Enemy (LeafyIshere/idubbbztv)

9

It was almost unbelievable to Calvin that he was unlocking his front door with none other than idubbbztv standing right behind him. The man had kindly offered him a ride when he mentioned that he needed to call a cab just before they were about to leave. At first, Calvin declined as politely as possible, but Ian convinced him. He felt strange about the whole thing. He agreed to the meetup thinking it was just to make amends and that they'd probably just never end up hanging out again.

Now, it was like he actually wanted to be around Ian, his thoughts backtracking to what Ian said in the vlog: "You see, when you have someone who doesn't have any friends, they'll try and latch onto anyone they come into contact with, especially, especially if you're nice to them, even in the slightest."

It was entirely true in this instance, and although Calvin hated the fact, he loved the company and wasn't stubborn enough to push someone away just because they were right.

"I'm sorry it's a little messy," Calvin apologized as he led Ian into his small home.

"Oh, don't be, it's fine. Nothing like my place," Ian assured, a light tone to his voice.

"Would you like something to eat? I'm kinda hungry myself. Feel free to sit on the couch or one of the chairs."

"That sounds great," Ian replied, smiling. Calvin didn't see how he did it. The man was always smiling, no matter what. He smiled as his friends shaved his head and put the hair into cake batter for a video. He smiled as he swam through a literal sewer wearing but his boxers for another. Calvin shook his head just thinking of it as he prepared two turkey sandwiches on whole wheat bread he was hoping wasn't stale-tasting.

"I hope you like turkey," he called from the kitchen.

"Oh, I certainly do," came Ian's voice, and Calvin just imagined the smile that came along with it, those perfect white teeth practically lighting up the damn room. Calvin wondered how he seemed to come up with such binge-worthy videos for his channel. All Calvin did was roast people and tell a few stories. Lately he'd just been roasting because it seemed to be what his subscribers wanted, but Ian on the other hand had fresh, attention-keeping content.

He sighed softly, remembering about five or six months prior when h3h3 called him out on his, apparently, declining content quality. Ethan's reasoning behind the video was that he'd been giving similar commentary channels a "pass" for their poor-quality videos and unethical topic choices; that he didn't want to seem biased since he and Calvin were "friendly acquaintances". Calvin just couldn't think of it that way, though. He just couldn't believe that Ethan would call him out like that. Although he claimed it was directed toward all commentary channels, that just wasn't the way it came out.

Calvin was really fond of Ethan, and when it came down to it, Ethan realized that he made a mistake, and even though they made up afterward, they still don't talk like before. In fact, Calvin hadn't talked to him in about four months, and when it comes down to it, "friends" just don't go that long without checking on each other or at least asking how one another are in general.

Calvin placed the plate on the coffee table in front of the couch that Ian was sitting on. He dumped some potato chips into a bowl and put it beside the sandwiches.

"You're so sweet, making us a snack and all. Nice dishes, by the way. I usually eat off of paper plates because I know I'm too lazy to wash anything," Ian complimented.

Calvin mentally admonished himself for blushing at the comments. "It's nothing too fancy."

"Sure beats greasy pizza and flat carbonated drinks," Ian went on, picking up a sandwich. Calvin cracked a grin and followed suit.

"I get sick of it sometimes, but I'm always hanging out with Max and Joji, and we don't know how to cook. Do you know how to cook, Calvin?" he asked.

"S-sort of," he stuttered.

"You're being modest, aren't you?"

"No, I'm just...I'm alright at it, but I'm not great, y'know?"

Ian found Calvin's modesty adorable. He could tell that things were considerably less tense between the two of them, but he still felt bad about the whole thing.

"You're being modest. I can tell," he said, smiling at the younger, who continued to eat as his blush deepened.

It was as if the nervousness had shifted from an almost fearful position to a new type that had to do with...attraction? Calvin thought perhaps a little too hard about it in that moment. If it weren't that, then why did he feel he couldn't afford to mess up in any way at all around Ian? Because the atmosphere wasn't so hostile anymore, Calvin doubted that the newfound need for perfection had anything to do with the man's earlier criticism of him or, as a result, trying to prevent any more of it. This was a different feeling, and something told Calvin that the feeling alone was a gateway to a whole new realm of trust.