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 Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:02 pm
Paris suspected today would go one of two ways: either he would enjoy himself with two of his favorite people in the whole world, or he would spend a few hours grinding his teeth and glaring across the table as his two favorite people chattered with one of his least favorite people—who Paris could just barely make himself tolerate enough to do this.
Double dates were not something Paris did very often. In fact, he probably couldn’t claim to have ever been on one, seeing as he’d never seriously dated anyone other than Chris and he and Chris had a habit of shutting themselves away with only the other for company instead of going out with a group of friends. It had come to his attention rather recently that this sort of behavior wasn’t necessarily healthy, and so he found himself going along with the idea of a double date in the hopes that it would add something to their relationships—and also because he’d actually really like to spend time with both his boyfriend and his best friend without making Ladon feel like the awkward third wheel, and the easiest way to do that was to let Ladon’s boyfriend come along.
There were other reasons, of course. It would get his mother off of his back if he went out with friends and proved he was perfectly capable of coping with recent changes in his life. Maybe it would also keep him distracted long enough to make him believe it, too.
He took his time getting dressed that day. At first he couldn’t decide who he was trying to impress more—Chris whose attention he adored, or Ladon whose opinion he valued. Certainly not Billy, though maybe there was a small part of him itching to prove that he wasn’t just some dumb kid looking for a good time anymore, that he’d grown up and was going to be somebody and that he was worth more in the eyes of other people than what Billy had always made him out to be.
In the end he settled on a pair of dark leggings (since Chris liked his legs), a modest top with a light cardigan (tame enough for Ladon), and a pair of cute flats to highlight the vast eleven inch difference in height between he and his boyfriend (it was something of a silent threat in Paris’s mind; “bother me and my boyfriend might kick your a**”).
They had agreed to pizza. This had not bothered Paris as much as fast food would have, though he also couldn’t say he was as satisfied as he would have been if a less greasy option had been agreed upon. The other three, however, did not seem to take as much of an issue with it, and so he plastered a smile onto his face as he and Chris approached the designated restaurant to join the other couple.
“I’m going to go ahead and say I’m sorry if this ends badly,” he muttered to his boyfriend.
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Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:06 pm
Ladon and Billy had already picked a booth and were sitting with the menu set on the table. He hadn't really dressed to impress as he was worried he'd overdo it and get made fun of, and then again, he wasn't dressed in his most worn clothes either. A simple T-shirt, zip-up hoodie that was open, jeans, and sneakers. He had been nervous ever since he woke up that morning and knew he would have to tell Paris. He was his best friend, and something like this would hurt the other if he didn't mention it soon. So, via text message in the best and most awkward way possible, Ladon told his best friend he was back with his ex completely out of the blue. He could practically feel the wave of judgment just waiting to be sent back his way, but that was just on the phone. Then there was the visit in person.
Ever since, Ladon wasn't sure how to act when Billy was with him and Paris was near. Now they were going on a double date, something he never went on, and was even more nervous because it was him, his best friend, his best friend's boyfriend who he tried to strangle and who also picked him off from the streets, and Billy, his now boyfriend again but still sorta new considering how they were taking things from the sorta beginning but not the beginning in romance because Bbooooyyyy they already went that far and OMG HE WAS THINKING ABOUT IT AGAIN!
Breathing out, he checked his phone for the time, wondered if he should text Paris to ask where he was, set his phone back down, and looked back at Billy. "You be good, okay." He said for probably the millionth time since that morning.
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Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:45 pm
Billy placed a hand over Ladon's own, covering both hand and phone.
"I will, I promise," Billy reassured him.
The whole thing had been Billy's idea after all, although he had wanted to bash his head against the wall afterwards. The thought that he'd willingly pose the idea of spending time in the presence of someone he disliked, all to show to Ladon that he was making some sort of effort to be...better... He really was crazy, wasn't he?
Billy himself hadn't worried about his clothes - a long sleeved collared shirt had the arms pushe dup to the elbow, and was layered under a plain t-shirt, and he had on a pair of dark stone-wash jeans, and simple shoes. He had wanted to wear his cowboy hat - a favored accessory of his no matter what he happened to be wearing - but had left it behind for Ladon's sake. Billy just didn't understand the boy's dislike of it. It was just a hat....
