Oblivious

Part Two

Wake to sunlight and groan, roll over to get away from the glare and discover Elijah still deeply asleep, hair tousled, face smooth and relaxed, hand curled up near his cheek now. He looks like some sort of angel. Clean, smooth and sweet. The white sheet and pillow case framing his face only making the image worse. Blink and realize I’m staring. Roll over and check the time. Ten past one. No wonder the light’s streaming in. Feel my stomach rumble. Need food, a shower. Slide out of bed and catch myself staring again, a full patch of sunlight has fallen over him and yet he still sleeps. Sunlight is only making him look more like llenllen angel, making the entire thing worse so I retreat to a shower.

No one should look that innocent, that helpless and vulnerable. I used to think it was the eyes, so big and blue that gave the impression of such utter innocence. Maybe I was wrong.

Let the water roll over me, beating against my back, falling in crystalline drops to the floor. Sunlight again. Makes everything beautiful. Wash slow, rubbing the soap in, soaking in the scent of it. Some days I crave it, especially after the long shoots, the physical ones where I end up hot, cold, sweaty and covered in dirt. The long nights when all I want is a good long, hot shower. Rinse off the soap and step out. Air’s humid now, soft and warm, and last night returns in a quiet rush. Warmth, soft, fuzzy. Sean’s fingers. Purring. Suddenly flushing red. Pretty pathetic thing to do, get drunk and purr for some guy to stroke my hair. Has it really been that long since some touched me? That I needed to that to feel good again? Stare at myself in the mirror and turn away. Have I really become so desperate? Grab a thick towel and dry off, realize too late I didn’t bring any clean clothes with me. Pull the boxers on and pull the door open. Gasp in the cold air, goose bumps suddenly rising, nipples hard. Should have remembered clothes. Get caught up staring at Elijah again, as soon as I walk through the bedroom door. Sunlight’s filtering through his hair now, looks like a brown and gold halo. Angel. Shake my head perplexed, reaching for the bedside table, top drawer. How can a grown man look like that? Notice the lamp is half off the table, alarm clock pushed all the way to the back. Smile. Can just imagine Elijah drunk as he was last night trying to turn on the light. Straighten the lamp back up and put the alarm clock back where it’s supposed to be. Rummage in the top drawer for clean boxers. Elijah finally stirs, yawns. Turn to watch his eyes open. Brilliant, crystal blue. Shock. Confusion followed very quickly by something I can’t quite fathom. Eyelids heavy, watching me freeze, dark green satin boxers in one hand, slowly standing up straight.

“Bout time you woke up.” Grumpier than I intended.
That unfathomable look suddenly gone, replaced by hurt, something close to embarrassment or shame. Pale porcelain skin suddenly rosy pink.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…” closes his eyes and buries his face in the pillow.
Take the opportunity to grab jeans and a shirt from the wardrobe.
“It’s alright, I’ll drop you home later if you like.”
His eyes crack open, well I’m assuming both do, I can only see the right one, peering at me from amongst white cotton.
“Later?” a frown.
“Yeah later, I’m too hungry right now. Get up, bathroom’s down the hall, I’ll get you some coffee.”
He blinks at me, raising himself up on his forearms. Unsure. Blink at him and suddenly it hits.
‘He thinks you’re pissed at him.’ Snort and grin.
“Come on little Hobbit out of my bed, get in the shower.”
Sudden soft smile.

Change clothes in the bedroom as I hear the water start. He remembered to take his clothes with him. Kettle whistles as the phone starts to ring. Shit. Pick up the phone and run for the kitchen.
“Yeah?”
“Orlando, it’s Dom. Hey is Elijah there?”
“Yeah he’s in the shower though.”
Turn off he kettle and pour water into last night’s mugs. Silence on the other end of the phone line.
“So if was a good night then?” tentative.
“Yeah fine. It’s a pity you and Billy missed it.”
Another pause.
“And Elijah’s in the shower.”
Frowning, I said that already. Maybe Billy fucked all the sense out of him.
“It was a pretty late night then?” he sounds weird, like there’s some part of the conversation I’m missing.
“Yeah fairly. Elijah got totalled.”
“Really and you?” pressing for something but what?
“Not really, not as much as Elijah, he seemed to find the garden out front fascinating.”
“So you…” prompting.
“Brought him upstairs and while I was making coffee he stole my bed.”
Stir milk into both mugs. Hope Elijah takes milk in his coffee, can’t remember seeing him with black coffee.
“He stole your bed?”
“Yeah, left him alone for five minutes and he crawled into my bed.”
Elijah hurries into the room, eyes wide, looks a little panicked.
“Who is it?”
“Dom” I mouth.
His eyes go wider and he reaches for the phone. Frown at him and turn away.
“Into your bed? Uh ha and?”
“Bastard fell asleep, why? He’s here now if you want to talk to him?”
“No, it’s alright, I’ll talk to him tomorrow, just wondered where he got to.”
“Okay Dom, see you Monday.” Hang up.
Elijah’s looking pale, hang over must have kicked in. Hand him his coffee.
“Here, drink it you’ll feel better.” When he looks at it like it’s a foreign object.
“What did Dom say?” takes the mug from my hand.
“He’ll call you tomorrow, just wondering where you were.”
“Oh. He didn’t say anything else?” eyes intent.
“Nope, why?” remember how weird Dom sounded and grin suddenly. “You being playing Hobbit games?” smirk. “Always knew you were into Hobbits Elijah.”
Eyes wide again.
“You know…” stammering.
“I’ve always known. I mean damn Lij, the way you look at some guy’s it’s not half obvious.”
He’s choking on his first sip of coffee. Slap him on the back, careful so he doesn’t spill his coffee.
“It’s alright though. I mean if Dom and Billy are all over each other I doubt you being the same way is gonna bother me.”
He’s looking at me like a just declared I was an alien from Pluto, either that or a Martian from Mars. Notice his hands are shaking, he’s going to spill his coffee so I take the mug from his still, frozen hands.
“You…”
“It’s fine.”
Still that look of total incomprehension.
“Christ Elijah.” Put my coffee down and hug him, just envelop him. “We’re still friends, it doesn’t change anything.”
He doesn’t move and I realize I might be making him uncomfortable so I let him go, hand him back his coffee and pick up mine. He’s silent, won’t meet my eyes.
“Your buttons undone.” He’s blushing madly.
Look down, the two top buttons of my jeans still undone. Forgot about them when I picked up the phone. Button the jeans up all the way.
“Thanks.” Go back to drinking my coffee.
“You hungry? I feel like a proper breakfast.”
He’s blinking at me again, shocked like. Maybe he doesn’t fair so well after alcohol.
“Hey Lij you hungry?”
“Yeah.” Voice husky.
“You alright?” frown worried, he doesn’t look so good.
His head snaps up, stares at me, he blushes again.
“I’m fine.”
Frown at him.
“Really, I’m fine…fine.”