Fanfic: Stolen
Written For: Kradam_Holidays
Title: Stolen
Word Count: 7,000-ish
Pairing/Type: Kris Allen/Adam Lambert; AU
Rated: PG-15
Notes: Inspired by the song and video “Stolen” from Dashboard Confessional (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j82FBbgpUy4)
Thank you to: My betas anobakitay and diane_mckay for the read-throughs, edits and notes. Any other mistakes are mine, and mine alone.
Disclaimer: This is not true. This did not happen.
**
September 1995
We watch the season pull up its own stage
And catch the last weekend of the last week
Adam hated the beach. The sun. The crowds. The sun. He sat uncomfortably under the giant beach umbrella his mom had set up. He was sticky with sunscreen, and the sun was too bright. Of course it had to be a perfectly, sunny, gorgeous Saturday in San Diego. And he was the only one in a foul mood.
His mom and dad decided to have one last day at the beach before his aunt, uncle and cousins returned to the East Coast tomorrow. They had thought it’d be a great idea to come to Hotel del Coronado to spend the day together. His mom made arrangements with one of the hotel restaurants for a picnic lunch. Then they would change and have dinner at sunset on the patio of the hotel.
It was supposed to be perfect. For everyone else, it was.
Adam was miserable. Out with his family like a dork. He shouldn’t be out here with his family at 15. He should be hanging with friends at the mall or something. But, instead, he had a giant hat flopped over his face, covering as much as possible. His t-shirt and swim trunks doing nothing to hide his giant body or prevent the freckles he just knew were multiplying on him with each passing minute. He leaned over to dig around the big beach bag his mom carried to dig for more sunscreen.
“Adam, can you go find Neil and Jason?” his mom called out from the blanket next to his. Her voice carried over the sound of the waves and the other people on the beach.
He sighed, “Yeah.” He looked out from under the umbrella shade. “Which way did they go?”
He saw his mom pointing down towards the water, “Down that way. I need to put more sunscreen on him. And probably Jason too. I’d go down myself, but I need to watch over Christina here while your aunt and uncle are walking around. I think dad went to the hotel to check on our room and dinner.”
He crawled from under the umbrella and squinted. It was definitely too bright and too sunny. He debated whether he wanted to tell his mom that he’d rather watch over his baby cousin, and she could go find the boys. He was 15, that was old enough to watch over a baby, right? He could do the babysitting thing. But, then again, he wouldn’t know what to do if Christina started to cry or wriggled out of his grasp. No, it was better to go find Neil and yell at him. He grumbled softly, “I hope he gets bitten by a jellyfish.”
**
Kris tried to be patient as his mother applied another layer of sunscreen on him.
“Mama,” he whined. “I already have a ton of this stuff on. Can’t I just go down to the water?”
“Hush, Kris,” she reprimanded. “The sun by the water is stronger, so I just want to make sure you don’t get burned. Plus, when you go into the water, some of it will come off anyway.”
Kris sighed as his mother turned him around to get his back. He tilted his head as he watched an older boy come out from under some serious shade and squint painfully into the light. He was wearing a white t-shirt and turquoise swim trunks and had on a giant tan floppy hat. Even his feet were covered in what looked like socks.
“Why is he all covered up like that mama?” he asked.
Kim Allen slowed her hands down to peer over Kris’s shoulder. She watched with Kris as a surly teenager stood in front of a giant beach umbrella and slumped his shoulders. He looked pained as he stood in the sun. She saw the freckles on his forearms and smiled.
“He’s just protecting his skin, baby,” she replied. “He’s got lighter skin and some freckles, so he’ll get a sunburn faster. See how smart he is?”
“But he doesn’t look like he’s happy.”
“Oh, I think he thinks he’s too old to play in the water,” Kim chuckled. She eyed the teenage as she continued to rub lotion into Kris’s back. He was slowly making his way down to the water. “I also think he doesn’t enjoy the beach as much. I’m sure when you’re older you won’t want to be at the beach with your family.”
“You think I’ll be like that when I’m his age?”
She pressed a light kiss onto Kris’s shoulder, “I think you’ll love to play no matter how old you are sweetie. Go on now,” she said giving him a final pat on his butt. “Go play and have fun. Keep an eye out for Daniel, okay?”
Kris took off like a rocket as he shouted, “Okay mama!”
**
Before the gold and the glimmer have been replaced
Another sun soaked season fade away
Adam grumbled and tried to keep his hand up to shield his eyes from the afternoon sun. The hat wasn’t doing much to keep the sun off his face. He looked down at the water, trying to locate two dark-haired boys.
He thought he spied them just down the way from their spot. He inhaled deeply. He just needed to walk a few a few feet towards the water, close enough for him to yell at them to come up and then back under the tent. He could do this.
Adam realized he wasn’t exactly walking straight down to the water when he thought he heard his mom and turned around. Their beach umbrella was way off to the left instead of right behind him.
Next thing he knew, Adam was on his ass, feet splayed up in the air like a turtle flipped upside down. The chilly water of the Pacific soaking his clothes, sand sticking to his exposed back and stomach, and another body tangled up in his arms.
Adam felt searing heat where flesh met flesh, causing goose bumps in stark contrast to the icy waves stroking him. He scrambled to get up, trying to dislodge the extra limbs that were sticking to him. He wasn’t having any success.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so…” the boy was saying.
Adam stopped struggling and laid there, his back cold, the rest of his body still sopping wet. He picked at the stray seaweed that attached themselves like tentacles to his arms and legs. “Oh this just sucks…”
Adam looked at the boy who ran into him. Their eyes met and Adam could feel his body heat up, but didn’t know why. The boy was scrawny, wiry, cute in that annoying kid kind of way…
His thoughts were interrupted by a woman who started to fuss over him. “Oh my goodness, honey, are you okay? Are you hurt? I’m so sorry about that.”
He tried to get up and push the woman away, but she was stronger than she appeared. Then he finally heard his mom’s voice through the din.
“Adam honey, are you okay?”
He turned to see his mom with Christina wiggling in her arms. The two women started pulling him up away from the waves. As he was being dragged up the shore, he looked around for the boy who ran into him. No one was helping him.
“The boy…that kid who ran into me…” Adam said, jerking his arms back.
The boy was apologizing again, “I…I’m sorry I ran into you like that,” he said softly. He stared at Adam. Bright amber eyes bored through him in a weird way. He felt his body jump from the inside out.
“It’s okay,” Adam said. He continued to stare at Kris as Adam’s mom tried to dry him off. The boy finally turned away as his own mother toweled him down.
Adam’s mom was trying to put a towel over him while keeping Christina close by. “Don’t worry about it,” she was saying. “The boys look like they’re fine. You’re fine, aren’t you Adam?” She didn’t wait for his reply, instead turned to Kim and Kris. “I’m Leila, by the way. This is my son Adam,” Leila continued.
“I’m Kim. This is Kris,” Kim replied smiling.
“Nice to meet you. Sorry about the circumstances of the meeting, but what can you do,” Leila said smiling.
As the women chatted, Kris and Adam continued to just stare at each other.
**
Kris’s feet sprayed sand behind him as he ran down towards the water. He shouted, “Okay mama!” and turned to wave at her. He wondered what she was saying to him and why her hands were flailing around her when BOOM! He knocked into somebody and they both tumbled down into the sand and water. Limbs were tangled together more as they fought to unravel themselves from each other.
Kris pulled his hand back and turned to face the person he ran into so blindly.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so…” he was saying. He stopped when he realized it was the boy he was staring at earlier.
Adam looked down at himself. He was wet and his clothes were sticking to his skin. He picked at the odd seaweed attached to his sleeves and legs. “Oh this just sucks…” Adam turned to say.
Their eyes met and Kris felt himself blush. Blush like he had never blushed before or doubt he would ever again. The boy who he was staring at earlier was staring back at him. Kris didn’t know what to say, just knew he needed to make things okay. He shouldn’t have run into him like that.
Kris turned away as his mom started to fuss over the boy. He looked nervous and tried to push her away.
“Adam honey, are you okay?” a dark haired woman asked. She ran up to them with a giggling baby in her arms and hovered over the other boy.
The two women started pulling the boy up away from the waves. As the strange boy was being dragged up the shore, he looked around. Kris stood there alone. No one was helping him.
“The boy…that kid who ran into me…” the boy, Adam, said, jerking his arms back.
Kris’s mom stopped. “Oh…goodness! Kris baby! I’m so sorry!” She ran back down the slope to help Kris up. She tugged at him to bring him up to other boy and the woman Kris guessed was his mom.
