Boy Trouble GT

Chapter 23

[KYE]

Kye wasn't sure when it started, but Mason had become his shadow.

It was subtle at first—Mason knocking on his door in the evenings, asking if he wanted to watch a movie on his laptop. Kye didn't mind; it was Mason, after all. But now, it was different. Whenever Kye moved, Mason wasn't far behind. If Kye wandered to the kitchen to grab a snack, Mason would suddenly appear, leaning against the counter with a grin like he hadn't just been doing his own thing a moment ago. If Kye settled onto the lounge, Mason would be there too, finding his spot on top of Kye like it was the most natural thing in the world.

At first, it felt... strange. Kye was so used to being the one trailing after Mason, letting him take the lead, dragging Kye into places he'd never willingly go. But now, it was Mason who seemed to follow him, like a tiny, persistent shadow that Kye couldn't shake. Not that he wanted to shake him. Not really.

One evening, Kye was sprawled on his bed, headphones in and staring at his laptop screen. He wasn't really doing anything—just browsing aimlessly, letting the soft hum of music drown out the quiet of the dorm. The knock on his door was soft but insistent, and Kye knew immediately who it was.

"Mason," he called, his voice low and tired. "You don't have to knock every time."

The door creaked open, and Mason peeked his head in, his curls messy and his green eyes alight with their usual energy. "Yeah, I know. But I'm polite like that," he said with a smirk. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," Kye replied, sitting up slightly as Mason stepped into the room.  Mason made his way toward Kye's bed. He paused at the side, glancing up at the towering height of the mattress compared to his small frame. "Uh... give me a hand?"

Kye raised an eyebrow, watching as Mason gestured dramatically toward the bed. "I could climb, but that'd take forever," Mason said, smirking. "You'll be faster. And, you know, you're larger then."

Rolling his eyes, Kye shifted to the edge of the bed and reached down, his long arm stretching out to Mason. Mason held out his free hands, letting Kye's much larger fingers wrap easily around his smaller wrist.

"Don't drop me," Mason teased as Kye lifted him effortlessly, pulling him onto the bed like he weighed nothing.

"Don't tempt me," Kye replied, his voice dry but laced with a hint of amusement.

Mason plopped himself down cross-legged on the bed, flashing Kye another grin. "Thanks for the lift," he said, leaning back on his hands. "You make a good elevator."

He wasn't surprised when Mason made himself comfortable at the foot of Kye's bed, his smaller frame sinking into the giant-sized mattress like it was a beanbag.

"Movie?" Mason asked, leaning back on his elbows and tilting his head to look up at Kye. "Your laptop's bigger than mine, so it only makes sense."

Kye huffed a quiet laugh, pulling his headphones off and letting them hang around his neck. "Sure," he said, already closing out of his browser. "What do you want to watch?"

"Surprise me," Mason said, his grin widening as he scooted closer, pressing his shoulder against Kye's leg. He always managed to make himself comfortable in Kye's space, his small presence somehow filling the room in a way Kye didn't fully understand.

Kye opened up his streaming account, scrolling through the options as Mason leaned against him, his warmth seeping through Kye's sweatpants. It was simple, casual, but it made Kye's chest feel tight in a way he couldn't quite explain. He was getting used to Mason being this close—closer than anyone had ever been—but it still made his heart race in ways he wasn't ready to admit.

The next evening, Kye wandered out of his room and collapsed onto the lounge, his long limbs stretching out awkwardly across the cushions. He let his head fall back against the armrest, closing his eyes for a moment and letting the stillness of the dorm settle over him.

But the quiet didn't last long.

He heard Mason's familiar footsteps before he even opened his eyes, and sure enough, the smaller man appeared in the living room a moment later. Without a word, Mason climbed onto the lounge, his tiny frame moving with a practiced ease as he settled himself on top of Kye.

"Mason," Kye muttered, his voice low but not annoyed. "You don't have to sit on me every time, you know."

Mason grinned, resting his chin on Kye's chest and looking up at him. "Yeah, but it's comfortable. You're like a big, squishy pillow."

Kye raised an eyebrow, his gray eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm not squishy."

"You're squishier than the couch," Mason replied, his grin widening. "So, by comparison, you're squishy."

Kye sighed, letting his head fall back again. He didn't bother trying to move Mason off—he knew by now that it was pointless. Mason was persistent, and once he decided something, there was no changing his mind.

As the minutes passed, Kye felt himself relaxing beneath Mason's weight. It was strange, how normal this had become—Mason curling up on top of him like it was his designated spot. They didn't talk much about what had shifted between them, about the emotions Mason had laid bare a few nights ago. But they didn't need to. Kye wasn't good with words, and Mason seemed content to let their actions speak for them.

It wasn't that Kye didn't feel anything. He did—more than he was willing to admit, even to himself. But the thought of putting those feelings into words made his chest tighten in a different way, a way that made him want to retreat back into his room and hide. So instead, he let Mason take the lead, let him fill the silence with his presence, his energy, his warmth.

"You okay, big guy?" Mason asked suddenly, his voice soft but curious.

Kye blinked, looking down at him. Mason was sprawled across his chest, his small hands resting lightly on Kye's ribs. His green eyes were bright, his expression open and unguarded in a way that made Kye's throat feel dry.

"Yeah," Kye said after a moment, his voice quieter than usual. "I'm okay."

Mason smiled, a soft, genuine smile that made Kye's chest ache. "Good," he said simply, resting his head back against Kye's chest. "I like this. Just... hanging out with you."

Kye didn't respond, but his hand twitched slightly, as if he wanted to reach out and touch Mason's back but didn't know how. Instead, he let himself relax, his breathing evening out as Mason's warmth pressed into him.

And for now, that was enough.