Chapter 20

Michael woke up. He yawned and rolled over onto a fortunately awake James, who looked up at him and smiled, groggily. “Morning beautiful.” Greeted James, pecking Michael on the nose. Michael returned that greeting with a kiss on the lips, which lasted until James wheezed. “Oo. You’re squashing me, ribs still hurting.”

“Sorry.” Responded Michael, rolling away. “Still not fully healed.”

“No.” Replied James, more awake now. “Don’t think all the walking afterwards helped as well.”

“Probably right. Doctor did tell you to take it easy.” Michael laughed a little. “If anyone does that to you again I will �" I �" I will - I don’t know. Probably just knock them out like last time, but I won’t bother calling the police, or ambulances for them.”

James was about to respond and then paused and looked shocked. “Wait. You knocked them out. Like till they were unconscious?”

“Yeah.” Replied Michael calmly. “What do you think I did?”

“You told me you fought them off. But I didn’t think you would actually knock them out.” James looked at him stunned. “I always knew you were strong from when I’ve seen you play rugby, but damn, you’re strong, they were older than us and everything, I think. I guess you were in the gym a lot back at school. Do you think you’re still as strong?”

Michael explained. “Oh, if anything I’m stronger. They had a massive pipe in the back garden of the shelter. And two fifty kilo bags of like sand or something right so because I felt like it I used some rope to put them together and I was able to squat it, so that was probably like one-thirty kilos, and I usually do one-fifteen.”

“Oh, so you just found it out the normal way. Some random garden items and you made them into a weight roughly twice your bodyweight and proceeding to see if you could lift it.” James laughed. “Well, I guess it means I get my dream of having a strong boyfriend who defends me from bad guys.” James stroked a giggling Michael’s six-pack and pecs and shoulder and arms, until they decided it was probably time to head to breakfast.

They walked downstairs. A scribbled note was on the table, which read ‘Gone to the shelter. Help yourself to everything in the fridge. Lock up if you leave.’

“Crazy that they’re retired, and they still work for like ten hours a day.” Remarked Michael and James nodded.

They had eggs for breakfast. They sat down and ate. Whilst they were eating, Michael looked up and announced. “I’ve always thought that you’re name sounds like a footballer. You know James Brownhill, plays for Burnley.”

“Really, Michael Helgan. I kind of do prefer your surname though, but it’s still weird.” James retaliated and Michael laughed. “Last time I played football was two weeks after I came out. I ended up with a broken ankle. I’d like to think the two weren’t linked but I don’t think Rhys was going for the ball. And in the changing room before we played, he told me, ‘This must be like a massive orgy to you right.’ So, I think he was a bit homophobic. Anyway, that’s why I’m not a footballer.”

Michael stopped laughing and looked a bit sad, but also guilty. James knew Michael felt guilty about not James’s bullying, because most of it was being done by his previous friends. They kept eating in silence.

After breakfast they locked up the house, with a spare set of keys and walked next-door. The shelter was quieter than usual; probably only fifty people there. They came in and immediately started helping with tidying up breakfast. Then Josh and Janet came over to them, to ask how they slept and if everything was alright at home. They replied with the truth; yes, all around.

They did repairs round the shelter the rest of the day. Michael had to fix a gutter, because a bracket had come off and all the water was pouring straight onto the patio and though it hadn’t rained for a few days, a large puddle had formed. Michael climbed up a ladder, that he had very precariously hooked onto the roof. Michael strapped the harness, that apparently Josh used to use for climbing, to the brackets, that were securing a metal pole to the top of the house, that felt strong enough to hold his weight. James watched in fear as he dangled on the edge of the rope, supported by only a carabiner. He shouted up there. “Are you confident that you can do this?”

“Don’t worry James.” He replied. “I built an Ikea table once, and I did climbing at somebodies tenth birthday party.” He joked, making James worry only more.

Michael seemed to be doing fine though. He through the old one down, cleaned the screw holes, and attached the new one. He then pulled himself back up and undid the carabiner so he could get down, causing James’s heart to speed up even more. He gripped the ladder in place as Michael climbed down. And let a sigh of relief when both of Michael’s feet were on the ground. Michael laughed, when he noticed it, “You weren’t even up there. Why are you scared?” He asked.

“The person I love dangling over the edge of the building supported by a singular carabiner. How were you not terrified?” James replied.

“Oh, I was petrified. I thought I was going to fall off the whole time, I couldn’t get the screw in cause my hands were shaky. I think I just hide it better than you.” He kissed James, gently on the lips. “Better now?” he asked. James nodded and smiled.

They continued the rest of the day as normal, and they went home. James helped Janet prepare dinner, which was meatballs, and Michael and Josh, talked about football in the other room. After dinner they watched TV for a bit, then got into bed. James fell asleep quickly and Michael looked at him, and found himself just staring at James’s sleeping face for so long, that when he realised how long it had been, he felt embarrassed, and then he fell asleep himself.