Kim dug through her bag to grab the extra towels. She placed one over Adam’s shoulder then proceeded to pat down Kris.
“Kris, honey, are you okay? You’re not hurt are you?”
“No mama, I’m okay.” Kris turned to Adam. “I…I’m sorry I ran into you like that,” he said softly. He stared at Adam. He knew it was rude, but he couldn’t look away. His blue eyes bored through him in a weird way. He shivered even though he wasn’t cold.
“It’s okay,” Adam said. He continued to stare at Kris as Adam’s mom tried to dry him off. Kris turned away as his mother toweled him down.
Kim turned to Adam’s mom, “I’m sorry about that. My son, Kris, he gets a little over-eager sometimes…”
Kris finally realized that the moms were talking to each other. They were smiling and trying to dry their sons off.
“Nice to meet you. Sorry about the circumstances of the meeting, but what can you do,” Adam’s mom was saying.
As the women chatted, Kris and Adam turned to face each other and continued to just stare at each other.
**
You have stolen my heart
You have stolen my heart
The two families were sitting on the hotel patio. Adam’s dad, Eber, had quickly talked to the restaurant’s manager into ensuring the group would be able to sit together outside. Eber, Adam’s uncle Mark, and Kris’s dad, Neil, talked like they were long lost friends. The women, Leila, Kim and Adam’s aunt Janet, conversed amiably about their families and kids and the last weekend in California. The parents were laughing and obviously enjoying themselves and their new found friendships.
Adam fidgeted, knowing the cute boy, Kris, was staring at him again. It took everything he had not to stare back. They were on one end of the table, sitting next to Neil, Jason and Kris’s brother Daniel who had bonded quickly and ignored everyone and picked on each other. Kris and Adam were the only ones who sat quietly and eyeing each other when they thought the other wasn’t looking.
Of course Adam knew. He felt the tickle every time Kris looked at him. His big eyes looking at him as if trying to find the answer to some question that he thought Adam would know. Adam didn’t know. He just knew it was weird.
After the two moms were able to dry Adam and Kris off, Leila had invited the Allen family to join them for dinner. “We’re here vacationing from Arkansas,” Kim told Leila. “Our last weekend before we catch a flight out in the morning.”
Leila dispatched Eber to the restaurant to make room for four more. The three families had taken over the bulk of the patio.
“Oh, that’s gorgeous!” Kim exclaimed.
Everyone turned and quietly watched the sun set into the Pacific Ocean. Purples, pinks and oranges swirled over each other in practiced synchronicity, creating a dusky light show.
“Well, make sure you let us know when you come back to Southern California,” Leila offered. “We’ll keep in touch, but would love to see you whenever you’re in town.”
Neil smiled, “Of course. And if you happen to ever be in Arkansas, our home is open to your family.”
Adam caught Kris’s eyes again. He watched as Kris blushed and buried his head into his mom’s back.
“Oh honey,” she murmured. Kim nodded to Neil. She addressed Leila and Eber, “Thank you so much for this. It was a great way to end our vacation. I think the boys are ready to hit the sack, so we should get going. Plus, early wake-up call in the morning.”
Eber stood up to grab the waiter’s attention. Neil patted his arm, “We got this. I already paid when I excused myself earlier.”
Leila cried out, “Oh no. You shouldn’t have done that!”
“It’s the least we could do,” Kim tutted. She stood up, forcing Kris to sit back in his chair. “I just had the most amazing evening.”
Everyone stood up and hugged and said their good-byes. Adam stood back in the corner and just observed. He looked as Kris tried to avoid looking at him again. Then watched as the Allen family walked out the door.
**
November 2005
Invitation only grants farewells
Crash the best one of the best ones
“I know these are love songs, but wow, trite much?” Adam complained.
Monte and Tommy stood off to the side and continued to tune their guitars. Adam had been bitching about the set list for two straight weeks. The both had decided the best solution was to ignore him.
“I mean, come on. I know it’s a wedding, but a little more creativity in song choices wouldn’t hurt could it?” Adam whined. “Or at least pick classics, like ‘At Last’ or ‘Endless Love’ or even, shit, ‘It Had to be You,’”
Monte put down his guitar, “Seriously? It’s their wedding, they pick the songs, we play, you sing. End of story. This is the fattest paycheck we’ve gotten in a while, so suck it up dude.”
Tommy smirked, “Maybe they’ll let you sing whatever you want at the after-party.”
Adam sighed in frustration and pulled at his hair, “Fine, whatever. Let’s go.”
They set-up on the make-shift dance floor and waited. They watched as the wedding party made their way into the giant tent holding the reception. People looked alternately for the bar and their tables. Smiles and laughter filled the large space, making the tent buzz.
At the wedding planner’s signal, they started to play and Adam launched into his version of “Faithfully” by Journey. It was a nice enough song, Steve Perry was awesome, but something a little more classic where he could mix it up a bit would have been amazing. But, no, the list of songs they were given pretty much ensured his eyes would get permanently stuck in the back of his head from rolling them so much. At least he got to start with this song. The next three would kill him a little on the inside, “Everything I Do (I Do It For You),” “From This Moment” and “A Whole New World.”
Adam was on auto-pilot. He barely glanced at the people at the reception. He knew they barely cared about him, but sang with emotion anyway. He wasn’t doing it because of the paycheck, he did it for himself. He always sang for himself. The audience was secondary. He lost himself in the music, good or bad, because he loved it. When he made money for it? Bonus.
Plus, you never know who would be in the crowd. Maybe an A&R rep who would sign them? Can’t half-ass it when possibilities were out there.
As he belted out the final note of “From This Moment,” he finally opened his eyes. He heard the smattering of applause before a commotion at the entrance of the tent. The bride and groom were making their way inside. About friggin’ time. Then one more song, he thought, then another set after the toasts, first dance, last set, then outta here.
The wedding party of groomsmen and bridesmaids hovering over the bride and groom like anxious mothers at a playground. He was about to turn to Monte and Tommy when he saw a groomsman trip and fall into a waiter. Adam craned his neck to take a look. He was a rubbernecker just like the next person. The waiter gracefully twirled out of the way without dropping his tray of food. Applause and hoots filled the tent. The waiter smiled and bowed slightly before carrying on his duties.
The groomsman turned a bright red. He looked like he was mumbling apologies to anyone and everyone around him. Adam smiled. He was a cute little thing. When he turned and faced the general area where they were, Adam did a double-take. He looked so familiar and Adam didn’t know why. Adam would have remembered that face, and god, those lips. But everything about the groomsman was familiar for some reason.
The groomsman’s eyes wandered the room, as if trying to see if everyone was still looking and laughing at him. Their eyes caught. The world around them disappeared as they stared at each other.
**
Clear liquor and cloudy eyed
Too early to say goodnight
Kris was happy for Jon. He really was. He just thought it was a little too soon to be getting married. But after he saw the looks on Jon’s face, he couldn’t help but be happy regardless of his personal thoughts about marriage right after college.
The whole week had been a whirlwind. From the group brunches and golf outings to the rehearsal dinner and the photo shoots, it was a crazy week. Add to that having to work a double shift at the book store because of the days he missed the previous week for the final tuxedo fittings and the bachelor part, he was exhausted. No one could blame him that he wasn’t at his best when he walked into the tent.
He heard the amazing voice singing the cheesy songs from inside the tent and wondered where Jon, or maybe it was Miriam, found the band. As the wedding party made their way into the tent for the reception, he kept straining to see who was singing. Instead of walking in as they had practiced, he had tried to peek over Cale’s shoulder to see the band and whoever was singing. What did that result in? Him trying to walk on his toes, not watching where he was going and tripping on a cord and knocking into a waiter. Of course.
At least the waiter was a good sport about it, and nothing major had occurred. Just a bump and a minor kerfuffle…the waiter actually had the nerve to wink at him. Kris smiled inwardly, maybe he’d get a number later, right? That was what he was thinking until he got the chance to take a look at the band. The singer was staring at him. He stared back. Eyes he had seen before, somehow…somewhere.
“Good job, Kris,” Charles said slapping his shoulder. “Saw the wink there hot stuff, maybe Jon won’t be the only one getting lucky tonight huh?”
Kris finally tore his gaze away from the singer. He knew him…well, the eyes at least. But everything else was wrong, especially the hair color and the face. It couldn’t be the same person, could it?
“What?” Kris finally stuttered. He turned to Charles and tried to get his thoughts back together.
