Buzz Bedazzled Read online

  Franz looked up at me, “But surely there’s a whole lot of happiness that can be had between the teens and turning into the inevitable grumpy old bastards?” he said, flashing me a grin and stroking my arm.

  I grinned back at him, “Yeah,” I agreed fondly, “course there is.” I agreed, “what would you describe yourself as?”

  He grinned and shrugged, “I’m a struggling artist – therefore I probably come within the angry young man category.

  I rolled my eyes, “fuck,” I said, “I’m five years older than you – does that make me a grumpy old bastard already?”

  He grinned and shrugged, “I’m saying nothing but I can assure you that I haven’t noticed, even if you are.”

  I chuckled.

  Franz turned away from the bar with another couple of drinks for us. Handing mine to me, his eyes darted around the room, “Everyone’s loosening up.” He murmured.

  I looked around. River and Jodie were positively devouring each other on the sofa, Harley and Alfie were slow dancing in each other’s arms and Seth and Siobhan were doing the same.

  Joel, I noticed, was stood at the side of the dance floor. His eyes never left Seth and Siobhan.

  “Someone’s got it bad.” Franz murmured.

  I followed his gaze and found Joel staring across the room at Seth, “Yeah.” I agreed, “He’s totally barking up the wrong tree, there.”

  Franz raised an eyebrow, “You think?” he asked in surprise, “I’m not so sure. I think he and Seth could be perfect together if Seth wasn’t so damned convinced that he was straight.”

  I chuckled, “You’re such an old romantic.”

  “Wanna dance with me?” he asked.

  I nodded, “I would love to dance with you.” I said, taking his offered hand and allowing him to lead me to the dance floor.

  Chapter 31 – Perfection...

  Franz

  Harley and Alfie’s wedding was quite the most perfect wedding I’d ever been to – and that might have been because it was between two people who I was beginning to consider as friends, or maybe it was just that I’d been a kid when I last went to one and I was bored shitless...

  Anyway. It had got me thinking of my own wedding to Buzz and there was no doubt in my mind that I would be marrying him one day – he was definitely my forever guy...

  Would he go for marrying me, though? He still struggled with feeling too old for me – that comment about being a grumpy old man showed me that.

  I didn’t care if he was five years older than me – it made no difference to me whatsoever.

  We arrived back home and I headed straight to the bedroom to get my suit off. It was nice wearing a suit and looking hot but it was even nicer getting it off again and having Buzz looking at me in my boxer shorts as if I was the hottest guy on the planet. “I’m sweaty.” I complained as Buzz cuddled up behind me.

  “I don’t care,” he murmured against my ear, “I like the taste of you, no matter if you’ve been working all day, or if you’ve just got out of the shower.”

  I wrinkled my nose and turned to him, “Well, I’d rather be clean.” I said primly, “I don’t like the idea of you licking sweat off me.”

  He grinned, “I like licking sweat off you – and other stuff...”

  I smacked him in the chest, “Rude boy!” I scolded.

  He just chuckled, “Fine, fine.” He said, “Let’s get a shower, then.”

  I raised an eyebrow, “Now you’re talking.” I said, grabbing his hand and dragging him towards the bathroom.

  I slipped my boxer shorts off and turned towards Buzz, “Let’s get you out of those clothes.” I murmured.

  He smiled, “I thought you’d never ask,” he murmured as he pulled me to him and kissed me hungrily.

  Having been on my best behaviour all day in the company of so many people, I’d felt a little starved of his affection. I groaned as I melted into the kiss.

  He pulled away from me slightly and stroked my face with his fingertips, “You are the most beautiful thing in my life.” He murmured, “Now let’s get a quick shower – and then I’m going to make love to you all night long.”

  I grinned, “You have the best ideas.” I said.

  Chapter 32 – Terror....

  Buzz

  I could hardly get my arse out of bed the next morning. What a long day – and then a very energetic night... I was knackered – and my arse was kind of tender too...

