It had begun to rain. Really hard.
It had begun to rain. Really hard. By the time Michael heard the tone of his gate system it had escalated to a howling thunderstorm. He slid playfully across the shiny floor and skidded to a halt at the front door. Michael entered the number on the small keypad and then waited wondering what he was supposed to do next.
Just before he had time to worry, he saw headlights shinning out on the grounds. He waited by the door and a minute later the bell rang. When Michael opened the door it was to discover Mark, soaking wet.
"Hi," he said, pulling back his hood back, "did you order this too?" Michael chuckled and let him in the house. "Umm, I don't want to go through the house all wet...," Mark said gesturing at his soaked frame.
"It's okay. Blanca will take care of it tommorow. It's just water. Where did you leave them?"
"In the office, I think."
"K." Michael turned and led him down the hall and then up the blocky staircase. Hadn't Mark noticed Michael was only in a bathrobe? Hadn't he noticed the glass of wine in his hand? Michael was no expert, but he was sure to venture a guess that this should appear casual and romantic. My God, he was naked under this!
"There they are," Mark said upon reaching the office. "Hey thanks for, you know, letting me come back up," he said scooping up the document, "I hope I didn't intrude on your night."
Intrude on my night?!, Michael thought angrily. Was that it? Was that really all he came here for was some stupid papers? Just then a booming crack of lightening and thunder lit up the Neverland grounds and then echoed through the valley mountains. A second later, everything went black and nothing could be heard but the pounding rain and swirling wind.
Michael's breath quickened and came in increasingly frightened pants. He instinctivly pulled his robe tighter and drew his arms around himself. He feared the climactic intensity of a thunderstorm.
"Well shit," Mark said with little enthusiasm.
"H-how do we get downstairs now?" Mark flicked his lighter by answer. The soft glow cast a beautiful light on Michael's face. He grinned and looked at the floor, embarrassed.
"Ohh, ha-ha. Hee."
"Come on." They ambled down the darkened staircase with the solitary light as their guide. Mark didn't seem to mind, but Michael knew he wouldn't be able to hide his nervousness for long. He'd never been alone in a power outage before - especially in a new and huge house. Now he really didn't want Mark to go.
"Well, I guess I'm stuck here for a while."
"W-What?" Michael blurted. Had Mark just read his mind?
"The gates are power operated, Michael. I'm locked in." Michael looked at him, stunned. Of course they were. "Unless...you want me to try and get them to open manually, but I -."
"No, no! That's okay. Uh -." Michael quickly stifled himself.
"Right," Mark stood befuddled for a moment, "well, if I'm here for a bit...could I...you know, borrow something?" Mark asked gesturing at his sodden attire, "so I don't ruin your furniture?"
"Oh, of course. Here, light some of those candles on the table and we can take them with us," Michael said hardly believeing his luck. Michael led Mark down the windowed hallway to his bedroom. Double doors and solid oak with two proud statues placed on either side as though on guard - though one was wearing a toy cowboy hat. There was only one lock on the doors, but Michael felt sure he would add more soon. You can never be too safe. Inside or out.
Once inside, Mark couldn't help but stare around. He'd wondered what Michael's bedroom looked like. My God was it a mess. Toys, boxes, a huge TV, stereo, costumes and clothing - and a massive king-sized bed with an astonishingly bright, glittering comforter. Mark followed Michael and tried hard not to picture the fantasies that he had dreamed upon that very mattress.
"Um, is this okay?" Michael asked presenting him with a nice pair of sweat pants and a tee.
"Yeah, great. Thank you." Michael stood before him eyes transfixed, waiting.
"Umm, so I guess I'll - ".
"Uh yeah, right." Michael quickly crossed the room and closed the door behind him. Damn. What was wrong? Michael was sure he wanted Mark so badly now that he reaked of it. Why wouldn't he respond? He leaned against the wall for a minute watching the rain pour outside, occasional flashes of lightening illuminating the whole grounds.
Their scene played before his very eyes for what felt like the millionth time that night. It had overtook him so much that it was becoming fuzzy or strained like an old recording, but Michael didn't ever want to lose it. He struggled to sort his feelings into actions and how he should go about them, but what could he do? Perhaps Mark had truely returned for the documents alone and was now regretting his actions earlier. Or worse. What if Mark had simply seduced Michael so that he would be able to keep his job? Michael cringed at the thought.
Mark was always exceptional at seeing whatever hole he might have missed and how best to bridge the gap. Michael took a deep breath. He knew he had a tendency to become tedious and exacting when he drank alcohol and he was well aware that he'd had quite enough to bring him to irrationality. But he didn't want to believe that right now. He wanted what had transpired between he and Mark to be the truth. He wanted it to unravel and the two of them to ride it together. Michael had just opened a new door in his life and was just about to walk through it - he didn't deserve to do it alone.
The Locket
