M.K. Lee's Blog: Telling Tales, page 47

From Across The Hall – 25

“It’s not actually a date.”

“Sure sounds like a date to me,” Michael replies. Ruben regrets calling his older brother in an excited panic the moment he got home from work. “Tell me; how many other people are going to be working late there in the university by the time you get there?”

“I honestly don’t know.”

“Maybe he plans on having his way with you up against an easel,” Michael teases with far too much gleeful laughter in his voice.

“Mike—”

“Or maybe he’s going to find an excuse...

From Across The Hall – 24

“Dude. You ever heard of playing hard to get?”

Ruben winces at the sound of Mark’s voice but is still staring after Sam’s departing back with a face-splitting smile on his face, his thumb stroking over the napkin clasped in his hand.

“Seriously,” Steven says, shoving his hand against his arm. “You could’ve acted like you’ve not been drooling over the guy for months.”

“I have not been—”

“Oh, come on,” Mark replies testily with a rare scowl on his face. “You are forever straightening t...

Split

It was when he bent to get his change out of the vending machine, that he felt them split, the noise of it audible across the cafeteria. He froze, daring not to look down at his trousers. Was it a good underwear day? A grotty one? He was relieved at least to know that he was wearing some. Otherwise, well. the titters behind him would give way to gasping, and he’d have struggled to cover himself over with a hastily tied shirt. He grabbed his coffee, straightening up as discreetly as possible, try...

From Across The Hall – 23

“I study at the university.”

Ruben looks up and startles at Sam appearing out of nowhere on the other side of the cash register, surprised he’s managed to creep up on him when he is always looking for Sam. “Oh.”

“I mean. I wondered if, since you seemed to be interested—and you can tell me if you’re not—but I’m preparing a couple of pieces and keep a lot of my art in a studio there. At the university. It’s not that far from here. I thought maybe, if you want, you could come look? At my art?...

From Across The Hall – 22

“If you like,” Sam says with a quick glance back to the counter, “I’ll show you some of my art some time. If you’re even interested, that is,” he adds, eyes wide in alarm. “I didn’t mean—”

“I’d like that,” Ruben says immediately, endeared that it feels like he’s saving Sam from his fumbling words.

“Great. I’ll… we’ll work something out.”

Ruben nods, then notices how long the queue is forming at the counter. “I think you’re needed.”

Sam looks over at the counter again and lets out a s...

Abundant

The air was clean, the food abundant. A sense of harmony resonated across the world. They stepped off this ship with a sense of purpose; this was to be their new home. Not that the residents already living there had any say in the matter. They approached the ship with caution, a mixture of shields and gifts as they came to a stop. Had they known they were coming? Watched in trepidation as they dropped from the sky? Or maybe they weren’t the first visitors to this utopia of a planet. Because as t...

From Across The Hall – 21

“You draw?”

There is excitement in Sam’s voice as he brings Ruben’s lunch to the table, having waved away his offer to wait by the counter.

“A little,” Ruben replies, glad that he’d settled on the tablet, and after hesitating spins the tablet around for Sam to look.

“Wow. That’s beautiful,” Sam says, resting on his palms against the table. Ruben watches the muscle flex up his forearm and tries hard to look away.

“Thank you.”

“Do you have other stuff?”

Ruben nods, thumbing throu...

From Across The Hall – 20

Ruben has talked himself both in to and out of having his lunch in the coffee shop. When adamant he isgoing, Ruben is taking everything from his drawing tablet to a sketchpad to a favoured, battered book. And when he is absolutely not going, Ruben is having his lunch in the store cupboard, hiding out of sight like a coward. It’s been a difficult conversation with himself on the journey to work. Ruben is sure he earned a whole seat to himself on the bus just for the faces he was making.

But wh...

Merry Christmas, Mr Boone

This is Raife and Dexter’s first Christmas as husbands, and they couldn’t be more excited. With friends to meet and gifts to give, they embrace the holiday season with a mince pie in one hand and a glass of something sparkly in the other. Though between parties and dinners, is Dexter ever going to get Raife’s Christmas presents wrapped in time for Christmas Day? And who is the mystery gift giver leaving presents in their mailbox every night?

Coming soon!

Margin

This was the problem with writing by hand. So many lines crossed out until the pen pushed through with a hundred barely legible, others scribbled in the margin. For some things, words flowed freely, but for others, he couldn’t make a single one fit. It shouldn’t be this arduous a task planning his speech for his brother’s wedding. He should find inspiration just for being his best man. Perhaps if he wasn’t marrying his best friend, the words would be easier, and he’d care not less, but not so ha...