What Happened in Winter [boyxboy]

Chapter Thirty-Four

Kyle POV

Lying in the same bed with Greyson was something Kyle had only dreamed about until now. But, his late night fantasies were nothing in comparison to the real thing.

Earlier, after Greyson had wholeheartedly promised to stay by Kyle's side, Kyle had gone downstairs to talk with his mom. She sat, barely patient, at the kitchen table, tapping a black-painted fingernail on the surface, her eyebrows raised to her dark hairline and her lips pursed like a pink colored wallet.

"So. Is he your boyfriend?"

That was definitely not what he had expected to come out of his mom's mouth.

Kyle flushed and sucked on his canine tooth, a nervous habit he'd had since he was young; the only anxious habit that stuck with him after his biological father's extensive desensitization training. "No. Well... not... yet. I guess. I don't know."

"Kyle Sánchez, how in the hell do you not know if you're dating someone? You weren't raised to be so clueless!"

Kyle sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes in the only way you could when your mom talked to you about your relationship status. "It's not that I don't want to date him! He's just... you saw what happened tonight. He's really unstable and I don't want my feelings to push him over the edge." It was true, but it still pained Kyle that that was the reality of the situation.

Kyle's mom mulled over what her son said and replied with a question. "Have you told him about how you feel?"

"Yeah... after confessed to me..."

"Aye! Kyle, I swear you are denser than a donkey sometimes!" She pressed her forehead to the wooden table and gripped the surface with both tan hands. Theatrics seemed to run in the family, biological or not.

After she gained her composure, Kyle's mom breathed in harshly through her nose and through her lips. "Okay. You two can sleep together in the same room. But do not let me hear anything inappropriate or I'll kick you both out."

Mrs. Sánchez seemed like she was being harsh, but it was the only way Kyle listened to anything. He smiled at his mom and put both hands over her's, nodding.

"What're you thinking about?" Grey asked suddenly, pulling Kyle from his recent memory.

"Just how pretty you look when you sleep," Kyle said, smiling deviously, turning over to face Greyson. The boy had both hands tucked under his cheek, pressed together like he was praying. It was dark in the room, but Kyle could see his soft, petal-pink lips turn up in a cat-like grin through a sliver of moonlight filtering through the bedroom window.

"You lie," he laughed, pulling a hand from under his face and pinching Kyle's nose, "You know I wasn't sleeping."

"You're still pretty, nonetheless."

That lay quietly, the AC kicking on again, making the quiet room a little bit louder.

"Do you really believe that?" If Greyson's voice didn't tremble and his breath didn't rattle in his chest cavity, Kyle would've laughed then.

"I always thought I was boring looking. I'm too pale and I'm always getting sick. My... People used to tell my parents that I had dead eyes; that I looked like I never had anything going on up in my head. I'm not very interesting, either. I only have a couple hobbies and those things are bland and isolated activities. Not to mention my scars-"

"Greyson," Kyle murmured, cutting the easily-worried and always-subconscious boy from his rambling. "What other people have said or say about you aren't what I think. I think you're the first person who's ever truly wanted to be my friend. And the first person to show me real kindness, other than my parents."

Kyle pressed his lips together and drew a hand up to gently twirl a piece of soft white hair around his index finger. "I'm really grateful for you. You make me want to be a better person. And, yes, I think you're the most beautiful person I've ever seen in my entire life. I wouldn't just say something like that for shits and giggles." 'Yeah. Especially when I thought I was straight,' Kyle had as a silent thought.

When Kyle met Greyson's eyes, he looked different. Really different, like someone had inserted moondust in his veins and illuminated him from the inside. Greyson would never shine as brightly and savagely as his older brother: the boy who was the sun personified. Instead, Greyson was gifted with something more gentle and serene. Something easier on the eyes and heart.

"I love you, Kyle."

He fell apart, the tentative boundary he had set between Greyson and himself faded away and his heart leaped into his mouth, resting between his tongue and soft palate.

Kyle stopped playing with Greyson's hair and instead ran his fingers across his scalp and cupped the back of his neck, leaning in close.

"You mean it?" Kyle asked, breathless.

"I've never felt this way about anyone. I wouldn't just say 'love' without meaning it," Grey answered, just as breathlessly.

Greyson POV

There was no hesitation. Both boys collided together like a supernova, sweat like shimmering stars and breath like solar flares, hands sliding over each other, savoring the places they hadn't gotten to touch yet.

Kyle had somehow flipped Greyson onto his back, bracing himself over his small frame, a knee in between Grey's thighs. Greyson stared up at him, vision fuzzy with adrenaline. They were both breathing heavily and Kyle's eyes were luminously green. Like spring grass and apple-flavored Jolly Ranchers.

"I love you so much," Kyle whimpered. It wasn't until Greyson brushed a lock of blonde hair out of his face and felt wetness drip across his cheek did he notice the older boy was crying.

"What's wrong?" Greyson asked, anxiety again tugging at him. Had he done something wrong? Had he fucked up this moment somehow and Kyle regretted it?

"I just... I don't want to mess this up."

Huh. So they both were worried about the same thing. Go figure.

Greyson felt his own tears begin to well and slip across his temple and into his hair. "I don't want to mess this up, either. As long as we both try, nothing will get messed up."

Kyle smiled wide and his tears kept coming. But, Greyson could tell it was from relief, not sadness. He lifted himself up and connected their lips, closing his eyes and running small fingers through Kyle's long hair. "I guess this should be obvious, but... are we dating now?"

Kyle laughed hard at that and both boys jumped when Kyle's mom yelled at them to be quiet. Then, both of them burst into laughter, laying flat on their backs, holding their stomachs tight with both arms.

When they calmed down their laughter and wiped away the tears, Kyle nuzzled his face into the hollow between Greyson's neck and shoulder, hot breath exhaled, goosebumps rose against skin. "Yeah. I would say we're dating now."

They fell asleep like that, pressed together and  legs intertwined, fingers clasped together.

Greyson dreamed of Jayson hugging him tight, a golden glow behind him. He whispered in his ear, "I'm so proud of you, lil bro. Live your life."