“Dude,” Charles laughed. “You’re so out of it. What’d you do, sneak a few shots without us?” He started to pat Kris down, “Where’s the flask and why aren’t you sharing?”
Kris swatted his friend’s hands away and backed up, “Fuck, Charles, what’re you doing? God! You’re such a jackass sometimes.”
“Aww, come on Kris,” Charles pouted. “Why so serious all of a sudden? You’ve already made an ass of yourself bumping into the waiter. Not like my paws all over you is going to cause any more embarrassment.”
For some reason, Kris didn’t want the singer watching him when he was like this. He wanted to be as suave and sophisticated as the tuxedo he was wearing.
“Uh, so who found the band?” Kris tried to ask casually. He cleared his throat and headed to the bar closest to them. Charles followed him, trying to make him trip by stepping on him heels.
“What? Oh, Miriam’s sister’s friend is dating one of them. They play locally around LA, so she gave a demo to Jon and Miriam. I think Jon drove up one weekend to see one of their shows, actually. Liked them enough to book them.”
“They’re good,” Kris replied nonchalantly. “Vodka tonic with extra lime please,” he said to the bartender. Charles hovered over Kris’s shoulder, “Make that two while you’re at it.”
Kris shoved Charles back with his shoulder and smiled at the bartender when the drinks were placed on the counter, “Thanks, man.” He put down a five before grabbing the glasses. The bartender winked at him. Kris smiled back, then quirked his lips when he turned his back.
“Oooh,” Charles cooed. “You’re really popular today.”
“Shut up,” Kris murmured. He knew he was blushing. He didn’t dare look over to the singer, not when he knew he was as pink as a flamingo. “Aren’t we supposed to be doing something right now?”
“Eating?”
Kris rolled his eyes, “You are so helpful.”
They both turned as the band started warming up again.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the first dance,” the singer said into the microphone with authority. He turned to nod to his guitarists. The first strums of “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” started and Kris stood mesmerized. It was a combination of the Roberta Flack and George Michael versions, accompanied by just the two guitars. It was beautiful. The room fell silent, not even the tings of silverware interrupting the song.
“Damn,” Charles whispered. “He’s good.”
Kris could only nod. He stood mute and dumb.
“…And last till the end of time my love…It would last till the end of time my love…” he sang, full of feeling and passion.
Kris felt his lungs constrict. He couldn’t breathe. The voice was even more powerful up close.
“…The first time ever I saw your face, your face, your face, your face…” he drew out the last note slowly and deeply and softly.
Kris knew he should be moving. He should be at his seat now. He knew Charles had walked away thinking Kris was right behind him, but he couldn’t move. He stared at the singer. Watching his every movement. The way his neck stretched and veins popped out, straining along with his passion. The singer opened his eyes, blue eyes moistened from emotion. He blinked once and met Kris’s eyes.
**
You have stolen my heart
You have stolen my heart
Kris ran into the singer-literally. He really needed to watch where he was going and pay more attention. He had done a good job of avoiding him for the rest of the reception. Excusing himself more than he thought was polite, just to make sure he didn’t make an ass of himself and drool and stare.
He thought he had gotten away with it too, until as he turned the corner, BAM!
“Oh, god, sorry,” he said to the figure on the ground. He held his hand out to help the man up.
“Jesus,” the man muttered.
Kris checked around them to make sure no one had seen his clumsiness again. The last thing he needed was Charles mocking him again. Kris faced the man who had yet to take his hand. He studied the man he banged into.
His eyes moved up this body, from the gray snakeskin boots to the black leather pants…oh, please god, no he thought. He saw the dark gray blazer and the rings that adorned the hands as it pushed the attached body up to sitting position.
The man slowly sat up and examined himself. He dusted of his hands and the twigs that were stuck on him, before he looked up and faced Kris.
“Oh fuck me,” Kris murmured under his breath.
**
All Adam wanted was some air. Not the air knocked out of him.
The tent was getting stifling hot despite the ventilations and the fans. The brisk ocean breezes on this November day should have been enough, but it wasn’t, not with 200 guests, plus all the service staff and miscellaneous people running around.
He was almost done for the night. One more song, and they’d be able to make the trek back up to LA first thing in the morning. The bride and groom offered rooms as part of their fee, and they figured why not.
“Jesus…” he grumbled, trying to get back up.
“Oh, god, sorry,” a voice was saying.
Adam wiped off his hands and patted and pulled at his jacket and shirt. A few twigs were stuck to him.
He sat up and looked at the man apologizing. It was him. It was him. The cute guy who knocked over the waiter inside. The one he felt staring at him the entire night. The one Adam tried not stared back at, but sang to anyway. Once he felt the cute guy’s eyes on him, Adam wanted to ramp it up a notch, to show off. He didn’t know why, but he wanted to impress this stranger. When they looked at each other, there was no one else in the room with them. And Adam sang with feeling, trying to reach him through song.
Adam saw his proffered hand, and he felt himself be pulled up by deceptively strong arms.
“Uh, thanks,” Adam said. Suddenly he was at a loss for words. Him. He released the man’s hand quickly to make sure he didn’t feel him trembling.
“I’m sorry about that. I don’t know why I’m so clumsy all the time. I didn’t see you, and obviously I wasn’t paying attention…”
“It’s okay,” Adam interrupted, flicking dirt off of himself. He couldn’t look at him. He was strangely unnerved by having him so close to him and talking.
“Uh, yeah, sorry, I start rambling when I’m…” the man stopped. “I’m doing it again.” And blushed.
“This…” Adam cleared his throat. “This might sound weird, and I promise it’s not a pick-up line…” he smiled nervously. “But do I know you? Have we met before?”
The man turned away, but Adam caught his nervous smile.
“I mean,” Adam continued. “You were staring…and uh…I, uh…I thought maybe you looked familiar for some reason.”
“I don’t think so. I would remember if I met you before,” the man stammered. He turned even redder. Adam smiled. He found it adorable for some reason.
Adam took a deep breath and stuck out his hand, “I’m Adam.”
The man looked at his hand then up to Adam’s face. Adam felt like he could get lost in those eyes. Long, dark lashes framing oh-so-innocent looking eyes. His lips.
“Kris.”
Adam felt the shiver slide up him like an electric coil. He felt Kris’s body tremble at the same time and wanted to blame it on the night air, but he knew better.
“Kris,” Adam whispered. “Why do I feel like I know you?”
Adam took a step closer and studied Kris’s face. The lights around the tent highlighted his nose and cheeks.
“Where are you from Kris?” he asked.
“Uh, LA…”
“No,” Adam shook his head. “Originally…where from down South? Your accent…”
“Oh. I’m from Arkansas.”
Adam stiffened. Holy shit. It couldn’t be. “Wait, is your last name Allen?”
“What? Um, wow. How?” Kris trailed off. He tilted his head and looked at Adam again, studying his face.
“I know you,” Adam replied. “And you know me.”
**
December 2006
And from the ballroom floor we are in celebration
One good stretch before our hibernation
One year.
It had been one year since he and Adam started dating. One year and three months since they met again after 10 years. Kris smiled to himself as he wiped the counter down again. He checked his watch and the door. Adam was late. They were meeting both their parents at Luques in 30 minutes. He debated calling to let them know they’d be running a little behind.
Kris mindlessly ran the cloth over the glass and thought back to that night where they met-again.
The Hotel del Coronado had been lit up, it’s famous red spire surrounded by hundreds of lights. More lights than usual because of the upcoming holidays.
The cold night air kept people from wandering outside, so Kris and Adam had the beach to themselves. Adam had finished the last song at the reception and told his friends/bandmates that he’d see them in the morning. Kris had discretely made his rounds then slipped away.
They made their way out of the park area and the reception tent and down to the beach, carefully stepping over the rocks. Instead of going the long way to the trail, they removed their shoes and went straight down to the beach. They laughed at their shared insanity.
Kris was shocked. He tried to reconcile the man in leather and exuding rock-and-roll walking next to him to the image of the 15 year old from the beach 10 years ago. This Adam scared him more than the boy Adam. As intense as Adam was back then, multiply that by 100, then add hot and sexy to the mix, and Kris had been tongue-tied to say much of anything.
He walked along side of Adam as he talked about anything and everything, while Kris continued to just stare and try to keep from bumping into him. Kris listened as Adam talked.
