Page 2 of Treehouse Whispers
Jamie grinned. “I realised I was more nervous speaking with guys than I was girls…and my crush on Simon.” He snickered then sobered. “Is that a problem?”
Benji shook his head vehemently.
“I didn’t want to hide it from you.”
Benji looked at him, beaming. “Thanks for trusting me.”
A few days later, Jamie, his parents and his siblings had come to Benji’s house for dinner, and Jamie had told everyone at once. The table had gone quiet for a moment, and soon after, his mum said, “Thanks for telling us.”After, they’d all gone back to what they were doing previously.
It had given Benji the courage to examine himself and figure out where he was and what he liked. And a few weeks later, the dinner was interrupted by his revelation. No one had batted an eyelid about it, but it did have one effect. Both he and Jamie had been given ‘the talk’ by their parents about safe sex—even though they’d had the talk at school—and they were cautioned to be sure about the feelings of others before deciding to have sex. Benji had read between the lines and reassured his parents that he and Jamie were not going to have sex. He wasn’t sure they believed him. Understandable given his true feelings, which had become apparent not long after.
Their parents were wrong. Neither had touched the other except for one kiss they had shared shortly after those conversations. They’d wanted to get their first kiss out of the way, and who better to do it with than your best friend. So, at thirteen years of age, they kissed, and although it had only lasted a few seconds, Benji still thought back to that kiss. Benji felt the heat from Jamie’s breath on his face as they’d leaned in, the soft caress of Jamie’s palm on his jaw, the firmness of their lips pressing together, and the slight slide of his fingers as they left Benji’s face. They studied each other, and Jamie licked his lips, pulling away with a grin and a “Yay, we did it.”
"You don't have to be present for them to show your work, do you?" Jamie continued, pulling Benji back to the conversation, away from the memories.
"No, I don't. I don't know why I'm messed up about it. Maybe it's because more people are likely to see them? I don't know." Benji honestly couldn't articulate what his issue was.
"Well, I think more people will see them online than in a gallery, especially with how popular the internet is." Jamie took a sip. "What paintings have they asked for?"
"They haven't specified which ones they want. They want a variety to showcase my work."
"Well, that's good because it means they aren't interested in one or a few particular pieces. They appreciate the whole package." Jamie nudged him with his shoulder, smiling. “And so they should. Your paintings are fantastic.” He patted Benji on the knee.
He tried to smile back. "Tell me about your day. Distract me," Benji requested. He loved Jamie's voice; it was warm and inviting and helped him get to sleep at night. He would imagine Jamie talking or reading to him and doze off to the sound of his voice. It was one of the many reasons why his relationships never lasted. Benji had tried to move on from Jamie. He had dated several times over the last twenty years, but they lasted days or at maximum weeks until the guy figured out how close a relationship he and Jamie had. It scared a lot of men away.
Without complaining, Jamie began talking, "Well, I had a shit day, to be honest. Dad sent me the details of an issue where a guy had deleted everything on his computer byaccident," Jamie used finger quotes, "and couldn't seem to get it back again. I investigated using the information he'd given me. Took me bloody ages…” He took a drink.
Jamie was a computer specialist just like the rest of his family. His dad and a friend had started the business when Jamie and Benji were about four, and it had grown successfully and rapidly since. As Jamie’s siblings had grown, they had each taken on a role in the business, including Jamie’s mother, who was their receptionist. And as other people joined the family—brother and sister-in-laws—they helped out too. It was a huge family business now.
Benji made an irritated sound in response to Jamie’s idiotic customer. His hand slowed more and more as he listened, relaxing and calming, before stopping and resting his head back against the wall as he closed his eyes, breathing deeply. He had no idea why Jamie’s voice affected him as it did, but he wasn’t complaining, and Jamie never did. It was in these moments, when Benji was able to think without pressure, that he understood how much he relied upon Jamie. And how much he needed to thank him for.
“You falling asleep on me? I’m not boring you, am I?” Jamie asked, laughter evident in his tone. Benji smirked but didn’t open his eyes until a hand covered his own. Lifting his head, he peered at Jamie, losing himself in his jade-coloured eyes. “You don’t have to do anything about the gallery if you don’t want to. It’s your choice. If it’s worrying you, don’t do it.”
Benji smiled. “I know. Thanks. You’ve helped. You always do.”
Jamie tapped his hand and beamed back, continuing to recount about his day after flicking on a battery-operated lamp they had. The sun was already going down, and soon, they’d have to return to the house, most likely Jamie’s.
Their usual routine was to have dinner together and watch a movie with popcorn until one would head home to bed. They never did the sleepover thing; Benji had decided early on it was a cause for discomfort for him. Not the being with Jamie thing, but his restraint was always severely tested. Once, when they were teenagers, he’d spent the whole night watching Jamie sleep, which was super creepy. Since then, Benji had made excuse after excuse about staying over, Jamie rarely asked anymore. He felt bad about it, but Benji couldn’t explain.
“Come on, sleepyhead,” Jamie interrupted his musings. “Time for dinner. Mum sent over enchiladas.”
“Oh god! Why didn’t you say?” Benji scrambled to get his things back in his bag while Jamie sniggered. The light-hearted feeling that had arisen from being in Jamie’s presence pressed to the forefront of his body, and his hands and legs quivered as he stood waiting for Jamie to be ready.
“For that exact reason! I would never have heard anything about your worries if I’d told you beforehand. All you would have focused on was the food.” Jamie shook his head, collecting the flasks, bag and blankets. “Did you remember to have lunch today?” he inquired.
Benji paused and cocked his head. “Er…yes, actually. I had the leftover cheesy potatoes.”
“Nice. Come on, let me feed you.” Jamie began to descend the ladder, glancing across at Benji and winking. “See you in a few.”
Benji’s heart thumped in his chest, and he descended the ladder faster, needing to hide his lower body’s reaction. He was used to this by now. At least he had a short time to calm down until dinner.
Jamie knew Benji would go home first to put all his stuff away and enter through the front door, their usual routine, again. Benji wasn’t sure when he got so set in his ways, but his anxiety had a hand in it. Good thing nobody minded. Nobody that mattered, anyway.
