by Dawn Sister
Danny remembered how helpless he had felt. That feeling, nothing, he knew, to what Tristan must have felt at the hands of that bastard. His hand squeezed involuntarily around Tristan’s and his body tensed at the thought of Troy and what he had done,
“You okay, bud?” Tristan asked and Danny nodded, not really wanting to bring Troy up at this time, even though he knew that the instigator of all Tristan’s troubles could not be far from any of their friends’ thoughts. He wanted Tristan’s first night out amongst their friends to go smoothly,
“You sit down,” he said, pushing Tristan to the table, “I’ll get you something to eat.”
Tristan obeyed without protest, giving Danny a quizzical look. Danny left to order them both some dinner. The others already had theirs. He returned almost immediately with a sheepish grin and a flush to his skin,
“I forgot to ask you what you want?” he said, blushing adorably. Tristan chuckled affectionately. Danny could be such a space case sometimes,
“Do you think they have donuts?” Tristan asked him with a twinkle in his eye and a saucy flick of his eyebrows. Danny grinned and pushed his tongue against the back of his teeth as they shared their little in joke,
“I don’t think they do donuts for dinner, Tris.” He grinned, “Only breakfast.”
“Dang,” Tristan managed to look and sound disappointed, “I guess I’ll just have a burger 'n' some fries then, bud.” His blue eyes met Danny’s grey ones and both grinned as they remembered what donuts for breakfast really meant to them both. Danny nodded, and walked off still grinning.
Their friends watched this exchange with interest, since it seemed just like any other time they were all together. Tristan and Danny always seemed to have such a rapport with each other. The big difference this time was that all sitting around the table had noticed the fact that they had been holding hands. There were no surprised glances or shocked gasps from the group though. There had always been such chemistry between the two young men that their friends could not be more thrilled for them to have taken that next step, no matter what the circumstances under which they had discovered their feelings for each other.
Tristan had sat down opposite Jason and Scott and the three, plus Reuben began a lively debate about the next football game and whether Tristan would be well enough to play,
“I have to go back and see the docs for a check up on Monday.” He told them, “I’ll ask about sports, but I don’t know what they’ll say.”
Reuben nodded, “Probably best to steer clear for a while until your lungs are back to strength, Tristan.” Reuben relayed, as always as if he was reading from a medical text book. Both Jason and Scott made disappointed grumbles but agreed that they would rather have a healthy Tristan than a full football team.
Carly and Steph slid their chairs closer to Tristan on either side of him and he regarded them with his dark blue eyes, smiling curiously,
“So, tell us all about what happened in the hospital and what happened when you got back.” Steph flicked her eyebrows and Tristan rolled his eyes. Of all their friends he could have put money on the fact that she would be the first to ask out right about him and Danny,
“There’s not much to tell, except I’m discharged and everything is back to as normal as it can be when you’re me.” He grinned, watching Steph’s face pull into a frown then a pout. She clearly wanted more information and she could clearly see that Tristan was not going to give it,
“Are you sure there isn’t anything you want to tell us?” She asked, still pouting. He made a show of thinking hard and then shook his head,
“Nope, nothin’ important.” He was smirking though. Steph gave a frustrated growl and thumped him gently on the arm,
“You and Danny, you asshole.” She hissed, “Tell us about you and Danny.” Tristan gasped and looked around in mock alarm,
“Oh my god, you know about that?” he asked, his smirk still firmly in place though, “Better keep your voice down, Steph, we don’t want anyone to know yet.”
“Bullshit.” She chuckled, “If you didn’t want anyone to know why were you holding hands for the whole world to see?”
“I don’t know. What c’n I say, he finds me irresistible.” Tristan chuckled and smirked and everyone joined in,
“I’m so happy for you both, Tristan,” Carly said in her soft, quiet voice. Her very dark hair had fallen across her eyes which were framed by large glasses.
Tristan had always had a soft spot for this slightly geeky, very shy, petite girl with big blue eyes just like his. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. The fact that she was one of the only girls he would ever do this to was not lost on her and she snuggled into his shoulder,
“You are such a cutie.” Tristan told her, “If I wasn’t already taken I think I’d marry you on the spot.” Carly giggled at the ridiculous statement,
“I think you’d have to fight Reuben for me though.” She whispered so as not to be overheard by the said Reuben who was pretending to still be interested in the conversation about football but was secretly watching the diminutive Carly be swallowed up by Tristan’s hug.
Tristan gave her a surprised but very pleased smile. He knew that Carly had always had a thing for Reuben and her confirmation that it might be mutual thrilled him to bits. He winked at his tall, dark, hero friend across the table,
“I might have to fight you for Reuben, sweetie,” he told Carly, but loud enough for Reuben to hear, “Since he’s my hero.”
