A Shift To Remember // DOFTY

Before

Dom was only sixteen, so dating an older boy seemed exciting at first. He found it thrilling that an eighteen year old, like Isaac Mayfield, would find something remotely exciting about him. However, when Isaac asked him out, Dom originally said no. Thoughts of his dad's rejection and the fear of what he could say or do overpowered what he wanted. It felt stupid, he felt stupid, having to explain to Isaac that his dad was homophobic. He felt like Isaac would think he was just a child, feeling his parents attention. But Isaac only smiled. Looking back, Dom realised it was probably because it made him an even easier target, but in that moment Isaac helped Dom overcome the need for his dad's approval, and that is something Dom will always be grateful for.

It had only been a couple of months since Dom and Isaac had starting dating, but Dom was already having doubts over their relationship. Isaac had become controlling and Dom felt like he couldn't be himself, only who Isaac wanted him to be.

~~~

Dom was just coming home after visiting Isaac, when he saw the delivery van pulling up to the house next to his. This house had remained unoccupied for a few years now, so Dom was quite excited at the idea of finally having a next door neighbour. His mum told him they had a son, so Dom was hoping that he would finally be able to make a close friend, or if they are younger at least have an excuse to go to the new adventure park that he wouldn't be allowed in unless he had a smaller child with him. So, Dom watched closely as all the furniture was brought into the house. The van drove off, and minutes later a nice blue car parked in the driveway. Dom looked down from the tree he was sat in across the road to see a well dressed couple get out of the car. Huffing, Dom left all thoughts of a friend behind. If their kid was anything like them, then Dom would certainly not talk to him. They looked like stuck up people who Dom did not want to be associated with.
Just as he was about to jump down, however, he saw a boy around his age jump out the car. This boy was the complete opposite of his parents, messy hair, casual clothes and a goofy smile. Dom couldn't help but smile, seeing him stumble once he landed and fall back towards the car. His mum barked something at him, and the boy said something back before slamming the car door and walking down the drive, looking around.

Dom suddenly found the boys eyes locked on his and he felt the blush that heated his cheeks. The boy smiled an adorable smile and bounced across the road, coming to a stop at the bottom of Dom's tree.
"Hello!" The boy said, "I've just moved in. Though you know that." He paused for a moment. "Anyway, I'm Ben. Ben Chiltern."
Dom smiled and slid down from the tree, landing next to Ben, "Hey Ben, my name's Dominic, but please just call me Dom."
"Hi Dom!" Ben replied, before telling Dom all about his journey here. Dom couldn't help but smile at his animated eyes and his gestures as he exaggerated traffic jams and and old man who was just stood in the road. It was that happiest he had felt for a while, and it was all because of this Ben who he hardly knew. Dom was so captivated by Ben that he didn't notice his front door open and his dad look out.
"Oi, Darren." He yelled out, "You've been at yur bloody boyfriends house for hours. Get yur butt inside."
Dom was visibly upset and something seemed to change in him. Surprisingly, Ben just wrapped his arms around Dom and passed him a sticky note with his number on it. "We'll talk again soon, yeah Dom?" He looked slightly worried but excited, the pink flush from the cold covering his nose and cheeks. Dom smiled wryly at him and took the sticky note. Waving goodbye to Ben, he crossed the road and slipped through the front door. Ben watched until the door shut, before he too crossed the road and went inside. He passed his parents in hallway and went upstairs to the room he claimed when they came to look at the house. It used to be the loft, but was converted into a small bedroom by the people who lived here a few years ago.

Ben lay back on his rug, and thought about meeting Dom. "I didn't talk too much did I?" He thought. Thinking back all he could remember was talking to Dom. Cringing, Ben  put his face in his hands. Dominic probably thought he was a right weirdo. The annoying kid next door. Ughhhh.
Then. Ben thought about Dom's dad, calling him in. He sounded quite harsh and rude towards his son, but Ben didn't like to judge people, so being as innocent and naive - or maybe just optimistic- as he was, he just thought that maybe he'd just had a bad day. He could have sworn he heard Dom's dad call him Darren, but he probably just heard wrong.
Ben found himself thinking about Dom for the rest of the day, constantly checking his phone for a text from him, even worrying that he gave Dom the wrong number. He wasn't going to deny it, Dom was very cute. He couldn't help feeling slightly upset to hear that he already had a boyfriend (if Dom's dad was right), but also very glad to hear that Dom was indeed into guys. Ben had known for a while that he was bisexual, but he kept it quiet as he wasn't quite sure how his slightly old-school, posh parents would react. Oh well, he thought, it's not like Dom would actually be into him anyway. He hasn't even texted him yet. Rejected, Ben threw his phone down and left his room, heading downstairs to turn on the tv for while.

~~~

Ben's phone lay, in the dark room, on his bed. The screen dark. The bedroom door slammed shut as Ben left but as he thundered down the stairs, the screen lit up and the phone binged. On the screen there was a notification. A text from an unknown number. Hi, Ben. It said. It's Dom Copeland. From the tree x sorry for earlier, about my dad I mean. Look forward to seeing you soon, if you don't mind xxx

Dom sat looking at his phone. Ben hasn't seen his message. Was it the right number? He checked. Yes it was. Dom sighed. Maybe he was just busy.