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“I just feel like he should have been voted out earlier, you know? He clearly was kept on so long because he’s hot.” Michael takes a swig of his drink, and gestures towards the TV where some shitty reality show is playing. Michael is giving detailed commentary and Calum is doing his best to listen, he is.
“Isn’t that the point?” he adds mindlessly.
Luke is passing out tiny snacks to everyone now. He is carrying the tray that he and Calum had assembled before the party, consisting of sandwiches with toothpicks. Luke had teased Calum for trying to be fake bougie, but now he is smiling brightly at each guest, maneuvering around Calum’s house like he owned the place. So excuse Calum if he was a bit distracted at the moment.
He hosts these kinds of parties a lot. Ashton and Calum are in their third year of university, and were finally able to afford their own off campus apartment. They had both suffered through long hours at Starbucks to save up for a decent place they could share. Michael and Luke had been invited to live with them of course, but Michel opted for his own place down the hall because his parents were loaded (affectionate) and Luke had decided to stay on campus. You'd never guess it though, with how much Luke and Michael were here these days. Especially Luke.
Things at school are too crazy to get shitfaced every night like freshman year, so Calum invites people over to his apartment for a calmer environment. They still drink and listen to music, but try to make an effort to at least be functional the next day. Luke had come over beforehand and helped him set up. That was fine, that was normal Luke behavior. But now, Luke is passing out food to guests, mingling with them, dipping in and out of the kitchen to grab what he needs. He doesn't need to ask where anything is, and knowing that makes Calum wish his apartment had air conditioning even though it’s mid November. Something about Luke in his space makes the temperature rise.
Calum decides to chance a glance at Luke then. Luke is already smiling at him and Calum returns it. Luke looks good tonight. He always looks good but Calum is sure he is on a mission to torture him tonight; his white button up is halfway undone and his black pants leave no room for anything to breathe. Luke grins wider, clearly pleased with Calum eyeing him so openly.
“I mean, who do you think she should have ended up with?” Shit. He is a terrible friend. Michael is talking to him about something he likes and Calum is melting over Luke playing house. In his house. He is a mess. And now Calum needs to act like he’s been listening the entire time because he doesn't want anyone to get the wrong idea: that he can’t engage in simple conversation because Luke is smiling at him. Calum turns to Michael, and hopes that despite having known him over a decade that he won't be able to read his mind. He wracks his brain for any names of people on this damn beach. C’mon.
“Riley!” Calum blurts, “Yes, I liked her and Riley together." Calum prays to whoever may be watching that there is in fact someone named Riley on this show, and that it makes sense for him to be paired with whatever girl Michael is referring to.
“Riley, huh? Why him?” Fuck, he’s onto him.
“I don't know. It seems like they had the best chemistry together.” Calum feels bad for lying. He does. He just can’t handle an interrogation right now, which is exactly what will happen if he exposes himself too much. Michael narrows his eyes at him, studying his face. He looks from Calum to Luke then back to Calum, and rolls his eyes. He grumbles and leans back against the couch.
“I’m gonna start quizzing you after each episode,” he warns.
“Fair enough.”
Michael pushes play, and Calum watches, focused now. A few minutes later, voices are closer to them and he hears someone asking where the bathroom is.
“Go down the hall, and take a left; it should be right there,” he hears Luke answer. Calum wills himself to calm down, but he feels his face heat up without his consent anyway.
If Luke directing people to his bathroom is making him hot and bothered, he should probably get a fucking grip.
Hours later, everyone has gone home. Ashton went home with someone he spent the entire party talking quietly to. It took a bit of convincing to get Michael off of his couch and to walk the four steps down the hall. He whined the entire way but his neck would thank him later.
As soon as the last person walks out the door, Luke grabs a trash bag from under the kitchen sink and starts throwing random trash in.
“What are you doing?”
Luke looks up, his smile sheepish. “Cleaning? Might as well start now, you know we’re not going to want to tomorrow.”
Calum steps towards him and gently takes the trash bag away from Luke.
“It’s our place, Ash and I will clean it tomorrow.”
Luke tries to grab for the bag, and pouts when Calum holds it behind him.
“It was my party too.”
Calum doesn’t know if it‘s the word choice, or the insistence in Luke’s voice that makes his stomach churn but he decides to ignore it altogether.
