Left Without Words - 14. Chapter 14

There was this weightless feeling of total euphoria that I felt as I rode my bike home in the rain. It wasn't really a heavy rain...just enough to feel the cool splashes against my heated cheeks as I tried to keep my determined grin under control.

I just allowed my wheels to effortlessly coast through the shallow puddles below, feeling the wind against me, my heart skipping a few beat as flashed memories of Deme's lips touching mine ran through my infatuated mind. I swear...it felt like flying.

A boyfriend. An actual boyfriend. Hehehe...WOW!

You know, I always dreamed about this sort of thing. I used to close my eyes and fantasize about what it would be like to actually get lucky enough to have a cute boy of my very own. I'd imagine us going out to the movies, or cuddled up on the couch watching TV...and then SEX! Hehehehe! Lots and lots of incredibly hot boy sex, day and night, until we both gave out from it! But...through all of those daydreamed fantasies, I never really considered the emotional gravity of it all. I don't know how I could have missed that part before now. Not just 'hanging out' with someone pretty...but someone that I truly loved, inside and out. Someone who reflected that love back to me with a shine and a glory that my heart had no defense against. It was insanely more gratifying than the surface level concepts that I previously held when it came to romance. I can't believe that I'm still shaking like this. Hehehe, it kind of tickles on the inside. You know?

When I got home and walked in through the back door, my mom quickly reminded me to take off my shoes on the mat before I tracked any mud or water in the house. She was on the phone, and I heard her say, "Well, that's very sweet of you. Sure. Actually, he's just walking in the door right now." I pulled my shirt up and wiped some of the excess water off of my face, glancing over to see what she was talking about. "Well, it's not raining that bad yet. But thank you for calling, Dimitry..."

Deme?!?! MY Deme?!?! I quickly shook the rest of the water out of my hair and hurried over to stand in front of my mom, the over anxious thrill causing me to shiver from head to toe as I waited for her to hand over the phone already.

My mom looked down and whispered, "Socks."

"What?"

"Your socks are wet, honey. Take them off. You'll track water on the kitchen floor." Arrrghhh! I could have been back to my room with the phone already! But trying to argue would just drag this out even longer. So I hurried back to the door, and yanked my socks off of my feet so fast that I nearly lost balance and tossed myself to the floor. Then I padded my way back to her barefoot and stared right at her face like a hungry puppy waiting for a treat. She gave me a bit of a strange look at first, but figured she'd let me have what I wanted before I shook myself all to pieces. "Ok, Dimitry. Thank you for calling, sweetheart. Shane looks like he wants to talk to you, so I'm going to hand the phone over." Yes! Yes! Hand it over! Hurry, hurry, hurry! "Yes. Sure thing. Say hello to your father for me. Uh hunh..." JESUS! What, are they going to have a full blown conversation now??? "Are you enjoying your work at the restaurant so far. That must be pretty cool, right?" What is she DOING? I was actually fidgeting and reaching my hand out for the phone at this point. The time for subtle hints was over. This is taking too long. WAY too long. "Alright. Well, have a good night. Here's Shane. Bye bye..."

I didn't mean to snatch it from her the way that I did, but I was gone and headed back to my bedroom before she had a chance to ask what the heck was wrong with me. Sorry, Mom...you're holding up progress, lady!

"Deme? Hi!" I said, just as Sarah was passing me in the hallway.

"Ooh! Is that Deme?" She asked, but I didn't even look at her. I didn't slow down my pace at all, and the second I got to my rooom, I practically slammed the door in her face, making sure to twist the lock just in case she came wandering in on one of her pointless errands. I've gotten so used to her predictable nosey-poke antics.

"Hehehe, hello, Shane. I didn't want to embarrass myself, but I was worried about the rain. Traffic is often wild when it rains." He said. Omigod, that voice. That giggle. That accent. I found myself lost in a powerful swoon as I attempted to remain standing.