  Franz had gotten up quite early and I could hear him pottering around in the kitchen. Bless him. He’d started making breakfast in the mornings and he was getting really good at bacon and eggs. My stomach rumbled.

  I eased myself out of bed and grabbed a pair of pyjama bottoms off the floor. Sliding myself into them I wandered through the flat to the kitchen.

  Franz looked up at me and smiled seductively, “Good morning.” He said, “How did you sleep?”

  I smiled back at him, “Really well,” I said, letting out a massive yawn, “Just not for long enough.”

  He chuckled, “Yeah, I know what you mean – we’ll have to go back to bed for a few hours once we’ve eaten.”

  I sneaked up behind him and wrapped him in a bear hug, “Now you’re speaking my language.” I murmured in his ear before licking the back of his neck and making him shiver.

  He chuckled, “You’re insatiable.” He turned and slid his arms up my chest and locked his fingers together behind my head.

  I nodded, bending my head down and rubbing my nose against his, “I love you.” I whispered, “So much.”

  He melted against me, “I love you too, Barney.” He whispered back, “For always.”

  We had a perfectly lazy morning but then it was time for Franz to go to a class. He only had the one this afternoon and he was going to meet me at the club later on. I dropped him off and then headed for the bar.

  “See you later,” Franz blew me a kiss so I didn’t have to take my helmet off.

  I smiled and nodded, “Laters.” I called and then turned my bike around and roared off.

  I got to the club a few minutes later and helped Seth get the bar set up. It had been fabulous going to the wedding the day before – and the party had continued into the wee hours – long after Harley and Alfie had left for their honeymoon – but it was time for the clean up operation and all hands were on deck to prepare the club for the evening ahead.

  “Want me to grab the vac? Or shall I collect glasses – or is it bin bags at dawn?” I joked.

  Seth chuckled, “Grab a crate for the bottles and then a bin bag for general crap and everything that goes to the recycling centre needs to be put in the green sacks.”

  I nodded and got busy. Within a couple of hours the place looked ship-shape and we were all sat around the bar, eating sandwiches that River had made and having a well-earned coffee.

  I was just chatting to Seth when Thai stood up quickly, his face an expression of pure horror.

  “What?” I asked, following his gaze to the TV on the wall.

  It was a ‘breaking news’ report on the BBC news channel – Seth liked keeping up to date with current affairs during the day. I frowned as I tried to understand what was going on since it was on silent with sub-titles and they just seemed to dance around on the screen without making any sense whatsoever to me.

  “Oh, my God!” Thai exclaimed, jumping up and sending his bar stool screeching back across the floor. “That’s the fucking uni!”

  I frowned and blinked. I could see plenty of smoke, fire fighters, ambulances and loads of student being ferried from the burning building to the waiting ambulances. Fuck! Franz could be one of them!

  I scrambled to my feet, “I’ve gotta go.” I said.

  Thai grabbed my arm, “I’ll come with you.” He said in a low voice.

  I nodded. He was probably worried about Quentin too.

  I went to grab my bike helmet but Thai shook his head, “No,” he said, “We’ll go in my Jeep – the roads have been icy – we don’t want anyone else getting hurt.”

  “You’re worried about Quentin.” I said as we left quickly and made our way across the car park to his Jeep.

  He nodded, “Yes.” He answered.

  “You can tell me to fuck off and mind my own business...”

  “Fuck off and mind your own business,” Thai said, but then he grinned, his perfectly white teeth standing out against his tanned skin, reminding me how utterly stunning he was.

  I smiled, “I just don’t want you getting hurt – it sounds like a bit of a strange set-up that Quentin’s got at home.”

  Thai nodded, “I know all about Arthur. I’m not trying to compete for his affections or anything, I just... I like him, okay – he’s a really lovely guy and....”

  “And you’re in love with him.” I finished his sentence for him.

  We were getting close to the uni campus, and like us, plenty of other concerned relatives were turning up in their droves. We were stuck.

  Thai thumped the steering wheel, “Fuck!” he exclaimed. “Let’s just go straight to the hospital.”

