dirty glasses.
“What did you tell him?” Alex immediately asked, his good mood completely gone as he moved his eyes to Nate.
“The truth,” Nate just said, holding his gaze. “He doesn’t know you.”
“And you do?” Alex arched an eyebrow at him, unbelieving. “Last time I checked, you weren’t even willing to have dinner with me.”
“I’ve changed my mind,” Nate replied, trying to step closer, but the boy just moved back, angry.
“I’ve changed mine too,” Alex retorted as he tried to ignore the way his heart clenched. “And you have no right to ruin this for me, Tom is a great guy and I happen to like him.”
“More than you like me?” Nate whispered, not too sure he wanted to hear the answer.
“Right now?” Alex laughed bitterly, unable to stop himself even when he saw the hurt in the boy’s eyes. “Right now I don’t like you at all.”
Those words hit Nate like a slap and he barely paid attention when Alex walked away and reached the point where Tom was serving. When he managed to look up, he saw them talk quietly, then Tom nodded and gave in to a smile as Alex leaned closer to kiss him.
Nate felt his stomach twist unpleasantly and stood, leaving a few dollars on the counter to pay his unfinished beer. He put on his coat and headed for the door, only to find himself facing Gabe, who was on his way in.
“Hey, Nate, what’s going on?” Gabe immediately asked, seeing his expression, then saw Tom and Alex not far and understood. “Oh.”
“I need to go, sorry,” Nate tried to walk past him and the other boy stopped him, just as he made eye contact with Alex. From the angry glance the boy was addressing them, Nate probably had a good reason to want to go, so he just let him, then watched as the door closed after him.
He saw Alex excuse himself from Tom with a kiss and the bartender went back to work, while Alex reached Gabe with a glare.
“What happened with Nate?” Gabe asked without leaving him time to say anything.
“He and Tom had a conversation,” Alex just said, then took a deep breath and gesture his friend to a free table. “I don’t know if he’s trying to scare him off or what, but he has no right to come here and tell Tom he’s just a fuck for me.”
“Which he’s not, right?” Gabe asked with a raised eyebrow as they sat down.
“No, he’s not,” Alex confirmed and rolled his eyes at him, exasperated. “And that son of a bitch comes in here and tells me he changed his fucking mind and he wants to date me. Well, fuck him.”
“You really don’t want to give it a shot?” Gabe saw Tom behind the counter and had to repress a smile when he realized he was keeping an eye on them. Maybe he really was a good kid, after all. “I mean, you’ve wanted him for months.”
“What for? More humiliation?” Alex rested back against the chair and let out a sigh. “No, I just wanna be with Tom right now and see where this goes.”
“He seems great,” Gabe admitted as he glanced at the bartender. “And, you know, I’m happy if you’re happy.”
“What about your date?” Alex asked him, smiling a little. “I still have to meet him. All I know is his name and it’s kind of a common one.”
“Trust me, there’s nothing common about him,” Gabe replied, shaking his head with conviction. “You’ll meet him tomorrow, he’s gonna be at the party.”
“I can’t wait,” Alex confessed with a smile, then gestured the waitress to come over, just as Vicky and Ryland entered the place.
~~
The following day
Gabe looked around at the crowded house, then glanced at the clock, unsure. He, Alex and Nate had been helping Vicky and Ryland to set the house for the party, so he’d told William to come there. Still, the boy was half an hour late and Gabe was really starting to hope he hadn’t changed his mind. Or hadn’t got lost in the Upper East Side.
“Seriously, they haven’t spoken to each other all day,” Vicky said as she leaned against the wall next to him, holding a glass of red wine. Gabe followed her gaze and realized she was talking about Nate, who was talking to Ryland, and Alex, who was showing Tom the view from the windows.
“They’ll talk, sooner or later,” Gabe reassured her with a nod, trying to sound convincing. “Just give them time.”
“I hope you’re right,” Vicky conceded with a sight, then turned to look at the nearby door when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Gabe immediately said, gaining a knowing smirk from her. He opened the door and smiled widely when he saw William standing there with a hand on his hip. “You came.”
“It’s a hell of a place to find on my own, you know?” William whined as the door closed, still glaring at the boy.
“I’m happy to see you too,” Gabe replied, pulling him closer, then leaned in to kiss him. William relaxed and put his hands on the boy’s shoulders, and pulled back only after several seconds. “Missed me?”
“Maybe,” William admitted with a little smirk, then turned to look at Vicky when she reached them. “Hey, Vicky, it’s good to see you and your wonderful house.”
