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As Julian lounged on Ray's old, tattered couch, nursing his rum and coke, he surveyed the party carrying on around him. People from all over the trailer park had come to let loose and have a good time. There was J-Roc, T, and the rest of the Roc-Pile hosting an impromptu rap battle. Cory and Trevor could be seen hot knifing in the kitchen. Bubbles and Sarah were chatting animatedly just a few feet away. Ever the life of the party, Ricky made his rounds, checking in on everyone. He weaved in and out of Julian's view.
Content to keep to himself, the raven-haired man sipped his drink and relaxed. Julian observed his friends and smiled lightly. He was pleased to see them enjoying themselves. Feeling eyes on him, Julian tensed. He glanced to the far side of the room and caught Lucy's piercing gaze. She was curling a finger through her hair and watching him intently.
Julian looked away.
Moments later, the artificial scent of cotton candy bubblegum invaded the man's senses. "Hey, Julian!" The pretty blonde seated herself next to him. She leaned in much too close, batting her eyelashes. Her tongue darted out, licking her glossy pink lips.
"Hey." Julian kept his response cool and nonchalant. He continued to scan the room, refusing to meet the young woman's gaze. Perhaps if he remained aloof, Lucy would lose interest and leave him alone.
Julian loathed the way she stared at him, hungry and wanting, as if she'd like nothing more than to devour him whole. Lucy laid a delicate hand on his arm. Her pink painted fingernails dragged across his skin. "Wow! Look at your big arms! You've been working out a lot, huh?"
"Mhm." He hummed vaguely in response.
Lucy pressed her leg against Julian's. He jerked away. Undeterred, the pretty blonde scooted closer. She trailed her fingers up and down his muscular arm. She smiled up at him, giving him her best bedroom eyes. "I bet you could pick me up like it's nothing."
"Uh-huh."
She leaned in closer still. Her breath felt hot against Julian's neck. "Bet you could pick me up, throw me over your shoulder, and have your filthy way with me."
Julian grimaced. "I don't think Ricky would appreciate that kind of talk." He paused, downing what remained in his glass before setting it on the coffee table. He turned to glare at the girl. "You know, your boyfriend. Remember him?"
Lucy frowned. She looked out at the crowds of people, all smiling, laughing, paying no mind to what was happening on the couch. She looked back at Julian and cocked her head, giving him a devilish smirk. "Well, I don't see Ricky here right now. Do you?" Releasing her grip on Julian's arm, she reached down the front of his jeans, feeling for his cock.
Julian leapt from his seat, knocking into the coffee table in the process. His eyes were blown wide. His heart was racing. He looked around to see if anyone was watching, but no one looked his way. The only one angry and horrified at the situation was him. Lucy stared up at him with a look of hurt in her eyes. It made Julian wonder if he'd overreacted.
Lucy was certainly beautiful. Everyone wanted a piece of her. Shouldn't he be flattered to hold her attention? Julian could still feel the phantom scratch of her nails marking up his arm, her hand groping for his genitals. He suddenly felt nauseous.
"What the fuck, Julian? I was just trying to be nice!"
Julian backed away. "I gotta go."
As he made his escape, his stomach lurched, warning Julian that he was about to be sick. He hurried to the bathroom, locking the door behind him. Julian barely made it to the toilet before dropping to his knees and vomiting up a slurry of dark liquid. Tears sprang from his eyes as he retched. Over and over, his muscles quaked. His stomach heaved until there was nothing left inside of him.
There was a light knock at the bathroom door.
"Julian?" It was Lucy's voice, soft and sweet, calling out to him. "Are you okay?"
Julian coughed and hacked, spitting phlegm into the toilet. The last person he wanted to see right now was Lucy. "M'fine."
"Can I come in?" The doorknob rattled. When Julian made no move to unlock it, Lucy continued. "Listen, I'm really sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have said those things, or touched you like that. It was stupid of me."
The raven-haired man lifted his head. He eyed the door warily.
"It's just that I really like you. I like you so much that I don't know how to act around you. I'm really sorry if I made you uncomfortable. Can you please just come out, so we can talk about it?"
After a moment, the bathroom door clicked open and Julian stepped out into the hall. He eyed the blonde with deep suspicion. She stared up at him with an angelic smile, holding out a peace offering - It was a familiar glass of dark amber liquid.
It was Julian's glass, his precious rum and coke. Julian was desperate for a drink. He reached for the tumbler, taking it gratefully. He brought the liquor to his lips and drank deeply, savoring the sweet flavor and burn. Once satiated, he gave Lucy a curt nod. "Thanks."
She beamed and reached for his hand. "I'm feeling a bit tipsy. Mind if we get some air?"