Eventually, Kris became comfortable with this new Adam. This new Adam was amiable and chatty and oh, so amazing. They sat at the base of the rocks, away from the waves. Just close enough to feel the errant spray of ocean water. Their arms and shoulders touched, whether to keep warm or something else, Kris hadn’t been sure at the time. He just knew that he liked being close to Adam.
As the light broke out in the sky indicating dawn, and seagulls started to screech along the shore, they finally got up and made their way back to the hotel. As they were about to go their separate ways, they exchanged emails and numbers.
Kris smiled dreamily. And today they would celebrate their one-year anniversary.
“Oh my god! Traffic sucks! I can’t believe I’m this late. I’m so sorry, Kris,” Adam shouted bursting into the store.
Kris laughed and threw the cloth into the back room, not caring if it landed on the floor. He grabbed his messenger bag and the keys to meet Adam in the middle of the store. Adam kissed his cheek, “Ready?”
“Always.”
**
March 2008
Our dreams assured and we all will sleep well
Sleep well, sleep well, sleep well, sleep well
The incessant thumps on the door rattled his brain, knocking it against the inside of his skull. Make it stop! his brain whined. Kris woke with a start. He bumped his head against the edge of…was that a toilet? Why was he on the floor in the bathroom?
The pounding on the door and in his head continued. Where was Adam? Why wasn’t he answering the door?
“I’m coming!” Kris shouted, flinching at his own voice, his ears protesting against the noise. He made his way out of the small bathroom and stumbled through the door hunched over. He stopped and nearly fell over his own feet in the middle of the room. He turned his head taking in the strange room. His head pounded in protest from the movement and grabbed his head, “Where the fuck am I?” he mumbled.
The beating on the door started up again.
“I said I’m coming!” he yelled out. His whole body cringed in pain. As he slowly made his way to the door, he tripped over a pair of sneakers. Black Converse. At least those he recognized.
He leaned along the wall next to the door, using it as a prop to get to the door and slid down the interminably long entrance. It seemed to go on for miles. When he finally reached the door, he had to take a breath.
With shaking hands, he opened the door to find Adam glaring angrily at him.
“What the hell, Kris!” he yelled out. Kris felt him grab his shoulders and start to shake him.
“Ad…oh god. Adam, stop!” he protested.
“It’s nothing less than you deserve,” Adam retorted. Hands still on his shoulders, Adam pushed into the room, walking Kris backwards slowly and steadily.
Kris let him, but only because his head hurt too badly.
“You can’t just disappear like that and not have everyone freak out!” Adam yelled. Kris squinted his eyes and tried to focus on Adam. It shouldn’t have been this hard. He was, like, right in front of him. Yelling.
“Shhh.”
“You’re shushing me?” Adam’s eyes widened comically. “I’ve been calling and wondering where the hell you went and now you’re shushing me?”
Kris straggled backwards until he felt the backs of his knees hit the bed. At least he hoped it was the bed. He flopped down. After feeling around with his hands and getting confirmation it was indeed the bed, leaned back and fell into the comforter.
“Uh, Adam?”
He heard Adam moving around the room. It sounded like he was picking up the mess.
“Yeah, Kris.”
“Where are we?”
**
You have stolen, you have stolen
You have stolen my heart
“Shit! Shit! Shit” Adam shouted in frustration. “Where would he have run off to? He’s not answering his phone. He’s not in our room.” He paced the floor equally angry and worried. Exhaustion was seeping into his body, but he tried to fight it off. He had to fight it off. He needed to find Kris.
“We’ll find him Adam,” Monte said calmly. “I’ve already got security going over their tapes and some are walking around. He’s gotta be in the hotel or on the property. He was too drunk to go anywhere far.”
With those words, Adam stopped. He just sat down in the middle of the floor in Monte’s hotel room. He still had his tuxedo on. They frantically searched for Kris the last two hours to no avail. Exhaustion had set in and he couldn’t even stand anymore.
Tommy came up to the room. He looked utterly trashed and tired. Being drunk and giddy and then looking for Kris was not helpful for any of them.
“Adam, my key card went missing. I think, maybe…you should check my room. Here’s a copy I got from the front desk,” he slurred. He barely made it to the couch before he fell face-first into the cushions, hand with keycard slipping down, tips brushing the floor. “I’d go,” he mumbled. “But I can’t move.”
It took everything Adam had to move. He crawled over to the couch and reached for the keycard that was barely held up between Tommy’s fingers and the carpet.
Adam felt a jolt of adrenaline and ran out the door. It made sense. They were goofing around last night and somehow, in a dumb game, keycards came out. Kris must have grabbed one. Why they didn’t think of it earlier…because all of us had our own keys that worked dumbshit his brain whined.
The elevator finally hit the fifth floor and Adam bust out as soon as the doors were open wide enough. He frantically tried to remember the room number as he stared at the directory with the contradicting arrows. He ran to the right and counted of rooms. He slid the keycard and waited for the click.
Nothing.
He tried again and got the red light indicator and an angry buzz. He started to knock on the door, politely at first. With no patience left, he started to pound on it. He pounded until he thought he heard a voice. His knuckles were hurting, so he banged on the door with the palm of his hand.
Suddenly the door opened. Kris stood there looking confused and in obvious hangover pain. Adam reached for him and started to shake him. He was so relieved, yet so angry that he started to shout and shake him some more.
Kris shut his eyes at the loud noise and begged him to stop yelling. Adam still had adrenaline coursing through him as Kris shuffled towards the bed, continuing to shush him until he sprawled backwards. The obvious cushioning of the bed changing Kris’s face from contorted pain to relief.
“Uh, Adam?”
Adam was moving around the room, picking up the tuxedo jacket and Kris’s sneakers.
“Yeah, Kris.”
“Where are we?”
“Wha…” Adam cleared his throat. “What?”
He watched as Kris lifted his head, “Where are we? Where’s here? This room.”
Adam placed the jacket carefully over the back of a chair and the sneakers on the floor. He moved carefully to Kris on the bed.
“We got married yesterday. Our commitment ceremony, then the party. You got way drunk and must have taken Tommy’s keycard. This is his room.” Adam paused and worried his lip. “You don’t remember?” Adam’s heart broke. How drunk did Kris get? Did he drink more on purpose so he wouldn’t have to remember?
Kris laid back and closed his eyes. The comforter rustled as he shook his head, “No, I remember that, and the party. I…I just. This room didn’t look familiar and I woke up in the bathroom.”
Adam let out a sigh of relief. He climbed onto the bed next to Kris. He smiled as he saw his eyes shut tight as if trying to will the pain in his head away. He lifted a hand to touch Kris’s face, fingers started to massage the left temple.
Kris groaned, “Adam. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have had that much to drink.”
“It’s okay. You just scared me when you disappeared. We’ve been looking for hours,” Adam said and continued to rub and massage Kris’s head.
“No, I was just so happy, and, oh, I don’t know. I’m never drinking again.” He leaned into Adam’s warm body, inhaling and feeling safe.
Adam laughed, “I’m just happy I found you.” He moved his hands away from Kris’s head and down his back, rubbing them up and down slowly. He pulled Kris in closer until Kris’s face was buried in his neck.
“Yeah, me too.”
“You realize you’re going to have to make it up to me, right? Missing our wedding night like that.”
Kris laughed and kissed Adam’s neck. “Oh, I know. Believe me, I know.”
**
Epilogue
March 2009
Kris stared at the sky. The sound of waves crashing around them was pierced with cries of seagulls. He could barely make out the stars, but knew they were up there.
For their one year wedding anniversary, Adam wanted to celebrate in private. They packed up a small bag, food and blankets and drove. They laid out the blanket and covered themselves with another.
“Adam?”
“Yeah?”
Adam waited for Kris to continue. When he didn’t, he propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at him. Kris’s amber eyes watched him carefully. Adam smiled. Kris smiled in return.
“We end up staring at each other a lot don’t we?”
Adam nodded, “Just shows we don’t need words.”
“But I do want to say something,” Kris said.
“What’s that?”
Kris’s fingers traced Adam’s eyebrows, the tiny creases around his eyes. They made a path down his jaw and to his lips. He parted them and Adam lightly bit the pad of his forefinger. He moved them to Adam’s ear and then behind his neck.
Adam shivered as tiny pinpricks of heat trailed Kris’s fingers as it went around his face and head. When Kris’s hand came to a rest on his neck, the warmed seeped into him. He knew this feeling would never go away. He felt the tug of Kris’s hand and followed it down.
Their lips met with the lightest of touches, eyes still on each other. Amber peered into ice blue. Synchronized, their eyes closed as their lips continued to press together.