  I looked at him, “But we don’t even know if they’re in there, yet.”

  Thai grimaced, “I have a terrible feeling.” He muttered, “And I’m usually right about terrible feelings.”

  I blinked, “Are you serious?” He couldn’t actually believe in ESP could he?

  “Deadly serious,” he growled. He did a turn in the road and the Jeep shot off back down the other side towards the city centre – and therefore, the hospital...

  *

  He parked up and we both half-walked, half-ran to the reception desk.

  Thai leaned on the desk, panting for breath, “Excuse me,” he said, “I’m here looking for my boyfriend. I believe he was brought in about half an ho
ur ago with burns and possible smoke inhalation.”

  How the fuck did he know this? And what was all this ‘boyfriend’ business? He’d just said they were only friends...

  The woman on the desk nodded, “His name?”

  “Quentin Peel,” he said urgently, “I have to see him.”

  She looked down the list of names of admissions, her finger stopped and she looked up at Thai, “He’s being seen by a doctor at the moment.” She said, “Nothing too serious, I don’t think – he has some minor burns and you’re right – he did have mild smoke inhalation irritation and so he’s being kept in overnight for observation. He’ll be on the ward in about an hour – you’re welcome to stay.”

  Thai nodded. “Uh, my friend here – he has someone special that may have been brought in too.”

  She looked up at me, “Um, Franz Krämer.” I said in a bit of a daze, my voice was going all shaky at the thought of him being hurt in any way.

  She nodded, “I’ve seen that name,” she murmured, going down her list of names again, “Ah, yes,” she looked up at me, “He’s in a bit of a worse condition, I’m afraid. He’s currently in intensive care. He suffered quite bad smoke inhalation. No serious burns though.”

  My heart almost stopped, and I had to lean on the counter to stop my knees from giving way. He couldn’t be seriously hurt, he just couldn’t be... What the hell would I do without him? “Is he going to be okay?” I asked. The idea of facing life without him in it was unbearable.

  She smiled, “I’m not a doctor,” she said, “But he’s in the best place and he’s being constantly monitored. Try not to worry.”

  How the hell was I supposed to do that? I felt in my pocket for the small box that held our future... It was Valentines day in a few weeks and I’d planned on asking him to marry me. It was far too soon, and he’d probably say no but I couldn’t think of anyone I would rather spend my life with and I wanted the rest of my life to start right now. It wasn’t there. Of course it wasn’t. I’d left the damned thing on the side in the kitchen at Studs. Suddenly the idea of waiting until Valentines Day was just stupid. I wanted to ask him right now. The rest of lives had to start right now...

  I went to sit with Thai until he was called away by a nurse, telling him that Quentin was out of danger and able to receive visitors.

  I was terrified sitting there alone. I’d sent a text to Seth – whether he was able to decipher what I’d put was another matter entirely, and I’d called Franz’s dad too. He was going to come as soon as he could – and his two brothers were insistent that they come along too – so that was something to look forward to... not.

  As it turned out, Seth must have been able to read what I’d put, because the next morning, after I’d slept in the chair next to Franz’s bed, four faces smiled at me from the door. My three best friends and my brother...

  “Hey guys.” I croaked, “So you could read my message, then?”

  Seth chuckled, “We needed Simon to work out what you were saying – but yeah, we got the general gist.”

  I grinned, “I love you guys.”

  Simon sat down next to Seth and River and Jodie squeezed in beside me, “How’s our boy doing?” Jodie asked kindly.

  I nodded, “He’s okay. They’ve put him in an induced coma.”

  River’s head snapped around on his neck, “Why?” he asked.

  I swallowed. This was actually pretty serious stuff. I’d watched that episode of Grey’s Anatomy when the doctor didn’t check the woman’s throat and I’d panicked all fucking night... “Just as a precaution due to his smoke inhalation. They’ll be waking him up later on today.”

  River nodded. He still didn’t look exactly happy.

  I frowned, “What’s up, mate?” I asked.

  He swallowed, “I feel like I’ve never been nice to him,” he said, looking down at him and looking as if he was about to burst into tears.

