Burchester Tales 4: The Boyfriend

Davy has a surprise in store, in this week's episode of Burchester Tales.

Burchester Tales: Episode 4

The Boyfriend by H. Lewis-Foster

Gus tapped his fingers rhythmically against the pink plastic table. If the décor at Stan’s left a lot to be desired, the station cafe furniture would give an interior designer nightmares. Gus averted his eyes from the fluorescent green chairs, which weren’t helping his headache in the slightest. A muffled electronic voice confirmed the train from Paddington was on time, and the pain in Gus’s head gripped tighter round his brain, at the prospect of Davy's imminent arrival. Gus took a last sip of coffee, and made his way onto the platform.

The train approached in the distance, and Gus’s stomach twisted tensely. He knew he was being ridiculous; Davy wouldn’t even be surprised, let alone upset, when Gus told him their relationship was officially over. Their emails over the summer had been so platonically infrequent, Davy would surely be more amazed if Gus played the lovesick boyfriend. Gus still felt like a bit of a bastard, breaking the news as soon as Davy stepped off the train, but if he waited another hour or another day, he might chicken out completely.

The train scraped to a halt, and Gus almost hoped Davy had missed his connection, but the first carriage door opened and out stepped a young man with glossy black hair and sublimely sun-kissed skin. Davy’s luscious pink lips eased into a grin, as he dumped his suitcase onto the platform.

“Gus, darling, how fucking fantastic to see you.”

Gus cringed instinctively, knowing what was coming next. While he didn’t give a shit who knew he was gay, he wasn’t keen on wildly public displays of affection. In his current state of guilt, however, Gus allowed himself to be hugged by Davy, then kissed full on the lips, with a gentle grope to his buttocks. Normally Gus would push Davy playfully away, but as this could be his last physical contact with Davy, it seemed rather churlish to snub him.

When Davy finally removed his tongue from Gus’s mouth, Gus had virtually forgotten what he’d come here to say. Having reminded Gus what an amazing kisser he was, Davy curled his arm around Gus’s waist. They’d nearly reached the station exit, when Gus came to his senses.

“Davy, it’s great to see you too, but we need to talk.”

“I can think of better things to do.” Davy’s hand drifted down to Gus’s backside, and Gus swiftly moved his hand away from temptation.

“Seriously, Davy, I have to tell you something.” Gus suddenly felt an absolute git for dumping Davy here, with businessmen and holidaymakers scurrying past them, but Gus had to do this now. “I’m really sorry, but I-I-“

Gus had planned this speech down to the last syllable—he and Davy had been drifting apart, they were just too different—but Gus found a new and unexpected set of words coming out of his mouth. “I’m sorry, Davy, but I’ve met someone else.”

Davy’s face froze in an expression of shock and dismay, and Gus hated himself for being so unnecessarily honest.

“Nothing’s happened. I mean, we haven’t…”

Davy seemed to be in something of a daze. “You’ve met someone else?”

Gus hadn’t expected this reaction, and wished he’d taken Davy somewhere more

private to unintentionally break his heart. “I’m sorry, Davy. I never thought you’d be so upset.”

Davy put his hand to his mouth, as if he were about to be sick. Then he sniffed back a barely visible tear. “Oh God, I feel like such a fool. I was going to …” Davy’s breaths became short and shallow, the certain sign he was about to break down in sobs. “I was going to ask you to marry me.”

“You were?” The colour seeped from Gus's face, as did the air from his lungs, and his voice shrank to a whisper. “I had no idea, Davy. I thought we were over. I thought you felt the same.”

Davy lowered his eyes, his shoulders began to quake, and Gus could do nothing more than take Davy in his arms. He’d work out what to say when Davy was calmer, but for now he held him and let him weep.

Davy’s chest shuddered against his own, and Gus held him closer still, until he noticed something strange. He couldn’t feel Davy’s tears trickling down his neck, or hear the tell-tale sniffle of a crying man. In fact, the staccato rhythm of Davy’s breaths sounded rather more like a giggle. Gus pulled away from Davy, who was nearly bursting with suppressed laughter.

“Darling, I’m sorry. I simply couldn’t resist.”

Gus pushed Davy away in disbelief. “You bastard, Davy. How could you?”

“Me?” Davy cheerfully gave in to his laughter. “You’re the cheating philanderer.”

“I told you. Nothing’s happened between me and Lee.”

“Lee, is it?” Davy suddenly looked intrigued. “Tell me more, you naughty boy.”

“I’ll do no such thing.”

“Oh go on.” Davy broke into the mischievous grin, which could persuade Gus to do almost anything. “If you tell me about Lee, I’ll tell you about Carl.”

“Carl?” This wasn’t a direction Gus had seen the conversation taking. “Who the hell is Carl?”

“Don’t look so shocked. As you said yourself, we weren’t exactly love’s young dream last term.” Davy draped his arm around Gus’s shoulder, and they continued to the exit. “Carl was working in the vineyard over the summer. He was fit and handsome, and what can I say? We had a little fun together.”

Gus wasn’t sure why he felt so disappointed. He’d been about to break up with Davy, after all, but he couldn’t help sounding hurt as he asked, “So are you going out with him?”

“God, no. He was boring as a brick wall, but he was a fabulous fuck.” Davy gave Gus’s oulder a squeeze. “But not as fabulous as you, darling.”

“You are unbelievable, you know that? I felt so bloody guilty about Lee, and I haven’t even kissed him.” Gus chuckled, as they emerged onto the High Street. “I have slept with him, of course, but I haven’t kissed him.”

“Now that sounds fascinating.” Davy led Gus across the road, towards the house his parents owned in the city. “I want to know all about this new man of yours.”

© H. Lewis-Foster 2014. All rights reserved.