~the end~
Title: Stolen
Word Count: 7,000-ish
Pairing/Type: Kris Allen/Adam Lambert; AU
Rated: PG-15
Notes: Inspired by the song and video “Stolen” from Dashboard Confessional (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j82FBbgpUy4)
Thank you to: My betas anobakitay and diane_mckay for the read-throughs, edits and notes. Any other mistakes are mine, and mine alone.
Disclaimer: This is not true. This did not happen.
**
September 1995
We watch the season pull up its own stage
And catch the last weekend of the last week
Adam hated the beach. The sun. The crowds. The sun. He sat uncomfortably under the giant beach umbrella his mom had set up. He was sticky with sunscreen, and the sun was too bright. Of course it had to be a perfectly, sunny, gorgeous Saturday in San Diego. And he was the only one in a foul mood.
His mom and dad decided to have one last day at the beach before his aunt, uncle and cousins returned to the East Coast tomorrow. They had thought it’d be a great idea to come to Hotel del Coronado to spend the day together. His mom made arrangements with one of the hotel restaurants for a picnic lunch. Then they would change and have dinner at sunset on the patio of the hotel.
It was supposed to be perfect. For everyone else, it was.
Adam was miserable. Out with his family like a dork. He shouldn’t be out here with his family at 15. He should be hanging with friends at the mall or something. But, instead, he had a giant hat flopped over his face, covering as much as possible. His t-shirt and swim trunks doing nothing to hide his giant body or prevent the freckles he just knew were multiplying on him with each passing minute. He leaned over to dig around the big beach bag his mom carried to dig for more sunscreen.
“Adam, can you go find Neil and Jason?” his mom called out from the blanket next to his. Her voice carried over the sound of the waves and the other people on the beach.
He sighed, “Yeah.” He looked out from under the umbrella shade. “Which way did they go?”
He saw his mom pointing down towards the water, “Down that way. I need to put more sunscreen on him. And probably Jason too. I’d go down myself, but I need to watch over Christina here while your aunt and uncle are walking around. I think dad went to the hotel to check on our room and dinner.”
He crawled from under the umbrella and squinted. It was definitely too bright and too sunny. He debated whether he wanted to tell his mom that he’d rather watch over his baby cousin, and she could go find the boys. He was 15, that was old enough to watch over a baby, right? He could do the babysitting thing. But, then again, he wouldn’t know what to do if Christina started to cry or wriggled out of his grasp. No, it was better to go find Neil and yell at him. He grumbled softly, “I hope he gets bitten by a jellyfish.”
**
Kris tried to be patient as his mother applied another layer of sunscreen on him.
“Mama,” he whined. “I already have a ton of this stuff on. Can’t I just go down to the water?”
“Hush, Kris,” she reprimanded. “The sun by the water is stronger, so I just want to make sure you don’t get burned. Plus, when you go into the water, some of it will come off anyway.”
Kris sighed as his mother turned him around to get his back. He tilted his head as he watched an older boy come out from under some serious shade and squint painfully into the light. He was wearing a white t-shirt and turquoise swim trunks and had on a giant tan floppy hat. Even his feet were covered in what looked like socks.
“Why is he all covered up like that mama?” he asked.
Kim Allen slowed her hands down to peer over Kris’s shoulder. She watched with Kris as a surly teenager stood in front of a giant beach umbrella and slumped his shoulders. He looked pained as he stood in the sun. She saw the freckles on his forearms and smiled.
“He’s just protecting his skin, baby,” she replied. “He’s got lighter skin and some freckles, so he’ll get a sunburn faster. See how smart he is?”
“But he doesn’t look like he’s happy.”
“Oh, I think he thinks he’s too old to play in the water,” Kim chuckled. She eyed the teenage as she continued to rub lotion into Kris’s back. He was slowly making his way down to the water. “I also think he doesn’t enjoy the beach as much. I’m sure when you’re older you won’t want to be at the beach with your family.”
“You think I’ll be like that when I’m his age?”
She pressed a light kiss onto Kris’s shoulder, “I think you’ll love to play no matter how old you are sweetie. Go on now,” she said giving him a final pat on his butt. “Go play and have fun. Keep an eye out for Daniel, okay?”
Kris took off like a rocket as he shouted, “Okay mama!”
**
Before the gold and the glimmer have been replaced
Another sun soaked season fade away
Adam grumbled and tried to keep his hand up to shield his eyes from the afternoon sun. The hat wasn’t doing much to keep the sun off his face. He looked down at the water, trying to locate two dark-haired boys.
He thought he spied them just down the way from their spot. He inhaled deeply. He just needed to walk a few a few feet towards the water, close enough for him to yell at them to come up and then back under the tent. He could do this.
Adam realized he wasn’t exactly walking straight down to the water when he thought he heard his mom and turned around. Their beach umbrella was way off to the left instead of right behind him.
Next thing he knew, Adam was on his ass, feet splayed up in the air like a turtle flipped upside down. The chilly water of the Pacific soaking his clothes, sand sticking to his exposed back and stomach, and another body tangled up in his arms.
Adam felt searing heat where flesh met flesh, causing goose bumps in stark contrast to the icy waves stroking him. He scrambled to get up, trying to dislodge the extra limbs that were sticking to him. He wasn’t having any success.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so…” the boy was saying.
Adam stopped struggling and laid there, his back cold, the rest of his body still sopping wet. He picked at the stray seaweed that attached themselves like tentacles to his arms and legs. “Oh this just sucks…”
Adam looked at the boy who ran into him. Their eyes met and Adam could feel his body heat up, but didn’t know why. The boy was scrawny, wiry, cute in that annoying kid kind of way…
His thoughts were interrupted by a woman who started to fuss over him. “Oh my goodness, honey, are you okay? Are you hurt? I’m so sorry about that.”
He tried to get up and push the woman away, but she was stronger than she appeared. Then he finally heard his mom’s voice through the din.
“Adam honey, are you okay?”
He turned to see his mom with Christina wiggling in her arms. The two women started pulling him up away from the waves. As he was being dragged up the shore, he looked around for the boy who ran into him. No one was helping him.
“The boy…that kid who ran into me…” Adam said, jerking his arms back.
The boy was apologizing again, “I…I’m sorry I ran into you like that,” he said softly. He stared at Adam. Bright amber eyes bored through him in a weird way. He felt his body jump from the inside out.
“It’s okay,” Adam said. He continued to stare at Kris as Adam’s mom tried to dry him off. The boy finally turned away as his own mother toweled him down.
Adam’s mom was trying to put a towel over him while keeping Christina close by. “Don’t worry about it,” she was saying. “The boys look like they’re fine. You’re fine, aren’t you Adam?” She didn’t wait for his reply, instead turned to Kim and Kris. “I’m Leila, by the way. This is my son Adam,” Leila continued.
“I’m Kim. This is Kris,” Kim replied smiling.
“Nice to meet you. Sorry about the circumstances of the meeting, but what can you do,” Leila said smiling.
As the women chatted, Kris and Adam continued to just stare at each other.
**
Kris’s feet sprayed sand behind him as he ran down towards the water. He shouted, “Okay mama!” and turned to wave at her. He wondered what she was saying to him and why her hands were flailing around her when BOOM! He knocked into somebody and they both tumbled down into the sand and water. Limbs were tangled together more as they fought to unravel themselves from each other.
Kris pulled his hand back and turned to face the person he ran into so blindly.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so…” he was saying. He stopped when he realized it was the boy he was staring at earlier.
Adam looked down at himself. He was wet and his clothes were sticking to his skin. He picked at the odd seaweed attached to his sleeves and legs. “Oh this just sucks…” Adam turned to say.
Their eyes met and Kris felt himself blush. Blush like he had never blushed before or doubt he would ever again. The boy who he was staring at earlier was staring back at him. Kris didn’t know what to say, just knew he needed to make things okay. He shouldn’t have run into him like that.
Kris turned away as his mom started to fuss over the boy. He looked nervous and tried to push her away.
“Adam honey, are you okay?” a dark haired woman asked. She ran up to them with a giggling baby in her arms and hovered over the other boy.
The two women started pulling the boy up away from the waves. As the strange boy was being dragged up the shore, he looked around. Kris stood there alone. No one was helping him.
“The boy…that kid who ran into me…” the boy, Adam, said, jerking his arms back.
Kris’s mom stopped. “Oh…goodness! Kris baby! I’m so sorry!” She ran back down the slope to help Kris up. She tugged at him to bring him up to other boy and the woman Kris guessed was his mom.
