Stay

PART II

STAY: Part 2 of 2  

1 year and a week later

Luke's POV

A chill runs up my spine as the cold air wisps through me, and by instinct, I hold on to my jacket and wrap my scarf on my neck tighter. I deeply exhale causing a cloud of smoke to come out my mouth, as I remember my first day arriving home, it’s been a week that I’ve been home, and until now I still haven’t have the guts to see Caleb, to know how he has been doing, and how I want to tell him how miserable I was in that 1 year in America, I was a fool to think that everything will be better, that I can start as a new person there but it made me realize that this is my home, I am home when I am with you, Caleb, you are my home. I chuckle as I remember the day we made out on your couch. Yes, Caleb, I was fully aware. I remember the events like it was just yesterday, how you kissed me with so much love and lust. You are so good to me. You matter so much to me not just as my best friend and Amber made me realize that, so don’t hate her that much. I frown realizing these thoughts wouldn’t matter if Caleb wouldn’t hear them, and the I love yous that I was never able to return to him that night. I love you Caleb, more than you know. I’m never the expressive guy when it comes to my best friend and to a guy whom I like, and my first at that.

I huff and decided to head back to my sad and lonesome apartment, still hoping for that day that maybe or magically Caleb and I would crossroads, so much for hoping, I laugh at my nonsense thinking. I continue to walk with my head down as I pick at the lonely rock on the road, kicking and kicking until I’m stopped after hearing the warmest and most familiar voice calling out my name. I raise my head and come eye to eye to black dazzling eyes that scream home. My home. Out of nowhere, I am caught by surprise of my own actions as I throw my arms and cling to him for dear life fearing to lose him from my sight and from my life. “Caleb” I murmur. My heart warms and I smile when he gladly returns the hug, as much as I don’t want to let go but I had so much explaining to do, I frown and gently let him go from the hug. I savor the moment as I take him all in, his hair is slicked back and he’s wearing his white polo tucked in his tight skinny jeans; Caleb always the fashionable man that he is. I smile but it suddenly disappears when I notice something off of him and I notice a guy standing next to him, a handsome guy I might say, having the same height as him and style. A pang of jealousy and hate towards this guy immediately takes me. I stare at Caleb and just like that he gets the message. “This is Martin.” he speaks up with a smile. This “Martin guy”, reaches his hand out with a smile showing his pearly whites, I take it firmly and tightly and say a not so nice hello. Caleb senses the tension and quickly starts a conversation. “I didn’t know… when did you arrive?” Caleb asks. I instantly sense he’s got a lot of questions running through his mind. “A week ago, it doesn’t matter, I’m here now bro, and I’ve missed you.” I desperately declare. Caleb smiles, “I missed you too.” Completely ignoring Martin I ask Caleb, “Maybe we can sit down on some coffee? I’ve been meaning to tell you something.” I’m not stalling my feelings anymore, especially realizing that Martin might be a rival. “Actually, Martin and I are going somewhere urgent.” Caleb replies and awkwardly scratches the back of his neck. I feel my heart break from that turndown, Caleb probably senses it which made him instantly put his hand on my shoulder to comfort me. “I’m really really glad you’re back, but maybe some other time? Let’s meet up soon, I promise.” He assures me. I half-smile and we say our goodbyes. Change of plans, Luke. We are going to the club.

I’m already on my 6th bottle, I can already feel the hangover I’ll have the next morning, not only that but how am I going to drive home in the state I am in. I furrow my eyebrows when I again remember how Caleb turned me down for that guy, how can he even say some other time, when that guy is all over him, there will be no other time. They have probably been together 24/7 while I was in America, doing things that I thought me and Caleb only shared. I feel disgusted at the thoughts of some other man, kissing my Caleb. I take another swig of my beer and wipe furiously at my mouth. I stumble to the door of the club as my head spins still bottle in hand. A rush of adrenaline comes through me and instantly felt like picking a fight with a guy, I throw my bottle at some guy outside which worked and immediately provoked him. I closed my eyes and accepted the punches, punch after punch I insulted him, I want to feel numb, I want the feelings to go away. All of a sudden, the punch stopped coming, I find myself lying on the ground. I pry my eyes open and come face to face with the person who is the reason I was out drinking, Caleb. “Are you out of your mind, Luke?” he furiously shakes me. I look at my attacker, limping away. I drunkenly smile, Caleb did that for me. He doesn’t wait for my reply. As he takes me by my arm and places them on his shoulder “Let’s take you home.”

Caleb doesn’t know where I lived and I was too drunk to even remember my own address so we settled to head to his apartment instead. I smile as we sit on the familiar sofa that held so many steamy memories, seeing Caleb really did the trick in waking me up from my drunken state but the tension was so awkward, Caleb was first to speak “So will you expl-“ I beat him to it and say the words that I’ve always wanted to say, “I love you, Caleb.” Pure shock is evident on his face without waiting for a reply or thinking it through, I kiss him hard. I feel him relax as he responds to my kiss, we hold each other as we make out for a good 15 mins, not until he pushes me away from me, I frown. “Wait. Luke you’re just drunk.” Caleb says to me and mostly to himself questioningly. I slump and fall back, giving both of us distance to regain ourselves, Caleb’s frown doesn’t go unnoticed. So, it wasn’t just me who’s enjoying the closeness. I wipe away the smirk on my face; I need to be serious about this if I want Caleb and me to work. I take the opportunity, “I’m sober Caleb, I love you and that’s for real. I should’ve said it a long time ago I just didn’t have the guts to do so….” I tell him everything, my thoughts, from the make-out session we had on the sofa, to the agony I had while I was in America and the first week when I got home. He blushed, he laughed and he smiled. It made my heart flutter; I think I’m head over heels over this guy. “I love you too, Luke.” He responds shyly. “So, how about this Martin guy then.” I say jealousy lacing my words. “Geez, he’s my cousin.” He responds, lightly punching my shoulder. “So that explains the resemblance.” I think to myself and laugh. We smile at each other lovingly. Without thinking, I throw myself at him, I trap him below me as I hover over him, and he blushes. I smirk, “So does that mean I can have you to myself then?” I ask without even bothering for a reply because I already know the answer, I kiss him, not aggressively or angrily, I kiss him with all my heart and love, I pour out all the feelings I’ve always wanted him to feel into the kiss; it’s sweet and warm. I stop and stare at him right in the eye. “You are all I need, Caleb. I’ll forever be thankful to have you not only as my best friend but someone so much more with whom I can share everything. Nothing can ever come between us now, move in with me, maybe that’s too soon but will you stay with me forever and always from now on… I love you, Caleb.” He searches my eye for any sign of lie or resentment from the words I said. He flips us over, he was now hovering over me, his eyes twinkle with so much happiness and love as a smile makes it way to his face “I love you Luke, and I’ll gladly stay with you now, forever and always.”

 He made me the happiest man alive, we both did, and that night we made out and made love ‘til the break of dawn.