“It’s 3am,” Calum says. “You’re not cleaning.”
“At least let me wash the dishes.” Luke puts his hands together in a begging motion, giving Calum the best puppy dog eyes that he can manage. Calum’s not sure that it’s one single thing that makes him give into Luke without question. It’s his eyes and smile and his heart all at once. So puppy eyes or not, he knows he has no chance.
“Whatever, but we’re going to bed after. You have to work tomorrow.”
Luke claps his hands together in victory, and he walks up to Calum, takes the trash bag and drops it, and wraps his arms around Calum. He has been doing that lately, hugging him. Obviously they are friends, and friends hug, but Luke has been rubbing at the small of his back lately. He’s been tucking his face into Calum's neck, and their chests are pressed closer than needed. Calum squeezes Luke’s hip where his hand is resting. Luke pulls away as little as he can while still being able to look at Calum’s face. Calum hates and loves that he has to look up to Luke a bit.
Luke lets go and walks over to the sink, and Calum doesn't know how much longer he can take the twinge of pain that comes every time he realizes. Realizes that the hugs are as far as it ever gets and as far as it will ever get.
Calum walks over to the sink where Luke has already started washing. Luke smiles when he sees him, and holds out a towel.
“Well don’t just stand there! You’re drying”
“Okay, when I stopped you from cleaning I didn't think it would end up with me doing dishes.”
Luke laughs, and throws the towel so it lands on Calum’s head. Calum grabs it and rolls it up, slapping Luke’s ass with it lightly.
“Hey!” Luke shrieks, and Calum’s eyes widen when he sees Luke grab the sink spray nozzle. He points it at him. “I’ll do it, you know I will.”
He goes to shoot and he must not press hard enough because one single drop comes out. They look at each other all of two seconds before bursting out laughing. Calum feels his sides starting to hurt.
Later, Luke hums as he washes, handing each dish to Calum to dry and put away after. It’s that weird time in the morning when it feels too early to be awake, and too exciting to sleep. It’s warm in his apartment and warm next to Luke. It’s easy to forget that Luke doesn’t actually live here, easy to forget anything that isn’t now, anyone that isn’t him.
-
The next few weeks are a blur of studying and exams for Calum. He is a social work major, and in his third year things are getting crazy. He has to prep for his capstone and internship, all while trying to retain copious amounts of knowledge.
Calum hasn’t seen much of his friends lately, always cooped up in the library with his nose in a book or falling asleep in various parts of his apartment. Ashton leaves for work early in the morning, and comes back home from class late at night. Sometimes Calum forgets he lives with someone else.
Calum has a habit of getting like this. When he’s stressed, he retreats, and in turn feels stressed that he’s ignoring people he loves. It’s this vicious cycle he’s been living in for years.
The first thing he feels as he wakes up the day of his statistics exam is his eyes burning. Bad. He had stayed up until about 4am cram studying standard deviation. Usually he’s more prepared than this, but he and math have had beef since the 2nd grade. Fuck gen eds and whoever made them mandatory to graduate.
This is what he's thinking off of about three hours of sleep and useless stats equations drilling his head: why couldn't he be talented and be an artist like Michael? Or even study Religion like Ashton? Or Luke, who was trying to be a preschool teacher? Who would be putting down children for their naps, and singing songs with them, and fuck. It is way too early to be picturing Luke being cute with kids. To be picturing Luke at all really, if he ever wants to get out of bed.
Calum is trying to clear his head of cute Luke images when he hears a loud crash. He immediately sits up and sucks in a breath. It could be Ashton, right? He glances at his clock, 6:42. Ashton should be gone already. Okay, don't panic, Calum. It could have been a neighbor? Amazon deliverer throwing shit too hard? It sounded like it was right there though.
Okay plan B. Calum hops off his bed, and walks as quietly as he can to his door. His baseball bat is leaning against the wall and he grabs it. He presses his ear against the wall. He hears some shuffling around, and then a quiet ‘shit’. Calum takes that as a go ahead, and he bursts open his door, bat up. He runs out to the kitchen, screaming. In hindsight, that was dumb and if a killer was really in his kitchen his screaming would have done nothing but expose his presence.
A killer is not what he sees when he enters the kitchen though. It’s Luke, trying to pick up the pieces of a mug that has fallen to the ground. Calum slowly lowers his bat and looks from Luke, to the dining table, and back to Luke. The dining table is properly set up, various foods laid out. Pancakes, eggs, fruit, it is all there. There are flowers on the table and the dishes are definitely not his own.
