Chapter 13

It was eight am when Kyan finally made it downstairs to breakfast, although he was far from being hungry. The only reason he showed up in the dining room was because between Andrew and Carson his phone had been ringing off the hook. He shuffled up to the group, who was already digging into their meals.

"Morning, Sunshine," Carson said, studying Kyan's attire. He looked a mess. "I take it you didn't sleep much."

Ted, Barry and Jai snickered.

"Yeah, you could say that," Kyan growled, yanking the chair out and falling into it. He straightened the sunglasses that were perched on his nose.

"So," said Carson, leaning over. "Was it all fireworks and ringing bells?"

Kyan strummed his fingers on the table, deliberately ignoring Carson.

"Can I get you something?" asked the waitress that appeared.

"Coffee," Kyan spat. "Just coffee."

He saw his friends exchange glances of concern. Barry cleared his throat.

"This is ridiculous," Kyan hissed, shoving back from the table. "I'm going back upstairs."

"Wait a minute!" Carson said, grabbing Kyan's hand. "What the hell happened last night?"

"Hiya, Kyan!" Andrew's voice fell over them. "How are you doing this morning?" He didn't wait for an answer before plowing ahead. "Today's itinerary is up in the make up room. We are heading out at ten am." He looked at Carson. "You are meeting Travis in an hour though."

"Thank you, Andrew," Carson said, politely, now overly worried about how Kyan was acting.

Andrew crinkled his forehead, unsure of what to say, then moved away.

"Kyan?" Carson started slowly.

"Just let me go, Car," he pleaded.

Carson stood up. "What happened last night?"

Kyan shook his head before burying his chin in his chest.

"Come on," said Jai, hopping up. "Let's get him out of here."

The four of them, without another question, ushered Kyan out of the restaurant.

"Okay," said Carson once they all piled into the elevator. "Let's start from the beginning. You asked Thom to come back to your room. And then he said…"

"He would," Kyan answered.

"So, what's the problem?"

"Jesus, Carson," Ted yelled. "Give him a chance to talk."

"He didn't come," Kyan mumbled.

Carson raised an eyebrow. "You mean he didn't come- or he didn't come?" He thrust his hips forward.

"Oh, good god," Jai groaned.

"He didn't show up!" Kyan yelled. "He told me he had to go get something from his room, and then he… I waited for hours!"

"Why didn't you just go knock on his door for Christ's sake," Barry asked.

"And look completely desperate?" He shook his head. "He obviously was putting me on." He swallowed. "I played right into it." Glancing up, he felt the tears brimming. "I was stood up, and I feel like such a fool for believing that he really wanted me, that things were going to be okay…"

"Something must've happened," Jai rationalized. "Thom wouldn't just do that."

"But he did, Jai!" Kyan barked. "Do you have any idea what it feels like to be sitting there waiting? Hoping? My entire being feels like it has been ripped out of me."

"But Thom wouldn't be so heartless."

"Apparently you don't know him as well as you thought you did," Kyan said, coldly.

Jai looked away.

Carson sympathetically put his hand on Kyan's arm. "I'm sorry."

Kyan snorted. "Not half as sorry as I am. I should've never talked myself into asking him out in the first place."

"Oh, don't be so melodramatic," Ted said. "You should find out what happened to him."

"Like hell I will," Kyan vowed. "I have no desire to talk to that man ever again. He better not even…"

"So basically," Carson said as the elevator stopped on their floor. "You are going to deny yourself true love, and do to him what he did to you last week."

"Pretty much."

"Oh my god," Barry groaned. "Are we in our thirties?"

"Don't start with me, Barry!" Kyan bellowed. "You have no idea how I feel right now."

"Oh, yeah, I've never been stood up before," Barry drew, sarcastically. "Get a grip, Douglas."

"Alright, alright," said Carson, pushing Kyan towards his room as he saw the anger rise in his face. "We'll talk about this later. Right now we need to get ready for the show."

"You expect me to go over to the house and face him," Kyan shrilled.

"Just get in here," Carson gritted.

"I don’t want to hear it, Car," Kyan stated, entering the room. "I'm beyond…" He sat on the bed in mental exhaustion. "How could he do… How could I… "

"You have to bounce back, here," Carson said, sitting next to him. "We have a show to do. You can't let this effect that."

"How can I not!" Kyan's voice squeaked.

"I'll be with you," he reassured.

"You lie! I have to be at the house at ten. You are leaving at nine to go shopping with Travis. I'm going to have to face Thom alone."

"But you won't. Nothing is going to happen with the cameras rolling; with all that crew there. You have to just suck it up." He placed his hand on Kyan's shoulder. "You can get through this. And when things settle down, we'll find out what happened."

"I don't want to know what happened," Kyan threatened.

