Pico x Boyfriend - High School AU

Chapter Twelve - Somewhere Between

Hello, my dear readers!

I mentioned this in my community post, but I have a couple of small updates for you guys. Firstly, this is going to be the last of the more serious chapters in this book, at least for a while. After this, expect some cute and funny content, hopefully coming sooner rather than later.

Secondly, this next semester is gonna be a pain in the ass for me, so just a warning in case updates become even less frequent then they already are.

With that out of the way, enjoy!
-pipthegoat

TW: Brief Panic Attack

~~~~~

   Dread.

That was the only thing going through Keith's head as he began to descend the creaky basement stairs, his pace agonizingly slow. He knew what was waiting at the bottom, and the knowledge sent a heavy pit to his stomach.

   His mother's words were glued in his brain, sticking and tangling in its fibers like taffy.

   He wasn't... you know. This was all just... just a big misunderstanding. He was just confused. It would pass.

   It had to pass.

As his feet touched down on the scuffed floor of the basement, Keith watched as a fiery head of orange hair looked up from his lap, eyes excited and alight. Pico's expression dropped, however, at the sight of his friend's nervous expression. Keith's heart squeezed at the blatant worry on the ginger's face, unused to Pico being so readable.

   Shit.

No no no, don't be sad. Don't be sad because of me.

"Keith?" Pico started, concern lacing his voice. "Is everything..?"

The little guy felt his eyes water and swallowed a sob. Not trusting his newly restored voice, he just smiled weakly and nodded, sidestepping the couch and plopping down on the beanbag chair. Pico furrowed his brow, cocking his head.

   "Are you alright?" the ginger wondered, his voice so, so soft. Keith's lower lip trembled, but his eyes stayed trained on his lap, not daring to look up and see the look on his friend's face.

   There was a long silence, lingering in the stuffy basement. Not even the usual creak of couch springs or the sandy sound of the beanbag shifting disturbed it.

The only noise to be heard for miles was the ringing in Keith's ears.

   The little guy swallowed thickly, taking as much of his buildup of emotion as possible down with it. He inhaled deeply in a futile attempt to unscramble his brain.

   The words came out before he could finish clearing his thoughts.

   "I'm not gay."

   His voice rang clear, cutting through the silence like a knife. Keith, surprising himself at his assertive tone, found his mouth popping open as he looked up to see Pico tensed, posture rigid as he stared at him with wide eyes.

   Wide, glossy eyes.

   Shit.

   Nononononono-

   Keith bit his lip as a hiccup bubbled in his throat, trying to muffle whatever was trying to escape his lips at that moment.

   He didn't trust his lips anymore.