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CHAPTER 32: The Rest of the Evening's Their Own

"Shit!"

"What is it Johnny?"

"Look who's here."

A group of people is coming out from the sitting room onto the terrace. A couple of them are from Steven's year and a few from John's. It takes a second for Steven to see who has alarmed John. Then he does. Hanging on the arm of a man he doesn't know is a figure he knows all too well, a beautiful figure, a notorious figure, an unexpected figure.

"Christina," he says flatly.

"Christina," John confirms dismally. "What's she doing here?"

"Only one way to find out." Steven reaches for John's hand but John flinches away. Hurt, Steven turns to him. "John, what is it?" Can Christina still have a hold on his heart?

"Too many memories." John looks like he's about to cry. "I'm really sorry Steven. I hurt you so much."

"When?"

"The way I kept seeing Christina, the things I said. Please believe one thing."

"What?"

"You do make me feel good about myself. You really do."

"Then come on, let's meet the past." This time John is the one to reach for Steven's hand. Steven entwines his fingers in John's and together they go to greet the new guests.

"Hello Dixon, heard you were having a party," one of them says. Steven is surprised to recognise him as the one who had dragged away John's would be assailant earlier in the week.

"Hard to keep it a secret Pete," John replies, smiling nervously and looking everywhere except at Christina. Her presence makes him uneasy but curiously it has wiped away any fear of meeting his schoolmates. His lack of fear totally disarms them and any thought of hassling him vanishes.

"Happy birthday," Pete says to Steven. "It's not much but this is for you." He presents Steven with a bottle of wine. He hadn't actually brought it as a present but in the circumstances feels the need to give one.

"Thanks Pete." The rest of the new arrivals murmur their best wishes. Pete sees Dave and waves to him.

"Go talk to Dave," John says. "We'll catch up with you later on."

"Sure thing," Pete replies. Soon John and Steven are alone with Christina, who has given her reluctant boyfriend a push and told him to go get her a drink.

"It's been a long time John."

"Yeah. Sorry."

"Don't be. I was a bit worried, but I see you're in good hands." She is staring at John and Steven's linked hands. John is surprised to realise that all through the greetings and present giving he has kept a firm grip on Steven's hand. Carefully he releases it and Steven massages some life back into his cramped fingers. John smiles apologetically, he hadn't known he was taking out his anxiety on Steven. Steven grins forgiveness.

"I think I'll open this bottle," he says. "It'll be fine," he reassures John in response to the look of panic in his eyes. With a backwards glance Steven goes in search of a corkscrew.

"It's okay John. I'm not going to make a scene," Christina begins. "I hope you don't mind me coming."

"Not at all. I'm just a bit surprised. I should've called."

"You should have." She pauses. "I do care for you John. I always have."

"It's over Chris."

"I know that, anyway I'm in love with Charlie. But I still want you as a friend."

"I'm glad."

"You could've told me you know."

"I couldn't. I couldn't tell anyone."

"Well you certainly have now," Christina says with a soft smile, looking around at the assembled guests. As she glances around quite a few eyes shift furtively. Everyone has been watching, curious to see how the former lovers get on.

"Thanks to Steven."

"You love him don't you."

"I do."

"I'm glad. I'll tell you something though."

"What?"

"It's just as well you left me for him. If it'd been another woman..." she says with a smirk.

"No danger of that." John grins back and Christina giggles.

Steven is glad to see John and Christina laughing when he returns with two glasses of wine. He wonders if he should have brought a third, but is relieved to see Christina's boyfriend coming back with her drink.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Jess? Are you okay?" She barely hears the worried voice, she's watching Kevin walk away.

"Jess?"

"I'm okay Vaughan," she says without turning. "Thanks for asking."

"I saw you with Kevin and I wondered if…" Vaughan's voice trails off. He had seen Jess and Kevin talking in a corner of the garden and come hurrying over in case Jess needed any help.

"Why did he ruin it?" Jess wonders.

"Maybe he didn't mean to."

"I couldn't trust him again," she says wearily. Vaughan moves so that she can see him but doesn't say anything. Let her get it out.

"It's the first time we've talked since we broke up that he hasn't ask me to go back to him. He just said he was sorry. Almost he was like he used to be before…" She shakes her head as if trying to get rid of the memories. "Sorry to be so depressing."

"Depressing? If you want to see depressing you see me when I weigh myself. Now that's truly depressing," Vaughan declares.

Jess smiles at his earnest eyes peering through his mock joliness. He really is sweet. If he could just lose a few pounds and got a decent haircut he'd be quite attractive.

"Where's Steven got to?" Jess asks, no longer feeling so miserable.

"He's with John. Where else would he be?"

"I'm so glad for him. He really deserves this." Looking across the gardens she sees John's tall figure and, beside him, Steven. She chuckles. "Look at the poor boy. If he gets any more presents he won't be able to hold his drink."

