Cultured Spirit

A/N: Sorry this took so long! I’ve just had trouble sitting down and finishing. This chapter had a number of different beginnings, but the ending never changed. I’m glad I finally got it to look like I wanted it.

Chapter Eleven

* * *

Daniel was already waiting for him, inspecting a green bike soundly. Ian smirked, leaning against a shelf of bicycle racks and watched the other boy as he flickered his thumb continuously over a silver bell.

“Definitely not that one.” Ian said suddenly, startling Daniel from his inspection. “Noah will annoy the crap out of his neighbours with it.”

Letting go of the tiny bell, Daniel scowled. “You’re late! That’s rude, you know, asking for someone’s help and then showing up –” He glanced at his watch, frowning. “Six minutes late...”

Ian laughed, nudging Daniel to start moving toward another set of bikes. “I had no clue you were so eager to see me. I won’t keep you waiting next time.”

They walked for a minute, Ian pulling off his toque and shaking out snowflakes from his hair. The weather had grown terrible and Ian briefly wondered how uncomfortable the swimming competition was going to be the following day.

“You’re gonna come watch tomorrow, right?” Ian asked, pausing in front of an orange bike and mentally comparing its size to Noah’s figure.

Daniel paused, his own hat perched messily on his head as he regarded Ian with a raised brow. “Do you want me to?”

The question caught Ian off guard. He figured the other boy was still feeling insecure about their previous meeting – with good reason – and continued to berate himself for being such an idiot that night on the carriage. Catching Daniel’s eye, Ian nodded, “You’ll be my good luck charm.”

An expression of surprise flickered on Daniel’s face, before he smirked teasingly. “I thought that’d be reserved for Adeline.”

A sick feeling stirred in Ian’s gut, but he forced himself to laugh. “That’s true. I suppose you’ll just have to be my groupie then.”

“What an honour,” Daniel said dryly, honeyed eyes staring at Ian with a hint of a smile. “How about this one?”

Running fingers through his disheveled hair, Ian glanced at the royal blue bike with its black stripes and over-all hot-wheel appearance. There was only one thing that held Ian back from thinking it was perfect.

“I don’t think so – Mum said he wanted green.” His eyes glanced over the bike again as Daniel spun one of its wheels.

“He wants green right now,” Daniel said thoughtfully, his palm grazing the spinning wheel’s ridges. “In two weeks his favourite colour will change. Imagine how he’ll feel if he passed up this bike because he thought he wanted something else at the time.”

Ian nudged the tire with his foot to keep it from spinning. His eyebrows knit together in a frown as he watched his shoe bump against the rack, before raising his head to meet Daniel’s smug expression.

“All right, all right. You win – let’s get this one and get out of here. I need a coffee.”

* * *

The car felt extremely festive as Ian watched Daniel bump his nose continuously against the whipped cream of his drink. It was hilarious to watch the smaller boy scowl while rubbing the sugar off his face, carols playing on the radio as background while he muttered.

“See, that’s why I always get mine sans whipped cream – it’s awfully messy.” Ian said smartly, glancing at Daniel briefly before turning back to the road.

“Maybe if you knew how to drive without sending us all over the car, I’d be able to drink in peace. I’m just thankful for seatbelts.” He said huffily, licking whipped cream off the rim of his cup.

Ian grinned as he slowed down the car, parking shakily into Daniel’s drive way. The whole ride had sent Daniel into a bought of hysterics – it seemed he got quite nervous while driving over slightly icy patches.

“I’m sure you do much better,” Ian said sarcastically, reaching to the back seat for Daniel’s shopping bags. He’d checked through them sneakily a bit earlier, finding out that they were Christmas presents and almost laughing at the hideous choices. Poor Daniel must’ve thought everyone loved RPG games, even his father.

Daniel gulped down the rest of his drink, holding it with both hands, in a rush. When he was finished, he stared at Ian for a long while, before sighing. “Look, I need a favour.”

“I was wondering when you were going to ask for my help with your shopping. Really, Daniel! Adeline’s not a Dungeons and Dragons kind of girl.”

The flush on Daniel’s cheeks made Ian break out into laughter, though he swore when the empty cup just missed his head bounced off his window. “Watch it!”

“That’s not what I meant – and don’t expect a present now.” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked away, obviously ready for Ian to beg for forgiveness.

Smirking, Ian shrugged. “Alright, what is it, then?”

Anxiety swept over Daniel’s face as he slowly uncrossed his arms and looked at Ian pleadingly. “The play... Will’s dropped out.”

Ian winced. That didn’t bode well. “The lead?”

“Yeah,” Chewing his lip, Daniel tapped on the window ledge uncomfortable. “I made you his understudy...”

Nervousness crept up on Ian and he cringed. “Hell no. I thought you didn’t want me in that thing.”

“Well, you did the best. It was really surprising actually.” Daniel looked at Ian hopefully, and Ian already knew his answer before the question was asked.

