the flower boy.

eight.

sam and gabriel stood near the edge of the pier, sam scratching bailey underneath his chin while gabriel held his leash, his eyebrows furrowed in concern. "sam, i don't want to be, well, intrusive, but i really want to know what's going on with you and your... home life." he said, interrupting the blissful silence.

he stopped petting bailey abruptly, brushing his hands off. sam stood up tall, avoiding gabriel's gaze, and instead, watched the waves crash onto the shore, not too far from where they were at.

"i can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on," gabriel took a few steps toward sam, "if something's happening, and you need help, please tell me."

sam grated his teeth, a wave of anxiety washing over him. this was exactly what he had dreaded. this was exactly why he was secretly glad no one ever approached him in school. it wasn't their problem, and it certainly isn't gabriel's.

gabriel linked his hand with sam's, catching his eye. goddamnit! now you can't look away.

"i know what it's like to feel lost and alone."

"i can't do it r-right now," sam muttered, breaking away from his grip.

now he's even more worried about you! just tell him it's not that big of a deal and that he doesn't have to worry about it. look him in the eyes. he'll believe you, a voice inside of sam assured him.

he turned to gabriel, taking in a deep, shaky breath. "i'm..."

his vision was clouded by tears. "sam?"

"i-i need your help. i can't do it. i can't." he sniffled, the tears streaming freely down his face.

"come here," gabriel brought him in for a hug, mumbling it's alrights under his breath while keeping an eye on bailey, who was a few steps away from yanking on the leash.

sam stepped back, staring at the ground for a full minute before asking, "y-you don't mind?"

and before gabriel even had a chance to answer, sam was in tears again, cursing himself. "i'm such a burden,"

"sam."

he looked up. gabriel wiped a tear from underneath his wide brown eyes, glimmering with a sad hope.
"i love you."

gabriel leaned in and pecked sam on the lips, only once. a sly smile tugged at the corners of his lips at seeing sam's adorable shocked expression. "we'll save it for later."

—

"wow. fuck, sam. that's horrible."

sam only nodded meekly in response, sipping on the icy coffee gabriel had forced him to drink after learning he had never had a latte before. he was shivering, although he wasn't cold; sam was wearing gabriel's coat, the scent of him and everything about him flooding his senses.

"maybe you should talk to her."

he looked up, his brown eyes wide with sudden fear. sam bit back a series of "no"s, maintaining eye-contact with his latte.

gabriel placed his hand on top of sam's, on the table, catching his gaze. "you can't solve your problems by running away from them."

sam looked down, exhaling shakily. gabriel squeezed his hand once.

"okay."

"i'll do it."

———

ayo look who's nOt dead

it me

your friendly neighborhood writer??
what the fuck?? is this??

fuck me in the ass
-mae

wait sorry that might've been too strong