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Darren stops nuzzling Wayne, groaning at the pounding on the front door.
He looks through the peephole and rolls his eyes. “This better be good, Jude.”
“Uhhh… Does Wayne live here?” He asks, eyeing Darren.
“Yeah? How did you find this address?”
“I found it in the files in the office,” he shrugs. Jude pushes past, whistling as he checks out the apartment. “Nice digs, really fits the image.” He gestures at the movies posters and memorabilia displayed throughout the living room and kitchen area, and plops down on the couch.
“Jude, this is the first day off Wayne and I have had in a while. What do you want?”
“Are you roommates?” he asks.
“Dude… we’re married.”
Jude gives him a blank look, and notices the pictures amongst the posters. His eyes flick to the ring on Darren’s finger, and back to his face.
“Whaaaaaaaat… since when?”
“Since four years ago.”
“But… why?”
“What do you mean why? Because I love him, and I would like to go back to loving him,” he sighs. “Please get to your point.”
“I need help.”
“Help with what?” Darren asks, sitting down next to him.
“I think I’m… bi?”
“That’s great, kiddo,” Darren beams. “Welcome to the club.”
“You’re bi, too? But you’re married?”
“Being married doesn’t change your sexuality, it just means I’m married to a man,” he explains. “Even if I was married to a woman, I would be bi.”
“And you never had any trouble? With your friends or whatever?” Jude asks, picking at his sleeves.
“If anyone gives you trouble, they aren’t a true friend. You don’t have to come out to anyone, either. Nobody is entitled to your feelings.”
Jude sits and thinks for a moment, then nods.
“Yeah, you’re right,” he finally agrees.
“Now get out of my house,” Wayne yells from down the hall. Darren laughs and shows Jude to the door.
“You won’t like, tell anyone… right?”
“Don’t worry, kid. I wouldn’t do that,” Darren assures. “Wayne wouldn’t either.”
“See you tomorrow, boss,” Jude salutes.
“Soo….” Jen says, leaning on the counter across from Darren. “How’s the wife?”
“What wife?” he asks, looking up from the paperwork he’s finishing.
“You’re married, right?”
“Yeah?”
“So, you must have a wife, right?”
Darren quirks his eyebrow at her. “I have a husband.”
“Oh. Well, I guess you wouldn’t want him to know how close you and Wayne are,” she fake laughs. “You know how marriage is.”
“Wayne is my husband.” Darren doesn’t smile when Jen’s jaw drops.
“Wayne?” she gapes.
“Yep.” He caps his pen and arranges the paperwork.
“So that’s why he hugs you like that?”
“Uh-huh,” he turns away from Jen, trying to focus on the small television on the counter.
“But he’s… Wayne,” she shouts. Darren snaps his attention back to her.
“Look, kid. I’m pretty sure I’m at least twice your age. I have known, dated, and have been married to Wayne for ten years. I know how he is,” he says sternly. “He isn’t the way he seems. Just like how I’m sure you’re not the way you seem to be right now— rude.”
“I’m not rude, I’m asking an honest question.”
“First you assumed I had a wife, even though I said I didn’t. Second, you assumed my husband would be offended that I show affection towards my friends. Then you insult my husband and our relationship. That’s all very rude.”
“But—”
“No buts. You only just started coming here after we hired Jude and Wyatt. We both pick up on your guys’ comments, but ignore it because you’re just kids,” he spots Wayne coming out of the office and smiles. “Just because he’s a grump doesn’t mean he’s anything worse.”
“Me? I’m not a grump. I’m completely jovial at all times,” Wayne states, crossing his arms and scowling at Jen. “Just don’t bother me while I’m watching something.”
“You’re always watching something,” Jen jabs.
“Then don’t bother me. Rent something or get out of here.”
“Fine,” she huffs.
Wayne steps behind the counter and wraps his arms around Darren’s shoulders. “What was that all about?”
“Apparently she thought that I had a wife, and then was offended that my wife was you,” Darren sighs.
Wayne snickers and pecks the other man’s cheek, settling against him.
“Guys, you’ll never guess what I found out,” Jen exclaims. “Darren and Wayne are married.”
“Yeah? You didn’t know?” asks Jude, not looking up from his phone.
“They have pictures like, everywhere,” Wyatt groans. “Its gross.”
“Yeah well, you work with them. You should have told us!” Jen complains.
“Why? What’s it matter,” Nikki shrugs. “Let them be weird.”
“I wonder how they met. It must have been romantic,” Caitlin sighs.
“They probably met at a midnight showing of a nerd movie,” Jonesy gags.
“You’re missing the point. How could someone like Darren be with someone like Wayne,” Jen complains. “There must be something up…”
“I really don’t think so. They’re both really chill when no one is around,” Wyatt states. “Yeah, Wayne can be gross. We can all be gross. Look at Jude.”
“You should see their apartment,” Jude adds. The group stares at him. “What? I needed help with something. They have pictures of themselves mixed with movie and music memorabilia.”
“I wonder what its like to find ‘the one~’” Caitlin lists.
Caitlin strolls through the doors and makes a bee line for the counter. “Wayne, you’re just the person I wanted to see,” she grins.
“Why? Who sent you?”
“I want to know how you and Darren met. It must be so nice to be married to your one love,” she sighs.
“The one? That’s cheesy,” Wayne mumbles, hiding his smile. “Yeah, you’re right. It is nice.”
“So? How was it?” She settles against the counter, waiting expectantly.
“Not romantic. Very uncute meet-cute,” he waves her off.
It must have been nice though? Right?”
“We met at a friend’s movie night. He was puking his guts up in the bathroom from eating something he shouldn’t have,” Wayne turns to face her. “It was the only bathroom in the apartment. He told me to ignore him and pee in the shower.”
“Ugh, gross. Why are boys like this?” she gags.
“I told you it wasn’t cute,” he shrugs. “I did end up holding his hair back and helping him home though.”
“See! That’s romantic!”
“You could have just said you helped me when I was sick,” Darren yells from the office. “Don’t be so crass.”
“I didn’t want to sugarcoat life! Its not like the movies!” Wayne yells back.
“Do you think I’ll ever meet the one?” Caitlin asks.
“How old are you? Fifteen?”
“Sixteen and a half.”
“You’ve got plenty of time, kid.”
(Darren)
