Unraveling [BXB]

Chapter 21

It was dark outside and starting to rain when Chase showed up at Wren's door, clutching the sleeve of his dark gray hoodie and looking like he was about to start crying, and honestly, he wasn't entirely sure that he wasn't.

When Wren answered, his look of pleasant surprise fell to one of concern. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I just...needed to see you," he said, and it felt so stupid and pointless saying it out loud, but Wren just tugged him inside with a small smile.

"I thought you had to get Hayden's homework done."

"I'll do it tomorrow, I'm just so fucking exhausted," he said, collapsing down onto the couch as he set his face in his hands. "God, I can't keep doing this, I'm a horrible person," he whispered before quickly wiping a tear off his cheek.

"Woah woah, hey, come on, you're not a horrible person," Wren said, sitting down next to him and pulling Chase into his arms. "I think you're under a lot of stress right now, and you're overwhelmed by it and...and maybe we should...stop seeing each other."

Chase looked up at him with wide, teary eyes. He felt like the wind had just been knocked out of his lungs. "What?"

"Chase, look, as much as I tease you, this whole thing is supposed to be fun, but lying to Trey, pretending to date Hayden, losing sleep, I mean, it's destroying your mental health," Wren said, running his fingers through Chase's hair.

"No, Wren, please," Chase whimpered, choking on a sob. "You don't get it, I..." he swallowed thickly, opening his mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come out.

"Look, it's not like I'm not still going to be friends with you, I just think if us having sex means you have to drive yourself to the brink of insanity keeping it a secret then-"

"I'm falling in love with you," Chase said, unable to do anything to hide the fear in his eyes as Wren looked back at him, his expression unreadable.

"No...Chase, you were the one who said you didn't even like me," Wren said, locking his jaw as he looked over the younger boy's face. "You've barely slept, you-"

"I-I...loved you yesterday and I still will tomorrow," Chase said, his lower lip quivering as he looked up at him. "I have for a long time." 

Wren let out a soft breath before grabbing Chase and pressing their lips together. 

"I love you too," Wren whispered before bringing him back in to kiss him again and Chase threaded his fingers through his hair, tugging him closer as he kissed him hard.

"Hey, can you um...can you pinch me?" Chase asked and Wren pulled back, looking at him in confusion.

"Mouse, if this is like a foreplay thing-"

"What?" Chase asked, his face turning bright red. "Oh, n-no, I just um, I've slept like four hours and forty-five minutes in the past day and I'm not entirely sure I'm not hallucinating."

Wren grinned and then chuckled, cupping Chase's cheek. "You're not."

He sighed in relief, a bright smile tugging at his lips. "So...does that mean you'll be my boyfriend...or something?"

Wren's gaze moved from his lips to his eyes. "I will when you break things off with the one you already have," he said, staring at Chase. "Seriously."

Chase nodded. "I'm gonna talk to Trey tomorrow, not because of this, just because of me, I can't keep lying to him, and I made up my mind about it. I know he'll probably be mad, but...he deserves the truth anyway."

"Do you want me to be there with you?" Wren asked, holding Chase's hand and running his thumb over his knuckles.

"Yeah...but I think I need to do it alone," he said, looking up at Wren with a small smile. "You've helped enough anyway."