“What...the fuck?” is all he can manage. To be fair, he isn't sure where he’s expected to start. There is an entire breakfast buffet on his table, and Luke is somehow in his house. He looks to Luke for some type of explanation. Luke has finished picking up the mug pieces and is giving him a guilty smile.
“Surprise?”
Calum bites his lip so he doesn't smile. Luke looks a whole ass mess. His curls that usually frame his face are tied up into a barely intact man bun. He’s wearing a cringey ‘kiss the chef' apron, and of course it doesn't look cringey on him. There is flour and other unidentifiable food content on his face and all over him. Calum’s fear is quickly shifting into something else as he realizes what’s actually happening, what Luke has done for him.
“What did you do?” Calum whispers. Luke is busying himself. He’s at the sink, back turned to Calum, and fiddling around with nothing. Calum walks over to him, puts a hand on his shoulder. Luke jumps a bit, but still wont look up. “Luke?”
“Yeah?”
“What happened? How did you get in here? You did all of this? For me?” Luke nods once. “Why?”
Finally, Luke looks at him. His eyes are scanning Calum’s face, searching for God knows what. He looks like he’s debating if he should speak at all.
“It’s just,” he sighs, “you haven’t really been around lately. The others and I meet up, and you just make excuses, it isn’t like you. We usually see each other a lot more.”
He sounds so sad, and Calum tries to swallow the guilt but it won't go down.
“Ashton told me about your stats test and...I don’t know. I remember how you used to get when you were still on campus. You get so stressed and shut all of us out. And it doesn't have to be like that. I knew you wouldn’t eat so yeah. I made all of this.” He gestures awkwardly towards all the food. Calum laughs.
“Why do you look so nervous though?”
“Because! I didn’t know if you’d find it fucking creepy that I snuck into your apartment at 6am! Which it kind of is!” Luke looks exasperated, and Calum just laughs harder. He knows Luke and Michael have a spare key, but they hardly have to use it so he forgets.
“It is creepy,” Calum confirms, “but cute.” Calum loves that he never has to guess what Luke is thinking; his eyes always give him away. The tension seems to roll off his broad一but who’s looking一shoulders, and he grins brightly.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, now sit down and eat with me.”
They both sit down, and Calum’s suddenly aware of how hungry he is. He digs into everything, and it’s so fucking good. So much better than the almost rotted banana he was gonna grab on his way out. Luke knowing how to cook, and cook well, sure isn’t doing much to help Calum contain himself. Not that he was ever making a conscious effort to, but that is besides the point.
“So, are we gonna talk about your method of protection against intruders being a baseball bat now or later?” Luke says after a minute. Calum scoffs. They are sitting next to each other, so Calum reaches over and grabs the strings of Luke’s apron that's resting on his neck. He tugs on them lightly, and Luke tips his head back a bit, like he likes the sensation. Calum stares at his Adam’s apple a second too long and lets go.
“You fucker, I thought I was going to be murdered! A Baseball bat is a quick, effective method to knock a bitch out.”
“I’m no bitch.” Luke is pouting now. It’s early and Calum’s tired and he wants to kiss it off him. “Hey, Cal?”
“Yeah?”
“You don’t have to do this alone. All of this stress is too much to carry yourself. Let me- let us carry some of it too.” He places a hand on Calum’s arm, and Calum tries not to pull away at the warmth.
“It’s hard to let people help.”
“I know, but let me. Helping you helps me.” Calum isn’t surprised. Luke finds meaning in caring for others, apparently caring for him. It’s too much and not enough at once.
“Thank you for doing this, Luke. I love when you’re here; it feels more like home.”
Calum sits up, he hadn't meant to say all of that. Luke doesn’t say anything though. His hand stays put, and they continue eating. The sun reflects off the window onto Luke’s hair. Calum has never cared about lighting, never really thought of his kitchen as bright until Luke was sat in it.
-
It’s late Thursday night, and Calum and Luke were meant to be studying, but that quickly turned into multiple rounds of Mario Kart Wii, as it so often did. After their breakfast, Calum has been allowing Luke to help more. He always seems to be over, they will make dinner together, binge The Office while folding clothes. Calum reminds himself that he too lived at the dorms and would have chosen to get away from it as much as possible too. He never seemed to end up at Michael’s place though.
