More Than Friends (boyxboy)

Chapter 21: Crossing the line

"I don't think we can be friends after all."

☆

Mark lets his hand holding the controller fall onto his leg. "You are full of surprises." He glances to his side at Bay, who was still focused on the screen. "Good at maths, and now good at gamlng. You are really trying to steal my crown aren't you." 

"No. Honest." Bay looks at Mark as if to take the guy seriously, but Mark just laughs back. 

"I'm joking. It's about time I met my match." Eyes meet as the laughter slowly fades. Mark tries to keep a hold of the gaze but cannot stop Bay from looking back at the screen. He quietly sighs, wanting to ignore the feeling down in the pit of his stomach. That feeling of a hundred butterflies dancing like crazy. "Another race?" Mark looks back at the screen, not waiting for a reply as he sets the game up once again. 

"You sure like to be punished don't you." Bay grins as he adjusts his sitting position on the end of Mark's bed. His feet spread out a fraction, their legs touch and it causes Mark to get distracted once again, but he doesn't pull his leg away. It stays just where it is. 

Bay, who is too focussed on winning his next race, seems unaware of the subtle contact and at least of all, what was racing through Mark's head. Bay was content in the moment of enjoying this new friendship. Happy in himself that he could be a friend to more than one person. That Archie was not the only person who he could lean on when he needed someone. He clings on tightly to the controller as he enjoys the glory of a second win. He turns to Mark who seemed to be impartial to the second defeat. "I won again." Bay says, as if the other boy maybe hadn't noticed.

Mark forces a smile as he looks down at the controller. "Well done." He says,  rather defeatist and causes Bay to place his controller back on the bed. 

He tilts his head a little, in order to catch Mark's line of sight.  "It's just a game. I'll go easy on you next time if it really bothers you." 

"It's not that.' Mark begins, with the feeling of an urge of wanting something he can't have beginning to grow. 

"Then what is it?" 

Mark's eyes get drawn to Bay's. He bites on his lips more times than necessary before he utters. "I know what I said, but … I don't think we can be friends after all."

It hurts Mark to see Bay's demeanour change as the look of disappointment is evident. "Oh, well, I understand…"

"I want to kiss you." 

Bay pulls his head back a fraction. "Oh." He says as he immediately becomes aware of how close they had gotten on the bed. "I...um." 

"It's ok. I promise I won't, but being just your friend isn't going to be as easy for me as I thought." He looks at Bay, a little sheepishly. "I'm sorry I invited you here. I guess you can go." Mark waits for the other boy to agree. To get up and leave. This wasn't what Bay signed up for. Mark understood that, but the boy just stays where he is. "Why aren't you going?' He questions. 

Bay senses the nervousness of the other male. It was relatable in that moment, the feelings of what Mark was going through. Not too different from his own when he and Archie have been together of late. The feeling of want, but not crossing the line…. But what if Bay was to let him? What if he took a risk? Mark was kind, popular, and attractive. He was showing Bay a side of him that he had not dared reveal to his closest of friends. Archie had made his choice. He was with Lena. There was no use of Bay holding on to anything more between the two of them. 

He looks at Mark and lets a small smile grace his lips. "Ok."

"What?" Mark seems to return back into the room, where his mind had wandered into his own unrequited feelings. 

"You can kiss me." Bay repeats, feeling a sudden nervousness hit him at the words uttered. 

"Are you sure?" Mark looks at Bay, his eyes squint a little as if to scrutinise the moment, but Bay makes it clear when he reaches out and places one of his hands on Mark's. 

"I want to kiss you too…unless, you were joking." His body fills with dread. What if it was all a joke?

"No, I wasn't joking." Mark is quick to reply, causing the boys to smile at each other.  Mark turns a little towards Bay,  he places the controller on the bed in order to raise a hand to rest on the other boy's shoulder.  The action causes Bay to hold Mark's other hand a little tighter. "Close your eyes," he says, to which Bay does, as his eyelids fall. 

As his lips try their best to relax, It is as if time stops in that moment. As if he is in-between worlds as Bay anticipates the moment…. And then he feels it. That first contact. His first kiss. Mark's lips are surprisingly soft as they gently press against his own, the moment held for a few chaste seconds before Mark pulls away. 

Bay opens his eyes to see Mark gazing at him, with interest. "How do you feel?" He asks. 

Bay pulls his lips into his mouth as he processes the answer. "That was nice." He says, thinking for a moment how he had seen others kiss. Not nearly as innocent, was he maybe a little disappointed? 

"That was initiation..." Mark says with more confidence about him this time. "...Before I do this." And before Bay has a moment, Mark is leaning in once again. He takes his hand from Bay's shoulder and lets it travel around the back of Bay's neck, as his fingers weave a little into his hair, pulling him closer as their lips meet. 

It feels as if a whole new world has opened inside of them. Mark's lips took the lead, with Bay's own, beginning to anticipate the rhythm as both males began to get lost in the moment. This was what Bay had anticipated and this was making him feel good…. If only Archie would just stop popping into his mind. He casts the thought of his friend aside. Desperate to stay focussed on the moment as he feels Mark's weight lean over him as Bay slowly lays back on the bed. 

"RIING" 

Mark stops what he's doing in an instant as he pulls back and sits up, leaving Bay nestled in the crumpled duvet. He heads to his window, seeing a figure standing on the other side of the gate. 

"Who is it?" Bay asks as he sits up, leaning back on his elbows. 

"I don't know." Mark replies. He looks at Bay. "Wait here, I'll get rid of them." And no sooner has he uttered the words, he is out of the bedroom, leaving Bay alone to stare at the open doorway. 

He heads down the stairs to the panel by the door and sees who the person is. He is in two minds to answer. Maybe pretend that there is no one home but the buzzer rings again. The unexpected visitor looks at the camera, as if to look directly at Mark, as he mouths the words…. 

"Where is Bay?"