Almost Normal : //
I woke up to the soft, comforting light filtering through the curtains, the warmth of the sun on my face. For a moment, I could almost convince myself that everything was normal. The guest bedroom of Jason’s house was cozy, with a plush throw blanket and pillows that invited me to sink in and stay awhile. The walls were adorned with pictures of mountainous landscapes, giving the room a serene, almost vacation-like feel. I stretched, taking in the familiar yet foreign surroundings, and a sense of contentment washed over me.
I stood up, my bare feet sinking into the soft carpet as I made my way to the window. I pulled back the curtain, letting the sunlight pour in, and took a deep breath, feeling the warmth on my skin. The view outside was tranquil, with trees swaying gently in the breeze and the sun casting dappled shadows on the ground. It was almost enough to make me forget the eerie silence of the past day.
Almost.
My gaze shifted to Jason, who was outside in the yard. He was wearing a tank top and shorts, his muscular frame glistening with sweat as he worked. I took a moment to admire the bulk of his biceps, the way his muscles flexed with each movement. It was a sight to behold, and I couldn't help but feel a spark of attraction. It would be the ultimate joke that I’d end up stuck with a man as hot as Jason. A man who would never think twice about me. I chuckled softly to myself, shaking my head at the absurdity of it all.
I quickly got dressed, choosing a comfortable outfit for the day ahead. As I made my way downstairs, the aroma of coffee and something sweet wafted through the air, making my mouth water. Jason was in the kitchen, his back to me as he flipped something on the grill. He turned as I entered, a warm smile spreading across his face.
"Morning, sleepyhead," he said, his voice deep and resonant. "I hope you're hungry. I made pancakes."
I returned the smile, feeling a flutter in my chest. "Morning, Jason. And yes, I'm starving. It smells amazing in here."
He gestured to the table, which was set with two places, complete with steaming cups of coffee and a plate piled high with fluffy pancakes. "Have a seat. I'll join you in a sec."
I sat down, taking a sip of the hot coffee, savoring the bitterness that woke me up more effectively than the sunlight ever could. Jason joined me a moment later, his plate heaping with food. We dug in, the only sounds in the room the clink of cutlery and the occasional murmur of conversation.
"So, what's the plan for today?" I asked, between bites. "Any ideas on what we should do?"
Jason chewed thoughtfully, swallowing before he responded. "I was thinking we could explore a bit more, maybe find some supplies. But for now, let's just enjoy this moment of almost-normalcy, huh?"
I nodded, a small smile playing on my lips. "Sounds like a plan."
I stood up from the table, carrying my plate to the sink. "I'll do the dishes later," I said, turning to Jason. "For now, let's pack some supplies and get ready to head out."
Jason nodded, finishing his last sip of coffee. "Sounds good. I'll grab our backpacks."
We made our way to the living room, where Jason pulled out two backpacks from a closet. I started packing some essentials: a water bottle, a flashlight, a pocket knife, and some non-perishable food items. Jason did the same, his movements efficient and practiced.
As we packed, I brought up the idea that had been lingering in the back of my mind. "You know, while we're out there, we should keep an eye out for other survivors. Maybe someone else is out there, just like us."
Jason paused, looking up from his backpack. "That's a good point. We should be cautious, though. You never know how situations like this can change people. It could bring out the best or the worst in them. Anarchy, desperation—it can make people do crazy things."
I nodded, understanding his concern. "Yeah, you're right. But we can't just assume the worst. There might be others out there who need help, or who have information. It's worth a shot, right?"
Jason agreed, zipping up his backpack. "Yeah, you're right. Let's keep our eyes and ears open. But stay alert, okay? Trust, but verify."
I smiled, appreciating his cautious optimism. "Deal."
We finished packing and made our way to the garage. Jason pulled out two bicycles, their tires inflated and ready to go. I paused, looking at the bikes, then at Jason. "Why do you have two bicycles?"
Jason ran a hand through his hair, a hint of embarrassment in his gesture. "Oh, uh, well, my ex-girlfriend used to live with me. She got me these for my birthday a while back. We, uh, had a bit of a messy breakup. She didn't want them, so she left them behind."
I raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on my lips. "Oh, really? And here I thought you were just a cycling enthusiast."
Jason chuckled, shaking his head. "Well they are going to come in handy now, won't they?"
I nodded, taking one of the bikes. "Absolutely. Let's hope they don't let us down."
Jason led the way, his bike handling the terrain with ease as he expertly navigated the deserted streets. I followed close behind. It was easy to forget, for a moment, the eerie silence that had greeted me when I woke up yesterday.
"You doing okay back there?" Jason called out, glancing back with a smile.
"Never better," I replied, grinning back at him. The wind rushed past my ears, and I felt a sense of freedom and exhilaration that was hard to describe. It was just a bike ride, but it felt like so much more.