Michael has been in his life longer than his memory allowed it to stretch. He's always been Calum’s constant, and the love he has for him seems to go beyond the bounds of just friendship. Calum had been a part of the university’s soccer team his first two years there, and that's how he met Ashton. It was like gaining a big brother he never had and a best friend all at once.
Luke is somewhere in between. He’s known him before university, but they really didn’t start becoming close until then. He has always been lingering in the background of Calum’s life, not wanting to intrude until Calum let him. There's many little moments: when Luke’s dog passed away, and they snuck out of their dorms to lie on the field. The sky was dark and they cried, but they were not alone. Or when Calum got the flu and he missed his mum. Luke made him soup and checked his temperature. All those little moments made Calum realize that friend didn't exactly fit Luke’s role in his life, and not much has changed since.
“I don’t understand why you still main Toad after all of these years. He sucks,” Calum grumbles, even though he’s losing. He’s trying to get Luke worked up so he can red shell him at the right moment. It works.
“Hey! Toad is cute and he’s tiny, but he can be speedy!” He knows Luke is looking at him and pouting instead of driving so he shoots his shot. The red shell hits Toad, and Calum (or Peach) passes him, winning.
“EAT SHIT FUNGI!!”
Luke groans and throws his controller to the side.
“Princess Nectarine is a bitch,” he mumbles. Calum fake gasps, standing up and stretching.
“Don’t be a hater because you lost.” Calum walks over to the fridge. He opens it to find exactly what he expects: old takeout and probably expired milk. “There is no food in this house! Ashton and I usually go together but he’s been MIA lately.”
Luke joins him in the kitchen, leaning against the wall. “Yeah, I think he’s been going out with the person he’s been seeing.”
“Rain, right? Who is she anyway?”
“They,” Luke corrects, “and apparently they met at that party last month.”
“How are you more up to date on my own roommate than me?”
“Hey,” Luke puts his hands up in defense, “I’m only getting this information from Michael.”
Calum laughs at that, that checks out, Mikey could be a gossip when he wanted to be.
“You know, I could go with you if you wanted. Shopping I mean,” Luke offers quietly.
“Oh Luke, no it’s fine. I’ll text Ash to get his ass over here.”
“I want to though. You’re letting me help, remember? Besides, I’m tired of there not being shit to eat.’’
“Alright fine you can come,” he says, instead of all the other gay responses that were threatening to come out. I don’t want you to leave, things don't feel right when you’re away. He has a reputation to uphold.
Smiths is as dead as it’s expected to be at 10:30pm on a Thursday night when they walk in. Luke grabs a cart for them, and walks back with a shit eating grin on his face.
“No,” Calum starts, “I'm not-”
“Cal, please! It’s been so long since you’ve pushed me.” Calum can’t believe this 22 year old grown man is having a full on fit about not being pushed in a fucking cart.
“Yeah, because the last time we almost got banned from the shop altogether! I’m sure our mugshots are posted there.”
Luke’s frown deepens.
“Calum, please? It’ll be like old times.”
“You’re just lazy.”
“Yeah, and what about it?”
Calum laughs at that; at least he’s self aware. They both know Calum’s actual real answer.
“Help me in.” Luke’s legs are so ridiculously (beautifully) long that Calum has to hoist his foot up to get him in. The cart almost tips over and Calum has to rush to steady it.
“For fuck’s sake, Luke, you cow!” Luke just giggles.
Calum starts to push it along, the cart slowly filling up since Calum and Ashton’s grocery list is: everything. It doesn’t take long to realize that Luke is going to take this kid in the cart role seriously. When they are stopped, he keeps grabbing junk off the shelf and throwing it into the cart. Then Calum notices, and puts it back, and the cycle continues.
“You're supposed to be the responsible one,” Calum scolds, trying to bag some fresh vegetables.
“Not when it comes to snacks, you know that. I can only deal with your guys’ health craze for so long.”
Calum rolls his eyes. “Sitting in a shopping cart and demanding snacks, diva much?”
Luke flips his hair jokingly.
“Calum? Luke?” They're brought out of their little bubble at the sound of someone's voice. They look up to see Jade. Yes, Jade! She’s been in a couple of his classes. She is short, and has long black hair. Calum thinks she is very pretty. He also thinks Luke is prettier.
