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Someone pounding on the thin door of his dorm jolts Bryce out of his mindless daze. He hurriedly pulls on a t-shirt and considers his sweat pants but decides his boxers are fine to just peak outside, his shirt is long enough anyway. His hair is droopy and damp from the shower as he hurries to the door. As he opens the door he sees nobody waiting there for him. Now slightly confused, he steps out into the hall not feeling the door ease shut behind him. A quick look around shows that there’s nobody there and Bryce shrugs as he turns to go back inside his dorm. He tries the handle, locked.“Awh no no no!” He pulls at the handle forcefully but nothing gives. “Damn it to hell!” Bryce throws his arms down with a huff. He’s just have to wait until one of his roommates came home with a key. He reached to grab his phone out of his pocket (and check for his vape.) and quickly remembered that he was not wearing any pants. Suddenly Bryce felt extremely exposed and a reddish blush rose on his cheeks, especially noticeable on the paler splotches of skin. Two girls walked past and gave him a look, he ducked his head in a feeble attempt to appear calm and casual. They whispered something Bryce couldn’t quite catch and giggled. Bryce sighed and settled against the wall to wait, really wishing he had his phone or his pen.Probably thirty or so minutes later a brunette boy walked up. Bryce couldn’t quite tell who it was because the boys face was obscured by his hood but he thought it was his neighbor, Alex? Or maybe Austin? He couldn’t remember. The other man unlocked his door and just as he was about to walk inside, he stopped. “Do you want to come inside until someone can let you in? You look, uh..cold?” Bryce nods enthusiastically, and stumbles to his feet. He ambled into the dorm after the brunette. “I’ll grab you some pants, make yourself comfy.” The boy strode off. Bryce spotted his id card on the counter and was supplied with the name Austin. Austin then came back with a pair of Texas U pajama pants. “They should fit okay, maybe a little small.” Austin said as he offered Bryce the pants.“Thanks!” Bryce threw the pants on and flopped down on the couch beside Austin, who had kicked off his airforces and was splayed out on the couch, his juul dangling casually from his lips. “Wanna watch a movie or something?” Bryce asked, trying to ease into a conversation, bored of the silence.“We could play rocket league first if you want..” Austin chipped in with a smile curling across his scarred lips. Bryce’s face lit up as Austin went for the controllers.“You are so going down.”———————Several Hours Later———————A pizza box lay empty on the coffee table and gladiator played on the tv. The two PlayStation controllers lay forgotten on the side of the couch, the pod from Austin’s juul was long empty. Bryce was sound asleep with his head lolled back on the couch. Austin was on his side with his legs across Bryce’s, also fast asleep. A knock at the door caused Austin to stir. Reluctantly he shuffled over to the door, rubbing sleep from his eyes. One of Bryce’s roommates, Jason, Austin’s foggy mind supplied. “What’s up man?” He mumbled, stifling a yawn.“Sorry to wake you up bro. Have you seen Bryce? He hasn’t come home and he left his phone and stuff in his room. “ Jason said, voice laced with genuine concern. Austin laughed, much to Jason’s surprise.“Sorry dude I’m not laughing at you. Bryce is knocked out on my couch right now because he got locked out without his stuff. Or his pants.” Austin added with a snort of laughter. Jason chuckled. “I’ll go get him for you.” Austin left Jason at the door and went to wake up Bryce. “Dude get up. Jason’s here to get you.” He shook his shoulders.“Mmmmmermmm” Bryce groaned and shook his head.“Come on let’s go.” Austin grabbed him by the arm and hauled Bryce to his feet. He herded bryce to the door via a hand on his middle back. “Tadaaa here’s your roommate!” He grinned at both of his neighbors.“Jesus bryce you gave me a heart attack bro. Don’t get locked out half naked ever again.” Jason playfully punched him in the arm.“Yeah no promises if it means I get to hang out here.” Bryce clapped a hand on Austin’s shoulder.Both Jason and Bryce walked back to their dorm, leaving Austin in the doorway. Just as he was about to close the door he heard Jason say “Dude are you wearing his pants?!” Followed by a bout of laughter from both parties. Austin snorted softly to himself before locking up for the night.
