𝙰𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 ~ 𝙴𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗

Thirteen

When Chris arrives back at the dorm after football practice the next morning, a smile spreads across his lips at the sight of a new message on his phone screen. Shaking the last few drops of water from his hair, Chris taps on the notification.

PUP: Good morning <3

Hitting the keys in a fast motion, Chris ignores the sound of a groaning Liam entering the room, collapsing into Max's bed.

CHRIS: Good morning, pup <3 How did you sleep?

Looking up from his phone, Chris watches as Matthew lays down next to Liam, throwing an arm over his waist. "You guys okay?" Chris asks, rubbing a knot in his shoulder, gritting his teeth. "You look dead."

"I feel dead." Grumbles Liam. He throws Max's pillow over his head, rolling away so that his back hits the wall.

Chris catches Matthew's gaze, eyeing him curiously. Matthew sighs. "The girl he liked told him she had been seeing someone behind his back."

At the words, Liam's demeanor crumbles, curling in on himself to seem small and fragile. "I swear this always happens." Mutters Liam, using Matthew's lap as a pillow, soft sobs echoing through the air. "Every person I like always cheats on me or breaks it off in a matter of weeks."

Chris frowns, taking a seat beside Liam and rubbing his back gently. "I'm sorry, Liam."

Liam shrugs. "I'm used to it."

With new eyes does Chris watch the interaction between his two friends. Matthew holds Liam through his cries, laying back so Liam is cuddled into his chest. Over the past few weeks, or maybe that's just when Chris noticed, Matthew has been gravitating more and more towards Liam. Shaking his head, Chris shrugs it off. Max did say that they had been friends for quite awhile.

The three of them stay like that for what seems like hours. Rubbing Liam's back and speaking comforting words. Sure, Liam was a dork, but when it came to relationships, he was always trying to be respectful. What was the guy doing wrong to be treated this way?

"You know, I'm just gonna put it out there." Matthew is saying suddenly, cupping Liam's face with his hand. "If I were a girl, I would never cheat on you, Liam. You've got to know that out there, the right person is waiting for you."

Liam smiles, barely, but he smiles, dropping his head into Matthew's stomach. "Thanks."

Standing on his feet, Chris slowly backs away to allow the two to talk, typing away at his phone.

CHRIS: Babe, I think Matthew might like Liam.

******

Flicking his gaze from his mother and Nathan making breakfast to his phone, Sebastian's jaw drops.

PUP: WHAT!?!?

Chris is fast to reply, almost as eager.

CHRIS: IK!! Liam is going through something and Matt said if he was a girl he would never cheat on him

Sebastian almost bursts into laughter.

PUP: That's hella fruity, babe.

CHRIS: I have noticed Matt's been looking at Liam differently, or maybe that's just my brain wanting me to think that because I think they'd be cute together.

A soft smile paints across Sebastian's lips.

PUP: I suppose time will tell. But for now, let's keep it on the down low and see what happens.

CHRIS: Good idea

PUP: Keep me posted, though!

CHRIS: You know I will!!