"Cutting off your nose to spite your face," Carson sighed. "Look, even if the two of you decide not to be together, which in my opinion is just a silly thought, but even if you don't, you at least have to talk through this to save your job! To save all our jobs! Ted, Jai and I will not accept anyone but you and Thom on this show, you got it?"

Kyan nodded weakly, knowing that Carson had made a valid point. The line of professionalism and personal life had to be drawn, although it still would not make it easier to go into the house.

Carson disappeared forty-five minutes later, leaving the three of them to fend for themselves in the dressing room. Jai and Ted strive to lift Kyan's spirits as they gathered their clothes and got into basic hair and makeup. They would all arrive at the house to help in the grunt work, and then change when it was time for their scheduled appointment with Travis.

Sooner than Kyan would've liked, he was looking up at the house as they pulled into the driveway. Things were hectic as usual, and Kyan did a quick sweep of the panicked bodies: "Crew, crew, crew, cameraman, furniture guys… No Thom."

"God, I don't want to go in there," he mumbled.

Before Ted or Jai could give him last minute encouragement, the car door opened, and Andrew started to hustle them out.

"I fucking wish Carson was here," Kyan moaned under his breath.

He kept his eyes low as they made their way into the house. Fresh paint burned their senses, and the noise of the table saw bounced around the empty rooms causing their ears to ring. Despite the fact that everyone was on task and in their usual frenzied state, the air around them didn't feel right. Instantly Kyan worried that everyone knew what was going on with him and Thom.

"And where is Thom now?" Ted asked Andrew.

"He's just finishing the bathroom," he answered. "Kyan, you are due in there to see what he has done."

"I don't need to go in there," Kyan jumped. "I don't even have product yet to stock the shelves."

Andrew looked at him suspiciously. "You've always wanted to check out the bathroom the minute Thom was done with it."

"Well, I don’t today," Kyan snapped.

The sympathetic hold that Ted had on his arm suddenly turned into a painful pinch.

"Is there something wrong?" Andrew asked.

"Kyan," Ted hissed in warning.

Forcefully, Kyan produced a smile. "No, of course not, nothing is wrong." He swallowed, bitterly. "I'll check out the room."

"I'll come with you," Jai offered.

"No, no, the new stereo arrived only minutes ago," Andrew informed him. "It needs to be set up…"

"Oh, good god," Ted muttered.

"Andrew, can't it just wait for a second?" Jai growled.

A few crewmembers glanced in their direction.

"Christ," Kyan swore, seeing them. "We can't do this."

"Do what?" Andrew asked.

"Just… I'll just go into the bathroom. Jai, you can do your job as normal." He brushed passed Andrew. "Want to switch up the routine just a little bit and all fucking hell breaks lose."

The sound operator stepped in front of him. "If you are done, I'd like to mike you."

"Sure, why not," Kyan sighed. "Hopefully it will keep me from having to talk all damn day."

"We are having a meeting in fifteen minutes," Andrew announced.

"What for?" asked Ted, crossing his arms.

"You'll find out at the meeting." He clapped his hands together. "Let's just get to work, okay."

"Thank you," said the sound operator as he finished with Kyan and moved on to the other two.

"Yeah, you could've taken a little longer," Kyan grumbled. He saw a flash of warning in Jai's eyes, then pushed to carry himself down the hall. "I feel like I'm walking into a snake pit."

He skirted passed a crewmember, smiling in Hello as he did, turned the corner and stopped. Thom was hunched over the sink, scrubbing it clean. He was wearing an old pair of shorts and a t-shirt- barefoot as usual. His face was scrunched in concentration. Kyan cleared his throat.

"Oh, hey," said Thom, lifting his head at the sound.

"Oh, hey? That's all you have to say to me?"

"Things have been hectic around here," Thom continued. "I'm beat." He tossed the paper towel into the trash. "So, come on, what do you think?"

"Excuse me?" Kyan said, slowly, not able to come to terms with the fact that Thom was acting as if nothing had happened the night before.

"I chose a rusty red tone," Thom pointed out. "Painted the cabinets, changed out the hardware. I installed a new shelving unit for all his hair and skin care products you'll get him."

Kyan stepped into the room very timidly. He glanced around quickly, not even paying attention to what he was seeing. "I don't believe this."

Thom shrugged. "It's what I do."

"That's not what I meant." Kyan watched Thom's face twist into confusion. "My God, he's delusional!"

"What are you talking about then?" He rubbed his forehead. "I'm exhausted."

"You are exhausted," Kyan stated. "How fucking appropriate."

Thom's eyes shifted to the hallway to see if anyone had heard Kyan's bark. "What has gotten into you?"

"Oh my god," Kyan hissed. "You are such a fucking bastard."

"Wh--"

"Were you up all night thinking of new ways to make me look like a fool? Were you standing outside my room laughing to yourself as I sat and waited for you... believing that you were going to show up?"

