Chapter Text
KAELANS POV
It was a day like any other. The sun rose, piercing through dusty grey curtains and shining through the darkness of Kaelans room. He yawned and groaned, pulling the blanket with him as he rolled over on his side, trying to hide from the fact he would have to get up into the cold very soon. He grabbed his phone, tired finger fumbling as he punched in his password. With a click, the screen brightened, burning into his eyes as he slowly inhaled. It was 6 in the morning according to the clock on his screen. Charly had messaged him in the night, so he clicked on the notification.
Frenchie: We should hang tmrw
Charly had to stop texting him in the middle of the night. Still, Kaelans eyes couldn't help but linger on Charly's profile picture. He rubbed his eyes and looked away, slamming his phone on his bedstand as he covered his face with his hands. Fuck! How many times did he have to tell himself. He wasn't gay. It was normal to find your bro attractive. (But what wasnt normal to practically fall on your face every time he talks to you-)
It was just stupid hormones acting up, and the fact that he spent every waking second in close proximity with that boy (because they were really...REALLY close friends).
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The only class they had together was second period, and the mad dash of break had given Kaelen no time to plan out his outing with Charly. So, as he saw that rat tail swing through the door his heart may or may not of skipped a beat.
"Hey." Charly nodded his head at Kaelen, who was sitting up and walking to him happily. "Hey, man!" He gestures to the couch. They sat down, cushions creaking under their weight. What he wouldnt do to stay there with him forever. "Thought about what I said yesterday?" Had he? Kaelan had thought about it every second since he had read that message. " 'Course! I just boosted my bike engine, wanna try it out with me after school?" "Hell yeah!"
They sat closely, leaning on eachother while doing their work, because it was funny to act so intimate. This was the way they joked around all the time, casually patting eachothers thighs and leaning on eachother before chuckling and saying "nah that's gay" Kaelan had to stay hyperfocused on his work as he felt a warm head fit into the crook of his neck. Hopefully no one noticed the blush creeping from his ears into his cheeks
"Hey, do you know what teach meant on this question?" A faint voice buzzed in the background. Please, Kaelan prayed: I cant look at him it will onl- His thoughts were interrupted by the sharp prod of a pencil to his shoulder. "Kaelan?"
Charly sat up, leaving Kaelan's neck cold and lonely, looking at the blushing blonde. "Huh? Oh.. uh I have no clue." Kaelan quickly looked down, but Charly kept talking. "Dude, you haven't even filled out the first question! Are you good?"
"What?" Kaelan looked up from his paper again, and this time their eyes locked. It would be impossible to hide his blush now, but then, the bell saved him. "Yeah, just tired." Kaelan said casually, voice shaky.
"Thats real, man. Let's get out of here."
The rest of the class was boring, as was his 3rd and 4th period. Lunch was just the friend group fucking around in the gym, throwing balls at each other and laughing and mindlessly running around. Then the bell rang and a weight was lifted.
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CHARLY'S POV
Charly walked out the school doors. The fresh air was freeing, but he stood on the front lawn of the school, still feeling caged as he was scanning the area for Kaelan. Then he spotted the shorter, blonde boy and grinned, eyes lighting up as he jogged over.
"Hey! We can bike to my house now, if you want!" Kaelan said cheerfully.
That was fun and all, but wasnt he missing something?.."Oh shit! I forgot my bike- sorry!" Charly exclaimed, cringing inwardly. He was the one who'd asked to hang out, what had gotten in to him lately?
"Its fine, we can take turns with one of us running and the other biking."
Wow. Charly honestly didnt think Kaelan had the mental capacity to think of a solution. Colour him impressed.
"If your sure, I dont want to be a burden, dude." Charly rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Its fine! If it makes you feel any better, I'll ride first." "Aight."
After about 20 minutes had passed, Kaelan stopped biking next to him. Charly looked at him confused, fanning out his tee shirt and getting his first good look at the blonde since they left, face red with exhaustion.