We arrived at the local hardware store, a tiny run down building that looked like it had seen better days. The windows were shattered, and the door was ajar, creaking slightly in the breeze. Jason pushed the door open wider, and we stepped inside, our footsteps echoing in the vast, empty space. The store was a mess. Shelves were overturned, tools and supplies were strewn across the floor, and there were signs of recent activity—a half-eaten sandwich on the counter, a flashlight left behind, and footprints in the dust. It was clear that other survivors had been here before us.
"Looks like we're not the only ones who had this idea," Jason muttered, picking up the flashlight and testing it. It clicked on, casting a beam of light through the gloom.
"So there are other people?" I exclaimed in a hushed tone, following him carefully as he started to explore the aisles.
The hardware store was a labyrinth of narrow aisles filled with tools, hardware, and various supplies. As we ventured deeper, the signs of ransacking became more apparent. It was as if a tornado had torn through the place, leaving chaos in its wake. Jason led the way, his flashlight cutting through the darkness. We turned a corner, and suddenly, the aisle narrowed significantly. The shelves on either side were piled high with boxes and tools, leaving barely enough room for one person to pass, let alone two.
"This looks promising," Jason said, his voice low as he started to sift through the items. "Let's see what we can find."
I followed him into the tight aisle, my body brushing against his as we maneuvered through the cramped space. The contact was brief but electric, and I could feel the heat radiating from his body. I took a deep breath, trying to focus on the task at hand.
We started to search the shelves, pulling down boxes and checking their contents. The aisle was so tight that our bodies were pressed together at points. I could feel the solid muscles of his back and arms as he reached for items on the higher shelves, and the scent of his sweat and the outdoors filled my senses.
As we were searching, a loud noise echoed through the store, shattering the relative silence. It sounded like a distant crash, maybe something heavy falling over. We both froze, our hearts pounding in our chests as we listened, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound.
"What was that?" I whispered, my eyes wide with fear.
In my reflexive stumble backward from the noise, I accidentally knocked into a pile of items towered precariously on the aisle adjacent to us. A can of paint, left open and uncapped, wobbled and then fell, splashing down and covering both of us in canary yellow paint.
"Shit!" I exclaimed, looking down at the mess. The paint was everywhere, splattered across our clothes and faces, dripping from our hair.
"Well, that's one way to liven up the day," Jason said, chuckling as he tried to wipe the paint from his face with his paint-splattered hand.
"Yeah, I'd say so," I replied, still laughing. "Let's get this stuff off. It feels gross."
Jason nodded in agreement. "You're right. Looks like there’s a bathroom in the back. We can use that."
We made our way to the bathroom, our footsteps echoing in the empty store. The room was surprisingly clean, considering the state of the rest of the place. There was a sink, a mirror, and a stall with a toilet. It was basic, but it would do.
Jason turned to me, a small smile playing on his lips. "It was good thinking to pack extra clothes. I'm glad one of us is always prepared."
I returned the smile, feeling a flush of pride. "Well, you never know what you're going to need in a situation like this."
As we talked, Jason started to pull off his tank top, his movements casual and unhurried. "I have to admit, I didn't expect to be covered in paint today," he laughed. He held his arms high above his head now, exposing dense tufts of armpit hair as he lifted his massive frame to remove his top. I couldn't help but admire the sheer mass of his pecs, the body hair that covered them. Large pink nipples. His arms were all splashed with paint, and the contrast of the bright yellow against his tanned skin was striking. I tried to act casual, but my heart was pounding in my chest as I took in the sight of him.
"I should probably do the same," I said, trying to keep my voice steady as I started to unbutton my own shirt. "Wouldn't want to get paint all over your place."
Jason turned to the sink, wetting a rag and squeezing out the excess water. "Here, let me help you with that," he said, his voice soft and sincere. "It's hard to reach the back by yourself."
I turned my body with a hidden caution so he could clean the paint from the back of my neck and shoulders. He helped as I pulled the paint splattered top off, exposing my bare torso. His touch was gentle but firm, and I could feel the heat of his body behind me. The rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. I tried to focus on staying still, on not reacting to his touch, but it was difficult. Every brush of the rag sent shivers down my spine, every breath he took made me acutely aware of his proximity. He then turned my body toward him and wiped the front of my arms. I felt exposed. It’s not that I thought I was ugly. I was a handsome guy. Athletic build. Blonde hair, blue eyes. I was pretty cute. But I wasn’t what Jason was. I wasn’t built like him. Or handsome like him.
"You're all set," Jason said, his voice a low rumble as he stepped back. "Your turn."
I took the rag from him, wetting it again before turning to face him. I started at his shoulders, working my way down his arms, trying to be thorough but not too invasive. His skin was warm and smooth under my touch, and I could feel the solid muscle beneath. I avoided his chest, not wanting to make things too awkward, and focused on cleaning the paint from his arms and hands.
"Thanks," Jason said, his voice soft as I handed him back the rag. "I appreciate it."
"Anytime," I replied, trying to keep my voice light and casual.
Jason turned to me as I was putting on my clean shirt, "Hey, do you mind grabbing my spare shorts from my bag? They're probably in that front pocket. I don't want to keep these shorts on any longer than I have to."
