"Crikey" | Chanlix

Chapter 22 - distraction

A/N: ——————— indicates switch in characters and setting

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"God, Lix; if you push yourself any harder you might pass out," Hyunjin said, panting in between words as he brushed some hair off his forehead, with sweat beginning to form due to the way in which the boys danced, rarely stopping to take breaks.

"I doubt it," Felix responded, shrugging as he took no more than a small sip of his water before passing Hyunjin his own bottle. "I just wanna get this right. It has to be perfect to win the competition, Jinnie," he explained, mindlessly placing his bottle by his bag before returning to his position.

"The competition is in four weeks," Hyunjin mumbled, soon following Felix's own actions. As he got into position, Hyunjin couldn't help but ask what he did:

"Does Chan hyung mind you spending so much time at dance practice? It's important to make time for relationships..." he trailed off, noticing at how, for a moment Felix faltered in position.

"He..." Felix shrugged. "It's not important. Anyway, let's do this before Jisung is free and comes."

———————

"You good there, man?" Changbin asked, taking in Chan's tired appearance from the way he slouched as he walked over, finally taking a break from basketball.

"I'm fine," Chan said, bluntly; earning a raised eyebrow from Changbin, who clearly didn't buy it.

"Whatever you say," he complied; but only for a moment.

"Bro, not that it's any of my business but me and Jinnie kinda noticed you and Lix have been a bit... Distant from each other, these past few days... Everything is okay, right?" He asked, proceeding to make eye contact with the older boy.

"Yeah," Chan said, letting out a breathy chuckle, explaining himself further. "Just school and stuff, y'know?"

Earning a not so convinced hum from Changbin, Chan sighed quietly to himself, trying to ignore any and every thought regarding Felix by practicing basketball; but damn, it was hard.

"Anyway," Changbin said, snapping Chan out of his thoughts. "I heard Jisung is joining Felix and Hyunjin in a bit. If you weren't busy we could've gone, too, eh?" He asked, then noticing at how Chan merely nodded in acknowledgment; soon looking to where the older boy was, only to see Minho - looking at the two of them, probably having heard Jisung's name but presenting himself with an unreadable expression.

"Yeah," Chan said, sending Minho a long, hard gaze.

———————

"Bravo! Bravo!" Jisung exclaimed as he entered the dance studio, smiling brightly as he clapped his hands. "We're such talented people! Born to be friends!" He continued, laughing rather loudly after at Hyunjin's clumsy attempt at a courtesy. "If I had roses I'd yeet them at both of you," he then said, sighing in contentment after as he placed his hands over his heart.

Letting out a soft chuckle, Felix shook his head in amusement. "Thanks, Sungie," He said, grinning softly after.

"Nah, thank you two for letting me join," the latter boy then said, taking seat on the floor in a pile of coats and bags. "I'd have nothing to do in this period by myself!" Jisung explained, pouting dramatically after.

"Seungmin and Innie have geography then you two are here then the others are at basketball!" He sighed. "Minnie is at practice, too, with Woojin for company then Changbin is there for Chan, I think," Jisung mindlessly babbled on.

"Oh well," Hyunjin said. "You'll be fine here, watching us dance our nice asses off," he joked.

"Hyunjin, that's gay," Jisung responded with.

"You're gay!" the latter boy replied with, earning a loud sigh from Felix who then spoke up.

"Guys. We're all gay."

"Can't argue with that," Hyunjin said, earning a hum of agreement from Jisung. Shaking his head in somewhat disbelief, Felix then proceeded to stretch. "Ooh!" Hyunjin exclaimed. "After this we should see if the others are free and we can all go out for dinner!"

Jisung's eyes glinted on hearing this, alongside his bright smile he needed not to voice his agreement and excitement. "I would but I might just stay here," Felix said. Hyunjin and Jisung simply nodded, not wishing to dwell on their friend's strange behaviour.

———————

"Sure you don't wanna come?" Changbin asked once more, looking at Chan with a small tint of concern in his eyes.

"Yeah," Chan replied, ruffling his hair a bit. "I'm probably just gonna head to the studio and finish a couple tracks," he said, sounding as casual as he could.

"See you tomorrow then, bro."

"See you."

———————

It'd been three hours since Hyunjin and Jisung had left, with Felix grateful his dance teacher out of school was kind enough to let him stay late at that studio, but frustrated at himself, having spent all day trying to focus yet he couldn't. On top of that, it had gotten noticeably colder in the studio, causing Felix to stop and sit down - this probably being his first proper break as he put his hoodie on.

Yet, it didn't smell like his. It was also rather oversized for him; causing him to recognise it as Chan's. He'd never felt so relaxed until then, leaning back against the wall as he sighed. He felt so bad for avoiding Chan but;

God, was he falling for him.

Plus especially in their situation, Felix had no idea what to do - or if Chan even liked him back. That's why he needed to dance; he needed a distraction.

———————

Sighing in frustration as he slouched into his seat, Chan rubbed his eyes before shaking his head in dismissal at his inability to focus. Even after several hours of basketball practice, even another two of music production failed to take his mind off of his thoughts.

He knew he was avoiding Felix. It left guilt ebbing in his stomach; but he had to. If he were around the younger blond, Chan would want to hold him and kiss him, to love him without pretence.

But he couldn't. So there he was, trying to occupy his mind with other things.

And if both boys knew well enough; they would've known their real distraction.
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does that last bit make sense
aha ha
ty for reading!

- k 💘