𝓲𝓽'𝓼 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 (mason mount x declan rice)

part 6 - we need to talk

*in private chat*
3:11 a.m.
declan
Mason, I know you're awake.
And you don't want to talk to me.
But what you're doing isn't fair. I didn't even kiss you, you kissed me!
mason <3
I guess.
declan
Meet me in the locker room, it'll be quiet. We can talk there.
mason <3
no, I don't want to meet you in the dead of night like we're star-crossed lovers
declan
that's not what I meant!
mason <3
I know, i was joking
haha
declan
oh
lol
see you in like, five minutes?
mason <3
alr

Declan paced back and forth. Was this a bad idea? Was Mason even going to actually come? Dejected, he sat on a bench and waited. Mason would come if he wanted to, if he felt it was necessary. Declan couldn't make him come.

To his relief, Declan saw Mason turn up, from behind a stretch of lockers. Mason was wearing nothing but his training shorts, completely bare-chested. His hair was rough and unkempt, and he had dark circles under his eyes. Declan, in wine and yellow West Ham pyjamas, felt overdressed.

"You don't look alright." Declan remarked as Mason sat down. Not next to him, on the other side of the bench, a bit further away, so Declan couldn't see his face.
"Whatever." Mason said, his voice showing the disinterest he seemed to feel. "What do you want?"
"You kissed me, Mason." Declan decided to get straight to business.
"I already told you to-"
"No, I'm not done talking." Declan shushed him. "You kissed me, while we were drunk. That's whatever for me, I know it happens sometimes. My problem is, you start ignoring me and acting mean after? Like that kiss meant anything."

"It didn't?" Mason sounded hurt, but he caught himself, shaking his head. "Of course it didn't. Anyway, I'm sorry for ignoring you, but I was just scared. I guess I was just running away from this conversation we're having."

"We wouldn't be having this conversation if you hadn't ignored me in the first place." Declan pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "You could've just laughed it off. I could've just laughed it off. We could've just-"
"Laughed it off?" Mason finished his sentence, chuckling lightly.
"Yeah." Declan returned, with a smile. "But you ran away. Look, that night was crazy, and the memories are hazy. No one other than Jude saw us. Let's just put it behind us. Please, I want my best friend back." Declan's voice cracked when saying the last few sentences.

"Put it behind us." Mason echoed.
"Yeah." Declan got up, turned, and sat beside Mason. "Please," he put a hand on Mason's thigh. "I want my friend back."
Declan backed away in surprise when he saw Mason shed a few tears.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Mason didn't answer the question. "Your best friend is right here, Dec. I'm right here. I'm sorry for ignoring you, and even for kissing you, I'm so sorry. But I'm not going anywhere. Never."

Mason got up, and Declan followed suit.
Declan wanted to hug him, but Mason took the incentive. He wrapped his arms around Declan, hugging him tight. Declan hugged him back, and felt himself go red. Something about the close proximity, the smell of Mason's hair, the feel of his warm skin against Declan's hands....

For a few moments they stayed, both parties drinking in the embrace, before Mason pulled away, a little red himself.
"Sorry, gotta get back to, uh, my room."
Mason rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and left.
Declan stood there for a moment, hanging onto the feelings he had felt before, the warmth of Mason's embrace. Then, before he could stop himself, he looked down, and saw it. The indicator. The wardrobe malfunction. A boner.

"No." Declan said to himself, shaking his head. "No, no, please." But as he felt himself deny it, the more he realized it was true.

That was the only explanation for why he felt so much happier when talking to Mason. Why he felt jealous whenever Mason would compliment girls, when they were younger. Why sometimes, when they showered, he would steal looks at Mason under the cover of the hot steam.

Declan went back to his room in shame. He didn't know how to feel! He had a thing for his best mate! A lad!

What was he going to do?