A Gift

I awoke a short two hours after falling asleep.  I was exhausted, but for some reason rest was practically out of the question.  I tried to keep my eyes closed, and only think of my unrealistic evening with Anthony, but my cause was hopeless.  I rolled onto my side and starred at Anthony, who was definitely not a graceful sleeper.  He laid there beside me, front-side down, with his mouth slightly open, and an arm slung out across me.  He looked peaceful, as though he was sleeping more comfortably than he had in a long time. 

He was so perfectly normal, average guy attractive, and yet he was exactly what I needed.  I found myself watching him as he slept, and the clock as time seemed to be slipping by.  I traced his arm with my fingertips, and wondered what he could be dreaming about.  I even laid my hand flush with his bicep, and tried as hard as I could to look inside his mind, and pry out whatever I could manage.  I wasn't sure if I had really, subconsciously, not wanted to, or if I just plain couldn't, but I wasn't able to see anything at all.  I thought about our intimate moment from a few hours before, and how I was able to alter both our perceptions of reality, and yet now, my ability was failing me.  Just when I thought I had a grip on my power, I was finding something new, or losing control all together. 

"You know, it's been--well--kind of sickening watching you sit here and swoon over him."  Sofie's voice hit my ears like nails on a chalkboard.  

"What?  How did you get in here?"  I sat up suddenly, trying not to disturb Anthony.

"Let's not riddle ourselves with unimportant nonsense."  She said approaching my bedside slowly.  I hated that she made me feel so helpless, but what could I really do?  

"I think you've had plenty of time to consider my offer to help you."  She said with a very distinct, devious grin on her face.  

"No, I'd sooner like to see you out of my house!"  My response came louder than I had planned.  I felt Anthony shuffle a bit beside me, and instinctively I looked to see if he'd been awoken.  

"So, I was right, you really do like him."  Sofie sounded perfectly sure of her statement.  

"I mean, wouldn't it be a shame if the next time you touched him, you killed him?"  The concern in her tone was mocking.  

"I don't understand, why are you so desperate to help me?  What do you stand to gain from all of this?"  I asked her, and watched her expression which was unchanged and vague.  

"I suppose I don't stand to gain much, just knowing that I could help stop you from hurting people, is enough for me."  She explained, and for a moment it felt as though she was peering into my soul.  

"Okay, well what would I have to do?"  I asked her curiously.  She walked over and placed a chain and crystal pendant on my night stand.  

"Just wear the crystal and you will have complete control of your ability at all times, and as a sign of good faith, I'll return Alana's memories, seeing that you've made her all but crazy."  Sofie's tone was arrogant, but genuine sounding.  When I turned to face her she was already gone, as if she'd never been there.  

I laid back down slowly, and pressed my body against Anthony's, which was warm and comfortable.  

"Hey Ryan, I'm going to start some coffee, do you want me to make some for you too?"  Alana was standing in the doorway and her question erupted loudly in my bedroom.  

"Oh, umm, I didn't know you had company.  I'm sorry!"  Her whisper was silly and excited.  I heard Anthony take in a deep breath through his nose and watched as he shuffled onto his side to face me.  

"Good morning." His voice hummed, and his eyes were still closed.  

"Hey, sleepyhead!"  I responded quickly, sounding a bit silly.  

"Have you been awake long?"  He asked, while sitting up and looking over at the clock on his side table.  

"Nah, just a couple hours."  I told him as if it were just a short bit of time.  

"It's seven in the morning, you've only slept a couple hours."  He chuckled a bit with what he said and then slid back down under the warmth of the blankets.  

Anthony took my hand and slid it to his manhood, which was displaying natural morning arousal.  

"So I definitely need a shower, and you should definitely join me."  Anthony's smile showed almost all of his bright-white, teeth, and he looked as excited as a child with candy.  

