Ecstasy

Chapter 6
Anthony sighed and fell back on his now clear bed, after unpacking and putting everything in it’s place around the room. He stared up at the ceiling, letting himself sink into the bed mattress as fatigue engulfed his body. It had been a long day, with so many questions now burning inside of him. He just had to get answers about this place and why everyone was content on ruining that young woman. Just as he felt himself fall asleep, something sat down on the edge of the bed, bending over him so that it was close to his face. Anthony’s eyes sprung open as the intruder kissed the end of his noes lightly.

“What the hell do you want?” Anthony glared at Dawson’s cheeky face, as he moved over to let Dawson lie down next to him.

“Well don’t sound happy to see me or anything.” Dawson rolled his eyes and poked his tongue out at Anthony, putting on a little sulky face. Anthony sighed and rolled onto his side to face Dawson, before running his hand down Dawson’s arm.

“Alright, I’m happy to see you. Have you finished unpacking?” Dawson nodded and looked around Anthony’s fairly clean room, now filled with Anthony’s belongings.

“Seems like you’ve unpacked as well. Lost anything on the trip here?” Dawson was still scanning the room, as Anthony sat up in bed stretching and yawning.

“I don’t think so, apart from the fact you’ve still got my boxers and I want them back they’re my favorite pair.” Dawson smiled and shook his head, as Anthony glared down at him, determined to get his boxers back after Dawson had borrothemthem eight weeks ago and conveniently not given them back yet.

“What I gave them back ages ago.” Dawson’s smile became larger as he tried to lie his way into keeping the emerald silk boxers. Anthony shook his head and pointed to the emerald band of his boxers sticking out from under Dawson’s trousers.

“Yeah you really gave them back you bum.” Dawson smiled sheepishly and pulled up his trousers hiding the boxers again, and acting as if nothing was there.

“No you’re seeing things Fox, to much magic mushroom for breakfast.” Anthony gave Dawson the finger before grabbing hold of the back of Dawson’s belt as he tried to get out of bed quickly.

“Oh no you don’t, I want them back even if I have to use force to do so.” Dawson began to laugh as Anthony pulled him back onto the bed and jumped on to his stomach, tickling his sides as he undid Dawson’s belt.

“Oooooh, stop getting fresh with me Anthony, this is all a ploy to get me pants off.” Anthony rolled his eyes as Dawson pulled Anthony closer to him by his waist as Anthony continued to try and get Dawson’s trousers off so he could get his boxers back.
“Stop being a prick and give me my boxers, before I have to cut things off to get to them. I’m damn sure the rest of the people here don’t want to listen to us just yet.” Dawson sighed and pushed Anthonf hif his stomach before standing up next to the bed.

“Are we going to inform them about us, or are we going to stay anonymous like the three years already past.” Anthony rolled his eyes and fell back on the bed, as Dawson stared down at him questioningly.

“Dawson, you know I hate people knowing. Thingsnge nge when they know.” Dawson shook his head and glared down at Anthony. They’d never told anyone about themselves except those they trusted and they were few and far between. For three years they’d been going out with women and seeing each other in private as not to cause undue ridicule from those less willing to except their life style. Dawson could hardly blame Anthony for not wanting to tell people, after what had happened in the past but the past was gone and Dawson was getting tired of not being able to be himself.

“For go sake Anthony get a grip on reality, we are who we are and we’re not going to change. Just get over what everyone else thinks and learn to be who you are not who they all want you to be.” Anthony swallowed hard as Dawson walked quickly over towards the door of the bedroom. “I’m going down stairs to see what’s happening.” Dawson snapped sharply before walking out the door and slamming it shut behind him, not even turning around to see Anthony bury his face in his pillow. It was just so hard sometimes to even contemplate telling people, he didn’t want to be like the young woman again.

After a while Anthony sat up, disgusted with his self and his behavior. He might as well start it fresh this year, no better time for change then now. Glancing across to his alarm clock he noted that it was 7.00pm surely dinner was half cooked if not finished and ready to eat. He hauled himself out of bed and straightened himself out, before walking out into the hallway. There was voices coming from down stairs, laughter and the sound of pans being used. As he moved towards the top of the stairs he shivered a little as a cold breeze hit his back. He turned around to look towards the dark staircase behind him that led up to the top floor. Swallowing hard he remembered what May and Jessica had said at lunch. He shook his head and scaled himself for being so sucked in by the stories, after all they were just stories. Anthony continued down the stairs to the second level, walking down the hallway to the next set of stairs.

“You going down to dinner as well?” Anthony jumped a mile as a voice picked up from behind him. He turned around quickly to the smiling face, looking at him. It must have been obvious that Anthony had been a little startled by the voice as the short man was now laughing at him. “Don’t stress, I’m not that scary.” Anthony breathed out heavily as the man walked up to his side, and put out his hand towards Anthony. “Josh Renalds, I’ve got the room on the end. Nice to meet you.” Anthony noted the man’s appearance, in shorts and a checked shirt with a white singlet underneath.