“It’s good to see you too, sweetpie,” Vicky greeted him and pulled him in a brief, heartfelt hug. “I’m glad you could make it,” she added, then hooked her arm around his. “Here, let’s steal you from your boyfriend for a little while.”
“Vicky,” Gabe warned her, silently glad to see William smile at the ‘boyfriend’ part. “Don’t traumatize him.”
“You can come with us, you know?” William replied, gesturing him to follow them as they headed for the buffet table next to the windows.
“I’ll get us something to drink, first,” Gabe said, then disappeared from his view.
“Let’s see, you need to meet the only one in the group you haven’t met, Alex,” Vicky informed with a determined nod. “He’s a script writer, so if you have complains about shitty TV shows, they probably weren’t written by him, ‘cause he’s a damn genius.”
William laughed a little at that and waved at Ryland and Nate as they walked by, then resumed following Vicky. When she stopped, he looked in front of them and froze on the spot as his eyes met Tom’s and both their smiles disappeared.
“Alex, get your ass here,” Vicky called her friend, who was a few feet away, then noticed something was wrong.
“Hey, wait for me, would you?” Gabe glared at her and handed William his glass, then circled his waist with an arm, half hugging him from behind. He placed a kiss to his cheek, but didn’t get any response, so he followed his gaze and felt his stomach twist. “Tom?”
“You knew he’d be here?” William asked in a whisper and put his untouched drink on the nearby table.
“Alex told me last night,” Gabe replied, then pulled back and tried to make eye-contact. “They’re, you know, dating.”
Tom reached them just then with Alex, who looked just as confused about that situation as Gabe was.
“William?” Tom just said, but William shook his head and turned, walking away quickly.
“Wait, your William is Gabe’s William?” Alex asked, looking at Tom first, then at Gabe, who just frowned and followed his boyfriend.
He found him in the bathroom, where the boy was splashing fresh water on his face. For a minute he just stood there, looking at him and it didn’t take him long to understand what was going on. William looked up at him, but didn’t say anything, unsure.
“Ex-boyfriend?” he asked with a little smile, taking a step inside. William nodded and Gabe let out a soft laughter, much to the boy’s annoyance. “No, hey, wait.”
“What? Wanna entertain yourself some more?” William spat, trying to regain some composure.
“Shut up,” Gabe replied and shook his head as he closed the door. He reached the boy and cupped his cheeks with both hands. “I’m laughing because Alex is my ex-boyfriend.”
William’s eyes widened for a moment, then he gave in and stopped trying to push Gabe back. “I just need a minute.”
“If you’re uncomfortable, we can go,” Gabe proposed with a shrug, trying to look at him in the eye. “Have dinner somewhere, just you and me.”
“No, it’s just--” William took a deep breath, resting back against the sink. “The break up wasn’t exactly a peachy, lovely one,” he explained, finally looking at Gabe. “I wasn’t prepared to see him.”
“To see him? Or to see him with someone else?” Gabe offered, but immediately regretted it when he saw the anger in the boy’s eyes. “What happened between you two?”
“He cheated on me, then he had the guts to call me a whore in front of everyone,” William replied, then chuckled bitterly and looked away. “It was almost a year ago.”
“I know what it feels like,” Gabe told him and brought a hand to stroke his cheek.
“Really?” William just arched an eyebrow at him, but didn’t try to step back.
“Hey, Alex isn’t the only ex I have, and I’ve always been good at picking the wrong guys,” Gabe replied, then moved his hand to the side of the boy’s neck. “That’s why I was trying so hard to impress you, I--” he stopped and just let the sentence hang there, then added, “You’re one of a kind and if he’s been such an asshole to you, it’s his loss.”
“You know how to cheer someone’s ego up, don’t you?” William huffed out a laughter and rested his forehead against his boyfriend’s shoulder. “I need to get over this, he doesn’t mean anything to me anymore.”
“You’ll get over the pain, it’ll only take a while,” Gabe whispered against his ear, hugging him. It was the first time the boy was openly talking about his feelings and he hoped he wasn’t going to ruin everything with his next words. “And maybe someone else who does mean something.”
“I’ve met you a week ago,” William said, pulling back, but his tone was more surprised than angry.
“So what? I can’t like you after a week?” Gabe shrugged, trying to look unconcerned, but his worry was clearly showing in his eyes. “Do I need to remind you I had a crush on you before we even really met?”
“That was creepy,” William admitted, laughing, then relaxed against him and hesitated for a few seconds. “I do like you, Gabe, I just-- I don’t know what I’m ready for.”
“You said it yourself, it’s been a week, I don’t wanna get married,” Gabe replied with a nod, maintaining eye-contact.
“Yet,” William added for him, smirking.
