"Fine! Then you can go to hell!" Jay Reso jumped out of the car and slammed the door behind him, glaring daggers at the vehicle as it drove away.
From the doorway of the restaurant, Sean, Chris, Drew, and Rob watched with wide eyes. Sean glanced at the others, trying to smile. "Well at least he's on time," he commented.
"But I guess our party's down to five," Rob stated with a sigh.
"Shut up guys! No one mention it!" Chris hissed, plastering a smile onto his face as Jay approached them. "Hey buddy. Just in time for our reservation!"
Jay just nodded, swallowing and wiping at his tearful eyes. He tried to smile, but his face was too melancholy for it to be believable. "Hey guys," he said quietly. "Let's just go on in. Adam's not joining us tonight."
"Oh." Chris glanced at the others. "Well that's ok, we'll just have to tell them to give us a table for five then."
"Can we get a booth instead?" Drew asked. "I'd like one of those nice, round booths."
Chris rolled his eyes. "Sure Drew. Come on guys." He led them into the restaurant, and they were soon shown to a large round booth. Jay sat on the end, Sean and Drew in the middle, and Chris and Rob on the other end. The table was uncomfortably silent as they looked over the menus, none of them able to ignore how upset Jay looked. The golden blonde seemed nearly on the verge of tears, every now and then sniffing as if he were going to burst out crying.
After they had given their orders, Chris smiled at his friends, trying to get a conversation started. "So, have any of you seen that new dancing movie?" he questioned.
"I heard it was a date movie," Sean replied, winking at Drew. "We were gonna see it some place that has a drive in."
Drew grinned. "I love drive ins," he stated.
"I've never been to a drive in," Rob commented. "What's the appeal? Instead of sitting in a nice, climate controlled movie theater, you crouch in your car all night. Why would anyone want to do that?"
"Well, I do it," Drew explain, his hand moving to rest on Sean's thigh, "because I get to curl up with a cute little brunette sex kitten all night."
Sean giggled, slapping his lover's hand away. "Not in pubic, baby," he cooed, glancing around. "Save it for later."
"And later does NOT mean the ride back to the hotel!" Rob exclaimed, glaring at the couple. "We had to listen to plenty of ‘Ohh Drew's on the way here!"
They all stopped talking as Jay let out a loud sigh, looking absolutely miserable as he poked at his food. Sean glanced at the others, opening his mouth to speak. He ignored Chris, who was shaking his head and mouthing for him to keep quite. "Jay, I know I probably shouldn't ask," the small, dark haired man began, "but, um, you wanna talk about it?"
"Talk about Adam?" Jay replied, his eyes narrowing. "Talk about that controlling, stubborn, rude bastard? The one who's supposed to love me instead of acting like my fucking slave master? That Adam?"
"Erm, yes," Sean replied, biting his lip nervously.
"Jay, sweetie, what happened?" Chris inquired soothingly, reaching across the table and taking Jay's hand in his. "Was he being an egocentric moron? ‘Cos I know about men with big egos being jerks."
"I'm guessing that was directed at me," Rob snapped, frowning at his lover, "but I'm just going to take it a different way. Having dated you, I certainly know a lot about big egos!"
Chris turned to his lover, frowning at him disapprovingly. "Baby, Jay's hurting right now, he doesn't need to see you pick a fight with me!"
Rob crossed his arms. "I'm not."
"And that comment was supposed to be nice?"
"I'm just echoing your sentiments!"
Sean laughed nervously, trying to ignore the arguing pair as he turned to Jay. "Honey, why don't you tell me what happened?" he prodded.
Jay sighed. "It's such a stupid fight," he muttered, still looking miserable. "It started over these really cute shorts I bought this afternoon. Adam loved them when I modeled them for him. He even - " Jay stopped, turning slightly pink. "Um, well, he liked them a lot." Sean nodded, listening attentively. "Anyway," the golden blonde continued, "when he found out that I was actually planning on wearing them in public, he threw a fit. He told me there was no way in hell he'd let me go out in something so revealing, and I told him he couldn't stop me, ‘cos he doesn't own me and he can't tell me what to do. He got mad and stormed off, not showing up again until it was time to go to dinner. We didn't really talk much on the way over here until he made some comment about how he was glad I decided to wear something decent to dinner, and we got right back into the fight. It got really really bad. He said some awful things, and...and I said some awful things." Jay wiped at his eyes, trying to stop the tears that were trickling down his face. "And...and I think we might be through!" A sob wracked his body, more tears sliding down his cheeks. "I have to go to the bathroom," he stammered, "I'll be right back." He took off practically at a run, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Sean stared after him, his mouth hanging open in shock. "Oh my god," he breathed. "I can't believe this."
"What?" Chris stuck his head out from under the table, earning himself a harsh glare from the brunette.
"What the hell are you doing under there?" Sean snapped as Chris slid back onto the bench.
Chris blushed slightly, grabbing a napkin and wiping at his mouth. "Nothing." Sean could see Rob biting his lip, trying not to laugh.
"You guys are horrible!" the small brunette chastised. "One of our best friends' relationship is falling apart, and all you two can think about is sex!"
