The Invasion of Adam (Tork and Adam Book 2) (8 page)

“Nah, it’s too cold. And I can’t afford it.”

“Oh. What if I said where we’re going, there is free champagne, and you get to dress up in the very finest suit that hangs in your wardrobe. I’d really like to see you in that suit. Everyone at the college would like to see you in that suit. You owe it to the world.”

Adam stared at him frowning. “I think you’ve inhaled too much glitter.”

“Maybe, but look what the Christmas fairies brought us.” Tork handed over the tickets. They were glossy, black, expensive. Once upon a time, he would have thought they were frivolous and stupid.

Adam’s blonde eyebrows shot back into his perfect hair.

Tork laughed softly. “I can see your fillings. Don’t rub your head, or I am not going with you.”

“But…”

“Yes?”

“But how?”

“Remember all that money you used to leave me? Before your dad put his foot down. I never spent any of it. I just put it all in a pile and tried to forget about it.”

Adam began to smile. “And you’re coming with me? For real?”

“Yes.” He waited for Adam to question what he would be wearing and thought he might test him a bit, with talk of charity shops and trousers borrowed from Kevin.

But Adam was up and flying towards him, and soon they were in bed, making noises that probably made Dickens blush.

* * *

They were to meet at the corner of Adam’s block, so they could walk together to the hall where the dance took place. Of course Adam had nattered on about limousines, but Tork had easily shut him up, saying they could turn up on Adam’s bike.

It was bright, chilly darkness, and Tork had arrived ten minutes early, so he could watch Adam turn the corner and prepare himself for the night ahead.

He was not going to be nervous. He was not going to freeze, or run, or make Adam look stupid in front of his friends. He wanted to give this night to Adam so much…for Adam to be proud of him.

But his hands shook slightly as all the students milled about, wearing gowns and suits.

He was not going to be an outsider tonight, though, because he had the world’s best boyfriend, he had Dickens the cat, and he had a family just waiting to know him. Tonight, there were no rules.

Tork took a deep breath, and waited.

* * *

“No,” he said firmly, and shut the door on them. They banged for a while. There was even a kick.

“Adam! Come on, you can’t turn up sober! We have fifteen kinds of drink here.”

“No,” he repeated, and eventually they left him alone to begin the long and magnificent process of making himself utterly drop-dead gorgeous.

But it was weird. With every spray of cologne, he felt more nervous. With each tiny peep in the mirror, he became more and more convinced that going to the dance was a terrible mistake. He wished he was wearing jeans and a sweater. What was he thinking? Tork would hate it all, his friends would be idiots, and what a waste of money anyway.

“Jeez, Adam,” he said to his (awesome) reflection in the mirror. “You are one sad loser.”

But there was no denying, he looked fantastic.

He decided to meet Tork anyway and suggest they just go home to Citywise together. Dickens would be pleased to see them.

But when Adam turned the corner, he had a minor seizure of the heart, eyes, and trousers. Tork looked utterly brilliant in his dark suit. His green hair and unusual features just shone under the street light. He looked special and fine, but that was nothing new to Adam.

What made him start was the way Tork stood—confidently—nodding and laughing with a bunch of drunken girls. Adam stepped backwards, almost certain he did not know this man and had no place at his side.

But Tork saw him and waved excitedly. After a few seconds of furious blinking, Adam waved back and ran to meet him.

Adam led him to the archway and squeezed his hand hard.

“You OK? You sure?” he asked, and that made Tork resolutely step through the boughs into another world.

It was massive…overwhelming…like an engulfing cosmos, pulsating with brilliant life.

“Oh my god, it’s disgusting! They went to town with this. Looks like Harry Potter’s grotto,” said Adam.

The great hall was spectacular, plastered with ornate decorations and brilliant flowers. It was tacky, synthetic, and utterly beautiful. There were balloons, lights, 3D images, and little waterfalls illuminated by floating candles.

“I’m so sorry it’s so crap. You wanna go home? We can, if you want?” Adam asked worriedly. Suddenly Tork let go of the last brick to his fortress and opened his eyes.

He saw it all, sucking it in like he was starving. It was so different to the drunken horror he’d expected, and so much better. Instead of people throwing up, it looked like a scene from a Jane Austen book.

There was no way he could be here, amongst so much noise and attention, yet here he was, shaking hands with strangers and smiling right alongside Adam, who refused to let go of his other hand. Any more than five people usually made Tork’s heart race and his back go icy, yet all he could feel was the excitement thumping through his veins with the music.

There were hundreds of people he didn’t know—flowing gowns, sparkles, glitter and black suits—all whirling across the dance floor, looking like a magical world. Tork saw, and suddenly he was drunk—drunk with the heady acceptance that this was where he belonged, with his boyfriend.

“Come on, let’s dance,” he said to Adam, who gawked back at him in shock.

“
Dance?
”

“Yeah, come on. I’ve never seen you move. Let’s show these people what two guys can do.”

Adam looked horrified, but he followed Tork to the shining dance hall and slung his jacket over a chair. “The things I do for you! Wouldn’t you rather sit in a corner and watch?”

Tork grinned and shook his head, giddy with excitement and energy. The other couples were dancing sedately, but it was time to break free.

With a whoop, he kicked off his shoes and let fly. His limbs soon moved into the beat, and the orchestra worked hard to meet his lithe body. When Tork was a kid, he won the gymnast championship trophy three years running. That was a long time ago now, but it seemed his body remembered how to move like fluid water running over the rocks and stones of life.

There were plenty of people clapping and shouting, but all he cared about was the delight and pride in Adam’s eyes .

They were soon dancing together, like two crazed magnets… drinking champagne… laughing… eating strawberries… dancing… and it was 11:59 p.m.…

“Happy Christmas,” Adam slurred unsteadily.

“It will be. It already is,” said Tork, grabbing Adam’s tie and pulling him close.

“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. You know that, right?”

“Me too,” Tork whispered. “You are my happy Christmas and my heart.”

The kiss tasted of fizzy bubbles, mint chocolates, and a heady promise that there was still so much more to come. It tasted of the flickering lights, slow music, the magic of Christmas, but mostly it tasted of Adam.

Tork kissed, and kissed, drawing in the whole essence of the man he loved, whirling it around his heart and dancing with his soul.

The End

Al Stewart and Claire Davis write about people who are not perfect. Claire embraces the dark side, and Al the good side of the force. Their work is there for a fusion of both, mixed often with kink and humour.

Website:
http://astewartcdavisbook.wix.com/author

Goodreads:
goodreads.com/author/show/8328423.Claire_Davis
goodreads.com/author/show/8510218.Al_Stewart

Facebook:
facebook.com/pages/Claire-Davis-and-Al-Stewart/764501920298271

Beaten Track:
beatentrackpublishing.com/clairedavisandalstewart

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Billie Jean

The Invasion of Tork
(Boughs of Evergreen)

Coming Up
(Al Stewart and Debbie McGowan)

Eight Inches to make Johnny Smile

The Forest Savage

Impact Ripples

Ribbons and Frills

A Case in Time
(Al Stewart and Noah Homes)

The Invasion of Adam

The Trap
(Love Unlocked, 2016)