All in all, Billy tried to be reassuring. He'd be on his best behavior. After all - Billy already felt some smug success in knowing Paris would most likely be agitated by his very presence. That antagonistic success was enough.
"What happens if I slip up a little, though? Just a little bit~? You know he brings out the worst in me~" Billy 's tone was teasing, as was the look in his eyes. Yes, just what WOULD Ladon do?
Billy chuckled before he could get an answer, and placed a quick kiss to the boy's forehead.
"I'll be good. No worries."
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Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 11:13 pm
Chris raised an eyebrow at his boyfriend as he pulled the door open for him to enter the pizza shop. "What's that supposed to mean...?" he muttered back, not at all aware that something bad could happen. Sure, he knew Paris didn't exactly get along with Billy, but Chris tried to wait to pass judgement for himself, rather than listen to others' opinions. "And why are you in flats...?" he added, frowning at how short Paris was in comparison to himself. Jeez... he wasn't usually one to worry fuss about his appearances but...
No, that wasn't true... He fussed all the time, but would never admit it. His hair was always neatly brushed, if not perpetually shaggy-looking, always clean shaven, and was almost always in semi-business attire. But today, not only was he a giant next to Paris, but was attempting to 'dress down' in dark denim jeans, sneakers... and a sky blue polo. But now it was too late to fuss any more and they were there to meet up with Ladon and his apparent boyfriend.
He noticed the young man with the dark hair first, and his self-conscious frown quickly vanished and was replaced with a bright smile. "Ladon! How are you? You're looking really great. Seriously," he insisted, although he wondered if it was weird that he was so glad to see Paris's best friend cleaned up and looking... not at his prime, but relatively healthier than he had the last time Chris had seen him.
"Chris Gallo," he introduced, offering a hand to the young man he assumed was Billy, Ladon's boyfriend. "Nice to meet you," he said with a small nod of his head before waiting to see which end of the booth Paris wanted.
It was a little strange being on a double date for the first time since high school, but it wasn't like his life wasn't already full of strange things.
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 2:10 pm
He tried hard to keep a smile on his face. He really did. He thought it might have worked for a few seconds as they approached the table, because he kept his eyes glued on Ladon and seeing Ladon usually made him smile, but it wasn’t easy to ignore Billy and by the time he and Chris had arrived, Paris’s smile look more like a pained grimace.
“Hi,” he said. His voice was not unfriendly but he didn’t sound particularly excited either. If anything, he gave off the impression of someone who’d been forced into this against his well, even though that hadn’t been the case at all.
“My boyfriend,” Paris added after Chris’s introduction. Of course, he knew that much was obvious. He simply felt the need to stake his claim—not because he felt threatened (he was neither that jealous nor that insecure), but because he didn’t want there to be any doubts as to the seriousness of their relationship. He was not fooling around with Chris, and he wasn’t about to let one of his former flings think anything of the sort.
He slid into the other side of the booth before Chris. Somehow he thought having the wall for support might help—or at least with the table more in his way he’d have a harder time launching himself across it in an attempt to strangle his nemesis if he said or did something to piss him off.
“So… yeah…” he began, but could not for the life of him come up with much of anything to say, all the while thinking “awkward, awkward, awkward” on repeat in his head. “Sorry if we kept you waiting. Chris was fussing in the mirror and then we had to park down the street.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:59 pm
Ladon was just about to tell Billy what he, as a general, would do to the officer if he screwed up, but then Chris and Parris arrived and any thoughts of sparring with the officer had dropped away to Ladon giving a nervous smile to his friend and an awkward, smaller once to Chris. The boy wasn't bad, but he was normal, tall, and rich. He had it made, and for that, Ladon was somewhat jealous and intimidated. It also made him very self-aware that he probably looked like death, and when the comment was made that he looked better, he only gave a short nod in response. "Yeah." He was sleeping normally at least now. Little things to get him back to just basic health.
