"So, I see you like to watch, huh. Interesting!"
"Shut up, Noah!" Austin said as his cheeks burned a cute shade of pink, "It was by accident. And I wasn't watching! Now, if you'll excuse me, I gotta go gouge my eyes out with a toilet brush."
"Awww, Aussy," Noah cooed, "Is this your first time?"
"First time for what?"
"Yup! Definitely your first time," Noah concluded. "I can tell by your flaming cheeks. Dude, you're almost on fire!"
"I wish I was on fire!" Austin huffed and puffed.
The banging noises from the stall started getting louder and it sounded like the two men were in the zone, clearly not bothered by the recent interruption.
"That's our cue to leave. Fast!" Austin pushed Noah back towards the door.
"Why?" Noah asked, "I can think of something way better."
"I'm willing to bet money that that's not true."
"How about we make it a foursome!" Noah suggested, displaying a very wide, cocky smile.
"Yea, well, I'm out of here." Austin said, "You go join in. Fair warning, big guy is gonna eat you...like..literally!"
"Good, I like that!" Noah challenged.
"Ok. Go ahead. I'll tell your family you died stupid." Austin opened the door and walked out.
"Somehow, I don't wanna die before knowing how it feels being married to you." Noah said as he followed Austin out of the washrooms.
"So, in other words, you chickened out." Austin deadpanned.
"No, I really wanna marry you." Noah said.
"How delusional can one guy be!"
"How lucky can one guy be..," Noah started singing. "I kissed her and she -"
"Really? Dean Martin?" Austin asked. "What are you, ninety?"
"I'll be what you want me to be, babe."
"Can you be the guy who jumps off the dam for me? Just say yes and I'll drive you there myself."
"Anything for you, my love!"
"Great, grab your coat, it's freezing down there."
"Where are you guys going?" Nicky asked. With their continuous banter, they hadn't realized that they had reached their booth.
"Just dropping Noah off somewhere."
"Five minutes and the two of you are already buddy-buddy. So cute!" Nicky started, "And to think you weren't gonna last an hour in here together."
"We weren't, but he paid me." Austin said.
"What are you talking about?" Nicky asked, a little confused and curious. Even the others looked up too, paying more attention, wanting to know the details.
"Yea, twenty bucks," Austin answered as he fished out the twenty from his pocket. "By the way, coffee is on Noah!" He concluded with a smirk as he slapped the note onto the table.
"Where are the pies?" Noah asked after sitting down.
"Nicky!" Lira pointed an accusing finger at Nicky.
Noah turned to look at Nicky, who just slanted back on her seat and patted her stomach. "Long story."
"Don't tell it," Austin said. "Just write it down somewhere and then burn it immediately after."
"Whatever. I've been meaning to ask... like how do you expect mom to clean that shirt?"
"I don't think I have the energy to start explaining to her how I got the stain. I'm gonna have to throw it away."
"Can't you just lie?" Michael asked.
"Not possible. The woman is like a dreamcatcher, but with lies." Nicky answered.
"This shirt is getting a little uncomfortable, I'm gonna have to leave guys. See ya!"
Actually, it was getting a lot uncomfortable. Austin had a case of mild O.C.D. when it came to dirt or filthiness . He always felt the urge to clean up whenever he noticed something was accumulating dirt too much or retaining it for too long. That's why, right now, he felt like ripping off the shirt and taking a nice, warm shower to clean himself up.
"Ok, see you at home bro." Nicky was the only other person who new about his condition. He always did his best to hide it from his parents and everyone else.
Austin was walking out of the shop when he noticed the 'blonde-from-hell' standing next to the cashier's counter. She still had the murderous look towards Austin but he ignored her and kept going.
"I feel like this is becoming a thing," Noah said from behind him.
"Don't just string random words together and expect people to understand." Austin said as he unlocked his car door.
"You driving me."
"What are the magic words?" Austin asked as he boarded his car on the driver's side.
"Here's a twenty!" Noah said as he stretched out a hand with a twenty dollar note in it.
"Get in!"
"I wish you were saying those words in a different setting."
"Keep talking and I just might throw you out through the windshield."
Austin kept fidgeting and tagging on the front of his shirt as if it was biting him. He even tapped his thumbs on the steering wheel impatiently, his eyes set on the road ahead as Noah put on his seatbelt.
"Here, take my shirt." Noah suddenly said as he took off his outer shirt.
"What?"
"You clearly hate that one in its current state so you can have mine."
"Dude, put your shirt back on! I'm not wearing it."
"How long have you had it?" Noah's voice was gentle.
"The shirt? Couple of months, probably." Austin answered, wanting this conversation to end quickly.
"No, dummy, you know what I'm talking about."
"I'm really not a mind reader." Austin said.
"Come on, how long?" Noah insisted, actually not sounding like a douche bag.
"I don't think it's any of your business." Austin said without turning to look at him.
"If you're gonna drive me home, then hell yes! It is."
"Hey, here's a crazy idea, there are two people in that coffee shop that are going exactly where you are. And funny coincidence, one of them is related to you and that red Mercedes right there belongs to them. Why don't you go with them!" Austin pointed at the car parked across the street.
"I'm not really a big fan of my cousin and Frenchy-French over there." Noah said.
"Huh. Not in this century did I think that we were ever gonna have something in common." Austin said, starting to yank the front of his wet shirt away from his body.
Noah took off his outer shirt and tossed it to him, "Wear that." He insisted.
"Fine..but only because I feel like I'm suffocating." Austin said as he pulled the T-shirt off.
