bsumone | ❝ You fairies love where love is wise and just ❞

At least the apartment wasn't in the worst part of town. It may look a little sketchy, but it could always be worse. That didn't mean James had to like it. Unfortunately, at this time, there really wasn't anything he could do about it. It's not like he could suddenly invite Eli to live with him. That would just be uncomfortable with them still being teacher and student. Not to mention Malory being around part of the time.

Maybe this would prompt him to get the upstairs of his house finished by the end of the school year. He'd gotten it cheap because the upstairs loft hadn't been finished into a proper living space. He hadn't needed it since there was enough room for him and Malory.

Wow. Wasn't it a little premature to think about Eli moving in? They'd barely even started this relationship a few hours ago!

James smiled when Eli kissed him and gave a small wave as he departed. And you can bet he stayed parked right where he was until he watched Eli vanish into the building. Then and only then did he leave.

He didn't have any errands to run, so he just drove around for a bit until it was time for them to meet. James made sure he was a few minutes early, waiting to see Eli go into the library before, too, went inside about ten minutes after. He wandered near the study rooms until he found the one Eli had booked. Then he knocked lightly to be let in.

Eli was quick to get properly cleaned up and dressed with his book bag over his shoulder. Then he was off to the library after snagging a ride. Getting the room was easy since he came here a lot and he even was able to grab several books of poetry. After that it was just a matter of waiting.

Boy did his face light up when he saw his boyfriend though. Quickly he closed the blinds so that way they'd have privacy before letting him inside. With the door closed, he wrapped his arms around him to give him another kiss.

"Hi."

With the blinds closed, he felt safe enough to pull Eli tighter against him and draw that kiss out a little longer. James wasn't really sure what was making his heart race: Eli or the fact that they were still, very technically, in public. Well, did it matter much? Here they were holding each other for the first time.

It was nice. Except that part of his mind that was savoring what Eli's body felt like against his. That went onward imagining it in other ways... Jesus, he's a 54-year-old man. He should not be this horny! He pulled back finally and managed a smile despite the mental images playing out in his mind.

"Hi. You look nice."

"Thanks."

Seriously, the man was so good at kissing. Sure, he didn't have a lot of experience since he only had less than a month's worth of dating experience under his belt but that was fine. What mattered to him was that James was great at this and he loved it. Giving him another peck on the lips, he gently pushed those glasses back up onto that handsome face.

"We have the room until the library closes. It's all ours."

As long as Eli was happy with it, that's what mattered. There was bound to be a gap in experience, all things considered. There's no need for James to point it out again and again. Eli's most certainly aware of that fact.

So he smiles and then glances over to the books Eli's selected. He's familiar with most of the names, but wonders if there's some rationale behind the selections.

"ARe you familiar with Christina Rosetti?"

"I'm about to be. Because you're going to read some of her work to me right?"

Going over to the table, he made sure their chairs were close and looked until he saw the collection of her work. Holding that out to James, he sat down and smiled as he waited to see what his boyfriend was going to share with him.

James lifted his hand to indicate he didn't need the book. He turned his chair slightly so it was facing Eli before he sat down in it. He cleared his throat, then began.

"'I loved you first: but afterwards your love
Outsoaring mine, sang such a loftier song
As drowned the friendly cooings of my dove.
Which owes the other most? my love was long,
And yours one moment seemed to wax more strong;
I loved and guessed at you, you construed me
And loved me for what might or might not be –
Nay, weights and measures do us both a wrong.
For verily love knows not ‘mine’ or ‘thine;’
With separate ‘I’ and ‘thou’ free love has done,
For one is both and both are one in love:
Rich love knows nought of ‘thine that is not mine;’
Both have the strength and both the length thereof,
Both of us, of the love which makes us one.'"

He listened to the way James spoke the words, his tone so soft and soothing. It was like a spell had fallen over the room and he almost forgot to breathe. But the smile never left Eli's lips as he let himself cling to ever single word. A love poem. It was so sweet and so...perfect.

"I thought that one might end up sad but it really isn't. The end switches it up to something so beautifully uplifting."

Warmth spread over his features at Eli’s reception. His smile was soft and almost relieved that Eli enjoyed his selection. There weren’t a lot of people his age who genuinely enjoyed poetry and more of the older works that James built his academic life around.

“She’s a bit past the period I studied most, but I am deeply fond of her works. A highly underrated poet.”

He glances toward the books again, then back to Eli. “What else have you chosen for us?”

"I kind of grabbed everything that was poetry on the way in so I don't even know what all I grabbed," he confessed as he spread out the various books so that way they could look at them more easily. It was quite a nice selection now that he was looking at it. A variety of poets and genres.

"Poems make me think of you so I wanted to read poems with you," Eli admitted as he grabbed one to start flipping through it. "What eras did you really study?"

Because he really wanted to start go get to know him better.

“My specialty is in the Metaphysical poets. Seventeenth century. John Donne, specifically.” It might be a little high brow for high school, but Eli might at least have heard of Donne.

"Wow. The clergyman. I saw you reading something of his once so I looked him up to read things too." He paused then and made a small show of looking bashful as he looked over at James.

"I might have watched you a bit to read everything you were reading since sophomore year."

