Part Twenty-One
“So, what’d you think?” asked Iam, as he and Xander waited for Giles to pick them up.
“Well, uh, he’s…” stammered Xander, blushing.
Iam’s eyes widened and he gasped, “Oh my god! You like Liam! Now that I think about it, you were obviously drooling a couple times. Like when he dropped his clipboard and bent over.”
Xander’s eye glazed over for a few seconds, before he lightly smacked Iam on the arm. “I do NOT like Liam. He’s just a very nice-looking man.”
“Xander’s got a cru-ush! Xander’s got a cru-ush!” sing-songed Iam.
Xander blushed, but said nothing. He turned away a little.
“Hey, Xan, I’m sorry. I was just teasing,” said Iam softly.
“I know.”
“He, um, is a very nice-looking man, but he’s like Uncle Rupert’s age. That’s just weird, Xander. Druscilla is twenty-three.”
“He doesn’t look very old,” said Xander. “He looks like he’s somewhere in his late-twenties.”
“Right, and that makes such a big difference. Looks can be deceiving. Xan, why don’t you find a new boyfriend? One your age?” Iam watched Xander’s reaction, noting that the dark-haired boy was blushing again. “C’mon, I know there’s got to be someone you like. Well,” he amended, “one that’s your age, anyway.”
Xander stared at the ground for a minute, then looked at Iam warily, “Yeah, I guess there’s this guy I like. But, he’s not, you know, interested in guys.”
“Oh, well, that’s too bad,” said Iam. “How do you know he doesn’t like guys? Have you ever asked him?
Xander looked shocked. “What? Are you crazy? That is totally NOT a good idea.”
“What could it hurt?” asked Iam. “Worst case scenario is the guy won’t talk to you for a couple weeks. No big deal.”
Xander stared at Iam for a minute, absorbing his words. Finally, Xander leaned in and brushed his lips against Iam’s, pulling away quickly.
Now it was Iam’s turn to stare at Xander. “I, you, uh, that is, no… Oh, dear god.”
Xander scooted away, ashamed. “ ‘M sorry,” he mumbled. “Just forget I did that.”
Iam stared out into the woods that surrounded the mansion and wished his uncle would hurry and get there. ‘Xander likes me? I didn’t expect that. He LIKES me. And he kissed me. I’m not gay. But… No, no. Bad thoughts. Think about girls. Think about Dru. Pretty, pretty Dru.’
Jesse sheepishly slipped into the apartment. He and Lindsey had fallen asleep and forgotten to return to the office before Vincent left. Jesse crossed the dark living room to get to his bedroom. However, just as he was turning the knob, a light flicked on.
“And just where have you been?” asked Vincent, sitting on the couch with a smirk on his face.
Jesse turned slowly and blushed deeply. “Lindsey took me to see his apartment.”
“I see,” said Vincent, arching one eyebrow. “You two left the office rather early. What have you been doing all this time?”
Jesse blushed even more and looked down at the floor.
“Well? Answer me. You know what will happen if you disobey. And look at me when I’m speaking to you.”
Jesse moved his gaze back to Vincent’s face, and having turned absolutely crimson, said, “We, uh, had sex and fell asleep.”
“Good, good. You had best get to bed. Busy day tomorrow.”
“What’s happening tomorrow?”
“Lindsey’s case has been moved up.”
“What?!” exclaimed Jesse. “But we’re, I mean, he’s not ready!”
Vincent stood and walked over to Jesse. Putting one hand on the boy’s shoulder in a mock-comforting gesture, he said, “He is ready, son. He won’t fail, he’s got too much to lose.”
Jesse’s mouth dropped in shock, “You-you’re using me! To make Lindsey do what you want him to do!”
“No,” Vincent sounded surprised. “I would never do that. All I’m saying, is the Senior Partners wouldn’t let an unfit lawyer try a case.”
“But he’s only had a few days to research! And, oh God! We shouldn’t have left today,” Jesse’s voice trailed into a whisper.
“Ah, but if you hadn’t, the trial wouldn’t have been moved up.” Vincent opened the door to Jesse’s bedroom and steered the boy in. “Get some sleep. You’re going to be at the trial with us tomorrow.”