More Than Friends (boyxboy)

Chapter 8: The single bed

"Don't fidget."

☆

It had been 20 minutes since Archie had put forward the suggestion of them sharing Bay's single bed, 15 minutes since Archie had finished in the bathroom and 10 minutes since Bay went in to brush his teeth. But now he felt like he couldn't leave. He kept on replaying in his head over and over again, the thought of Archie laying in his bed, falling asleep next to him. How would he play this? Be cool and casual? It was no big deal after all. Archie was just a friend. "Just a friend." He finds himself saying the words out loud to himself in the mirror's reflection. It didn't mean anything that they were sharing a sleeping space. People, friends, they did it all the time... just not them.

The best case scenario was that Archie would be asleep by the time he was done here. Yes, that would be the best outcome. Then there wouldn't be any potential awkwardness. He gives himself an assertive nod in the mirror before leaving the bathroom and heads to his room.

The door opens a crack, revealing the two still bodies as Bay silently pushes the door open. He can see in the limited light from the window, outline the shape of Sim's body, laying on his back and wonders if he should share with him, but Sim was known for his restless legs and Bay didn't want to be kicked and bruised all night.

He then looks at his own bed. The figure of another laying on it. It seems Archie is asleep as he faces the wall, legs slightly bent from the shape visible through the bedding. Bay silently steps forwards, carefully pulling back the covers in order to slip in as quietly as possible. One leg, then the other, until he is laying on his back, eyes staring up at the darkened ceiling.

Bay's presence must have been felt as it causes Archie to shuffle and change position, with his face now facing Bay's profile. He can hear the sleepy breaths from Archie's slightly opened mouth, travelling into his ear. Bay turns on his side to face him. A fraction of space between them, with their heads sharing one solitary pillow. He takes in the sleeping image of his friend. He had never been up so close. It felt as if it were forbidden for him to even look. The way the faint moonlight created beautiful shadows across his skin, how his parted lips looked so soft. The way his bangs flopped over his eyes. It felt like it was wrong to stare, because this is the moment. The realisation that he knew for sure, that he saw Archie not just as his best friend, but as something more. It suddenly made sense, all of it. The way Bay felt towards Lena. The thrill of Archie's touch whenever he ruffled his hair and why he was right now about to freak out.

He quickly rolls onto his back. Eyes wide, far from sleep at the self revelation. The sudden movement causes Archie to stir. He drapes an arm over Bay's chest. His hand resting on Bay's shoulder as Archie's face begins to nuzzle his neck. "Don't fidget." He mumbles, as again he stills and causes Bay to tense up. How could he ever go to sleep now? He's scared to move in case he disturbs Archie again, but at the same time he didn't really want to. Bay felt like he wanted to bask in this new feeling for a little longer. This new and scary excitable feeling, when you are up close to someone who makes you feel different from anyone else. Even if it was most probably one sided.

Bay exhales a controlled breath, trying his best to relax. He slowly closes his eyes and hopes that sleep will take him, which finally it does.

***

There was something warm and comforting under Archie's face as he came around from sleep. So much so, that he felt he needed to nestle just a little more into the feeling, as he found his cheek rub against the cotton fabric. "Mmmm" he groans, feeling very content as he slowly opens his eyes to see through a sleepy haze, a body standing over him.

"What are you two doing?" Sim questions, looking on, mouth slightly agape.

Archie raises his head from the warm pillow, to see that it wasn't a pillow at all, but the chest of his sleeping friend. He pulls back away a fraction towards the wall in surprise. "N...nothing. I was asleep." He looks back at Sim with a half grin.

"Are you two boyfriends now?" Sim wonders as he tilts his head to one side.

"No... We are just friends. I like girls." Archie is quick to respond.

"Whatever you say." Sim shakes his head as he turns and trudges out of the bedroom, leaving Archie alone with Bay, who was still dead to the world. "I like girls." He finds himself repeating the sentence out loud once again as he sits up and looks down at Bay. The neck of his T-shirt, baggy enough to expose some collarbone. Something Archie had seen hundreds of times over the years, when changing for P.E or even at their more formal sleepovers. Something which had never affected Archie in the slightest until Sim had put the idea of 'boyfriends' into his head.

"Bay wake up." He pats his friend on the chest, making him jump awake. He looks up at Archie staring down at him and for a moment, wonders if he is dreaming, until he remembers.

"Oh hey." He pulls himself up to sit, rubbing his eyes. "Sorry about last night. Did you sleep ok?"

"I think I slept too well. "Archie laughs. "Your bed is comfy."

"My bed?" Bay says with amusement. "I'm sure it was cramped."

"Sim just asked if we were boyfriends." Archie laughs. "That's silly right?" He looks at Bay, expecting him to be equally amused by the comment, but his face is unreadable.

"I'm going to the bathroom." Bay swings his legs out of the bed, not letting Archie see the nerve it had hit inside of him. At least he had an indication of how his friend felt about the notion of 'boyfriends.' To him, it was clearly a joke.