"Sure thing," I replied, turning to his backpack and rummaging through it. I found the shorts and pulled them out, holding them up to inspect them. "Got them. Do you want to—"
I turned back to Jason, and my words trailed off as I took in the sight of him. He had casually taken off his paint-covered shorts and was standing there in nothing but a jockstrap, his body on full display. I couldn't help but look down, admiring the size of his bulge and the impressive girth of his thighs. The jockstrap hugged his assets perfectly, leaving little to the imagination.
Jason let me stare for a moment before breaking the moment with a joke. "Believe it or not, I was about to do my laundry before the world decided to disappear. Normally a boxers guy, but I ran out and these were all I had clean"
"Well, that's a shame. Such a good look for you" I laughed, trying to sound more teasing than aroused.
He took that moment to push the joke even further, rotating his ass toward me with his hands on his hips and giving his exposed cheeks a little wave. “Does it make my butt look big?”
I rolled my eyes, turning away to give him some privacy as he put on the clean shorts. There was something about Jason, something about the way he carried himself, the way he looked at me, that made me feel alive in a way I hadn't in a long time.
As we finished gathering supplies from the hardware store, Jason suggested we check the back room before leaving. "You never know what you might find," he said, his voice low and curious.
I nodded in agreement, and we made our way to the back of the store, pushing open a creaky door that led to a dimly lit storage room. The air was musty, and the room was filled with shelves stacked high with boxes and various hardware items. Jason started rummaging through the boxes, his eyes scanning the labels. "Looks like a bunch of holiday signs and decorations," he muttered, pulling out a box marked "Valentine's Day."
He opened the box and pulled out a sign, reading it aloud with a smirk. "'Spoil your sweetheart this Valentine's Day! Special deals on tools and hardware for the handy man or woman in your life!'"
I raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on my lips. "That's actually kind of cute."
Jason chuckled, putting the sign back in the box. "Yeah, it is. Who knew hardware could be romantic?"
There was a pause as we both stood there, the weight of our situation settling in. I decided to ask about something that had been on my mind. "You know, I've been wondering. How did you and your ex break up? You never really talked about it."
Jason leaned against a shelf, his expression thoughtful. "Oh, that. Well, it was for the best, let me tell you. We were together for a while, but we just weren't right for each other. The breakup was tough, but it was also a relief. I felt free, you know? Like I could finally be myself again."
He looked at me, his eyes sincere. "Sometimes, things have to fall apart so you can find out who you really are and what you really want. And for me, that breakup was the best thing that ever happened. It set me free."
I nodded, understanding his perspective. "That makes sense. I'm glad you found your freedom."
Jason pushed off from the shelf and took a step closer to me, his voice soft. "What about you, Matthew? Any lovers in your past?"
I hesitated, not wanting to dive too deep into my personal life, especially given our current circumstances. "Not really. I mean, there have been people, but nothing serious. I think I might just be better off alone."
“Not much for sharing about yourself, are you? But I get it, we only met a day ago. There’s time.” He continued to shuffle through some of the boxes. The truth was I guess I just felt like someone like Jason would never spend a second of his time with me if the world wasn’t going to shit. That we would be separated in seconds if we found other people. I didn’t want to get invested in something that wouldn’t last.
“Alright, fine. One detail." I let out a quick breath. "My longest relationship was with a guy named Cody. It was only 6 months. And through that whole thing I felt completely trapped like a prisoner. It made me never want to date again. And I haven’t since.”
Jason looked toward me, sincere in his gaze. “Thank you. Sharing shit is never easy. But it helps to know you a bit. For all we know, it could just be the two of us for a while. How long ago was that breakup?”
“2 years.” I said in a low tone.
Jason tilted his head, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You never know, Matthew. Someday, you might meet someone who changes your mind about things. You just have to be open to the world around you. Not every guy will be like that guy."
I thought to myself silently about his comment. Our world had gotten a lot smaller in this past day. Was he hoping for the potential of other survivors? Or was he telling me an unspoken comfort growing between us? I didn’t want to read into it anymore than I already had.
"Maybe you're right," I said, a small smile playing on my lips. "But for now, let's just focus on surviving, okay?"
Jason grinned, clapping me on the back. "Deal. Now let's get out of here and see what else we can find."
We stepped out of the hardware store, the sudden brightness making me squint. As we started to walk away, a loud crash echoed through the quiet street, making us both jump. I turned to Jason, my eyes wide with alarm. "Did you hear that?"
Jason nodded, his expression serious as he scanned the area. "Yeah, it sounded like it came from over there."
I pointed towards a nearby laundromat, its sign swaying gently in the breeze. "I think it came from there. We should check it out. Someone might need help."
Jason grabbed my arm tenderly, stopping me. "Matthew, we should be careful. We don't know what's out there."
I insisted, "I'm going to check it out."
I pushed open the squeaking glass door of the laundromat and called out, "Hello? Is anyone here?"
TO BE CONTINUED.