Now he wondered if he really was that noticeably bad looking, and just had never really checked the mirror longer than it took to comb his hair and to clean his eye.
As Chris introduced himself, Ladon looked over to his friend who, like him, was against the wall. Ladon liked the security of being away from the open dinning area and more in his own corner. "It's nothing. We just got here a little while before you. It's not busy, so we got a booth." Better than tiny chairs gathered around a small table. He wondered if he should introduce Billy, but left it between the two men and looked back at his friend.
"It's been a while since I could just go out in a t-shirt. I'm glad spring is here." Though, in all actuality, it wasn't the weather that kept him home, but he needed things to talk about. "I'm not sure how good this place is, but it seems very popular." And looked clean.
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:29 pm
Billy probably wouldn't have payed any mind to Chris when he entered the establishment, however when Paris followed close behind, he was able to put two and two together. He could hardly hold back a 'YOU DON'T SAY" expression when Paris said that Chris was his boyfriend.
However, Billy was quickly distracted from that when the other boy commented on how Ladon was looking. Okay, so Billy was a bit protective and defensive of Ladon. That would be something made readily apparent after said comment with the way he looked to Ladon to gauge his boyfriend's reaction, offering a tender expression, and slipped his arm around his waist. While Billy was doing what he could to help Ladon get back on track, it would undoubtedly take time. And likewise, due to certain new institutions, Billy was a little less on funds, or else he'd be treating Ladon to a great many good meals. He was looking for a job though.
And then Chris was introducing himself, and Billy gave the other boy a small smile and shook his hand, "Billy Roadinger. I'm glad the two of you could make it," he said, earnestly as he could. He waited for a scoff or something to come from Paris' direction.
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:40 pm
Had he embarrassed Ladon? Chris's smile almost faded as he heard Ladon's reaction, wondering if he was really that self-conscious about how he looked. It definitely hadn't been said as a comment to hurt him. Chris really was happy to see that the other young man was looking better than the state that he'd last seen him in! Granted, that had been late at night, and Ladon had been asleep on a park bench... so of course he had to worry.
Or, if Chris was completely honest with himself, the comment had partially been to let Billy know that he was quite aware of Ladon's appearance and that he was keeping an eye on whether or not Paris's best friend looked happy and healthy. It was nothing against Billy, but as Paris's best friend Chris felt he had the right to feel protective.
"His boyfriend," he added with a small laugh at Paris's added introduction before following him into the booth. Of course, he didn't know how he felt about Paris revealing his habit of preening every so often. It wasn't as if he always spent his time in front of a mirror, and he could have parked closer, but that might have resulted in him ramming his car into the back of some a*****e's truck... In the end, he decided it wasn't worth it. Hence being a few minutes late.
"Yeah... sorry about that," he said with a small smile, crossing his arms over the table as he pulled one of the menus closer to look over. "I've never been here, either," he admitted after Ladon's comment about the place. But the wait staff seemed friendly enough, and the atmosphere was pleasant.
"So, do you live around here, Billy?" he asked, figuring it would be best to start a conversation and let Paris and Ladon catch up if they needed. The energy between his boyfriend and the pale haired young man seemed a bit tense... but Chris could have easily been imagining that.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:20 am
“Tense” would be an understatement. There were other words that might have been more appropriate, in Paris’s opinion. Like “contentious,” or even “hostile.”
Paris had, of course, made sure to inform Chris of his antipathy of his best friend’s boyfriend, but he had not bothered to go into the entire story. He didn’t think it was necessary to reveal that he’d once slept with Billy, as it would only make the situation even more awkward and Paris didn’t really feel like dealing with any of the resulting self-consciousness such a revelation might make Chris feel. For all the things Chris had going for him, his self-esteem was surprisingly fickle.
Rather than scoffing, Paris propped an elbow on the table and cradled the side of his face in his hand as he looked out the window to his right. Now that he was here he felt somewhat cornered, not in a physical sense—he didn’t mind being on the inside of the booth and had placed himself there on purpose—but definitely in an emotional one. He probably wasn’t in the right state of mind to be dealing with this sort of a strained atmosphere after his father’s recent passing, but he wanted to get back to some semblance of normalcy, and he thought this was about as normal as it gets.
