August let out a sigh as he ran a hand through his hair. He was sitting up on the bed in the dark, his eyes moving to the small room and adjusting to catch the outline of objects here and there. His head was pounding and his forehead was covered in sweat. He felt his body shiver as the cold wind from the open window kissed his skin.
"Are you awake?"
He heard Vincent's voice ask as a hand found his slim fingers under the duvet.
"Yes," he replied before pausing. "My head hurts."
Soon enough August felt the area beside him on the bed raise with the action of Vincent sitting up. He was soon in Vincent's hold, his face buried in his boyfriend's shoulder.
"Damn, this fever is sure taking its sweet time to leave," Vincent muttered against August's hair. They stayed like that until Vincent broke the hug so that he could get up from the bed's sunken mattress. August watched his figure move towards the door area to flip the light switch, August's eyes squinting when the bright orange light flooded the room.
"Sorry," Vincent apologized, looking his way.
"It's fine..." August trailed, making Vincent give him a small smile. August could spot the dark area under Vincent's eyes from the distance, and his heart sunk when he realized that he was the one who'd been waking Vincent up in the middle of the night for the past week.
"I'm sorry," August said in a low tone, making Vincent shake his head at him.
"It's not a problem. It's not a problem at all," he said, letting out a sigh. "I'll go and get you some medicine, maybe food, and clearly we need a warm rag to cool you down."
August nodded at Vincent's words, watching as he left the room before closing the door gently behind him.
-
August's eyes popped open to perceive the dim night light that was coming from the table lamp on his bedside table. He groaned, making to turn, but smiled when Vincent hugged him to himself in his sleep.
It had been a few days since they started staying in August's apartment, and August tried not to think about what was happening with the exhibition sponsors and critics at the moment. Lisa had been calling to keep him updated. Apparently, they'd zeroed down on four critics and were trying to get them to admit that they'd collected a bribe from his parents.
August let his eyes close again before he raised Vincent's hand a bit so that he could in turn to see his sleeping face. He smiled, letting his fingers feel Vincent's soft face as the sound of cars passing by on the street entered the room through the open windows every once in a while.
Vincent always had a serious look on his face when he was awake, but the look he had when he was asleep resembled they of a child with no care in the world. August found the way Vincent was clenching to him adorable. He'd always done that — clenching onto anything that was within his reach when he was asleep, and he would readily replace August with a pillow if he got up.
"Vincent," August muttered, leaning into him. "I think it's time to wake up," he said, running a hand through Vincent's short coarse hair. Vincent started muttering a string of inaudible words before his eyes opened to reveal their deep brown color.
"Are you awake?" August asked, making Vincent stare at him for a while before he nodded against the pillow propped under his head.
"Yes. How are you?" he asked, moving his hands to rub the area under August's eyes. They were dark, probably from staying up due to the stress of worrying about what was happening.
"Stressed," August answered honestly before he buried his head in Vincent's shoulder. "But I'm trying not to let the situation get to me, you know? Russell called me yesterday and tried to assure me that everything was fine. He said the team is sorting things out and that we're allowed to go outside if we want."
"Do you want to go out today?" August asked, looking into Vincent's drowsy eyes.
"Sure..." he trailed, his eyes widening immediately after he spoke as if in realization. "Shit. I have to get my stuff from Claude's place. He's a bit far from here, but we can take the train."
August stayed quiet for a while, letting his hands fiddle with the soft material of the duvet that was covering them. "Can we go there, then eat out afterward?" August asked, his face brightening up when Vincent nodded. He smiled, letting himself snuggle into Vincent's chest.
Sometimes at noon, they got up to get ready, sharing the shower before trying to find something in August's wardrobe that would fit Vincent. They laughed as he tried everything from tops to jeans, nothing seemed to be working until they miraculously found a pair of jeans and a top that didn't look like the fly and buttons were going to pop open and fly across the room if Vincent let out a breath.