“Hi Jade! Long time no see,” Luke greets her happily, and Calum pushes the cart closer to hers.
“Yeah, Jade, it’s been a while.” She reaches in the cart to hug Luke, and then Calum.
“I know, I know, it’s because now all of my classes are high level science or medicine. Pre med was a mistake.”
“I couldn’t imagine,” Luke says. “Education is killing me and I know it is nowhere near your workload.”
“At the end of the day, all three of us will be dealing with kids, huh?”
“Yup, practicing right now with this one.” Calum points to Luke. Luke hits his stomach. Jade smiles at them.
“I see I'm not the only one who's been busy. When did you two finally get together?” Calum’s eyes immediately flash to Luke, who stills. Why would she say that? He supposes it looks kind of bad, them shopping together this late. But what does she mean finally get together?
“Oh, no,” Luke finally says. “I'm not, we’re not…” He doesn’t finish but Jade seems to get the picture.
“Oh god. I am so sorry! I just thought... You guys were always... Yeah I shouldn't assume, forgive me.”
“It’s okay Jade, really,” Calum assures, hoping he sounds decently normal. His brain is on a speed run, trying to process the idea that someone thought they were together. His brain seems to be particularly fascinated with the part where Luke denies it, replaying it over and over.
“So roommates then?” Jade tries. The mood seems to lift a bit at that guess, since the answer is pretty unclear.
“Not that either, I'm afraid. I offered to accompany him, and in turn I'm making him push me around.”
Jade laughs. “It was really great catching up, but I have like four essays due Monday so I should probably get going.”
They say their goodbyes, and Jade gives Calum a look he can't decipher, and goes on her way. Luke looks at him, but Calum doesn’t know what to say. So he pushes the cart faster, and stands on the footrest.
“Calum stop, you can’t superman! We’ll tip!” The cart somehow stays balanced though and they glide through the aisle. Calum stops them right before they hit a shelf of chips. Luke laughs so hard a squeak comes out and Calum thinks he might love him.
They spend the rest of the trip fighting over what’s allowed to go in the cart, and Calum threatening to pop a wheelie. It feels so domestic, and Calum doesn't ever remember mundane things like this being able to keep his head above water.
When they get back home, they attempt to bring all of the groceries in one trip, which was a shitty idea. Calum blames Luke. His arm is weighing down with all of the bags, but he manages to unlock the front door. He hurries in and drops everything to the ground, hoping nothing breaks. He looks up, and his hand flies to his chest when he sees Ashton waiting on the couch, in the most dad-like pose he’s ever seen.
“Fucking hell, Ash!” Ashton’s hand is on his hip.
“Where have you been? I’ve been calling you. You went shopping without me?” Calum feels quite literally like he’s seventeen again, and his stomach churns at the feeling. Luke’s bags dropping to the ground has them both looking up. Ashton’s eyebrows jump. “Luke! I didn't see you there! Why are you stealing my shopping buddy?”
Luke sighs and sits on the couch, breathing like he’s just run a marathon. He’s had a hard day of riding in the shopping cart, Calum thinks.
“Sorry, bro. I was tired of you guys having jack shit in the fridge.”
“Oh fuck off, you just mean having jack shit to feed your sugar cravings.” Ashton looks around at all of the bags. His eyes gaze over to a pile of Luke’s stuff in the living room. “So...do you, like, live here now, Luke? Not that I would have a problem with it! Just haven't been home lately and yeah. Kinda seems like we gained a new roomie.”
Calum groans. Not Ashton too.
“You’re the second person to ask us that today. Nothing about us gives off roommate vibes so I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Ashton points to the plant by the T.V. stand.
“Literally neither of us would buy a fucking plant, no offense Luke. Sounds pretty roommate-like to me.”
“So how are you and Rain, Ash?” Luke challenges. Ashton goes red at that, and drops the subject.
They all three put away the food, Luke laughing at Ashton’s disgust for their choices. They watch Netflix for hours, and Luke’s fingers play with the dark curls at the nape of Calum’s neck. He has lived in a lot of places in his life, and none had ever felt quite like home as this.
-
Okay, Calum loves Ashton, he does. He is thoughtful, and nurturing and always gives the best advice. Meeting him has been one of Calum’s greatest joys in life. However, he is currently a contestant in America's worst roommate.
