Drawn to you

Quite a crowd has gathered now that the tournament is about to start, and as I watch Aaron push through it, I find my eyes straying to find Gerard. Although he's not there anymore. Actually, I can't see him anywhere.
"Here you go. I don’t think you’ve tried this one before," Aaron says as he hands me a watermelon vodka mixer.
"Thank you," I smile, accepting the bottle, and taking a cautious sip. It’s actually quite nice.
"Are you looking for someone?" he enquires.
"No. Just looking around," I lie.
A short and very pale skinned guy stands up on a makeshift stage and taps the microphone. He’s wearing round Harry Potter style glasses and has shoulder length, lifeless brown hair.
“Attention everyone. The tournament is just about to start. I’d like you all to note where your names are on the whiteboard. We’ll be running three games at a time, so listen up and pay attention for when you’re called.” He announces the names for the first three games, and we all either return to what we were doing or move to watch the other games as the players rack up the balls.
“We’re not playing for a while. You want some food while we wait? My shout,” Aaron asks.
“Yeah actually, I’m starving. What are you thinking of?” I ask, looking over at the wall menu.
“Maybe a bowl of chips?”he wrapped his arm around my waist
“Perfect.” I take a seat at the table with the others as Aaron goes to order.
“So are you and Aaron dating?” Elliott asks. His silky dark hair and severe bob frame his heart shaped face. It works on him and makes him look porcelain doll-like.
“We used to. But not anymore,” I reply, taking a sip of my drink.
“They were hot and heavy for a while,” Jenny adds in. “But franks’s younger than the rest of us and things didn’t work out for them.”
“So what’s World Bar like? I haven’t been before,” I ask everyone, wanting to steer the conversation away from my dating history.
“It’s a club,” says Daniel. “Music, dancing, drunk people. Everyone goes pretty mental at the Uni parties. It should be a great night.”
“Yeah, I have no idea why they would want us to wear red. It’s going to look like a pulsating artery in there tonight,” Jenny says, looking down at her dress and smoothing her hand over the skirt.
“I think it will look awesome,” Elliott adds.
“Here you go,” Aaron says, as he slides into the bench seat next to me and places a basket of hot chips in between us. The others pinch a few too, and we all chat for a while until it’s time for us to play.
“Aaron Stevens and Frank iero.”
“We’re up,” he says, nudging me in the arm.
“Don’t expect any miracles,” I warn him. “I’m really not that great.” We get handed our cues by someone who I’m assuming is a helper of the event.
“Head or Tails?” he asks, holding a coin on the edge of his thumb. “Winner gets to break.”
“Shorties choice,” says one of the guys from the other double.
“Heads,” I call, with a bounce of my shoulder.
The helper flicks his thumb up and sends the coin flying in the air as we all watch until it lands on the green felt with a light thud.
“Heads it is!” he calls.
Grinning triumphantly I high-five Aaron, before heading to the top of the table to start. Leaning forward, I slide my cue over my fingers as I aim at the white ball. With a short burst, I thrust the wooden pole forward, hitting the ball so it breaks apart the neatly arranged solid and striped balls.
“Great work!” Aaron whoops as a cheer breaks out around us. Somehow I managed to sink six balls and can choose whether we are playing for the striped balls or the solid coloured balls.
“Stripes,” I call, taking aim at the blue ten that is clearly able to be hit into the pocket.
After sinking another four balls, I finally miss one. The crowd groans, and claps, shifting their attention to the other team as their first player takes aim.
“You’re good,” Aaron murmurs behind my ear. “All these years, I’ve missed out on having you as a partner.”
“Thank you,” I smile, leaning on the cue as I wonder if there is a double meaning behind his comment.
“Although I have to admit, I’m kind of disappointed. I was hoping I’d have to show you how to play.”
A grin creeps across my face as his hands slip around my waist. “I’ll just have to settle with being forward then,” he adds.
A delicious warmth creeps over my body, beginning where his arms are and spreading until I feel my cheeks heat. I lean back against him slightly, as he rests his chin on my shoulder and observe the game taking place in front of us. I let out a disappointed sigh when our opponent’s next shot misses. Now it’s Aaron’s turn, which means he’ll need to let go.
Taking the cue from my hands, he picks up the blue cube of chalk and rubs it over the tip, blowing lightly on it to remove the excess. He does a bit of a walk around the table as he decides which ball to go for. As he leans forward to take his shot, I can’t help but observe the way his jeans tighten over his arse and bite my lip, feeling a little like a lioness in heat as my dick starts to jump.
“I’m pretty sure your father won’t be too impressed with those thoughts you’re having,” Gerard says from behind me. I can’t even say that he startled me, as just before he spoke, that pickling sensation crept over my skin again. It’s as if I expected him, and now, here he is…
“What are you doing here?” I ask over my shoulder, without turning my head.
