the dumping ground // one shots

sunset // drabble

warnings - longing; same sex crush (thought i guess if you've come this far it's not a bother); sad alex

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of all the places ryan could have chosen to sit, it had to be there.

in the daylight, he was no less distracting to alex than he always was (despite what the fluttering in his stomach was telling him) but now? now, in the fading sunlight, where the blue and orange hues of sunset swirled together in the sky, casting a soft, warm glow on those who were outside long enough to witness it - he was ethereal.

the way the setting sun outlined all of ryan's features in such an intricate way was definitely not something alex was expecting to happen, though he cannot say he was surprised.

(oh how he wished to be the sun's soothing rays, to trace the curve of ryan's back in that delicate manner but he never could because that just was not the happy ending alex deserved.)

maybe it was alex's distorted feelings that changed his view but he could not bring himself to care. he should care, god, he was supposed to despise the boy.

alex was supposed to gag at the sight of ryan's chocolate eyes and how they reflected the light in ways he did not think possible. scorn at how his smile glowed brighter than all the others because it was so rare yet so, so beautiful.

(and how alex was so desperate to smile with him because he knew it was not merely the joke that tyler had told which caused such a lovely grin. it was the way little taz and archie roared in laughter next to him, clutching onto the taller boy with such joy that he could not resist their light.

sometimes alex wonders if he is the only one who notices such wonderful things.)

but... no. it did not matter, did it? in the end, he and ryan were nothing more than enemies in their story. and if alex had a habit of holding ryan's gaze captive for too long, it was not a topic that was ever really touched upon.

or if ryan sometimes finished eating dinner early on movie nights just so he could secure the seat next to alex's favourite spot, nobody ever called him out on it - it is common knowledge that they dislike each other.

alex could never hate ryan though, not even if it was fake. after all, how could he hate a boy who looked so pretty in the sunset?

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i've definitely been neglecting this book in favour of 'ohav' so i apologise for that.

i figured it was time for a cute little rylex drabble 'cause i've been lacking in their department these past few chapters