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Austin shook his head, allowing his hair to fall messily around his temples, adjusted his silver cross necklace, crammed fistfuls of his things into the pocket of his swim trunks and headed out. Brad had scored his cousins off-campus house with a pool for the weekend so of course he was having a pool party. It was a little cold as it was early may but no frat boy worth anything was gonna say no to a party.Once he was there he was handed a drink and he went to watch a group of dudes play beer pong by the pool while their girlfriends watched. He fished around in his pocket for his juul, only to have it snatched from his hand once he had produced it. Austin turned, ready for a fight but instead was met with a smiling Bryce who had his juul dangling from his lips and Jason who seemed entirely distracted by something across the yard.“Gimme that bro.” Austin grabbed for it with a scoff. Bryce ducked his head out of the way and exhaled the smoke directly into Austin’s face. Austin just laughed and inhaled it casually. A quiet moment passed before either boy moved.“Gonna swim?” Bryce questioned, nodding towards the semi crowded pool. Austin shook his head.“Nah bro gotta keep the swoop lookin good.” Austin gestured to his hair and Bryce nodded in understanding. “Wanna grab some party juice? I think they have some on the fratio.”“Lead the way my bro” Bryce bowed and took his backwards hat off exaggerating his every movement.At that moment Jason and Brad came running out of the house shouting. “Yo come watch, this NIB is bouta drink a pledge cocktail!” A clamor of bodies later and mostly everyone was inside surrounding the freshman and Jason. The freshman was holding a glass cup filled with a vile seeming concoction, it was thick and a reddish pink color.“Augh that’s rank.” Austin wiped a hand over his face. The freshman, Matt as someone in the crowded had shouted, took the cup and downed it, only to throw it up moments later earning a chorus of laughter from the crowd. Austin shook his head with a smile.“Yo Bryce! Wanna come take a fratlap with me, Owen and Jake?” Jason emerged from the crowd, clapping bryce on the back. “You can come too bro.” Jason offered with a laugh, obviously not the most sober.“Sound good to you?” Bryce turned to look over at Austin who simply nodded. “Sick we are totally in.”“Meet you in the truck!!” Jason darted off, whooping and hollering.——Later————“Are you cold?” Bryce and Austin were sitting on the steps of the house, each nursing a crappy can of beer and watching people walking by. The party was slowing down now as it was well past sunset and people were trickling out.“A little but I’m fine.” Austin shrugged and rubbed his arms, setting his beer down beside him.“Here take this dude.” Bryce tossed his flannel at Austin, now just sitting in his plain blue tank top.“Thanks bro.” Austin shrugged it on, it was little big in the shoulders which made sense considering Bryce was built a decent bit wider than Austin. Both boys went back to their beers and watching cars go by, laughing and telling jokes.Eventually a group of boys walked out of the house, laughing loudly. One of them who was walking around backwards gesturing and shouting enthusiastically, stepped back onto Bryce’s hand. “Oops sorry man!” He whirled around as Bryce was shaking his hand off. “You alright bro?” He looked down on both Bryce and Austin failing to mask his laughter. “Oh Cute shirt. Did your boyfriend give it to you?” The loud boy smirked as his friends devolved into laughter behind them.Austin just rolled his eyes at the obviously drunk crowd, not even from his frat. Bryce on the other hand, also definitely not sober opted to punch the guy on the outside of his knee. His knee promptly buckled and he hit the deck with a thud. His friends were now laughing so hard they couldn’t breathe and a few were doubled over to brace themselves on their knees.“Sorry bro, my hand slipped.” Bryce offered to the teen on the ground with an innocent smile. Bryce clambered to his feet, then offered a hand to him. “Let me help you up.” Austin let out a sigh of laughter from his spot on the floor watching the whole thing go down.Once the annoying guy was on his feet, he and his friends left pretty quickly, his friends teasing him the whole way.“You didn’t have to do that bro.”“I know bro but he needed to get humbled.”“Thanks bro.”“Ready to head out?”“Yeah but you are not driving like that, let me give you a ride dude.”“Yeah sure. Jason left already anyway.”————-Once They’re Home————“Thanks for the ride bro.” Bryce fumbled to unlock his door.“Anytime dude” Austin smiled and patted Bryce on the back. “Oh wait here’s you jacket bro.” Austin moved to shrug it off.“Keep it from now I’ll steal it back at some point.” Bryce grinned, swiftly grabbed Austin up in a hug and slipped inside where Austin could hear Jason playing what sounded like call of duty. Austin stood there for a minute, worrying the hem of his shirt. After a moment to gather his thoughts, he walked two doors down to his room and went inside for the night.