Kim dug through her bag to grab the extra towels. She placed one over Adam’s shoulder then proceeded to pat down Kris.
“Kris, honey, are you okay? You’re not hurt are you?”
“No mama, I’m okay.” Kris turned to Adam. “I…I’m sorry I ran into you like that,” he said softly. He stared at Adam. He knew it was rude, but he couldn’t look away. His blue eyes bored through him in a weird way. He shivered even though he wasn’t cold.
“It’s okay,” Adam said. He continued to stare at Kris as Adam’s mom tried to dry him off. Kris turned away as his mother toweled him down.
Kim turned to Adam’s mom, “I’m sorry about that. My son, Kris, he gets a little over-eager sometimes…”
Kris finally realized that the moms were talking to each other. They were smiling and trying to dry their sons off.
“Nice to meet you. Sorry about the circumstances of the meeting, but what can you do,” Adam’s mom was saying.
As the women chatted, Kris and Adam turned to face each other and continued to just stare at each other.
**
You have stolen my heart
You have stolen my heart
The two families were sitting on the hotel patio. Adam’s dad, Eber, had quickly talked to the restaurant’s manager into ensuring the group would be able to sit together outside. Eber, Adam’s uncle Mark, and Kris’s dad, Neil, talked like they were long lost friends. The women, Leila, Kim and Adam’s aunt Janet, conversed amiably about their families and kids and the last weekend in California. The parents were laughing and obviously enjoying themselves and their new found friendships.
Adam fidgeted, knowing the cute boy, Kris, was staring at him again. It took everything he had not to stare back. They were on one end of the table, sitting next to Neil, Jason and Kris’s brother Daniel who had bonded quickly and ignored everyone and picked on each other. Kris and Adam were the only ones who sat quietly and eyeing each other when they thought the other wasn’t looking.
Of course Adam knew. He felt the tickle every time Kris looked at him. His big eyes looking at him as if trying to find the answer to some question that he thought Adam would know. Adam didn’t know. He just knew it was weird.
After the two moms were able to dry Adam and Kris off, Leila had invited the Allen family to join them for dinner. “We’re here vacationing from Arkansas,” Kim told Leila. “Our last weekend before we catch a flight out in the morning.”
Leila dispatched Eber to the restaurant to make room for four more. The three families had taken over the bulk of the patio.
“Oh, that’s gorgeous!” Kim exclaimed.
Everyone turned and quietly watched the sun set into the Pacific Ocean. Purples, pinks and oranges swirled over each other in practiced synchronicity, creating a dusky light show.
“Well, make sure you let us know when you come back to Southern California,” Leila offered. “We’ll keep in touch, but would love to see you whenever you’re in town.”
Neil smiled, “Of course. And if you happen to ever be in Arkansas, our home is open to your family.”
Adam caught Kris’s eyes again. He watched as Kris blushed and buried his head into his mom’s back.
“Oh honey,” she murmured. Kim nodded to Neil. She addressed Leila and Eber, “Thank you so much for this. It was a great way to end our vacation. I think the boys are ready to hit the sack, so we should get going. Plus, early wake-up call in the morning.”
Eber stood up to grab the waiter’s attention. Neil patted his arm, “We got this. I already paid when I excused myself earlier.”
Leila cried out, “Oh no. You shouldn’t have done that!”
“It’s the least we could do,” Kim tutted. She stood up, forcing Kris to sit back in his chair. “I just had the most amazing evening.”
Everyone stood up and hugged and said their good-byes. Adam stood back in the corner and just observed. He looked as Kris tried to avoid looking at him again. Then watched as the Allen family walked out the door.
**
November 2005
Invitation only grants farewells
Crash the best one of the best ones
“I know these are love songs, but wow, trite much?” Adam complained.
Monte and Tommy stood off to the side and continued to tune their guitars. Adam had been bitching about the set list for two straight weeks. The both had decided the best solution was to ignore him.
“I mean, come on. I know it’s a wedding, but a little more creativity in song choices wouldn’t hurt could it?” Adam whined. “Or at least pick classics, like ‘At Last’ or ‘Endless Love’ or even, shit, ‘It Had to be You,’”
Monte put down his guitar, “Seriously? It’s their wedding, they pick the songs, we play, you sing. End of story. This is the fattest paycheck we’ve gotten in a while, so suck it up dude.”
Tommy smirked, “Maybe they’ll let you sing whatever you want at the after-party.”
Adam sighed in frustration and pulled at his hair, “Fine, whatever. Let’s go.”
They set-up on the make-shift dance floor and waited. They watched as the wedding party made their way into the giant tent holding the reception. People looked alternately for the bar and their tables. Smiles and laughter filled the large space, making the tent buzz.
At the wedding planner’s signal, they started to play and Adam launched into his version of “Faithfully” by Journey. It was a nice enough song, Steve Perry was awesome, but something a little more classic where he could mix it up a bit would have been amazing. But, no, the list of songs they were given pretty much ensured his eyes would get permanently stuck in the back of his head from rolling them so much. At least he got to start with this song. The next three would kill him a little on the inside, “Everything I Do (I Do It For You),” “From This Moment” and “A Whole New World.”
Adam was on auto-pilot. He barely glanced at the people at the reception. He knew they barely cared about him, but sang with emotion anyway. He wasn’t doing it because of the paycheck, he did it for himself. He always sang for himself. The audience was secondary. He lost himself in the music, good or bad, because he loved it. When he made money for it? Bonus.
Plus, you never know who would be in the crowd. Maybe an A&R rep who would sign them? Can’t half-ass it when possibilities were out there.
As he belted out the final note of “From This Moment,” he finally opened his eyes. He heard the smattering of applause before a commotion at the entrance of the tent. The bride and groom were making their way inside. About friggin’ time. Then one more song, he thought, then another set after the toasts, first dance, last set, then outta here.
The wedding party of groomsmen and bridesmaids hovering over the bride and groom like anxious mothers at a playground. He was about to turn to Monte and Tommy when he saw a groomsman trip and fall into a waiter. Adam craned his neck to take a look. He was a rubbernecker just like the next person. The waiter gracefully twirled out of the way without dropping his tray of food. Applause and hoots filled the tent. The waiter smiled and bowed slightly before carrying on his duties.
The groomsman turned a bright red. He looked like he was mumbling apologies to anyone and everyone around him. Adam smiled. He was a cute little thing. When he turned and faced the general area where they were, Adam did a double-take. He looked so familiar and Adam didn’t know why. Adam would have remembered that face, and god, those lips. But everything about the groomsman was familiar for some reason.
The groomsman’s eyes wandered the room, as if trying to see if everyone was still looking and laughing at him. Their eyes caught. The world around them disappeared as they stared at each other.
**
Clear liquor and cloudy eyed
Too early to say goodnight
Kris was happy for Jon. He really was. He just thought it was a little too soon to be getting married. But after he saw the looks on Jon’s face, he couldn’t help but be happy regardless of his personal thoughts about marriage right after college.
The whole week had been a whirlwind. From the group brunches and golf outings to the rehearsal dinner and the photo shoots, it was a crazy week. Add to that having to work a double shift at the book store because of the days he missed the previous week for the final tuxedo fittings and the bachelor part, he was exhausted. No one could blame him that he wasn’t at his best when he walked into the tent.
He heard the amazing voice singing the cheesy songs from inside the tent and wondered where Jon, or maybe it was Miriam, found the band. As the wedding party made their way into the tent for the reception, he kept straining to see who was singing. Instead of walking in as they had practiced, he had tried to peek over Cale’s shoulder to see the band and whoever was singing. What did that result in? Him trying to walk on his toes, not watching where he was going and tripping on a cord and knocking into a waiter. Of course.
At least the waiter was a good sport about it, and nothing major had occurred. Just a bump and a minor kerfuffle…the waiter actually had the nerve to wink at him. Kris smiled inwardly, maybe he’d get a number later, right? That was what he was thinking until he got the chance to take a look at the band. The singer was staring at him. He stared back. Eyes he had seen before, somehow…somewhere.
“Good job, Kris,” Charles said slapping his shoulder. “Saw the wink there hot stuff, maybe Jon won’t be the only one getting lucky tonight huh?”
Kris finally tore his gaze away from the singer. He knew him…well, the eyes at least. But everything else was wrong, especially the hair color and the face. It couldn’t be the same person, could it?
“What?” Kris finally stuttered. He turned to Charles and tried to get his thoughts back together.