"Kyan---"

"Spare me the fucking details, Thom." He stepped back. "I won't let you talk your way out of this."

"Wait a minute!" Thom yelled, grabbing Kyan's arm as he headed out of the room.

"I don't have anything to say to you!"

"Well, I have something to say to you."

Kyan whipped his head around to him. "What makes you think I'm going to listen to anything you have to say?"

Just as Thom began to answer, Ted rounded the corner. He grimaced. "Cameras, microphones," he muttered.

"God damn it!" Thom growled.

"No need to warn us," Kyan said. "I'm finished here."

"I'm not letting you run away again," Thom barked, yanking Kyan to him. "Outside. Now."

"I'm not going anywhere---" Kyan hadn't complete his sentence before Thom was dragging him out of the back door.

Within seconds microphones were shed and the cameras had lost where they had traipsed off to.

"You are out of control!" Thom yelled.

"How dare you yell at me! This is not my fault!" Kyan shot back. "I'm the one that was stood up."

"I did not stand you up!"

"You are insane!" Kyan bellowed. "I waited for you all damn night!" He pushed Thom away from him. "You've proved your point, okay! I hurt you, you hurt me. We are even now. Just leave me alone!"

"I will not leave you alone! I did not stand you up last night. Rhonda was supposed---"

"So you are sending your crew to do your dirty work for you!" He ran his eyes up and down Thom with venom. "Grow up!"

"Me? Grow up? Kyan, you aren't even letting me explain…."

"And why should I let you! You sure the hell didn't let me explain last week about--- why I left that morning."

Thom threw his hands up. "I don't believe this."

"Believe it," Kyan hissed. "Don't talk to me. Don't look at me. Outside of the show- you are nothing to me!"

There was a still silence. Kyan clinched his jaw and wrapped his hands into fists.

"You are being a child," Thom said, coldly, breaking the tension. "I'm not sure I'm the one that needs to grow up."

Kyan snorted.

"When you find out what happened last night…" He backed up. "Then you'll know what a fool really feels like." He turned away and sighed. "I won't talk to you. I won't look at you. I'll do exactly as you say. Just be careful of what you wish for, Kyan." His body took a second, but he was able to walk away without looking back.

Kyan was surprised at the hot tears that burned his eyelids. He had thought yelling at Thom would've made him feel better. It hadn't. It only pronounced the reality that he had lost him all over again.

"Kyan, hurry up," Jai was beckoning once he finally appeared back on the "set".

"We've been looking all over for you," Andrew said. "Carson will be back soon, then Ted is going to take Travis food shopping. But before then I have to tell you guys something."

Kyan crossed his arms, keeping his eyes low. Andrew was standing between him and Thom, but he could still feel Thom's eyes scorching him.

"So, what's up?" asked Ted, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"There was a little incident last night," Andrew began.

Kyan's stomach flipped over.

"Sam, the paint crew head, had a minor heart attack around one am," Andrew informed them.

"Oh, my god!" Jai gasped.

Kyan felt his entire body collapse.

"He's okay. He was taken to the hospital downtown. The crew is taking shifts to go visit with him until his family gets here."

"Bec called me when it happened," Thom continued. "I, uh, I had asked Rhonda to tell you guys, but Andrew apparently thought it best if we waited until morning- so not to worry anyone." The last statement was slightly sneered.

"Jesus," Ted breathed.

Kyan could hear Ted's comment had nothing to do with Sam.

"Anyway, when I got the call I went out to the hospital. I was there for a few hours, then I came here to pick up Sam's work." He cleared his throat. "He's alright. He's in good spirits."

"Everything will go as planned," Andrew stepped in. "Thom has a little more work on his hands, so we might need you guys to bump it up. Otherwise, we just wanted you to know what was going on, okay?"

"What about Carson?" asked Jai. "Does he know?"

Andrew nodded. "Bec's telling him."

"I'm going to go visit him later tonight," Thom said. "Anyone is welcome to come."

"Yeah," said Ted. "We should get him a card or something."

"Yeah," Jai agreed, softly.

Andrew looked at Kyan. "You okay, big guy?"

He nodded, tightening his arms around his chest as his brain ceased to function.

"Okay," Andrew said. "So, let's get back to work."

Jai and Ted waited for one of them to say something once Andrew moved back into the house.

"I have some painting to do," Thom managed after a few seconds.

"Thom…" Ted said.

"There's nothing to say, Ted." He looked over at the shaken man now next to him. "I thought Rhonda was passing the message on. If I had known… Whatever. It's not worth thinking about it now. Kyan's told me what he wants from me." He shuffled his feet. "I have to get back to work. There's so much to do." Giving Jai and Ted a faint smile he disappeared into the house.

