For the first time in what felt like forever, Ocean and Skyler sat side by side in class, a quiet understanding settling between them like the soft morning sun filtering through the windows. The classroom was filled with the usual murmurs of students settling in, the clatter of books and pens, but for Ocean, all of it felt distant. His focus was solely on the warmth of Skyler's presence beside him.
As the professor began the lecture, Ocean tried to concentrate. He really did. But all he could feel was the weight of Skyler's hand resting gently on his own. At first, it was just a light touch—Skyler's fingers brushing against his, almost as if testing the waters. Ocean's heart raced, his breath hitching at the contact. He glanced over at Skyler, whose expression remained calm, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.
But it wasn't.
At least, not for Ocean. His mind was spinning, thoughts clashing with feelings he didn't fully understand. The warmth of Skyler's hand was both comforting and overwhelming, making it hard for him to think clearly.
As the minutes ticked by, Skyler's grip subtly tightened, holding Ocean's hand more firmly. Ocean swallowed, his blush deepening as he tried, unsuccessfully, to gently pull his hand away. But every time he made the slightest attempt to withdraw, Skyler's fingers would tighten just a little more, keeping him close.
Ocean shot him a look, his cheeks burning with embarrassment, but Skyler only smiled softly in return, a mischievous glint in his eyes. That smile—so calm, so sure—made Ocean's heart stutter in his chest. Skyler wasn't going to let go, no matter what.
Ocean shifted slightly in his seat, trying to focus on the lecture, but every time his eyes fell back to their intertwined hands, his blush deepened. He couldn't help it—there was something so intimate, so possessive about the way Skyler held onto him. And despite his initial discomfort, there was a small part of him that didn't want Skyler to let go.
The rest of the class passed in a blur. Ocean's mind was too consumed with the feeling of Skyler's hand in his, the heat of the contact making it impossible to focus on anything else. Every time their fingers brushed against each other, a spark seemed to light up inside Ocean's chest, making his heart race faster.
By the time the lecture ended and the students began packing up their things, Ocean was practically vibrating with a mixture of nerves and excitement. His hand was still firmly in Skyler's grasp, and as they stood to leave, Skyler gave it a gentle squeeze, his eyes never leaving Ocean's.
"You okay?" Skyler asked softly as they made their way out of the classroom.
Ocean nodded, though his heart was still pounding. "Yeah... I'm fine," he mumbled, though the blush staining his cheeks said otherwise.
Skyler chuckled, clearly amused by Ocean's flustered state. "Good. Let's get you home."
The walk to the car was quiet, though the air between them was thick with unspoken words. Ocean could feel the steady beat of his heart in his chest, the lingering warmth of Skyler's hand still sending waves of heat through his body. He wasn't used to this—this kind of closeness, this kind of affection. But with Skyler, it felt... right.
As they pulled up to Ocean's apartment, Skyler parked the car and turned to him, his expression soft and full of warmth. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" he said, his voice low and soothing.
Ocean hesitated for a moment, his chest tightening with an odd sense of emptiness. The thought of stepping out of the car and leaving Skyler behind felt wrong, as if he was leaving a part of himself behind too. But he nodded, offering Skyler a small smile.
"Okay," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Skyler reached out, gently brushing a stray strand of hair away from Ocean's face. "Don't worry," he said, his tone full of reassurance. "I'll see you soon."
Ocean nodded again, but the ache in his chest remained as he stepped out of the car and watched Skyler drive away. The moment the car disappeared from view, a wave of loneliness crashed over him, leaving him standing in front of his apartment feeling strangely hollow.
He made his way inside, the silence of his apartment swallowing him whole. The space felt too quiet, too empty. Ocean stood in the middle of the room, his thoughts swirling as he tried to make sense of the day—of everything that had happened between him and Skyler.
Sitting down on the edge of his bed, Ocean let out a soft sigh. It was strange how quickly things had changed—how quickly Skyler had become such a central part of his life. And yet, despite the overwhelming emotions coursing through him, there was a small part of him that felt... safe. Skyler's presence, his warmth, his gentle touch—they all made Ocean feel like maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.
But at the same time, there was a nagging fear that lingered in the back of his mind. What if this was all too good to be true? What if it all fell apart?
He closed his eyes, trying to push the thoughts away. He didn't want to doubt Skyler—didn't want to doubt the way he felt when he was with him. But the fear was still there, buried deep beneath the surface.
As Ocean sat there, lost in his thoughts, he couldn't help but reflect on everything that had happened between them. From the way Skyler had held his hand in class, to the soft words of reassurance he had whispered before driving away—every moment felt significant, like they were building something together, something real.
But the question that lingered in Ocean's mind was whether or not he was ready for it. Could he really let himself fall for someone like Skyler? Could he really open up and let Skyler in?
His heart ached with the weight of the question, but as he lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, he found that the answer didn't come easily.
Meanwhile, miles away, Skyler was driving through the winding roads leading to his family's mansion. As the familiar landscape passed by, he couldn't help but think about Ocean—about the way he had blushed, the way he had tried to pull away but didn't truly want to. It made Skyler smile, a warmth blooming in his chest.
Ocean was everything he had ever wanted, everything he had waited for. And no matter what, Skyler was determined to make things work—to be patient, to be understanding, and to give Ocean all the time he needed.
As Skyler pulled up to the grand gates of his parents' estate, he parked the car and stepped out, glancing up at the towering mansion in front of him. But even as he stood there, surrounded by the wealth and luxury of his family's world, his mind was back in that small apartment with Ocean.
Skyler smiled to himself. He had a plan—a plan to make sure Ocean knew just how much he meant to him.
And he wasn't going to stop until he made it happen.
TBC. 🩵
