Happy Endings

44. vic

"Feels like I'm in a cartoon. Lovestruck, shot with a harpoon. Flying high as a balloon and I ain't coming down."

☼

There was a rather strong possibility, a nearly certain chance, a big, fat, ninety-nine point nine percent probability that Vic Fuentes had fallen undeniably in love with Kellin Quinn.

When did it happen? Vic wasn't so sure. That night at the club, maybe, from just one drunken, but truthful, kiss. One hell of a kiss if anyone asked him. Or the second they met, most likely. Only Vic wasn't aware because, well, his life was a little different back then. And Kellin's too.

So maybe it happened in increments. Slowly. For days, for months. With every encounter they had. Every work session, every dinner, every invitation to hang out without asking for anything in return. Just because they enjoyed each other's company enough.

Was anyone surprised then? No... not really. Not that anyone knew about them in the first place. But the more Vic thought about it, the more sure he was. He'd fallen in love again. Or... perhaps for the first time in his life.

His heart never felt like this before. Not with his ex-boyfriend, or any of the others before. He probably thought he was in love, but he had no idea. He'd been so wrong. Vic felt like a leaf floating through a soft and warm summer breeze. Like finally coming home after a long and tiring awful trip. His heart was on fire, but cool at the same time, all the time. Everything was so calm and easy, and nice. And Vic loved it. He loved Kellin.

He was always the last to say those words in his relationships, but with Kellin... he wanted to shout it from the rooftops. He wanted to tell everyone he knew, his family, his friends. He wanted to tell the cashier at the grocery store. The strangers he walked by. Anyone. Everyone.

But he knew he couldn't. He couldn't even tell Kellin. Vic didn't think he was ready to hear those words coming from him yet. Even when he was taking the steps forward to accepting himself and their relationship and everything in between... He knew Kellin a little too well. It wasn't the right time yet.

So the only one Vic could tell was his cat. And his followers on his secret fan account online. Nobody knew who he was there, and Poppy could definitely keep a secret. His poor buddy had to reluctantly witness most of their encounters since everything started anyway. Vic didn't think Poppy would jinx it for him as much as he believed telling another real human being would. He was fine like this. It was enough for him.

Not that Vic didn't almost slip a couple of times, though. Sometimes it only took one look at Kellin to just want to blurt it out, or he would do something so cluelessly cute and romantic that Vic felt the urge to just say it. Then there were other times where it felt more reasonable, and like he should've said it.

When Kellin unexpectedly came out to him, they'd been lazily making out on Vic's couch. It was one of the rare occasions Kellin came over to his place during his lunch break. Vic's apartment wasn't close to Kellin's workplace, so it was a big surprise when he showed up with takeout, hiding behind a small bouquet of roses, and smiling at him with that new crinkle in his pretty eyes.

Completely ignoring the food, it wasn't long before they were on the cushions, feeding each other kisses instead. They weren't able to do any of this very often anymore, so Vic took his chances whenever he could. If Kellin didn't mind, then who was he to pass up on the opportunity?

And it wasn't long before they got lost in each other. Vic straddled Kellin's waist like second nature, pressing him up more against the back pillows. He ran his fingers through his silky black hair, pulling a little while Kellin kept a tight but comfortable grip on Vic's waist. They were just adopting a rhythm, very familiar now, and Vic was ready to start roaming his hands further when Kellin suddenly broke the kiss.