So here we are again at a Wednesday. It's an exciting time with a new book out on 23rd and a story in a wonderful anthology. Check on this blog for further information on Project X. I'm very proud of this book and I hope you like it. Back to this brief. The prompt I used this week was
It was obvious Cyan didn’t understand what Alex meant, but
he didn’t press. He just gave an uncertain smile and nod, then turned to Aivah.
“I didn’t think you’d mind.” He leaned close and whispered.
“The gay stuff, I mean. You’re sweet and lovely. Not like the other one.” He
shuddered. “I couldn’t understand why you with the other one,” he said to
Robin.
“Trust me, you’re not the only one,” Alex said, with a grin.
“That was a hot topic of conversation for a long time.”
“Oh thank you,” Robin said. “Now you tell me. So
what…everyone’s been talking about me?”
“Pretty much.”
“For how long?”
“Since you and Gilly got together.”
Robin gaped at him. “Why didn’t you tell me? What were they
saying?”
“If you remember,” Alex said, reaching over to snag a piece
of garlic bread. “I did tell you – or try to. I told you what a monster she is,
and you told me I was jealous.” Alex snorted. “As if.”
“Well…she is beautiful,” Robin said lamely. The words
sounded hollow, even to him.
“Only on the outside,” Cyan said.
“Yes. That’s right.” Aivah smiled sweetly at Cyan. “Only the
outside. On the inside she was…was… ugly, mean, spiteful and vindictive.” She
compressed her lips and nodded once, curtly.
Robin was shocked again. Aivah was usually such a sweetheart
she found it hard to find a bad word to say about anyone. She didn’t seem to be
having too much difficulty with Gillian.
“But…. Really? Everyone was talking about me?”
“Everyone who knew her.”
“Or had ever met her.”
“Or you.”
“What were they saying?” Shock was wearing off, and
curiosity setting in.
“Only that you’re way too nice to be with someone like her.
It was mentioned pretty often.”
“Every time she did something horrible.”
“Oh.” Robin tore a piece of bread and chewed thoughtfully.
“She didn’t treat you very well,” Aivah said. “We all
wondered why you put up with it.”
“I don’t know,” Robin said, and he really didn’t. Had he
been so blinded by her beauty and the status he thought it bought him that he
allowed himself to be treated like a dog? Worse than a dog. He wasn’t very
proud to admit that was exactly what had happened.
“I won’t treat you bad,” Cyan said softly, laying his hand
briefly on Robin’s arm, before snatching it away again. “But I’m really going
to have to work hard to remember not to do it when there are other people
around.”
He looked so upset that he’d slipped up again, Robin’s
resolve wobbled. He so badly wanted to take Cyan in his arms and kiss him right
here and now, but he couldn’t. He wasn’t ready to come out to the world. Not
yet.
“It’s okay,” he said to Cyan. “You’re doing your best. I
know that. I don’t mind if you slip up now and again.”
“You don’t?” Cyan brightened considerably. “Don’t worry. I
won’t do it all the time. I’ll try to remember. It’s just so hard when you’re
so gorgeous, and all I want to do is kiss you.”
Robin’s mouth fell open, and he noticed Alex gaping too.
Aivah giggled, and Cyan batted his eyelashes, giving Robin a hot look, which
quickly turned into a grin.
“I wish you could have seen your face,” he said. “It was a
picture.”
“If you’d said I would have taken a photo,” Aivah said.
“Really?”
“Don’t give him ideas,” Robin broke in. He knew if those two
got their heads together he was doomed.
Cyan laughed. “I don’t need her to give me ideas. I have
lots of them. All the time. My head’s full of them. Especially when you’re
around. Of course, those are the kind of ideas I’m not allowed to talk about.”
“Oh really?” Alex said, leaning across the table, looking
interesting. “And what might they be?”
“Robin knows,” Cyan said, with a wink.
“Aw come on, spoilsport,” Alex said. “I’ve never known
anyone who was gay before. This is my chance to furnish my dirty mind with a
whole new set of images.”
“I hear there’s some really good porn that can do that much
better than I can,” Cyan said smoothly, causing Alex to gape again. “Besides,
you really wouldn’t want your head filled with those kinds of images of your
best friend. Would you?”
Alex swallowed and shook his head. It was all Robin could do
to stop himself from bursting out laughing. Only the stricken expression on
Alex’ face prevented it, and he changed the subject quickly.
After lunch, they went to the cinema, and Robin barely took
in what film they were watching. Sitting way up here, at the back, with no one
to watch and no one to see, he was able to hold Cyan’s hand, then put his arm
around Cyan’s shoulders, and settle him against his side. It was bliss,
especially as Cyan’s hair smelled of honey, and was as soft a silk. Not to
mention that Cyan’s slender form fitted against his side as if it was made to
be there.
At one point in the film, a rainbow spanned the screen, and
Cyan squeezed his hand. “That’s you and me,” he said. “When we’re out in the
sun we shine. When we’re behind the clouds, we’re still there, still shining,
but no one can see us.”
For some reason, the words struck deep and Robin squeezed
Cyan tighter, suddenly realizing what he was doing. Cyan was cuddling him. Cyan
who hated to be touched was tucked under his arm and holding his hand. This
rainbow was more of a miracle than he knew. The realization brought stinging
tears to his eyes, and he coughed to cover a sob. Cuddling closer to Cyan, he
fought, and succeeded in regaining control. For the rest of the movie he sat,
with a huge grin all over his face, his heart lighter than it had been in a
long time.
He could do this. He could so do this.
Now go check out the other amazing flashers out there flashing for you this week
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