Asha considered Zaire wairly. "Was that your friend?" well that would be an improvement. Zaire having a friend. as Zaire hadn't had any before they'd broken up. "and i know you believe you love me." though he was starting to sense a..obsessive quality. not love but a need to own and keep.

Zaire blinked in surprise. "What?" Eyes narrowed on Asha. Where did he get such an idea? Did he see Zaire watching Maya? But he didn't even react to the other and had no intentions of doing so. So why? "I don't know what you're talking about. No one is my friend but you. Why?" he couldn't help but ask. Because really, he wanted to know if he acted in some way to make Asha think that. "I don't just believe I love you. I do," he added with a deeper frown.

Asha watched him wairly. "If you Loved me you would have a life outside of me." he said calmly. "And I saw your head turn in that direction. it'd be nice if you had a friend outside of me.." because he was not limiting his life to the other.

Zaire continued to frown. He glanced back to where he'd seen Maya but the other man had already walked away. There was nothing there left to see. Signing, he ran a hand over his face, covering up the unusual color of his right eye for a second. "I don't see what that has to do with love. Anyway, having a life is too hard at this point. I can't escape what I've already lived at this point." A flash of memory crept in for a second before he pushed it away. "Isn't it enough that you have a life? You can live it for the both of us..."

Asha closed his eyes and felt as if the walls where closing in for an unsettling second. "I..I should go, we have practice today." he said uncertaintly then knowing he'd regret it,s lid a simple key across the table. "That's to my apartment. I..if you need a place to stay." he forced his voice to be calm.

The world lurched for a second and Zaire grabbed the underside of his seat before the feeling passed as quickly as it had come. No, he had to stay calm and rational. He couldn't lose his head or temper now. He promised he wouldn't do that anymore. "We...?" Unclenching his jaw, he forced a smile onto his face. "Never mind. that doesn't matter. I'm...okay, you should go then," he managed. When Asha slid the key over, his smile brightened into something real again if perhaps a little guarded and uneasy as well. He felt like he'd just been given something to hang himself with and yet it made him feel so happy. To think he left the other boy's apartment that he forced his way into only to receive a key. A sign? "Thank you," Zaire whispered, relief in his voice. "I won't let you down this time..."

Asha's stomach knotted up as he nodded and rose. "I'll be home before supper.." he said quietly and headed for the door. he tried to ignore the fear that curled through him. 'no it'll work and if it doesn't he'll leave. he promised he'd be fine if he had to.' at least. he hoped the other would keep his word and leave if they didn't work out. all though he did brighten as he headed to pick up Gage. 'i can't wait until the other's hear him he's fantastic.' in his mind Gage was the best Violinist he'd ever come across and he couldn't wait to show him off. not noticing the bounce in his step he climbed into his small two seat car and headed for Gage's place. it felt weird driving up to it, but well he'd get used to it.

Zaire nodded once. "Thanks," he murmured one more time before trailing Asha with his eyes all the way out of the cafe. Finally, he left as well and after a moment of standing lost on the street, he turned in the direction Maya left and started walking. He didn't question it. It was just a direction to walk and he knew he couldn't follow Asha. If he did come upon Maya though, he didn't know what he would do though. Damn. Why did that guy have to show up today of all days?

Maya brushed his hair back over his shoulder as he rubbed at his forehead and reached out to grasp the basket with the new plants for the park he was working on that day and he struggled to lift it up. grunting he almost lost his footing but caught himself but he did back into someone. flushing he twisted. "Uh.. sorry.." he blinked in surprise as he saw Zaire. "Hey your the guy from the park." he gave a shy grin. his worry about the plant his boss said wasn't doing so good momentarily forgotten.

Zaire startled himself when he caught sight of Maya ahead, not expecting to have found the other boy. Now that he had though, he couldn't turn away. He quickened his pace, intending to overtake him, but the boy stumbled back into him at the last second. "Ah-!" he exclaimed, back pedaling away and almost letting the other boy fall, but he managed to keep his feet anyway. He tried to school away his open expression to something of a scowl. "What are you doing here? I saw you outside of the cafe, but it's not like I followed you," he complained, eyes down as he lied. He had followed Maya. He just didn't know why.

Maya blushed and ducked his head. "Uh I'm working on the park at the end of the block.. I uh.. was just grabbing some of my things.." his cheeks heated up as he flicked an uncertain gaze up at the other. his eyes a lot warmer with Zaire then they had been toward his boss. "Uh how have you been.." he inquired taking in the other's state just to double check that he was doing better. 'and where on earth did he pop up from?' he brushed the thought aside as not relevant.

Zaire's eyes narrowed as he tried to ascertain if Maya told the truth. He couldn't tell what this kid might be up to. He couldn't be as nice as he claimed. "Park?" Right, the park where they met the second time. He glanced at the things that Maya carried. "Then who was that guy you were talking to?" Falling into step next to the other boy, he walked with his hands in his pockets, gaze set on the street in front of them. As much as he should walk away, he just kept walking along like talking with a friend even if they weren't. And because they weren't, he purposely didn't answer Maya's question about his welfare.

Maria glanced back then. "Oh.. him? My boss. apparently someone called in sick and I have to take up the slack. AGAIN." irritation slipped into his face and his eyebrows lowered into an annoyed V. 'I took two extra hours last week Darn it. I do have a life..' shaking his head to shove the thoughts away he lead the way to the park on that block and headed to the section that needed the work. "I got saddled with overtime again and..well I'm not exactly thrilled with it. sure I could use the money but I've pulled over time four times int he last three weeks. and I had had plans to go see my mother later today." well. hr grave anyways.

