by Avery Ford
“Oh, no, no you’re not,” Celeste said. She swept forward and dropped a hand on Dmitri’s shoulder. “I can’t believe he’d blow up on you like that. It’s… it’s crazy.”
Dmitri sniffled. Deep inside, he was rolling around laughing.
Let Celeste gossip about that little incident — Dmitri the innocent, caring man who’d done nothing more than left three unspent seconds on the staff room microwave, and Arthur, the violent, unpredictable aggressor who’d torn Dmitri to shreds over a non-matter.
Dmitri couldn’t wait to see the look on people’s faces when Celeste tried to gossip with them about what she’d just seen. No one would believe her.
It was a relatively harmless prank, and it’d been the most fun he’d had in years.
But what Dmitri was most excited for was finding Arthur and laughing with him about it until their abs were sore and their voices were hoarse. It was the strangest feeling in the world to want someone so thoroughly. What had started as pure physical attraction wasn’t only physical anymore.
Dmitri was starting to fall for Arthur, but he had no clue if Arthur felt the same way.
24
Arthur
Dmitri began to appear at the shelter far more often during Arthur’s shifts. If it wasn’t for Celeste slinking away whenever the two of them were together, he might not have noticed — but he did, and it made him start to wonder what was going on.
Arthur liked Dmitri, probably more than he should have. He liked the things Dmitri said, even if sometimes he was a little blunt. He liked that Dmitri knew so much about dogs and had such a passion for the animals in his life. Mostly, Arthur liked how Dmitri looked at him, and how Dmitri’s touch made him feel.
They didn’t touch often, but every now and then they’d accidentally brush arms, or sit close enough together on the yards at lunch that their thighs touched. The closer they came, the better Arthur felt.
And by how often Dmitri was showing up off shift, his gut told him that Dmitri felt the same way.
As the summer wore on and the deadline for Arthur’s response to Blackburn University loomed, Arthur began to consider the things he did and did not have in life. Not having a job granted him a little mental clarity, and he discovered that it wasn’t just Dmitri who made his time at the shelter so rewarding — it was the animals he helped. The loneliness in Arthur’s life was made a little less severe whenever he volunteered, and he found himself increasing his hours at the shelter to help fill that void.
He’d lost a lot in just the span of a year — his family, his job, and almost his mind — but now his life was on an upward swing. Quip had been right, he’d needed this break badly.
Finding Dmitri definitely hadn’t hurt Arthur’s situation, either.
One day, while working in the kennel, Arthur lifted his head to find Celeste looking down at him from a short distance away. He jumped and almost landed on his ass.
“Oh my god, Celeste.” Arthur clutched a hand to his chest. He’d been attempting to leash one of the medium sized dogs to take him for a walk. “You scared me.”
Three dogs climbed onto Arthur’s lap and laid down immediately. Arthur automatically started to stroke their necks.
“Sorry. It gets a little loud in here, so I guess it’s not hard to sneak around.” She grinned. “So um, you know, I’ve been thinking a lot, and I just… I need to ask you something.”
“Yeah?” Arthur blinked. “What is it?”
“Ever since that fight you had with Dmitri, I was wondering… what were you fighting about?” She frowned. “Dmitri said it was because he left three seconds on the staff room microwave, and that you were pissed, but… I mean, that seems like such a tiny thing to have a huge blowup over, you know?”
Arthur held back a laugh. He kept his silence, hoping it would prompt Celeste to speak more.
It did.
“I mean, I could understand if it was something huge, like if Dmitri had slept with your sister, or if he’d hit your car from behind and wrecked your bumper, or—”
“I don’t have a sister or a car,” Arthur said.
“I know, I’m just using those as examples.” Celeste crossed her arms loosely. “But I mean, three seconds on the microwave? You were so angry.”
“It is pretty weird, isn’t it?” Arthur couldn’t believe it had taken her this long to come around.
“It is. And I mean, you’re still wearing Dmitri’s hoodie.”
