Some Things Never Change 19.03
Title: Some Things Never Change
Fandom: RPS
Story: Highway: Rest Stops 19.03
Characters: Alan Davies and Robert Sean Leonard
Authors: michelleann68 + evila_elf = evila_ann
Prompt: 10_per_genre 07 Lies (Drama)
Word Count: 717
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Robert recounts his lunch with his mom to Alan.
Authors’ Notes: Feel free to friend us if you want to read a day ahead of the communities.
Click here for the timeline if you need to get caught up or relive the good old times.
Previous story:
Not Soon Enough
Robert knew Alan was eagerly waiting for his call. He had talked to him about five hours ago and had expressed his nerves about meeting his mother for lunch. It had been going to be the first time he had seen her since Thanksgiving. Now, back home from his outing, Robert felt like going back to bed and curling under the covers. It was barely 5pm.
It wasn't that lunch had been horrible. Just...terribly awkward.
Robert gave in and flopped down on the bed, at the same time reaching for his cell. He had promised that he would call.
Alan picked up in the middle of the second ring. "Been on needles waiting, love. So?" Alan prompted after a few beats of silence.
"The most uncomfortable two hours of my life. It was like we hadn't seen each other in years, not only five months. We made...small talk."
Alan was silent as Robert vented his frustrations. "Sounds horrible," he said during a pause, sighing sadly. "Is she still on the off about us?"
"She, uh, actually avoided the whole subject." Robert tried not to stammer.
"Really? Is that a good thing?"
Robert felt bad for not telling Alan the complete truth. Joy had avoided all talk of Alan. For the first hour. It had all started with a silence, then she had asked how Alan was doing. Robert had lowered his eyes to his meal, not wanting to see whatever look would flash across her eyes as he told her he had been chatting to Alan while he had waited for her to arrive. But he had heard her sigh, which he had been thinking of dubbing 'The Alan Sigh'. Some things would never change, and this looked like one of them.
"Robert?"
He was jolted back to the present. "Sorry. Alan. Just a little drained."
"Don't," he had told his mom after hearing her sigh.
"Don't what?"
"Be negative towards my choices. You have no idea how much it hurts."
"Love? You must be tired."
"Lying on my bed, actually. Don't think I will be moving any time soon."
"You sure everything is okay?"
"Yeah." Robert nodded, like he was also trying to convince himself.
If Alan suspected the opposite, he didn't call Robert on it. "Wish you were here," he said instead. "About ready for bed meself."
Robert didn't want to to be reminded of Alan's absence. Especially not today. "How did your day go?"
"Hooked up with me sis and a few old mates from the stand-up days for dinner. Had fun catching up and reminiscing."
Robert smiled, closing his eyes. "Sounds nice."
"Have there been others?"
"Mom--"
"Besides this Alan, have there been any other men?"
He had almost said yes, but had decided on the safer option. "No."
She had nodded to herself, like that confirmed something. "Why this man?"
"There's just something about him, Mom. I'm not sure if I can explain it in a way that won't upset you," he had truthfully said. "He...gets me. We share things in common. I ache to be with him when he is not here. I would not trade him or the time I have spent with him for anything."
Robert had to open his eyes again to keep from nodding off completely. "I'm sorry," he said before the silence could get any longer. "I can't focus right now."
"Was lunch really that bad?"
"Things just didn't go as well as I had hoped, is all. We can catch up later this week. I promise I will be less boring."
"Boring you are not, love."
Robert smiled. "Talk to you soon." He hated cutting the phone call short, but the only thing he was able to focus on was something he didn't want to talk to Alan about.
"Maybe we can do this again sometime," Joy had said as they both had stood up from their table.
"Yeah, maybe," Robert had echoed back, trying to sound more hopeful than he felt.
They had hugged awkwardly, and Robert had watched his mom walk off into the crowd.
Robert rolled over onto his side and set his phone on the nightstand. He curled his arm up under his pillow and closed his eyes, planning to rest for a few moments. He slept for 5 hours.