"See! I told you Thom wouldn't have stood you up like that," Jai injected.

Kyan nodded.

"What did you say to him?" Ted asked.

"That I never wanted to talk to him again," Kyan whispered.

"Well, now that you know what happened," Jai said. "You guys can finally get things cleared up!"

Kyan shook his head. "Not after the way I talked to him."

"Oh, please."

"Thom will not hold it against you," Ted assured. "Go talk to him."

"I can't," Kyan moaned.

"Christ, swallow your pride!" Jai lectured. "He's waiting for you to come to him." He nodded towards the house.

Kyan glanced over his shoulder and saw Thom standing in the living room. He was looking out at them, but quickly turned away when he caught Kyan's eyes.

"Hey, Ted, Jai, you ready to go?" Andrew yelled from opposite side of the yard.

"Typical," Ted grumbled.

"Listen, Carson will be here soon," Jai said, touching Kyan's arm.

"I don't think you guys should leave until he gets here," Kyan said, almost panicked at the thought of just him and Thom in the house.

"Come on, guys," Andrew coaxed.

"We gotta go," Ted said, leaning in and kissing Kyan on the cheek. "We'll see you later tonight." He shifted his eyes to where Thom still stood. "Go talk to him."

Kyan nodded meekly, knowing there was no way he was going to do that. Seconds later, Jai and Ted had left and he was stepping inside the house.

"Ted started to clear some of the junk out of the kitchen," Thom said to him. His voice was calm and professional.

"You want me to finish?"

"If you don't mind."

"Sure." He balked and licked his lips. "I---"

"Don't embarrass yourself," Thom said, nodding towards the crew that surrounded them.

"Yeah," he said, then started to the kitchen.

"Maybe we can talk later."

Kyan's back stiffened. The words were sincere and hopeful, yet he couldn't get rid of the pride that was eating at him. "Maybe," he answered.

He heard Thom sighed as he entered the rancid room. He was almost thankful for the mess that he encountered. It would keep his thoughts occupied. Taking a box, he started to fill it with the mounds of useless stuff that had been pulled down from the cabinets. He glanced towards the refrigerator, wondering if anyone had tackled that yet. It had been a good fifteen minutes before Carson's voice filtered through the house. Kyan heard him ask a few crewmembers to take the shopping bags upstairs to the bedroom before showing up in the doorframe.

"You heard," Kyan said, not looking up.

"On the way here," Carson answered, coming fully into the room. "From the look of Thommy out there, you two haven't…"

"I told him I didn't want to speak to him ever again."

"Why did you do a thing like that!"

"It was before I found out what happened."

Carson hopped up onto a part of the countertop that was cleared. "You need to learn to keep your mouth shut."

Kyan shifted his eyes up to him. "How was I supposed to know what happened?"

"Did he even try to explain to you before you jumped all over him?"

Kyan shuffled.

"Damn you," Carson sighed. "You did the same thing to him that he did to you, didn't you?"

"I was upset, Car!"

He rubbed his hands over his face. "I don't even believe this. I mean, of course I was upset when I heard about Sam, but Kyan, I was more thrilled that there was an explanation! I was almost positive I was going to come back to some sickening, joyful bliss and this whole psychotic mess would be resolved- you would be his, he would be yours. End of story."

Kyan kicked the box out of his path. "You were wrong."

"Apparently."

"Look, don't make this any harder on me than it already is."

"You are making it harder on yourself." He brushed some lint off his pants. "And I guess it's stupid to ask if you have talked to him about it."

"We are working."

Carson rolled his eyes. "Great. But speaking of which, I need to go deal with this guy's closest. I wonder if Thom…." He tilted his head. "Thom! Come in here."

"Oh, good god," Kyan grumbled.

"What's up?" Thom asked, rushing into the room with a paint roller in his hand. He looked at Kyan before looking to Carson.

"Is the bedroom done yet? I have those clothes…."

"Do you work here, Carson?" Thom asked, sarcastically. "Is the bedroom ever done when you are ready for it to be done?"

"No."

"Then why do you think it would be done now?"

"Maybe if you get off your lazy, fat ass and do some work," Carson teased, hopping off the counter. "I'm going to go upstairs anyway and pack up some of those old clothes."

"You think you can do it without flapping your gums?"

Carson mocked him as he slid out of the room. "Have fun, Kids."

"Am I the only one who he drives nuts?" Thom asked.

"No. I'm right there with ya," Kyan said, leaning against the counter.

"Hey, Thom! Get your butt back in here!"

"Well, uh…" He shifted. "Painting the living room; should get back to it."

"Yeah," Kyan said.

"You going to finish up here?"

Kyan nodded, then touched the box with his sneakered toe.

"Okay," Thom mumbled. "I'll see you later." He turned and raced out of the room.

"Yeah," Kyan said. "See ya."

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