“Hey.” A voice said from behind him, “I thought I was your hero.” Danny was frowning but his tone was light as Tristan’s eyes widened and he stuttered. Steph, Carly and Reuben all chuckled because Tristan was rarely caught on the hop like that.
Steph shuffled onto another chair so that Danny could sit next to Tristan with their food. As he slipped onto the seat and deposited the tray in front of them Tristan leaned against him smiling,
“You are my hero, Danny. I was just showin’ a little gratitude.” Danny harrumphed as he settled himself,
“Uhuh,” he muttered, “Whatever.” But Tristan was very aware that he had pushed a leg against his and that he was now squeezing his knee with his free hand. He regarded his blond friend with slightly narrowed eyes. Tristan was usually the one to play footsie under the table, but here was Danny playing him at his own game. He would have to watch him very carefully. He was beginning to think that he had met his match in Danny Taylor, in more ways than one.
The group sat and ate, talking constantly, laughing and carrying on like they always did. Danny and Tristan felt more and more comfortable as the conversation progressed from serious to downright silly as it always did. None of them talked about the events of the weekend before and none of them made any reference to the fact that Danny and Tristan were sitting close and obviously holding hands beneath the table. They were simply the same group of friends doing the same thing they did every evening and everyone felt very happy and safe and comfortable.
After one particularly stupid joke from Jason, who was the master of one liners Danny was wiping tears of laughter from his eyes when he noticed a small group approaching their table and he knew that the good times were not going to last. The hand he had resting gently on Tristan’s knee impulsively tensed up.
Alerted by the squeeze on his leg Tristan turned to his friend, a concerned frown on his brow,
“What’s up bud?” he asked,
“Worst nightmare.” Danny muttered, indicating the approaching group.
There were two girls and a guy. One of the girls was hanging off the guy’s arm possessively whilst the other had her eyes trained on Danny as if he was a target in an archery contest. Tristan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he recognised one of Danny’s more persistent partners from their freshman year, Juliette. Her long, straightened hair pulled into a tight ponytail on the top of her head and her short skirt that didn’t quite meet her tight top showing off her slim midriff, marking her as the archetypical cheerleader, she always see
med stuck in some High School Musical fantasy and Tristan had always had to bite his tongue when Danny was dating her so as not to call his friend Zac by mistake.
Danny had dated her for a couple of months and then they had split for undisclosed reasons. Tristan had guessed why of course, but the real reason stayed between the two of them. Danny hadn’t really wanted to talk about it at the time opting instead to get drunk with his friend in their room and then argue over which was best, straight or gay porn. They had compromised and watched both. That had been a very educational night for both of them!
Juliette was making a beeline for Danny, smiling a broad, false, cheerleading smile, showing off two rows of obviously whitened, perfect teeth,
“Hi Danny.” She said in a flirty, obvious, come on tone that made Tristan’s lip curl and he bristled against Danny’s side. Her obvious snub of everyone else there did not go unnoticed by any of the table’s occupants. Jason and Scott physically turned their backs on the girl and her companions and continued their conversation with Reuben and even the shy, quiet Carly was giving Juliette dagger stares.
Danny squeezed his friend’s knee as he continued to sizzle at his side. The gesture was half in reassurance and half for support. He groaned inwardly because this was just what he needed: the missus and the ex meeting for the first time. He immediately berated himself for labelling Tristan as such but he didn’t really have any other language reference for the encounter that was about to take place,
“Hi, Juliette.” He smiled back matching her insincerity with his own, “What can I do for you?” She never deigned to approach any group other than her own clique unless she had an ulterior motive.
“I heard you’ve been away from classes all week.” Juliette simpered, “I just wanted to know if you were ok.”
