Mute Songbird (boyxboy) -Complete-

Epilogue

** Two years later **

Of course HE wasn't nervous, he'd been here a year already. That fact didn't magically take away my anxiety even though he seemed to think it should. "I remember last year you uh called me the whole way and refu... uh would not get out of car." I could do better than that but every time I got nervous it made talking much harder than usual. It was a vicious cycle because there's nothing like being new and shy and ALSO not being able to put a sentence together. It's great.

"That's because I didn't have myself to show me around" he said, then cocked his head to the side and tried to figure out if it had made any sense. It might not have but I knew what he meant.

"True."

"AND, more importantly, I didn't know my roommate."

That was probably the thing I was looking forward to most. Oh yeah, they had an amazing music program and every type of chorus or band you could want. They had an amazing new library and the weather, well who can complain about southern California weather? But more than anything, I was going to get to room with Dan. After a year of settling for seeing each other only over breaks and skyping approximately 28 hours a day in between, we were finally going to be together full time. "I hope mine doesn't snore."

"Only when I've been drinking apparently" he teased, leading me up the huge steps to the residence hall. "Hey Bryce, Tim" he called as he walked past a pair of guys sprawled across chairs and playing what looked to be some sort of card game.

I was immensely grateful at that moment that I could trust Dan to take care of things and realized perhaps for the first time how insanely brave he'd been coming here alone last year. Yeah I'd helped as much as I could but he'd been by himself while I was safe in my room in Texas. He was right, I didn't need to worry about anything. I'd joined lots of new schools and this was no different, it would probably easier with Dan here. A smile spread on my face and he must have seen it.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, returning my grin.

"You're right."

"Can you sign this?" he asked, pushing a paper towards me. For a moment I thought he wanted proof of being right but I quickly realized it was for my keycard. "So this works on all the doors and it's your meal card, okay? Keep this and your student ID with you all the time."

I rolled my eyes, I knew that.

"I'm only telling you so that I can laugh the first time you lock yourself out and have to call me. 418. Ready to go see it?"

"Yes!" I adjusted my heavy backpack and was glad I had listened to Dan and not brought anything else with me yet. The dorm was a madhouse with parents and students and boxes and luggage all going every single which way.

"Elevator will be a long wait, feeling up to the stairs?"

"After long drive yes. Let's go." I'd seen the inside of Dan's room last year from just about every angle there was but seeing it on a screen was much different than walking inside. It was going to be OUR room and it felt like Christmas.

"You can do the honors" he said, stepping out of the way in front of our door.

I slipped my key into the reader and pushed the door open. It looked so different from his last year; bigger but also a lot like a jail cell.

"Home sweet home" he said, following me in. "Once we get unpacked it'll look completely different. Making the beds makes a HUGE difference. What's our view like?" He walked to the window and opened the blinds. "Hey, not bad."

He was right. If you looked to the left there was a big tree and grass area. It was better than looking straight down onto the road. "It's amazing."

He gave a quick twist to the blinds, closing them. "What's really amazing is that we're here. You better be ready, I'm going to kiss you."

"I don't need a warning to---" but he cut me off as he stepped towards me, one hand sneaking around my waist. And maybe I should have heeded his warning because Dan kissed me breathless, until I forgot which part of us was me and how to stand on two feet.

"Ash?" he asked, his eyes dark.

"Dan?"

"I'm so glad we're here."

"So am I Slim, so am I."

"We're going to do amazing things, you and I."

*** *** ***

*** Three months later ***

"Ash, it's okay, calm down." He sat with his arm around me as I huddled in the corner, visibly shaking.

"I can't do it. Can't. No way. Dan it's... there... I'm going to forget... what if they talk to me?"

"You can do this babe, you CAN."

"Not enough practice time, I don't know it."

"You do. Listen to me, you are going to rock this. It's singing, come ON Asher, this is nothing. And as for the questions, I'll answer. You just nod and smile, okay?"

"What if I mess this up for you?" I asked solemnly.

"You want to know the truth?" Dan sat down beside him and curled his legs up towards his chest just like Asher was sitting. "If you or I mess it up, it doesn't matter. Because you know what? We wouldn't win without each other. If it turns out that I can't win with you either, well, we tried. I hope the same goes for me."

"Someone else could have--"

"NO. You and me. US. That's it. No other combo works. We're here for a reason Asher, you and me and all those people out there. We're GOOD. You know we're good."

"I know. Okay, maybe I can do this."

"You know what Mike would say -- a little fire in the gut will get you further than the same amount of worry."

"He would totally say that" I admitted, a smile fighting its way to the surface. "How did I let you talk me into auditioning for this?"

"Oh make no mistake, we're not here to audition. We're here to win."

*** Thanks so much for coming on this journey with Asher and Slim!!!! Your votes and comments mean the world, I appreciate them SO much!!