“Anthony Fox, Nice to meet you too.” Josh laughed again at Anthony’s timid voice as he weakly shook the man’s hand. Josh gestured towards the stairs, as they both began to walk towards them.

“People been telling ya stuff hey?” Josh inquired as they continued down the stairs to the bottom floor.

“Yeah, just stuff. No doubt it’s all bull.” Anthony tried to sound a little less whimpish as he answered Josh’s question. Josh nodded and led Anthony into the lounoom,oom, where everyone else was sitting and talking together.

“Still sometimes bull is a little freaky all the same though.” Josh raised an eyebrow knowingly at Anthony before walking over to the couch and flopping down next to Craig, who passed him a can of VB before smiling up at Anthony.

“Have a seat, Alan’s just finis bur burning the rest of our already charcoal dinner. Would you like a drink, the more pissed you get the less you’ll taste of the food.” Anthony smiled and nodded as Craig chucked him a can of beer, before Anthony pulled up a chair next to where Dawson was sitting on another rocking chair.

“Oi dickhead, I heard that. My cooking isn’t that bad. If you complain anymore I’ll never cook again.” The who room cracked up laughing as a tall man with dread locks stuck his head around the corner of the kitchen, holding a can of VB in one hand and a pair of tongs in the other, wearing a bright pink apron.

“So Anthony, let me introduce you to our wicked little clan, Dawson’s already had the pleasure.” Anthony smiled as Craig gestured towards everyone in the room. “This is one of my best mates, Jake Harold. Nice bloke aren’t you Jake?” Anthony smiled as the thin, short man got up and shook his hand before going to sit back down again. Anthony noted the fiery red hair he seemed to have, it was kind of cute.

“Nice to meet you.” Anthony nodded as the man smiled at him, before taking a large sip of beer.

“This is our resident journalist, Jason Nevis.” Craig pointed to a young man sitting on the arm of the chair. He was extremely young compared to the rest of them, with short blond hair and deep blue eyes he couldn’t have been more than 20.

“Nice to meet you.” Anthony shook his hand before sitting back down again.

“You know Josh already.” Josh smiled at Anthony as they both acknowledged each other’s existence. “And our chef tonight is Alan Mavis.” Anthony smiled again as the young man he’d seen before pop his head around the corner again and wave at him. Anthony couldn’t help but laugh, Alan looked like a reject from Ninbin.
“Hi, just finishing off the potatoes. Does anybody know if her ladyship will be dinning with us today?” The man smiled at everyone but in particular Craig who shrugged his shoulders.

“I have no idea, haven’t seen her today. I suppose she’ll come if she’s hungry.” The man nodded and disappeared back into the kitchen.

“So you two have done some travelling, must have met some right people out there.” Dawson and Anthony laughed before nodding in unison at Jason’s comment.

“You bet, we’ve met them all.” Dawson chorused before taking a swig of beer from his can.

“That’s great mean’s we won’t seem so fucked up then.” The group laughed as Jake commented about the group in general. Once the laughter died down Alan put his head around the door again, smiling at the group.

“Grubs up.” He called as everyone began to get up and edge towards the dining room, each person carrying some sort of food on a plate.

Dinner hadn’t been as bad as Dawson and Anthony had been led to believe, in fact it was quite good. It had been general chitchat over dinner, everyone getting to know one another, nothing to heavy.

“Thank you.” Dawson smiled as Alan placed a bowl of fresh strawberries and cream in front of him.

“So you two must have picked up some chicks on your travels then?” Alan inquired as he finished handing out the desert and sat back down himself. Dawson glanced across at Anthony who was looking gingerly up at Craig and Alan who where waiting for some sort of reply. It must have been obvious something was a little strange as the conversation died down a little around the table. Dawson was determined not to answer this question leaving it up to Anthony to answer.

“Yeah, among other things.” Anthony breathed finally after an extended silence. Craig smiled across at Alan and winked, he had cottoned on to Dawson and Anthony ever since this morning. Dawson sighed and continued to eat, it was impossible to get it through Anthony’s head that people weren’t going to kill him if he told the truth.

“I hear you met the boofhead twins today.” Josh smiled at Anthony and Dawson changing the subjecr thr the sake of their embarrassment.

“Pardon?’ Dawson inquired after swallowing a mouthful of strawberries.

“May ‘I’m a dog’ Abey and her clone Jessica ‘whore bag’ Jacks.” Alan laughed, as did the rest of the table.
“Yeah, really……interesting people?” Anthony paused as he thought of an appropriate adjective to describe the bitch’s he and Dawson had met this afternoon.

