Chapter Seven
Author: Keishi
BIG FAT WARNING:
Contains m/m relationships
ONLY read if you are of age and open-minded!!
Lost in his thoughts, Gade jumped halfway to the ceiling when one meaty hand landed on his shoulder. "Will!" he hissed when he turned around. "Don't do that!"
Wilhelm just grinned his famous grin, wiggling his eyebrows at Gade. "You're starting to act like a schoolgirl with a crush, McKay. Staring off into space in the middle of a crowded hallway? And was that Drayne that just passed?"
"Shove it," Gade replied, turning to walk away.
Will's grip tightened. "Hold it there, lover boy. Got something for ya." He grabbed Gade's hand and curled a neon pink slip of paper into it, cut- out letters emblazoned across. "Consider this your official invitation."
Gade scanned the slip of paper quickly. Someone was having a party Saturday night, that much he'd gleaned from the loud flyer. He nearly choked when he saw the address. "Drayne's house!?"
Will pushed Gade against the wall, crowding him. Leaning down to leer at the brunet, he said lowly, "You better fucking show, McKay. No excuses." Releasing him abruptly, he backed away and sauntered down the hall, whistling. Gade was left staring after him, the pink invite still clutched in his hand. What the fuck was going on?
--
Gade lay on his bed later that afternoon, Carly's number on a slip of paper between his fingers. He had been torn between calling her and dialing Drayne's number. He wanted so bad to hear his best friend's laugh, to tell him things were cool between them, but he just couldn't bring himself to lie. And that's exactly what he would be doing, because things weren't okay. How could they be when all Gade could think about was fucking his very best, very male friend?
Sighing, he flipped open his phone and dialed the now memorized number. He paused a second before hitting 'Send,' readying himself. The phone rang twice before a breathy voice answered, "Hello?"
"Is Carly there?"
"This is she."
Gade relaxed against his pillow. "Hey, it's--"
"Gade, I know. So what's up?"
Taking a deep breath, Gade gathered up his courage. "I was wondering if you were doing anything tomorrow night?"
A pause. "Nothing entirely engaging. Why, got something in mind?"
Gade smiled to himself, running a hand through his hair. "How would you like to go to a party with me?"
--
Gade and Carly reached Drayne's house around a quarter to ten Saturday night. The music could be heard a block away; it was a wonder no one had called the cops yet, he mused. Sparing Carly a brief glance before leading her up the walkway, Gade grimaced as the door swung open to reveal a very drunk, very menacing Wilhelm.
"About fucking time, Gade," he growled, staring down at the pair on the porch.
"Whatever, man, I came didn't I?" Gade retorted, attempting to shoulder past the bigger man. Will held his ground, however. He shoved a plastic cup filled with an only slightly cold amber liquid into Gade's hand.
"What the hell?"
"Drink," Will commanded, before moving out of the way and granting them entrance. Taking Carly's hand, Will grinned lecherously and bent to kiss her knuckles. "A pleasure, madam."
Carly scowled at him, clearly not impressed. She yanked her hand back when he began licking a finger. "For who?" she snapped, before stalking ahead of both men, in search of the harder liquor.
Will made faces at her retreating form. "Charming," he remarked, turning back to Gade.
"So are you, fuckhead," Gade ground out before following Carly into the crowd.
The house appeared full to burst with people, some Gade knew, others he hadn't ever seen before in his life. The music was deafening and balls-to- the-wall rock n' roll. He spotted Chasey stripping on the kitchen table, with Sebastian trying (and failing) to coax him off of it. Deciding he'd exact his revenge on Sebastian later, he circled past them, and Chasey's throng of female admirers, until he found Carly on her knees in front of the liquor cabinet.
"Merlot," she murmured to herself. "This'll do the trick nicely." Fisting a corkscrew, she opened the wine bottle effortlessly.
"Trying to forget something?" Gade asked, kneeling beside her as she took the first gulp.
Handing the bottle over to Gade, Carly winked at him. "Nope, just trying to show a specific bastard in the front room that I can party just as hard." Her eyes grew dark.
Raising an eyebrow, Gade took a swig. He knew exactly which bastard she was referring to; her very ex-boyfriend, the cause of all her tears and pain as of late. The one who left because she just wasn't enough 'fun.'
The wine was certainly an acquired taste, Gade surmised as he drank, but one he could live with. Gulping down a few more mouthfuls, he handed the bottle back to Carly and downed his beer.
"Come on!" she yelled, grabbing his hand. "Let's dance!"
As the night wore on, the party grew steadily rowdier. In between dancing with Carly and drinking more alcohol than he cared to admit, Gade searched everywhere for Drayne. He was nowhere to be found. He found Theo dancing with some pink-haired girl in the hallway, but she said she hadn't seenhim all night. When he discovered Will necking with some black-haired boy in Drayne's bedroom, the blond just shrugged and mumbled something about checking outside before turning back to the task at hand; namely, attempting to remove a fishnet shirt with his teeth.
Walking out into the backyard, Gade wound his way through the half-acre yard of trees to the old clubhouse in back. The structure had rotted over the years, barely more than a few beams of red-painted wood and a clapboard floor. He spotted Drayne's profile by moonlight long before he climbed the small ladder, plopping down a bit drunkenly next to his best friend of four years.
"Hey," he said quietly.
"Hey," Drayne echoed, securing his arms a bit tighter around his knees. He looked so sad, mouth turned down, black bangs obscuring his face. He didn't even bother to look up at Gade.
Perching against a rotting beam, Gade let his head fall back to look out at the star-filled sky. He let out a breath, watching it mist out in front of him. "What'cha doing out here?"
"Nothing," Drayne mumbled, into his pants.
Swinging to look at Drayne, Gade leveled him with a heavy-lidded stare. "Awful cold to be out here for nothing," he commented.
Drayne shifted. He glanced briefly over at Gade, then back out into the night. Gade slid over until their knees touched, bumping together. He wrapped his arms about Drayne, burying his head into his shoulder. "I'm sorry," he mumbled into Drayne's ripped t-shirt. "I'm so fucking sorry." He wanted to say so much more. He knew Drayne couldn't possibly understand what he was apologizing for, but he willed him to forgive him anyway. He could feel tears burning at the corners of his eyes.
At first, Drayne didn't do anything. He simply sat there and let Gade hold him. It wasn't until he felt the first gulp of tears that he moved.
Placing a hand over one of Gade's, Drayne whispered softly. The words were lost into the night, but Gade understood. Drayne had forgiven him.
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