“Let’s just see where this goes,” Gabe proposed as his smile widened. “And if you don’t feel like going back to the party, we can sneak out.”
“There’s no need to,” William replied, then took another deep breath. Someone knocked on the door and Gabe almost told them to fuck off, but bit it back.
“William, are you in there?” Tom asked from outside, sounding obviously worried.
“I have to talk to him,” William whispered on Gabe’s lips, closing his eyes. When he opened them again, he saw his boyfriend nod and head for the door. He saw Gabe glare a little at Tom as a warning and felt his lips curve up in a smile.
~
“What’s going on in there?” Alex asked as soon as Gabe appeared in the living room.
“Well, not much, just that your boyfriend is my boyfriend’s ex-boyfriend,” Gabe explained with a frown, still a little confused.
“I need a beer,” Ryland declared and headed for the drinks, shaking his head.
“What did William tell you?” Vicky asked after glaring at her fiancée for a moment.
“That they broke up badly about a year ago,” Gabe just said, glancing at the nearby hallway. “They’re talking now, I guess it’s a good sign.”
“Is there something I can do?” Vicky asked and they both turned to look at her, surprised.
“Yes, enjoy your party, we’ll take care of the drama,” Gabe replied, then placed a kiss on her temple, grateful. She didn’t look convinced at all and looked at Alex, who just nodded to reassure her. As she gave in and reached Ryland, Gabe took a deep breath. “This is gonna be complicated.”
“Tom mentioned an ex-boyfriend named William, but I never thought it could be your William,” Alex said with an apologetic tone, almost angry. “I didn’t even know your William knew Mike and Tom.”
“I did,” Gabe admitted, looking at him in the eye. “William told me he and Tom weren’t talking to each other, but I had no idea it was something like this.”
“You could have told me, you know?” Alex addressed him a brief glare, then glanced at the hallway, worried.
“Really? And say what, ‘the guy I’m dating doesn’t talk to the guy you’re dating’?” Gabe let out a soft, unbelieving chuckle.
“Better than nothing,” Alex pointed out with a raised eyebrow.
“No, you would have thought I was trying to push you away from Tom, to make you change your mind about him,” Gabe objected, starting to get annoyed by his friend’s reaction. “Which I wasn’t, because I never thought he’d stick around.”
“You used to know me better than that,” Alex said, his voice turning a little calmer and sadder. Gabe felt his stomach twist at the disappointed look in his friend’s eyes and grabbed his arm, then pulled him in the quiet hallway, just a few feet away from the bathroom.
“I still know you better than you think, that’s why I thought he wasn’t gonna stay, I thought he was just a fuck, a revenge,” Gabe paused and stopped Alex when he tried to protest. “But then I saw you two together last night, I saw the way you were afraid Nate was gonna push him away, and I realized he’s gonna stick around for a long time,” he added, then smiled at the surprise on Alex’s face and continued, “Just, you were already pissed off, so I figured that it was better if you found out about William today.”
“I’m such an idiot,” Alex huffed out and shook his head, clearly relieved.
“Yes, my friend, you are,” Gabe confirmed with a pat on the shoulder, then his smile faded as he eyed the bathroom door once again. “How long d’you think this is gonna take?”
“I don’t know,” Alex admitted with a shrug, but he was worried as well. “I just hope they both come out alive.”
Gabe rolled his eyes at him, the rested his back against the wall, waiting.
~
“So, big mess, uh?” Tom started, hesitant and almost sure William was going to get mad at him. Surprisingly enough, the boy nodded and huffed out a soft laughter.
“Gabe’s right, it is kinda funny that his ex-boyfriend is dating mine,” William admitted as he leaned against the sink with his hip. “And we didn’t even have to set you two up.”
Tom laughed a little as well, resting his back against the door. He knew better than trying to get physically closer, he knew William would probably misinterpret it. And it would bring back bad memories from the last time they had talked. “You’re not yelling at me,” he said once he managed to stop his train of thoughts.
“I don’t wanna ruin my voice,” William joked, but it sounded weaker than he’d expected and he cleared his throat. “It’s been almost a year, Tom, I got over it. Maybe not completely, but enough to not yell.”
“I miss you,” Tom admitted with a little smile then stopped the boy, who was already opening his mouth to protest. “I miss talking to you, miss your snarky jokes,” he paused and took a deep breath. “I miss being friends.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that and even if I were, things wouldn’t be as they used to be,” William replied, but much to the other’s relief, he wasn’t angry.
“I know,” Tom said with a slow nod, then hesitated for a few, long seconds before speaking again. “I never had a chance to say I’m sorry,” he paused and looked away for a moment. “For all I’ve done, including that punch.”
