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“By the way, they’re picking me up in an hour,” Levi says, looking at his watch.
“I thought you were done shooting for this week,” Kyle waves his arms. After thinking that they could finally spend the whole evening together, Kyle can’t hide his disappointment.
“Yeah, shooting is done—These are more interviews for a couple of TV stations. I think most of the cast is coming this time for these ones… I’m not really sure.”
“And how did it go yesterday? You didn’t tell me anything,” Kyle frowns.
“Well, I didn’t tell you because it’s always the same. At least the photoshoot was fine,” which Kyle knows is Levi’s word for not too boring and nice clothes, “and the interview wasn’t too long… so, I don’t know, it was okay.”
“They keep asking you…” It's a statement, not a question.
Kyle bites his lip. He hates that Levi has to answer the same questions once and again, and feeling responsible only makes it worse.
“As expected,” Levi nods.
People didn’t see it coming and they are rightfully surprised. You reach popularity, you are nominated for the most prestigious awards, you are finally recognized as an actor and then you leave the show… people are going to wonder what happened. It doesn’t matter if Kyle has talked about it on social media—Of course, they are also going to ask the cast and, most of all, his boyfriend if they have the chance.
“They ask and I answer—Really, it’s fine,” Levi shrugs.
Kyle snorts. That reply shows how Levi is in a few words. He’s got so much experience that nothing surprises or disturbs him easily by now.
Kyle has seen some of these first promotional interviews on YouTube and Levi always answers with his beautiful big smile—always so professional and polite. You could never tell if any question bothers him in the least. He’s always kind and fun to watch at the same time and Kyle will always be thankful to him for how much he learned from him when they had to do all those interviews together for season one. Kyle didn’t have any experience with the press back then and the way Levi took care of him in those situations certainly helped him to know him better.
“I know but—”
“But nothing,” Levi shakes his head. “I understand it better than anyone because I get to see you every day and I know this is something you have to do… but people miss you—Your fans miss you and even those who don’t miss you also want to know… so you know—”
“What?” Kyle raises his eyebrows.
“You know… they keep asking me what’s gonna happen with Brian this season and so on… but basically, they wonder if this show can survive without you… which—”
“Is full of shit,” Kyle interrupts him.
Levi agrees because he knows the writing has been consistently strong and he knows this season will bring a lot of surprises for the fans but they need people to keep watching it in order to prove it to them. If they don’t watch it just because Vernon is gone, they won’t get that chance.
“It is… but you don’t have to worry about it, okay? It’s not your responsibility and once the show starts, this thing will be over,” Levi says confidently. And that’s gonna happen in two weeks, so they won’t have to wait much longer.
“You’re probably right,” Kyle nods, running his hand through Levi’s dark hair, watching as it falls again over his forehead, almost covering his left eye.
“What?” Levi knows Kyle’s expression pretty well.
Kyle snorts, staring at Levi’s hazel eyes. “You,” Kyle shakes his head, “you and I… I don’t think I could do what you do if I were in your shoes,” Kyle shrugs.
“What are you talking about?” Levi shrugs. “You already have.”
Kyle knows what he means. When they made their relationship public and gave interviews to a couple of magazines, they had to answer a few questions and it wasn’t easy, especially for Kyle who was less familiar with popularity and the media.
“That was different,” Kyle shakes his head. “Taking pictures with you is always fun… and for the interviews… you were next to me and we already knew what we were gonna say. Like I told you back then, it wasn’t that hard… but now you’re dealing with it on a daily basis, and you’re always nice about it and I’m sure you must get sick of it, and you haven’t complained once, so that’s why sometimes, I look at you and I remember how lucky I am... because you and I couldn’t be more different but you still like me somehow… and that feels… it feels unreal.”
Levi snorts, smiling. “I don't like you—I love you. And I don’t agree. It feels very real to me.”
“Yeah, because thank God, you haven’t been where I’ve been. When I was a kid… if someone had told me that I’d ever be on TV, that I'd meet someone like you,” Kyle shakes his head. “And that we’d be living in a place like this... I’d never have believed them. I know I always tell you that I don’t wanna talk about it, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t think about it.” And writing the songs for this album has also made him think about it more than the time when was filming the show.
“You don’t need to tell me. I know you do and I know that there are certain things you can’t forget no matter how hard you try but you’re stronger because of everything you went through. And this record is gonna be special because of that too… because you have so much to say… and that’s why even if I miss you at work every day, I’m glad you’re following your dream and I’m here to help you any way I can.” The way Levi sees it, Kyle is fucking brave for taking this step, which is one more reason why he admires him and respects him so much.
And the thing is that when Kyle met Levi, he saw a 1,85, broad-shouldered athletic guy with beautiful big eyes and a perfect shining smile, and he definitely got it all wrong. As huge as his hands are, nothing compares to the size of his heart. He’s the most caring person he’s ever met and Kyle wonders if he will ever really get used to it.
(To be continued.)