After the storm [Finished]

Extra 1: Memories of you (Part 1)

I knew him since we were kids, I met him in secondary school and we clicked with each other right away; he was my best friend. I don't remember when those feelings turned into love though. One day, we were talking nonsense as we usually did, and I realized I had fallen in love with him while staring at his laughing face.

The only thing I know is that on my 16th birthday our relationship got messed up.

I woke up with aching limbs and a headache that could kill, my mouth was dry as hell, and the growing regret of all those drinks I gulped down the previous night.

I almost fell asleep again when the low groan of someone startled me. My head turned to the side before I could think about doing it and my eyes landed on Alex's face. Suddenly, a sequence of scenes and conversations from last night went through my mind like electricity.

I gasped, shocked. My heart fluttered, of course, I was in love with him, but my stomach became a knot that almost made me throw up due to the hangover.

I would have slept until two or three pm under normal circumstances, but I couldn't close my eyes for a single minute. I was almost panicking at some point, so I pulled myself together and got up to take a shower.

However, taking a shower didn't help me to calm down; however, it helped me to see things clearer.

My parents were out of town that weekend, and since they couldn't spend my birthday with me, they felt sorry and let me do a party at home. I couldn't care less, to be honest. I invited some friends from school and my older brother bought us the alcohol for the party, he was in college at that time. I remember all of us getting drunk as heck, but we were having fun. My brother was watching on us anyway, he was upstairs. At some point, everyone left and Alex and I were left alone. He always stayed over so it wasn't big deal even though I liked him, I was kinda used to it already.

"Ryan, tell me something". He said eating the last chips left.

"Hm?"

"You like me, don't you?" I got surprised. I looked at him with wide eyes. "Don't you?" He repeated.

"What are you talking about?" I panicked. "You've drunk too much". I tried to pick a ship too but he pulled the bowl away from me.

"I'm not as drunk as you think". He stared at me. "Why is your face getting so red then?"

"Because I'm drunk".

"I haven't said anything because I was waiting for you to do it. It's been a few months already, right?" I stared at him, I felt my ears getting red.

"How did you know?" I finally admitted it.

"You're staring at me more than usual, and you sulk every time I go out with someone and get mad if I talk about that person afterward".

"Ah, so you noticed. I thought I was hiding it well". I bit my lips nervously. That wasn't a conversation I wanted to have while being tipsy.

"Hiding it?" He exclaimed. "You have your emotions displayed on a huge screen with light signs, Ryan". He giggled. I breathed heavily, he was laughing at me. "Don't get worked up". He gave me two little pats on the shoulder. "So...", Alex moved his hand from my shoulder to my upper thigh. "Wanna do something?" He asked leaning closer next to me, his touch burning the skin under my jeans. I swallowed hard as I saw him getting closer and closer.

We stayed in the living room for a while, I don't know exactly for how long, but for a while, kissing frenetically until the noise from upstairs startled us. My brother was still up, soon after, he was on the first floor.

"Are you still up?" He asked surprised. "It's 4 a.m. Go to sleep if everyone left already".

"Ah, yeah". I mumbled trying to keep my cool. "Good night". I stood up and headed to my room.