“Yeah, that wasn’t nice,” William agreed and his expression hardened at the memory. “Neither were the words you used, or the way you humiliated me in front of everyone.”
Tom used all his willpower to hold his gaze, accepting every word without fighting back. It was the chance he’d waited for months, probably the only chance to set things right.
“I should have apologized a long time ago,” Tom admitted with a serious look in his eyes.
“I wouldn’t have listened,” William replied with a raised eyebrow.
“Why are you listening now?” Tom frowned a little, not completely sure he wanted to hear the answer.
“Because maybe, if we can talk to each other again, if I can see your good side again, then I might forget how much I want to smash your face into a wall,” William said without a trace of amusement in his voice, then sighed. “And Alex is Gabe’s best friend, if you two are together, I’m afraid we’ll be around each other often and I don’t want any useless drama."
“I’ve changed a lot in the past year,” Tom informed with a little smile. “You’ve changed too.”
“No, I’ve always been awesome,” William objected and let a little smile tug at his lips.
“I’m happy you found someone,” Tom said and his tone sounded sincere, which surprised the other boy. “Alex says he’s a great guy.”
“He is,” William just said, then bit on his lower lip, unsure. “I think we should go back in there,” he added with a nod towards the door.
“Yeah, before they kick down the door to make sure we’re not killing each other,” Tom agreed with a little smile, than took a step towards the boy. “Just one last thing.”
“What?” William arched an eyebrow at him, hesitant, but didn’t move back when he reached him.
Tom tilted his head up a little and pressed a kiss on William’s cheek, slow and careful, then pulled back and looked at him in the eye. “I’m sorry for everything,” he whispered, feeling a knot form in his throat.
“And one day I might feel sorry for saying around that you’ve been in jail for robbery,” William replied and did his best to not look too satisfied at the horrified expression on Tom’s face. “What? I was furious,” he added with a shrug.
“Alright, fair enough,” Tom said and shook his head, unbelieving, then chuckled and looked up at him. He turned and headed for the door, but felt William’s hand on his arm and stopped.
“We’re not friends, you know that, right?” William reminded him, conscious that the boy already knew that. “We’re just being civil. I can’t give you anything more than that, not right now.”
“It’s more than I hoped for,” Tom admitted and waited for William to nod before he opened the door and stepped out.
William left the bathroom right behind him and they both stopped when they saw Alex and Gabe waiting not far, both with worried looks on their faces.
“Want to go?” Gabe asked as soon as William reached him.
“No need,” the boy said and placed a kiss on his shoulder, thankful, then turned to face Alex. “So, Vicky was telling me you write TV-shows.”
“I do,” Alex confirmed with a highly confused frown, but then glanced at Tom and saw him nod.
“Well, what about you tell me what you write and I give you merciless but completely honest reviews?” William proposed, hooking his arm around Alex’s, then walked them back towards the party.
Gabe and Tom both watched them go, then looked at each other, a little amused. “Has he always been this way?”
“Well, if you ask him, he’ll tell you he’s always been awesome,” Tom replied with a smile, then took a deep breath, looking at the boy in front of him. “Has Alex always been so self-confident, or was it the Nate thing that pushed him so far down?”
“He’s a writer, he’s always had his insecurities,” Gabe replied, then turned to look at him in the eye. “But never this much,” he paused and showed a little smile. “You’re good for him.”
“I thought Nate was your friend, aren’t you supposed to take his side?” Tom asked with a chuckle, surprised.
“Nate is my friend, but Alex,” Gabe replied and glanced at the crowded living room not far, where the boy was explaining something to William. “Alex is Alex, with his cheeky jokes and the loud attitude, but no one ever takes the time to see if there’s something more than that, no one ever sees just how amazing he is. You do and he deserves that.”
“I’m glad to know you don’t completely hate me,” Tom pointed out with a relieved smile, then gestured Gabe towards the party. “Wanna get something to drink?”
“Sure,” Gabe accepted and felt his hostility for the boy fade a little.
~~
A/N:it could have gone worse, trust me. It almost did, but then I stuck to my ‘no killers’ plan, so here it is. LOL
Well, I’m finally back after the hiatus and I hope this was worth the wait. :P
In case you’re interested, I also have a stickam now, because… well, I’m not sure why, but I do. And I may or may not be there ranting about stuff after the updates, so if you feel like chatting a little bit, you can find me here. I'll warn you on twitter, anyway.
Also, remember, if you want the soundtrack, just say so in the comment. :D
See ya next week with the Christmas chapter, people.
JM