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Bryce and his roommates were getting ready to go to a school football game. Bryce, a baseball player, had eye black on that was already starting to smudge slightly and a red hat to shade his face. Jason had opted to paint most of his body red and Christian simply had on a jersey.Austin sat in the locker room with his teammates. He tugged his bulky pads over his head and shook them around until they sat just right on his shoulders. After he did up all the buckles he tugged his red jersey, big white 28 emblazoned on the front and on the back, just bellow his name. Someone tossed his helmet at him which he caught without a second thought. “Ready guys?” He asked, his voice oozing confidence. He was met with a chorus of cheers as a response. “Let’s do this” he tugged his helmet onto his head and pressed it down with a smack. He led his team out the doors and down to the field, face full of determination.Bryce and Jason had made some questionable deals with some of their frat brothers so now they were sat right in front on the 50 yard line. Bryce and Christian had a poster which read in big red letters.“Go #28!!! We love Austin!”Austin still hasn’t gotten used to playing in such a big stadium. His highschool field was so small in comparison. Part of him missed looking up at crowded bleachers instead of rows upon rows of stands. Not to mention, his face on a Jumbotron was something he would absolutely never get used to. He held his helmet as the national anthem played in the background, ringing in his ears. He shook the hand of the other team, a group from Ohio in dark blue and orange jerseys. He zoned out through his coaches pep talk and suddenly he was tugging his helmet down and staring down the other team. Music and cheering drowned out mostly everything else.Suddenly he was spiking the ball as the crowd roared. Austin tended to black out when he played football so he wasn’t entirely sure how he had scored but he wasn’t complaining. As he was excitedly jogging back to the bench, his attention was grabbed by a sign. He read the sign and quickly shifted his gaze to see who was holding it, expecting his little sister or his best friend Ryan but he was met by a curly hair boy cheeks covered in smudged eye black, most definitely a baseball player. He quickly realized it was Bryce. He was taken aback but grinned through his helmet cage as bryce and Jason cheered and waved the sign. Austin waved energetically and jogged off to the bench, grinning wildly. He’d try to tell you it was the adrenaline of his touch down but…he’d be lying.————After The Game——-Austin threw his bag over his shoulder and made sure his gear was safely locked in his locker before saying goodbye to his celebrating teammates. Once he made it to the parking lot, he was met by Bryce, Jason and Christian.“That was awesome bro! I didn’t know you were that good!” Bryce clapped him on the back.“Sign my hat dude!” Jason joked and waved a hat and marker in Austin’s face.“Of course anything for a fan.” Austin rolled his eyes and signed his name obnoxiously large on the brim of the hat. “There you go.” He said as he placed it on Jason’s buzzed blonde hair. “Hold onto that it’s gonna be worth some real money one day.” Jason shoved Austin playfully.“What the hell happened to your eyeblack you damn baseball player.” Austin turned to tease Bryce.“It melted!”“No it didn’t, you kept touching your face you idiot.” Christian laughed and Bryce kicked him in the shin.“It melted.” Bryce insisted with a sigh.“Okay it melted.” Austin agreed patting Bryce’s shoulder.“Drinks at our place?” Jason questioned“Nah we have nothing. How about the bar?”Austin was not about to say no to that. “That actually sounds great. Meet you guys there, text me the address bro.” Austin strode over to his truck, leaving the three other boys to slowly meander their way to Jason’s car.“You two are ridiculous bro.” Jason shook Bryce’s shoulder with a grin.“Whatever dude you’re just mad that you are losing bro points.”“Woah woah woah. Who said anything about bro points?!”———At The Bar————Austin was sat at a table, staring off into space and sipping on a beer. Bryce and Jason were at the bar getting drinks and Christian was nowhere to be found. The bar was crowded and loud, mostly people celebrating after the football game.“Dude! Come dance!” Bryce flops down across from Austin and downs one of the shots he had set on the table with little more than a grimace.“Dance?” Austin chuckles and takes a shot for himself, only to set it down coughing. “Tequila? You are gross.”Bryce laughs loudly. “Too strong? Come on come dance, have a little fun!” He stood and tugged Austin up to his feet a little too aggressively and sent Austin toppling into him, nearly knocking them both over.