"Don't be embarrassed. I'm glad you were thinking about me." I said. "I was...I was kinda thinking about you too." I could feel myself blushing, but it was the proudest blush that I've ever experienced. This was my boyfriend we're talking about! Hehehe, he deserved it. He can watch me blush any time he wants.

Deme said, "I am glad. My beautiful Shane." He giggled sweetly. Oh wow, I'm feeling weak. I was going to lean against the wall, but my shirt was still pretty wet. Thankfully, my mom didn't ask me to strip that off at the door too.

"Wait. Don't hang up. Hold on a second..." I said, putting the phone on the bed while I lifted my shirt up and over my head. I hung it over the top of my closet door, and then picked up the phone again to hold it against my ear with my shoulder while reaching for the button and zipper on my pants. "Ok. I'm back. Sorry."

"You are busy?" Deme asked.

"Nah, I got wet on the way home. I'm not soaked, but it would be good to change into something dry. Just some soccer shorts and a t-shirt or something." I heard some snickering on the other side of the phone, and I was like, "What? What'd I say?"

Bashfully, Deme replied, "So...you are climbing out of your clothes right now? I wish I could have come to watch you."

"Hehehe, you already saw me naked once today." I teased.

"Twice, in fact."

"Yeah...twice." I said, feeling those fluttering butterflies in my stomach getting more frantic by the second. "Maybe a third time...some time soon?" I don't know why I felt so naughty when I said it, but it was a good kind of naughty. Something that I secretly hoped Deme could appreciate.

There was this sensual little pause in our conversation, where each one of us could just tell that the other was smiling. Giddy with the knowledge that it had only taken a few suggestive sentences of dialogue to get our hearts to beat in sync again. "Shane...?"

"Yeah?"

"I was going to sit down and write something for you tonight. I have it in my head, and it doesn't seem to want to go. I want to keep the moment close to my heart."

I got goosebumps hearing that from him, and my voice was shaky as I responded with, "Really...? Oh...oh cool..."

"Yes." He said, pausing again. "This one is...like some of the others. You remember? In the other notebook."

"Oh! Hehehe, it's one of the ones that I can't ever read then, huh? Dangit..." I was joking when I said it, but Deme's next reply really surprised me.

"No. You can read this one. Possibly. Maybe...when we have opportunity...I will let you lay beside me, and we can read it together. If...if you want to."

I was NOT ready for that! *SO* not ready for that! Holy cow!

Attempting to hide my overwhelming tidal wave of boyish excitement, I said, "Yeah. I...I would...I mean, sure! I'd...like that."

"Me as well." He said. "We should find some more time. Just me and my Shane."

I practically fell back on my bed, my hardness swelling in my underwear as the soothing words filled me with hope and the promise of ecstasy filled experiences in the days to come. "Yeah. We definitely have to...do that."

I heard three knocks on my bedroom door, and then I heard the doorknob turning before I could even answer. I KNEW Sarah was going to be up to one of her bullshit tricks tonight!

"WHAT?!?!" I hollered out, and she tried to open the door again.

"Why is your door locked?"

I said, "What do you want?"

She didn't even bother to come up with a good excuse to barge in on me this time. She was just like, "I wanted...just let me come in for a second. It won't take long."

"No! Go away. I'm on the phone."

"Just open the door. Geez!"

"I'm changing out of my wet clothes!"

"So?" She said. "I don't care about you being in your underwear."

"Good! Go away then!" I said.

"C'mon, Shane!"

"Seriously, Sarah! Fuck off! I mean it!"

I heard her gasp, and she's like, "I'm telling Mom!"

"Fine! Go tell her."

And as she walked away from the door, I heard her say, "MOM! Shane said bad words to me!"

Whatever. As long as she's out of my hair for a few seconds, it would be worth the brief lecture my mom was sure to give me about respecting my baby sister. It's not like my mom doesn't know about her invasive ways just as well, if not better, than I do. So, I'm not all that worried about any harsh consequences that might come from telling her to get lost. Nothing ore than a stern warning to treat my sister with respect and knock it off with the attitude.

