Learning to Love

Chapter Six

[JULIAN]

The house was empty now. Linda was at work and I was all alone as always. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I was in the home art studio, pouting over my latest piece while sitting on a high stool. The studio was actually an extra room I converted after Linda and I's — okay, more of Linda's decision that I should house sit.

The room was quite wide with baby blue walls that were barely visible under the huge canvases piled against it. The windows were wide so it gave the room good lighting.

I c****d my head to the side as I bit my bottom lip. It still wasn't right —  perfect like it should be. I still couldn't do it. I examined the work sitting on the easel in front of me. I kept crossing and uncrossing my legs in thought. What exactly was I doing wrong?

You could easily guess my subject. It was a painting of Zeus that was from the waist up. The painting stared straight at me, with eyes as green as emeralds — eyes I had perfectly studied. I looked at the bare chest of the painting and blushed. I was, well — I was too embarrassed to think of even painting his lower body.

I cracked my knuckles. Why couldn't I get the chest right? Well, it's not like I've seen it. I would like to see it. Julian, shut your mind and just paint. I thought, closing my eyes and exhaling. I soon found myself in a mess of moans and whimpers. I opened my eyes still breathing heavily. I blushed. Why couldn't I think about him without perving out? I mean, I couldn't imagine him naked decently, if that made sense.

I rubbed my eyes and yawned. It was barely one in the afternoon and I was tired. I didn't get much sleep last night. I blushed, remembering why. It's—it's not like I could help perving over his jacket

Zeus. I thought, smiling. I missed him so much, and I didn't really know why.

Does he think of me too? I groaned at my stupid thought. We had barely become acquaintances and I was already fawning over him.

Zeus. I thought again. I wanted to talk to him, but I didn't have a phone and Linda had somehow disconnected the home line. I groaned in annoyance. I could just use a payphone. No! I thought, shaking my head as I got down the high stool. He'll think I'm creepy or not pick up at all. I sighed in frustration. I really want to talk to him. I sighed again in confusion as I ran a hand through my hair. Okay, I'll make the decision when I get to the front door. Yeah, I'll just do that. I'll just pick subconsciously. I thought to myself.

I walked out of the studio into the main hall, taking a turn for the bedroom. The velvet walls of the bedroom were Linda's Idea. And so were the marine blue curtains and marble tilings. I walked into the walk-in closet right beside the queen sized bed. I turned on the light switch after rambling around the darkness with my hands. The small light bulb flickered on and I sighed in relief. I wandered around the small closet trying to remember where I dropped the jacket. I sighed contently when I found it hanging under one of my own jackets. I pulled it out the hanger. I brought the leather jacket up to my face and took a good whiff. The scent of him was almost gone, but the thought of him wearing it was still as erotic as it had been three weeks ago.

I spared some mewls before putting the jacket on and headed out to the kitchen. The kitchen was nothing to talk about. Just white tiles and kitchen equipment scattered about the counter. I lifted a coffee cup of a tray of many others on the counter to reveal a piece of paper — Zeus' number. I still took joy in staring at it. His handwriting — it was neat and precise, almost feminine. Stop Julian, you can do this later. I told myself then headed out the front door. I blushed guiltily knowing exactly where I was going. Okay, maybe the decision thing was just an excuse.

The nearest payphone wasn't too far away. A block or two, and I was already there. Entering the payphone I think I lost every ounce of courage I'd brought with me. I was visibly shaking now.

What if he thought I was desperate? I mean I probably was. No! I thought, shaking my head. There were other things to worry about. Would he think I was weird — Crazy? Ugly? Okay, I don't know where that came from. I sighed. I took a deep breath. I was going to call him because I missed him. I told myself and picked up the phone after inserting some coins.

I kept exhaling and inhaling as I typed the numbers. I think I swallowed spit when the phone started ringing. I mean, I have every right to be worried. What if he didn't pick up—

"Hello? Who's this?"

I blinked, hearing a voice from the other end of the phone.

"Hello? Who are you?" I asked into the phone. This definitely wasn't Zeus' voice.

"I asked you first," I person stated in annoyance. I blushed. It was kind of true.

"Um, I think I have the wrong—"

"Who are you?" Whoever it was insisted from the other end. I could picture the person, sort of. He probably was French because of the faint accent in his English.

"I asked you a question," the person growled clearly irritated.

"Julian," I answered obediently. I heard the person at the other end sigh.

"I'll get Zeus," he slurred, bored? I think. A long silence followed before I heard Zeus' voice.

"Julian is that you?" Zeus asked. His voice was bright and enthusiastic and funny enough had a light hint of a French accent.

"Yes..." I managed to slur. I'd totally forgotten all I'd planned to say. Why was I oddly feeling down?

"God I've wanted to talk to you for so long. I forgot to tell you I was heading to France for business," he said.

"I noticed," I kind of snapped. Whoever that picked up the phone did not sound like business. Zeus sighed, probably catching my tone.

"Look I'll be back this Friday, why don't we meet up on Sunday?" Zeus proposed.

"Um, sure." I blushed, surprised he still wanted to spend time with me.

"Sure. Julian, I got you a present," Zeus stated. I felt a blush creeping into my cheeks. A present; So, he did think about me even if it wasn't in that way. Would I be happy if he did?

"Oh..." I simply replied because there was practically nothing left to say.

"Err. Okay then, goodbye," Zeus said as he was about to drop the phone.

"Wait!" I screamed into the phone. An Awkward silence followed right after.

"Who—who picked up the phone?" I asked. I was simply curious. It's not as if I was jealous or anything.

"Oh, that was Louis," Zeus answered casually.

"Louis?" I asked, surprised. Zeus had given me the impression Louis was nice.

"Trust me he's darling when he's had his cookie," Zeus teased. I could almost see his green eyes twinkling with humour. Zeus. I thought and closed my eyes.

"Oh did I leave my jacket with you?" I heard Zeus ask and my eyes flew open. A blush ran through my chicks. Why was I thinking of that here?

"Err. yes," I said into the silence of the phone.

"I'll wash it," I added quickly. My face reddened with guilt. He couldn't have guessed, could he?

"You don't have to..." Zeus trailed.

"I want to. I—I used it—sort of," I confessed. Okay, half confessed. It's not as if I could say, "Oh Zeus, I've wanted to jerk off using your jacket, but I just settled with perving over it instead." Yeah, as if that could happen. I thought, rolling my eyes.

"Oh. Okay," Zeus replied.

"So, see you then?" I asked. I heard a faint 'sure' before ending the call.

I blushed again at the thought of the jacket. If only Zeus knew what his jacket had been through.