Picture Us

Chapter 17: Keefe

"I'm so not ready for this," Keefe murmured, fixing his hair in the mirror for the billionth time. It was no use; it fell flat. Keefe's hair was unusual in this way: it seemed to sync up with his mood. Right now, his heart was hammering against his chest, and his hands were clammy with nerves. Today was the day that would determine his future.

"Neither am I," Tam admitted. He was fiddling with the hoodie he was wearing and constantly shaking his bangs out of his face. He looked more tired than usual; dark bags under his eyes and a half-lidded gaze. "I wish I didn't have to do it. The stupid college wouldn't let me reschedule."

It wasn't fair to Keefe that Tam had to do the exam. After coming out of that traumatic accident, and with his sister still in a coma, Tam still had to sit all the final exams. The administration was adamant; he was technically better and in good shape to do the example. But it left Keefe and Tam seething.

Keefe parted Tam's bangs to press a kiss against his forehead. "It's so shitty. But you're going to do well, I believe in you."

"And even if I don't, I could always mooch off you," Tam grinned, playfully punching his arm. Keefe snorted.

"We'll see about that," Keefe said, one foot out of the door. "Come on, we've got our last exam."

Keefe and Tam sprinted down the campus, rushing like maniacs to get to their exam room. The campus was gorgeous today, with the dipping sun sinking behind the buildings, haloed in gold. Everything looked darker than usual, a sign that it was late to be out. But the exam was now, and they were going to be late.

They rushed into the building a few minutes before the given time. It left them panting and scrambling for seats anywhere they could find, but they'd made it on time. A professor explained the rules like a drone as they handed out the exam papers, and before Keefe could mentally prepare, the exam had started.

All around Keefe, students clicked their pens against the table. Keefe tried to pretend it didn't annoy him, but he was one tap away from banging his head on the table.

Keefe didn't struggle too much with the first few questions; it wasn't like he'd studied extensively. But Keefe had the handy advantage of being able to remember things at a first glance. It's why his parents were so disappointed with his choice as an artist. He was a genius in memorising textbooks, the kind of lengthy medical textbooks that every parent wanted their child to be able to memorise. But Keefe rejected that years ago. What was his life if he didn't create, after all? Creating, drawing, anything artistic – it wasn't a hobby or even a craft. It was a visceral, vital need. The kind of need that kept him awake at night, waiting for the sun to rise so he could sustain it.

Keefe snuck a glance at Tam who was at the other side of the room. He had his eyebrows knit in concentration and was mouthing something to himself under his breath. He looked so nervous, and Keefe just wanted to run to him and kiss him.

Keefe's heart raced. Even after a week of knowing that Tam and him and feeling for each other, they weren't yet dating. Yet. That was going to change soon. But right now, they were just roommates that happened to kiss each other and hug a lot and cuddle-

"Fifteen minutes left!" The professor called out. Keefe hurried, rushing the last few questions of the test and hoping that his handwriting was legible enough.

"Time's up!" The professor yelled. "Please hand in your papers on the desk."

Keefe double-triple-quadruple checked that his full name was on the sheet before turning it in. Tam walked up and placed his paper on the pile and two walked out. When they stepped outside the door, Keefe felt himself releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"How'd you do?" Keefe asked Tam, who simply snorted.

"If I had the results, I'd tell you." Tam said. Keefe laughed and slung an arm around Tam's shoulders.

"What about Chinese takeout food tonight," Keefe suggested. "We can put on some trashy Netflix show and forget about life." Keefe paused. "Without alcohol."

Tam smiled at that. "Sounds like my idea of fun."

So, that's where they found themselves later that night. On Keefe's bed, knees brushing against each other, blanket around their shoulders to warm them up from the rain outside, takeout boxes burning their hands, and Keefe's laptop lighting up the otherwise dark room.

"What about... Oh! I have the perfect one," Keefe cackled, and he quickly typed the show into the search bar and pressed play. Tam groaned.

"You've got to be kidding!" Tam slapped his hand to his forehead. "Are we seriously going to watch Twilight?"

Keefe snorted, "Absolutely, Twilight is a cinematic masterpiece - and Edward Cullen is beautiful."

His ears turned pinkish at the last statement. And of course, Tam couldn't let that comment slide without a sarcastic remark.

"And it took you twenty-one years to figure out you were straight?" Tam snorted. Keefe sent him a playful glare. "How's the denial working out for you?"

Keefe tossed a pillow at Tam, who caught it dexterously. He tossed it right back at Keefe, sticking his tongue out like a rebellious school child.

They fell into a comfortable silence, occasionally snorting at the movie's ridiculousness. The rain pounded the window near Keefe, but it was just white noise to his brain telling him that now was the time. There was no way he was going to back out.

Keefe's heart thundered like the sky outside when he spoke. "Tam?"

"Yeah?" Tam said casually, but Keefe caught the moment's hesitation when he spoke.

"Wanna be my boyfriend?" Keefe asks, trying to keep his voice from quivering.

"Yeah, sure," Tam said, not even looking up from the screen.

"Cool," Keefe said, even though that was a severe understatement.

As the movie progressed, they found each other making more and more obnoxious commentary. After a prolonged quietude, his attention was drawn to tam shuffling in closer. His shoulders leant comfortably against Keefe's, resting his head softly on his shoulder. Keefe tried to maintain his casual demeanour, but it was hard when his new boyfriend's knee was now brushing against his.

The night went on and the movie played as the two watched in silence. The movie was progressing painfully slowly, and Keefe could feel his eyelids drooping. Tam had been silent for a while; Keefe wasn't surprised to see him resting soundly.

Keefe sighed contentedly. For a moment, he wondered if he should turn off the movie and... somehow move Tam back his bed, but he decided that he was far too invested in the toxic, codependent relationship Edward and Bella had, and instead opted to wrap his arm around Tam's waist and guide his head his onto Keefe's shoulder. The entire time, he was completely red in the face, and extremely thankful that that Tam wasn't there to notice it. And before Keefe could reach the climax of the movie, he felt exhaustion eat away at him until he too was in a restful slumber.