“Dude,” Charles laughed. “You’re so out of it. What’d you do, sneak a few shots without us?” He started to pat Kris down, “Where’s the flask and why aren’t you sharing?”
Kris swatted his friend’s hands away and backed up, “Fuck, Charles, what’re you doing? God! You’re such a jackass sometimes.”
“Aww, come on Kris,” Charles pouted. “Why so serious all of a sudden? You’ve already made an ass of yourself bumping into the waiter. Not like my paws all over you is going to cause any more embarrassment.”
For some reason, Kris didn’t want the singer watching him when he was like this. He wanted to be as suave and sophisticated as the tuxedo he was wearing.
“Uh, so who found the band?” Kris tried to ask casually. He cleared his throat and headed to the bar closest to them. Charles followed him, trying to make him trip by stepping on him heels.
“What? Oh, Miriam’s sister’s friend is dating one of them. They play locally around LA, so she gave a demo to Jon and Miriam. I think Jon drove up one weekend to see one of their shows, actually. Liked them enough to book them.”
“They’re good,” Kris replied nonchalantly. “Vodka tonic with extra lime please,” he said to the bartender. Charles hovered over Kris’s shoulder, “Make that two while you’re at it.”
Kris shoved Charles back with his shoulder and smiled at the bartender when the drinks were placed on the counter, “Thanks, man.” He put down a five before grabbing the glasses. The bartender winked at him. Kris smiled back, then quirked his lips when he turned his back.
“Oooh,” Charles cooed. “You’re really popular today.”
“Shut up,” Kris murmured. He knew he was blushing. He didn’t dare look over to the singer, not when he knew he was as pink as a flamingo. “Aren’t we supposed to be doing something right now?”
“Eating?”
Kris rolled his eyes, “You are so helpful.”
They both turned as the band started warming up again.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the first dance,” the singer said into the microphone with authority. He turned to nod to his guitarists. The first strums of “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” started and Kris stood mesmerized. It was a combination of the Roberta Flack and George Michael versions, accompanied by just the two guitars. It was beautiful. The room fell silent, not even the tings of silverware interrupting the song.
“Damn,” Charles whispered. “He’s good.”
Kris could only nod. He stood mute and dumb.
“…And last till the end of time my love…It would last till the end of time my love…” he sang, full of feeling and passion.
Kris felt his lungs constrict. He couldn’t breathe. The voice was even more powerful up close.
“…The first time ever I saw your face, your face, your face, your face…” he drew out the last note slowly and deeply and softly.
Kris knew he should be moving. He should be at his seat now. He knew Charles had walked away thinking Kris was right behind him, but he couldn’t move. He stared at the singer. Watching his every movement. The way his neck stretched and veins popped out, straining along with his passion. The singer opened his eyes, blue eyes moistened from emotion. He blinked once and met Kris’s eyes.
**
You have stolen my heart
You have stolen my heart
Kris ran into the singer-literally. He really needed to watch where he was going and pay more attention. He had done a good job of avoiding him for the rest of the reception. Excusing himself more than he thought was polite, just to make sure he didn’t make an ass of himself and drool and stare.
He thought he had gotten away with it too, until as he turned the corner, BAM!
“Oh, god, sorry,” he said to the figure on the ground. He held his hand out to help the man up.
“Jesus,” the man muttered.
Kris checked around them to make sure no one had seen his clumsiness again. The last thing he needed was Charles mocking him again. Kris faced the man who had yet to take his hand. He studied the man he banged into.
His eyes moved up this body, from the gray snakeskin boots to the black leather pants…oh, please god, no he thought. He saw the dark gray blazer and the rings that adorned the hands as it pushed the attached body up to sitting position.
The man slowly sat up and examined himself. He dusted of his hands and the twigs that were stuck on him, before he looked up and faced Kris.
“Oh fuck me,” Kris murmured under his breath.
**
All Adam wanted was some air. Not the air knocked out of him.
The tent was getting stifling hot despite the ventilations and the fans. The brisk ocean breezes on this November day should have been enough, but it wasn’t, not with 200 guests, plus all the service staff and miscellaneous people running around.
He was almost done for the night. One more song, and they’d be able to make the trek back up to LA first thing in the morning. The bride and groom offered rooms as part of their fee, and they figured why not.
“Jesus…” he grumbled, trying to get back up.
“Oh, god, sorry,” a voice was saying.
Adam wiped off his hands and patted and pulled at his jacket and shirt. A few twigs were stuck to him.
He sat up and looked at the man apologizing. It was him. It was him. The cute guy who knocked over the waiter inside. The one he felt staring at him the entire night. The one Adam tried not stared back at, but sang to anyway. Once he felt the cute guy’s eyes on him, Adam wanted to ramp it up a notch, to show off. He didn’t know why, but he wanted to impress this stranger. When they looked at each other, there was no one else in the room with them. And Adam sang with feeling, trying to reach him through song.
Adam saw his proffered hand, and he felt himself be pulled up by deceptively strong arms.
“Uh, thanks,” Adam said. Suddenly he was at a loss for words. Him. He released the man’s hand quickly to make sure he didn’t feel him trembling.
“I’m sorry about that. I don’t know why I’m so clumsy all the time. I didn’t see you, and obviously I wasn’t paying attention…”
“It’s okay,” Adam interrupted, flicking dirt off of himself. He couldn’t look at him. He was strangely unnerved by having him so close to him and talking.
“Uh, yeah, sorry, I start rambling when I’m…” the man stopped. “I’m doing it again.” And blushed.
“This…” Adam cleared his throat. “This might sound weird, and I promise it’s not a pick-up line…” he smiled nervously. “But do I know you? Have we met before?”
The man turned away, but Adam caught his nervous smile.
“I mean,” Adam continued. “You were staring…and uh…I, uh…I thought maybe you looked familiar for some reason.”
“I don’t think so. I would remember if I met you before,” the man stammered. He turned even redder. Adam smiled. He found it adorable for some reason.
Adam took a deep breath and stuck out his hand, “I’m Adam.”
The man looked at his hand then up to Adam’s face. Adam felt like he could get lost in those eyes. Long, dark lashes framing oh-so-innocent looking eyes. His lips.
“Kris.”
Adam felt the shiver slide up him like an electric coil. He felt Kris’s body tremble at the same time and wanted to blame it on the night air, but he knew better.
“Kris,” Adam whispered. “Why do I feel like I know you?”
Adam took a step closer and studied Kris’s face. The lights around the tent highlighted his nose and cheeks.
“Where are you from Kris?” he asked.
“Uh, LA…”
“No,” Adam shook his head. “Originally…where from down South? Your accent…”
“Oh. I’m from Arkansas.”
Adam stiffened. Holy shit. It couldn’t be. “Wait, is your last name Allen?”
“What? Um, wow. How?” Kris trailed off. He tilted his head and looked at Adam again, studying his face.
“I know you,” Adam replied. “And you know me.”
**
December 2006
And from the ballroom floor we are in celebration
One good stretch before our hibernation
One year.
It had been one year since he and Adam started dating. One year and three months since they met again after 10 years. Kris smiled to himself as he wiped the counter down again. He checked his watch and the door. Adam was late. They were meeting both their parents at Luques in 30 minutes. He debated calling to let them know they’d be running a little behind.
Kris mindlessly ran the cloth over the glass and thought back to that night where they met-again.
The Hotel del Coronado had been lit up, it’s famous red spire surrounded by hundreds of lights. More lights than usual because of the upcoming holidays.
The cold night air kept people from wandering outside, so Kris and Adam had the beach to themselves. Adam had finished the last song at the reception and told his friends/bandmates that he’d see them in the morning. Kris had discretely made his rounds then slipped away.
They made their way out of the park area and the reception tent and down to the beach, carefully stepping over the rocks. Instead of going the long way to the trail, they removed their shoes and went straight down to the beach. They laughed at their shared insanity.
Kris was shocked. He tried to reconcile the man in leather and exuding rock-and-roll walking next to him to the image of the 15 year old from the beach 10 years ago. This Adam scared him more than the boy Adam. As intense as Adam was back then, multiply that by 100, then add hot and sexy to the mix, and Kris had been tongue-tied to say much of anything.
He walked along side of Adam as he talked about anything and everything, while Kris continued to just stare and try to keep from bumping into him. Kris listened as Adam talked.
Eventually, Kris became comfortable with this new Adam. This new Adam was amiable and chatty and oh, so amazing. They sat at the base of the rocks, away from the waves. Just close enough to feel the errant spray of ocean water. Their arms and shoulders touched, whether to keep warm or something else, Kris hadn’t been sure at the time. He just knew that he liked being close to Adam.