Zaire pulled his lips back in a show of disdain, but a part of him wanted to laugh as well at Maya's show of irritation. It didn't suit his goody two shoes nature so the whole thing amused him in a way. "Your loss, man," he huffed as he continued to walk with the other man like he had nothing better to do. Which, he didn't. Zaire's only excuse for doing this. "Having a job, I mean. I can't stand anything for more than a couple weeks. It's all just useless anyway." Grunting, he focused on the concrete ground again, realizing he admitted something personal. He ducked his head, making sure his hair fell into his left eye as he fell silent once again.

Maya considered that then chuckled and nudged the other gentle. "Well you need money to pay bills and such. buying food and things like that." his voice was amused as he set the box he carried down and knelt by a hedge of plants, reachign down into the earth to test hte roots, findign they where alrigh the dug out a bag and begain to mix some fresh fertalizer minerals into the earth around the plant to help it stay strong and healthy. "So, what do you do for fun?"

"I've managed," Zaire said in a simple answer. He shrugged his shoulder once and shifted away from Maya at his gentle nudge. It was a subtle movement, but necessary to avoid physical contact. While the other boy knelt and began working with the plants, Zaire stayed standing, switching between watching the distant road and Maya's hands. "I don't do anything for fun. I've got more important things than that..." His gaze trailed far into the distance where he knew Asha's home lay. Wasn't that more important than fun? "I really should get back to them."

Maya glanced up tilting his head. "You know, closign yourself off from people isn't healthy. and it's not like I'm going to bite." he moved on to the next plant and continued speakign as he worked. "So..where where you before you ran into me?" he inquired. he had to of been close if he'd seen Maya's irritation with his boss..so where?

Zaire hissed under his breath. "What's it matter to you if I'm closed off?!" He snapped his gaze away, refusing to look at Maya as he cared for the plants in the same gentle and efficient manner. Damn, it was getting under his skin. He ground his teeth together for a minute and almost didn't respond. Only when it had grown silent did he speak a word. "Cafe. I was sitting with my...boyfriend. Yeah, he's still my boyfriend..." Trailing off, Zaire felt a wash of nerves again.

Maya blinked as he lifted his head. 'oh.. he's taken.' for some reason that made him feel..uncomfortable. "Uh.. well.. that's.. good. going on a date must be nice.. I haven't exactly ever gone on a date. no ones ever caught my fancy.." well except for an already taken man. 'gods Why me i finally show interest in someone and their taken. figures.'

Zaire pursed his lips, not sure why this conversation made him uncomfortable. It wasn't like he shied away from showing off his love. But did he really call the meeting he just had a date? Of course he did. What else would it be? He couldn't even think of a word for manipulating Asha into meeting him besides a date. "Um...yeah. Asha's the love of my life. All my life, it's only him. Even when I threw him out..." He cleared his throat, unable to admit the terrible turn their relationship had taken. "I asked him to take me back and he did. So he must...love me," Zaire murmured, more to himself than anyone else. Even if the last words sounded unsure, he tried to convince himself of Asha's love but saying it out loud. Nothing else would make it more true.

Maya frowned at the uncertainty in the other's voice. 'I sure hope this asha fellow gets his backside in gear..' seeing the other's uncertainty he wanted to reassure him. but he didn't know the other's boyfriend so how the hell could he? "Well it's nice that he had the brains to let you back into his life." He said tone encouraging. wanting to sooth the other's fears. "I had a boyfriend but it didn't work out. it didn't help that he started sleeping with one of my best friends at the time but this was a long time ago.." he gave a chuckle. "Like High school I think., you know when everything is a so called 'life or death' situation. even though it really isn't.."

With a thrill of surprise, Zaire's eyes sharpened on Maya. How could he be so encouraging? He didn't even know a thing and yet, he was on Zaire's side. No one ever did that for him. "You're into guys too?" he managed, his thoughts still stuck on Maya's words. "Damn. Asha would never see another man behind my back! If you let that happen, isn't it your own deficiency?" he bit out in challenge. It was a weak attack though and his anger didn't last. "No one is ever loyal anymore. It's not like I expect that kind of good intentions in people."

Maya slowed in his work frowning at the other. "are you saying he's sleeping around on you?" oh that was so going to anger Maya. "you really shouldn't let him walk all over you like that. it's disrespectful. and if he can't be true to you then he really shouldn't be seeing you.." annoyance showed in his eyes.

"Of course he isn't," Zaire snapped back. "He loves me. Why else would he take me back after everything I've put him though?!" Clenching his fists, he turned his gaze away to glare at the grass. He could almost imagine the little green blades bursting into flames as if beneath a magnifying glass. But no matter how hard he glared, he couldn't do a thing. "It's you that needs to watch out for people walking all over you," he managed to bite out. Though he wasn't sure why this conversation and the very insinuation that Asha might cheat on him irritated him so much, Zaire couldn't help the rush of anger that went through him.

Maya frowned at him his eyes narrowing then bit his tounge hard to keept he snarl that wanted to leave him to himself instead he focused on the plants he was tending. "I'm not walked all over thank you very much." never mind this was the fourth time he'd been asked to work late on the parks. in as many weeks. 'okay maybe I should tell them enoughs enough that i cant' dot he job of the whole department but seriously..' nibbling on his bottom cheek he dusted his hands up gathered the largish basket with all his tools and stod to move to another set of bushes to kneel down again only to start again with feelign along the roots and ensurign the plants where getting enough moisure and such. "I didn't mean to anger you."