“Sorry bro!” Austin steadied himself and quickly realized he was standing so close to Bryce that most of their bodies were touching. He took a short step back without a further thought. “Wanna dance?” He bowed slightly and extended his arm.Bryce laughed again and took his arm. He led both of them over to the dance floor.After a while of dancing and shots both boys were beyond drunk and tired. Austin’s already sore muscles slumped and he leaned against Bryce.“Tired?” Bryce led them back to their table where Jason was sat, speaking casually to someone standing near him.“Mm. Don’t you laugh. You didn’t get beat on the football field for like two hours.” Austin shoved Bryce lightly, words vaguely slurred.“Very true bro.” Bryce smiled and tapped the hat off Austin’s head, who scoffed and went to pick it up clumsily. “J? You okay to drive?” Bryce diverted his attention to the seated man.“Yeah I’ve only had one tonight dude.” Jason stands and leads them to the car. Austin would have to leave his truck there for the night.————at the dorms—————-“Austin. Bro let’s go.” Bryce lugs Austin out of the backseat and Jason does the same to a vaguely conscious Christian. Austin, in somewhat better shape than Christian stumbled his way into the building. Jason carried Christian over his shoulder like a doll.Once they reached their doors, Bryce contemplated life for a moment before laying a hand on Austin’s shoulder. “Do you want to crash at mine dude? You are so out of it I don’t trust you alone.” Austin hums in agreement and follows Bryce, Jason and Christians limp form into the room.Jason dumps Christian on a bed in one of the adjoining bedrooms. “Don’t puke on the rug.” He didn’t bother shutting the door.“Come on dude. You can wear some of my stuff.” Bryce has the largest room with an adjoining bathroom. It’s a mess, full of baseball gear, empty c4 cans, and clothes. It’s rumpled but Austin feels right at home. Bryce roots around for something that Austin can wear and comes up with a pair of basketball shorts, and a tshirt from when he played highschool baseball. “Here you go bro. Bathrooms over there if you want.” He pushes the clothes into Austin’s arms.“Thanks dude.” Austin’s words are still slurred from a mixture of alcohol and exhaustion. He changes sluggishly, not bothering to lock the door. He has the sense to splash his face with cool water. He walks back into the room, not bothering to stifle his yawn. “I’ll sleep on the couch?” Austin moves for the door, only to hear Jason snoring, passed out on the couch, shoes still on. “Damn. I’ll take the floor. Gotta spare pillow?” Austin runs at his eyes.“Just crash on my bed bro. I’m not gonna make you sleep on the floor.” Bryce pushes a pillow and one of his blankets to the other side of the bed.“Aw thanks bro. You’re real for that.” The drunk, exhausted athlete flops down beside Bryce and is asleep in minutes. Bryce rolls onto his stomach buries his face into his pillow.The next morning Austin wakes up around nine with a pounding headache. His mouth is dry and body sore. He groans, feeling like he’s been run over. He quickly realizes he is not in his bed or his clothes. He looks around dazed for a few seconds before Bryce comes walking into the room.“Good morning you damn fratabond, how you feeling?” Bryce feels mostly fine, a little dehydrated if anything. He isn’t really one to get a hangover.“Ughhhh.” Austin groans and rubs his head. He looks over at Bryce. “It feels like a truck ran me down.” He pauses for a moment. “Are you wearing my pants?” He laughs, only to immediately regret it as it makes his whole body ache.“Haha yeah. I’ll have to get ‘em back to you one of these days. Come on let’s get you some food and painkillers bro.”Austin shuffles along to the kitchen where Jason is cooking some abomination and Christian is sat, looking invariably worse, on the counter top. “Jesus you look worse than I feel.” Austin teases as he slides up to sit beside the rumpled boy.“He’s been up since two in the morning dude. I’m surprised neither of you heard him emptying his stomach all night” Jason sits on the couch with his pot of what might be blueberry oatmeal, not bothering to put it in a bowl.Bryce gives Christian and Austin each a store bought protein shake and three advil. “Drink that before you take anything. No more vomiting.” He glares at Christian specifically during the last part.Both of them drank their shakes and took their meds. They watched some random show while they waited for the medicine to take effect. Once Austin was feeling better(ish) he made his way home to get his life back together.“Thank you for letting me crash bro. I seriously owe you.” Austin side hugs Bryce before fake swinging at his ribs.“Anytime dude. You better come to my next baseball game.” Bryce feigns a few more blows .“Of course! See you later dudes.” Christian waves, Jason nods still eating his oatmeal concoction and Bryce follows him to the door. “Bye man.” He eases the door shut behind Austin with a faint smile on his lips