Julian grunted in response. He allowed the young lady to guide him by the hand. Together, they moved between the crowds and out the front door. They sat down on the curb outside, staring up at the night sky. Julian nursed his drink, while Lucy reached into the pockets of her tight cut-off shorts, retrieving a pack of cigarettes.
She lit one up, breathing in and exhaling smoothly. "Do you think I'm pretty?"
"Sure, you're pretty, but you're my best friend's girlfriend." He took a sip of rum and coke. "It's never gonna happen, Luce."
"Well, why not?" Her voice raised, shrill and demanding.
"Because it'd break Ricky's heart!" Julian exclaimed. This back and forth was giving him a headache. "Lucy, he fuckin' loves you. Isn't that enough for you?"
Lucy fell silent. She stubbed her cigarette out on the curb and stood up, brushing the dirt off of her shorts. "I suppose you think you're better than me. Is that it?"
Julian squinted at her, confusion in his eyes.
The blonde didn't give him a chance to respond. She was pulling on his big arm, urging the young man to stand up. "Come on, we better get you home while you can still walk."
Julian groaned in protest, but he stumbled up onto his feet anyway. His head felt like it was filled with cotton. His mouth had gone dry. When he tried to take another sip of rum and coke, he found that his glass was empty. When had that happened?
Lucy led him down the darkened road. Julian's knees felt weak. He was unsteady, nearly falling over. Still, Lucy urged him forward. Something about going home with Lucy felt wrong. In his muddled state, he struggled to piece together a reason why.
A pair of familiar voices called out from behind them.
"Lucy!"
"Julian! Hey, wait up!"
Lucy sped up, pulling on him even harder. Julian refused to budge. He had paused to stare curiously over his shoulder, watching as Bubbles and Sarah hurried after them. They were smiling and laughing, running hand in hand.
Breathlessly, they stumbled to a stop, bracing each other to keep from falling over. "Hey, Luce! Julian!" Sarah chirped in greeting. Her cheeks were flushed pink and she wore a silly lopsided grin. "Where are you guys going? Can we come?"
Lucy appraised her friend, looking her up and down. Sarah was undoubtedly drunk. "I mean, Julian and I were kind of hoping to be alone together..."
Julian didn't remember agreeing to that.
"You and Julian?" Bubbles exclaimed, incredulous laughter in his tone. "That doesn't sound right."
Lucy frowned. Just for a second, a stinging look of hurt flickered in her eyes. She gripped Julian's hand even tighter. "Yeah, well, he's a bit drunk right now. I'm just helping him get home."
That made Bubbles pause. Gone was the laughter from his voice as he considered his muscular friend. "Julian doesn't get drunk, especially not at parties. He sips the same rum and coke all night."
Julian remained silent. He stared into his empty glass thoughtfully. It had only been the one drink, hadn't it?
"Hey. Hey, Lucy." Sarah let go of Bubbles' hand and stumbled forward, nearly colliding with her pretty blonde friend. Lucy let go of Julian, quickly catching the redhead in her arms. Sarah leaned in close, breathing in Lucy's sweet perfume and the stale scent of cigarettes still clinging to her clothes. "You can take me home any time." She purred into Lucy's ear.
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Aw, Sarah..." She couldn't hide the fond smile that tugged at her lips. "How much did you have to drink tonight?"
"Not much." Sarah nuzzled into the crook of Lucy's neck. "Just enough."
Bubbles had taken the opportunity to lead his muscular friend to the side. He pulled Julian down to his eye level, gently cupping the man's face in his hands. Bubbles' big, magnified eyes examined him closely. "You good, bud?"
Julian's stoic expression crumpled. He shook his head.
That was all the answer that Bubbles needed. The bespectacled blonde slung his arm around Julian's waist, both to steady him and to keep him close. Bubbles turned to the ladies and flashed a briliant smile. "Right! Don't you worry about Julian. I'll take good care of him."
Lucy pouted. "But-"
"You'll make sure Sarah gets home safe, won't you?"
Lucy looked like she wanted to argue. The soft, little kisses that Sarah was peppering onto the girl's neck made it difficult. "...Yeah. Okay."
With a final wave of farewell, the inebriated twenty-somethings went their separate ways. Bubbles guided Julian the rest of the way home. "Jesus Murphy, are you ever fucked."
Julian could hardly form a response.
By the time they reached Julian's trailer home, he was fading in and out of consciousness. His limbs felt as if they were made out of lead. He drooped in Bubbles' grasp. The smaller man struggled under his weight, partly dragging Julian inside.
With a grunt, the chubby blond let his companion sag to the floor. Julian curled into himself, clutching at his aching and traitorous stomach.
Bubbles took a moment to catch his breath. His muscles ached. Getting Julian home had been no small feat. "You just hang in there, bud. I'm gonna get you some toast and water.
