AJ wrapped his arm around Brian’s shoulder, only stumbling slightly as they hit the cool evening air. Brian chuckled at him, despite his own weaving. “Man, it was getting hot in there.” AJ said, pushing his bangs off of his face. Playfully, Brian pushed at him. “So get off me, then!” he said, giggling. Never able to resist Brian’s smile, AJ just grinned like a loon.
They’d been having a hell of a time in there, partying away. One of the things that AJ loved about hanging out with Brian was that there were no expectations. You didn’t have to constantly watch what you said, and you weren’t really required to say anything if you didn’t want to. If you just wanted to sit with someone, Brian would sit with you. If you wanted to sulk, or rage, he let you do that too. Tonight, AJ had wanted to party. Not get drunk, or, at least, not falling down, throwing up drunk. But the nice little buzz they had going, that was good. So, when he decided to go out, he’d snagged Brian, and his friend had jumped all over the opportunity.
The two had spent the evening dancing and laughing and having an all-around good time. Brian had beat AJ twice at pool, but AJ had kicked ass at darts, and was damn proud of himself.
The hotel was just down the block, so they had walked to the bar, and were now walking back. AJ took a deep breath of the cold winter air, feeling it start to sober him slightly. “Thanks for coming out with me, Rok.” He said, squeezing his friends shoulders.
Cheeks flushed from the drinks and the cold, Brian looked adorable when he grinned at AJ. “Anytime, bro.”
If there was one thing that could put a damper on AJ’s good mood, that one word could do it. Bro. Augh. He hid the grimace that automatically came out in response to that. God, he hated when Brian called him that. He didn’t want to be his ‘bro’. AJ wanted to be so much more than that. But, like he ever had a chance in hell of that happening. Brian thought of him as one of his brothers. No matter how many times AJ had flirted with him, Brian had never seemed phased by it. He’d laughed a few times. Imagine that! Laughed!
AJ realized they were at the hotel just second before Brian walked them through the door. They waved at the lady at the front desk before heading over to the elevator. Brian stepped away from AJ to press the up button, and AJ sighed. At least, for a moment, he’d been able to hold him close.
“Did you see that girl who was over by the DJ’s table?” Brian asked, leaning in to bump shoulders with AJ. The doors opened, and the two stepped into the elevator. AJ snorted as he pressed the button for their floor. “How could I miss her? That shirt she had on barely covered her nipples and her ass hung out of her skirt.”
“I bet you could of got her to come home with you, J.” Brian teased. The doors slid shut, and the two men leaned against the walls.
“Gah, that’s disgusting!” AJ said, shuddering. “You like her that much, you should have brought her back.”
Brian’s eyes were twinkling. Just as he was about to respond, the elevator gave a shudder around them and ground to a halt right as the lights shut off. Silence surrounded them, seeming thick in the darkness. There was no sound inside the elevator, or outside of their doors either. Jesus. AJ reached into his pocket, pulling his cell phone out and opening it for light. Over against the other wall, Brian stood with eyes wide, staring at him.
AJ moved to the elevator control panel, looking until he found the emergency call button. He pressed it, waited, pressed it again. Nothing. Shit. Shit! “The power must have gone out.” He said.
“Shit!” Brian moaned, running a hand through his hair. He pulled his own cell out, checked the service, and cursed again. “No reception in here. You?”
“None.” AJ answered. His hands were shaking slightly on the phone, making the light dance. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. Fuck, fuck, fuck! This was bull shit! “How long do you think it’ll take them to realize we’re in here?” he asked. There was a small note of panic to AJ’s voice that didn’t go unnoticed by Brian. “I don’t know, J. They know we went out to the bar. We did leave a little early, though. It could be morning before they’d notice we weren’t there.”
“Morning?”
Brian glanced over quickly when AJ said that. His voice had carried a shrill note to it that had worried Brian. “The power will probably come on before then, J. Don’t worry.”
Oh sweet Jesus. They could be stuck in there until morning? AJ’s knees started to shake. He didn’t think he could stay in there that long without going insane. God, oh God. As lost in his panic as he was, he didn’t notice Brian coming close until a warm hand touched his arm. “J?”
It took everything AJ had to stifle the shout that jumped into his throat. Calm down! God, don’t act like an idiot, not in front of him. Not with Brian! He licked his lips, trying to get moisture worked back into his mouth. “Uh, yeah, Bri?”
“Come sit with me.”
Brian pulled him to the rear wall, and they put their backs against it, sliding down to the ground. Somewhere along the way Brian had taken hold of AJ’s hand and he continued to hold it as they sat there. Brian set his cell phone light to stay on and laid it on the ground in front of them. “There, close yours up J. This’ll give us enough light.”
He did as Brian said, closing his phone and putting it in his pocket. He started to jiggle his foot. God, God, let the power come back on. Brian squeezed their joined hands, pulling AJ’s attention back to him. “Which is it?” Brian asked suddenly. There was no need for him to clarify. AJ knew what he was talking about. He flushed, embarrassed. “Small spaces.” He admitted.
“Mm. My dad’s the same way. He absolutely panics. Went to have an MRI done one time, bout had a heart attack. They had to reschedule it, and give him a Valium the next time so he wouldn’t flip out.” He turned, giving AJ a big smile. “I think I’m immune to that. After having so many tests because of my heart, well, none of those machines really leave a lot of room for you.”
AJ gave a slight shudder. “I can’t stand all those stupid things. Thank God I don’t have to do it. I can handle things like this, the elevator, when it’s just a quick trip. But, who knows how long we’re gonna be stuck here. That’s what’s getting me, the not knowing.”
“Well, we need to distract you then.” Brian said matter-of-factly. “How about a game”
“What kind of game are we gonna play in the dark in an elevator, Brian?”
“Um. Well, we could play truth or dare.”
A chuckle slid up, tickling AJ’s throat. “Truth or dare? Oh my God, I haven’t played that in years!”
“We used to play all the time, back when we first started touring.” Brian reminded him, bumping their shoulders again. “You guys used to make Nick do the weirdest shit.” A corner of AJ’s mouth quirked. “We did. He’s got us back plenty since then, though.”
“Aint that the truth. So, you wanna?”
For a second AJ sat there, thinking about it. He had to be careful with this. If Brian asked an innocent question, the answer might not be something he would like. Or something that AJ would feel comfortable saying. But, he had to do something, or he was going to go insane. He could play. He could keep his secret from Brian. There was no reason he had to admit that he liked him. He’d just be super careful on how he worded things when asked. Or he’d just not take truths at all.
“Sure, why the hell not.” He said, grinning.