Hold Me

Here's the next update, and sorry for the delay! I hope you enjoy it!

jono: the first two questions will be answered later in the story. And, except for indirect mentionings, sex won't come until the end. :P They have to build a loving relationship first.
kikaria: don't worry, the romance is coming! and I'm glad that you're finding the story cute! ^^
epica: here's another update, thank you for the review, and I'm glad you're enjoying the story!
dut: his sister warms up... sort of >>;
me: thank you! I'm glad you like the story and my writing style! ^^

Evan stirred the next morning, feeling warm and content. When his eyes finally drifted open, he saw himself staring at a guy’s shirt. Shifting so that he could see who it was, Evan turned dark red as he looked into Alex’s sleeping face. However, even through his discomfort, Evan had no desire to move, and took comfort in the warmth of the other man’s body pressed against his. It felt like, finally, all of the cold that had seeped into him those days ago when he had wanted to die, finally melted away in Alex’s embrace. He smiled to himself and pulled back a bit so that he could get a better look at Alex. Silky strands of black hair had fallen across Alex’s face and tenderly Evan brushed them away. Alex stirred at the touch, but didn’t wake up. Evan cautiously slipped out of the bed, and then scowled as he discovered his new clothes were all wrinkled from sleeping in them. With a sigh, he stripped down to his boxers and began hunting around Alex’s closet for something to wear. He refused to wear his sister’s clothes again. Alex decided to choose this moment to wake up, slowly sitting up only to be faced with the sight of Evan’s butt in the air as he rummaged through the closet, clad only in boxers. Alex inhaled quickly and averted his gaze, gathering the blankets over his sudden problem.

“Oh? I’m sorry Alex, did I wake you?” Evan asked, straightening and turning towards Alex with a worried look.

“Oh... no...” Alex mumbled, still keeping his gaze averted.

“What’s wrong? Your face is all red!” Evan exclaimed, walking over to Alex. The other boy shook his head.

“It’s nothing... but, where are your clothes?” Alex demanded breathlessly.

“Oh? They’re wrinkled, so I was planning on washing them. I was just trying to see if there was something of yours I could wear. Oh! Is that bad? I should probably have asked before going through your closet but...” Evan was now blushing from embarrassment at his own thoughtlessness.

“No... that’s not the problem,” Alex murmured, waving a hand in front of his face. “I think your old clothes have been washed, though... I’ll go get those,” Alex said, leaping out of bed and hurrying out the door, leaving Evan alone in the room and blinking with bewilderment.

“What happened?” Evan mused out loud, retrieving his discarded clothes and folding them before laying them on the bed. Evan turned when the door open, and found his clothes thrust at him.

“Here you go! I’ll start getting breakfast ready,” Alex said, needing time to cool off. Evan nodded mutely as Alex disappeared again and frowned.

“Did I do something to offend him?” he wondered, as he put his old clothes back on. Once he was fully dressed, he made a side-trip to the bathroom before heading out into the kitchen. Alex’s sister, Emelia, was sitting at the table reading the newspaper, while Alex busied himself at the stove. If Evan wasn’t so nervous around Emelia, he would find this reversal of roles quite amusing.

“Ah! You can choose whichever seat you want, breakfast’s almost ready,” Alex said, glancing over his shoulder at Evan. Being forced to choose between sitting next to Emelia and across from her, he decided across. However, he was surprised to find that Alex was acting as if nothing had happened this morning. With a frown, he wondered what had gotten into the other man that had gotten him so shaken up. Maybe he’d had a bad dream or something. So, with that in mind, Evan forgot about Alex’s strange behavior as well and they managed to have a normal conversation over breakfast with Emelia ignoring them.

“So, what will you be doing today?” Emelia finally said, interrupting them as she turned towards her brother.

“I promised Evan to take him to get signed up for school,” Alex said lightly, to which Evan scowled.

“You plan on wasting more money on some street punk?” Emelia demanded with a frown.

“He needs someone to take care of him, and an education,” Alex responded coldly. “We have enough to supply him with that, and I’m not about to just toss him back onto the streets again,” Alex growled.

“It would be best if you got over this gentle streak. You’re too kind,” Emelia said, getting up. “I’ll be heading out, I have a project to finish up, so I’ll be working today too,” she said, before walking out.

“Your sister hates me,” Evan stated.

“I’d be lying if I said she didn’t. But I don’t understand why... We’re not as poor as she makes us out to be, though we are poor...” Alex muttered, shaking his head. “It’s probably because I am always such a burden on her. She’d probably be married already if it weren’t for me. But we’re family, so she won’t say that to my face. I’m afraid she’s taking it out on you,” Alex said with a sigh.