As the light broke out in the sky indicating dawn, and seagulls started to screech along the shore, they finally got up and made their way back to the hotel. As they were about to go their separate ways, they exchanged emails and numbers.
Kris smiled dreamily. And today they would celebrate their one-year anniversary.
“Oh my god! Traffic sucks! I can’t believe I’m this late. I’m so sorry, Kris,” Adam shouted bursting into the store.
Kris laughed and threw the cloth into the back room, not caring if it landed on the floor. He grabbed his messenger bag and the keys to meet Adam in the middle of the store. Adam kissed his cheek, “Ready?”
“Always.”
**
March 2008
Our dreams assured and we all will sleep well
Sleep well, sleep well, sleep well, sleep well
The incessant thumps on the door rattled his brain, knocking it against the inside of his skull. Make it stop! his brain whined. Kris woke with a start. He bumped his head against the edge of…was that a toilet? Why was he on the floor in the bathroom?
The pounding on the door and in his head continued. Where was Adam? Why wasn’t he answering the door?
“I’m coming!” Kris shouted, flinching at his own voice, his ears protesting against the noise. He made his way out of the small bathroom and stumbled through the door hunched over. He stopped and nearly fell over his own feet in the middle of the room. He turned his head taking in the strange room. His head pounded in protest from the movement and grabbed his head, “Where the fuck am I?” he mumbled.
The beating on the door started up again.
“I said I’m coming!” he yelled out. His whole body cringed in pain. As he slowly made his way to the door, he tripped over a pair of sneakers. Black Converse. At least those he recognized.
He leaned along the wall next to the door, using it as a prop to get to the door and slid down the interminably long entrance. It seemed to go on for miles. When he finally reached the door, he had to take a breath.
With shaking hands, he opened the door to find Adam glaring angrily at him.
“What the hell, Kris!” he yelled out. Kris felt him grab his shoulders and start to shake him.
“Ad…oh god. Adam, stop!” he protested.
“It’s nothing less than you deserve,” Adam retorted. Hands still on his shoulders, Adam pushed into the room, walking Kris backwards slowly and steadily.
Kris let him, but only because his head hurt too badly.
“You can’t just disappear like that and not have everyone freak out!” Adam yelled. Kris squinted his eyes and tried to focus on Adam. It shouldn’t have been this hard. He was, like, right in front of him. Yelling.
“Shhh.”
“You’re shushing me?” Adam’s eyes widened comically. “I’ve been calling and wondering where the hell you went and now you’re shushing me?”
Kris straggled backwards until he felt the backs of his knees hit the bed. At least he hoped it was the bed. He flopped down. After feeling around with his hands and getting confirmation it was indeed the bed, leaned back and fell into the comforter.
“Uh, Adam?”
He heard Adam moving around the room. It sounded like he was picking up the mess.
“Yeah, Kris.”
“Where are we?”
**
You have stolen, you have stolen
You have stolen my heart
“Shit! Shit! Shit” Adam shouted in frustration. “Where would he have run off to? He’s not answering his phone. He’s not in our room.” He paced the floor equally angry and worried. Exhaustion was seeping into his body, but he tried to fight it off. He had to fight it off. He needed to find Kris.
“We’ll find him Adam,” Monte said calmly. “I’ve already got security going over their tapes and some are walking around. He’s gotta be in the hotel or on the property. He was too drunk to go anywhere far.”
With those words, Adam stopped. He just sat down in the middle of the floor in Monte’s hotel room. He still had his tuxedo on. They frantically searched for Kris the last two hours to no avail. Exhaustion had set in and he couldn’t even stand anymore.
Tommy came up to the room. He looked utterly trashed and tired. Being drunk and giddy and then looking for Kris was not helpful for any of them.
“Adam, my key card went missing. I think, maybe…you should check my room. Here’s a copy I got from the front desk,” he slurred. He barely made it to the couch before he fell face-first into the cushions, hand with keycard slipping down, tips brushing the floor. “I’d go,” he mumbled. “But I can’t move.”
It took everything Adam had to move. He crawled over to the couch and reached for the keycard that was barely held up between Tommy’s fingers and the carpet.
Adam felt a jolt of adrenaline and ran out the door. It made sense. They were goofing around last night and somehow, in a dumb game, keycards came out. Kris must have grabbed one. Why they didn’t think of it earlier…because all of us had our own keys that worked dumbshit his brain whined.
The elevator finally hit the fifth floor and Adam bust out as soon as the doors were open wide enough. He frantically tried to remember the room number as he stared at the directory with the contradicting arrows. He ran to the right and counted of rooms. He slid the keycard and waited for the click.
Nothing.
He tried again and got the red light indicator and an angry buzz. He started to knock on the door, politely at first. With no patience left, he started to pound on it. He pounded until he thought he heard a voice. His knuckles were hurting, so he banged on the door with the palm of his hand.
Suddenly the door opened. Kris stood there looking confused and in obvious hangover pain. Adam reached for him and started to shake him. He was so relieved, yet so angry that he started to shout and shake him some more.
Kris shut his eyes at the loud noise and begged him to stop yelling. Adam still had adrenaline coursing through him as Kris shuffled towards the bed, continuing to shush him until he sprawled backwards. The obvious cushioning of the bed changing Kris’s face from contorted pain to relief.
“Uh, Adam?”
Adam was moving around the room, picking up the tuxedo jacket and Kris’s sneakers.
“Yeah, Kris.”
“Where are we?”
“Wha…” Adam cleared his throat. “What?”
He watched as Kris lifted his head, “Where are we? Where’s here? This room.”
Adam placed the jacket carefully over the back of a chair and the sneakers on the floor. He moved carefully to Kris on the bed.
“We got married yesterday. Our commitment ceremony, then the party. You got way drunk and must have taken Tommy’s keycard. This is his room.” Adam paused and worried his lip. “You don’t remember?” Adam’s heart broke. How drunk did Kris get? Did he drink more on purpose so he wouldn’t have to remember?
Kris laid back and closed his eyes. The comforter rustled as he shook his head, “No, I remember that, and the party. I…I just. This room didn’t look familiar and I woke up in the bathroom.”
Adam let out a sigh of relief. He climbed onto the bed next to Kris. He smiled as he saw his eyes shut tight as if trying to will the pain in his head away. He lifted a hand to touch Kris’s face, fingers started to massage the left temple.
Kris groaned, “Adam. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have had that much to drink.”
“It’s okay. You just scared me when you disappeared. We’ve been looking for hours,” Adam said and continued to rub and massage Kris’s head.
“No, I was just so happy, and, oh, I don’t know. I’m never drinking again.” He leaned into Adam’s warm body, inhaling and feeling safe.
Adam laughed, “I’m just happy I found you.” He moved his hands away from Kris’s head and down his back, rubbing them up and down slowly. He pulled Kris in closer until Kris’s face was buried in his neck.
“Yeah, me too.”
“You realize you’re going to have to make it up to me, right? Missing our wedding night like that.”
Kris laughed and kissed Adam’s neck. “Oh, I know. Believe me, I know.”
**
Epilogue
March 2009
Kris stared at the sky. The sound of waves crashing around them was pierced with cries of seagulls. He could barely make out the stars, but knew they were up there.
For their one year wedding anniversary, Adam wanted to celebrate in private. They packed up a small bag, food and blankets and drove. They laid out the blanket and covered themselves with another.
“Adam?”
“Yeah?”
Adam waited for Kris to continue. When he didn’t, he propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at him. Kris’s amber eyes watched him carefully. Adam smiled. Kris smiled in return.
“We end up staring at each other a lot don’t we?”
Adam nodded, “Just shows we don’t need words.”
“But I do want to say something,” Kris said.
“What’s that?”
Kris’s fingers traced Adam’s eyebrows, the tiny creases around his eyes. They made a path down his jaw and to his lips. He parted them and Adam lightly bit the pad of his forefinger. He moved them to Adam’s ear and then behind his neck.
Adam shivered as tiny pinpricks of heat trailed Kris’s fingers as it went around his face and head. When Kris’s hand came to a rest on his neck, the warmed seeped into him. He knew this feeling would never go away. He felt the tug of Kris’s hand and followed it down.
Their lips met with the lightest of touches, eyes still on each other. Amber peered into ice blue. Synchronized, their eyes closed as their lips continued to press together.
~the end~