Something Like This (4/?)

[be-my-precious.livejournal.com]

Title:  Something Like This (4/?)
Author:  be_my_precious
Rating:  I wanted it to eventually be NC-17... we'll see. :-/
Disclaimer:  Don't know them, don't own them
No beta, all mistakes are my own

 

The front door was mocking him.  And so was the clock.  Glancing once again at the later, Orlando sighed.  5:22.  It was becoming painfully obvious what was happening… he was being stood up.  Raking his hand through his hair, he decided it was just as well.  It wasn’t like he was some great catch, after all.  What gay man in existence would want to date a guy who could only talk about his sexuality when everyone within earshot had to either be gay themselves or clearly gay friendly?

 

5:23.  Fuck it.  He knew he should just leave and make it less embarrassing in the long run.  He turned toward the register and started walking toward the employee lounge to gather his things.

 

“Oooorlii…” he heard his name drawn out and cringed.  It figured that Dominic would have to try to talk to him now.

 

“Yes, Dom?”

 

“Where the hell are you going, mate?”  Dominic folded his arms.  To Orlando he looked like an extremely annoyed munchkin, and he smiled to himself.  He’d file that one away for later.

 

“…home.”

 

“Why are you going home?  What about blue eyes?”

 

“If you haven’t noticed it’s now…” he looked at the clock.  “5:25.  I told him I got off at 5.”

 

“Well there’s your problem right there.  He knows you got off at 5, why would you need him later then?”

 

Orlando just stared.  “That… was the worst play on words EVER, Dommie.  And you know what I meant.  25 minutes is definitely sending the message that he obviously doesn’t want to meet with me.”

 

“I try to be optimistic.  Besides, there’s always fashionably late.”  Dom raised his eyebrows and smiled.  “Stay another 15 minutes.  If he doesn’t show, I’ll join you in your pity party.”

 

“No, Dom.  I’m just... I’m just gonna go.  I’m not going to make myself look like an ass, okay?”

 

“Fine, fine.  So if he shows, what to do I tell him? ‘Orlando prefers punctual men.  You missed your chance, sorry.’?”

 

“Fuck, Dom, just tell him I didn’t.  No, that I...” He couldn’t think of anything that didn’t sound royally stupid. 

 

“Good thing Karl wasn’t here to hear you say that.” Dom smirked again. “I’ll just tell him you had to run home for something, yeah?  And then I’ll call you.”

 

“Yeah.  That… that’ll work.”

 

“I’m brilliant.  Admit it.  You would be lost without me.”

 

Rolling his eyes, Orlando smiled.  “You’re brilliant, Dom.  Just… umm.. I’ll stop by here after I get my stuff.”  He walked off wondering if Dom could be right and if he would actually get a phone call to let him know Elijah showed up.  Pushing open the door to the lounge, he kicked himself for even getting his hopes up.

 

 

One blue eye cracked open slowly.  Closing it again, Elijah stretched and rolled over to see how much more time he had to nap before he got up to get ready for Orlando.  God, even his name was sexy, Elijah thought, and couldn’t keep himself from grinning.  Opening both eyes this time, he stole a look at the clock.

 

5:13.

 

Elijah’s eyes widened as he realized he either slept through his alarm or didn’t set it right and that he was already late.  He sat bolt upright and scanned the room quickly.  There was no time for a shower, so the best he could do was survey his room for the cleanest outfit that didn’t make him look like a total fool.  He had the fleeting thought that perhaps he should find the number for the bookstore, but he quickly decided it would take too long.

 

Finding a fairly half-decent outfit, Elijah hop-wiggled into his pants as he made his way to the bathroom to look at the damage to his hair.  He glanced at the clock.  5:17.  If he were lucky, he’d be at the bookstore by 5:30.

 

 

By the time Orlando had collected his things, he had again resigned himself to the fact that Elijah wasn’t showing.  It looked like a nice shower and a good book were his fate for the evening after all.  He stopped at the front register and waited for Dom to finish ringing up the latest customer.

 

“…here’s your change ma’am.  Have a good evening and thanks for shopping Urban books.”  Dom handed the woman her receipt and smiled as she took her bag and walked toward the door before he turned to Orlando.  “Still set on leaving then, I take it.”

 

“Mm… yeah.  I guess just call, if you know…”

 

“Orlando!”  A voice behind him called out and he turned around, surprised to be looking into a pair of shocking blue eyes.

 

“Elijah?”

 

“Thank goodness you’re still here!  I’m so sorry.  I overslept.  Woke up after five.  Had to… hurry and… I live just a couple of blocks away.  Ran here.”

 

Orlando watched the younger man trying to catch his breath and explain his tardiness.  He couldn’t help the small smile that started to form.  “That’s okay.”

 

“… and then my hair took on a life of it’s own, and…”

 

“Elijah, it’s okay.”

 

The boy in front of him finally heard and smiled.  The flutter in Orlando’s stomach made him nervous.  If those bright eyes and that smile could make him feel like that, imagine what he would feel if—Orlando quickly shut down that train of thought.  If he wasn’t careful, he would risk breaking his own ‘no public ANYthing’ rule.  Besides, Elijah might not even like him like that.  It could just be a friendly cup of coffee.

 

“So, do you want to go then?”  Elijah’s eyes seemed to glow even brighter as a smile reached his eyes. 

 

“Yeah.  Yeah, let’s go.” he stammered.  Those eyes would end up being the death of him.

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