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“Austin! Austin bro!” Bryce pounded his fist Austin’s door.“Jesus Christ bro. I was in the shower.” Austin scrubbed over his face with one hand as he opened the door. Bryce barreled in, obviously bubbling over in his excitement. “Woah did you just make team captain or something dude.” Austin laughed and closed the door.“You’ll never believe what just happened! I asked Abby on a date and she said yes! We are going out to dinner like soon!” Bryce waved his arms around emphatically and Austin deflated just a bit. “Isn’t that great, she’s drop dead gorgeous.” He continued. Austin’s smile turned into a soft frown he couldn’t quite get a grip over.“Yeah man that’s great.” Austin snapped himself out of it and did his best to be happy for his friend.“Sorry I came barging in here bro. J isn’t home and Christian isn’t much of a talker.” Bryce chuckled at the last part.“It’s all good dude. Go get ready for your date.” Austin patted Bryce on the back as he left and called down the hall after him. “Shower too! Your hair looks musty.” All he got in response was Bryce’s middle finger over his shoulder. Austin laughed and went back inside. He plopped down on his couch with a huff. He was jealous? He didn’t realize he had a thing for Abby but he figured it made sense of his jealousy. He casually flicked on Netflix to find something to distract himself with.After a short while of some boring cooking show, Austin was just barely asleep, head resting on his hand. He had had a brutal practice early that morning and a nap was extremely needed. Once he woke up around 3:30, he didn’t feel much better. He figured he was probably hungry so he popped one of his meal preps into the microwave, mindlessly shuffling around the cramped kitchen. The microwave beeped and he settled onto the couch to eat his chicken and rice. He texted Christian to come over, he was starting to enjoy having frequent company for the first time in a while.He was popular in highschool but had always hated having people over and rarely went out with his football team. Now, as he’s getting older he feels a lot more comfortable at parties and almost always prefers to have someone around.A few moments later Christian let himself in with a grin. He waved and went to sit besides Austin.“Hey man, thanks for coming over I was so bored.” Austin continued to flip through his Netflix, only to be stopped by Christian taking the remote from his hand abruptly. “Hey!” Christian just rolled his eyes and started flipping through, settling on outerbanks, a show both boys had never really seen.Safe to say they got very into their show. Austin getting excited and angry at the tv, Austin occasionally signing his feelings towards the characters at Austin. They had to pause the show when Christian turned to Austin and signed “ew gross” completely deadpan because Austin was laughing so hard they couldn’t hear the show.Time blurred by so both boys were startled when someone knocked on the door. It was well passed ten pm by this point. Austin scrambled over to answer the door, and was met with Jason and a mopey looking Bryce. “Pause that!” Austin called into the apartment.“Give me back Christian and you can have this situation. Come on bro, swapsies.” Jason nudged Bryce with his shoulder, who just rolled his eyes. “Chris! Let’s go dude I want to get tacos.” Christian was up in no time, shoving Austin’s head in thanks as he squished by, one of the many perks of being tall Austin figured. “K bye!” Jason took off down the hall with a start, Christian paused to wave goodbye and loped off down the hall after Jason.“That was weird. Anyway what burst your bubble bro? Your card bounce or something?” Austin ushered Bryce inside and closed the door behind him.“Dude it was terrible. She was only there on a dare from a stupid dude from another frat. She didn’t even bother to pretend that it was a real date or anything. She just wanted the food..” Bryce was clearly bummed. He’s frowning and scuffing the floor with the toe of his shoe mindlessly.“Oh dude I’m sorry. She’s not even that pretty anyway, I’m sure there’s someone way better looking out there for you.” Austin grabs Bryce’s shoulder. “Don’t let it get you down bro, she’s just stupid to not want to go out with you.”“Thanks bro.” Bryce smiles and pushes the hair up out of his eyes.“Of course man. Now. Let’s play some call of duty.” Austin went to click on his PlayStation and then joined Bryce where he had sat on the couch. Bryce had a bright blue vape dangling from his lips and had kicked his shoes off somewhere along the way. They played for a while, ate chipotle that Jason and Christian had brought back for them and laughed. Bryce’s mopey attitude was long forgotten as all four guys laughed and enjoyed each other’s company.By the early hours of the morning, Jason and Christian were both asleep, sprawled out on the floor using their arms or sweatshirts as pillows. Austin’s head was laid on the back of the couch and his legs rested on the coffee table. Bryce had somehow wound up sideways on the couch and was fast asleep with his head resting in Austin’s lap and a blanket tossed messily over his shins. The tv idled on in the background, three pens laid on the table mostly empty, hidden among various trash. But most importantly everyone looked like they were exactly where they were meant to be.
