Nedden Week 2017

Day 6-- School/University

This was all a game to him, he decided. It had to be, or else why would Mathias, his best friend for as long as he could remember, be doing this to him? This was torture in every form. Okay, so maybe if Lars was honest with himself, he'd realize he was being dramatic. Maybe he should start from the beginning of his woes.

Lars had always been friends with Mathias as long as he could remember (or as long that mattered), and as such they did everything together. It came as no surprise that when they started looking at college, they went together and were roommates. All of this seemed completely normal for the two of them. Lars didn't even realize it until it was too late, and the realization hit like a shotgun blow to the chest. He had fallen for his best friend. And there was no hope for him getting over it any time soon, especially with how often he stole glances of Mathias when he wasn't looking. Mathias, with his bright eyes always holding a smile even when he was down, well-toned body that constantly left him wondering what his embrace felt like non-platonic, often-concealed freckles that dusted his rosy cheeks like golden stars in a pink sky, and his constantly cheerful and happy-go-lucky attitude that left a smile on most everyone's face after just a few minutes of talking with the guy. No, it was hopeless- Lars was in too deep, way too deep.

Back to why Lars had started contemplating his crush was, of course, Mathias. Lying on top of him on the couch in their dorm. He didn't even announce what he was doing so Lars had time to mentally prepare. He was fighting the prickling on his skin where Mathias' touched his like an unbearable itch begging to be scratched, trying to hide the fire he felt beneath. The urge to both move closer and fling himself far away, possibly into the sun to burn up and forget he ever suffered like this in the first place, was so strong in fact he didn't even hear what Mathias was saying to him. He heard his voice, sure, but the words he said fell on deaf (or at least distracted from all the ringing) ears.

"Hey, earth to Lars," Mathias finally said, waving a hand in front of his friend's face. He looked over at Lars with worry. What was that face for? Lars thought.

"What?" He finally said. Mathias chuckled.

"I said you look a bit tense, and should probably get out for a while. We both could do with a break." Lars nodded. He wasn't so sure about that, but what the hell? A night out with Mathias was a night out with Mathias. Besides, he offered. It was stupid for Lars to make anything special of it in his head, but he couldn't really help it. He finally put all his thoughts into an answer for Mathias: a weak shrug while putting his textbook aside.

"Sure. Where were you thinking?" Mathias grinned.

"I have a few ideas, so take your pick. There's that cafe down the road, the one with the really good coffee-- they have a poetry thing tonight, the club where we saw your sister working one time, and-- shit, I don't know, the roof. Or something. We just need to get out of here for a while!" Lars nodded, thinking it over before another shrug.

"Probably the cafe. Wherever you want I'm good with, though." Lars enjoyed the club, but he didn't feel like going tonight. He wasn't much of a dancer without some other influence like a that of a couple drinks, either. Mathias was understanding enough, and decided on sneaking some beer and hard alcohol to the roof of their building with some snacks.

"It's such a nice night out, too!" Mathias shouted excitedly, carrying the booze and snacks, while Lars held a couple blankets and throw pillows so they would be comfortable. He shrugged while setting the pillows down by where Mathias sat. It was a nice night, but he wasn't too concerned about the weather.

"Seems pretty nice," he said while passing a blanket to Mathias. Mathias grinned while passing Lars a shot glass.

"Wanna play a game? I got good stuff for it, too!" He held up a bottle in his other hand. Lars studied the bottle before nodding, holding his shot glass steady while Mathias poured some cheap whiskey into it.