Title: I can't help falling.
Rating: PG-PG13
Disclaimer: Oh yeah! I bought the Wings off of Ken Holland with the 3 cents
I have in my pocket. Losers. I don't even own three cents
Dedication: To Manny, today is his b-day
I glance around. Brendan�s Halloween party is in full swing, all the guys are goofing around, or just sitting and talking. The music is playing, loudly enough to be heard, but not so loud that it hurts one�s ears. I sit down on the couch, adjusting my mask. I can�t help but smile at that, Brendan always seems to come up with the strangest ideas. He wanted to have a costume party, all masks so we can�t tell whose who. I'm dressed up as Jason from the Friday the thirteenth movies, And the others have their own various costumes. Drapes for instance, is dressed up as Ozzie. Darren is Patrick Roy and Kirk is apparently me. Those three are easiest to recognize. They�re standing in a corner together, probably talking about the nights plans. A small stab of jealousy hit me as I think of that... everyone on the team seems to have someone... besides me. The one guy I happened to fall for is new and probably has no interest in me.... no interest in any guy... speaking of him, I haven�t seen him all night. I look around, hoping to be able to recognize Brendan... after a few minutes I spot him, dressed up as an alien, the give away is that he�s standing next to Steve, one arm wrapped protectively around Steve�s waist. I walk over to him. He�d know if Curtis is here... He smiles at me. �Let me guess.... Manny?� He asks, looking up and down my body. Damn it sucks being the shortest here. �Yep.� �Whats up ferret?� I shrug, glad that my mask is hiding my blush. �I was wondering if Cujo was here...?� He glances at Steve and they both shrug. �We haven�t seen him.� I nod. �Alright, thanks guys...� Then I realize Steve isn�t wearing his mask. �Where�s your mask Stevie?� He hold it up in his left hand, it�s Richard Nixon. I laugh and shake my head before turning to go look for Curtis. Even if he doesn�t like me romantically he�s a good friend, and because he�s new to the team I'm really the only person he�s spoken to so far. I adjust my old hockey mask again, it�s more uncomfortable than the ones we use today, it squishes my nose, but I leave it on. I spy Sergei, holding an eye mask in his hand as he speaks to Boyd, who is dressed as a cowboy. I also notice Tomas and Nick, Tomas dressed as a carpenter, and Nick as an astronaut. Luc and Duke are both wearing beret�s and black and white stripped shirts, sitting and talking to Dandi in the kitchen, Dandi is dressed as a mime. I note that most of the guys have discarded their masks, not that I blame them, the one I'm wearing isn�t exactly comfortable. I don�t see Brett and Chris, but I sure can hear them from the guest bedroom, so I stay away from there... Still no luck with finding Cujo. After I�ve searched most of the house I give up. He must have decided to skip this party, besides, us guys are famous for our new years parties, not Halloween ones. Oh well, I need some fresh air anyhow. I step out onto the patio, and blink in surprise when I see who�s out there. Curtis is sitting on the steps, looking up at the sky, his mask (A dog one no less. Ha ha.) in his lap. I ignore the fluttering in my chest and sit next to him. �hey Cuj.� I murmur, smiling though he can�t see it. He looks at me for a moment. �Er.... sorry... but I can�t recognize you.� I laugh and shake my head, I'm not gonna tell him, let �im guess. �Why are you sitting out here all alone?� I ask, wondering. He looks back up at the sky, exhaling softly. �eh...� I'm now courious and a little apprehensive. �Is there something on your mind?� He looks back at me briefly. �Yeah...� I turn to him and place my hand on his shoulder. �Tell me about it.� I say, wanting to help him somehow. He looks down at his hands. �I don�t even know who I'm talking to, I can�t recognize your voice because that Mask muffles it, and I can�t see your face.� I shrug lightly. �Tell me what�s wrong and then I�ll take off the mask.� He bites his lip, a gesture that�s utterly gorgeous to me, and nods slowly. �Alright...� I turn myself to face him and cross my legs, so I'm sitting pretzel style, and lean against one of the patio rails. He leans back and continues to stare up at the star spotted sky. �Well...� I nod, silently encouraging him. �I... I like someone on the team.�
My heart stutters in my chest and I look at him with utter disbelief. Damn the world. I knew I would never have the luck to have someone in my life... I bite back a sigh, oh well, it�ll the same, isn�t it? This has happened to me before. I take a deep breath and force myself to sound nonchalant. �Really?� He nods, turning to look me in the eyes. �I know it�s not a big thing on THIS team... but it seems big to me... I�ve never like a guy before... and I�ve never felt like this about any girl.....� With each of his words I want more and more to stand up and walk away, I don�t want to hear this. One of the few times I let myself fall for someone and they�ve fallen for someone else... one of my friends none the less. He turns to me, his blazing blue eyes burning me. �I mean... I�ve seen Brendan and Steve together... and Sergei...� I shiver when he murmurs Sergei�s name, just thinking about that man.... Sergei has always been a source of comfort. Curtis closes his bright eyes briefly, and I know Sergei�s been there for him too. He runs one hand through his beautiful dark hair and looks back at me. �So I know liking the guy isn�t a problem... but I mean, he probably doesn�t... why would he? I�ve been...