Arthur froze. He looked down at himself. He was wearing the hoodie, and it had quickly become one of his favorite pieces of clothing to wear. Dmitri’s scent was long gone — he’d washed it several times since the first fundraiser — but just having it on hand filled Arthur with a blissful kind of peace on a subconscious level.
“I guess I don’t get it,” Celeste concluded. “It’s all really weird.”
“Do you know why you don’t get it?” Arthur asked.
Celeste shook her head.
“Because it wasn’t real.” Arthur let the grin break out onto his face. “Dmitri and I staged it.”
Celeste squinted. “What? What do you mean?”
“We wanted to wait until you came to confront one of us about it to ask about what happened to tell you.” Arthur’s grin grew. “We weren’t actually angry at each other over anything. We’re pretty good friends now.”
“Oh my god.” Celeste buried her head in her hands. “Are you serious?”
“Yup.”
“I should have known.” She dropped her hands to glare at him, but Arthur saw the playfulness in her eyes. “You’re terrible. Both of you. You’re so sweet and quiet that I never would have expected it, and he’s so introverted and closed off that I’d never imagine he’d be capable of stepping outside of his shell for long enough.”
“It was a pretty great performance,” Arthur admitted. “There were a few times when I thought that Dmitri had given it away for sure, but you didn’t even notice.”
“I was too stunned.”
“So, yeah. We’re not angry at each other.” Arthur started to get up, and the dogs on his lap scattered. “We’re definitely on friendly terms.”
“I wondered why he was showing up here more and more often during your shifts,” Celeste said. “I know his dog just had puppies, right? So I figured he’d be at home constantly and cutting back on his hours. I couldn’t put my finger on why the opposite was happening.” A thoughtful look crossed Celeste’s face. “Are the two of you seeing each other?”
Arthur felt his cheeks turn pink. It was his turn to be surprised. “What?”
“He’s started being a lot friendlier, he’s started to come around here more often, you’re wearing his hoodie…” Celeste shrugged. “I don’t know if either of you swing that way, but to me, it looks like there’s obviously something going on.”
“I…” Arthur knew he was getting tongue tied, and that Celeste was going to take it as an admission of guilt. “We’re just friends.”
“You can tell me, Arthur,” Celeste said. She smiled. “It’s okay. After Dmitri turned me down so many times, I always kind of thought he was gay anyway. I mean, why else would he turn me down, right?”
Arthur shook his head. “I don’t know about Dmitri—” he did, but it was Dmitri’s place who he told or not, “—but I’m gay. And because I’m gay, I can tell you without a doubt that we are one hundred percent not dating, because if we were dating, I’d know about it.”
Celeste hummed beneath her breath. The answer appeared to appease her, because she nodded. “Well, maybe if he’s still being friendly, I’ll have to ask him. You two make a cute couple, you know that? I’ve always wondered how long it’d be before two of the shelter’s volunteers fell in love. It’s like a blockbuster movie, you know? One of those really sappy, heartfelt ones where you fall in love gradually while doing something you’re passionate about.”
Arthur swallowed. Thinking about it made his skin tingle. “I’m… I need to take these dogs out,” he said. “Hop
e you aren’t too mad that we conspired against you.”
“Mad?” Celeste laughed. “You got me good. I’m not easy to get, you know, so if you managed it, you’re top notch. I’m going to have to keep an eye on you two.” She winked. “And maybe see if Dmitri will take you out. I’d love to see you guys have your own picture perfect happy ending.”
“That’s sweet of you,” Arthur said. He wasn’t sure if he was genuinely flattered, or a little put off. “I’ll be back a little later.”
“See you!” Celeste exited the kennel, and Arthur quickly made his way for the back door, dogs on their leads.
Coming out to Celeste didn’t feel bad. If anything, it was good to know that he was still treated with the same kind of respect.
But there was a creeping feeling in his stomach that told him that not everything was right.
