Chapter 1
Ed O'Brien stood in the corner of the crowded room, sipping on a lukewarm beer and trying his best to engage in small talk with the guests at the party. It was a gathering of industry folks and fellow musicians, all celebrating the end of their latest tour. Ed's bandmates, Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, and Phil Selway, were somewhere in the mix, mingling with the crowd.
As the night wore on, Ed found himself chatting with a group of acquaintances from a record label, discussing possible collaborations for the future. Suddenly, Thom stumbled over to him, clearly drunk as hell.
"Hey, hey, hey, Eddy," Thom slurred, his words barely coherent. "You know...I've always thought...you're just so...amazing."
Ed raised an eyebrow, unsure of where this was going.
"I mean, seriously," Thom continued, leaning in a little too close. "You're...you're just so talented, and kind, and...and gorgeous."
Ed felt himself flush with embarrassment as the other guests turned to stare at them. Jonny, Colin, and Phil looked over, concern etched on their faces.
"Okay, buddy, let's get you home," Ed said, trying to steer Thom towards the door.
Thom stumbled along with him, leaning heavily on Ed as they made their way to Thom's house. Once inside, Ed helped Thom into bed, tucking him in and making sure he had everything he needed before heading back out to the living room.
As he sat on the couch, Ed couldn't help but replay Thom's words in his head. Did Thom...did he have a crush on him? It wasn't outright stated, but there was definitely something there. Ed couldn't deny that the thought made his heart race and his stomach do somersaults.
But what did it mean for their friendship? For the band? Ed tried to push the thoughts aside, but as he drifted off to sleep on Thom's couch, he knew that this conversation was going to change things between them forever.
Chapter 2
Thom groaned as he rolled over in bed. His head was pounding and his mouth felt as dry as a desert. He vaguely remembered Ed taking care of him last night, but couldn't recall much else.
As he stumbled down the stairs, the smell of coffee and bacon hit him. He found Ed in the kitchen, flipping eggs in a skillet.
"Morning," Ed said, without looking up from the stove.
"Morning," Thom mumbled, rubbing his forehead.
Ed motioned towards the coffee pot. "Want some?"
Thom nodded, grateful. He sat down at the kitchen table and took a sip of the strong, bitter coffee. It was just what he needed.
As Ed cooked, Thom tried to piece together what had happened the night before. He remembered the party, the talk of collaborations, and then...what? He couldn't remember what he had said to Ed that had made him so unsure of their friendship.
But Ed didn't bring it up. They chatted about inconsequential things - the weather, their plans for the day - as they ate their breakfast.
Thom couldn't help feeling guilty. He knew he had said something to upset Ed. But he couldn't bring himself to ask about it. Not yet.
As they finished eating, Ed stood up. "I should go. Got some errands to run."
Thom nodded, but didn't move from his seat. He watched as Ed grabbed his coat and headed towards the door.
"Hey, Ed?" he said, his voice small.
Ed paused and turned back towards him. "Yeah?"
Thom hesitated. He didn't know if he was ready to address what had happened between them. But he knew he couldn't keep avoiding it forever.
