tea - dreamnotfound

getting an upgrade

"welcome home, i guess."

i toss my keys onto the nearby kitchen counter before untying my shoes. clay looks around the apartment, grinning slightly as he mumbles a quiet "thank you."

"it's not much but it's enough for me," i explain, taking off my jacket. i suddenly feel cold and naked, bearing only a t-shirt under. with quick steps i sneak into my bedroom to throw on a hoodie before returning out to clay.

"way better than a hotel," he comments, chuckling.

he approaches the couch and jumps right onto it, sighing happily with his arms behind his head.

"i hope you're okay with sleeping on there. i'll get you a blanket and better pillows of course."
"it feels nice so yes," he smiles.
"i-i just didn't really expect you to be staying here i guess, that's why there's not a lot prepared," i stutter, looking away.

i always want to keep my place neat and tidy for when guests come over, but at the moment it's kind of a mess. "i mean i know you warned me long ago that you were coming-"

clay grabs my shoulders lightly, leaning down to look me in the eyes. this isn't helping the situation.

"george, calm down," he starts, "this will be perfect. i love it already."

a smile creeps up onto my lips as my eyes flicker left and right, avoiding clay's emerald green stare by all means. i can't blush now, not now.

"a-alright, then... make yourself at home i guess."
"thank you."

i notice the blinds in my bedroom are still down and closed. they've stayed like that for the past few months since i'm not the most fond of sunlight. my bedroom is my cave and i generally refuse to come out of it if it isn't absolutely necessary. i make a motion for clay to step into the haunting cavern to put his luggage down.

"unless you want to have it out by the couch? to change in the morning?"
"here's fine," he agrees, placing it by my closet, "i'm guessing we'll spend most of our time playing minecraft in here anyways."
"of course," i nod, "speaking of minecraft, you wanna have a go right now?"

he places a hand on the doorway above us, making it look so painfully easy. he barely has to stretch his arm at all to reach it. his hoodie sleeve slides down a little, revealing tanned skin with veins just as visible as the ones on his hands. i could never.

"honestly i'm way too jet lagged for that. we could watch a movie if that's good with you?"
"what are you feeling today then?" i ask him as i wander out into the living room, turning the tv on.
"something cozy? have you seen let it snow?" clay yawns and hops onto the couch, taking up more than half of it with his long legs.
"i've heard that's just sappy shit, but sure, cozy. i can do that."

i switch to netflix and sit myself down in the very corner so to not invade clay's personal space or anything. a couple of minutes later he sits up properly too, closer to me than what i expected from him.

the movie has just started but i already can't focus on it since clay is so close. i can't feel his warmth but i can smell his cologne and that alone is making me embarrassingly flustered. i keep sneaking glances at him, the light from the tv screen illuminating every corner of his face. i'm hoping dearly that he won't notice.

it doesn't take long for him to fall asleep. he clearly wasn't lying when he said he was jet lagged. he looks even more peaceful in his sleep, mouth slightly open, lightly snoring. if i slide just a little closer his head would be leaning on my shoulder. i enjoy the thought of that for a quick second before silently standing up to fetch him a blanket so he won't wake up freezing in the middle of the night.

i try to tuck him in as best i can without waking him up. he shifts in his sleep, making me anxious but then the soft snoring sounds come back, calming me down.

when i have successfully placed the blanket on top of him, i notice a lock of hair that has fallen in the way of his pretty face. carefully i reach my hand out, grazing the side of his head with my thumb to pull the hair back. my heart flutters just from the slight contact, and i can't help but to question what the fuck is wrong with me.