Welcome to Gaia! ::

He handed the keys over to the male without so much as a second thought. His mind was only focused on one thing and that was food. Fortunately Liam knew just where they could get some and he was in a hurry to get something in his belly. So allowing him to drive was no big deal. Alaine walked over to the passenger side and slide in once the doors were unlocked. He buckled himself up and waited as Liam got in as well and started the car. Before he knew it, they were pulling out the space and through the parking lot to the street. The drive to the diner was a short one. Honestly they couldn't have been in the car for more than a couple of minutes before Liam was puling in to another lot and parking the car in front of the brightly lit building. A small handful of cars took of the lot, but other than that there was hardly anyone about. Not that he minded. After all, he was used to the stillness of the night.

Unbuckling his seatbelt, Alaine slid out of the car. He wasn't at all surprised to find Liam standing and waiting for him. After closing the door behind him, he followed the male up to the sidewalk and in through the double glass door. Instead, two people sat the counter, while two couple took up some booths. Noting the self-seating sign and the male motioning beside him Alaine walked through the small diner to one of the well loved booths near the back. He allowed Liam to choose a side to sit and plopped down next to him. Reaching over the male, he grabbed one of the menus propped up behind the condiments and looked over the various. He was so hungry, he didn't really care what he ate so long as it was edible. Going over the menu a couple of times he finally settled on something simple. A grilled chicken sandwich and a milkshake seemed good. It was enough at least to shut his stomach up. Knowing what he wanted, he laid the menu aside and leaned against the male. He found Liam to be quite warm and comfortable to lean on. If he so allowed himself, he was sure that he might fall asleep just like this.

Alaine couldn't help being a tad picky about what he wanted. When he was hungry, he tended to just pick the first thing he came across. But what with it being so late, he knew it would be easier on his stomach to eat something light. No matter how starving he was. Once he got a few carbs in his stomach, he'd be fine. After making up his mind, Alaine set the menu aside and leaned against Liam. They sat together quietly, enjoying one another's company. As they sat there, Alaine couldn't help notice as the males hand slid across his thigh. He stole a quick glance up to the male but said nothing. Picking up the males hand and laced their fingers together. The longer he sat there, the more comfortable he felt. He paid the other patrons no mind, not even so much as keeping an eye out for a server.

The longer he sat there, the more the weight of the day was starting to sink in. He really was rather comfortable, soaking up the males warmth. As lovely as their quiet comfort was, it was soon interrupted by the arrival of a waitress. He watched as Liam recited his own order. Then feeling the eyes of both the waitress and Liam on him, he recited his own. The waitress gave him an odd look before jotting down his order. He muttered a quiet thanks before resuming his previous position of using Liam as a leaning post. They sat quietly for a few minutes. When the male began to speak, he glanced up at him. He certainly had his attention. Something he didn't tell him? Hopefully it wasn't bad news but there was no telling. Something in the way Liam spoke seemed to rather confirm this gut feeling. He quickly glanced down as the male squeezed his hand and listened as he continued. Liam spoke softly and gave him just enough information to understand the reasoning behind his absence. When he was done, he wasn't sure how he should feel. Of course, he felt like a jackass for being so bitchy earlier. But there was also a bit of confusion. "If that's the case why couldn't you just tell me? I would've understood." he replied. Petty as it might be, he still wished that Liam had let him know what was going on. Better to know he was taking care of his family than sitting at home and thinking the worst. He really did worry while Liam was away. He wasn't asking for the full story, just something to have known he hadn't been dead in a ditch.

Being bitchy was apart of his nature. And as such it was only natural that he would be upset about being shut in the dark. He of course couldn't fault the male too much. Death wasn't exactly something that was so easily put into everyday conversation. But damn it, he just missed him so much. He nodded quietly as the male spoke again. "I get that and you should grieve. Still wouldn't have you though to send a text. You wouldn't have even had to bring up your grandma's passing. You could have just said you needed to extend your vacation or something." It wasn't intended but his tone came off more bitchy than he meant it to. And he regretted it instantly. Alaine muttered an apology. He sighed softly and looked back up at the male. "So when did you get back?" he asked curiously.