"Or John's hand." Vaughan finds himself gazing at Jess's hand. He would dearly love to take hold of it, but there's no chance of that. What girl would want someone who looks like him? He drags his eyes away. "What did you give Steven?" he asks.

"A DVD, how about you?"

"A book, The Big Sleep. It's by Raymond Chandler. I couldn't resist, it's his birthday too. Him and Haile Selassi."

"So who's got my birthday?"

"When is it?"

"April 21st."

"That's easy. The Queen!"

"Now that's impressive."

"It's also the day the Red Baron was shot down…"

~~~~~~~~~~

"Vaughan's of again," Patrick whispers to Paul. They're sitting on the grass near where Jess and Vaughan are chatting. Patrick has his back against a tree and Paul is resting between Patrick's legs with his head against his chest. Patrick is happily stroking his hair.

"Where does he get all that information?" Paul wonders.

"I don't know but he's famous for it." Patrick leans forward and kisses Paul on the forehead. "We're being very wicked you know."

"Terribly," Paul agrees.

"We should get up immediately and mingle. 'Mix and mingle' as Vaughan would say."

"We will then."

"Any minute now."

"Sure. I'll just leap to my feet." Paul doesn't move. "Damn! I can't remember how."

"Then we'll just have to stay here. What a pity."

"I can remember how to do something though."

"What?"

"This!" Paul twists in Patrick's arms and plants a kiss on his lips. He grins in triumph, then leans forward to kiss him more thoroughly.

"I'm glad you remembered how to do that."

"There's something else I can remember too. It's got something to do with this." Paul slips his hand between his body and Patrick's and caresses Patrick's growing ardour.

"Keep that up and we'll need to find some bushes."

"Or a bed. Can you come back with me tonight?"

"I can't leave mum alone. Not after this afternoon."

"Oh," Paul replies in disappointment.

"Mind you I don't want to be alone either. That's if you don't mind being crammed into my small bed."

"We'll manage somehow."

"Kiss me again please."

"A pleasure dear sir." Paul hastens to fulfil the request.

"I'm so glad I met you," Patrick murmurs between kisses.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Now I've got you to myself," Steven whispers to John, pulling him into the bushes near the pool where half a dozen people are splashing around.

"Then let's make an escape. Where can we go?"

"How about your bedroom?" Steven suggests.

"What do you have in mind?" John asks lasciviously.

"Later! Right now I just want to get away from all these people."

"Come on."

Holding hands they make their way through the happy partygoers. They are polite to everyone but won't stop long enough to get caught up in conversation. Soon they are on the stairs, barely disturbing two lovers in their passage. Steven stifles a chuckle when he realises the amorous couple are Mark and Wendy. They leave them to enjoy themselves and a moment later John closes his bedroom door behind them.

"Come here you," John says lustfully. Without a word Steven slips comfortably into his arms and kisses him on the lips.

"Thank you Johnny."

"For what?"

"For coming back to me."

"When did I leave?"

"Three weeks ago, on the bench by the racetrack. I thought you'd left forever."

"You were the one who walked away."

"Because you went away into your own head. I thought it was over."

"It was a close thing."

"And soon you'll be going away again. Oxford."

"Oxford. I don't want to go."

"You have to," Says murmurs sadly.

"I know and in a way I do want to. It's just I don't want to go without you."

"We'll still get to see each other. On weekends at least," Steven reassures him.

"I may not be able to come back all the time."

"Then I can come to see you. You do want me to?"

"Of course," John answers with utter certainty. Steven can clearly remember the last time he asked this question. Then John had given the same answer but his hesitation had put a lie to it.

"When do you have to go?"

"September, but I've got to go up in a few weeks to enroll. Can you come too? We could make it a bit of a holiday."

"I'll have to ask my parents but it should be fine. I'm only working at the studio for another fortnight."

"Good."

"Where is he?" a cry comes from the gardens. "Steven!" another voice calls.

Steven looks out the window onto the lawns. The swimmers have left the pool and everyone is gathering on the terrace where Patrick and Paul, having managed to drag themselves away from their personal paradise, are clearing a table and laying out plates. Ian is helping them. Steven is amazed how different it is to the gathering the previous Sunday. No-one is trying to impress anyone. Well maybe there are, but only for good honest reasons, like lust or love.

"I'm being paged," Steven whispers.

"Ignore it."

"I can't," Steven says reluctantly.

"Then kiss me first." Steven is happy to comply. Their kiss is interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Hey tart, are you in there?"

"Yes Linda," Steven confirms, his voice somewhat muffled by John's lips.

"It's cake time."

"We'll be down in a minute."

"Don't be long or I'll have to come in and get you." Linda threatens. They can hear her stomping loudly away from the bedroom.

"She's doing that on purpose," Steven tells John. "I wonder if love will calm her down? We better go Johnny." John doesn't release him, Steven doesn't try to make him.

"Thank you for changing my life," John whispers as his lips meet Steven's. "I love you."

"Johnny, I love y....." His words are smothered in another kiss.

THE END