He is a mess! Their lease is up at the end of the month, and they had had a serious talk about what to do. Ashton had told him that he wanted to move in with his partner, and Calum had been supportive and said that he would move into a one bedroom in their same complex. It had been lovely living with him, but he’s happy that Ashton has found someone he wants to spend his time with.
So yeah, their apartment is full of boxes and things are stressful, Calum gets it. But that doesn't mean their chore list just goes to the wayside! It is Ashton's turn to take out the trash and it has been three days, and it still hasn’t been taken out. The smell is starting to get to Calum so he decides to bite the bullet and just take it out.
He tries not to gag, and ties up the bag. It’s late and so he has to be careful walking down the stairs. He quickly throws it in the complex trash bin, and starts to hurry inside to avoid getting murdered.
He stops when he sees a familiar baby blue Volkswagen in one of the guest parking spaces. Luke? What was he doing here at 1am? Calum approaches the car slowly on the off chance that it’s someone else, with the exact same blue furry steering wheel cover that Luke has. It is Luke, he sees. His hair is tucked under his beanie, and it looks like he’s seen a ghost. Calum taps lightly on the window and Luke jumps. He slowly rolls his window down.
“Luke? Honey? What’s going on? Did something happen?” Luke is quiet for a long moment, it looks like he doesn’t want to say.
“I… don’t know. I finished a late shift at the gas station, and I drove here. Which is weird because we didn't plan to meet up today, I haven't even talked to you today. I’m just tired, I think. So yeah, I’m gonna go home.” He starts his car up, the engine revving, breaking the silence of their space too harshly.
“No no no,” Calum rushes out, “Luke, no. Come inside yeah?”
“No, I should go to the dorms anyway, I have an early class tomorrow.” He’s lying, Luke doesn't have classes before 10am. Calum knows this, knows him. How does Luke not know that?
“No you don’t. Now come inside.”
“I don’t have any overnight stuff, really Cal, I'm leaving.”
Calum scoffs, as if that's ever stopped him before. He doesn't get why Luke is fighting this so hard, he never does. Calum remembers then what he had bought the other day. He was going to show Luke the next time he came over, which he guesses is now. He scratches the back of his hand awkwardly, unsure of how to bring it up.
“You do actually. Come inside and let me show you.”
Luke stares at him a minute, and then sighs. He shuts off his car, and gets out. Calum bites down his smile as they make their way upstairs.
“I love what you’ve done with the place.” Luke gestures towards the brown moving boxes.
“Cornball.” Calum grabs his hand and drags him towards the bathroom. His fingers are jittery with nerves.
“What am I supposed to be looking at?” Luke asks once they're in the bathroom.
“So impatient.” Calum shakes his head. He reaches into the cabinet. “So, there’s been many times like this where we don’t plan for you to sleep over, so I think this is way overdue.'' He hands Luke a travel bag, with Luke written in big sharpied letters. Luke examines it.
“I’m scared,” he jokes. Luke unzips it. Calum had gone to the store and made Luke a makeshift overnight bag. There was deodorant, a toothbrush. He added a sleeping mask because Luke is always complaining about the sunlight coming through in the morning. He also put a case in for Luke’s reading glasses. Luke picks up the mask and plays with it. His long fingers mess with the soft fabric, and Calum sees he is wearing a tiny smile.
“Thank you, Calum.” He finally looks up. Calum takes the bag from Luke and pulls out the toothbrush. He hands him it and grabs his own. They brush together in silence. Calum stands behind Luke, resting his head on his shoulder. Luke leans back into the touch, it feels like things were always this way.
Luke drags them into the bedroom. They undress, still not speaking until Calum remembers the sleeping bag.
“You haven’t been over in a few days so I put your sleeping bag in the closet. I’m too lazy to get it out,” Calum pouts. Luke just sits on the bed, grinning.
“Sure you are. That sucks, I guess I have no choice but to sleep here then. Shucks.” Luke lies down on the bed, opening his arms out for Calum. Calum’s heart is wanting out of his chest.
“Shucks, shut the fuck up.” Teasing is all he can do right now. He is capable of nothing else with Luke’s arms wanting him. He flicks off the lights and climbs into his bed. He lies so his back is facing Luke, and he smiles, picturing the pout that he knows is on Luke’s lips. “Well, scoot closer.”
