Chasing Snowflakes

13

angst warning y'all

They managed to keep up the act for three weeks, two days, and 19 hours. They were so close, both able to choke down their emotions and fight through it, doing it for the sake of George's pride and he ended being the one who cut the rope and let them fall.

But let's back up here. What really happened that night and how it truly changed the boys, and while it seems bad, it changed them for the better.

Dinner started about as fine as it can go, the boys sitting stiffly next to each other and back-breaking guilt sitting on Clay's shoulder as he pretended not to notice the violent bounce of George's leg.

"You guys must be ready for the new year right?" Aunt Lily had asked to break the silence. They all nod politely and make small talk, playing along with Clay and acting like George wasn't a ticking time bomb at the moment. Rose starts off the game of going in a circle to name empty goals and resolutions for the new year.

"What about you, Clay? Any resolutions you want to make?" Uncle Ben said when it came around to him. Clay, unable to eat, looks up and pretends to give it heavy thought. He couldn't focus. He felt so icky like he ate mud and covered himself in slime.

"Uh- probably just to learn something new? I guess," he says finally. George scoffs a laugh next to him, earning a curious look from Rose.

"Georgie, do you have something to say?"

George was silent for a moment, sharp eyes glancing at Clay and he doesn't say anything. The guilt teetered into annoyance.

"George, if you have something to say just say it." Clay said and George fully looks at him, face hard as a rock and his jaw clenched tight.

"I just found it funny that you want to learn something new when you already struggle with understanding basic human emotions," he said. Clay's eyes twitched and his heart rate spiked as his friend adds: "Because if you can't even grasp that, why would you even try to learn something else?"

"George!" Erin gasps. She couldn't believe her older cousin had the nerve to start this at the dinner table, in front of the rest of the family.

This peaks Aunt Lily's curiosity. "George, is everything alright?"

"Yes-" Clay says at the same time George says the opposite. The boys turn to each other and George rolls his eyes.

"Fine, yes. Everything's good," George wanted the anger out of him.

"You know what it sounds like you two need?" Rose starts, rising from her chair a bit. "Dance thera-"

"No mum! We don't need your stupid dance therapy, we need Clay to fucking own up to his feelings and stop being a coward!" George yells, finally exploding and he slams his hands down at the table. Clay watches Erin bury her face in her hands, greatly disappointed.

"George, I'm going to have to ask you to stop yelling," Steve says, placing a comforting hand on his shocked wife.

"Stop yelling? I have a damn good reason to yell right now."

"George, calm down-" Clay finally says, coming back from the surprise.

"Don't-" he turns and jabs a finger in his friend's face. "-you start, Clay. Don't even try to play those cards right now."

"What cards, George?" He responds with the table deathly silent. Even the twins stopped messing around and were watching intently, fearful, and ignorant of the situation unfolding.

"Your excuses for 'talking later' and completely downplaying what you're doing- not only to me- but to yourself. You're telling me to calm down when you know exactly what you did was a huge deal to me. You make excuses and hide, it's pathetic." George spits and Clay shoots up this time.