Let's Be Friends

Why Would I?

Stephen had slept through the rest of the day after coming home early from school. Though upon waking up the next morning, he discovered that his fever had worsened and his headache was yet to subside.

The morning felt hot, and awful.

He glanced at his clock, Its 6:45, I'm sure Gray's gone by now. I should go to school, I have my project due on Friday that I've done absolutely zero work with, I don't even have a concept.

Slowly Stephen pushed the balled up covers from the end of the bed into the floor. And stood, less lightheaded then I thought.

He didn't rush to get dressed, jeans, t-shirt, socks, shoes, hoodie. He sighed, backpack, computer, note books, he forced the discarded stationary, that had been tossed from his open bag into the floor, back into his bag. 

He opened the door and was filled with an odd feeling as he walked through the hall to the kitchen, for water. 

He was immediately met with soft, warm, violet eyes. Eyes that were only softened for him. 
"Stephen Ahn?" he asked, nearly sounding worried. Gray extended an arm, and soon his cool hand came to rest on Stephen's forehead. His eyes widened with shock.

"Stephen! You're burning up!"

He gently took Gray's hand from his head and into his hand.

"It's not a big deal." He smiled, I can't worry him. Worry? Is he worried? Is that why he's here? No. Probably not. He probably felt bad for me.

Gray moved his hand back up to Stephen's face, cupping his cheek instead of touching his forehead. 

Stephen couldn't help but lean into his cool touch, the cold felt nice on his warm face.

"Why are you here?" Stephen asked quietly, his hand covering Gray's.

Gray smiled, "You had me worried, you know?" Gray eyes locked on Stephen's, and Stephen was sure he could feel his heart melt. Or maybe it was the fever.

"It takes a lot to worry me," he continued, "But seeing you dash off like that, and then not seeing you after school. You even locked the door." Gray sighed, "I kinda though you were tired of me." he said in such a small voice, Stephen was almost sure he wasn't supposed to hear that part.

Stephen closed his eyes, he was focused entirely on Gray's hand, his gentle touch, "How could I be tired of you?"

Gray smiled, "Take off your coat, you're going back to bed." Gray's hand retreated, and Stephen was reluctant to let him go, God I'm losing my marbles over this guy.

Gray turned back to the dining table, and took of his coat, daintily draping it over the back of the bar stool he most commonly sat in. 

"What are you doing?" Stephen asked, in regards to Gray's actions, "You have school."

"I'm not going." He stated, and smiled.

"What?" But why, you have class. I'm no reason to miss class.

"Why would I? You're my dear friend Stephen, so I'm going to take care of you." He went to the fridge and grabbed a cold water, flinching at the temperature. He walked back and handed it to Stephen, "Go lay down, you need rest, I'll be there in a minute."

Stephen would've loved to tell him no, and that he should go to school. That Stephen was grown and he could take care of himself. But something about the way Gray acted, his warm eyes, his soft touch, convinced Stephen to just enjoy himself.

So he did as he was told, and went to lay down.

...

...

...

He was sort of laying down for a moment, until he heard his bedroom door open. He immediately sat up.

"That's counterproductive." Gray said, as he walked in, moving the chair from Stephen's desk to a spot closer to Stephen's bed. "If you're at least laying down then I'll chat with you for a bit." he paused, "If you want that is."

Stephen let out a chuckle, "That sounds great." A warm feeling bloomed in his chest, and even let him forget how crappy he felt for a minute.

Gray looked at the Advil bottle on Stephen's nightstand, "Headaches," he said, "Not colds." He handed Stephen a bottle of Benadryl, "Much more efficient, you'll be out in 30 minutes though."

"That's okay." He took a Benadryl without any further questions.

"I could've poisoned you right then you know? Why would you accept pills from a stranger"

"I don't think you'll poison me Gray, and we're not strangers," He met Gray's eyes once more, "We're friends!"

Gray had a different sort of smile, and maybe it was because of the dim light, from the lamp on the nightstand, or some other unworldly force, but was that a blush on Gray's cheeks. "Yea, you're lucky it was me. You should break that habit."

"Gray?" Stephen asked, slowly sinking down lower.

"Stephen?"

"Come sit up here." He patted the edge of the bed, Stephen had inched closer to the wall, and Gray wasn't big. He could sit.

Gray was reluctant.

"Oh c'mon," Stephen practically begged, "It has to be more comfortable than the chair."

After a moment, Gray moved to the edge of the bed.

"See, that wasn't so hard." Stephen yawned, he couldn't help but scoot a bit closer to him. 

Gray smiled, as Stephen yawned again, shutting his eyes for only a moment before opening them and sending looks of positivity towards Gray.

One of Gray's hands tentatively, reached his farthest hand out towards Stephen's face. He gently, and unsurely, played with the hair in front of Stephen's eyes, twirling it around his fingers. Occasionally his fingertips would brush against his forehead and sending butterflies swarming in Stephen's stomach.

He looked up at Gray through half shut eyes, Did 30 minutes really go by so fast?

And after a moment of hesitation he couldn't help it, he reached for Gray's closest hand with his, he moved slowly, fingers skimming over Gray's palm, seemingly unsure. "Is this okay?" He couldn't help but ask, hoping he wasn't stepping over an boundaries.

Gray nodded.

Stephen intertwined their fingers.

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Dearest people of the platform, I humbly apologize for my absence. My sleep schedule is wrecked, school had drained my of what little energy my mental has given me to use in day to day life.

This isn't even my computer. 

You know the one I just bought the charger for? The stupid old one? Its broke down, I have to get my Grandpaw, someone who does tech for a living, to fix it next time I see him, who knows when that'll be.

I really had fun with this chapter, I'm on break now til Wednesday, I really, missed writing.

Ty for reading, have a wonderful whenever friends.