Laughter [Garrett Watts x OFC]

[Bennie and the Jets]

Our flight lasted about five hours, so Garrett and I were able to get through Thirteen Ghosts and Billy Madison with time still left over before we landed. The others had fallen asleep, so we had a bit of privacy to talk.

"You were going to say something back at the airport before Shane came for us," I said as nonchalantly as I could while we looked for another movie. Garrett paused from his scrolling and looked over at me.

"Oh, um, yeah." He scratched the back of his head nervously and adjusted how he was sitting. I took the opportunity to reposition myself and tucked my legs underneath me, pressing my back to the window.

"Can you tell me now?"

"Yeah, of course. I honestly feel a bit embarrassed by it. When you kissed my cheek, I, um, well I really liked it and it threw me off. Over the last few years, I've really only had connections with men." I could tell by how he spoke that he was nervous about what my reaction would be, as if I would care that he dated men, too.

"We can't help who we're drawn toward," I replied with a casual shoulder shrug. "I remember being in 8th grade when I got my first crush on a girl. I grew up in a more conservative rural area, so I didn't feel comfortable acting on it, but I can relate to how it can hit you out of nowhere."

"I'm sorry I had you thinking I was upset."

"It's not your fault at all. If I'm being 100% honest, I felt something, too, and it made me nervous, so I kissed everyone else so it wouldn't stand out to anyone."

We both sat quietly for a moment, each thinking over the fact that we each felt something for the other. It was just a small spark, sure, but it was there. Now what were we supposed to do with it?

"Uh," Garrett started as I was saying So, not quite sure how to say what I was thinking. We laughed at our shared inability to know what to say.

"I think we should just continue to let our friendship grow and then go from there. I'm a firm believer in always starting anything with a foundation of friendship."

"Oh thank god," he breather with relief. "I have no clue what I'm doing in my normal romantic relationships, so I would be even more fucked jumping into this, I think. That's not saying I'm closed off to anything happening ever, just that I would also prefer a friendship first. Ron and Hermione would have never worked out if they hadn't been friends and faced life-threatening events together."

"Some still question whether or not they should've worked out."

"Wait, are you saying you don't think they're meant to be?" He looked at me like I was crazy.

"Not exactly. I can see why they ended up together. No one else would be able to understand what they went through. All I'm saying is, had they not faced death so many times, I don't think they would've worked out. Hermione kept in touch with Krum for all those years, ya know?"

Garrett and I spent the rest of the flight not really arguing, but having a heated discussion over the end relationships in the Harry Potter universe, both in the books and films. When the pilot came over the PA and let us know we were about to descend, we cut our discussion short and both agreed that we liked Luna and Neville together. Garrett gave me Benjamin, whom I held as I closed my eyes and rested my head against his arm since I was too short to rest against his shoulder.

The others woke up as soon as the wheels hit the tarmac. I still wasn't sure where we were, but I could feel the heat even in the plane, so I knew we were somewhere warm. I packed up my backpack and listened as the others talked about how comfy the first class chairs were for sleeping and couldn't help but feel happy that they'd enjoyed the upgrade. It made me even more excited for when we would arrive at the hotel.