The raven-haired man shook his head. "Don't want it."
"Aw, come on, Julian. It'll help settle your stomach. I promise."
Julian tried to focus on Bubbles, but his vision swam and he gave up, his head lolling to the side. He felt like he was going to be sick again. "I want rum and mix."
"Yeah, no. Not happening."
A childish whine escaped from Julian's throat. "Bubbles, please!"
"Alright, fine." Bubbles squatted down. He helped Julian sit up and lean against the wall. He then carefully pulled the empty tumbler loose from his grasp. The chubby blond disappeared into the kitchen, only to come back a few moments later and press the tumbler into Julian's hand. "Here you go. Drink up." He had filled Julian's favourite glass with water.
Julian drank it gratefully. Once he downed the ice cold liquid, he eyed his glass with a discerning look of disgust. "Tastes bad."
"Sorry." Bubbles regarded his companion. A contemplative look crossed over his features. "Hey, Jules? Do you know what you had to drink tonight?"
"Yeah." The raven-haired man swallowed thickly. "Rum and coke."
"How many?"
Julian blinked blearily at the blonde. "Uh, one..? Maybe two."
"No more than that?"
"Nah."
Bubbles ran a hand through his hair and exhaled. "Okay." His friend's admission carried some dark implications, but Bubbles couldn't dwell on that right now. He had a heavily inebriated muscle man to take care of.
"Alright, bud. Can you stand up for me?"
Julian groaned. It took him great effort, but he managed to lift himself to his feet, using the wall for balance. Bubbles slid under his arm, bracing under the bigger man's weight. With slow, staggering steps, he guided Julian to the bedroom.
Julian collapsed onto the mattress. He pushed his face into his pillows and inhaled, the familiar scent bringing him comfort.
"Alright, Julian. Let's get you ready for bed." Bubbles untied his companion's laces, tugging off his shoes one after the other. He came around to the side of the bed and leaned forward, reaching for the hem of Julian's black cotton t-shirt. He managed to pull it over his buddy's head, Julian even lifting his arms to aide him.
When Bubbles reached for the button on Julian's blue jeans, the larger man's eyes flickered open and he seized his companion's wrist in a deathly tight grip. "Don't."
Bubbles faltered. "You wanna sleep in your jeans? That can't be comfortable, bud."
Julian refused to meet his gaze. There was a glassy, faraway look in his eyes. His words faltered. "Please, I - I don't wanna be touched."
the chubby blond paled. "Right. Yeah, of course." He rushed to reassure him. "No one's gonna touch you, buddy. I promise. I won't let anything bad happen to you, okay? I just want you to be comfortable. Um, could you... Can I have my hand back?"
Julian's grip loosened, but he wasn't yet ready to let go. "Stay... With me?"
Bubbles was at a loss. He didn't know what to say to that. A quiet moment passed between them, both men holding their breaths. Finally, Bubbles cut through the silence, his tone soft and soothing. "Okay, Julian. Okay."
The raven-haired man released him.
"I'm gonna lay down with you. Is that alright?"
Julian nodded.
Bubbles set his glasses on the bedside table, then changed out of his button-up shirt and trousers. He left his boxers on and climbed into bed. Bubbles reached for the comforter and carefully tucked it around them both. The bigger man rumbled with approval. He rolled over and threw his arms around his chubby companion, anchoring him close. He cuddled Bubbles as if he were a man-sized teddy bear. Within moments, Julian was fast asleep and snoring lightly.
Bubbles watched his companion sleep. He looked so peaceful, laying there. It was difficult for Bubbles to sleep without his cats and pajamas, but when he closed his eyes, the cadence of Julian's snoring was almost like a kitty cat, softly purring. Bubbles gave in to his companion's hold, knowing full well that he wouldn't be released any time soon. He supposed being held in Julian's big, protective arms wasn't so bad.
Julian awoke with a pounding headache. His mouth was dry. His throat felt like sandpaper. His memory of the night before was spotty at best. Julian was desperate for a drink. He was about to get up and pour himself his morning rum and coke. In the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a tuft of golden hair peeking out from under the comforter.
The man's eyes widened. He remembered the party in fragmented parts - His friends' echoing laughter, a closed bathroom door, Lucy's hand in his hand, as they left the party together. Julian's heart sank, heavy with dread. He wouldn't. He didn't... Did he?
Ever so slowly, he pulled the covers back. There, curled up and drooling peacefully in his sleep was his buddy, Bubbles. Julian sighed and shook his head. Relief washed over him. Careful not to wake his companion, Julian tucked Bubbles back in and relaxed. This wasn't so bad. After all, there are worse people to wake up next to.