Bear Hugs

Stars

Day Seven: Stars

The skull smelled of sweat and Kenny's hair gel.

"Talk about immersive therapy," Kenny sat on a plastic chair behind the curtain with him, foot propped up on another chair. He stared at the suited Kyle with a grin.

"That's not funny," Kyle held the had out in front of him, the large plastic eyes staring back at him. On the other side of the curtain, the buzzing of students and music swelled.

"You'll be fine. Just remember what I told you. Walk around the tables, take the selfies. That's all you need to do. Maybe dance around a little, too."

"I'm not a good dancer."

"Doesn't matter. I'm not either. I just play "Mambo No. 5" in my head and that does that gets me going."

"Mambo No. 5?"

"Yeah, you know: a little bit of Monica in my life, a little bit of Erica by my side, a little bit of Rita is all I need-"

"-Okay, I got it."

"I guess now I'll have to sing a little bit of Kyle in my life, a little bit of Kyle by my side..."

"Oh god, you made it worse."

"I'm messing with you, babe."

"Why do you do this to me?"

"Because it's fucking adorable when your face gets all scrunched up like that."

"Asshole."

Kyle put the head on. Now he could only see Kenny through the mesh.

"How do you feel? Can you see okay?"

Kyle wordlessly raised his arms into a heart. Kenny formed his hands into the same, silent gesture.

Maybe, if I keep thinking I'll do a good job, then I will, Kyle thought, parting the curtain and stepping into the light.

...

One of the first smells he remembers enjoying was inside the bakery right outside of town. Whenever he passed a test or had his weekly chores done on time, Sheila took Kyle for one cupcake of his choice. He almost always chose chocolate. He loved the smell of warm, baking bread, the aroma of sweetness, the love. He wanted to be there.

After taking the mask off the fresh air mixed with Kenny's cologne, cinnamon and vanilla, became a new favorite, with that familiar warmth.

...

"Boop," Kenny stuck a gold star onto the tip of Kyle's nose.

They were in a private study room on the fourth floor of Kresge Library.

"Boop," he planted another sticker on Kyle's cheek.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Putting stickers on you? I stole them from the Office of Student Involvement. Don't worry about it."

Kyle turned away from his studies, peeled a star off the sticker sheet and stuck it to Kenny's nose.

"And why are we doing this, Ken?" he asked.

Kenny shrugged, "I wanted to get an actual, like, gold badge kind of star for you, but I'm broke. So this is my solution for now," he placed another one in Kyle's hair.

"You don't have to get me anything," Kyle took another one and pinned it to Kenny's chest.

"Well, you did a great job."

"I'm glad I could help... but please, don't ever make me do that again."

"Noted," Kenny kissed the star-studded Kyle, "Thanks for... bearing with me."

"Oh my god," Kyle groaned. He opened Spotify on his phone, plugged in earphones, and handed one to Kenny. Once again, the lyrics of "Good Day, Sunshine" threaded between them, through the next three years and after.

A/N: Thanks for reading my K2 week story, even though it was late!!!