Chapter 7

My heart pounds against my chest i feel sick. "G...Gaz's? Why...why do you say that?" I try and laugh it off the best i can hiding my nerves.
"Because i saw him leave in it this morning... has he been round here?" Howard walks over to me i feel like a rabbit in head lights any second i'm going to get hit. "Rob? Why are you sweating? Are you sure you're ok?" He places a hand onto my shoulder frightening the life out of me.
"AH!" I jump a couple of inches backwards gripping tightly to the sugar pot. Howard's eyes widen with worry, as he continues to study my face. "S...s..sorry... i...erm.."
"Has something happened between you and Gary? Please don't tell me you've had a fight?" Thinking quickly i hatch up a plan right now this can't come out not even to our closest friends.

"N..no...nothing like that... honest... me and Gary.. we... we are better than ever."
"But... this is Gary's shirt... right?" He holds up the scrunched slightly damp shirt of Gary's in my view.
Softly i nod. "Y...yes... we...erm... shared a curry... and he dropped it down him...so i washed it..." My eyes continue to stare at the mugs i dare not give him eye contact seeing whether he believes my lie or not.
"So where is he now? Roaming the streets naked?" Howard laughs nudging my into the ribs a little whilst placing the shirt on the back of the sofa. Quietly i breathe a sigh of relief. Thank you God.

"No... he's borrowed one of mine... he went back to his place to get dressed... you know what mate i'm going to be another couple of hours, so you might as well take the lift yourself and i'll meet you all down there?" I give him a friendly smile wiping the sweat from my brow with my thumb. "Do you want your coffee still? I've got some of those plastic takeaway cups if you want to take it with you?"
"Sure... that'll be great thanks. Rob... you know if you ever need someone to talk to..." He pats my shoulder whilst i pour the coffee into the empty starbucks cup.
"Thanks man... i'll bare that in mind." I hand him the cup walking to the direction of the door. We both give one another a friendly hug before he finally leaves. Quickly i lock the front door jogging back to my bedroom. "Gaz...Gary...he's gone..." I whisper peering my head around the door searching for Gary through the darkness. After a few minutes i notice movement under my bed and out slides Gary wrapped in a blanket.
"Finally!" He mutters in an annoyed tone shuffling on his bare knees. "What took you so long?"
"I didn't want to be rude and throw him out...sorry." Sadly i pout wrapping my arms around his naked waist. Gary bows his head a little gently pushing my arms away. "Erh...are you ok?"

"Y...Yeah..." Using the palm of his hand he strokes his forehead a little looking agitated. Taking a few steps closer to him again i nuzzle my face into his slightly wet messy hair planting a couple of kisses onto his forehead. "D...don't...please..." Again Gary pushes me away.
"What's wrong?" I ask feeling confused over his new reaction to me. "Have i done something wrong?" Slowly Gary lifts his head giving me eye contact the brightness in his eyes seem to have faded into a much more dull coloured green.
"S...Sorry." Before i get chance to say anything else he quickly slides past me locking himself into the bathroom. What has gotten into him?!

"Gaz?" Within seconds he comes stumbling out of the bathroom fastening his shirt up the wrong way gripping to the locked door handle. "GAZ!"
"P...please... just open the door..." He doesn't even bother turning around which annoys me even more. "I've got to go."
"What's happened?! Why the sudden rush?"
Quietly he sighs running his hand through his fluffy hair. "I...I can't...do this..."
"Gary...i've told you already... i'm not after that. What can i do to make you believe me?!"
"No...no i don't...mean that... i mean... i mean us Rob... i'm sorry... i guess i was just rebounding off my recent relationship...i just missed the attention and you gave it to me... after almost getting caught it brought me back to reality... i'm sorry." After hearing his words my whole body freezes. He used me. He actually used me wanting attention. Never in my life has someone said that to me... and never in my life has someone just crushed my heart like that.

"So you regret it all? You just fucking used me? I can't believe you... i was actually happy for the first time in years!"
"Mate...listen... if you're gay i'm completely fine with it... it's just that... i'm not... i'm not gay."
"You could of fooled me." I mutter angrily under my breath. "I even started cleaning up this place hoping you'll come round and visit me more... i've lived in this dump for 6 months and since you came round i've been tidying here and there.." Gary's mouth drops a little hearing the word '6 months'. "Yeah, that's right i lied. Just to cover up the fact that i'm a sad middle aged man feeding off the happiness you've been given me, and now you've taken it all back! Do you know what just go... you're just as bad as everyone else!" Trying to hold the tears back i put the key into the lock opening the front door.
"R...Rob...wait... please...lets talk." Gary looks at me with  guilt spreading across his face. It feels like my heart has just sunk after what he just said to me.
"I thought you was better than this Gary Barlow! Just get out!" Pushing him out the door i quickly lock it again as i slowly slide down the door allowing my face to drop into my hands.