The next day found both guys wrapping up their data collection on the station. As they packed everything and stowed it away for the trip back to the university, the realization that their relationship was going to change once they got back was weighing on Darrin. They wouldn't be living together; it wouldn't be the same as it had been for the last couple of weeks. The more Darrin thought about it, the more obstacles he created. He decided that he was just being foolish and after yesterday's disastrous melt down he didn't want to talk to Mitch about his fears and have him think Darrin he was some mushy flake that couldn't be depended on. As he put the last of the luggage and equipment in the pickup, he had decided that it would be best to keep these thoughts to himself. He would just swallow them like he had so many times before.
Mitch walked up, took Darrin's shoulders in his hands and started rubbing them. He moved closer and inhaled.
"College, you smell damn good. I love your smell."
Darrin smiled and leaned his head over as Mitch started kissing the side of his neck. "You're going to start something if you keep that up," said Darrin.
Mitch bit down on Darrin's neck and sucked hard, knowing it would leave a mark. After a few seconds he released his hold and chuckled at the darkening that was already forming. He stroked his finger down Darrin's neck,
"What if I don't care if I start something," asked Mitch.
Darrin pointed to the gathering cloud of road dust that indicated someone coming. "I think you would have to explain to them why my dick is in your mouth," said Darrin with a smirk.
Mitch reached over and grabbed Darrin's package and squeezed. He loved the little mewing sounds that came from Darrin's mouth. Releasing him, Mitch moved so his mouth was fractions of an inch from Darrin's ear and whispered. "At least I'm not going to have to explain how I got a huge ass hickey when it's just you and me here."
Darrin gasped and grabbed his neck where Mitch had worked him over. "You asshole! Did you really give me a hickey?" Darrin turned and ran back into the house so he could see the damage in the mirror. Looking at it, Darrin's mouth dropped open as he saw the silver dollar sized purple bruise on his neck. Desperate to cover it up, he pulled on a shirt and buttoned it all the way to the top. Walking back out, Darrin glared at Mitch as he started to snort.
"You jackass! What am I gonna tell them if they ask?" said Darrin.
"They won't ask. You just need to relax," said Mitch with a smile, as the pickup rolled to a stop in front of them. Wade stepped out with one of the hired hands and the two walked over.
"Hey. Ya'll about ready to head out? Anything we need to help you wrap up?" asked Wade.
"Naw, We've pretty much got things packed up. A few more minutes and we'll head out," said Mitch.
Darrin stayed in the periphery of the conversation as Mitch and Wade did the obligatory 15 minutes of small talk. Darrin had started to relax when he happened to glance over at the other guy and saw that he was staring at Darrin and had a huge smile plastered over his face. Darrin's face glowed a cherry red and he tried to pull the shirt collar over the hickey, which only made the guy grin more. Mitch and Wade finally wrapped up the conversation and Wade turned to Darrin,
"Well drive careful Darrin. I guess we won't see you again until the fall."
"Nope, I probably won't be back until then. I've got my orals next month so I've got to get ready for those," said Darrin.
Wade reached up and squeezed his shoulder. "Well take care of yourself. And this guy too," he said with a backward motion of his head toward Mitch.
"Ah, yeah, sure. I'll do what I can," stammered Darrin.
With that the two of them walked back to their pickup. The hand turned his head to smile at Darrin again, but to Darrin's surprise Wade reached over and smacked the back of his head. He was still rubbing the spot as he climbed in and they drove down the road.
Darrin turned to Mitch with his arms crossed over his chest. "You happy? They did notice. Did you see the smirk on that kids face?"
"Whatever. He just has the hots for you," said Mitch.
Darrin's mouth opened and closed a few times, at a complete loss for words. Finally with an inarticulate grunt he stomped in the house to finish packing. Mitch chuckled and followed after him. Mitch was glad Wade straightened out that kid or he would have talked to him about flirting with Darrin.
The rest of the packing was uneventful and the two were soon on their way back to the university. Driving through the empty rural highway, Darrin was lost in thought as he deliberated on how things were going to work once they were back at school. He finally decided that they would probably just go back to the way things were, and get together whenever they could. Definitely the most practical way to deal with it, Darrin decided, that way it wouldn't impact either of their lives. Yes, they had told each other that they were in love, but in Darrin's experience that wasn't really a long-term thing, so practical and logical was certainly the best solution. Just look how long it took them to get together. If they were soul mates or some such crap it would have happened in a few days instead of the months that it did take. Yes, he knew that fear, bad past experience and a host of other issues had kept him from pushing their relationship sooner, but Mitch could have initiated it. Damn it, it wasn't his fault. The other crap just should not have affected anything if it was a for-real-long-term relationship. Settling it in his mind, he mentally adjusted to the fact that they would just keep things the way they had been and maybe they would still have a few intimate moments when it could fit into their schedules.
"You're thinkin' too much. Nothing good comes when you are this quiet for this long," said Mitch, "Tell me what you're thinkin'."
Darrin glanced over at his traveling companion and nodded. "No, nothing big. Just thinking about needing to renew my lease on the apartment once we're back. I'll only need it for another year and I'll finish."
Mitch gave him a confused look. "Why would you do that? I figured you'd just move in with me."
Darrin gave Mitch a dumbstruck look and then yanked the pickup back onto the road as it drifted toward the ditch.
"Pull over Darrin, before you wreck this little thing and kill us . . ."
Darrin slowed and carefully pulled to the side of the road. His knuckles were leached white from his grip as he stared straight ahead.
"So, why are you going to renew your lease?" asked Mitch.
"Well, it just made sense. I assumed that we'd both keep our own places, cause, you know . . ."
"No, I don't know. Why don't you explain this to me," said Mitch as he raised his eyebrows to look at Darrin. "And look at me. Don't go fuckin' staring into space."
Darrin turned to look at Mitch, his hands still locked on the steering wheel.
"Well, I thought. I assumed. It was just logical . . ." stammered Darrin.
"What was logical? And you know what they say about 'assuming'."
Darrin breathed out a shuddering sigh. "I guess I didn't think you'd want to live together. Now that we are back at school."
"Where in the hell did you get that wild ass idea? I'd prefer to live with the man I love."
Darrin felt a tear roll down his face and clenched his fists and screamed, "DAMNIT!"
Mitch jumped at his outburst, "What the fuck! Did I say something wrong?"
Darrin finally released his grip and wiped the moisture from his eyes and let out a weak laugh. "No, but I swore I wasn't going to bawl in front of you again. I didn't want you to feel like I was some helpless baby."