I'll risk it. For Deme? I'd risk any punishment she had to throw my way.

Deme cleared his throat, and he said, "I am sorry. I don't want to cause trouble."

"Trouble? No! No way, dude! That's just my sister being a pest."

"Sarah is sweet! You leave her alone! Hehehe!"

"You're just saying that because she wants to lick the ground you walk on." I chuckled. "Besides, everybody is sweet when you only have to deal with them a few minutes at a time." Deme giggled a little bit, and it just made my heart beat faster and harder, knowing that I had made him happy. There is something so magical about being able to make Deme smile, you know?

There was short silence between us, and Deme said..."I am glad to know that you made it home safe. I wanted to make certain."

"Yeah...I did." I said, feeling the air around me getting thin as I tried to breath normally.

"Because....because I..." He almost seemed too afraid to say the words out loud, but I caught the hint, regardless. I know how he felt...because I was pretty sure that I was feeling it too.

I said, "It's ok. I get it. Hehehe!"

But Deme was determined. "No. Please let me say...I feel...I feel really close to you, Shane."

Ok...now my heartbeat was pounding hard up against my lungs, and I felt these pleasurable little tremors running through me as I fought to keep my composure. "I feel close to you too." I said softly, followed by this strange little laugh that came out of nowhere. A nervous reaction to the intensity of approaching an announcement that I wasn't sure that I was ready for yet. Even though I wanted it more than anything else in the world at that moment.

The thing is, we've said 'I love you' to one another before now. A few times, in fact. Deme even taught me how to say it in Greek. 'S' Agapo'! Which sounds sooooo much cuter when HE says it than when I try to imitate it. Hehehe! But...there was something different about this admission to each other. There was an added pressure to the spoken words. A feeling of escalation that wasn't there in the beginning. The magnified importance of surrendering to this emotional evolution had almost crushed the breath out of us both.

That's when Deme said, "It is ok to say that I have fallen in love with you? Yes?"

"Yes. Hehehe!" I said. "I love you too."

We had a bad case of the wiggles for a few seconds after saying it aloud, and then Deme told me, "That is all, then. I felt I had to call you and tell you that."

"Really?" Ugh, my heart!

"Yes. I wanted to tell you when you were here, but I was a coward. Hehehe...then you left, and...I didn't want to make you wait. I wanted you to know. I always want you to know."

"M'kay. Thank you, I guess. Hehehe!" I couldn't tell if I was handling this the right way or not, but I did my best. I think I'm doing ok in the boyfriend department, right? Considering he's my first.

"I have to go. You will still come see me tomorrow?"

"You bet." I grinned.

"Ok. G'night, Shane. I love you."

"Love you too." I said. "So much." And it mde him sigh to himself before giving me a little kiss and hanging up.

This is how dreams come true. This is what it's like to have everything you could ever want...and not have a taste for anything more. Wow. Just...just...wow.

The next morning, I got up and got myself all showered and looking pretty as early as possible. My heart began to beat faster the moment that I opened my eyes, impatiently waiting for a chance to see Deme's pretty eyes again. I doubt that I'd be able to just stick around Milo's for the entire day or anything, but I would definitely be there for as long as Milo would let me. My only problem was that I knew it would be hard to be close to him without wanting to touch him in some way. Kiss him. Maybe...take him in the back for another 'taste'. Hehehe! When I told my mom that I was going to the restaurant, I had to lower my head and look away from her. I was afraid that my eyes would reveal my excitement. That she'd become suspicious and my every naughty thought and deed would be revealed to her in an instant. My true sexuality was one thing, but I've never had to hide something this BIG before. How long will it be before she notices my eyes lighting up every time she mentions his name? How long before she senses my utter addiction to his beauty, his laughter, his poetic way of describing his feelings for me when I least expect it? I won't be able to hide it forever. Hell...I don't think I even want to.