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Music thumped and people were scattered in clumps around the house. It was another off campus party, but this time the party of another frat, one known for insane parties and unruly dudes, especially when drunk. Their parties always had the best drinks, best music and best turnout. Bryce, Austin and Jason were expertly weaving through the crowded house trying their best to follow Christian who was dancing his way through people, stealing sips of drinks and flirting with girls. Jason was exceptionally worried he was going to flirt with the wrong girl, even without words and get punched by a territorial boyfriend. Austin and Bryce were just there to watch the show.“Sonuvabitch!” Jason is now dashing over to where Christian is standing on a countertop. Bryce is crying with laughter as he watches a small crowd from around his dancing friend, cheering and egging him on, all while Jason looks up at him in disbelief.“Look at Jason’s face!” Austin chokes out in between bouts of laughter and has to brace himself against Bryce to keep himself from falling. Christian hops down once the song ends, everyone is cheering for him as he walks off.“Fun!” He signs enthusiastically at Austin and Bryce before disappearing again, this time tailed closely by Jason.“How is he this insane already? We’ve been here for like an hour max.” Austin finally can breathe again as the laughter subsides.“He’s literally been pre-gaming since noon bro.” Bryce rolls his eyes fondly. “Want to go get a drink? I’d like totally kill for a mango white claw right now.”“You’re gross. Mango is the worst flavor.”“Shut up dude, you probably drink watermelon.” Bryce seriously hates watermelon white claws, he thinks they taste like straight up chemicals, he’d rather party sober than drink one of those.“Yeah and what about it?” Austin is cracking open his can now, Bryce wrinkles his nose at him.“You’re nasty.”“Yet you keep hanging out with me.” Austin shrugs and sips his drink.“Fair enough.” Bryce, who couldn’t locate a mango white claw, cracked open the cherry one he had settled for and took a sip with a satisfied sigh.Just then, a tall blonde teen walks up. He’s built strong and has a look on his face that most definitely means nothing good. “Bryce! Good to see you here man. Still drinking girl drinks I see.” He wraps Bryce into a bro hug, which Bryce hardly reciprocates.“Yeah it’s totally awesome seeing you here Lucas. I forgot you made it into college.” Bryce smiles a smile so insincere that the feeling was palpable. Austin looks warily between the two guys, quietly wishing they were in a less secluded spot.“Not going to introduce me to your buddy? I’ll do it myself I guess.” He turns his attention fully to Austin now, Bryce’s eyes however, are trained on Lucas. “Hi! I’m Lucas, Bryce’s friend from high school. We played baseball together actually.” He held out his hand, which Austin shook hesitantly, eyes flicking to and from Bryce.“Nice to meet you bro. I’m Austin.” Austin edges away from Lucas, feeling the tension practically radiating off of Bryce.“You don’t talk about me Bryce? We had so much fun back in high school!” Lucas continued to press, with both his words and by now he was physically pressing into Bryce’s space, evidently trying to get a rise out of him.Bryce was obviously tense. His shoulders were tight, arms hung like dead weight by his side, and his fists were balled up loosely. “I prefer not to make myself think of your face actually dude.” He stepped backwards only to have Lucas step up into his space again, so close their chests were nearly touching.“Aw man. I thought we were friends!” Lucas put his hand on Bryce’s shoulder with a nasty grin. “After all we did in school together too.” He turns to Austin again, who is standing and watching equally tense, looking like he’s moments away from taking a swing. “You’ve surely heard about Bry’s time in high school right?”“No. I don’t really care to honestly bro.” Austin scoffs and glares daggers at the blonde boy making his friend uncomfortable.“Don’t talk to him Lucas.” Bryce pulls Lucas’s attention away from Austin.“Come on don’t be like that. I’m just being friendly.”“A little too friendly if you ask me, never heard of personal space?”“Haha you are hilarious. Shatter anyone’s ribs lately? Just wondering ya know?”