Abroad

Four

Whether or not Alex was aware of it, he was driving Henry absolutely insane. Every time they sat next to each other in class, got food, or went out together, Henry felt his crush on him grow deeper and deeper. There was too much for Henry to obsess about: the way Alex's hair looked when he had been anxiously tugging on it, his concentration face, or that dopey smile that spread across his face whenever he saw Henry (especially when drunk). There were moments, small ones, where Henry felt himself get consumed with such overwhelming feelings for Alex that he had to excuse himself. Often times these moments where when the three of them (he, Alex, and Pez) were curled up together on the sofa watching movies and Alex's head would absent-mindedly drift onto Henry's shoulder or maybe when he would rest his head in Henry's lap and put his feet on top of Pez. Each moment like this was then engraved in Henry's brain seemingly forever and it was starting to drive him insane. Most of his thoughts were of Alex even before that late night/early morning phone call. After that, it only got worse. Especially when Henry decided that his friend––his best friend now, apparently––needed a proper cheering up.

"So," Alex said as they started walking the night after that phone call, "where are you taking me?"

Henry shot him a mischievous smile. "If I told you, wouldn't that ruin the whole surprise bit of it?"

Alex shrugged. "I mean, I guess, but I kind of hate surprises. In my experiences, surprises are almost never good."

Henry rolled his eyes and nudged Alex with his shoulder. "Ye of little faith," he chuckled. "It's a good surprise. I promise."

Alex still seemed suspicious, but he smiled at Henry and it melted his heart. He'd spent so long building up walls that he was practically an impenetrable fortress that no one could get through. Somehow, though, Alex managed to crawl his way through his defenses with little to no effort. Maybe he had a map somehow, a map that Henry didn't recall getting made. But he had, despite all odds, managed to sneak his way through Henry's safeties and defenses and right into his heart. He'd taken up residence there and, in all honesty, Henry was living for it. He loved granting Alex access to the most private parts of him, the parts he never showed anyone else apart from, on occasion, Pez. 

"I'm sorry for calling you late," Alex said. "Or early, I guess."

"You have nothing to apologize for, Alex. You never have to feel sorry for calling me. If I hadn't wanted to talk to you, I wouldn't have picked up."

Alex grinned at him and it went straight to Henry's stomach and made it bubble with warmth and nerves. God, did Alex even know what he was doing to Henry? Or was this just Alex being his usual self and beautifully oblivious to most things that happened around him? Well, whatever it was, it was driving Henry fucking mental in the best way possible.

"I meant it," Alex said, "when I said that you're my best friend. Just so you know."

"I know. Me too."

Alex smiled at him again and Henry had to fight the urge to reach out and hold his hand. It would have been easy––it was right there. So close. An inch or two away. To stop himself, he wrapped his arms around his chest, pretending he was cold. 

"Oh, are you cold?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

Henry shrugged. "A bit." To be fair, he was a bit cold, but he was used to it by now. It was his own fault for not bringing a coat, anyway. 

Alex shrugged his jacket off and draped it around Henry's shoulders. "Here," he said, securing the fabric. 

Henry couldn't help but blush not only at the feelings of Alex's hands on him, but the smell of something so distinctly Alex that emanated from the coat. "Won't you be cold?"