� He trails off and my heart goes out to him. He looks so flustered and uncertain, so innocent. I squeeze his shoulder gently. �Who is it?� I hear myself ask. And bite down on my lip hard enough to draw blood. WHY did I ask that? I must be a masochist. He looks at me silently. Then, sounding like a child telling a secret to a close friend he leans in, �Please don�t tell anyone.� I nod and reach over, gripping his hand and feeling tingles shoot through my body as I do so. �I promise I won�t tell.� He nods, still looking uncertain. �Well... it.... er...� Gods, I'm shivering with anticipation, this is horrible, it�s killing me, and yet here I am, courious beyond belief to find out who it is. He hesitates for a moment, then mumbles a name. I blink. �Who? You spoke too quietly for me to hear.� I say, I couldn�t hear him damn it! He looks up at me, shamefaced. �Manny.� I roll my eyes, now my wishful thinking is kicking in so I misheard him. �I... I thought you said Manny.� He looks at me, his face becoming defensive. �I did.� I feel my brown eyes widen and I swallow dryly. Shit... this must be a dream. His blue eyes lock onto mine and after a moment they widen. He knows who I am. As we stare at eachother I realize I'm shaking. After a moment of silence, in which only the sound is music and chatter from the party, he reaches over, his hand shaking, and lifts the mask from my face gently. Once I'm free of my mask he and I continue to stare, then he jumps up and begins to pace around nervously. �Shit Manny... I.... Aw fuck... you probably want nothing to do with me now... I'm so damn stupid...� I stand up, my heart surging with joy. If this is a dream, I hope it never, ever ends. �Curtis, hush.� I hear myself say, and I'm surprised by how calm I sound. He looks at me, his blue eyes wide and his dark hair tussled, with the moon shining on his face he looks even more like something out of a dream. I step up to him cautiously, slowly, and place both my hands on his shoulders, leaning up slowly so he can see my every movement, and I lean in and kiss him, my lips pressing against his softly, applying almost no pressure. He emits a soft gasp against my lips and it sends a tingle through me. Both our eyes stay open and I gaze into his bright eyes, feeling my body shiver as our lips touch together. He pulls away first, looking me in the eyes. �M-Manny?� His voice is so vulnerable, I shiver again. �Curtis...I...� He looks at me silently, and I bow my head, knowing I'm blushing badly. �I think I�ve fallen in love with you.� I begin to shake again, I can�t believe all this is happening... he likes me... he actually likes me... unbidden tears come to my eyes and I feel his strong hand lift my chin up. �Manny? Why are you crying?� I can�t bare to look into his amazing eyes, so I focus on my feet as the tears roll down my cheeks. �I can�t believe this.� He leans in and kisses at the corners of my eyes, sending sparks through my body. He pulls away and looks at me. �Manny... can I kiss you again?� I nod, feeling my body weaken with his words, and he places his hands on my hips, pulling me closer. I find my arms reaching up and sliding around his neck, he leans in and captures my lips. This time this kiss is deeper, more forceful, and he brings our hips together. I close my eyes, seeing fireworks in my mind as we kiss, and I feel my body go limp against him, my heart thudding rapidly. My entire body is tingling as he pulls away and I look up at him, feeling that same senseless flutter in my chest as he smiles down at me. �That was...� He murmurs, leaning down to nibble my ear. �...amazing.� I nod weakly, feeling certain my legs are going to go out on me if he lets go of my limp form, and he pulls me against him, so that our bodies are touching completely. Inside the house Brendan�s clock chimes twelve thirty and the song they have playing changes. Curtis smirks down at me and I look up at him with question. He pulls away from me and tilts his head to the side slightly, pushing me onto my feet. I lock my legs and continue to stare at him, wondering what on earth he�s thinking. He extends his hand to me, dropping his mask on the ground. �May I have this dance Mr. Legace?� I look at him with wide eyes, surprised, then grin. �But of course.� He slips his arms around my waist and I slide my arms over his shoulders, locking my finger�s behind his neck. From the house the music floats out to us, soft and perfect. I realize he�s singing along with it, looking me in the eyes. �Wise men say, only fools rush in, but I can�t help... falling in love with you.� I blush as we rock together on the porch and he kisses my forehead. I can�t believe this has happened. He continues to sing as the song slowly ends, but even when the song is done we continue to dance slowly, our hips never breaking contact. I'm so wrapped up in the feeling of Curtis�s heartbeat that I barely hear the curtains to the sliding glass door rustle and the door slide open. I don�t bother to lift my head from where it rests on his shoulder until I realize two of the guys are standing on the patio behind me. I turn and look over my shoulder to see Boyd and Dandi standing together, their arms crossed. Sean turns and smirks at Boyd. �You owe me twenty dollars man! I told you they�d get together tonight!�
end