Juliette was definitely fishing for gossip because she must already know the reason why he had been away from classes, and this made Danny angry,
“I’ve been at the hospital with Tristan.” Danny sighed, feeling Tristan stiffen beside him. Why did Juliette, of all people have to show up? Danny did not want Tristan upset in any way,
“Oh, was he sick?” she asked blatantly ignoring the fact that he was sitting right in front of her,
“I’m sittin’ right here, you little….” Tristan cut his tirade short with a sharp gasp as Danny dug his nails into his thigh, because although he was angry with Juliette he did not want a full scale fight on his hands. Tristan glared at his friend and then back at Juliette. Danny ignored his friend’s glare,
“Juliette, why don’t you go and get your gossip from somewhere else because you won’t be getting any from us today.” Danny told her in as calm a tone as he could. She ignored his jibe,
“If you’re not doing anything tomorrow night there’s a frat party I’ve been invited to. It’s pretty exclusive,” She said addressing Danny and continuing to ignore Tristan and the others’ existence; obviously oblivious to the anger emanating from either man, “Would you like to come with me?” She asked Danny out on dates on a regular basis, every one of which he had turned down flat since their break up. She never seemed to get the message. This time however Danny had a sure fire way to get her to stop asking,
“Actually, Juliette, I’m not available, since I am now dating someone else.” His eyes moved sideways and Juliette gasped, but instead of her gaze stopping at Tristan, who she was still blatantly ignoring she looked past him to Steph,
“Ah well,” she said, examining her fingernails in what Danny knew was her most dangerous, bitchy stance “I always thought you were trying to get your claws into him, Steph.” She leaned across the table, “You’d better willing to share him. I hear he’s used goods.” She said with a sneer and a slight but obvious nod towards Tristan. Both he and Danny gasped but Steph laughed, breaking the tension and loving the opportunity to have something to tell the gossip mongering little witch,
“He’s not dating me, Juliette. You should get your facts right before you come over here with your wicked little rumours.” She gave a derisive little laugh,
“Yeah, Juliette.” Tristan joined in, his eyes flashing and dangerous, “Why don’t you go try your hand at something you might be good at like clawing someone’s eyes out, or spreading those prissy little legs for the entire basket ball team.” Juliette gave an angry gasp as she took a breath for her retort. She regarded Tristan disdainfully,
“That’s something you would know all about, Tristan Slutman.” She spat and Tristan laughed in her face,
“Take you all day to come up with that one, Spewliette? You’re just sore because half the basket ball team prefer guys in shorts to girls in skirts and the rest don’t like sloppy seconds.” he said through his teeth,
“Why don’t you butt out and find one of your little lapdogs to fawn over, Tristan?”
“Lapdogs were never my style, Juliette, I only go for real men; something you wouldn’t know anything about.”
“Hey.” Danny piped up, his feelings hurt despite the situation and Tristan regarded him with a twinkle in his eye,
“No offense, sweetheart, but she didn’t manage to hold onto you long enough to know she was onto a good thing.” Juliette gasped again, obviously putting two and two together from Tristan’s words and Danny’s reaction,
“Oh my god.” Juliette took a step backwards looking from Tristan to Danny in quick succession, “You bastard.” She aimed this at Danny, “You lied to me. You told me there was nothing going on despite everything everyone was saying.”
“I didn’t lie to you Juliette,” he said with a sigh, “and you didn’t believe me anyway, so what difference does it make? I was telling the truth, at the time.” Danny sounded tired and Tristan took his hand and squeezed it. They exchanged weary, understanding glances.
Juliette noted the contact and her face twisted into an angry, disgusted grimace. She picked up a cup that just happened to be Danny’s and threw the contents, coke, directly into Danny’s face. The fluid splashed out in a perfect arc to cover anyone else that was within range causing angry shouts around the table. Danny simply sat there, coke dripping down his face as Juliette screamed at him,
“That’s what you get for being a fucking fag and making a fool out of me, Danny Taylor, you bastard.” She turned on her heal and walked off with her two lackeys following behind giving her exaggerated comfort for the benefit of all in the diner who had now turned to watch the show unfold. Tristan was livid and pushed his seat back to stand and shout after the prissy cheerleader,
“You little bitchy fish freak, you better be sure your drinks have lids on ‘em from now on because if I see you anywhere near liquid you’ll be fuckin’ wearing it.” He regarded the occupants of the diner in general who were mostly trying to look like they hadn’t been watching in interest, “Everyone get a good enough look?” he yelled, and anyone who was still watching immediately turned away. He turned back to look at Danny who was still just sitting there, coke dripping down his face, “Danny, honey.” He said, and Danny smiled at his genuine concern and the sudden mood change. He dabbed at his dripping face and hair with a napkin that Steph had handed to him,
“I’m fine, really.” He said, “Think I might need to go and get changed though.” He said softly and Tristan nodded in understanding,
“Anything you want bud.” He smiled, laying his hands on Danny’s shoulders. He turned to the others and said, “We’re gonna head back up, guys, think we’ve given everyone enough entertainment for one night, huh?”
There were protests and grumblings but both Danny and Tristan looked tired so the rumblings died down.
Danny stood and shook his t shirt a little to stop it clinging to his chest. They said quick good byes, grabbing the rest of their food as take out then walking out of the diner the same way they had walked in: hand in hand,
“Well, I think that we came out of that fairly unscathed.” Danny mused as they walked back to the campus dorm building,
