Fighting This =LGBT= Sample

21 The Awkward Morning

Stefan was the first to wake. He sleepily trudged out of bed and let his glasses perch askewed on his nose as he blinked blearily and headed into the kitchen and started the coffee maker.

He stood leaning back against the counter and yawned running fingers through his hair as he stood in his boxers. He had barely slept last night and he was still half asleep. Pressing his forehead to the cool surface of the cabinets with a groan he wondered if it was possible to just go back to sleep standing there.

Apparently the dynamic duo had the fastest coffee maker ever as the pot was full and the machine started to beep.

Taking a mug and sitting at the table he sipped at the hot brew with his hair sticking up all over and his glasses askew and lines on his face from the pillow.

"You look like I feel." Cody grumbled as he slowly made his way to the coffee machine in his surf shorts.

"I feel how I look." Stefan yawned and let his eyes close as he sipped more coffee. "You're coffee tastes funny by the way."

Cody chuckled "It's Brick's fancy shit from Paraguay or something."

Stefan made a mumbled noise and stretched his body.

"Hey uh-" Cody slid his body into the chair across the table from Stefan. His stubble was pretty much a beard now and he had dark circles under his eyes as well as a few lines of his own. His hair was too short to be mussed. "About what happened last night..."

Stefan felt his face flare to life in heat as he remembered watching Cody and Brick together. "It-I-uh" Stefan started to stutter.

"I was a little drunk last night. It's not an excuse. " Cody groaned and downed half of the hot coffee. His eyes were clear when he locked gazes with Stefan. "I don't know if you talked to Brick... but just so you know. He and I are not together like that. I mean we fool around and I'd knock the hell out of anyone that messed with him and he's my best friend and..." Cody's words came to a stumbling halt as he looked away as if trying to find the words in the kitchen somewhere. "... I love the guy and that wont change."

Stefan heard how final the words were as they were said quietly with a tired sigh. It made a little ball of tension form in his chest.

"But..." Cody scrubbed his hand over his face and shook his head. "Well. We tried it. You know. Being together. Shit... we tried over and over. But you just can't change who you are. And we are both to alpha male to bottom to the other. We are too damn competitive. He's the best man I ever knew... But well..." Cody gave a humorless little smirk. "We are just too alike to work as a relationship. We are better as friends rather than a bickering couple."

Stefan wanted to reach out and comfort Cody. There was a real burden there on those rounded shoulders and a real sadness in those usually bright eyes. "I... I understand. I am sorry that I watched... I didn't mean t-"

"You and Brick might work though." Cody said quietly as he sipped his coffee.

Stefan was shocked. "W-what?"

Cody nodded and leaned back in his seat. "I think you would be good for him. Might even get him to follow your lead and step out of our little cage."

Stefan blinked and his mouth was open like a guppy trying to speak but his mind was a blank.

"Come on you can't tell me you haven't fantasized about Brick before." Cody arched a brow at him smirking.

Sputtering and blushing deeply Stefan sat up a bit straighter. "That doesn't mean- that isn't what this is about."

"Stefan... he's stuck. He's comfortable here with me and I am too much of a selfish prick to walk away from him. I don't want to lose my best friend... but if he found someone... if he found a good guy. Like you for instance. Then I get to keep my best friend and then maybe we can both move on." Cody finished his coffee and set it down watching Stefan closely.

Stefan's mind and emotions were a whirlwind. "Cody I-this is a lot to hear." Stefan bit his lip and was confused.

"It's also a lot to put on a man that is just starting to live his life and get out there." Brick walked in with heavy foot falls right past Cody without even a look. His body was tense and he gripped his mug hard as he got his coffee. "It's also not right to try to push it onto Stefan. I don't know what you are thinking Cody. You are being a dick right now."

Cody sighs as he keeps his eyes on Stefan. "I think Stefan is a good guy. I think he's sexy and you do too. And I think he's the kind of guy that would be good to you Brick. Just cause you are used to what you know doesn't mean it's what is good for you. I mean come on why can't you admit that you-"

"Enough." Brick's voice was flat and his eyes were hard as they leveled at Cody.

Standing slowly Stefan quietly excused himself. "Uh... I'm going to go get dressed." He nearly whispered before heading to his guestroom.

He wasn't exactly sure how he felt about what just happened as he got dressed and ready for the charity event in a few hours.

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