The moment Noah set his eyes on Austin's torso, he almost choked on his tongue. "Or you can just go like that. Why would you wanna ruin it with clothes." His voice was steady -he had learned to disguise it a while back, but his insides were boiling as he felt his blood rush through his veins in a nerve-wracking manner.
And truth was, he actually needed Austin to hurry and put the damn shirt on before he lost control and pounced on him like a starving lion.
Hell, he had barely been keeping himself in control every time the two of them were alone in the confinement of the car. Adding a topless Austin was bad for both their healths.
He had never felt anything like he did with Austin. He had spent his years going through life as a bad boy; spending money, partying, having sex with any guy(/guys) who was willing to drop his pants -which was never much of a struggle, what with his ridiculously good looks, natural charm and money.
It had gotten worse in the past year, leaving a trail of heartbreaks in his wake. Not even caring if death came and took him in the night while he was passed out in a pool of vomit, mixed with whatever kind of liquor mixture he chose for the night.
He came to this town thinking that it was a dumb idea because the change in scenery could in no way heal his scars.
Of course that changed the moment he looked into those brown eyes that were fresh and calm, like the ocean at the break of dawn -after a storm. It was funny how such a small detail could impact him in such a big way. He suddenly stopped looking for a way to create more scars because he had found a place where the existing ones could be healed.
Somehow, every cell in his being told him to go for it. Follow the small spring that led to the deep, fresh waters. It was almost like a magnetic pull and, by god, he could not get out of the force field.
"You wish!"
"I actually do."
"God! How much cologne can one shirt hold!" He didn't hate it. In fact, the unique scent of it gave him comfort, weirdly.
"I know you love it," Noah stated, not out of certain knowledge but just to see the reaction on Austin's face.
"Yea and we both know you're always as right as a busted Magic-8 ball."
"So, in short, a Magic-8 ball!"
"Sometimes, occasionally, you actually say things that make sense." Austin said, "And then I don't know what happens, it's like you break or short wire ..or something along those lines."
"Do you take meds for it?" Noah asked as Austin started driving away from the front of the coffee shop. He was honestly curious to know.
Austin immediately knew what he was talking about. "I thought we weren't talking about it."
"We aren't, I am."
"Good, go talk to yourself and leave me alone." Austin said as he turned on the radio to a station currently playing Mean by Taylor Swift.
Noah reached over and turned it down, "I'm being serious Austin." He actually did sound serious.
"And what makes you think I'm not ?" Austin asked.
"I don't know, maybe the fact that you're playing a Taylor Swift song!"
"Fine, I'm not on meds, happy?"Â Austin snapped.
"What do your parents say?"
"They don't know."
"How is that possible. I only just met you and I noticed right away!" Noah exclaimed.
"Well, they think I'm a neat freak because I'm apparently gay!"
"That's stupid."
"I don't recall asking for your opinion." Austin said, sounding irritated.
"You gotta get it checked."
"It's really not a big deal. It's only mild."
"Tell that to my shirt!"
"Dude, even you would freak out if your clothes were sticking to you and reeking of coffee."
"No," Noah said, "I would grab a hose, make it more wet and give you a show. I would love to see your hose rise from the entertainment."
"By 'you', I meant normal people. You yourself don't fall into that category."
"Good. What is 'normal' anyway!" Noah said as he flipped through stations until he settled for one playing Mind Over Matter by Young the Giant. "Better."
"Have you never heard the rule of driving?" Austin asked.
"I don't wanna hear it!"
"Driver picks the music." Austin said nonetheless.
"You mean music that belongs in a twelve-year-old girl's iPod!"
"Sing yours before you criticize."
"I will, I just don't have a love interest for the video, yet." Noah said, "Will you be mine? I should probably warn you, it's extremely explicit!"
"Sure, it is. Is Gandhi gonna be in it too?" Austin asked sarcastically.
"Sadly, no. They even refused to let me borrow his glasses for our BDSM scene." Noah explained. "By the way, are you a Sub or a Dom ?"
"If you ask that again, I'll be a murderer."
"Oooh, jolly! I like choking!" Noah said enthusiastically.
"I prefer poison." Austin said.
"Less fun."
"Yea, well, cry me a river!"
"How about you make a certain part of me cry you a lubricant?"
"Do you just not like your life? Are you suicidal?"
"I was.." Noah said so low, that all Austin heard was mumbling.
"Huh?"
"Do you know much about werewolves?" Noah asked.
"Crap!" Austin exclaimed, letting his shoulders drop. He had a clue of what Noah was about to say.
"Well, I'm like a wolf that's found its mate ; Hurt me, maim me, break my heart and my will completely, I will still love you. I have no choice."
"You know, for that to happen, you would actually have to mark me to create the bond." Why was he indulging this maniac!
"Are you saying you wanna pull over so I can mark you? Because that's the best idea you've had all day." Yup, definitely a bad decision enabling him.
Austin turned left and drove for a few seconds then shut down the engine. Noah was surprised beyond words. He definitely did not expect Austin to play along to his stupid remarks.
He only said all that dumb stuff because, being the idiot he was, he couldn't formulate a proper sentence that could make him sound like a normal person telling the other that he liked him.
But now that Austin was playing into the skid, he absolutely had no idea how to react. He didn't know whether Austin was about to kiss him or punch him. So, he prepared himself for either one.
Austin looked Noah in the eyes, eyebrows raised as if expecting Noah to do something and for the first time, Noah was tongue-tied.
Noah simply stared back at Austin, completely caught off guard, his eyes slowly drifting down to Austin's lips, "Wait, are you being serious right now?" He asked expectantly but his nerves were a wreck.
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