"Well I said some mean things to Rob and I had to make up with him," Chris explained, looking rather embarrassed. "What are you talking about ‘falling apart', anyway? Adam and Jay are NOT going to break up! They've been together for like 12 years! They're my model for a healthy, committed relationship. They just had a fight; all couples fight."
Sean crossed his ears. "Didn't you see Jay? He was CRYING! How many times have you seen Jay cry, in the entire time you've known him?"
Chris paled a little. "God, he was crying? Shit, that is serious. I've seen that maybe 3 or 4 times in two years."
Sean nodded. "Exactly. He was really upset. God, I wish I knew what to do to cheer him up."
"Me too." Chris frowned, quickly forcing a smile when Jay came back to the table. "Hey buddy. Feeling better?"
"Not really." Jay still looked miserable, although his eyes were a little dryer. "I don't know what to do, guys. I love him so much, I don't know if I can live without him."
"Well, hon, you never know what'll happen," Chris told him reassuringly. "Maybe he'll - " He stopped in the middle of his sentence, staring at the karaoke stage witch filled the center of the restaurant. "Um, guys, is that..." he began, trailing off as the tall blonde stepped up to the microphone.
Jay turned around, staring wide eyed at his lover, who was preparing to speak. "I'd like to dedicate this song to the one I love," Adam began, his eyes locked on Jay. "I want to sing this to say I'm sorry, ‘cos I was a jerk and I know it. I love you baby." The audience murmured ‘awwww', their eyes watching the statuesque blonde as he began to sing.
"When you look into my eyes
And you see the crazy gypsy in my soul
It always comes as a surprise
When I feel my withered roots begin to grow
Well I never had a place that I could call my very own
That's all right, my love, 'cause you're my home"
Adam sung the words with the deepest sincerity, not taking his eyes off Jay for one moment. Jay sat frozen in place, his mouth hanging open a little in shock.
"When you touch my weary head
And you tell me everything will be all right
You say, "Use my body for your bed
And my love will keep you warm throughout the night"
Well I'll never be a stranger and I'll never be alone
Whenever we're together, that's my home"
A smile crept over Jay's face, his features brightening as he watched his lover sing every word with conviction, the tall blonde's hand reached out towards Jay as he continued.
"Home can be the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Indiana's early morning dew
High up in the hills of California
Home is just another word for you"
As he sung the words, Adam took the mic out of it's stand, walking down the steps of the stage and approaching their table. Jay flushed slightly with embarrassment as every eye in the restaurant followed Adam's path, but he never took his gaze off his lover.
"Well I never had a place that I could call my very own
That's all right, my love, 'cause you're my home"
The soft words drifted past Jay's ears as Adam knelt before him, taking his lover's hand in his as he sung the last verse, looking deep into Jay's eyes.
"If I travel all my life
And I never get to stop and settle down
Long as I have you by my side
There's a roof above and good walls all around
You're my castle, you're my cabin and my instant pleasure dome"
Jay blushed as Adam sung that lyric, Adam flashing him a wicked grin.
"I need you in my house 'cause you're my home.
You're my home."
As Adam finished the last verse, he dropped the mic, taking both Jay's hands in his. "Baby, I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I was such a jerk. You're right, honey, I don't own you, and I don't have any right to tell you what you can't do. You can wear whatever you want, baby, as long as you're by my side, and you come home with me at night. I love you." He blinked a tear from his eyes, gazing at Jay with almost overwhelming love and affection. "Forgive me, baby."
"Oh, Adam." Jay bit his lip, unable to stop a huge smile from spreading across his face. "Of course I will! This was such an incredibly sweet thing to do! I love you." He pulled Adam onto the bench beside him, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. They seemed to kiss forever, their love as obvious as the union of their lips. "Take me home, baby," Jay breathed when they finally drew apart for air.
"Of course baby," Adam replied, his lips trailing over his lover's neck.
"And Adam?" Jay grinned wickedly, leaning to whisper in the tall blonde's ear. "Use my body for your bed." Adam growled, pulling Jay against him and kissing him breathless. The others watched as the two lovers exchanged furious kisses, their lips never parting for more than a moment. At last Adam stood and swept Jay into his arms, the two blondes still kissing as Adam carried Jay out of the restaurant.
"That was the sweetest thing I ever saw," Chris breathed, looking awestruck.
"I wish my boyfriend would do something so romantic," Sean agreed, forgetting that his boyfriend was sitting right beside him.
"Maybe another time," Rob commented with a roll of his eyes. He turned to Chris, his eyes flicking over his lover's body. "Want to continue what we started in private, baby?"
"Ok," Chris agreed, his lips forming a slight pout. "But next time we fight, you better be damn romantic when you win me back!"
"I will hon, I promise," Rob stated, taking his lover's hand and leading him away.
Sean watched them leave, a dreamy smile on his face. He jumped when he turned and found Drew only inches from him. "Baby," Drew purred, his warm breath stirring Sean's midnight locks. "Be my pleasure dome?"
Sean giggled, nodding and allowing Drew to lead him out of the restaurant. Later, as they were settling into bed, Sean wondered if he would ever have something as beautiful as what Adam and Jay did.
THE END