Rust and Frost

Epilogue

It was the Friday they'd been let out for winter break. Brandon and Ronnie were standing in the street in front of Brandon's house, about to head in.

"Hmph. Wait a minute, B. I gotta talk to you about something."

Given the subject matter of whatever they'd been talking about, Brandon figured the joke he made in response was completely appropriate. "Don't tell me you're in love with me unless it's true."

Ronnie blinked quickly, caught off guard. He couldn't remember whatever it was he'd been trying to say. He looked at Brandon blankly.

"Well, that's not what I was going to say, but I guess if I don't say this now it'll look... I do love you. Not in a stupid way. Not in the 'life is sunshine and rainbows and we'll be together forever sorta way'. I can't predict the future. But I care about you, and I feel great affection towards you." Ronnie looked quite pleased with his words. "Yeah. That's how I love you."

Brandon's first instinct was to skip up and down the sidewalk, cheering with glee. His second thought was that it'd catch the attention of his neighbors, and he'd learned his lesson.

He considered the concept. The idea that Ronnie loved him.

He rather liked it. And, wildly enough, he found himself believing it. Love wasn't something you declared, it was something you showed. Ronnie had more than shown it over the years.

'Almost an adult,' Brandon reminded himself. Adults were allowed to love. It was acceptable then. 'And long as it's not an overoptimistic, unrealistic thing... Which it isn't... It's fine'. 

Brandon allowed himself to have this. He had reasonable expectations.

"I'm glad," Brandon said. "I love you too."

Ronnie grinned.

There it was. A quiet and, Brandon reminded himself, a realistic, confession.

Brandon searched the ends of the earth to find something, anything, that could ruin this. As far as he could tell, and he double-checked, there was nothing left to worry about. 

"What were you gonna tell me?" He asked, realizing they were standing in silence.

"Ah. I was gonna ask what you're getting Mark and Dave for Christmas..."

Ronnie had missed the Flowers' house more than he would've thought. He'd missed the cream-colored walls, pristine and basic as they were. And he'd missed the pictures of people he'd never met, and the dining table, where Brandon said there was always a place for him. As estranged as he'd felt before, Ronnie was starting to feel like the house was his home away from home again.

Speaking in hushed voices and slight smiles, they sat together in the living room. The nerves hadn't completely worn off yet.

Taking Brandon by surprise, his mom walked in to ask Ronnie what his plans for New Year's Eve were. It was weird, getting used to this, his relationship with Ronnie, being okay. And Brandon knew what that question usually meant; His mom always asked the same of his brother's girlfriends and the boyfriends of his sisters. Before they all went off to college, that was.

Ronnie had to think that over. "I'm going to enjoy getting a break from school." And a break from trying to figure out what he was gonna do with his life. He'd told Dave he might major in music, to which Dave replied, 'Man, music degrees are fucking useless'. "And I'll keep my fingers crossed that my mom doesn't have to work New Year's."

"Alright, then. You tell your mom that you and her are welcome over for dinner come New Year's Eve, okay? We'll have a nice little get-together."

"Thank you," Ronnie said.