"Hey, are you okay?" a familiar voice asked as I was made to stand fully.
"Yes, I'm fine....SHIT!" Ash's face came into focus, kind of. My hair was in my face, vision was blurred a bit, but as my eyes widened, things became clearer and clearer.
Ash had heard me call out.
Ash had come to my rescue.
Ash's hands were holding me up.
I was staring dumbly at him but . . . but he didn't recognize me yet. My face was all covered up by my mess of hair, so maybe I had a chance!
"Um, yeah yeah, thanks," I cleared my throat and tried to mask my voice by making it lower, looking to the floor quickly.
"Are you sure?" his tone was laced with concern.
"I'm okay...er...sorry I bothered you...er...um...I'll just get back to my friends, they'll be so worried...so...uh...ya'," I clumsily stepped back, deep voice sounding weird and forced.
"Maybe you should stick around to talk to the guards, they might . . ." he trailed off, "Do I...know you?"
"Psssssh! Me? Nope, this is my first concert, but I really have got to get back..." I should've just played it off like we'd met!
"No, I've definitely-" he gasped.
Shoot.
I was suddenly in such a tight bear hug I could barely breathe, but when I did breathe, I smelled Ash. He smelled just as I remembered....like summer and sand and sunshine and cheesy pizza and cheesier jokes... like home.
I couldn't fight off the instinct and my arms wound their way around him.
We spoke no words, just felt each others' embrace as we remembered.
I let myself breath in the contact, the memory, for just a moment.
And then I ran
Life is more complicated than just loving each other...what will happen with these two friends as they try to navigate history, love, loss, and rockstardom
Like a bolt of lightning, this stupid boy appeared in my life.
First day of summer break between first and second grade, he just appeared- standing on my porch like he was born there.
Straight brown hair, wide dark eyes and a fresh sunburn across his cheeks. He was already talking before I even opened the door.
I don't know how it happened but it's been ten years. And he's still here.
Talking, whether or not I'm listening.
Laughing, even if no one else is.
He's still too quick- racing around the world like he's scared he's going to miss it.
He's gotten taller...much taller. His hair is a little longer, a little wavier, but under the light it still looks the same golden brown it did when we were nine.
And now, finally, he was a high school graduate. We both were.
Like a bolt of lightning he appeared and like the sun he refused to disappear.
_____________________________________________
I fell asleep with my chin pointed at him, the outline of his face being the last thing I saw.
How was I supposed to do this?
It had always been difficult, hiding this secret, keeping him close.
But now, my focus was starting to slip.
I couldn't see anything but his lips, his hands, his smile.
I couldn't hear anything but my name in his mouth, his jagged breaths and that loud laugh.
How am I supposed to be okay with this?
How am I supposed to focus on anything other than him?
#1- slowburn- 11.10.25π₯
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#1- mental health- 01.02.2026 π₯
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#3- bxblove- 11.30.25π₯
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