19.04 Passing Time
Fandom: RPS
Story: Highway: Rest Stops 19.03
Characters: Alan Davies and Robert Sean Leonard
Authors: michelleann68 + evila_elf = evila_ann
Prompt: 10_per_genre 07 Lies (Drama)
Word Count: 717
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Robert recounts his lunch with his mom to Alan.
Authors’ Notes: Feel free to friend us if you want to read a day ahead of the communities.
Click here for the timeline if you need to get caught up or relive the good old times.
Previous story:
Not Soon Enough
Robert knew Alan was eagerly waiting for his call. He had talked to him about five hours ago and had expressed his nerves about meeting his mother for lunch. It had been going to be the first time he had seen her since Thanksgiving. Now, back home from his outing, Robert felt like going back to bed and curling under the covers. It was barely 5pm.
It wasn't that lunch had been horrible. Just...terribly awkward.
Robert gave in and flopped down on the bed, at the same time reaching for his cell. He had promised that he would call.
Alan picked up in the middle of the second ring. "Been on needles waiting, love. So?" Alan prompted after a few beats of silence.
"The most uncomfortable two hours of my life. It was like we hadn't seen each other in years, not only five months. We made...small talk."
Alan was silent as Robert vented his frustrations. "Sounds horrible," he said during a pause, sighing sadly. "Is she still on the off about us?"
"She, uh, actually avoided the whole subject." Robert tried not to stammer.
"Really? Is that a good thing?"
Robert felt bad for not telling Alan the complete truth. Joy had avoided all talk of Alan. For the first hour. It had all started with a silence, then she had asked how Alan was doing. Robert had lowered his eyes to his meal, not wanting to see whatever look would flash across her eyes as he told her he had been chatting to Alan while he had waited for her to arrive. But he had heard her sigh, which he had been thinking of dubbing 'The Alan Sigh'. Some things would never change, and this looked like one of them.
"Robert?"
He was jolted back to the present. "Sorry. Alan. Just a little drained."
"Don't," he had told his mom after hearing her sigh.
"Don't what?"
"Be negative towards my choices. You have no idea how much it hurts."
"Love? You must be tired."
"Lying on my bed, actually. Don't think I will be moving any time soon."
"You sure everything is okay?"
"Yeah." Robert nodded, like he was also trying to convince himself.
If Alan suspected the opposite, he didn't call Robert on it. "Wish you were here," he said instead. "About ready for bed meself."
Robert didn't want to to be reminded of Alan's absence. Especially not today. "How did your day go?"
"Hooked up with me sis and a few old mates from the stand-up days for dinner. Had fun catching up and reminiscing."
Robert smiled, closing his eyes. "Sounds nice."
"Have there been others?"
"Mom--"
"Besides this Alan, have there been any other men?"
He had almost said yes, but had decided on the safer option. "No."
She had nodded to herself, like that confirmed something. "Why this man?"
"There's just something about him, Mom. I'm not sure if I can explain it in a way that won't upset you," he had truthfully said. "He...gets me. We share things in common. I ache to be with him when he is not here. I would not trade him or the time I have spent with him for anything."
Robert had to open his eyes again to keep from nodding off completely. "I'm sorry," he said before the silence could get any longer. "I can't focus right now."
"Was lunch really that bad?"
"Things just didn't go as well as I had hoped, is all. We can catch up later this week. I promise I will be less boring."
"Boring you are not, love."
Robert smiled. "Talk to you soon." He hated cutting the phone call short, but the only thing he was able to focus on was something he didn't want to talk to Alan about.
"Maybe we can do this again sometime," Joy had said as they both had stood up from their table.
"Yeah, maybe," Robert had echoed back, trying to sound more hopeful than he felt.
They had hugged awkwardly, and Robert had watched his mom walk off into the crowd.
Robert rolled over onto his side and set his phone on the nightstand. He curled his arm up under his pillow and closed his eyes, planning to rest for a few moments. He slept for 5 hours.
19.04 Passing Time