“Will you do it?”

Crap.

* * *

Ryan grinned as he stood on the backrest of his mother’s tidy sofa. His fingers were wrapped around an obscure bottle of /something/ as he teetered dangerously, back and forth. Somehow, the noisy room quieted down, heads turning to watch the party’s host as he collected himself, hair now dyed with pieces of red to accompany the black and blond. He looked fun and mischievous as always, and as Ian stared up at him, he wondered why he wasn’t up there also, screaming at party guests while growing insanely drunk.

“Welcome all!” Ryan shouted, laughing in between his words. “I hope you’re all celebrating!” He was slurring his words, tripping over between letters and Ian laughed, sharing a look with Adeline.

“You all know this isn’t just /any/ party! I think we should all give it up for Ian Hadley! Star swimmer who whooped Vick’s ass like it was nothing!”

“Naw.” Ian blushed, smiling a bit as Adeline cheered enthusiastically from next to him. People began to pat his back from all over, or offer him drinks – which he politely refused. Usually, it didn’t matter how much liquor he had, but tonight Adeline was with him and he knew he’d be driving her home.

She herself was intoxicated. Probably more so with excitement, but the smell of alcohol was also on her breath. She had become clingy and was taking any chance she could to kiss him, and Ian was growing tired with her continuous attempts. When Ryan had finally fallen off the back of the couch and his speech was over, Ian dragged Adeline to a quieter corner of the room.

“Hey,” he whispered, eyes raking over her beautiful body and glistening eyes fondly. “Let’s get outta here, what do you say?”

Adeline cocked her head to one side, unfocused eyes regarding Ian confusedly. “Aww, but Ian. The party’s just started.”

Kissing her cheek and then her lips chastely, Ian took her hand in his and led her to the door. “There are too many people here...” He watched her blue eyes study him skeptically. He wondered somehow if she knew – if she knew that he was suppressing the urge to pull away from her every time they kissed.

Her vibrant eyes glowed as she nodded. “Okay,” she smiled and followed him out the door, leaving Ian feeling like scum as he drove her home.

As usual, when they arrived, Ian walked her to her front door as they said their goodbyes. She was still drunk, it was evident by the way she was meshing herself against him as they kissed, and Ian had laughed halfway through it, pushing her away.

“If you continue that, missy, you’re going to have to invite me inside.” He teased, kissing her once on the cheek as a final goodbye.

Her next response surprised him into almost stumbling off the steps of her porch.

“Why don’t you? I mean – come inside.” Her cheeks were red and her eyes shone with hopefulness. Something inside Ian unfurled, and he realised it was hope.

Maybe if he agreed, he’d no longer feel this odd detachment from her. He gazed at her for a long while, mentally weighing how drunk she seemed and decided that he was right – most of it was from excitement as she had hardly enough time to actually become really out of it.

After a silence in which Adeline tightened her grip on his fingers, he smiled and opened the door.

* * *

Ian’s hand traveled down a smooth back before his fingers curled against the clasp of Adeline’s bra. His mind was buzzing, warm and dazed from the heat of her lips on his neck and the feel of her hands crawling up underneath his shirt.

A moment passed in which he steadily lowered his palms, inching his fingers underneath the waist of her jeans and she pulled her lips away, gazing at him intensely.

The sick feeling of his stomach had faded away into a dull remembrance and Ian smiled at her as she straddled him.

The few seconds afterward went by in a blur of panic. The moment Ian’s fingers steadily unhooked her bra, her door room flew open sending Ian into hysterics. Adeline’s eyes widened as she rolled off him, pulling the covers up to her chin with a guilty expression on her face.

Ian himself could scarcely breathe. His heart hammered in his chest as he tried to adjust to the sudden burst of light into the room, eyes focused on the figure in the doorway. His mind kept repeating one word, and he was pretty sure he was saying it out loud as well.

Fuck.

There was no way Ian was going to escape this situation alive. Dautry Sr. was going to skin him alive. Ian wondered if there was anyone Adeline’s father could prevent him from graduating.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuckfuckfu—

“Daniel?” Adeline’s voice was meek, embarrassed and yet soft and choked with relief.

Ian’s brain stopped picturing his carcass rotting in the middle of the floor and they caught Daniel’s bright red face as he stammered in the doorway.

Unlike Adeline, Ian felt no relief. His eyes raked over Daniel’s shocked expression, and he felt a flutter of regret in his gut.

“I was home early...” Daniel was saying some sort of intangible explanation. “Came back to drop of the car keys...”

Adeline was hurriedly dressing herself, completely sobered up. “Sorry,” she was apologizing over and over again, and Ian felt like the whole situation was his fault.

Everything only worsened when Daniel excused himself and ran out of the room. A sinking feeling consumed him and Ian stood up abruptly. “Shit. I’ll go talk to him.”

Adeline, far too embarrassed to disagree, nodded. “His room’s just across the hall,” she said quietly, facing away from him.