I'm proud to have a boy like Deme take any interest in me at all. Do you see how HOT he is??? Hahaha! I should be screaming my love confessions from the highest mountain top and let the world see what true jealousy and rage feels like!

Just as I was walking out the door, my mom says, "See if you can bring Sarah back some of those cookies she likes, ok hon? Do you need some money?"

"You know Milo won't take it, Mom. I, honestly, think he makes those cookies just to give them away free."

"I know, but...I try not to take advantage. Here. Take a few dollars, just in case." She handed me a folded up five dollar bill and gave me a kiss on the forehead. "Say hello to Dimitry for me. He's such a sweetheart."

Oh Mom...you don't know just how sweet Deme can be. Hehehe, trust me.

My bike got me there in record time today, and I chained it up just outside the front door. I smiled as the little bell above the door rang, announcing my entrance. "Shane! My boy, Shane!" Milo said cheerfully, wiping his hands on a hand towel and stepping from around the counter to give me a hug. "How are you?"

"I'm ok. I just figured I'd stop in for a little while today."

"Good, good, very good. Do you want a soda? Something to eat? You should call ahead, I would have had something ready for you..." Milo had such an amazing way of making you feel like family.

"No thanks, Milo. I'm ok. I just wanted to know if Deme was around."

"Oh? So you two are making good friends now, eh? I should have known. You're both good boys. You just hold on...Deme!" He called out.

And then...only moments later...my ultimate vision of loveliness emerged from the back of the restaurant, bringing an entire parade of cartoon hearts and unstable emotional fireworks right back into my life...where they now belonged. He couldn't be more stunning.

He was wearing a white apron, and this goofy little hat, his longish hair wrapped up in a hair net. I snickered to myself as he approached me, and his olive skin adopted the cutest shade of embarrassment. "Do not make fun." He grinned.

"I'm sorry, dude. Hehehe! It's the hat. What's with the hat?"

Deme turned to call out to Milo over his shoulder, "You see, Papa? I told you, the hat was too much. It looks silly."

Milo said, "When I was young and just starting out, I had to wear the hat. You are now young and starting out...so you will wear the hat. That is the rule."

"But why? This is shameful." Deme whined with a gentle smirk.

Milo's only answer was, "You wear the hat so you get fed up with it. That way, you make sure to work hard in life, and then you never have to wear the hat again. That's why." He seemed to enjoy this small bit of torture, but it was all with a good heart, I suppose.

Deme looked back at me and said, "I will never hear the end of this, will I?"

"I only wish I had a camera on me right now." I giggled. "But look at it this way...you're bearing enough shame to inspire a whole generation of teenagers who don't ever want to wear a hat like that ever again. It's an amazing sacrifice you make for us, Dimitry. We owe you a great honor..."

He gave me a light push on my shoulder. "You STOP that! Hehehe! Cruelty does not become you."

"Well, it's no hat and hairnet, that's for sure!" I chuckled. But, when his blush deepened, I stepped a bit closer and whispered, "Don't worry. You're still the cutest boy on the block to me."

We were so close. I could have kissed him on the lips if I thought it would look...'normal'. But we had to resist. At least for now.

Deme said, "Sit. I have made something for you. I want you to taste."

"What? No. No no no...no cooking, Deme. You promised."

"No promise." He giggled.

"You DID! You promised! No cooking."

"No, YOU make promise. Not me." He said. "It will be good this time. That I can promise. Ok?"

"Is it because I made fun of your hat? Is this my punishment?" I said, but he grabbed my hand and took me to one of the tables on the side of the restaurant anyway.

"Sit. You will like it. Ok?" He gazed into my eyes as if I could give him any answer but 'yes'. I was powerless against him in the most exquisite way.

"Ok..." I said, bashfully shrugging my shoulders as I took my seat.

I hope I don't regret this. Hehehe!