Comfort --RWRB College AU

9. Love

June heads out for a sleepover at her friend's later that night, leaving Alex at home alone, with Henry, who has been in his room all day. The night is silent, deathly silent. Henry comes out once for his takeout and soon disappears behind his door.

Alex was comforted after his talk with June. But as soon as his sister leaves, enormous emotion washes over him and suffocates him. He's in his room all night, too, sitting on his bed with his laptop aside. There's an article open that should be read tonight, but it's hard for someone who had spent their afternoon realizing he's deeply in love with his ex-enemy, current roommate who has been on and off about their thing for months, to read such academic things.

A lot of things are happening in his head with one thing clear: he IS in love, and he is doomed. He is not completely oblivious about his feelings toward Henry before, of course he has noticed. He knows Henry too well and is thinking about him in a way too more than friends, constantly. The confession, both to his sister and to himself, still startles him. Because he falls in love, with Henry.

Henry, Alex grips at his hair, he's making the whole thing so difficult and he can't even bring himself to dislike him for even a bit. He occasionally would act cold in the past few weeks but never had he been ditching him like tonight. What's wrong with him? Is it me? Alex can't help but panic.

And June said he should go for it, talk it out. But just thinking of the possible situations makes his palms wet. What if Henry has never thought about them that way? What if Henry is already annoyed at him, so he's in his room all day? What if he thinks that he is a pervert? Oh my God, what if he's homophob-

Okay, calm down. Alex pinches the bridge of his nose and decides he needs some late-night ice cream.

He slowly opens the door and pads out. His vision reflexively drifts to Henry's door: there's no light coming out under it, so he's asleep. Alex is not sure how he feels about it. He's probably fast asleep by now, not like you, you lovesick teenage boy. Alex scolds himself.

He opens the fridge, dim light casting a small area in the dark. He walks to the windows with a Cornetto in hand. He turns on the corner light as if hoping for a little companion. Eyes focusing on nothing in particular, he drifts into deep thought again, can't even taste the ice cream melting on his tongue.

"What are you doing here?" The sudden sound makes Alex jump. "Oh my fucking God!" Alex turns around and finds Henry standing in the doorframe. "You scared the shit out of me!" Alex clenches at the shirt above his heart, he can feel it drumming against his chest.

Henry furrows his brows, his expression unreadable in the dark. "Er, sorry." Alex licks his lips in case of any remaining crumbs. " 's fine. W-what are you doing here?" After the shock of getting scared, other emotions slip in. Alex feels sweat forming on his palms and forehead. His throat feels dry and he's not sure if the next sentence will sound okay.

"I, er, can't sleep." The sentence sounds more like a question. Henry walks to the fridge and takes out a Cornetto. The short moment when the door opens, warm light from the fridge pours on Henry, casting him with a golden filter. He is perfect, as always, like an angel. His blonde hair looks soft and disheveled, framing his face. Enveloped by his cotton night robe, he looks cozy and, natural. The word jumps into Alex's mind. It's like they're been together for years, married even, and they walk around in their most casual state, because they love each other anyways.

"Haven't answered my question yet." Henry's voice knocks Alex out of his trance. He snaps his head to look at Henry and finds him standing right beside him. "O-oh. Same." He shrugs, putting on the best smile he can get, showing Henry the Cornetto in his hand.