Sean stumbled home from the Red Lion. He and Rhiann had another fight, and he had gone to nurse his wounds in drink. He leaned against the front door of the house he shared with his cousin, jabbing the key in the general direction of the lock. The door opened just as he had taken his fourth stab. James stood on the other side. Sean looked blearily at him.
"Well, well, well." James smiled slightly.
"What?"
"Drinking under-age. Let me guess, Red Lion again?"
"So?"
"Just be glad I'm not Monty." James reached out and grabbed Sean's arm. "Now let's get you upstairs before anyone wakes up." He helped his cousin upstairs. Sean seemed unwilling to want to move. "Come on!"
"I can't feel my legs." At that moment, Sue appeared.
"Sean! You're finally home." She noticed her nephew's condition. "Are you all right, dear?"
"He's just tired. Aren't you, Sean?" James nudged him.
"Yes, Aunt Sue. Rhiann and I had another fight, so I've been out and about." Sue looked closely at the pair. Whatever she thought, she didn't indicate.
"Just try to be a little more quiet," she said gently. She went back into her bedroom. Sean and James made it to their bedroom. Sean flopped onto his bunk. James sat next to him.
"Ugh. What were you drinking?"
"Rum and Cokes. Big ones." Sean covered his mouth. "I'm gonna be sick." He got up and ran to the toilet. James didn't hear from him for the rest of the night. Oh well, he'll be all right.
The next afternoon, Sean was in a sulk. All that morning, he had ranted to James about women, how he'd had enough of them, and how he never wanted to bother with them again. James declared that he had had enough and went for a run. James and his running. Sean settled in front of the telly, but couldn't find anything he wanted to watch. He went up to his room and threw himself on his bunk. He got up and went to the toilet. Damn, another spot! He scrubbed at it until his face was bright red. He looked at himself closely in the mirror. Not bad, I guess. He turned to the side. The profile isn't so bad. He thought for a moment, then lifted his shirt. He looked at his stomach. Round. Could stand to lose a few pounds? He thought of James again. His tum is tight. His bum is tight. Sean smiled bitterly. I made a rhyme. He thought of James again. He thought of his cousin coming back sweaty and panting. He felt a stirring. What the hell? Sean shook his head and went back into the sitting room. Besides, I don't even like running. He went back to watching telly.
Forty minutes later, Sean had fallen asleep. James walked in and stopped by his chair. He ran upstairs then returned ten minutes later.
"Sean?" He nudged his cousin. "Sean, wake up!" Sean grunted and moved his head away. James sat on a nearby settee and watched him sleep for five minutes. What is he smiling about? James went over to him again.
"SEAN!" At that he started awake. He looked up at James.
"James! What the f--?" He stopped short. James stood over him, no shirt, glistening with sweat. "Why did you wake me up?"
"I thought you might want to talk."
"No. If I wanted to talk to you, I'd talk to you."
"Feeling better?"
"I was until you woke me up!" Sean pouted. He contemplated James' appearance. He smirked to keep his mouth from popping open. But his body betrayed him. He felt the stirring again. He looked down. James followed his gaze and saw the bulge in Sean's trousers. He looked into Sean's eyes. Saying nothing, he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on Sean's lips. Sean jerked his head back, looking at James in astonishment. James smiled, winked, and walked away. Swinging his bum he walked back to the stairs, and, throwing a coquettish look over his shoulders, went up. Sean sat in shock. He didn't believe what just happened. He wasn't sure whether James was taking the piss. He'd might as well find out. He followed.
The door to the bedroom was slightly open. James was sitting cross-legged on his bunk reading a book. Sean tried to see the title: Somebody Pushkin. He squared up.
"James." No response. "James!" He put the book down. "What the hell was that?"