August made them some breakfast while Vincent tried to make the apartment look livable by cleaning up. They'd effectively spent the past few days watching sitcoms in the living room, talking as August painted in the studio or simply munching on junk food as they moved about the apartment.
"Thank you," Vincent laughed when August put a sandwich in his hand. Vincent then hurried down the stairs and out the main door after unlocking it. August locked up as Vincent stopped a cab. They both got in together when August got down, eating sandwiches laced with peanut butter and jelly as they got comfortable in the back seat.
They were dropped at the train station soon after, and they waited behind the yellow line holding hands as they talked and looked around the subway station. A lot of people dotted the area seeing as it was midday on the first day of the weekend. They got into the next train with the rest of the people behind the line, taking seats at the corner.
The train soon came to a stop, startling August. He knew he'd slept for a good portion of the journey. He let himself hold on to Vincent's sleeve as they walked out of the subway and into the crowded streets above. People were moving about, as cars were trying to maneuver their way around the persistent groups of people crossing the street ever so often.
"We're going to your friend's house first, right?" August asked, not quite believing what he saw to be a residential area. Vincent laughed, squeezing his boyfriend's hand, making the younger man to look up at him just in time to catch him nodding his head.
"Yeah, there are a few apartment buildings that house both homes and shops..." Vincent trailed as he looked about the street under the harsh rays of the sun above. August wasn't sure what he was looking for. Maybe it was a street sign.
"Come on," Vincent said suddenly, pulling August by the arm to make him follow. They walked together for a while, eventually stopping a cab and getting into the backseat. August continued to watch the scenery from the window of the cab. A small drizzle had now started, despite the burning sun from before. The crowds on the streets were still persistent. Only that this time they were armed with cheap umbrellas and raincoats of varying colors that were purchased from the roadside merchants.
When the cab made a stop at the front of an old looking apartment complex, August let his eyes wander from corner to corner. It looked like a non-residential business was on the first floor and second floor, but Vincent did mention that his friend lived on the third floor that presently looked quiet.
"There it is," Vincent said, bringing August back to the real world. He turned to find Vincent pocketing change as the cab driver put away the bills Vincent had handed him. August let his gaze move from the Driver to Vincent who was now opening the door. August's eyes widened when the sound of the downpour outside as well as small droplets that came with the drizzle invaded the back seat of the car through the now open door.
Vincent reached out for August's hand, and August took it before getting out the back seat and closing the door behind him. They then made a run for the apartment building together, laughing like kids when they got to the safe area just right after the entrance of the building. The cab driver had already driven off, leaving them behind.
'Damn the rain," August half complained, half laughed as he shivered in his now drenched clothes. He tried to hug himself to create warmth, but that seems to worsen the situation. His hair was also ruined, apart from it bring drenched. He knew the curls would have shrunk it making them hard to comb when his hair dried.
"Ah. Your hair's wet," Vincent mouthed, walking over to his pouting boyfriend. Vincent lightly pulled on a few strands of August's hair, examining them. "I'm sure Claude has a hair dryer so I'll fix it for you when its dry," he said, making August smile. Vincent never hid his interest in his hair.
After a few exchange of words, August and Vincent headed up the stairs to Claude's apartment door. They stood by the rusted staircase railings as Vincent called Claude to tell him that they were there to get his things.
"I'm wondering how we'll take that to your place under the rain," Vincent said before pausing briefly. It just crossed his mind that he left a nylon bag of things in the motel he'd been in before the exhibition day, but he could always get that later. August would eventually have to visit the area around the motel because of the rescheduled Q and A.
"I don't think we can still go out and eat, can we?" August asked.
Vincent sighed, moving a bit so he was face to face with August. He used his free hand to brush against August's cool cheek, catching the droplets of water that were pooling and dripping from August's sideburns and hairline.
"We'll just stay in Claude's place until the rain stops. I'm sorry we can't go out..." Vincent trailed as August nodded in understanding.
"Okay, no PDA in my apartment."
