Giving It All For Nothing

Chapter Four

(Winston's POV)

I woke up smelling a large dose of cigarettes, love, and what could only be described as home. My head was plunged into the length of Ted's side, I was shirtless and groggy and completely confused as to how I got there. His arm was draped over me and I felt like I had slept better than I had in years. He was acting stranger than normal, shying away whenever I touched him and looking away and blushing if I even glanced in his general direction. It was weird to say the least.

When I felt him stir a little bit in his sleep, I shut my eyes as fast as I could, snuggling deeper into his body, claiming that I was still tired, when in reality I just couldn't bear to get up from his warm embrace. I felt his head poke up a little bit, looking at the state of our intertwined bodies. My arm casually moved over his cotton clad chest, slowly running my fingers over his hard stomach. I'm surprised he doesn't have a girlfriend honestly, I've always suspected him being gay or even bisexual. But he hasn't had a girlfriend since high school, and he was never really into her in the first place.

I couldn't deny it anymore, I'd liked him, I still do. Somewhere deep in my heart I knew it'd never work but hey, a guy can wish. Whenever we go to bars he always seemed distracted, never giving a girl more than an up and down look. Instantly becoming turned off as they throw themselves at him. He always seemed focused on someone else. He's a good looking bloke, he's always been, girls had crushes on him left and right, but he denied all of them. I sighed in confusion and contentment and wrapped my fingers up in his t-shirt, bunching it up as I fell back into a dream that had him in it.

(Ted's POV)

My sleep was interrupted by a small stirring next to me. Winston was curled up into my side, his face pressed into my rib cage, leaving a small imprint on my t-shirt. I popped my head up ever so slightly to look at the state we were in. Our legs were tangled and my arm was draped over his small frame. He was an average guy with an average build but I always felt huge compared to him. I mean I'm in shape, I have been since high school. I've been told numerous times by numerous people, both men and women, that I've got a nice look; I never really believed it.

I eventually pulled him closer to me, resting my head in the mop he called his hair. I could feel him smile lightly against me as he ran his hand across my stomach, balling his hand in the fabric of my shirt. I could still feel the ghost trail of his fingers across the path he traveled. I eventually got so lost in my thoughts that I fell into another batch of dreams, slipping farther away from all my troubles as easily as they came back.

++

Eventually, I woke back up and got out of bed, seeing that the time was edging towards noon. I internally cursed as I had to unravel myself away from the still sleeping banjo player that I couldn't tear my eyes from. I ran my hands through my hair, hopping in the shower to try and drown the feelings towards my best friend. It didn't work.

(Ben's POV [a little while back])

When I got onto the elevator with Winnie, he pressed the button for our floor and tapped his foot restlessly while I scanned the elevator for signs of structural failure. It's a pastime I always seemed to do in every elevator we were in, Marcus said it was cute but everyone else thought I was insane. It was kind of awkward until Winston spoke up, "You know, you should tell Marcus."

I looked away and blushed at the thought of the man as I mumbled, "I doubt he returns the feelings Winnie, I mean, he can't like me, can he?"

"He could mate, you won't find out if you don't tell him." Winston said, even though he was a huge goof at times, he could always give you the advice of a lifetime, or it could crash and burn and turn into an emotional dumpster fire. It's happened.

"I'm just afraid, Winnie he's my best friend." I said timidly

"Oh mate, you know that I've liked Ted since high school," He said, digging up memories of late nights and broken hearts. "It may not work out but eventually you'll come to terms with it, I did, and now look at me." He stood up to his fullest height and put his hands on his hips.

"Not sure if that's supposed to be a good thing or a bad thing." I said sarcastically.

He put his hand over his heart and gasped, feigning a look of hurt and betrayal, "I'm hurt that you could even say that Benjamin, and to think, I thought you were the nicest in the band," He paused and shook his head. "I'm thoroughly hurt, I can't even look at you."

The doors to the elevator opened and we walked out, he was ignoring all my half-hearted apologies I was throwing his way. I tugged out my key as he stood at his door, realizing I had them both. I took his out and handed it to him while he bowed and thanked me for my kindness. We both walked into our rooms giggling after he slapped my shoulder lightly, apparently forgiving me for whatever hurt feelings I caused him.We then walked into our rooms muttering 'good-nights' to each other.

A little while after I got in I sat down on the bed and waited for Marcus to come into the room, after a bit I started getting restless and got up to get ready to go to bed for the night. I was pulling my shirt off right as Marcus came in, leaving me with half a shirt on. I could feel my face heating up rapidly but I had a shirt covering it. I heard the door hit him in the head after he had paused in the doorway, unaware that the door would swing back if he didn't do anything about it. I started chuckling as he cursed, probably, hopefully, distracted by my bare chest.

I finished tugging the shirt over my head and looked at him as he shut the door and locked it behind him. I could tell by the redness of his neck that he was either sunburned, not probable, or as insanely embarrassed as I was. I smiled as he turned around, taking in his surroundings, and most importantly my half-naked body. "Hi, Marc," I paused as he looked up into my eyes as wide-eyed as a deer in headlights. "How are you today on this fine evening?"

He continued into the room, brushing past me ever so slightly, causing my entire body to heat up, to set down his bags near the wall. His voice was raspy as he spoke, "I'm fine, how are you," He paused. "Ben."

Hearing my name come out of his mouth like that almost threw my over the edge, but I quickly excused myself to the bathroom to splash some cold water on my face and calm down. When I came out I saw him standing there in a tight t-shirt and his boxers, showing off his semi-toned-muscular-huge-skull-crushing-lady-killer arms. He turned around when he saw me come into the room and smirked, giving me the chills.

I tugged off my pants as I climbed into the bed we were going to be sharing for the night. Marcus hopped in after me and sighed as he remembered he forgot to turn off the light. "I'll get it Marc." I said as I got up and walked over to the lightswitch that was on the wall, I tried to walk as slow as I could without it being obvious, as I could feel his eyes on my back, and maybe even lower, the entire time.

As I walked back to bed avoiding as much furniture as possible I smiled so widely I thought my cheeks would burst. Somehow, Marcus could sense my smile as I climbed into bed, closer to him than I thought I was. He moved the slightest bit closer and propped himself up on his elbow, turning on the bedside lamp that was next to him.

At this point he was looking down at me and he looked completely and utterly beautiful, with the light behind him and his hair a mess. I fought the urge to tell him how I felt, and I could tell he was fighting back something too. "Ben, I-" He paused and looked down to my mouth, our faces were only a little bit away from each other and I so desperately wanted to smash into him right then and there. "Nevermind."

He turned around and shut the lamp off again, I could feel him roll over and face me so I snuggled a tiny bit closer to his welcoming chest, getting pulled in all the way by the man himself. I smiled into his chest as he kissed the top of my head, mumbling sweet nothings into my hair until I fell into a pit of bottomless sleep full of love.