An American in Worcester

'Remind me again as to why you dragged me here?' Aaron growled lightly into John's ear as he fought the cold of night leaching his warmth from his face.

John only laughed, 'I am surprised you are cold seeing how many layers you are wearing.'

Aaron chuckled sarcastically as he pointed out his clothes: a shirt and a jacket, 'It's hardly like I have my furs on.'

He scowled as John burst into laughter especially as Elise turned to them, 'You have furs?!'

Elise, who was fiercely against animal cruelty, was about to lecture him when he remembered he didn't actually own anything like that, 'What? No! It's a saying.'

She closed her mouth but still scowled, 'How many animals would find your saying humourous?' John still laughed and was treated to a punch on his shoulder.

Thankfully, the queue moved and allowed Aaron to get inside and pay for his entry. After he left the bored cashier he was hit by the collective heat of dozens, if not hundreds, of people dancing. Without a second thought he went straight to the cloak room and handed his jacket over to the attendant before returning to John.

'Bloody warm!' he said trying to raise his voice over the music.

'What?'

'I said, bloody warm!' the second try seemed to work as John reached for the neck of his shirt.

'Perhaps this will help?' he said as he undid Aaron's second button.

Whether it did or not, Aaron no longer cared. John's hand being so close to his neck sent a slight shiver down his spine. All he could do was try and ignore his suddenly over active imagination and order a drink, yes, order a drink. That became his sole focus now. Not John. In no way was John part of his focus...

'....you having?'

'Sorry?' he shouted and lowered himself a little to allow John to speak into his ear.

'I said, what are you having?'

'Whatever you are having,' he blurted and immediately cursed himself. But John merely nodded and ordered two bottles of a blue drink that looked nothing like he had seen in his life. The colour almost defied physics.

Soon, the whole group had gotten their drinks and they gravitated towards the dance floor and settled by the booths nearby. From there they were treated to the mass of young people that seemed to be dangerously approaching the line that separated dancing and an orgy.

Already, Jen and Alex had joined them and were soon dancing in a way that looked too much like Alex attempting to grind Jen to dust. It was when John offered they should all dance he refused. Smiling politely, he mimed a no. John almost pleaded with a beckoning hand gesture but Aaron stayed firm. 'I'll guard the drinks,' he said, making sure his words could be lip read. John then smiled and gave a thumbs up before starting to dance, his back turned.

By himself Aaron was left to his thoughts and his bottle of blueness. What was wrong with him? Sure, he knew he was gay. Several men he had slept with would testify to that but none had the power John was starting to have over him. The simple unbuttoning of his shirt was more than enough to put him on edge. Was he falling for his housemate? Was it right to fall for your housemate? They still had a year left to go. What if it went to pieces and they never talked again?

He just couldn't stop looking at him though. He followed John's every movement, as much as dancing in a small space would allow. Every time John fleetingly caught his eye he felt a jolt in his gut. Surely that was sign enough?

He decided to act on it and stood up then went straight to the bar and ordered another drink. He drank it and watched John from there and noticed the man suddenly realised Aaron was not at the table. Whether it was because his drink was under threat or something more romantic Aaron didn't care to find out. He downed his drink and made for the exit. He couldn't fall for his housemate. A friendship and peacefully living together was at stake.

He grabbed his jacket from the cloak room and made for the door. It was then he felt a hand on his shoulder.