The Three Archangels, d'Oggiono, 1516
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It was now Josiah's personal favorite dayâthe last one of the school year. During the past two weeks since the excursion, he'd secretly met with Isaac several times; however, they never once met in each other's rooms. It simply didn't feel right for the no-strings-attached type relationship they developed. Instead, they did their illicit acts in either a janitor's closet, the bathroom, or the locker room showerâbasically wherever they could manage fifteen minutes of privacy. Their satisfying exchanges required few words, only heated embraces and intimate touches.
Currently, his professor was dragging on about how to behave and optional assignments for the break. Josiah yawned and rubbed his dry eyes.
"If you're taking these classes, be sure to read these chapters overâ"
"Josieee!" The professor couldn't finish, because he was interrupted by a woman with short, bouncy hair running excitedly through the doors.
Oh God.
"Excuse me, Ma'am, you're interruptâ"
"Interrupting what? It's their last day for God's sake! Let a sister talk with her little brother."
"Dahlia..." Josiah buried his face in his hands.
"Come with me Josie," Dahlia grabbed him by the arm, "this is important Beckett family business."
Everyone stared at the sight. Women didn't just show up at Eton, attractive women nonetheless, and they definitely didn't violently yank Josiah Beckett out of class. Helpless, he followed her into an empty room. She locked the door behind her.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I heard you came out to mother," she answered bluntly.
He groaned from the memory. "It was an accident and she hit me afterwards. All you need to know is that it wasn't a pleasant experience. You didn't have to come here."
"For your information, she wanted to come all the way here to check on you herself, but I volunteered instead, being the great sister that I am. You should be thanking me."
"Thanks," he said sourly.
Dahlia observed the room, glanced at the oak desk and chair sets and the dusty chalkboard, then looked straight at Josiah. "And I know she may not show it, but I do think she's really worried about you. "
"No she's not," he scoffed. "If anything, she's worried about her damn reputation. It'd absolutely ruin her if her son did something crazy."
"Josiahâ"
"Stop. I don't want to hear about her."
"Suit yourself!" she said, hoisting herself onto a desk. She flattened out the wrinkles in her delicate silk skirt. "So...any other news you have for me then?"
"Like what?"
"Um, hello? Boyfriend updates!"
Right, Dahlia always was a hopeless romantic.
He let out sarcastic laugh. "You're funny."
"How can you attend an all boys' school and not have a secret boyfriend?"
"Easy. I don't bother with one," he shrugged. "And in case you haven't noticed, not everyone is as weirdly open as you are. They can't fathom the idea of a man being attracted to another man who isn't a spawn of Satan." He shifted his weight against a desk. "I can only feel sorrow for any men with that mindset; they'll never experience the satisfaction of being with someone who has exquisite knowledge of the male body."
Dahlia scowled at his raunchy attitude. "Not even a crush?"
"Nope."
"You're blushing!"
"And you're crazy. Now can I finish my class?"
"Wait. I was sent here to check up on you," she said, "but I actually have my own motives as well. I'm going to Italy for my friend's wedding and I want you to join me. It's by our villa so we don't need to spend anything on hotels or make complicated plans."
He raised his brows. "Why would I?"
Now she was examining her French tipped nails. "Because you work yourself to the bone and honestly, I'm scared you're going to collapse one of these daysâdamn it! I chipped one dragging you over here."
"Perhaps you're right..."
"When am I not? Meet me at the airport in three days. I'll get everything set up." She hopped off the desk to leave. "We're going to find you a hot Italian man."
â§ï½¥ï¾: *â§ï½¥ï¾:* ⦠*:ï½¥ï¾â§*:ï½¥ï¾â§
After returning to his desk, he opened his notebook to find a small slip of paper.
Meet me in my room after class.
Josiah frowned at the note. It was Isaac's handwriting, but there was no way it was his words. They'd specifically agreed to not meet in bedrooms because it felt too intimate, it would cross the line they drew. One's room held all their secrets, revealed the type of person they were, and neither of them wanted that. Josiah's heart started racing. Stop it, idiot. There's no reason to be acting like this.