“No I haven’t actually. Would you like go away?” Bryce is obviously getting uncomfortable, and is shifting from foot to foot, trying to remain composed.Austin’s attention has been recaptured by this point. He’s not even looking at Lucas anymore, but staring at Bryce, face full of unspoken questions.“Come on I’m only teasing! You were a high school legend for that! I’m sure Coach Frank has the bat mounted on his wall or something. You were like super angry royalty bro.”“Stop talking Lucas.” Bryce spat through gritted teeth. Austin watched, questions now about to burst from his lips.“What are you going to do? Smash my ribs in?” Lucas grins right in Bryce’s face, obviously feeling invincible.He was not. Quick as a flash Lucas was on the floor. Bryce had punched him in the stomach. He didn’t stay down for long though and dove at Bryce’s legs, sending him to the floor equally hard. Bryce was dazed for a second, only to snap out of it and throw himself at Lucas. Austin stepped back into the forming ring of cheering partygoers, figuring it was better to let them fight it out, at least as long as Bryce wasn’t losing. Bryce and Lucas rolled around on the floor for a while, a mess of swinging arms and legs. Lucas landed a few good hits on Bryce’s ribs and kidneys while he was stuck beneath the curly haired boy. Austin cringed but stayed out of it. Christian and Jason had appeared across the circle from Austin, Christian obliviously drunk to the situation and resigned concern woven on Jason’s face.Before Austin had time to process what was happening, Bryce was pinned to the floor, arm held back at an uncomfortable angle and Lucas’s knee jammed into his back. Both boys were bloody and breathing hard. Lucas’s hair was stuck up at odd angles, blonde hair streaked with red from where bloody hands took hold. His nose was bent, likely broken and gushing blood. Bryce’s mouth was bloody, his open shirt was barely on at that point and his knuckles were raw and bleeding.“That’s enough. Get off him.” Jason stormed into the circle, looking like he was about to stab half the people in the room. Lucas didn’t move, just pulled Bryce’s arm harder. Austin grimaced sympathetically. “I said get off him blondie. Are you deaf?” Jason took a menacing step forward, considering ripping the boy off his friend. Lucas swung his injured body off of Bryce and stood up. Bryce laid there for a moment before pushing himself to his feet. Austin and Christian were there in a second, escorting him out of the circle. “Now. Go screw off to your little friends and if I see you near him, or any of our friends for that matter, you’ll have a lot worse than a bloody nose. You understand me?” Jason, probably four inches shorter than Lucas still got up in the blondes face and jabbed his finger into Lucas’s chest.“Yeah yeah I got it.” Lucas rolled his eyes and stalked off. Jason made his way to the porch where Austin and Christian had taken Bryce.“I’m fine seriously. Stop doing that I swear I’m fine it’s nothing I can’t handle.” Bryce winced as Christian not so gently jabbed him in the ribs.“Ok” he signed to Austin to signify that nothing was broken. Having an ex hockey player around was always useful when having to tell if someone has broken a bone.“You’re an idiot do you know that?” Austin scolded, trying to come off mad but failing miserably when Bryce just smiled back at him, teeth vaguely red. “That’s gross stop.” All four of them laughed at that.“Let’s get you home dude. I can drive.” Jason helped Bryce to his feet and they made their way to Austin’s truck.“Front!” Christian signed aggressively, bolting for the passenger door. Austin laughed and helped Bryce step up into the truck. Austins brother and sister had gotten lifts for his truck for his birthday last year, so it was a decent step up from the ground. Austin walked around to the other side and got in.“Be careful with my baby. You’re lucky you are the only one sober enough to drive.” Austin glared up at Jason in the drivers seat. “How’s it feel now that the adrenaline is wearing off dude?” Austin looked over at Bryce whose head was pressed against the seat, obviously in pain.“Like I got ran over. I don’t remember that idiot hitting so hard.” Bryce groaned.“I guess he’s grown up since high school.” Austin shrugs.——————Back At The Dorms——————“Come on I have first aid at my place, let Jason deal with Christian in peace.” Austin followed Bryce down the hall to his place and Jason dragged Christian down the hallway by the hem of his shirt. “I’ll bring him back good as new!” He promised Jason and they went inside.“Sit on the counter I do not want you bleeding on my couch.” Bryce hopped up on the counter and after a moment Austin returned with a big first aid kit. “Don’t say anything it’s for football.” Bryce laughed.“That stings bro!” Bryce tried to pull his hand away from Austin as he wiped at the cuts with an alcohol wipe.