“Mmm, I like the warmer weather,” he agreed upon hearing Ladon’s voice. He looked out the window long enough to build up some sort of a defensive mental wall against the silent antagonism he swore he could feel rolling from Billy in waves, before returning his attention to the others at the table and smiling across at Ladon. “Maybe next time we can go somewhere where we can enjoy the weather.”
Provided there actually was a next time.
“Chris’s family has a boat,” he went on, more to his best friend than to Billy, who he left to get acquainted with Chris. “I can’t remember if I ever told you that. We could go sailing one day. I think you might like it. Some fresh air might do you some good, too. You spend too much time in your apartment.”
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:43 pm
He thought about boats, the water, the warm weather, and what felt like and endless winter before now. "I haven't been to the beach....in a very long time." He really liked the idea, now that it was presented. He hadn't even packed a swimsuit when he grabbed his things and left his mother's place. No doubt he'd need to get a new one, though if they went on a boat, he doubted he'd need one, right? Then again, it was getting warmer, and he'd need clothes for the whether. At some point, he really did want to go swimming. The idea of bright sunlight and cool days was appealing to him, and he had been very excited over the fact he could turn off the heater a while ago (no more heating bills!). "I can keep my windows open a little these days. It's getting warmer a lot faster." And he hoped faster still, smiling at Paris and seeming a bit more perky at the idea. He lived for warm weather.
He hadn't been out of his apartment for much more than the basics, and hadn't gone out or had much fun since to that Valentine's Day Ball. "We should really do something to enjoy the weather." Lots of things actually, but.....he had things to do. Time was going to get tighter.
"...um, we should plan it first." Yes. That way he could work around it.
"You have a boat?" He asked Chris. "Like....a fishing boat or..." How rich was this guy? If he said he had a yacht, he would be floored.
Not wanting Billy to see jealous, Ladon took his hand to touch the one that was wrapped about his back and resting on his hip and gave it a squeeze. Luckily it was under the table and away from prying eyes.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:55 pm
"I'm currently residing in the next town over for school. I had planned on transferring here but," Billy put forth a bit of a chuckle, "Some thing shave come up, so I've gotta get a job instead. It kinda sucks - I was enjoying college but~ things happen."
Billy's reply to Chris was really quite casual. After all, it wasn't him whom Billy had the problem with.
Billy noted Ladon's interest in the proposed boat trip. His first regard for the idea was neutral - it would be the four of them. However, he wouldn't mind such a thing. He'd never been on a boat, never really taken a trip to the beach, he couldn't remember the last time he'd went swimming... In fact there was a whole lot of things he'd never gotten to do. His home life, well... There was a reason he'd turned out the way he did. And simply because this Chris apparently had such things at his fingertips, well...there was an immediate envy. Not so much jealousy as it was simply envy.
"Sounds like a nice idea."
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:35 pm
He nodded lightly in understanding at Billy's predicament. Priorities had to be put in place, and sometimes school was out of the question for a while. Paris had dropped out of high school in order to take care of his father and work at the shop, after all. "Transferring to...? DCU? Or to another college in the area?" he wondered, curious about this guy Paris didn't seem to like all that much.
He perked up right away when the conversation turned to the beach and sailing. How could he not?
Chris couldn't imagine not being to the beach at least a couple times a year. But he reminded himself that not everyone had that opportunity. When one's father was in the Navy, the sea and water was kind of bred into the kids. Granted, he very much liked the idea of going on a beach trip, and he smiled in excitement at the others.