Luke giggles and scoots forward wrapping his arms around Calum’s middle. Luke tangles his hands with Calum’s on his stomach. He can feel Luke’s heart pounding, and it's reassuring he isn’t alone. Luke leans in and presses his lips against the back of Calum’s neck, just a brush.
“What is up with your obsession with the back of my neck?” Calum teases. Luke presses a harder kiss there, making Calum sigh.
“What can I say, you have a hot nape.”
Calum laughs so hard his shoulders are shaking, and Luke holds his tummy tighter.
“Luke?” Calum says after a moment. Luke hums. “You know I always want you here, right?”
He doesn't get a response, so he turns around. He can only see Luke a bit in the mostly dark room, but he sees those eyes watching him. Calum drags a curl out of Luke’s face and tucks it behind his ear.
“I always want you here,” he repeats. Luke’s hands untangle from around his middle and rest behind Calum’s head. Luke leans over so he’s hovering above Calum’s face, and in the next second, his lips are against Calum’s.
Luke is warm and pressing like he is everywhere else. He’s giving Calum open mouthed kisses, and their lips are moving together in sync. When Calum pulls away for a breath, Luke pulls him back in, licking into his mouth for more. When they are too out of breath, Luke just presses soft kisses to Calum’s lips, the crinkle by his eyes and his nose. Everything is warm and soft, as well as Luke’s thumb brushing against Calum’s cheek.
They have cuddled up together of course, but they've never fallen asleep in the same bed. Calum wonders when he’ll feel scared about that but it doesn’t come. He is too busy spending the night learning Luke’s touches and promising him he won't forget them.
-
Calum knocks again. “Luke, people are here, come out!”
“No,” Luke replies. Calum rolls his eyes and opens the bedroom door. They are having a housewarming party in Calum’s new unit he moved into last week. The boys had helped him move all day, and the next day they moved Ashton into Rain’s place. Luke still hasn't come out to greet anyone. Calum walks in and sees why; Luke is having his own personal fashion show in the mirror.
“What are you doing?”
Luke has on a red silk shirt because he hates Calum. It’s the only feasible explanation.
“Why are you making me socialize?” Luke asks instead of answering. Calum messes with his collar, and Luke’s hands go to Calum’s waist.
“Oh come on, it’s only a few hours. And also I refuse to do this alone.”
Luke groans. He leans down a bit and slots their lips together. Calum forgets his mission for a second, kissing back. He lets Luke lead, and damn it this is why he can never get anything done. He breaks them apart.
“Uh uh, we have to go mingle. Let's go.” He ignores Luke’s whines and drags him out to the living area. Everyone greets them happily, and Calum tries his best to get into host mode. Rain, Ashton, and Michael get to them first.
“I’m so happy I finally got to properly meet you guys last week,” Rain smiles. They have short curly hair that always seems to be bouncing. Calum kisses their cheek.
“And you as well. It was good to finally meet the person who’s been taking up Ashton’s attention.”
“Calum, I know you’re still hurt I ditched you but you don’t have to be rude,” Ashton grits.
“Ignore him,” Rain assures them. “I’m really happy for you two, this place is perfect for you guys.”
It takes Calum a second to realize they are congratulating him and Luke. God not again.
“That’s very sweet,” Luke tries, “but this is Calum’s new place. I still live on campus.”
Rain covers their mouth. “Oh my God, I'm sorry. I just thought because... And Ashton said that you two-”
“NOPE!” Ashton butts in suddenly, “Uh Rain, I think we’re needed. Somewhere that’s not here.” Ashton grabs their hand and leads them away.
“Right, well. I don’t know what that was, but here’s your gift.” Michael hands Calum a medium sized easel. It’s a watercolor painting of Calum, Michael, and Luke. It was a recreation of a photo they had taken Freshman year, and Calum knows this because he keeps that picture in his wallet.
“Mikey, it’s beautiful.” He hands the painting to Luke and hugs Michael hard. He tries to wipe his tears on Michael’s shoulder but he probably knows he’s crying anyway.
“So much has changed, but we never will,” Michael says, hugging him back.
He lets Michael and Luke have their moment, trying to make an effort to talk to everyone else. A bit later there’s a knock on the door. Confused, Calum goes to open it. Everyone should be here already. Calum swears he almost falls when he sees his older sister, Mali, at his doorstep. He all but tackles her.