“That’s what we think of them too.” Craig smiled understandingly at Dawson and Anthony who nodded and smiled back. Craig stood up immediately, as did Alan and Jake as the front door opened and closed. “That’ll be Alex.” Craig smiled down at Anthony and Dawson before moving out of the dinning room to the hallway. Dawson smiled across at Anthony who swallowed hard and grabbed his beer, following the other males into the lounge room. They all sat down; Dawson and Anthony on the two-seater couch, Josh and Jason on an arm chair each. Alan had gone into the kitchen again and Jake was starting the fireplace going.

“You having dinner Alex?” Alan called from the kitchen as both Craig and Alex walked into the main lounge room. Alan popped his head around the corner as the woman nodded her head before turning back to look at the main crin tin the living room. Craig smiled down at Anthony and Dawson looking up at the lady in black on his arm. Anthony watched in ore as Craig helped her off with the long black velvet coat before giving them to Jake to hang up. She was divine, her shoulder length blonde hair falling down the back of the deep purple dress, which laced up tightly to her bust.

“Alex I’d like you to meet our new house guests, Dawson Paige and Anthony Fox.” Both Anthony and Dawson shivered as she stared at them blankly with a pair of crystal blue eyes, looking them both up and down. Anthony was utterly amazed Alex was the one they’d all been against in the canteen at lunch. Dawson glanced across at Anthony as soon as he’d recognized her from lunch and was sort of confronted by Anthony unbroken gaze. There was silence in the room, both Dawson and Anthony unable to figure out if they were supposed to say something. Anthony bit his lip as she changed her view to stare directly at him, he could just see Craig and Jake looking from him to Alex. All Anthony could focus on was what people had been saying about her and if she was really all that bad. It was becoming an uncomfortable silence and Anthony couldn’t help but smiled for some reason. It was a really stupid thing to do but he did. Dawson stared horrified at Anthony as Anthony began to laugh, tears streaming down his face as he laughed in her face. Dawson was shitting himself, as the rest of the males stared in disbelief as Alex began to laugh as well, shaking her head at the spectacle in front of her.

“I’m sorry.” Anthony managed to mumble in between fits of laughter. Alex shook her head and walked towards him still giggling to herself.

“No don’t stress, usually people shit themselves after seeing me. You’re the first person to wet themselves.” Well that was it, the whole group was in hysterics, with both disbelief at how Alex had just suddenly taken to Dawson and Anthony and that she’d actually spoken to them with more than one word. Anthony composed himself and shook her hand as she smiled softly down at him before making her way over to the couch and sitting down with her feet propped up on Craig’s lap. Anthony shivered for some reason after she’d touched him; her soft fingers so cold to touch yet left warmth in their wake.
“Here we go, Mavis surprise.” Alan handed the tray of food to Alex whom, looked at it a little apprehensively.

“It’s not bad.” Craig whispered as Alan walked over and sat on Josh’s lap in the armchair. Anthony noted that she wasn’t eating the same as the rest of them had done, where they had eaten a roast she was eating a salad and fruit. Dawson and Anthony watched on surprised as Alan and Josh kissed each other before Josh wrapped his hands around Alan’s waist and pulled him in to his chest. Anthony looked gingerly across at Dawson who was smiling seductively at Anthony, if that wasn’t an incentive to get it out in the open nothing was. Anthony turned back to look at the cosy couple on the chair, he sighed and looked at Craig and Alex sitting on the couch, Alex gingerly eating the food on the plate.

“So you two got girlfriends, because if you haven’t I’ve found two new partners to go clubbing with. Mr I’m a poof Alan always seem to take to me gay bars?” Jason smiled at both Anthony and Dawson as Alan gave him the finger and then looked expectantly towards the pair sitting on the couch. Anthony swallowed hard as Craig and Alex looked up from dinner. Dawson looked across at Anthony who hung his head like usual, trying to back out of the question. Dawson sighed, he’d had enough of playing Chinese whispers, and he was going to say something even if Anthony didn’t.

“No, Anthony and I are lovers.” Anthony looked up at Dawson with a deathly stare, as Dawson smiled sickly and looked at the rest of the group for their reactions.

“Cool, parties this year are gonna rock.” Alan smiled as everyone laughed, all except Anthony was sas still staring at Dawson gone out.

“Excuse me.” Anthony whispered as he got up and walked quickly out into the hallway, before running up the two flights of stairs to his room.

“Sorry did I say something wrong?” Alan inquired as everyone looked at Dawson for some sort of explanation.

“No, I did. He’ll get over it, and maybe grow up a little in the process.” Anthony took a swig from his bottle of beer as everyone went back to their conversations, not daring to encroach anymore on the touchy subject.

TBC......................