One-shots (boyxboy)

Scrabble (Dan & Mike)

Another one-shot. 

Scrabble

It was the last day of summer and I was at my best friend’s house. We had decided to eat pizza and watch movies, plus play video games. His parents were away. I guess at their friends’ house, or visiting relatives Mike didn’t feel like seeing. Older people always told him how handsome he was and pinched his cheeks, which he hated.

I remember one time, when he came to school with a blue-purple cheek. I had asked him if someone had punched him, but he chuckled and said it was his great aunt who had had too fun pinching his cheek, so I could see why he hated visiting his relatives so much.

I could smell the pizza from the living room and immediately went to kitchen. I was so hungry, I was afraid I would black out if I didn’t eat something soon. Mike poured us both a class of orange juice and we sat at the table, stuffing our faces with the deliciousness of cheese, pepperoni and white crispy bread that was covered in tomato sauce.

After I finished, Mike smiled at me, and shyly pointed out that I had some ketchup on my lip. “Just there,“ he said, and I licked my lips. He nodded to assure me I had eliminated it, and took another bite. I could feel his eyes on me, and raised my eyebrow to which he shook his head, still smirking.

Later, we watched movies in the living room, both slouched on the couch. Mike was cuddling a pillow to his chest. He had done so ever since I met him. It was like his comfort zone. He looked adorable and I smiled to myself.

“OK, so let’s play games,“ he said when the credits rolled. He had turned around to face me, still clutching the pillow. I nodded slowly.

“Video games or-?“ I asked, and he let out a breath.

“I don’t know, actually,“ he laughed, and rested his head against the couch. “We could play board games too.“ He shrugged.

“Well, figure this out,“ I said. “I’m gonna take a leak.“ I push myself up and start walking towards the bathroom, when Mike adds, “I love it when you talk dirty to me.“

When I returned, Mike had laid out monopoly. I raised my eyebrow. “Seriously? You want to play it?”

He bit his lip. “Sorry?” he said, then sighed. “You’re right, it’s stupid.”

“I’d rather play scrabble,” I mumbled and his eyes lit up. I didn’t mean to give him any ideas, but scrabble it was. We sat down on the carpet and let the TV play in the background. He was winning; I wasn’t good with words, especially the difficult ones. “I don’t know why we’re friends,” I said as I managed to form another word.

He didn’t respond, instead made sure the letters were perfectly put to their places. I turned the piece over and over between my fingers; my elbow rested on my leg, and watched Mike. Something was off.

He raised his head and looked at me, his eyes a little sad.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, he just shook his head, and let out a heart-breaking sigh. He inched closer to me and stared at the game board.

“Words are so useless out of context,” he said sadly and took the piece from me. He looked at the letter and threw it on the board. “Funny, actually.” Then he turned to me.

Suddenly his lips on were on mine, and he held my head in place. I tried to balance myself by resting my hands on the floor, and held myself up.

He pulled away, still holding my face in his hands, and with a shocked expression, looked at me as if he had committed a crime. “I-I don’t know, “ he stuttered. “-what happened.” He let his hands fall, and stared at them. They were shaking. “I’m so sorry.”

He shot up and ran out of the room, up the stairs where he shut the door behind so loudly, I jumped on my spot. I leaned back against the front of the couch, and closed my eyes. It hadn’t been my fault, but I felt really bad for making my best friend feel horrible about himself.

I didn’t feel like running after him right away, because I assumed both of us needed time to recover and think things through, so there we sat, he upstairs in his room behind a shut door, and me downstairs in the living room, back against the front of the couch, eyes closed, the game scrabble at my feet.

At first I was too distracted to think of anything. Then, slowly, I calmed down nerve by nerve, and started analysing why he kissed me. Had it been because he was confused? Maybe something had happened with his parents, and he just wanted comfort? Had it been because something I did? But the question ‘why’ was too difficult for me to answer, so I just shoved it away. Then I started assuring myself that we were still friends, and that kiss could or could not have meant anything. And then I came to the conclusion that I just needed to go to him and ask.

I dragged my heavy feet up the stairs and leaned my forehead against his door, taking a deep breath before knocking. There was no movement on the other side of the door, and I imagined he’d be terrified and embarrassed even though he shouldn’t have been.

“Mike, it’s obvious you’re in there,” I said and knocked again. “Let’s talk about this.”

There was silence, but then I heard him stumble against the edge of his bed and swear under his breath.

“I’m coming in,” I warned him and then pushed the door open.

He was sitting on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, hands clutched, touching his lips. His eyes were glassy.

I moved closer to him, and kneeled, looking up at him.

“Dan, don’t,” he said and lowered his arms. Tears were in his eyes.

Instead of listening to him, I took his hand in mine and held it. “Whatever happened, happened,” I said calmly. “If you want to forget it, we will.”

His eyes shifted to me and he snorted. “That’s just the point,” he spit out. “I don’t.”

I was taken aback, but didn’t let go of his hand. I knew he saw from my expression that I was shocked, and I regretted that I was open like a book, I should have hid my feelings better.

I thought about what he just said and sighed. “Okay,” I said and bit my lip. “Let’s try it again.”

I stood up, Mike staring at me like I was the dumbest person he’d ever seen, and then I kissed him. My one hand was around his neck, while the other held his head in place, sort of like it had been before, except positions reversed.

He was surprised at first by what I had done, but then leaned into the kiss. He pushed himself up from the bed and grabbed my waist, pulling at my shirt, and breathed me in. I stumbled back, and he followed me, urging me towards the wall.

Then my back was against the cold surface, and he had trapped me. I pulled away for a moment to breathe, and then went back into the kiss. He bit my lower lip and I felt my insides burn, my brain about to explode. Everywhere he touched me, I was on fire.

He stopped and rested his forehead against mine. “I don’t want to forget,” he whispered, his breath hot against my lips.

I wanted to say something, but nothing made sense. I had forgotten all the words, I only remembered letters. It was like a scrabble game inside my head, and I was too confused.

He moved his head, so that his breath was on my neck and I shivered. I pulled him closer and he kissed my neck. I bit my lip.

“Please, don’t make me forget,” he mumbled against my skin.

It took me some time, but I finally replied. “Never.”