Cities Made of Starlight [BoyxBoy]

Six

Calvin

Last night sleep had alluded Calvin. He had lain in bed for hours, his stomach churning, his whole body buzzing with nervous, electric, excitement. Finally, he'd climbed to the roof and watched the stars until dawn. 

He'd thought about Collin a lot.

Now he was thinking about Collin again.

The cold water washes over Calvin, heightening his senses, making him acutely aware of his surroundings. His hair is plastered to his face, water dripping from his eyelashes, rolling down his cheeks like frozen tears. Most of the house is asleep still. Only his father rises before the sun, gone most days before Calvin wakes up, but today Calvin can hear him quietly fixing himself breakfast and getting ready for work. Calvin shuts off the shower and steps out, toweling himself off. Wrapping the towel around his waist, he tiptoes back to his room, careful not to wake Liam or Matthew up this early. As nice as his brothers were on a normal day, he knew they wouldn't be so accommodating if he wasn't careful to let them sleep. Slipping into his room, he carefully clicks the door shut and hurries to get dressed.

Surveying his outfit in the mirror, Calvin feels the butterflies beginning to return. He realizes that it's been years since he's gotten dressed with a boy in mind and he smiles sheepishly, watching blush creep across his cheeks. No way were his brothers going to let him go without an explanation. But there was something missing. He walks into his closet and looks around, knowing there was something particular he wasn't remembering but not being able to pinpoint it. Absentmindedly, he runs his hands through the fabrics as he tries to pinpoint the memory pulling at the corner of his mind. His hand catches on a leather sleeve and the memory comes into focus as he pulls out a red and white Letterman jacket. His jacket. Slowly, he sinks to the floor, his back to the wall, his knees creeping towards his chest, holding the jacket gingerly, as if it might burst into flames.

Booker.

Brent Booker.

Calvin shoves his hands into the pockets of his jacket. His brand new varsity football Letterman jacket. He could conquer the world in this jacket, and he knew he would some day. His sneakers hardly seemed to touch the ground as he walks over to his teammates, clumped together at a lunch table. He smiles as they see him, their faces lighting up. Some start cheering, some faux-catcalling, and when he walks up to them he's greeted by punches on the arm and some of the taller boys messing with his hair.

As he sits he looks up and locks eyes with the boy sitting directly across from him. His face is twisted into a proud smirk, and when he talks his voice is teasing.

"So, who'd you steal it from?"

"Ha ha, very funny, B."

"Awh, you know I'm just teasing you, Marner."

"Yeah, whatever, you."

Brent gives him a cheeky smirk and returns his attention to his lunch. As the rest of the team crowds Calvin, all talking and laughing and shoving one another, he can feel Brent watching him. His heart does a somersault and he swallows hard, brain buzzing. The bell rings and the team disperses with friendly punches in the arm. Lost in thought, Calvin doesn't notice Brent walking over until he picks up Calvin's book and sticks it in Calvin's bag. Calvin looks up at Brent, smirking kindly down at him. Brent's eyes twinkle brightly and Calvin takes the offered help up. They start walking towards the main building.

"So, first day as a full team member."

"Yeah."

"You nervous?"