*2021 Watty Award Shortlister*
**
I scanned his face, taking in all of his features. His eyes were large, shockingly so, and his eyelashes were long, accentuating that honey gaze. His lips were blush pink, his cheeks taking on the same tint in the nipping air. I glanced at his neck as he swallowed before my gaze returned to his eyes.
"You can't do that," he spoke, turning back onto his back.
"Do what?"
"Look at me."
"I can't look at you?" I echoed.
"Not like that."
**
They say you meet the person you fall in love with when you least expect it. For Sage and Angel, this is especially true.
After a run in at a party, Sage and Angel find themselves on a winding road of discovery, heartbreak, acceptance, trauma, and healing. Throughout their journey, they learn about one another, about themselves, and about life itself, and in ways they'd never imagined.
"It is such a happiness when good people get together - and they always do."
- Jane Austen
TW/CW: This story contains implications and descriptions of sexual harassment (Parachute, Happy Birthday, All The Fun, Buzzkill), attempted sexual assault (Parachute, Bad Professor), sexual assault (Parachute, Bad Professor), abuse (Leaving), and homophobia (Leaving, A Visit). Please read with caution.
"Levon." Todd answered, voice hard.
"Todd." Levon responded just as coolly. There was a pause. "Are you busy?"
"I just got back from class," Todd said. "Waiting for Betto to get out of his lab so we can go for supper."
"Nice." Levon wanted to punch himself. Todd just hummed in affirmation. Another pause as Levon tried to find a way to dispel the tension in the call.
"Are you good?" Todd asked when Levon failed to form a sentence, and Levon realized how out of character it was for him to call Todd. There a was a layer of concern just under Todd's indifferent tone, and the protectiveness that seemed ever present in Todd when they were younger and Todd was always saving Levon from his problems. Levon's anger seemed to melt away at that familiar sense of security.
"I'm good," Levon spoke finally and a soft smile spread over his lips. "Are you good?"
"I'm good," Todd said gruffly.
"Are we good?" Levon asked and Todd scoffed.
"What we. There is no we. We're not friends."
"Wouldn't want you as a friend anyway," Levon snickered. "You're kind of an asshole."
Or
Todd and Levon, and their acceptance that they were never meant to be friends.
(Disclaimer: there will be foul language, more fluff than plot, and BoyxBoy romance. Read at your own risk!)