Inner Demons

It was raining, like it had been for two days straight now. Darren sighed, bored to death. He wasn’t used to be home on a Friday night, ever since he turned 18 he had been either out clubbing or just at a party. He knew why though, because of Benjamin the school’s hunk and Mr. Popular. He was only invited because he was Benjamin’s best friend and they were always found together, usually.

Mike was sitting next to him, reading some book he had found in the bookshelf. Karen was in the kitchen, making a salad while waiting for the pizza they had ordered to come. He had his knees drawn up to his chest, resting his head upon them while starring into the air. Mike turned a page in the book, still actually reading on the previous page. Darren smiled to himself, recognising the trait that seemed to run in the family somehow. Mike looked up from his book briefly and snorted to himself when he saw Darren laughing lightly.

Karen placed the bowl with salad on the table before the two boys and ruffled Darren’s hair on her way out to get the plates and glasses for them. In the mean time the door bell rang and Darren shot out of the sofa, grabbing the money on his way to the door. Tearing the door open, he smiled slightly at the shocked look on the pizza guy. Quickly handing the money over, he grabbed the pizza and closed the door.

“Pizza’s here!”

Karen stepped out of the kitchen, plates and glasses in hand. Placing the pizza on the table, Darren opened it and smelled the deliciousness coming from it. Looking up, he saw Mike still sitting with the book in his hands. Seeing his mother walk back out of the living room, he snuck up and quickly removed the book from Mike’s hands. Mike’s response was instant, but not the way he had suspected. Instead he found himself being kissed briefly before Mike retracted.

“You’ve been kind of obvious about wanting my attention all day.”

“Well you’ve been ignoring me all day, in favour of a book of all things.”
“Sorry.”

Darren smiled back and sat down next to Mike, digging into the pizza with Mike. Karen walked back outside with the soda and sat down next to him, digging in herself. They enjoyed the food in silence the first few minutes, before talking about school and what the plans they had for the weekend, while she was away on a small business trip.

“Why don’t you invite Benjamin over?” She asked and bit into her third slice of pizza.

Darren leaned back on the sofa, finished eating and shook his head. “We’re arguing, so we aren’t exactly on speaking terms.”

“Why are you arguing?”

“Nothing really.” Darren brushed off and tucked his feet up on the sofa, knees to his chest.

“It can’t really be nothing. You haven’t fought since you became best friends.”

“Remember how we came to know each other, mom?”

Mike’s interest got perked and between mouthful he asked. “How did you get to know each other?”

Karen smiled endearingly at Mike. “They were fighting with some of their classmates, different ones I might add, when they heard each other’s arguments. Darren isn’t one to let an argument die when he knows he’s right, but somehow he wasn’t able to convince the people he was arguing with. The same goes for Benjamin too. When they looked at each other, they switched arguments, won and been together ever since.”

Darren shook his head at his mother’s behaviour which reminded him of the girls in his class when they were discussing some male actor or artist. Mike chuckled and covered his mouth with his hand.

“Not having any more, love?” Karen asked, when she noticed that he had stopped eating.

“I’m full.”

Mike threw him a look, but shrugged and continued eating. The rest of the meal went in silence aside from the television.

---

He stood in the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. He couldn’t shake off Mike’s comment about him. It had been on replay since then, making him focus on how much he ate during the day. He was surprised by how much he actually ate yesterday and today he had tried as hard as he could to eat a little less, he felt proud at how well things had gone.

Three rapid knocks on the door, alerted him that Mike wanted to use the toilet before they went to bed. They had, without his mother’s acknowledge moved Mike into his room and they had shared his own bed since the Wednesday.

“Darren hurry up.” Mike whined and knocked on the door again.

Smiling to himself, Darren put his shirt back on and unlocked the door, smiling sweetly to Mike and let him trough.

As Mike brushed his teeth and got ready for bed, Darren laid on the bed starring at the ceiling. He had never really given his own body any thought before, he was happy as long as it worked the way it should, but now it seemed like he couldn’t get it out of his mind. The door opened and Mike entered quietly, as to not wake Karen up.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing.”

Mike frowned and walked over the bed. “You’ve been awfully quiet today.”

“Have not.” Darren argued and rolled over to the side.

Mike laid down next to him, pulling him closer by the waist and kissing his naked shoulder. “Are you sure everything is alright?”

“I’m sure, Mike.” He turned around and smiled before kissing Mike softly on the lips. “Nothing’s wrong.”

Mike nodded and pulled Darren even closer. “Lets just get some sleep, okay?”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to do since I got here.”

Mike chuckled and closed his eyes, falling asleep almost instantly.

---

“I’m bored!” Darren whined.

“Then go do something, instead of sitting here whining!” Mike said, without taking his eyes off the book he was reading.

