𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐤 ღ 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐮𝐬

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 .

Braydin tossed and turned in bed, the whole day replaying to him in sections. He curled up against the sheets and groaned, trying to sleep.
    "Come on, breathe."
Stop.
"You got this, Braydin."
    Stop it.
    "Hey, you okay? Need a minute?"
Braydin sat up.
    His heart raced and he couldn't just lay down anymore. Slumping against the wall, he covered his face and he groaned, embarrassed.
    Suddenly, a click emitted from the door, followed by a small creak.
    "Braydin? Are you awake?"
    "Titus, hi."
    Titus walked into the room, slowly approaching the bed. He sat down on the sheets next to his companion and breathed. "Sorry, I just... can't sleep."
    "All good," Braydin murmured. "Me either."
    The brunette continued to press himself against the corner of the bed and gazed at the silhouette of the blonde in the dark room.
    "Braydin, I'm going to tell you something. But I need you to promise..." The taller trailed off.
    "Promise what?" Braydin's heart raced.
    "You won't make fun of me?"
    Braydin's breath caught in his throat. Was he about to confess? Did he really like him? Was Titus Koch, the man he loved with all his life, about to say he loved him the same way he did?
    "I promise." Braydin's voice shook.
    "...Alright. Braydin, I don't think I like girls. I'm gay."
    Braydin's excitement staggered, but remained high. Close enough.
    "Dude, why would I make fun of you for that?"
    Titus choked. "I- I don't know?? I just thought... I don't know. It's stupid. I'm sorry."
    "Don't apologize. Please." Braydin searched for the beautiful blue of his eyes in the dark. He kicked a leg out and only kept one up by his chest, resting his head on it.
    "It... I- It was just... never mind."
    Braydin cocked an eyebrow. "Huh?"
    "Never mind." Titus pushed his attitude more onto the two words the second time.
    "Tell me," Braydin demanded. Titus shook his head. "Please."
"I just..."
"Titus, I don't want to force you, but I really want you to tell me. I'm not going to be mad, sad, upset, none of that."
"I just don't want our friendship to be an experiment."
Braydin's heart sank. Silence hung between them for what felt like decades. "Experiment?"
"Yes, experiment," Titus struggled to mutter, "I just... I don't know. I know I don't like girls. I'm- I just- I want to know if that's it, like if I can just leave it at 'I like boys,' and- I was- I was gonna ask to sleep in here. Braydin, please, I don't want you to think I-I'm using you to figure out who... I am. You mean so much more to me than that." He burst into tears.
    Braydin pulled Titus into his arms, holding his face against his shoulder. Titus sprawled out on top of Braydin, clutching his stomach. He threw a leg over his lap and Braydin just held him.
"Hey, take your time. Breathe. I got you, Titus."
Titus sniffed, peering up at Braydin. "Can I sleep in here tonight?"
    Braydin hugged his head tighter. The arm underneath Braydin clutched him like he could slip out otherwise.
"...That's gay." Braydin grinned, hoping Titus would understand the fun he was poking at him.
    Titus frowned into Braydin's neck. He didn't.
    "No, wait. I'm sorry."
    Titus remained silent.
    Braydin took Titus's hand and held it with both of his. "I'm sorry. I'm just trying to mess with you. I care about you a lot, and logically speaking, what you told me would change nothing. Seriously, I like dudes too. You've known that. But disregard that, you mean the absolute world to me and nothing would change that unless like, you killed one of my family members. Now just go to sleep."
    Titus scooted over, lying next to Braydin and wrapping an arm around him from underneath. Braydin took Titus's hand and interlocked their fingers, holding it close to his chest. Then, while Braydin played with Titus's hair and Titus had his head pushed underneath Braydin's chin, the two dozed off.
    Brian slowly blinked before stepping away from the door and walking off, shutting it behind him. He approached Lisa in the kitchen, sipping on wine and swiping on Facebook. "I knew it."