He was dreading tomorrow. He knew for certain that he would see Daniel then, and he would have to offer him a reasonable explanation. Hopefully, Daniel would be in a good mood. Darren felt his eyelids grow heavier by the minute. No, he mustn't fall asleep just yet, he had to finish unpacking...
Ding dong. Ding dong.
He woke up with a start. Yawning, he slowly got up and turned to the front door. Who on earth would that be? At this hour? He switch on the light in the hallway. The doorbell outside rang impatiently once again.
"Alright, alright, hold your horses," he muttered as he unlocked the bolt inside and pulled it open.
And there, was Daniel outside, looking equally as shocked as he was. He was wearing a tight blue Gaultier top and stretchy black cashmere pants. His hair had been recently trimmed, giving his face a more angular shape. His sharp dark eyes met with his own penetrating grey blue ones.
He looks beautiful.
The two stared at each other for a moment.
"Hello Daz," Daniel finally spoke, his voice icy and smooth. Even though he was happy to see him again, he still could not forget his anger. He tried to hold it in.
Darren was looking at him up and down. He's eyes seemed to glaze over his form. He smiled faintly, with a touch of embarrassment. "Hi", he softly whispered, trying to steadily hold his gaze. Inside, he was trembling. Oh Lord, Daniel why are you here? He sensed the quiet resentment in him, the silent outrage, and it made him feel even more depressed than ever. I'm sorry Jonesy...I'll explain...one day...
Another moment of uncomfortable silence. Oh God, say something!
Daniel looked at his friend squarely in the eye. It's going to be one long night, one hell of a night, Daz. He was determined to find out the truth about him. Unsmilingly, he asked in the same acid voice, "May I come in?"
Darren silently nodded and opened the door further to let him in. He could distinctly catch the faint, lingering smell of Daniel's favourite perfume as he roughly went past him. Ah, it was just all so familiar. He was glad to be home, to be around the people he knew and loved. Loved. What a joke.
They didn't say a word as they both entered the spacious living room. The polished grand piano stood in the center, poised and majestic. Though Darren didn't even know how to play the beautiful instrument, he spent a fortune on it, claiming he needed 'something to fill up space.' Well, it did fill up a lot of space in the elegantly furnished living room, with it's warm peachy walls and fluffy soft peachy carpet. Pale peach. It was practically the attire of the entire house.
Daniel settled down on the deep brown leather sofa, finding it to be very agreeable and cosy indeed. He immediately relaxed into it, enjoying the smooth cool leather against his skin. He was so comfortable, he started to feel a little drowsy. Resting his head in his hand, he looked up expressionlessly at Darren, who stood motionless a little away. Carefully, he slid his eyes over him. Short cropped dyed black hair, large liquid-looking eyes encircled with long lashes, his pale white skin...always so sickly white...and those lips. They looked so soft, so delicately formed. Sensuous even. And wouldn't they feel so velvety if I run my fingers over them? He slipped his eyes down onto his body. Medium height but still a justifiable muscular build, under the tight black shirt and those dusky blue satin pants. He had a way of moving his body. Slow and purposeful. Yes, that's what it was. Provocatively physical.
And now that body was seductively moving towards him. Darren had handed him a drink. Jolting himself out of his daze, he stared back at the perfectly symmetrical face. What in God's name had I been thinking?! Darren?? He shook his head briskly, suddenly feeling somewhat dizzy.
Darren had caught the blond man scanning him cautiously. He blushed faintly as he handed Daniel a can of coke. Daniel had never eyed him that way before...it seemed like he was marvelling at the sight of him. A sudden rush of excitement pulsed through him before he forcibly pushed it away, annoyed. He's not like that, you idiot. He's just looking at you as a normal everyday person would, that's all. Nothing more. Stop imagining things. But still, he couldn't help but wonder why he was gazing at him like that...at his face, at his body...
He warily sat down on the other side of the leather couch, making sure there was distance between them. Crossing his legs gracefully, he turned his concentrated dark eyes on him. Daniel's tall slender frame was poised serenely and openly. Ah, he was always the calm one. Always so placid. And so innocent. His blunt cut of golden brown hair gleamed in the light overhead.
Daniel took a sip of his drink. "Daz," he started, "We need to talk."
Darren's eyes remained on his hands and didn't say anything. Daniel continued.
"Come on Darren, spit it out. Something's obviously very wrong with you and you're keeping it to yourself. You've been acting like you're dead to the real world! Please, open up and let us help you. We're all so concerned about you..."
He sat still for a minute, then spoke, choosing his words carefully.
"Dan, of all people, you should know what's been up. My marriage is over. We've already contacted our lawyers and the divorce papers are arriving soon." It was half the truth. Colby had been on his mind a lot lately.
"You've only been apart for a few months! Couldn't you have waited a bit more, see if maybe you two can settle things out with a little more time?"
"You don't understand. There's absolutely no chance of reconciliation for either of us. We've got too many problems to work out." And a lot of them has to do with you, he silently added. He couldn't just casually add, "Uh yeah, it's 'cos I don't love her as I love you!"
"Then let us help you! Don't turn your back on us! Why do you keep it silent? We hate seeing you hurting like this!"
"You'd help me a lot more if you would just leave me in peace! I'm fine the way I am!" Darren snapped, flashing his menacing eyes at him. Shut up. Shut up, shut up, shut up! Just leave me alone!
Daniel slammed the can down on the table in frustration and got up. He couldn't believe the dark-haired man was still as stubborn and defiant than ever.
"Dammit Darren, you chuck a wobbly here and there and make other people's lives miserable and you just don't care, don't you? Sulking around and losing that blasted temper of yours every five minutes, it's a bloody wonder why we still think of you at all!" He was beginning to raise his voice now.
Darren also stood up, Daniel's words stinging his face as if he slapped him. He could feel his temples throbbing very badly now. "Shut your trap up or I do you in, you irritating busybody! Always sticking your nose in where it's not wanted. Why I-"
"You inconsiderate little bastard! I've been spending all my precious bloody time agonizing over you and here you go, throwing back all I've done for you right in my face! You're the biggest son of a bitch, Darren Stanley Hayes and I'm sick and tired of it! " Daniel knew he was losing control, but he couldn't stop himself. He was shouting all these ugly things at Darren because he was so outraged. Never before had he felt so hot under the collar.