In retrospect, I should've begun this story long ago. Saying it means a lot to me would be a stunning understatement. What you are about to embark upon is a story of discovery, opportunity and regret. Whilst sex is undeniably at the forefront of this story, I hope that you will appreciate the background of which it is told. To everyone who has ever been in love, the people who have experienced the joy and pain that comes along with it. This is for you.
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Thomas swerved and weaved between the bodies crowding the pavement as he ran towards the station, he winced as he felt the first droplets of icy rain hit his head causing him to pick up his pace. Praying his luck held he sprinted past the barriers and propelled himself onto the train just as the doors sealed shut. His breathing slowed and steadied as he sat down taking out his question sheet due next lesson; as he stared at the problems he questioned whether taking a Chemistry degree had really been the smartest choice. As the train shuddered and scraped its way along the tracks Thomas acknowledged defeat, it was too damned early to be thinking about orbitals. He found himself grinning at the thought about the night ahead where his best mate Dylan was
finally
going to visit his first gay bar.
Dylan was an incredibly shy and incredibly private person; the two guys had known each other before either could walk. When Dylan had come out to Thomas, he felt fiercely privileged and protective of his friend. Thomas knew coming out wasn't easy and appreciated it even more for an introvert to trust him. He had fully supported Dylan and constantly tried to set him up much to his embarrassment; Dylan had banned Thomas as a wingman after the chilli dinner date incident which ended with burning eyes at A&E.
After literal months of pestering Dylan relented to Thomas's insistence they go to Perditae, the gay bar close to the university campus. Thomas smiled as he remembered his friend throwing his hands up in mock defeat promising to go if he just stopped talking about it. He rose up out of his seat as his train approached his stop and noticed the rain outside had intensified coming down in near sheets. Thomas sighed as the doors slid open and braced himself for an unwanted shower.
Holding his umbrella in his left and phone in his right hand Dylan briskly walked down the flooded pathway silently cursing the people slowing down his journey. He had never enjoyed the restless hubbub of London's streets much preferring the peaceful vacuum that was the British countryside.
Pressing his ID card against the reader he stepped through the metal gate and took the steps outside the Chemistry building two by two until he entered the unusually packed hallway. He suppressed a groan as he manoeuvred through the crowd into the lecture theatre which oddly enough was rather empty in spite of the mass of people outside. His lip curled as he eyed the few students already in their seats until he saw Thomas who looked soaked to the bone. Dylan allowed himself a small smile as he went to take a seat next to his friend whose now transparent white shirt clung to his chest and butterscotch coloured hair dripped onto the foldable desk in front.
"I didn't know it was socially acceptable to wash yourself fully clothed these days"
Thomas glanced sideways and flashed a toothy grin at Dylan "Well not everyone can pull it off you know." He paused as he ran an open palm through his hair precipitating a sudden release of water
"It takes the very special quality of not checking the weather report before you leave."
Thomas laughed as Dylan simply rolled his eyes and started to unpack his bag bringing out his stationary and finished question sheet. He looked to the front as the professor announced the beginning of the lecture then back at Dylan
"So are you excited about tonight?"
Dylan had his trademark neutral face on, it was an undecipherable combination of glassy eyes and rigid mouth. When there was no response Thomas nudged him and repeated his question
"How you feeling about tonight?"
Suppressing yet another groan Dylan replied "Do we really have to go? I mean I know I said I would but I'm not really feeling it." He continued to scribble on his pad taking notes before the slideshow moved on
"Hey no backsies we're going and that's that. It'll be awesome, I hear they've got these killer mojitos and who knows, we might just find you a dude to have fun with."
Heat rushed to Dylan's cheeks as he stared at Thomas who wore a stupid grin, the light scarlet colouring turned a deep crimson when Thomas winked and nudged his arm
Thomas continued with gusto ignoring Dylan's obvious wish to combust, "There'll be plenty of options for you, skinny dudes, muscly guys, who knows there might even..."
Thomas stopped short as he was interrupted by a voice calling "You, yes you, the young man in the soggy white shirt at the back." Professor Maynard had locked his attention onto Thomas and his inability to keep quiet during his lecture
"Since you seem to be deeply interested in the topic on the board answer me this. If I were to have a magnetic quantum number of zero what would be the value of my orbital angular momentum quantum number?"
Professor Maynard watched with delight as the student floundered and looked desperately to the adjacent student, "You don't know because if you'd have been paying attention you'd know the answer would also be zero. Pay attention please, I'd appreciate if you didn't make me ask again."
Beginning to write Thomas threw a cheeky smile at Dylan letting him know the conversation wasn't over. He chuckled quietly as his friend shook his head gently, Thomas focused his attention forward as the professor explored a contour plot.
The rest of the day was taken up by lab work, as usual Dylan and Thomas paired up as they began their experiment. They were opposites of one another, Thomas outgoing and easy natured while Dylan was cautious and reserved. But they complemented each other well, Dylan kept Thomas in check and Thomas helped Dylan loosen up. Ever since they were little they had been practically inseparable, they were strong friends and held a long standing trust. Thomas wanted nothing more than for Dylan to find someone who would help him come out of his shell.
"Have you got any thoughts about what you'll be doing this summer?"
Blinking rapidly Thomas replayed Dylan's question in his head as he emerged from the tangent of his thoughts. He'd considered taking up an internship but had no real interest in corporate business. Dylan had invited him to go back with him to his family in the midlands but he didn't want to intrude
"There's some hiking I'd love to do this summer, I'll take it in chunks and I should cover most of the coast."
Filtering the solution he had prepared, Thomas flushed it with ethanol while Dylan collected the excess with a spare conical flask. Dylan attached the flask to a vacuum pump setting a timer for two minutes
"That's quite ambitious for one summer, that's a lot of miles to cover."
Scribbling on the instruction sheet Dylan watched in satisfaction as their solid remains collected on the filter paper, he was confident it'd yield a high quality sample of the Indigo there were trying to create
"I don't mind, I've got nowhere else to be this summer so I might as well make the most of my time."
