More Than Friends (boyxboy)

Final Chapter: Declaration

"Our work here is done."

☆

It had been just over a week since that kiss and a little longer since Bay had stepped foot back in school since the day he had been beaten. The anxiety racing through him was hard to tame as he sat in his usual spot at the back of the bus. The music playing in his ears did not help in the slightest to stop the multitude of scenarios filling his mind about Archie. Would he be waiting for him at school? Would he feel the same now Bay was back? Would all they had confessed to each other be taken back, forcing then to return to being friends? Would friends even be possible after this?

The bus slows and he sees Lena and Jojo get on. He watches how they seem to have eyes only for each other. Jojo even looks happy, as she cracks a smile on what was usually a sour face. The smile brought on by Lena guiding her by the hand to their seat. Bay finds himself scanning the other people on the bus. Looking for a reaction to the two holding hands, but it seems nobody minded or even cared and those who glanced a look didn't comment. The fear of the worst case scenario would never go away, people didn't pass comment today or name call or throw a punch but tomorrow may be different, or it may be the same as today. He admires their courage to not care about the opinion of others. Something which wasn't the easiest thing to do. He wondered if he would be as brave now given the opportunity.

That fear of the unknown causes him to think of Mark. Unsurprisingly they had not spoken and even though Bay felt like he had nothing to say, there was still a juxtaposition of emotions swirling around in his mind about the boy. The fear of Mark's sexulity being discovered was something he understood to a degree but that is where his compassion ended. What he did, could not be undone.

As the bus continues on its journey, Bay gazes out of the window. They soon arrive at the school gates and he sees him... Archie, waiting like he always did. The spike of joy rushes through Bay and the smile cannot stay hidden as it spreads across his face. He gets up and makes his way off the bus as usual and walks to the boy. "You waited."

"Of course." Archie replies, keeping his hands firmly in his pockets, wondering if he should ruffle the hair of the other, with the action now feeling like there was more behind it, considering how their relationship had stepped up a notch. "I get it if you want to keep things between us for a while, considering what you have been through.

Bay glances around at the other students making their way into the building. A few were looking his way and the courage he thought he would possess seems to evade him. "I'm sorry." Bay looks and forces a smile as he looks down, feeling a little guilty for getting cold feet.

"It's ok. Whenever you're ready. You can't get rid of me that easily. C'mon." With his hands still in his pockets, Archie nods towards the school building. "Let's get something to eat." Bay smiles in agreement as side by side, they make their way inside.

As they enter the canteen, the mood is sombre, with the place filled with sleepy teens trying to acclimatise to the school morning. "Do you want your usual?" Archie seems to have his eyes trained on the canteen breakfast. Whereas Bay appears to be distracted by a person sitting on their own in the corner of the room.

"Yeah... sure.." He gives a half hearted answer as he feels compelled to walk over to the table in question. He stops just short of the other boy who is sat, head down, staring at some maths papers.

Mark senses he is not alone as he slowly begins to look up, half expecting Gus to be there to give some snide comment about how Mark had changed and so on but is thrown off guard when he sees Bay standing at his table. "Bay... why are you here? He instantly looks around him to see if anyone is watching."

Bay pulls the seat out opposite him and forcibly sits down. He looks at Mark directly in the eyes. "How about a sorry?" He cannot help himself. It was as if the distance they had made between them and the turn of events with him and Archie had pushed the feeling of anger deep down, but seeing Mark before him brought everything to the surface.

Mark tries to maintain eye contact but his eyes pull away, looking down at his notes before him. "You know I'm sorry. You know that isn't who I really am."

Bay shakes his head. He lets out laugh of amusement as he sees the other boy continue to evade looking at him. "I know exactly who you are, and do you know at first, I thought you were pretty untouchable. The popular kid, Mark Lester, talking to me. Me! Of all people but I got to know you Mark and I liked you for who you were. I thought we were on the same level in some ways.

"We are." Mark finally looks up at Bay. "You get me Bay, only you. No one else..."

"We're not even on the same page." Bay interrupts. "You made your choice of who you wanted to be when you made that first kick. I pleaded with you to stop but you didn't."

"I am sorry Bay. I really am. I am not even friends with Gus anymore." Mark closes the book in front of him. He leans over the table towards Bay. "Please give me another chance. Can we be friends, at least?"

"Bay?"

Both Mark and Bay turn to look at Archie, starting at them from a few feet away with a tray of food in his hands. Bay smiles at his boyfriend. "Give me a second." He turns back to Mark, standing up in the process. "Be friends with yourself first, then maybe you will be able to let someone else in."

He leaves the table, with Mark watching him go, with no words to answer apart from that bitter pill. Another reminder of how messed up his life was, but he had brought most of it on himself.

"What did he want?" Archie questions as he continues to stare at Mark, who was one again flicking through his notes, true to form as if nothing had happened.

"That's for him to figure out." Bay replies. He looks up at Archie and finds the urge to lean forwards and without hesitation, he kisses the boy on the cheek. He quickly takes the tray, which is now in danger of falling from Archie grip at the surprise affection. Archie looks at Bay as if he had been put under a spell. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Bay grins. "Come on. Let's eat." He takes the lead with the other boy finally snapping out of his bubble. He hurriedly catches up, and no sooner had Bay put down the tray on the table, he is being lifted from behind and spun around.

"Bayley Brennon is my boyfriend!" Archie hollers, causing everyone to look, laugh, whoop and most to not be phased.

From a corner of the canteen, Lena smiles at the pair before she looks over at Jojo. "I told you. They just needed our help." She beams. "Our work here is done."

THE END

A/N: Thank you to anyone who has taken the time to read to the end. Thank you all for your patience with the time it took for me to conplete.

Jojo

🌻