Submerge

C O M F O R T

E T H A N 

I woke up to the soft sound of birds chirping outside my window. Stretching, I felt refreshed after a good night's sleep. Glancing over at my bed, I saw Mason still asleep, curled up under the blanket I had placed over him the night before. A smile tugged at my lips.

Hey, sleepyhead," I whispered, trying not to wake Mason too abruptly. "Rise and shine." Mason stirred, blinking groggily as he sat up. "What time is it?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"It's just past six," I replied, getting up from my bed. "We have some time before we need to head to school."

As I headed to the kitchen to whip up some pancakes, I called back to Mason, "Hey, you might want to grab a change of clothes from my closet. It'll be faster than going home."

"Good idea," Mason called back, shuffling towards my room.

I could hear him rummaging through my closet as I cooked, and it made me smile. It felt good to have him here, to help him feel a bit more normal. A few minutes later, he emerged from my room wearing one of my favorite hoodies and a pair of jeans that fit him surprisingly well.

Mason pulled out a shirt and a pair of jeans. "These okay?"

"Perfect," I replied, grinning. "You might even look better in them than I do." flipping a pancake onto a plate. "Those clothes suit you." Mason chuckled. "Thanks. Your taste isn't half bad." 

We got ready and headed to school. As we walked through the halls, I couldn't help but notice how natural it felt having Mason by my side. 

Mia's gaze drifted to Mason's hoodie, and she raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile forming on her lips. "Nice hoodie, Mason. Isn't that Ethan's?"

Mason turned a bit red, but he laughed. "Yeah, I didn't have time to go home this morning." I jumped in, grinning. "Hey, he pulls it off, doesn't he? Maybe I should let him borrow my clothes more often."

Mia giggled. "You two are adorable. Matching outfits next time, maybe?" I laughed, nudging Mason playfully. "Sounds like a plan. Think we can pull off the twin look?" Mason rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile. "Sure, why not. We'll be the talk of the school."

After lunch, we headed to our classes. The rest of the school day passed in a blur of lectures and assignments. I made sure to check in with Mason between periods, just to make sure he was doing alright. Each time, he gave me a reassuring nod or a small smile, letting me know he was hanging in there.

When the final bell rang, I caught up with Mason at his locker. "Sooooo since it's Friday, how about we go to the Skate Park again or chill at my place?"

Mason shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "How about my place? We can binge-watch that new series you've been talking about."

I grinned. "Sounds perfect. Let's get out of here."

As I drove, I noticed something was off. The route Mason gave me was different, longer than usual. After a few more blocks, I finally spoke up. "Hey, Mason, isn't this a bit far from your place?"

Mason hesitated, then sighed. "It's actually not my place. It's my brother Nathan's apartment. I've been staying with him for a while now."

I was a bit taken aback but quickly recovered. "Oh, I see. Why didn't you tell me?"

Mason shrugged. "It didn't come up."

When we arrived, Mason unlocked the door and we headed straight to the living room. As we entered, two people were sitting on the couch, engaged in a deep conversation. "Ethan, this is my brother Nathan and his friend Liam. Guys, this is Ethan."

Nathan stood up, and I couldn't help but be impressed. He was tall, with a fit and muscular build that suggested he spent a lot of time at the gym. His eyes were sharp and intelligent, his jawline strong.

Nathan stood up, extending his hand with a friendly smile. "Nice to finally meet you, Ethan. Mason talks about you all the time." i glanced at Mason and his face was red as a tomato

I shook his hand, feeling a bit nervous but comforted by his warmth. "Nice to meet you too, Nathan.

 Liam waved from the couch. "Hey, Ethan. Welcome. Feel free to make yourself at home."

Mason tossed his bag onto the floor and turned to me. "I'll grab some snacks. You want anything?"

"I'm good, thanks," I replied, flopping onto the couch next to Liam.

Nathan glanced between us. "So, what are you guys planning for tonight?"

Mason emerged from the kitchen with some chips, and a couple of sodas. "We were thinking of binge-watching 'Dark Matter' Care to join?"

Nathan grinned. "Sounds like a plan"

We all settled in, a comfortable silence falling between us as the first episode started. The series was gripping, with suspenseful moments and intricate plot twists that kept us on the edge of our seats. 

"Man, I didn't think this show would be this good," Mason said, his eyes glued to the screen.

"Yeah, me neither. It's got me hooked," I replied, reaching for another handful of popcorn.

Halfway through the third episode, Nathan stretched and stood up. "We're gonna head to my room for a bit," he said, glancing at Liam. 

Liam nodded, following Nathan out of the room. "Enjoy the show, guys," he called over his shoulder.

Mason and I continued watching, our shoulders brushing more frequently now that we had the couch to ourselves.

"You know," I said softly, during a quiet moment in the episode, "I'm really glad we've been hanging out more. It feels... right."

Mason turned to me, a shy but genuine smile on his face. "Yeah, it does."

Without thinking, I reached out and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Mason squeezed back, and we sat there, holding hands, feeling the weight of the moment between us.

As the episode continued, our eyes met again. The room felt charged with an unspoken connection, For a moment, neither of us moved. Then, as if drawn by an invisible force, I leaned closer. Mason didn't pull away; instead, he leaned in too, and our lips met in a soft, tentative kiss. 

The kiss was sweet and slow, and it felt like everything I had imagined and more. I felt Mason's hand come up to cup my face, his fingers warm and gentle. I responded by sliding my arms around his waist, pulling him closer. The feeling of his body against mine was electric, and the world outside seemed to fade away.

Mason's other hand found its way to my hair, tangling in it as the kiss grew more passionate. I could feel his breath against my skin, the soft, almost inaudible sounds he made sending shivers down my spine. I tilted my head slightly, deepening the kiss even further.

Eventually, Mason's head gradually drooped until it rested on my shoulder. I didn't mind at all; in fact, I found the closeness comforting. I could feel the steady rhythm of his breathing, and it made me feel protective, like I wanted to keep this peace for him.

After a while of comfortable silence Mason fell asleep, his head still on my shoulder. I paused the show and turned down the volume, not wanting to disturb him. I watched Mason sleep for a moment, feeling a sense of contentment. 

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