Ian watched her for a moment, before running an uneasy hand through his hair and exiting the suddenly stifling room.

* * *

He found Daniel sitting next to his closet door, a frown on his face that was quite a contrast to his large and bewildered eyes. Awkwardly standing against the frame for a minute, Ian finally cleared his throat and walked toward the smaller boy with a flush to his cheeks.

“Ever heard of knocking?” He said whilst trying to smirk, shoving his hands in his pockets as he towered over Daniel’s hunched form.

Daniel looked up at Ian with an expression that was hugely apologetic and embarrassed. Ian would’ve laughed if he hadn’t felt the same way. “I really, really wasn’t expecting anything like that.” He replied shame-faced.

Ian wondered briefly he should have mentioned that he, too, was surprised at finding himself in the position he was in. Instead, he maneuvered himself so that he could sit next to Daniel and slid down the closet door, folding his legs beneath him. “That’s because you never expect anything like that,” he teased, smiling a little. “You’re so innocent that it’s actually funny.”

The annoyed expression on Daniel’s face was playful and Ian felt relief at the reassurance that he hadn’t totally traumatized the other boy.

“One of us has to be.” He said haughtily, eyes glancing over at Ian. There was something in his smile that Ian couldn’t decipher – a slight spark of skepticism or something else.

Ian felt himself laugh. “Yeah, I’m leaving that one to you.” His expression grew suddenly mischievous. “There are certain things I’m not willing to give up.”

Instead of rolling his eyes or scoffing at Ian’s remark, Daniel’s head suddenly slanted to one side as he regarded Ian earnestly. “What’s it like?”

Completely thrown off, Ian stared at Daniel dumbly. “What? You want to know what it’s /like/?”

With a slight nod, Daniel averted his gaze. “Yeah.” After a moment’s hesitation, he added something that made Ian’s chest tighten. “I’m a little jealous.”

“Jealous?” Daniel’s body seemed suddenly suffocating next to Ian who watched the other boy with interest.

“Whenever I see you and Adeline. I mean, I’ve always wanted to feel like that – completely absorbed in my feelings for someone else.” His cheeks took on a pink tint.

Ian thought back to the carnival, when Adeline’s hand in his felt like a heavy weight. He even thought back to the party earlier that day when each bitter sip of stale beer felt more satisfying than her tender kisses. He came to realise that he was jealous of himself, too – or at least what Daniel thought he had.

“I’ll let you know what it’s like when I find out,” he muttered lowly, leaning his head back against the wall and staring up at the ceiling.

Daniel blinked and pushed himself from his lounging position so that he was bent at the knees, leaning toward Ian almost accusingly. “You mean, that’s not what you have with Adeline?”

“I’m not sure yet,” he admitted, studying Daniel’s features in the darkness. He wondered for the millionth time how he and his sister could be so different.

Seemingly satisfied with that answer, Daniel removed himself from his “intimidating” position and leaned back on his heels. Suddenly, he let out a bubble of laughter, eyes brightening. “Oh God, the expressions on your guys’ faces when I walked in on you two – priceless.”

Ian felt himself break out into laughter of his own, covering his face with his hands. “Thankfully it was just you. I was about to have a heart attack when I heard that door open. Imagine it was your dad,” he moaned, “my heart’s still racing at that prospect.”

Daniel smirked. “You’re overreacting.”

Raising a challenging brow, Ian grabbed Daniel’s hand. “Oh yeah?” Watching the other boy carefully, he placed the pale hand on top of his shirt right where he estimated his heart was. “Feel that? It’s probably going to beat at that rate for the rest of my life – that’s how much your dad scares me.”

He was grinning, his grip on Daniel’s wrist still firm as the boy thoughtfully studied the beats. He, too, smiled widely. “You’re serious! That’s ridiculous, Ian, calm down or you might just fulfill that prediction and have a stroke!”

Ian tilted his head to one side and observed Daniel’s face interestedly. Even when the smaller boy made to tug his hand away, he covered the slender fingers with his own. They lay on his chest perfectly still, cold and intruding.

“Feel that?” He asked quietly, hazel eyes dropping to glance at their twined fingers. “I’m calming down.”

Daniel’s smile had faded into a thoughtful expression. “Oh yeah.” He grinned. “Guess we’re stuck with you for some time, then, huh?”

They stayed like that in silence for a few seconds before Ian looked back up, his features lined with excitement. “Daniel!” He waited for the other boy’s attention to fully train on him. “Why don’t you come over for Christmas dinner? You can be there when Noah opens his present, and considering you picked it out...” He trailed off, watching Daniel’s expression fall into one of consideration.

Then, Daniel grinned beautifully. It didn’t matter that Ian had completely forgotten he’d already invited Adeline over, or that he hadn’t let go of Daniel’s smooth hand still.

All that mattered at that second was Daniel timidly agreeing to his invitation.