At this time and place he wasn't sure what exactly he was feeling. Sure, his tone was quite hostile. But he was bottling it all up. As of right now he felt like just one big ball of emotion and he wasn't too sure he could handle it for very much longer. He was angry that Liam had been gone and missed him so dearly. But he was also stressed about running everything at work all by himself. It was never his dream to own a business all on his own. He only agreed because Samuel was his best friend and he needed all the help he could get. But just like Liam, he was gone as well. For weeks, he'd been cooped up night after night in that office with no one to turn to. Now suddenly the one person he'd so very much longed to see was back in his life. Smiling and kissing him as though it were all a dream. Just one little sign, a hint of acknowledgement was all he wanted. Yet he never got it. He felt so overwhelmed that he wasn't sure if he should just be happy that Liam had come back alive. Or just break down and cry, whine, and lash out at the male until he felt better. Shame he wasn't such a person to really do either option.

And so he continued to lean against the male. His head against his arm while his eyes burned a hole in to the ugly, old table. Alaine listened to the male go on, but his temper was starting to get the better of him. It all just sounded like a bunch of excuses. Unfortunately he knew the male well enough to know this not to be the case. Liam wasn't much of a liar himself. He kept his head down and nodded quietly in response. This was stupid. It wasn't as though Liam were confessing his undying love for him. But still, he felt like crying. Guess he'd been more lonely in these last couple of weeks than he realized.

While there was no denying that he was indeed mad about being left without a trace it couldn't be helped. Instead his mind and body was filled with sadness as he thought about how incredibly lonely the last month and a half had been. He missed their banter, their tender moments, and occasionally spending the night away in diners talking about anything and everything while munching on cold fries and milkshakes. Alaine hadn't been paying attention to know what sort of face he'd been making. Must have been really something. Because he noticed almost immediately as Liam stopped talking and bore a hole in to the side of his head. When asked what was wrong, he shook his head. "It's nothing." he said so quiet, his voice was barely audible. But he knew Liam wasn't likely to accept such an answer.

With his head down and eyes burning in to the floor. Alaine took three whole minutes to compose himself. The anxiety he felt still scratched and snarled at his insides. But he'd rather Liam actually had a reason for his unwarranted crying. Instead of sitting there and making a scene. Taking a breath, Alaine kept his eyes to the ground while his cheeks started to flush against his will. "I-I.......I missed you.. he said in what might have been an even smaller voice than before. It wasn't his fault. Why couldn't Liam just know these things? That would make matters so much easier.

Alaine knew himself to be a terrible liar. Thus why he tried his best not to in most situations. Especially in ones involving people who knew him better. Still, it was hard not to at a time like this. He could still feel the male watching him intently. But wasn't ready yet to face him. Not yet. Alaine wasn't sure whether or not Liam had even heard him. He was too afraid and mostly embarrassed to even try asking if he did. Lucky for him, he seemed to get his answer only a few moments later. Alaine listened as Liam spoke softly to him. While he knew his tone to be quite serious, Alaine was almost certain he could hear the faintest trace of teasing. And just like that a little switch in his head seemed to go off. He wasn't being serious here. He didn't want to be teased. Not now anyways. Looking up from the floor at last, Alaine let go of the males hand as he turned to face him. "You deserved it." came his response, his tone just as soft and gentle. Lifting his hands he cupped the males face and leaned forward to kiss him. The kiss was small and fleeting, but enough to get his feelings across.

Alaine knew it wasn't his intention to tease him and yet it happened anyway. That was just the way Liam was. And he didn't fault him for it. Though he would admit that at a time like this, it really did make staying mad at him quite difficult. For the moment he would forgive him. Instead Alaine focused on the smoothness of his skin beneath his hands and press of their lips. He let out a small yelp of surprise as the male pulled him closer. He took a shuddering breath, his lips slightly parted as he stared back at the male. He was very still as the male reached up to touch him. He didn't mind. But he also didn't want to get too far ahead of himself. Not while sitting in a diner with just maybe a handful of witnesses. "You better." came his teasing reply. Before he could say anything more, Liam was bringing him down for another kiss. He slipped his own hands down the males neck, letting them sit just behind it. Alaine kissed him back. Softly, sweetly, like a lover. And in this moment that was exactly what Liam was to him. He missed him like one missed a lover away on business. One kissed slipped in to another, then another, and a third one after. After a few more he pulled away just enough to get a good look at his face. "So how do you plan on making it up to me?" he asked curiously.