“Why are you always reading? You haven’t done anything but that since you came.”

Still not looking up from the book, Mike laughed. “I can think of a few things I’ve done that doesn’t involve me reading.”

“Like what?!” Darren challenged without thinking.

“You, me, on your bed this morning.” The voice was completely casual and Mike never looked up from his book.

Darren on the other hand, was bright red from the statement about what they had done that morning after his mother had left. He huffed and leaned back on the sofa, trying desperately to find something to do, curing his boredom. So far he had no luck, there was nothing on the television, he wasn’t interesting in reading and Mike was ignoring him.

Smiling mischievously, Darren scooted closer to Mike and leaned his head on his shoulder, reading the book with him. Mike shifted leaning away from Darren, making him frown and get up from the sofa.

“Where are you going?”

“Like you care.” Darren said, imitating Mike’s casual voice.

“I do care.” Mike said and removed his eyes from the book, looking deeply into Darren’s. “I’m sorry I ignored you in favour for the book, but it’s really good.”

Mike took a hold of Darren’s arm, laying the book on the table, and tugged him forward. Darren settled onto Mike’s lap, Mike’s arms tightly around him and he wasn’t able to get away.

“I think I like you very much in this position.” Mike chuckled. “Sitting on my lap, looking all delicious and everything.”

Darren smiled. “This is the Mike I remember, always playful. Now, let me go.”

Mike shook his head and kissed Darren quickly, to shut him up. Darren squirmed and tried to push himself away from Mike, only to have him hold on to him even more tighter.

“Mike, let me go.” Darren whined in between kisses, but kissed Mike back.

Mike pulled back. “You really want me to let you go.”

“No, but I really have to go to the bathroom.”

Mike laughed and let Darren go, pushing him lightly.

---

“You know, I’m surprised that you guys have such good food here, when you don’t even have Starbucks.” Mike commented while eating his second slice of pizza.

“You thought that just because we don’t have Starbucks here, we don’t have good food.” Darren asked, still nibbling on his first slice.

“Basically… yeah.” Mike laughed. “How do you survive without Starbucks? You were addicted to it back in the States.”

Darren smiled. “I know, but there’s a lot of nice and way more pleasant coffee shops here.”

Mike was about to say something when someone came in the door at the pizza place. Darren’s eyes widened and Mike looked over his shoulder, only to see Benjamin there with some random girl at his side. Looking over at Darren, Mike saw his expression fall along with his whole body.

“Are you okay?” Mike asked carefully and with a low voice.

Darren shook his head, looking up at Mike with tears in his eyes. “Could we go?”

“Sure, lets just get the waitress and pay.” Mike said, not really understanding why Darren wanted to go so badly.

Darren smiled weakly. “Thank you.”

Mike winked over an waitress and asked for the check, paying it as quickly as it came. Then he walked back to Darren and ushered him outside, away from Benjamin, who only caught sight of them on their way out.

After walking awhile, Darren sat down on a bench and took a few deep breaths before looking up at Mike. “I’m sorry.”

“What for?” Mike asked.

“Making us leave just because of Ben.” Darren lowered his head, refusing to look Mike in the eyes.

Mike sighed inwardly, he didn’t know what but something had happened between the two, Darren even had admitted it, just not exactly what. “What happened between the two of you?”

“We argued, I already told you that.”

“You didn’t tell me what you were arguing about.” Mike pressed, wanting the truth from Darren.

“The day you were with me to school, before I met up with you at the mall?” Mike nodded briefly, not entirely sure where this was going. “I was held back by Ben, but only for a short while.”

“What happened?”

“He kissed me.”

“What?”

“He kissed me, called later in the evening and said he didn’t mean to.” Darren explained and looked down the road they had been walking a few minutes ago. Knowing that Benjamin was still sitting in the restaurant with that girl made his heart ache for unknown reasons. He wanted to go back, grabbed Benjamin’s arm and drag him out of there, then… He didn’t know what he would do then, it wasn’t like they were on speaking terms anymore.

“Do you want to go home?” Mike asked, holding his hand out for Darren to take.

Darren smiled and took it, leaning heavily on Mike on their way home. Mike was only happy to help, but he also knew that Darren wouldn’t be Darren without Benjamin, so something had to be done.

---

Mike closed the door to Darren’s room softly, clutching his cousin’s cell phone in his fist. He walked down to the kitchen, while looking through the names on Darren’s contact list, it didn’t take long before he came to the name he was looking for. Opening the fridge he took out the soda and pour himself a glass, while dialling the number.

He didn’t have to wait long before someone answered. “Hi, we need to talk.”

TBC

---

Thanks to Lisa for reviewing and to everyone else who has been reading and rating my story, it means a lot to me! If you see any mistakes please don't hesitate to tell me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please leave a review if you have the time to.