Arthur wasn’t sure if Dmitri liked him or not. He’d stopped midway through their one and only make-out session, after all. Friendship was one thing, but Arthur liked Dmitri. A relationship would be nice, no matter how briefly lived it was.
Not knowing where they stood bothered him.
If he’d learned one thing from Celeste, it was that there was no point in trying to string together vague details to find an answer. If he wanted to know, he had to go right to the source.
Arthur resolved to talk to Dmitri about where they stood, and he resolved to do it soon.
He couldn’t wait any longer. Dmitri was perfectly suited to him in a way no one else had ever been, and Arthur wasn’t about to let the chance of a lifetime slip through his fingers.
25
Dmitri
Fundraising was Dmitri’s least favorite task at Locust Hill, but as time marched on, it was becoming a frequent requirement. Sitting in a parking lot outside a super store was degrading, but Dmitri understood the importance.
He just wished there was another way.
With summer came an influx of volunteers from the university looking to polish their future applications. That meant that with more hands at the shelter, there was more staff available to man the donation tables. Celeste arranged to have them grouped into teams of two, since their single person trails had been trying.
Dmitri found himself matched with Arthur. Celeste gave him a knowing look when she released the team info, but Dmitri was too pleased to linger on it.
Then Arthur smiled at him, and he forgot that Celeste had ever looked his way at all.
“So today is more of the same old, same old,” Celeste said as the teams paired off. “We’re going to be doing our best to get as many donations as we can, whether that means cash, or whether that means high need items. The list of items is on the pamphlets I’ve given each of you to distribute. We’re looking for things like dog food, paper towels, cleaning supplies, new or used towels, you know, the things we use every day.”
“Got it,” Nikki said. The whole group was assembled in the lobby, ready to get going. “I think all of us are prepped.”
“Any questions?” Celeste asked. “Don’t be shy. I’d rather we get the questions out of the way first than have you guys out on the field and clueless.”
“It’s fundraising, Celeste,” Nikki said. “I don’t think it’s going to be all that challenging, you know?”
“Then let’s get moving!” Celeste made a sweeping gesture with her arms, officially releasing them. “Everyone’s got their station and their partner. Let’s make the most of today and make some good money for Locust Hill!”
Dmitri glanced in Arthur’s direction to find Arthur watching him from the corner of his eye. The attention was flattering, and Dmitri’s expression brightened further. He couldn’t get over the way Arthur made him feel.
Teams started to disperse. People grabbed pamphlets and donation buckets on their way out. Dmitri made his way to Arthur and drew him to the side, waiting for the lobby to empty.
“With everyone going out at the same time, getting out is going to be a nightmare. I think we’re better off waiting for the crowds to part,” Dmitri said. “You okay with sticking around here for five minutes?”
“Yeah.” Arthur grinned, but there was something off in his expression that worried Dmitri. “I think that’s a great idea. If you’re not feeling it, I can drive. I have a license, I just don’t have a car.”
“Do you miss driving?” Dmitri asked.
“Not really.” Arthur laughed. “I was kind of a bad driver, but it was because I didn’t practice enough. My dad never let me drive his car, and my mom would only let me drive hers if she went out with me. Let’s just say that having your parents in the co-pilot seat isn’t really an incentive to go out and drive.”
“Maybe we can work on that,” Dmitri suggested. “We can start on some of the quiet roads outside of town. There’s plenty of them. We can bum around in parking lots late at night, stir up some trouble… you know, all kinds of things.”
Arthur’s mouth opened, then closed again. He glanced across the lobby, and as he did, Dmitri did, too. The crowds had gone, and all the cars parked outside were being set into motion. It was going to be chaos for a little while longer.
“Do you think we can actually talk about that for a second?” Arthur asked. “Somewhere not the lobby? Maybe in the quarantine room, or—”
“Yeah.” Dmitri punched in the door code and opened the door back up. Celeste was already gone, likely off to take care of some business with the new volunteers. He let Arthur through, then closed the door behind him.