  “He’s not going to die, River.” Jodie whispered to him, squeezing his hand, “it’s all just precautionary – you can say you’re sorry to him for being a dick later on when he wakes up.”

  River nodded, white-faced, “I know, but it’s just... I feel so guilty – for not even trying to be a better friend to him.”

  Jodie kissed his cheek, “You’ll have plenty of time to make up for that when he wakes up.” He reassured him.

  I swallowed. “Guys,” I grinned around sheepishly at my assembled group of friends, “I bought him an engagement ring.”

  River’s jaw dropped, “You’re getting married?”

  I nodded, “It feels like the right thing to do.”

  Jodie beamed at me, “Oh, my God,” he said, flapping his hands in front of his face, “This is so exciting! Another wedding to go to!”

  I grinned. Turning to Simon, I faltered slightly. I wasn’t all that sure if he actually liked Franz. He’d never said he didn’t but you know when you get a feeling sometimes? Simon was chewing his lower lip. Something he’d done since he was small when he was worried about something. “What’s up?” I asked him.

  He shrugged, “I just think you need to know for certain what his relationship is with that Quentin guy.”

  I rolled my eyes. Oh, my God. First River and now Simon? “They’re friends.” I said, “Just like we’re friends with River and Jodie and Seth. He’s not having a relationship with him – and he never has had either.”

  Simon raised his eyebrows, “You’ve actually talked about this, then?”

  I nodded, “Yes,” I said, catching River’s eye and grinning at him as he blushed, “We have. I know there’s nothing going on.”

  He nodded, brightening visibly, “Okay, well, that’s cool then.” He got up, “I’ve got to go – I said I’d do a couple of hours at Leon’s.”

  Leon was one of our cousins. He had a pub that was quite close to the university and it got quite busy at the weekends. Simon didn’t dance at the weekends so he was free to go wherever he wanted to go.

  I nodded, “Okay – I’ll call you as soon as Franz wakes up to let you know he’s okay – and I guess I’ll uh, see you next week then.”

  He nodded, “Yeah, why don’t you walk with me?” he glanced to Franz, “He’s not going to wake up by himself, is he?”

  I shook my head. I knew he wasn’t in any danger now. They’d just put him in the induced coma as a precaution. They were going to start waking him up later on today or tomorrow and Simon looked like he wanted to talk. “I’ll come with you now.” I said.

  We walked down the corridor together, “So Dad’s doing okay, now then huh?”

  Simon nodded, “He’s fine.” He said shortly.

  I frowned, “everything alright at home, bro’?”

  He sighed and bit his lip. Finally he nodded, “Yeah, it’s all cool.”

  I frowned. I wasn’t exactly convinced at that, “They’re not giving you a hard time for being gay, too, are they?”

  He laughed, “Uh, no,” he said firmly, “No, they’re not.”

  Well that was something at least. “Well, that’s cool – maybe you should think about moving out again – get your own place, you know?”

  He nodded, “Yeah, I think it’s time – it’s just too awkward being back there after I’ve lived away.”

  I could just imagine. I smiled at him, “I didn’t want to tell you in front of all the others – but Quentin is absolutely nothing for me to worry about – I talked to Franz about him. He’s got a bit of a strange set up at home – he lives with this older guy.”

  Simon frowned at me, “How much older?”

  I shrugged. It wasn’t my place to start gossiping about the guy when I didn’t even really know him, “I haven’t got the foggiest, mate.” I lied, “but he knows Thai too...” That bugged me. There was definitely something going on between the two of them or Thai wouldn’t have asked after him as his boyfriend – but how could he be his boyfriend when he lived with Arthur? Thai was keeping very tight-lipped about the whole thing.

  I wondered if Franz knew any more. He hadn’t said anything – but to be fair, it really wasn’t an awful lot to do with me – it wasn’t like I knew Quentin very well. I made a mental note to ask him when he woke up though – but not until I’d told him I loved him more than anything in the world and had asked him to marry me...