Shipped Off... to English Boarding School!

6. Processing

"June?"

"What's wrong?" She could always read everything in his voice. It was lunch the next day, Alex had found a quiet corner to call his sister. He had avoided talking to Henry all day, waking up extra early to leave the room before Henry was up. He just needed a little space and time to process.

"Nothing. Well, it's about Henry."

"I thought you both were getting along well?"

"We are. We are. It's just, well... I don't know how to say this... I'm just- I'm really confused."

"What, are you actually starting to like him?"

"I think so. That's the problem."

"Why is that a problem? Being friends with him for real is way better than being fake friends. For everyone."

"Well, I might like him as more than friends."

"Oh, Alex. Are you finally coming out to me? "

"Finally?!?"

"Are you just figuring it out?" She sounded confused.

"Well, yeah! I always thought I was straight!"

"Oh Alex, you've never been straight. And you know I'm completely fine with that. I will always love you."

"Ya, I know, thanks, but like, how did you know?"

"I caught you with Liam once, I figured you guys were dating. I didn't want to say anything though until you were ready to tell me."

"I was never dating Liam! We were drunk,"

"How often were you drunk? I could hear the porn through the walls when I knew he was in there with you. You know that old house of ours had the thinnest walls."

"But it's not like we were doing it together!"

"Okay, Alex, I understand you didn't see it before, but you have to see it now, right? Even when you were a kid, you stole my magazine to look at that picture of Prince Henry—"

"How do you know about that?! I always been it back exactly as it was-"

"Oh Alex, you left all your little grubby fingerprints all over it. I didn't understand until I figured it out that you were gay-"

"I'm not gay. I'm bi." That was the first time Alex had said it aloud, but it sounded right. It was like finding a piece of the puzzle you didn't know was missing, but then it fit perfectly into place.

"Alright. Either way, you should probably talk to Liam before you start something with the prince."

"Start something..." Shit. Alex couldn't start something with Henry. He was the prince of England, which would be difficult enough without it being a secret gay relationship. Plus he was leaving in less than 3 months anyways. This was all kinds of bad idea...

***
He didn't know what to say to Liam. Or to Henry. All his classes were done for the day, but he didn't feel ready to go back to the dorm room.

His sister was right, he should speak with Liam first, he deserved that much.

"Hey Alex, been a while. How's the fancy British school?"

"Yeah, it has. I'm sorry about that Liam. I should've reached out sooner."

"No worries, me too. I've been busy. Senior year, you know."

"Yeah... well I'm actually calling for another reason. I've been uh... figuring some stuff out about myself, and uh, I realized, well I'm looking back on things, with us, and like some of the stuff we've done, and I'm wondering..."

"Shit, Alex. Yeah, what you're thinking, yes. But it's fine. I'm over it. I know you don't feel the same way..."

"I'm really sorry Liam, I don't..."

"You said your figuring out some things... is there someone there? Another guy?"

Alex paused for what felt like an infinite amount of silence. "Yeah. Yeah, there is."

"What I glad he did what I couldn't."

"What do you mean?"

"Finally make you realize... it's fine, Alex. But I think I just need some space ok? Please don't call again."

"Oh, ok, but I'll see you when I'm back in—"

Liam had hung up. Fuck. One hard convo down though, one to go.

***
Finally Alex worked himself up to go back to the dorm. He had to tell Henry that this was a bad idea. No matter how either of them felt (and Alex had realized over the course of the day, that he did indeed very much have a crush on the prince), this was a bad idea.

Henry was laying on the bed reading a book as Alex entered. He glanced up at him shyly, but said nothing. Alex memories didn't do Henry justice. Henry was absolutely beautiful, and Alex's heart pounded in his chest. All he wanted to do was kiss Henry again.

He made his way to his own bed and sat, facing Henry. Henry sat up as well, putting down his book, looking at Alex.

Alex took a deep breath and started what he had rehearsed in his head earlier, "Henry, I don't regret last night. I think you're right about me being bisexual, but I don't think we should start a relationship. For all sorts of reasons."

"Yes, I agree that wouldn't be... practical. You don't have to explain, we can forget it ever happened." Alex did not want to forget the best kiss of his life had happened. God it took all his restraint not to cross the room and kiss him again. If he was any closer to Henry, he didn't think he could. How was he going to get through the rest of the semester like this?

He could barely stand the sadness in Henry's blue eyes. His blond hair was tossled again, Alex could see the outline of Henry's smooth muscle through his tee shirt. Fuck, Henry really did it for him, how had he not realized this earlier? He was always trying to catch a glimpse of him shirtless, and now more than ever he wanted to see what was beneath that tee shirt. "What would you have said if I came in here and told you the opposite? That I like you, and I want to kiss you again, and I don't want to stop?"

Henry gulped, "I wouldn't have been opposed to that. But I understand, what you mean, it doesn't make sense—"

"And yet it makes prefect sense," Alex was surprised at himself that he said that but aloud.  Henry shifted, lifting his shirt slightly by his hip. Alex saw the flash of bare skin, and all he wanted to do was touch him, to grab his hair way Henry had grabbed his, to kiss him- at least one more time in his life. If he didn't, Alex felt like he might die.

Fuck it.

Alex crossed the room, slipping his hand around Henry's waist and kissed him. Henry kissed him back, eagerly, hungrily. Alex didn't hold back either, he doesn't want to. Every bone and nerve in his body edging him on, he spreads his fingers through Henry's hair, lets his other hand slide underneath the hem of Henry's shirt. His skin was impossibly smooth.

Henry is giving at good as he gets, tugging at Alex's hair and shirt. Alex is getting worked up, forming a tent in his pants. He could barley breathe; he pulled back slightly. He could see his own lust reflected in Henry's sea blue eyes.

"Henry... can I... can I take off your shirt?"

Henry said nothing, simply raised his arms above his head, Alex eagerly pulled it over his head. His eyes locked on Henry's naked torso. He had a few freckles on his chest, hairless except for this little happy trial that lead into his sweatpants. Alex remained frozen until he became suddenly aware of Henry's hands at the hems of his own shirt, tugging it up, up. Alex lifted his arms so Henry could slip it over his head.

There they both were, shirtless. Alex finally lifted a hand to trace the lines in Henry's chest. He could feel his breaths, his heartbeat, his shivers as Alex drew his fingertip across. And suddenly he needed more, much more. He pulled Henry into him, so their bare skin could touch and it was everything.

There was no going back to being just friends.