The quarantine room was small. Three cats were held there, but all of them were silent when Arthur and Dmitri entered. Arthur closed the door behind them, then turned to face Dmitri and drew in a breath so large that Dmitri saw his chest expand.
“I’ve wanted to talk to you for a while actually, but it was never a good time.” Arthur rubbed his arm. “I’m just… lately it’s been really… weird, you know?”
“What’s been weird?” Dmitri asked. The look was back on Arthur’s face, and it worried him.
“We’ve been weird,” Arthur said. “This whole thing between us, since that night you picked me up at the party and brought me home. I remember it. I remember how you kissed me, and how I came onto you, and how you were holding out against me. I remember how you gave in and took me home and kissed me until my jaw ached. But then you backed off, like you came to your senses.”
Arthur wouldn’t meet his eye. Dmitri’s heart was already splitting in two. It sounded like Arthur was uncertain about where they stood, and with Dmitri just as unsure, he understood were Arthur was coming from.
“I meant what I said when I was drunk,” Arthur said. He looked up at met Dmitri’s eye at last, but there was apprehension there, like he feared rejection. “I like you, Dmitri. I’m attracted to you. I know we got off on the wrong foot, and I know that you’re a professional and I’m just a kid, but… but I want to be with you if you want to be with me. I just don’t know where we stand, and it’s tearing me apart.”
Dmitri took a small step forward. Now that he knew what was going on, the solution was clear. Arthur liked him, and he liked Arthur back. The whiny kid he though Arthur to be was as far from the reality of the situation as possible.
Arthur was fantastic, and Dmitri wanted him like nothing else.
“You don’t have to be confused, or scared, or alone,” Dmitri murmured as he stepped closer. Arthur looked up at him, dewy eyes. “I know that you’ve been through a lot, and I know that you’re juggling a lot of stress, and I’m not even going to pretend like I know the half of it… but when it comes to me? When it comes to us?” Dmitri cupped Arthur’s cheek, lifting his head so that Arthur looked at him in full. “I don’t ever want you to have to worry. I don’t ever want things to be unclear.”
Arthur’s lips parted. Dmitri turned his head and brought their faces together. Their lips touched.
“I want you to know where we stand,” Dmitri whispered. “I want you to understand that everything you feel for me? I feel for yo
u. I feel it more than I ever thought possible.”
The sparks were back. They danced across Dmitri’s palm and up his arm. He shivered from their intensity.
“I want you,” Dmitri whispered.
“Then have me,” Arthur said.
When they kissed this time, Dmitri didn’t feel guilty. He didn’t hold back. There was no more dubious consent to shade the moment and no more question if Arthur meant what he said or not.
They kissed fiercely, and they kissed with meaning. And as shy as Arthur was, when showered with Dmitri’s affection, he grew ten times as bold.
Dmitri backed Arthur against the wall, pinning their bodies together as the kiss continued. Arthur ground against him, and every now and then he made a delirious sounding whimper that woke Dmitri’s cock and made his longing grow.
He didn’t hear when the door opened, but he did hear Celeste gasp and cough loudly into her hand.
The kiss broke. Dmitri looked over his shoulder at her, raw energy coursing through him.
“I um, I need to feed the cats,” Celeste said lamely. “And you two need to go do… fundraising.”
“Yeah. We do.” Dmitri took Arthur’s hand. Arthur’s whole face was red, and Dmitri thought it was adorable. “Let’s go, Arthur.”
“Okay,” Arthur mumbled. He followed behind Dmitri obedient.
Dmitri was high off the kiss for the rest of the day. Fundraising wasn’t so bad when the man sitting next to him gave him chills simply by existing.
26
Dmitri
At the end of the day, Dmitri and Arthur’s donation bucket was far from full. They’d been able to pull in some items for the shelter, but even those were sparse. Dmitri had seen the figures, and he knew that unless the other stations had done significantly better that there was going to be trouble.