A brow lofted but then returned to its usual place. That was sweet and more than a little flattering. This boy’s been keeping up on his interests. So he’s probably read Crowley, Cleveland, and Marvell, as well. At least from that period.

It suddenly made him feel like he was trailing behind. Eli spent the last two years exploring James’ interests. And he doesn’t even know what sort of dance Eli studied.

“I know so little about your interests, outside dance. In the vague sense. I’m not even sure what sort of dance you do.” Well, outside of the erotic.

"I've studied a little bit of everything. My favorites are contemporary and ballet though. With some hip-hop in there when I just want to do something freer."

Eli paused in his flipping to realize that James was honestly right though. He'd spend almost two and a half years stalking this man to learn everything about him. Because how else would you describe what he'd been doing even if he hadn't gone as far as figuring out where he lived and all that.

"I guess you really don't know a lot about me. Okay, what do you want to know?"

Everything.

“Well, what are your other interests and hobbies? What are your dreams for the future? What kinda if music do you like?” Those seemed like a good start.

Setting the book down, he looked up at the ceiling while he pondered his starting point. He didn't have to answer that in order, after all. So, hmmmmm...

"Music depends on what I'm doing. If it's to study to then it's got to be instrumental and with a classical feel to it. But if it's just to listen to then anything that I can dance to. Because what I want to do is join a dance company after I graduate. My big dream is to be one of their headline performers."

Eli lifted his hands and moved them as if he was showing his name in lights on a sign in front of him. "I don't really have time for anything like interests and hobbies because if I'm not dancing then I'm sleeping or I'm at school. But I guess reading. I've always really loved to read."

His hands fell into his lap. "My parents always hated me dancing because it was so expensive. Books were a great way for me to escape when they wouldn't come to my competitions or wouldn't pay for lessons or shoes or outfits."

A sigh left him. "I've paid for most of my dance career so far. But it's been worth it because I feel so free when I'm dancing."

That made sense. Most people who were dedicated to their art were dedicated to their art. They didn't often have time or energy for outside hobbies and interests. James could understand that on an academic level. He'd really never been that passionate about anything. Studying and writing poetry wasn't an intensive endeavor, not like music or dance or theatre. It didn't require both physical and mental acumen like those arts did.

"Are you planning to go to college?"

Edited 2023-01-24 06:44 (UTC)

"If I can afford it I might. Right now I'm in a tiny studio apartment taking the bus everywhere I go. And I'm eating like broke college student already."

Eli shrugged through because he wasn't upset about his life. Far from it. Sure it was rough but it was free from those who couldn't support his dreams. Smiling, he leaned forward and rested his chin on his hands.

"I get to dance and now I get to date the man of my dreams. So honestly I'm living the dream."

He honestly didn't know how much a degree might help in Eli's chosen field. It's not like academia, where James had to have at least a master's and a certain number of published works before he could even consider getting a tenured position. Even at the university, he had to teach, write, and continue to do research in his field to maintain that tenure. That was a big part of the reason he started teaching high school instead. There was no pressure for him to keep adding to the body of research, no pressure for continued publications.

It seemed to him that for someone in the arts, it's practical experience that matters more than a degree.

But he couldn't help smirking at that last thing. "The man of your dreams? Really?"

"Yep. I've been dreaming about you this whole time."

Eli grinned and then scooted his chair closer than it already was so he'd be able to easily lean over and kiss his cheek. Books? Snacks? Forgotten in favor of this man here. Who he could touch and kiss and talk to freely. Who was getting to know him as much as he was getting to know James.

"I figured you'd only ever be a dream. This is really special for me."

He hesitated a second before reaching over to take Eli's hands in both of his. "You must understand how flattering that is to hear from someone." It's sweet and romantic and just... absolutely flattering to someone of his age. He felt like he's at that age where people don't look at him in that sort of way anymore.

And then there's Eli. A handsome young man who could easily take his pick of partners. And he chose James.

"I haven't really been involved with anyone in a while, so I hope you can bear with me while I try to navigate some of this."

"You're already being really patient with someone who really doesn't have much experience at all. It's only fair I be patient with you too."

As long as he knew he could date him he was honestly so happy. They would have to find ways to be sneaky for awhile but that didn't bother him. He'd gladly do that if it meant that he got to have these moments with James. The man was handsome, experienced, and so very kind. How he got so lucky that he hadn't been snatched up was beyond him.

"I'm going to make sure you get tickets to all my stuff from now on, okay? You just make whatever you can."

"I would love to see you dance." A beat, then, "Really dance." Not the sexy stuff he'd already seen. not that he'd mind terribly seeing more of that in a more private setting...

Focus, focus.

"I'll try to come to them all. I might have to skip something if it's my time with Malory." He couldn't exactly bring her along. Then he'd have to explain something... That would be awkward and possibly put them at risk of discovery.

"I understand."

He bit his lip then and then gave one of the hands holing his own a squeeze. A playful smile came to his lips as he leaned in a little closer.

"I can show you more of the exotic stuff sometime too. Only you're allowed to touch and I'll take everything off..."

He's sure his face went red given how hot it suddenly felt.

"Please don't tease like that..."

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