"Yeah," he grinned in response to Ladon's curiosity. "Well, it depends on what we planned on doing, really," he quickly amended. "But since I don't think everyone would be in favor of fishing," he started, glancing over at Paris (not that he knew if Paris would be interested in fishing or not — he'd never really asked...), "I think Paris was suggesting the sailboat. I don't mind captaining it, anyway. But that's more for the open ocean... If we wanted to anchor and go on shore it might be better if I asked my brother if we could borrow his... Uh, he might not want a bunch of college kids on his boat, though... The yacht would recuire a crew, but then I wouldn't have to do anything-- well, no. We could take the smaller one. I've captained that one a few times. It might have to be taken out of storage, though... The cruiser should still be at the beach house, though... That would get us closer to shore if we wanted to go swimming," he rambled, completely oblivious to the fact that he was more or less speaking a different language.
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:34 am
Paris spent some time examining his nails while Chris went through his list of boats, trying to pretend as if he’d known all this before when he’d really only been aware of about one or two of them. He did a pretty good job of acting unsurprised, at least until the words “yacht” and “beach house” were thrown around.
Then he turned to Chris in order to gape.
“You never told me anything about a yacht!” he accused, moving his foot to lightly kick at Chris’s leg under the table. “Do you not realize the sort of awesome parties that could be had on a yacht?!”
Not that he was all that in to partying anymore, but he happened to think having a sophisticated dinner party with a good group of friends on a yacht would be rather nice.
“And a beach house?! Since when have you had a beach house?! I’ve known you almost a whole year and you haven’t mentioned a beach house once!” Paris continued, utterly aghast. “Christopher, just… Jesus, why haven’t we been spending more time at the beach? We just sit around in your apartment and go out to dinner when you have half a dozen boats and a beach house lying around?”
He almost asked him if these treasures were merely more gifts from the elusive grandparents Chris had mentioned when they’d discussed payment on the apartment, but he knew better than to take the conversation that far in front of other people. He knew Chris, and he knew the moment any of them expressed shock—as he just had—his boyfriend was likely to grow uncomfortable and self-conscious and try to play it off in his adorably awkward way to keep the others from passing judgment or feeling any sense of resentment for his good fortune.
“Okay, just… okay. It’s fine. Sorry. You’re fine, Chris. I just… now I feel like I’ve been boring you,” he said, trying to look sad and guilty in an attempt to distract Chris from the fact that he’d just revealed how… different… he was to the others.
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:17 pm
Now that was just....annoying. And on another note he'd never accused Paris of being a gold digger - that he could recall anyway - but he was doing a good job of setting up for that. Billy couldn't say such things outright - not just from this smidgen of conversation. There wasn't enough there to support such an accusation. It would be some information he kept on file in the back of his mind though if he ever lost his cool and needed a petty insult or two. Not that he was looking for confrontation. He had a promise to uphold after all.
Billy just gave half a chuckle, "Privilaged, eh? Lucky you~" And that 'you' could have very well been collective.
As of late, mostly due to money issues, Billy has been feeling rather... inadequate. He couldn't really afford to buy or do nice things for Ladon. All he could do was lavish him with affection, cuddles, hugs, and sweet sentiments, but he felt it was all too often an annoyance. Billy wanted so much to be able to provide, but that just wasn't happening right now. And even with a job he sure wouldn't be able to do so on the scale that Chris could for Paris. It shouldn't have been a competition of who was the better provider, but Billy couldn't help and feel that way.
It hurt. He kept composed as he could on the outside, but subtle hints to his true feelings were there, though likely only Ladon would notice - the change in breathing as Billy tried to keep himself contained, the slight quiver of muscles and the change in grip around the boy's waist.
At least in a public place like this what remained of Billy's pride wouldn't allow him to sulk to the degree that he had at Ladon's apartment. The day that lead to this very union of the four of them.... Billy had really been down afterwards, because it had been made so apparent to him then that he couldn't provide for his own boyfriend - the person who meant more to him then anything.
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Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:41 pm
Ladon was just staring at Chris.
This guy had a lot of boats, a yacht, and a beach house. Ladon had only been on a small boat for two people to go fishing. He knew Chris was rich, but THIS rich?
It made eating pizza seem.....low class when someone who owned more than one actual boat was sitting with them. Straightening his silverware to stop from gawking, Ladon made a note to never let Chris see his apartment.
((Serious brainfart. Sorry guys.))
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