“Mali?! What are you doing here?”
She laughs.
“Oh, you know, I was just in town.” She lives an entire state away, so she most definitely wasn’t, but Calum decides to ignore that.
“I'm just glad you're here,” he says. She smiles. They step inside and he gives her a mini tour before they run into Luke.
“Luke, hi! Long time no see!”
“I didn't know you were coming Mali, it’s really nice to see you.” They hug.
“I’m gonna take this one away for a minute,” Mali says, directing Luke into another room.
“Mali, what are you doing? Leave him alone!”
“I can’t hear you over the music.”
They’re out of the room before Calum can flip her off. Calum switches back into host mode so he can distract himself from whatever sabotage Mali could be implementing. He passes out drinks and snacks to people, laughing when he sees Ashton duck every time they make eye contact. Fucker. Someone touches his arm and he jumps.
“Shit, sorry. I forget how jumpy you can be.” Luke smiles. Okay, he’s smiling, Mali must have not tortured him too badly.
“What did that witch say to you?” Calum asks.
“Oh, stop it. She’s a sweetheart.” He coughs and Calum can tell there’s a but. “But she did want to ‘meet the person who’s moving in with her brother’. So uh. Yeah.” Fucking fuck. So, now his sister is in on this conspiracy too?
“That's it, this rumor is getting way out of hand. I’m gonna make an announcement.” He grabs his glass to tap on and looks around for a chair.
“Wait, wait, no. Can we talk for a minute first? Alone?” Calum gulps, part of him wanting to say no.
“Of course,” is all he says. They walk into the bedroom. Luke sits on the edge of the bed, so Calum does the same.
“So. Is there a reason everyone seems to know that we’re roommates and in love with each other except for us?”
Calums eyes shoot open, and he sputters. “W-what are you talking about?”
Luke gives him a really? look.
“First, it was Jade at the store. Then Ashton, then Ashton’s partner. Now your sister is asking my intentions with you, when I don’t even know what we are!” He runs his fingers through his hair when he finishes. Calum doesn’t know what to say. They aren’t roommates, and they aren’t dating. Not officially anyway.
“Well...do you want to? Be roommates, I mean.” Calum isn’t sure why he feels shy all of a sudden.
“I have to say I agree with everyone else,” Luke admits, “I think we have been this entire time.”
Calum thinks. He thinks back to when they were all on campus, and the constant all-nighters he and Luke would spend together. How the differentiation between his and Luke’s clothes is completely gone. Then, when Calum and Ashton moved in together, how Luke has always been right here.
“We can’t possibly be that dumb, can we?” Calum wonders genuinely.
“It’s us, we definitely can.”
“Then we are. Roommates. Though I have to say that revelation is more surprising than us being in love.”
Luke smiles so wide every dimple he has is making an appearance. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, I think I’ve always loved you, Luke. I’m sorry it took my brain a while to catch up.”
“I think I've always loved you too, Cal. I gotta say though, only we would be the last to find out we’re boyfriends and roommates.”
They both laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Calum has always heard loving wasn’t easy, and he’s starting to think the people who say that are full of shit. Loving Luke and telling him that was the opposite of difficult.
“Luke, will you be my boyfriend and roommate? I wanna tell people I asked you first.”
“You dick. And yes. Now let's go make a different announcement.”
They both stand on their couch, and tap their glasses.
“Hey you guys, we just wanted to say a few things. Anyone who assumed Luke and I were roommates, you are now correct.”
“And we are dating, officially now.” Luke adds.
Someone boos, and Calum gasps and then immediately closes his mouth when he sees it’s Michael. Of course.
“Tell us the sky is blue. Tell us rain falls. I’m sorry to say that we all know.”
“He's just jealous, babe,” Luke assures him. Calum laughs, because fair enough. It’s taken them this long to get their shit together, what does he want, a cookie? Their friends are nice enough to give them a pity applause anyway.
There isn't really a need for a big reaction to anything involving Luke. He has always loved him, and everyone saw it. Luke kisses his cheek. Calum knows he’d be the one who would be here after everyone leaves, the one who cleans, and doesn’t part. Luke always left last. Calum feels glad he has time to process that he’d never be alone again.
Calum also thinks that maybe something that has always been, will always be.