Boy Trouble GT

Chapter 44

[KYE]

When they finally returned to the dorm, the day's heat lingered in the hallways, making the air feel thick. Kye let out a relieved sigh as he ducked under the doorway, careful not to whack his head. The shared living room felt cooler, shadows stretched across the floor from the setting sun.

Mason followed at his heel – well, near Kye's massive ankles, if one wanted to be accurate. He tossed his track bag against the wall and ran a hand through his sweaty hair. "I need a shower," he muttered. But there was something else in his eyes—a gentle, lingering look Kye couldn't read.

"Go ahead," Kye said, sliding his hoodie off. "I'll grab water or something." He sounded casual enough, but inside, his heart was still thudding from the track runs, from the teasing, from the day's closeness he couldn't quite shake.

Instead of heading straight to the bathroom, Mason paused, standing there with one hand on his hip, giving Kye a thoughtful once-over. It made Kye's stomach twist in an almost pleasant way. Those bright eyes seemed to drill right through his usual awkwardness.

"You sure you're okay?" Mason asked gently, stepping closer. "You've been quiet."

Kye swallowed, heat flaring across his cheeks again. He wasn't used to Mason being so direct. "I'm... yeah. Just thinking."

"Thinking what?"

He tried to shrug it off, but the movement felt clumsy. "Nothing important. I just–" He broke off, glancing away. The couch was right there; maybe if he sank onto it, it would feel less intense. But his feet remained rooted.

Mason closed the distance between them, his small frame easily overshadowed by Kye's height. He tilted his head back, meeting Kye's eyes, a silent question in that gentle gaze. Kye's mouth went dry.

Something about the hush in the room, the way the day's tension settled into the quiet, sent electricity racing along Kye's spine. He remembered Mason's teasing about him finding things "hot," the unwavering confidence Mason showed even while being so small. **And the day they'd had—**the jokes, the shared glances, the closeness.

He felt his heart rate spike.

Mason didn't speak. Instead, he reached up—so high for him—and gently placed a hand on Kye's thigh, letting it slide down until his fingers barely curled around Kye's knee. The contact, tiny though it was, made Kye's pulse throb in his ears.

Kye exhaled. "Mason..." he began, not sure how to voice the confusing swirl inside him.

Mason gave him a small, encouraging smile. "Yeah?"

"I, uh..." Kye began, trailing off. He realized with a pang that if he wanted to look Mason in the eyes properly, he'd need to crouch down. So, swallowing his pride, he bent his legs and carefully lowered himself to one knee, bringing his face more level with Mason's. He braced a hand on the floor for balance.

Time seemed to slow. The room felt even warmer. Part of Kye screamed at him to retreat, to stammer an excuse. But he didn't. Instead, he let out a shaky breath and leant forward, just enough that his face hovered near Mason's. The difference was stark—Kye so huge, Mason so small—but as soon as their gazes locked, Kye felt oddly sure.

He pressed his lips to Mason's, awkwardly at first, grazing more of Mason's chin than he intended. But Mason let out a breathy sound of amusement and tilted his head up to meet him properly. It was a fluttering, warm moment—a first kiss that felt both clumsy and undeniably right.

Kye's hands remained at his sides, terrified to move, until he dared to lift one gently to Mason's back. He could almost cradle the smaller man against his chest with little effort, but he forced himself to be careful. Mason's free hand rose to Kye's shoulder, gripping slightly as he deepened the kiss for a brief, electric second.

When they finally broke apart, Kye swore the entire dorm echoed with the pounding of his own heart.

"Wow," Mason breathed, blinking up at him. A pink flush colored his cheeks, either from the day's heat or the sudden intimacy. "That was... you okay?"

Kye—still reeling—nodded, breath uneven. "Yeah. Sorry if that—"

"Don't apologize," Mason said firmly, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. He let out a tiny laugh, stepping closer to lean against Kye's torso. "About time, really."

A helpless smile found its way to Kye's lips. "Right. Guess so." He was certain his face looked like it might catch fire any moment. Still, he didn't want to pull away. Having Mason so close felt surreal—like everything he'd hesitated over now clicked into place.

They lingered in that silence, content just to breathe in the same space, the rush of the first kiss still sparking in the air between them. Eventually, Mason pulled back, clearing his throat.

"So... shower for me," he teased, brushing a knuckle across his own lips as if checking their tenderness.

Kye swallowed, feeling his ears burn. But he nodded. "Yeah. I'll, uh... get something to drink." His gaze fell to Mason's, a silent promise in the way he lingered.

Mason's grin widened. He patted Kye's arm and turned away, heading to the bathroom. Even with those few steps, Kye felt the absence keenly, already missing the subtle warmth of Mason's presence.

And as he stood there, alone in the hush of the dorm, Kye realized the day's heat was nothing compared to the warmth coursing through him after that gentle, unexpected kiss. It might've been clumsy, but it was theirs. And for now, that was more than enough.