Tonight - A Tronnor AU

o8: lachesism

lachesism
n. the longing for some clarity of disaster

February 1;

Monday dawned sleepy and reluctant, even more so than usual because of the weather. Connor had gone back to sleep after turning off his alarm and peeking out of the window once, disheartened by the grey stillness. It only felt like minutes later someone was shaking his shoulder. He groaned and swatted the hand away. He wasn't used to anyone waking him up; since middle school ended, he was responsible for managing his time.

"Connor, mate. Wake up." The British accent was very familiar, but it took him a moment to fully place it.

"Alfie?" he croaked out, peering up at the grinning face. His eyes cowered shut in the harsh glare of the lights. Disbelief made him sit up in a hurry, cool air hitting his skin as the blanket fell off his chest. "Zoe?!" Over Alfie's shoulder, she waved at him, laughing. Connor kicked away his blanket and flew to tackle her in a hug, a warmth exploding in his chest. She stumbled back, but hugged him back equally tight, as petite and sweet-smelling as ever.

"Oi, I'm totally feeling the love here," Alfie called out, peevishly. Connor chuckled, not letting go of Zoe. She seemed to be tinier than usual in her (probably Alfie's) sweatshirt and sweatpants attire. She laughed again and patted his back, voice muffled against his neck, strands of her hair tickling his cheek Just her presence (and Alfie's too) seemed to unravel a knot in his head, siphoning away any sort of negativity that weighed him down.

"Aww, Alf. You have me." Marcus sidled into the room and swept Alfie into a dramatic embrace.

"What're you guys doing here?" Connor whispered, his voice still hoarse from sleep. Zoe giggled, taking a step back but leaving a warm hand on his back.

"Surprise," she said, mirth dancing in her eyes. "We're travelling around the US, and thought we'd drop in for a day. Marky picked us at the airport."

"You guys." Connor shook his head, unable to keep a broad smile from spreading across his face. "God I've missed you."

"Aww, Connie Frannie, same." Zoe beamed. She looked tired, but her face glowed as radiant as ever. "You look good," she laughed, hitting his stomach lightly.

"Yeah," Alfie agreed, coming up from behind Zoe. He casually pulled her back against his chest, but neither Connor nor Zoe spared him the special eye roll they had reserved for moments like these. He blushed, as they began chuckling. Connor felt as though he was back in high school. Zoe and Alfie had been seniors when he and Marcus were freshmen. That hadn't stopped them from being best friends. This was going exactly like their meetings in the school parking lot first thing in the morning.

"You needn't worry about this one, mate," Marcus chimed in. "He's wooing Bethany." He smirked at the mixed reactions his proclamation gathered.

"I need juicy details right NOW," Zoe burst out. She wriggled away from Alfie's grip and settled herself on the bed. "How dare you not tell me?"

"There's nothing to tell," Connor sighed. He sank down beside Zoe, unable to understand their fascination with his love life.

"You won't even tell them about the night you guys stayed back here, alone, to watch a movie?"

"Friends watch movies together too," Connor retorted, beginning to feel morose.

"So we never said you aren't friends. We're just saying that you're more than friends."

"Did you get laid?" Alfie interrupted Marcus.

"What - NO!" If his love life was a fascination, his sex life was an infatuation. "We only cuddled!"