Burchester Tales 12: Post-party Analysis

Ross wants to know the gossip about last night in this week's episode.

Burchester Tales: Episode 12

Post-party Analysis by H. Lewis-Foster

“And how was the party?” Ross plunged his finger into a jar of peanut butter, then happily sucked the contents from his sticky digit.

Lee shook his head, still mildly appalled by his flatmate’s non-existent table manners. “I hope that peanut butter’s yours.”

“Of course.” Ross grinned and took another fingerful. “It is now, anyway.”

“I wish you’d keep your hands off other people’s food.” Lee had already umpired one heated argument over a packet of sweet and sour noodles. “But as it happens, the party was fabulous.”

Lee extracted a mug from the mountain of crockery on the draining board, which had miraculously been washed by one of his more conscientious flatmates. He smiled as he thought of his crazy evening, with the dancing, drinking, beautiful students. The party had gone on so late, Davy had let him and Gus stay over in one of the guest rooms. It was the most luxurious room Lee had ever seen, more like something out of a stately home. Lee had almost been afraid to have sex in the four-poster bed with its red satin covers, but with Gus’s encouragement, they’d certainly had some fun.

Ross broke Lee’s highly pleasurable train of thought. “Did you do a lot of boogying?”

Lee grabbed a moderately clean tea towel and carefully dried his mug. “If you’d ever seen me dancing, you’d know that was never going to happen.”

Ross screwed the top back onto the peanut butter, and his lips puckered into a playful pout. “A bit of smooching, then?”

“Just a bit.” Lee chuckled. Ross had been great ever since Lee told him he was gay, but Lee figured he didn’t need any more detail than that. Ross, however, appeared to want more information.

“It wasn’t a bit awkward in front of Gus’s ex?”

Lee gave Ross’s question a moment’s thought. “Not really. He was too busy playing the host.”

To say Davy was a good host was an understatement. He seemed to be chatting to everyone, complimenting their outfits, fetching drinks, even finding time for a quick snog with a fair-haired young man in a Rolling Stones T-shirt. And Davy made it all look effortless.

“So what’s he like, this Davy? Apart from being rich and good-looking, of course. Must be a lot to live up to.”

Lee laughed at Ross’s characteristic candour. “I wouldn’t say that, exactly, but he is … interesting.”

“Interesting?” Ross settled onto one of the flimsy kitchen chairs. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Lee knew precisely what he meant, but it was so difficult to put into words. “Well, he’s got this aura about him.”

Ross casually stretched out his legs and plonked his feet on the kitchen table . “You mean he glows in the dark?”

“Not that kind of aura.” Lee swiped at Ross’s bare feet with the tea towel. “He just has this amazing effect on people. He only has to walk into a room, and everyone seems to swoon.”

Ross thankfully lowered his feet from the table. “Is that just the blokes?”

“God, no. The girls love him too. All over him, they were.” To be fair to Davy, he didn’t actively encourage the girls’ attention and made absolutely no secret of the fact he was gay. But that hadn’t stopped a succession of glamorous young women fawning hopelessly over him. “I bet he could have his way with anyone if the mood took him.”

Ross sighed, a melancholy look on his freckled face. “I wish he could help me out with Sophie.”

Sophie was a girl on Ross’s course and the object of his unrequited love. Her failure to return his affections was largely due to the fact that Ross rarely plucked up the courage to speak to her. Lee felt a bit sorry for him, and light-heartedly suggested, “Davy might give you some tips on chatting her up, you never know.”

“Do you think he would?” Ross’s eyes lit up at the prospect, and Lee realised he was being serious.

“Erm, I guess I could ask him.” Davy had been perfectly pleasant each time they’d met, but Lee couldn’t imagine making such a bizarre request, even with Gus as intermediary. Ross looked so eager, however, Lee would clearly have to ask Gus, who would no doubt find the whole thing hilarious. Lee was about to assure Ross he’d do his best, when the smile slipped a little from Ross’s face.

“If Davy’s such a super-flirt, you don’t think he’ll try it on with me, do you?”

Lee tried not to laugh at the thought of Davy seducing his flatmate. Ross wasn’t a bad-looking bloke, but he wasn’t exactly Davy’s type, being neither of aristocratic lineage nor, more importantly, gay. “I think you’re safe, Ross. But if it makes you feel better, I’ll make it absolutely clear that it’s girls you’re interested in.”

“Cheers, Lee.” Ross seemed reassured and leaned back in his chair, testing the cheap metal frame to its limits. “So when can you fix me up with Davy, then?”

© H. Lewis-Foster 2015. All rights reserved.