Laurie and Noah 2

The door finally opened to reveal Laurie - clearly ready for the gym in trackies and tank-top. He stared at me for one long second, wondering what the fuck I was doing there, probably. Unfortunately, though, I wasn't going away.
"What're you doing here," He asked shortly, not pleased, "This is my flat." Wow. He spoke more than two syllables.
"You come to my house." I pointed out, not in the mood for flattery.
"That was the arrangement." No emotion.
"Right." Pause.
"...Come in." I came in reluctantly, disheartened considerably by Laurie's reponse.
"You know, I can go if you want...I didn't know - ."
"No. It's fine," He looks back at me as he picks up a set of keys, "But I'm off to the gym..."
"I'll wait, don't worry."
"Cool." With that he leaves and I stare around at the flat. Now what? I walked forwards cautiously and peered into the room to my immediate left. It was a dingey-looking sitting room with a small TV, thread-bare sofa and crooked coffee table. I moved onto the next room, the kitchen - small, again, slightly cramped and musty as though it wasn't used much. There were some empty soup-cans on the floor next to the bin and, to my surprise, a bowl of cat food and another for water. As if on cue she suddenly appeared from behind me - purring loudly and rubbing her cold nose against my fingers. So Laurie was an animal-lover? Who'd have guessed it.
I didn't quite know what to do. I humoured his cat for a while then wandered into the hall, then upstairs to find his room. I knew he would hate me doing all this but I was beyond caring, to be honest. I finally stood in the doorway to, presumably, Laurie's bedroom. It was dark like the rest of the house with pale-coloured curtains half-shut, not letting in the sunlight from the surrounding Leeds. The bed was unmade, with some of his plain clothes strewn across it and consequently on the kind of beige carpet. Besides this and some bedroom basics there was no decoration, no nothing. I wasn't really...surprised, as such, just...well, I felt sorry for him. I think I'd secretly hoped his room could reveal a part of him he didn't want to voluntarily show.
Wrong, again.
And I was disappointed all at the same time.
I threw myself onto the bedm buried my face into the soft covers and breathed in deep. At least they smelt of him, that was comforting. I felt tears teasing at my eyes and I willed them away, even as I realised how I'd just left my family, my mum, my sister, my dad...I couldn't go back now, I'd have to wait. I pulled the covers right over me and wiggled my shoes off and onto the floor. I'd just lie down for a few minutes...kill some time...
Famous last words.
With everything accumulated I was out within seconds. Now, I must have only slept for an hour or so, but when I woke up I could hear Laurie making food downstairs, and, with a quick sweep of the room I spotted his rucksack by the door. Ah. I felt a bit guilty for just falling asleep - in his bed of all places - and was nervous about confronting him, but I got myself together and trundled downstairs, creeping as quietly as I could towards the kitchen. Damn, he saw me.
"Hey..." I muttered weakly, leaning against the doorframe.
"Hey." He offered me a smile, I think.
"I'm sorry about - ."
"D'you want some?" He gestured to the hob. I looked and was greeted with an...odd mixture of bacon, fried potatoes and eggs in one wonky-looking frying pan, then a pot of boiling sweetcorn and another of what appeared to be a combination of pasta, runner-beans and several pieces of broccoli. Wow.
"You definately have all the food-groups covered." I commented without thinking, smiling. He didn't reply and busied himself instead with grabbing a couple of mis-matched plates and items of cutlery from the draining-board and placing them on the little wooden table by the backdoor. Then, obviously deciding everything was done he turned off the gas and lifted the frying pan first, looking at me questioningly. Knowing he'd made way too much for just one person I nodded.
"Sure. I'll have whatever." I hovered about him awkwardly while he split the food, finally sitting on the chair he'd provided and continuing my silence. Whether he noticed I was quieter than ususal I don't know because he never comments but I did smile when he poured me a pint-glass of cheap cider.
"Thanks, this looks well good." I speared a particularly delicious-looking fried potato and practically swallowed it whole. I sighed in food-induced bliss and glanced up at Laurie, who'd sat opposite me and was regarding me with a sort of interested bemusement.
"This is amazing." I said. He made a disbelieving 'hmm' noise and began to eat.
The meal was good and I needed it. After the whole thing. The whole god-damn fucking thing. Although I knew Dad was going to be O.K and I knew that my Mum needed me. And I knew I should be there...for them. For my family. And yet here I was, 30 miles away at this blonde's flat of all places, eating dinner with him. I sighed and focussed on the last item of food - a slightly over cooked runner bean that was nudging the edge of the grease left by the bacon and potatoes. I pushed it over the plate for one long moment, then got bored and ate it. I glanced at Laurie's plate and saw he'd finished. Efficient as always.
"I'll wash up." I told him quietly, standing, but he shook his head minutely.
"No. It doesn't matter." I put my plate back down and sat again. Then stood as the blonde walked out. When I didn't follow he poked his head back round the doorway. I can take a hint.
"One of my friends lent me a film. Do you want to watch it?"
"That'd be cool - what is it?"
"In my bag." He disappeared upstairs to fetch it and returned in different clothes. I looked down at mine as we migrated to the living room and he slotted the film into the dvd player and fiddled with the remotes in silence. I was wearing the same faded jeans and t-shirt I'd walked half the way here in. I probably stank to high heaven. I shrugged to myself and wandered over to the couch where I slumped, trying not to think about my problems. Eventually the blonde got the movie on the go and he joined me. We watched without speaking a word to each other, and after so long I began to feel tired again and, despite attempts to stay alert, dozed, for the most part. By the end of the film I was half-sprawled on the sofa-arm, passed out again and Laurie had to awkwardly wake me up. I was so embarassed I couldn't think or say anything but sorry for several minutes. He waved the apologies away with one small hand, gesturing, when I stopped speaking, for me to follow him. I did as commanded, half-asleep still. When we reached his room he motioned to the bed. I got it immediately, this time.
"It's your bed. I'll sleep on the couch." I started my way back downstairs, not really caring where I slept - just as long as that was on the cards in the next few seconds.
"Please?" I head from behind me. Laurie was still stood at his bedroom door, both hands open and directing me towards the bed. I'd never actually seen him...plead for me to do something before. Too tired to hide my shock I tramped back up, past him and into the room. He closed the door after me and I heard him going downstairs. I couldn't get the expression on his face out of my mind. I wanted so much to take him in my arms and tell him that whateverhe couldn't show me, it was alright. He would be fine, I would be fine. We...
I pulled most of my clothes off, dumped them among Laurie's - which he had pushed to a pile in one corner - and crawled into his bed. As I breathed in his scent I really, really wished keenly for a moment that he would just...I dunno. Let me in. See me. Talk to me. Kiss me... then I feel deeply asleep, comforted by that image.