He looked to Isaac, who sat in his usual back seat. Isaac met his eyes, mouthing "J o s i e!", and gesturing towards his notebook.
That stupid name. He tried to maintain a grimace. Though he found himself unable to because he couldn't help but smile at the stupidly obvious way Isaac pointed to his notebook. It was all too endearing, the way he switched from annoyingly stubborn to ridiculously cute, almost like a little kid. He let out a small laugh.
This...this is bad.
"Mr. Beckett! First your sister and now you! Just because it's the last day doesn't mean you can fool around."
Josiah's attention shot towards the front of the room. "My apologies, sir."
The professor turned back to his board, mumbling something inaudible. He didn't know what he said, but whatever it was, it certainly wasn't nice.
â§ï½¥ï¾: *â§ï½¥ï¾:* ⦠*:ï½¥ï¾â§*:ï½¥ï¾â§
After class Josiah let Isaac return to his room first, allowing at least half an hour to pass so that no one saw them together. When he got to his room, he knocked and the door swung open. Before he could say anything, or question his motives, Isaac yanked him in and shoved him against the wood, locking their lips.
"What was that for?" he asked, surprised and breathing heavily. "Not that I mind."
"I won!" he exclaimed. "I submit an art piece for competition and won. It's going into a bloody exhibit!" Isaac's cheeks were flushed with happiness.
"That's fantastic!" he said, still in a state of bewilderment. "I find it odd that you're telling me of all people though."
"...Oh"
Isaac retracted from the door, falling onto the bed.
"...yeah. You're right. Looking back on it, I don't know why I wrote that note. It's just...Ash left early and I was really excited. I didn't have anyone to tell and...I shouldn't have called you over for such a trivial matter. I guess the loneliness has driven me mad?"
Josiah softened his tone as he watched the boy's adrenaline fade. "Hey...don't say that. We're allowed to converse normally...odd as that sounds."
"Still, that was really out of character of me just now. I'm kind of embarrassed that I got so excited."
The room fell silent, Isaac on the bed and Josiah still against the door. Josiah twiddled his thumbs, unsure of what to do now. Feelings of regret filled his body as he stared at the slightly blushing boy.
"You know what else is exciting? My family's villa in Italy. " Josiah sat beside him on the bed, trying to lighten the mood. "Come with me."
Isaac smiled weakly. "I shouldn't. I'd be a costly burden."
Something about the boy's tone was unusualâhe was too quick with an excuse, too familiar with the phrase. You're not a burden, he really wanted to say, not at all. Isaac looked so fragile in his own room, the one place he could let his walls down, a room where he confided in Asher with all petty problemsâprobably involving Josiahâand ranted about his day. Everything felt too closeâtoo intimate, so Josiah kept to himself and didn't cross anymore boundaries.
"Remember that favor you owe me from the hotel that night? Consider this payment. I'm making you go against your will."
"Holding me hostage now?" Corners of the blonde's lips curved up slightly.
"Perhaps. If you want, I'll even blindfold and handcuff you."
"Tempting." Isaac raised a brow. "Can I save that offer for another night?"
Josiah beamed. "Definitely."
"Why me though? Shouldn't you be taking Charlie?"
"Charlie Franz? Why in the world would I take him?"
"He told me you guys were close."
"Did he now?" Josiah clenched his fists at the news. "May I ask what else he said about me?"
"He..." Isaac stared at the floor "...he didn't say anything else."
Josiah leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Are you sure?"
When Isaac finally looked up from the floor, he cocked his head, their faces only centimeters apart. "I think I would know how my own conversations went."
Josiah gave a tight lipped smile. "Very well. I just know how much of a gossip he can be at times." If this were any other situation, he would have already laid Isaac flat on the bed and made him a moaning mess. For a brief second, he was considering doing so, especially after that kiss. But there was a brief and unrecognizable glimmer in Isaac's smoke colored eyes. If it wasn't lust he was feeling, what was it?
What the hell did Charlie tell him?
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sorry guys this chapter is a mess!
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