tyrus oneshots

#1: Friends

Dialogue prompt 41 - "You're not moving." "Neither are you."

~

"But there's no way that it's not going there,
with the way that we're looking at each other"

(From 'There's no way' by Lauv)

~

They were friends. Cyrus swore they were.

So what if they got a little closer than what was usually friendly? Or if they held hands under the table when they thought no one was watching? Or if they would make excuses to stay together longer, even if it was just for a moment? Or if - okay - so maybe they weren't just friends. But they definitely weren't boyfriends either, so Cyrus really wasn't sure where that left them.

He had gotten so ridiculously close to asking, but the words always managed to get caught in his throat. Sometimes he swore that TJ was also moments away from asking, but every time it happened the boy would backtrack. Or switch the topic. Or say that he had to go for some creative reason.

It was one of those days. Cold, with a thin layer of snow covering the ground. The sky was darkening by the minute, and the streets outside were quieter than they were normally. The soft sounds of an 80's CD were reaching the hallway where Cyrus and TJ stood.

TJ was finding excuses to linger, making comments about the paintings on the wall, asking Cyrus about school. Surface level things that really couldn't matter less to Cyrus in that moment, because the way TJ was looking at him now was proving to be very distracting.

"The forecast didn't even mention snow for today," TJ commented, shifting from foot to foot as he hovered by the display cabinet.

Cyrus smiled knowingly, leaning up against the doorframe. "Always expect the unexpected, TJ."

The boy laughed harder than he probably should've. "I guess you're right."

They remained there for a moment, soft smiles on both of their faces. TJ inhaled deeply, glancing down at the ground.

"I uh...should probably get going."

"Probably," Cyrus responded, pushing himself from the doorframe and slowly making his way over to the boy. "But it is pretty cold out there."

TJ laughed nervously. "Yeah...it is."

He was well and truly in TJ's space now, leaning forward slightly and taking note of the way his cheeks were burning red.

"Uh - Cyrus?" TJ squeaked.

Cyrus laughed slightly and changed course at the last moment, leaning over to grab a scarf from the coat rack behind TJ.

"You might need this."

The athlete was gaping at him now, his eyes widened in shock. It took a moment or two to shake himself out of whatever trance he was in, but soon he began to smirk.

"Oh. Will I?"

"Yeah. You will."

Cyrus gave him a fond smile as he handed over the scarf. It had been about 20 minutes since TJ had first mentioned needing to leave, but neither of them could care less.

TJ quirked an eyebrow. "What about you?"

"In case you've forgotten, I'm not the one going outside," came the teasing response.

TJ just grinned, tilting his head slightly. "I don't know, I still think you do."

Before Cyrus could even find a response to that, TJ was wrapping the scarf around his waist.