The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Seven: Midnight Reflections

Riley sat on the edge of Beau's couch, absently toying with the remote in his hand. The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of the TV. They had just finished a movie, but Riley's mind was elsewhere, replaying the conversation with his father earlier that day. The tension from it still lingered, simmering beneath the surface.

"You think we're ready for the game on Friday?" Beau's voice cut through the silence, pulling Riley back to the present.

Riley looked over at him, noticing the easy way Beau leaned back against the cushions. "Yeah, I think so," he replied after a beat. "You've been on fire lately. That last goal was ridiculous."

Beau's lips twitched into a half-smile. "Thanks. But you're the one keeping our defense solid. We'd be in trouble without you."

Riley gave a small nod, feeling a warmth in his chest that he hadn't expected. "Just doing my job."

Beau pressed play on the remote, starting another movie, but Riley's thoughts kept drifting back to the argument with Alessia. He hadn't meant to lash out at her, but she had kept pushing, and he had finally snapped. It wasn't her fault-she didn't know about the call, didn't know how his dad had a way of getting under his skin like no one else could.

The scene on the screen played out in front of them, but Riley wasn't really watching. His mind was too preoccupied with the earlier events of the day. His father's voice, cold and distant, echoed in his ears.

"You've been slacking, Riley. You think you can just get by without putting in the effort? That's not how the real world works."

"I'm doing fine, Dad. I'm working hard."

"Fine isn't good enough. You're not a kid anymore. It's time you started acting like it."

The conversation had gone downhill from there, his father's criticisms sharp and unrelenting. By the time the call ended, Riley's nerves were frayed, and all he wanted was to escape into something, anything, to get out of his own head.

"You alright?" Beau's question broke through Riley's thoughts once again.

Riley glanced over, catching the concern in Beau's eyes. "Yeah, just...long day."

Beau didn't press, but the concern didn't leave his expression. Instead, he reached over and nudged Riley with his shoulder. "We don't have to watch anything serious. How about something dumb?"

Riley managed a small smile. "Sure. Whatever you want."

Beau scrolled through the options, finally settling on a goofy comedy. The kind that didn't require much attention and promised a few laughs. As the opening credits rolled, Riley tried to let himself relax, to focus on the easy banter of the characters on screen instead of the swirling thoughts in his mind.

Time passed slowly, the minutes stretching into an hour as the movie played. Beau laughed at a particularly ridiculous scene, and Riley couldn't help but smile too, though it felt more like a reflex than anything genuine.

But the quiet that followed weighed heavy, and Riley couldn't ignore the exhaustion that tugged at him. It wasn't just physical-it was the kind of tired that seeped into his bones, the result of too many sleepless nights and too many thoughts that wouldn't let him rest.

"You ever feel like you just can't shut your brain off?" Riley asked suddenly, his voice low.

Beau looked over, his gaze steady. "Yeah, sometimes. Why?"

Riley hesitated, then sighed. "I haven't been sleeping much. Three hours, maybe, if I'm lucky. It's like I can't turn off the noise in my head."

Beau paused the movie, shifting to face Riley more fully. "That sounds rough, man. How long has it been like this?"

"A while," Riley admitted. "It's worse when there's a lot on my mind."

Beau nodded, understanding flickering in his eyes. "I get it. You know you don't have to deal with it alone, right? I'm here."

Riley looked at Beau, and for a moment, the weight on his chest eased. There was something comforting in Beau's presence, in knowing he didn't have to pretend everything was fine.

"Thanks," Riley said softly, appreciating the offer more than he could put into words.

They started the movie again, but the tension had lessened. Riley found himself sinking deeper into the couch, the exhaustion pulling at him harder now. Before he realized it, his head tipped to the side, coming to rest on Beau's shoulder.

Beau stiffened, caught off guard by the unexpected contact. His heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the TV, suddenly hyper-aware of every small movement, every breath he took. He could feel the weight of Riley's head against him, the steady rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

For a long moment, Beau didn't move, afraid that any slight shift would wake Riley. But as the seconds ticked by, he forced himself to relax. Riley needed this-needed the rest, needed to feel safe enough to let his guard down.

Beau let out a slow, careful breath, trying to ease the tension in his own body. Riley's hair brushed against his cheek, and Beau fought the urge to overthink the situation. It was just two friends, he told himself, just two friends helping each other out.

But even as he tried to convince himself of that, Beau couldn't ignore the way his heart skipped a beat when he glanced down at Riley, couldn't ignore the warmth spreading through him at the sight of Riley finally at peace.

The movie played on, the characters on screen lost in their own antics, but Beau wasn't paying attention anymore. His thoughts were focused entirely on the boy beside him, the quiet vulnerability in Riley's sleep, and the realization that, somewhere along the way, his feelings for Riley had become something more than just friendship.

Beau sat there, letting the moments pass, until the warmth of Riley's body and the late hour finally pulled him under as well. His head tilted slightly to rest against Riley's, and slowly, his eyes drifted shut.

In the quiet of the dorm room, with the glow of the TV casting soft shadows across their faces, the two of them slept, finding comfort and peace in each other's presence.