“That’s not entirely true... It really is probably my fault,” Evan murmured. Alex sighed.

“Let’s not talk about my sister anymore. If you’re done eating, then let me clear the dishes and we can head out to meet up with Eric,” Alex said, standing up and picking up his dishes.

“I’ll help,” Evan said, also standing, and Alex smiled at him gratefully, making room for Evan by the sink.
----------------------------------------------------
With Evan helping, they finished quickly. “I suppose we should go meet Eric now,” Alex mused, smiling at Evan.

“All right,” Evan replied, looking forward to meeting Eric. Despite the fact that they had bickered almost the entire time together yesterday, he believed he was on friendly terms with the other man and, if so, he was the only friend Evan had besides Alex. Alex grabbed the keys to the house and they went out with Alex locking the door behind them. Evan waited for Alex to take the lead, having no idea where they were going, and enjoyed having Alex point out what various places along the way were and little stories about various things that had happened there. They reached their meeting place with Eric too soon for Evan’s liking, having enjoyed his gentle companionship with Alex, which he knew would be impossible with Eric present. The man in question stepped out from the side where he had been leaning against the building and smiled at them.

“What took you?” he asked with a smirk.

“Unlike some people, I believe that breakfast is important,” Alex retorted.

“Yes, yes... I know you don’t approve of my habits, mother,” Eric replied with a snicker, and Alex returned the smile, completely un-phased or uncaring about the mother comment. But then, it was more of a term of endearment than an insult. “Hey, kid! What happened to the clothes I got ya?” Eric demanded, turning to regard Evan in his old faded clothing.

“It seems I fell asleep in them last night. They were all wrinkled, so I wanted to wash them before wearing them again,” Evan replied with a shrug.

“Well, that’s all well and good... But if you’re going to do that again you need another set of clothing... Those clothes are awful,” Eric said, wrinkling his nose in distaste.

“Well sorry! But I’m not about to wear girl’s clothing again!” Evan snapped.

“‘Again’?” Alex asked, a tone of amusement to his voice that made Evan freeze. He could not believe that he had made such a slip in front of Alex.

“Yeah... I raided your sister’s closet for something for the kid to wear when we went out yesterday,” Eric said to Alex with a grin. Evan wished he could kill the other man right there.

“Really? Too bad... I wish I could have seen that,” Alex said with a smile for Evan. Evan blushed, but the smile was gentle and managed to calm him. Alex obviously didn’t think any less of him for it, nor did it seem he had intentions of using it for black mail. Evan’s pride was still damaged, but it wasn’t so bad since it was Alex.

“Well, should we head? The sooner we get the work part over with, the sooner we can head out and play. But the kid’ll need a new outfit again,” Eric declared.

“I hope you don’t intend to go clubbing later. Evan is too young for that!” Alex growled.

“You’re being a mother again, Alex. It would be a good profession for you,” Eric snickered and Alex scowled. Evan simply blinked at the two of them. So, Eric wasn’t specifically antagonizing towards him, he was that way towards everybody. Although it was annoying when directed at him, he found the exchange between the two other quite amusing to listen to. They continued throughout the entire trip to the school leaving Evan to enjoy the show and bury himself in his own thoughts. When they arrived, Alex turned away from Eric without answering one of his jibes and addressed Evan.

“This is the closest high school. We’re going to see about getting you enrolled here, but you might be in a class with kids younger than yourself,” Alex said.

“Great,” Evan replied sarcastically. “You know, you don’t have to do this. Wouldn’t it be much better if I worked too?” Evan insisted, only to be met with Alex shaking his head.

“Education is important,” Alex insisted. “You two wait here, I’ll see if we can talk to people and come back out for you if I get an interview,” Alex said, before heading inside.

“He would make an excellent parent... Too bad it’s not going to happen,” Eric said with a smile at Evan.

“I agree, but why wouldn’t it? I would think that Alex could find himself a girl fairly easily,” Evan said, and Eric stared.

“You mean you haven’t noticed? Alex doesn’t lie, so I can’t imagine him hiding it from you...” Eric muttered and Evan blinked.

“What do you mean? Notice what?” Evan asked, completely confused.

“Alex is the same type of guy I am,” Eric stated.

“You and he are nothing alike!” Evan responded adamantly, glaring at Eric for such a suggestion.

“I don’t mean personality-wise. Alex fancies guys the same as me,” Eric said, watching Evan carefully for his reaction. Evan could only stare at Eric in shock. He had never even considered such a thing, and to be quite honest he wasn’t quite sure how to react. It shouldn’t change anything, but somehow it did... in a different way from Eric. Evan couldn’t put his finger on the emotions he was feeling but only knew that it grew stronger when Alex reappeared and beckoned to them.