"Coffees nearly done!"  Alana's voice rang through the house, from the kitchen, loudly.  I rolled over-top of Anthony, to the other side of the bed, got up, still naked, crossed the room quickly and shut the door.  When I turned around I noticed Anthony staring at me and I felt the blood rush to my cheeks with embarrassment.  I wasn't accustomed to strutting around in my birthday suit around other people.  

"Shower?"  I asked insistently, seeing that he didn't seem to be budging.  When he got up I couldn't help but to stare, either.  

"Come on, you're drooling!"  He pulled the bed-sheet off the bed and covered his body, and tilted his head down in a display of modesty.  I walked into the bathroom, slid open the large shower stall, turned the water on and waited for it to warm up.  Anthony walked in shortly after with the entire sheet still trailing his body.  I shook my head, but couldn't help but to smile.  

"Your house is ridiculous, it makes my apartment seem so small, and poorly decorated."  I thought for a moment about how pretentious my house must have made me seem, and then giggled to myself about how "gay" his statement sounded at the end.  Playfully, I tackled him lightly, pulled the sheet and tossed it aside, then forced him into the shower stall.  Quickly, I pecked a single kiss on his soft lips, then pulled away and looked at him for a moment.  

Simultaneously, we milked each other to a climax, softly, and slowly taking time to appreciate every detail.  I watched the water run across his face as he bit his lip in ecstasy.  Something, perhaps it was the presence of the water, made seem just as romantic as the night before.  Both of us remained quiet afterwards, as we washed ourselves in the shower, bumping into one another just a few times.  

I got out of the shower first, dried off and quickly went to find the two of us some clothes.  When Anthony joined me in the room, still patting himself with a towel, I tossed him a pair of gym shorts and a white t-shirt I had found in my dresser.  

"So, about last night."  Anthony sounded inquisitive in his statement.  

"Please, don't ask me to explain."  I said, my expression surely looked anxious.  

"Okay, then I won't.  But I will say, it was really breathtaking."  He said recanting his tone.  

Both of us joined Alana in the kitchen for coffee.  Alana was already dressed and was watching the weather channel.  

"Good morning, you two.  Sleep well?"  She asked, as she hopped up off the sofa, and followed us into the kitchen.  Alana sounded more pleasant than I could recall her sounding in a long time.  

"You could say that."  I answered her, taking careful notice of her attitude and how different she seemed.  

"Are you feeling better this morning?"  Anthony asked Alana.  I almost spat my coffee out across the table where we had just sat down.  

"What do you mean?"  Alana asked sounding utterly confused, followed by sipping from her mug.  

"Last night, the house was a complete mess, and you were--"  I quickly cut into Anthony's statement.  

"You were really sick last night, you had a terrible fever.  Which would explain why you don't remember."  I said and then shot Anthony a suggestive look.  

I had to admit, Sofie was good.  Alana seemed to be her normal self, better even.  I assumed Sofie must have cleaned the house too, nothing seemed to be out of place.  Alana walked over to the sink, rinsed her mug, and placed it in the dishwasher.  

"Well, I'm off to work, catch you guys later?"  She asked as she embraced me for a hug.  Both Anthony and I nodded as an answer to her question.  As soon as Alana left, Anthony wasted no time and immediately started with the questions.  

"What the heck was that?"  He asked looking at me, eyes wide with curiosity.  

"I don't know, temporary amnesia?  Maybe she's on drugs."  I said trying to explain it as reasonably as I could.  

"Maybe we should get you home, so you can find something to wear."  I said trying to change the subject as quickly as I could.  Anthony followed me back to my bedroom, so I could get my keys from my jeans.  When I picked up my jeans, I saw the necklace Sofie had left on my end table, I picked it up and looked at it for a moment.  The crystal was a translucent-white color.  What could it hurt?  I thought. 

"Anthony, can you help me put this on?"  I asked him shoving it in his direction.  

"What is this?"  He asked, as he placed it around my neck and clasped it together.  

"A gift from an old high school friend, Sofie."  I told him, as we left the room, and continued out to the car.