A voice said, making August and Vincent jump apart. August turned, noticing the dark-skinned man with arms decorated in black inked tattoos standing by the door to the apartment with folded arms across his chest. August then turned to Vincent, who was now chuckling as he rolled his eyes.
"We're outside your apartment, not in it."
The man, Claude, August guessed scoffed before turning his attention to him.
"You must be August," he said with a sudden grin, stretching his hand out. August looked at it for a while before he decided to reach out and shake it.
The man eventually backed away from the door, allowing August and Vincent to walk in. The fan above creaked as it spun, and the sound of the raindrops hitting the curtainless window drowned out the sound of the boxing match playing on the small TV sitting on the carpeted floor.
"I'll get towels," Clause said when Vincent asked how he was supposed to seat on the couch. Claude disappeared into one of the three doors in sight, leaving August and Vincent to themselves.
"What room did you stay in?" August asked, looking away from the door Claude had gone through to stare at the other two on the side.
"The one next to the door Claude just used. The other one is the kitchen," Vincent answered as Claude burst through his room door with two towels in his hands. He spread them on the couch before asking August and Vincent to take a seat. Personally, Claude settled down on the carpeted floor to return his attention to watching TV.
They sat there, making small talk as the rain continued to fall. It seemed to be getting heavier instead of drawing to a close, and the cool weather was beginning to make August drowsy.
"We're not leaving this place anytime soon, are we?" Vincent laughed, the vibration of his chest waking August, who was resting on his shoulder. August squinted under the orange light of the bulb in the living room when he opened his eyes, his mind only comprehending the situation when Vincent's laughter died down.
"He's stuck to you like glue. I wonder how he left you in the first place," Claude joked, adjusting his sitting position on the floor so that he could look up at them. August wasn't sure what his reaction to Claude's words should be. He knew that he was the one Claude was referring to.
"It's a long story, but what matters is that we've sorted things out," Vincent said before pulling August into a sudden hug.
"Get a room."
"Why don't you feed us first? You're letting your guests starve."
Claude laughed at Vincent's words, shaking his head. "Fine. I'll order pizza. I can't cook to save my life so you all have to manage."
"Vincent can't cook either," August spoke up, making Claude look over at him in surprise. Claude laughed, turning to Vincent who was now glaring at his boyfriend.
"I like him," Claude laughed, making a small smile form on August's face.
"I didn't know a rich city boy could talk back."
The smile August had been wearing dimmed a little. Since he'd been living with Vincent he'd been reminded time and time again about how he didn't fit into the working class setting. Everything from his looks, behavior, and the way he spoke made it unnervingly obvious that he didn't grow up in that area or under the same conditions Vincent and his friends did.
August tried to brighten up, seeing the way that Claude had carried on with a conversation with Vincent probably meant he didn't mean it in an offensive way. August couldn't lie about it not bothering him — because it did.
His eyes widened a little when fingers laced with his on the wet towels beneath them on the couch. August eyes fell to his hands to find Vincent's darker ones holding on to his. He smiled, realizing Vincent must have picked up on his discomfort.
Claude eventually ordered the pizza he promised and they all sat by the TV watching a sitcom as they talked. Unlike Vincent's other friends, Claude was a little more easy to talk to, and he seemed genuinely interested in August's art when he brought it up.
They eventually left the Apartment with Vincent's luggage at eight in the evening.
"I'm sorry that we didn't get to eat out," Vincent said when they got out of the cab and headed for August's apartment building. August shrugged at Vincent's words. The puddles of water on the lawn had soaked the bottom of his jeans with mud and pieces of grass. The sight made Vincent chuckle lightly.
"It's okay. We basically visited your friend in his place, so that's a score," August said as the door clicked open after he turned the key in the lock. Vincent smiled at him before he picked up his duffle bag and followed him into the apartment.
August had been sincere about what he said. There was nothing more pleasing than a close to a regular day after months of drama.
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