VVhite Coffee (boyxboy)

[10] Talk the talk.

     "I'll be there in 20 minutes."

     Morris's half-closed eyes didn't blink as he observed the rain pour down the window of his living room.

     "I was calling to let you know I'm not going to work today. Can't drive you."

     Victor didn't respond right ahead. While he pondered, Morris observed a particular drop of rain on its journey downwards. The watery shadows of rain shifted across his skin, smooth from the neutrality of his expression.

     "What happened?"

     Yes Victor was his best friend, but the last person he wanted to tell what happened to was a gay man. He'd probably twist his mind into thinking he was one as well, and Morris wasn't having any of that.

     "It doesn't concern you."

     Victor paused. "10 minutes."

     Morris opened his mouth, but the call had ended. He let the phone simply drop from his hand onto the couch, and himself as well.

——-

     "I just don't- don't feel well." Morris said through clenched teeth, pacing left and right by the big window of his living room.

     Victor was leaning on the tall cabinet, and so whenever Morris glanced at him, he could see himself in the cabinet's mirror. He looked disgusting from lack of sleep and shaving cream. He forgot to buy some last time he's gone shopping.

      "I just don't understand why you're keeping it from me. What could I possibly do other than give you advice?"

      "I honest to God don't want your advice."

     Victor watched the man pace away from the window to his bedroom and followed. He was getting dressed for work.

     "Thought you weren't feeling well."

     "I was lying, Victor, to get you out of the apartment, but it seems I must leave my own home in order to be left alone."

     The hangers slid down the rod with swooshes as he discarded one suit after the other until the row was finished, point at which he started over.

     Victor approached calmly, a hand in the pocket of his brown pants, and placed the other hand onto Morris's shoulder. Since the thin, long-sleeve t-shirt on him was large, the collar didn't cover his shoulder entirely and so Victor's hand landed on skin.

     It was surely the reason Morris halted and stumbled away, moving the shirt around.

     "Morris."

     "I will have an accusation of sexual harassment thrown at me, Victor! Funny part? I deserve it!"

     Victor gawked at his friend, hand still where Morris's shoulder was moments ago. After just a second, his eyes went half-closed again.

     "How?"

     "I kissed Noah."

     Victor's arm slumped down, both hands now in his pockets. He glanced at the floor, his long neck bent.

     "Why?"

     Morris sat down on his big, unmade bed and rubbed the grey carpet with his naked feet.

     "He just. He just genuinely complimented my top hat and I lost it."

     Victor rubbed his mouth with a hand to keep from laughing. The guy was hopelessly serious about this.