Tristan & Oliver

Part One

Things changed for Tristan Milligan after he graduated. The first thing he did when he finished his rehab was spent the next two years throwing around the idea of getting a place with Oliver. They had become the best of friends and he was the closest thing Tristan had to a confidant since Maya was gone with Zig in California, although they still talked, and he had lost touch with Zöe not long after she started university.

"Now are you sure you want to move out?" Was the first thing his Mom asked him. After all he was her baby and he knew it was hard for her but it's not like he was going far. "I mean you could stay here and Oliver could just take Owen's old room."

Owen gasped. "I'm right here."

"Oh brother" Anya had said as she touched her pregnant belly. "Don't be such a baby."

"Mom, I'm just going to be closer to the college" Tristan told her. "Oliver has gotten a job nearby and we figured being roommates makes sense and makes things more affordable for us both."

Owen smirked. "I guarantee you he got the job just because he knew you wanted to go to George Brown."

It was a ridiculous statement. Owen seemed to have this idea that Oliver and Tristan felt more than friendship with one another. Tristan didn't really get it because he knew that Oliver wasn't gay. And as far as he knew he also wasn't bisexual. He was sure all Oliver felt for him was friendship so he wasn't about to test Owen's stupid statement.

The first place they looked at had two bedrooms and a fireplace. Tristan knew there was no way in hell that they could afford it but he had to admit it was beautiful. He could see himself living in that kind of place when he was older and sitting on that dark brown couch that looked oh so comfortable.

But it wasn't right for them.

"I like it" Tristan told Oliver with a sad smile. "But it's really something I don't see myself living in until I'm older."

"Yeah there's no way we could afford it" Oliver said putting his arm around Tristan casually. "But maybe the next place will be the right one."

Tristan smiled at him. "Maybe."

The second place was a lot smaller. It was so small that Tristan felt that the last owners had to be Elfs. As they were walking inside Oliver hit his head and he pinched Tristan playfully on the bottom when he  could see that Tristan had laughed about it.

Tristan gasped and gave him a look. The realtor looked as if she was annoyed with them both but kept that fake smile plastered to her face. "So this place is known for it's---"

Tristan pretended to listen but truth be told he was terrified. As he looked around it looked as if there were too many risks and he knew there was no way he could live there. It wasn't just that but it was also the cost it would take to fix it up to make the house even livable.

"So what do you boys say?" She asked. "Do you want this beauty?"

Oliver looked around. "You call this a beauty?"

Tristan's eyes widened and he quickly put his hand on Oliver's bicep shaking his head. "You'll have to excuse my friend here." He shook his head. "We just don't think this place is us. You know?"

The realtor looked annoyed. "This house and the other house I showed you are great choices."

"We're not really looking for a house" Oliver shrugged. "I mean I can barely afford to keep my bike let alone pay for an actual house."

She sighed. "Okay. I know of an available apartment but I'm not showing you to it."

So Tristan and Oliver went to look at that apartment without her. As they walked in Tristan had a smile on his face. For the first time that day it felt as if they had found a home.

"So what do you think?" Mr. Carlisle, the landlord, asked. "Do you think you'd like it here?"

Oliver looked over at Tristan. "What do you think? Do you like it, Tris?"

Tristan grinned. "I love it." He couldn't seem to wipe that silly grin off his face. "This is the place, Ollie. This is where we're supposed to be."

Oliver couldn't say no to him. He immediately agreed that it was the right place to move in to. If Tristan thought it was the one then it had to be the one.

"There's only one bedroom" Mr. Carlisle told them. "But I assume you two will be sharing it anyway."

Tristan's pale cheeks turned red as Oliver smirked. "Ahh. Oh yeah."

"He and I are just friends" Tristan said face still red. "But we'll still take it. I mean we've shared a room before."

Over the next week Tristan and Oliver slowly started to move into the apartment. It was hard for Tristan because a part of him didn't want to leave his Mom's house but he knew that it was time. So each time he went to the apartment he would take a box of his stuff with him.

When he didn't have any more excuses to go home he finally spent the night in the apartment. Oliver had set up two separate beds up for them and he had put a sheet in the middle because he knew how shy Tristan could be when needing to undress so he didn't want him to feel like he had to feel uncomfortable.

"So how do you feel?" Oliver asked as he pulled his shirt off and tossed it on his bed. He walked over to Tristan's side of the room and he smiled when he saw Tristan's eyes widen. "Are you feeling okay about finally sleeping here?"

Tristan nodded as he blushed. He looked down at the book he was holding. He had to look somewhere so he didn't sit there gawking at his friend's perfect body all night.

"So I'm going to bed" Oliver told him. "I've got to be at work pretty early tomorrow. I have a flashlight if you want to read?"

Tristan shook his head. "No. I think I'm done reading." He put his book on his nightstand before he laid in his bed. It felt odd to be laying there instead of at his mom's. But it felt like a good kind of weird because he was actually taking a huge step.

This was where he wanted to be.