Andante con Brio

CXVI

The day took an eternity and beyond. Even when all the boxes were in the room and his mum was unpacking them all, stacking his clothes very neatly on the built in shelves in the corner, they still had the bed to put together. And then even after they had finally found places for all of the little screws and washers from the flat packs at last, he had still had to sit on the dark grey couch in the living room as they all had Chinese take out, smiling and chatting normally, before finally, finally his mum stopped unpacking and cleaning. 
How could he have explained to her that all he wanted was to be alone? To be out? Even if his clothes were still in boxes and the house was maybe not completely spotless? That he would have happily slept on the floor even, if he had to? How? There was no way. So he had had to endure it, smile at her gratefully, and now that she had finally packed up her cleaning supplies and was making to leave he hugged her tight. 
"Thanks, mum." he whispered, and he felt like such a wanker, because all she wanted was for it all to be good for him, right? And all he had wanted the whole time was for her to leave. 
What a great son. 
But she didn't know that, and she gave him one of her brief smiles and started down the stairs for the last time. He waved at her as she walked down the steps. 
"Bye, mum! I'll be home for dinner tomorrow at six!"
She didn't turn around, but she waved over her head as she vanished around the corner. 
He stood there for a full minute after she was gone, and he didn't know why. Was it because he wanted to make sure she was really gone, and wasn't going to come walking back in? Or was it because part of him didn't want her to go at all? 
He shrugged at himself and walked back into the apartment. 
Oh, how he would have loved to walk into his room, into their room, without another word, without even a glance to the other guys that were still on the couch, each with a bottle of beer in their hands. 
But there was no need to be rude, was there? 
"Your mum is very thorough." Ian said as Eddy sat down on the end of the couch and accepted the bottle of beer Ian was holding out. He put his hand on Brett's thigh and a thrill ran through him. He couldn't help the smile that forced its way onto his lips. 
Oh wow. I can put my hand on Brett's thigh and nobody blinks. 
"She is. I don't think she realises this is the cleanest it will ever be from now on."
Todd grinned. 
"To be honest, I think she knows that very well, and that's why she did it."
"Oh, don't think for a second she won't be back with her bucket and cloth." Eddy smiled fondly. "I just hope she calls first."
"Guys, I... I'm quite tired."
Brett's voice was soft and shy, almost as if he had anticipated the very smile Todd was giving them both now, as if he had seen the eyebrow waggle coming all along, but couldn't help himself. Another thrill ran through Eddy, a bigger one this time. 
"Okay, you wanna turn in then?"
It felt so, so strange to say this, to get up from the couch, with the other guys knowing that they were going to sleep in the same bed. Knowing they would more than likely do a lot more than that in fact, and nobody cared, nobody even batted an eye.
He got up gingerly and held out his hand to Brett. Brett's eyes were large and moist as he took it. 
"So... good night, guys." Brett said in the same quiet tone, and he followed him down the little corridor to their bedroom and their bed.