"Thats the half way point." Kaelan explained to the confused brunette, still panting although on the bike. If he ran any more than a block , Charly was sure Kaelan would collapse on the ground. Besides, they had school the next day and Charly was worried about his friend's grades.
If Kaelan overworked himself (which he usually did), he would have no energy at school tomorrow, and he had a lot of catching up to do from their outings in the past.
"What if we shared?" Charly blurted out impulsively. "H-huh?" Kaelan replied. Was Charly just imagining things or was Kaelans face even redder than before.
"Its fine we dont have t-" Charly started, but was cut off before he could take back his suggestion. "NO! I.. uh.. I think we could both fit if we squished! Hop on!"
"Okay." Charly swung his leg over the back of the bike. Kaelan had scooted to the very front of the seat so his taller friend could hang off of the back.
Jokingly, Charly wrapped his arms around Kaelans waste, but found that it was better to keep them there once his short accomplice started pedaling again.
He could feel the heat rising from his face as he watched the muscles of Kaelans back work, neck sweating. Kaelan was hot, Charly couldn't lie about that. And his smile. Actually, his whole goofy attitude attracted Charly. But he'd never act on his feelings, as it would lead to big problems in the future, the biggest being losing his best friend.
So, Charly sat there in torturous silence as he rode to Kaelans house.
-KAELANS POV-
Kaelan peddled peacefully, enjoying the cool breeze now fluffing out his hair, cheeks rosy from the sun and maybe the warm arms wrapped around his middle. They were large enough to swallow up most of his stomach, Charly's hands pulling Kaelan closer.
The trees slowed by, probably because Kaelan's pedaling was losing energy as he savored the moment. His feelings were only magnified when he felt Charlys head rest gently between his shoulder blades.
Kaelan must've been the luckiest guy alive.
Suddenly, the front wheel of their bike skidded to the side before the two boys tumbles off onto the curb. This all happened faster then processing speed. One second they were pedaling, the next had made a crash landing onto concrete. Then Kaelan looked over in anguish to find some garbage had been strewn across the sidewalk behind them and past the gutters into the road.
He'd been too distracted by the head to swerve our of the way in time. But what weirdo would leave trash on the ground?!
Kaelans anger snapped him out of his daze and he soon realized the position the both of them were in. Charly's eyes were wide and apologetic, his arm crooked against the other boys chest. His legs were sprawled out under him and his leg had been skinned practically from knee to ankle, revealing some angry red skin and blood.
Horrified at his obliviousness to the obstacle, Kaelans eyes widened, but before he could say anything Charly exclaimed...
"I am so -so- sorry, man. I didnt mean to cross your boundaries like that. Actually, forget I said anything." Charly laughed. "Charly." Kaelan said sternly "But now your hurt and I ruined your bike and we smell like shit and-" "Dude! Its fine. This hunk of junk needed an upgrade anyway. We can still hang out, you didnt do anything wrong. It was my fault for being distracted.."
"But-yeah...okay. But promise you'll help me fix it." "Deal?" "Deal."
-Charly's POV-
The two guys walked the rest of the way in painful silence, both carrying the bike. Charly's knees burned with every step, skin raw as wind pushed up against it. He looked down most of the way, too embarrassed to say anything.
He had been so drunk on happiness that he didnt realize what he was doing until they hit the ground.
Soon Kaelan stopped walking and Charly was pushed out of his thoughts, looking around to realize they were already at the blonde boy's house.
It was nice, 2 stacked stories with peeling white paint on wood, a deck stretching out infront of them. Charly found himself turning red at the idea of going to Kaelans house. He'd gone before, but things had started to feel different lately, Charly didnt know if the other boys felt the same.
"Cmon." Kaelan said, hoisting the bike only he was now carrying higher as he walked up the deck steps.
He leaned the bike on the house wall before wiping his hands off and grinning, twisting the door knob open with a click.