“Watching you,” he whispers close to my ear, causing me to stiffen slightly, unsure as to whether he’s teasing me or not.
“Are you watching me for fun? Or did my father send you here to spy on me?” I ask, trying not to let myself turn around and look at him.
“Your dad just wants you safe Franklin. You can’t blame him for worrying,” he says so softly, I’m the only one who could possibly hear him.
“Don’t you have a job or something to go to?” I deflect, finally turning my head to look at him, but missing him entirely as he switches sides. A low chuckle rumbles in my ear, sending chills skittering, deliciously through my body. “It’s possible this is a pure coincidence. I’m a student here franklin. Perhaps my being here, isn’t about you after all…”
I roll my eyes slightly and huff out my breath before turning my head to tell him to back off. But when I turn, he’s gone, and I’m left wondering if I imagined the whole exchange.
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“Who knew that Frank here, would be the reason we finally win that bloody pool comp?” Karl laughs. “We’ve been getting guys to team up with us, when all we needed was a good lookin’ shortie.” He stretches his leg out between the train seats as we ride a Tangara to Parramatta station so we can attend the Scarlet Party at the World Bar. The carriage is full of students from our university, all dressed in Red and all slightly buzzy from some pre-party drinks. Even I’m feeling a little buzzed after drinking three vodka mixes over the last couple of hours. I’m sitting next to Aaron, his arm resting on the top of the seat behind me, just close enough to brush against my skin as the train jostles us about. It seems as though a grin has been placed firmly upon my face. Silently, I thank my mother for getting my dad to let me out tonight. Oh, and I guess I should thank Gerard a little too. After all, he did convince my father I could take care of myself. Gerard is in the same carriage, but he’s not sitting with us, nor is he wearing red. He’s head to toe black again, as he sits next to the stair well with a couple of his friends and that girl, Bec. I don’t know why, but I really dislike her. I think it’s the way she looks at me – like I’m beneath her or something. We all walk in a massive group up Church Street until we arrive at the bar. For a while we need to wait in line. I find it amusing as passers-by turn their heads at the wall of red clad party goers that weaves up the street, waiting to get inside. The moment we step through the doors, we’re enveloped in the thumping beat of the room. It’s not only the music, but the energy in here too. Everyone is excited and ready for a good time.
“Drinks?” Karl yells over the music, tilting his hand toward his face in the ‘drinkie drinkie’ motion. Aaron takes my hand and guides me toward a table as Karl and Daniel go and get everyone some of the discounted drinks. For the next hour, we all sit around the table, initially sharing chairs until we loosen up a bit and girls start to make their way onto boys’ laps as the alcohol continues to flow. Before I know it, I’ve lost count. Everyone wants to shout me a drink to celebrate my eighteenth, and I’m really feeling it. When I watch Elliott drag Jeremy onto the dance floor, I decide that’s exactly what I want to do too.
“Dance with me,” I yell over the music, tugging on Aaron’s hand. Smiling, he follows me onto the dance floor as I bounce around, swaying to the music.
He pulls me toward him, swaying along with me. “Are you having a good time?” he asks next to my ear.
“Yeah. The best,” I grin, sliding my arms up around his shoulders, my head fuzzy and my vision slightly blurred. “You’re very tall,” I comment, the thought coming to me suddenly. “I like that you’re tall.”
“And you’re a little drunk,” he laughs.
“Me? No, I’m just really happy. You’re the one who’s drunk,” I say, trying not to trip over my words as my lips lose their feeling.
“It’s true. I’m pretty fucking smashed actually.”
“I’m not smashed. I’m just really happy,” I say again, as if it’s the first time I’ve come out with it.
He laughs at me. “I’m happy too. Although, do you know what would make me really happy?”
“I look at him and bounce my shoulders, wanting to know the answer.
“This,” he says, as he stops dancing and takes my face into his hands. He tilts his head down toward me and I feel small. I feel gloriously small.
As our lips collide, my insides melt. I’ve never lost my attraction toward Aaron, and to have him kissing me again, feels wonderful, like I’m re-visiting a favourite holiday destination. I can’t tell you how long Aaron and I dance and make out for, but eventually we come up for air.
"Wow your lips Taste as good as they look, Do you want another drink?” he asks.
“Definitely,” I agree. “I’ll meet you at the bar. I need to visit the boys room first.”
“Sure thing,” he smiles, kissing me briefly before heading back toward the bar. I start walking until my eyes fall onto a light green ones 'Gerard' 'how long has he been there' I was about to speak when he shook his head and walked away into the distance
"Gerard"I called tripping over my own feet

Notes