Devil's Effect

Avoiding Reality Part 1

"Okay. Let's go. Peanut butter pancakes for you, cinnamon pecan pancakes for me. I've been on a cinnamon kick lately." Mike hated to move, but he stood up and helped Chester up before he got the crutches from where they were leaning against the bar. He watched Chester make his way over to the door in a bit of a haze, then remembered to snag his backpack with all his work stuff in it so he could follow him out the door, his eyes fixed on Chester's tiny ass and flannel covered back.

****

Chester sat on his bed at Amir's, his leg propped up and the television on. Despite all his protesting earlier, he was still in Mike's clothes. Even the flannel. He stared down at his cell phone with a heavy sigh. He knew Mike would be finished with work soon, and then he'd be on his way over so they could go out to dinner. But plans had changed in the last hour, and Chester was still debating if he wanted to ask Mike to go along with things or not. I told him I didn't want to play make believe, and now look at me. Can I really ask him to do this? He pulled his piercing into his mouth, sucking on it for a few seconds before he decided it never hurt to ask. He'd give Mike every single out he could, and then the choice would be solely up to his ex. He scrolled through his text threads and brought Mike's up quickly, number two on his list. Only Ryan's text conversation was above it.

Chester: Hey, when you get here, I need to ask you something.

Mike was stuffing his piano book into his backpack, anxious to get out of the studio, when his cell vibrated from on top of the piano again. It's probably Jay again. I didn't text him back after the last text. I need to do that. He reached for his phone and slung his backpack over his shoulder at the same time, using one hand to unlock his phone. It was a surprise to see Chester's name instead of another text from his boyfriend, and he smiled, opening it immediately and firing back a response.

Mike: That's cryptic. Hope it's something good. I'm on my way.

He skipped down and read over Jason's last text about how training was going, and decided he'd deal with that later. Jason would call, and they could talk then. The receptionist wasn't at the front when Mike walked out, so he was able to escape without anyone taking another second of his time away from Chester. Lunch, and breakfast, seemed like it had been a long time ago, and he was starving.

Mike: If you're asking me about where to go eat, my answer is whatever is the closest.

Chester's phone jingled and he read Mike's second text. Oh God, he's starving. He might not make it long enough to go with me. Chester sat for a second, debating how much he wanted to get into over text. He knew Mike was driving, or would be driving very shortly, and he didn't want to start something that would lead to a phone call. He wanted to talk about it in person.

Chester: Actually, no. We'll talk when you get here. Hope your day's been good.

Mike frowned at the message, all playfulness gone from his thoughts. He's thought about things today and he's going to tell me this isn't going to work. Or he's upset with me that I put him in this position. Or maybe it's not that bad. Maybe he ruined my shirt somehow. No, he probably took that off as soon as he got home. Ugh. Why didn't he just wait until I got there to say anything? He tossed his backpack across the console into the passenger seat and headed out, hoping the traffic wouldn't be awful and he wouldn't have to worry about what Chester wanted for long.

The fifteen minute drive felt like forever, and Mike was anxious to get parked and up to the apartment where Chester was waiting on him. It hadn't crossed his mind that anyone other than Chester would be opening the door, so it took a second for him to register Amir's face instead. "Oh. Hi, Amir."