Maybe After Tomorrow (Hatchetfield)

Chapter 12

He had fucked up.
     He had majorly fucked up.
     That was all that Ted could think as he stood up and walked over to his bed. He sat down with his face in his hands, wishing he could undo the last five minutes of his life.
     Henry probably hated him now. He shouldn't have run away. He nearly had everything he wanted. And he had thrown it away because he was scared. Again.
     "Fuckin' idiot," he mumbled to himself.
     He had sworn he would learn from his mistake. But he had just made it again.
     Then he heard a hesitant knock on the door, followed by Henry's voice.
     "Ted?"
     He froze. Then he dried his eyes and tried to compose himself. But, just as he was about to answer, the door opened.
     "Ted, are you all right?" Henry asked gently, sitting down on the desk chair across from Ted.
     "I'm fine."
     "No, you're not. You've obviously been crying. And it's not just about the movie so don't even try it. I'm sorry about... what happened down there."
     "No, you-"
     "I shouldn't've-"
     "Henry, don't apologise." Ted sighed and looked down.
     "Why did you run?" Henry asked quietly, sounding a little hurt, but mostly concerned.
     "I- I just- I got scared."
     "Of what, exactly?"
     Ted sighed again, "I don't get it. I manage not to feel ... that way ... about anybody. For I don't know how many years. And now all of a sudden-"
     "Feel what way?"
     Ted looked up, rolling his eyes. "You know. You know exactly how I feel. Why else would I have been helping you with science stuff I don't understand? Because it wasn't 'cause I genuinely thought I was helping."
     "Although you were. But that's not your point. You were only trying to help because you wanted to..."
     "Why did you let me?"
     "Because having you around made it easier for me to work. I was happier. I didn't get bored. Plus, you did actually have a few good ideas."
     Ted was speechless.
     Henry slowly got up and moved onto the bed next to him.
     "I-"
     "You don't have to say anything."
     Henry's hand gently cradled Ted's face and their lips met. Both of their hearts were running wildly, but in time with each other.
     "Teddy..." Henry whispered.
     Ted flinched, snapping him out of the daze he had fallen into. "I've not heard that name in a long time." He stared at the floor numbly.
     "Are you all right?" Henry asked, putting a hand on Ted's shoulder.
     "I forgot how that felt."
     "What?"
"I've gotten so used to being alone, pushing everybody away. I forgot what it's like, being in love with someone. Having someone who ... cares about me.'
     A tiny crack ran down the centre of Henry's heart. It grew even more as he realised the similarities between Ted's story and his own. He knew, in that moment, that what he felt was deeper than what he had previously thought it to be.
     "Someone who loves you, Teddy," he said softly.
     Ted turned around, pulling Henry close to him and allowing their lips to meet again. But, this time, any trace of hesitance had vanished.
     "We should probably get down for lunch," Henry said as they separated.
     "Yeah. I guess."
     After taking a minute to compose themselves, the two started walking down the stairs, overly conscious of the distance between them. Or lack there of.
     Before they walked into the kitchen, they stepped away from one another and then moved their chairs apart when they sat down. They couldn't risk anybody suspecting them and were fully unaware of how unlikely that was to happen.
     "So, Alice," Professor Hidgens said, "How are you settling in so far? I know this must be pretty strange for you."
     "Um, all right," she replied quietly.
     "Good."
     Alice was sat next to Bill, but she couldn't keep her eyes off of Lex and Ethan. They had each other. Sure, she had her dad, but she didn't have anybody else her age to talk to. More specifically, she didn't have her girlfriend. She couldn't help but be a little envious of the two.
     She knew it wasn't productive at all to be jealous. But it didn't stop her.
     Although Alice thought she was being subtle, Lex could feel her eyes drift over and dart away repeatedly. You don't leave a seven month relationship with no knowledge of the other person. She knew Alice must be exceedingly anxious. But what could she do to help?

~

(A/N: Writers block has really been a bitch recently, so sorry if this flows kind of weird. It was written over quite a few days. I don't know if I'll start being able to post more frequently or if I'll finally realise that I'm allowed to not post every day, but it seems to be getting a bit easier to write)