[morning after mardi gras]

[lost_boy]

Last night felt like a whirlwind.

I usually loved the parties Magnus threw, but last night the flying had left me shaken and panicked, afraid of everything from the Island coming back for me, right up until the moment Eddie had shouted at me to stop running. It was an incredible thing, having a night turn around so completely, but within less than half an hour with Eddie, I had gone from feeling as if my chest was being crushed by some awfully heavy weight, to feeling like I could fly without any help from the beads. Like I could fly and it would be the most wonderful thing in the world instead of the most frightening.

And Eddie loved me. Nothing could be frightening after that.

When Eddie suggested we go to Elio's instead of going back to the Home, I had jumped at the chance to spend the night with him instead of in a completely different room. I hated that the Home had separated us once they found out what was going on, but I also knew I couldn't do anything about it.

This was good, though. It was nice. Even having to sleep on a couch didn't make it any less comfortable. I had spent years sleeping under the roots of a tree, sleeping peacefully and comfortably on a dirt floor with a dozen other boys and their skinny limbs draped across me. Pressing close to Eddie on a couch wasn't a hardship at all. I would have stayed here forever if I could.

Except right now I had to pee. I carefully extricated myself from where I was sleeping and yanked on my clothes before I tiptoed down the hall to the bathroom. I still wasn't sure how strange Oliver found my presence to be, so I didn't want to wake him by accident. I was as quiet as possible, but on the way back to the couch I spotted Elio out on the patio and went in that direction instead.

"Hi," I said, my voice soft. "Good morning."

Comments

[speakordie]

Usually I sleep in, at least past the time that Oliver gets up to greet the dawn, or whatever it is early birds do. Sometimes, however, I wake up and there is nothing I can do to make my traitorous body go back to sleep. For a moment I consider waking Oliver, rousing him slowly with my mouth or my hands, but he looks so peaceful and I have to pee anyway.

After relieving myself, I go downstairs to make some coffee. Still sleep addled and foggy, I nearly panic when I see myself sleeping on the sofa, but I quickly remember that we have guests. It’s probably creepy, but I take a quick peek at Jamie and Eddie curled up together. Jamie had a tough night, and I’m glad he could find solace here with the person who calms him most.

As quietly as I can, I make a pot of coffee with enough left over for everyone to have some once they get up. There really isn’t anything I can do down here without waking anyone up, so I grab a book I’ve been reading off of my piano bench and head outside. It’s a chilly morning but there are blankets on the loveseat on the patio to curl up in, and coffee to keep me warm. Greeting the dawn is rather nice, I decide while watching the colors play off of the lake in the distance. Not nice enough to willingly get up this early all the time, but good for a rare treat.

Eventually I get lost in my book and by the time Jamie slips out onto the patio, the gray morning sky has shifted to a pale blue. I look up at him with a smile and slip my bookmark into the book to keep my place before letting it fall closed in my lap.

“Hey, morning,” I reply. “You want some coffee? There’s a fresh pot on the kitchen.” I don’t even know if Jamie drinks coffee, but it would be rude not to offer.