Don't Touch || BOYxBOY ✔️

11

That night, as Dante and Leo walked back to campus, the tension in the air was palpable. It wasn't usually like this between them. Although Dante hardly spoke, Leo still felt comfortable to be around him. But not tonight. Right now, it felt weird. Maybe it was because of the way Dante had snapped at him in the bathroom, or the way Dante had clearly stated that they weren't friends. Leo didn't really know what to do.

Clearing his throat, he looked to the side and found Dante with his eyes on the floor as they walked. "I can always crash somewhere else if you wanna be alone," Leo said suddenly, surprising himself as well as Dante.

"What?" the other boy asked.

Leo mentally face palmed.

Leo mentally cursed himself for speaking out of turn, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment at his own awkwardness. "I just meant... you seemed kinda... I don't know, off tonight," he stammered, his words stumbling over each other in his haste to explain. "And I thought maybe you wanted some space or something. I don't wanna intrude, you know?"

Dante's expression softened slightly at Leo's explanation, a flicker of surprise and gratitude shining in his eyes. But in an instant, it hardened again. "Idiot," he muttered. "It's fine. I'm fine. Really. You can stay over."

Leo's shoulders sagged with relief at Dante's reassurance, a weight lifting from his chest as he realized that he hadn't overstepped after all. "Okay, cool," he replied with a small, grateful smile. "Just wanted to make sure you were definitely alright with it, that's all."

Dante nodded, his gaze meeting Leo's with a silent understanding that spoke volumes. "I think you're more weirded out about all of this than me."

"What do you mean?" Leo asked.

"I mean," Dante sighed, "you're acting awkward."

"No I'm not," Leo said quickly.

Dante raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not," Leo said adamantly. To prove he wasn't, he nudged Dante playfully, trying to throw some amusement into their conversation. The older boy flinched at the sudden contact and subtly shifted further to the side to create some distance between them. Leo noticed it. Of course he did. But he never said anything. He just plastered a smile on his face. "I'm sleeping on the bed, by the way," Leo said casually.

"You're doing what?" Dante asked in mild alarm, looking over at Leo with a frown.

Leo shrugged, acting normal. "I said I'm sleeping on the bed. It's your turn to sleep on the floor."

"You've gotta be kidding me," Dante muttered with a shake of his head. "Didn't I tell you last time that nobody sleeps in my bed apart from me?"

"Don't care," Leo said monotonously.

Dante sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Leo, come on. We've been over this. You know I don't like people messing with my stuff."

"I'm kidding," Leo laughed at Dante's serious expression. "Christ, it's a joke."

Dante softened slightly at Leo's words, sighing again as he realised he had probably snapped too harshly. "Right," he said quietly. "Sorry, I'm just... not used to having someone around me all the time."

Leo looked up, meeting Dante's eyes. "Hmm?" he murmured.

Dante didn't reply.

Leo knew that he was expecting too much when he asked Dante to speak, so instead he just sighed and nodded. "I guess we're different that way. I mean, me and my flatmates are like family. We're constantly in each others business," Leo said with a short laugh, that turned into an awkward cough when he realised he was speaking about his flatmates happily as if they still cared about him. They didn't. He hadn't received any phone calls or texts. Not yet anyway. The raven haired boy was still trying to hold out hope. Leo turned to Dante, trying to clear his mind from all the swirling thoughts. "I'll try to give you some space."