“Shut up or get an infection.” Bryce chose the shut up option and they sat in a comfortable silent for a few moments while Austin cleaned him up.“So. Did you really break someone’s ribs with a bat?” Austin questions casually as he cleans up.Bryce sighs. “Yeah I did. But not in the way you think.”“How many ways can you break someone’s ribs with a bat Bryce?” Austin is unamused.“It wasn’t on purpose I swear! He was mocking me on the mound and I was getting distracted so I struck out. I didn’t realize he was walking in and I whiffed my bat to let out some steam and…shattered his ribs. Punctured a lung and everything.” Bryce rubbed at his arms and neck.“If that’s how it happened, why did he seem like he thought you did it on purpose?” Austin was facing Bryce now, tension fading.“I made every one think it was on purpose so I’d look cool. I know it’s horrible and you totally can think differently of me dude I get it.”“Hey. Come here.” Austin pulled Bryce into a firm yet gentle hug, which he reciprocated after a moment. “I don’t think differently of you, we all have done things we regret bro. It’s part of life.” Austin let go of the hug. “Come on, let’s watch a movie, I have white claws in the fridge. No gross mango though. That right there is something you should be ashamed of.” Bryce laughed and headed for the couch.They sat down, bodies pressed together on the cramped couch, perfectly content. Austin was first to break the comfortable silence. “Bryce? Win the damn fight next time.”
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Bryce was sat on Austin’s couch face buried in a textbook while Austin shuffled around the kitchen cooking something. He was at Austin’s more than he was at his own place nowadays, which meant frequent drop ins from Jason and Christian too. Austin didn’t really mind, he’d give them a hard time when they showed up randomly but underneath it all he really liked having all the company.Initially he had gotten a solo room to avoid having people around. Austin was a pretty independent guy and thought he preferred to be alone. Lately he’s realized that he enjoys company when it’s the right people. High school was a hard time for him and it put him off people for a while. Lately however it’s been easier for him to be with people than it is for him to be alone.“How’s the studying going bud?” Austin drapes himself over the back of the couch, reading over Bryce’s shoulder.Bryce’s sighs and throws the book onto his legs. “Terrible! I don’t know any of this and I’m gonna fail this exam bro!” Bryce covers his face with his hands exhaustedly.“Get up. Bring the book too.” Austin is over at the door pulling his all black air forces on in a flash.“What? Where are we going?”“You’ll see let’s go already. If you went any slower you’d be going in reverse bro.” Austin laughs and Bryce smiles. He sidles over and tugs his plain white air forces on.Once they are in the truck Bryce gets curious again. “Where are we going? Come on tell me!”“Shut up bro we are like almost there.” Austin swings his truck into a Starbucks drive through and they both order. Once they get their drinks, Austin drives for a few before turning into a semi crowded park.“Come on. Bring your book.” Austin locks the car and sets off down the walking path, Bryce in tow. They settle on a shaded picnic table, near a little pond that’s far enough away from the noisy crowded playground. “Alright, what do you have to know?”Bryce explains and Austin quickly realized he had taken this exact bio class the year prior. He slides the book away from Bryce and starts to quiz him. “Okay. What’s radial symmetry?” Bryce stares for a second.“Oh uh. When the pattern is from a central point?”“Yeah good job! Now what’s your favorite flower?” Austin grins.“What?”“Answer it!”“Uh like dandelions?” Bryce looks extremely confused as he takes a sip of his refresher.“Great! When you see radial symmetry think of dandelions, okay?”“Oh okay!” Bryce seems much more responsive to this studying method as it goes on for several more questions.“Alright bro let’s take a break. Want to go walk around or something?” Austin shuts the book with a sharp snap.“Let’s go swing, the playground is like almost empty.” Bryce points to the open playground as he’s getting up. Austin laughs and follows him to the swings.“I hate swinging in shorts bro. These things always dig into my thighs so badly.” Austin adjusts his shorts and kicks off the ground.“Sounds like a you problem not gonna lie bro.” Bryce laughs as he starts swinging as well.They enjoy themselves on the swings for a while before Bryce starts to slow, attention on a young lady, probably a little younger than them being followed by an older guy.“Hey I’ll be right back.” Bryce leaps from the swing as it’s still moving and trudges over to the girl. “Hey! It’s so good to see you! How’s it going!” He loudly exclaimed so everyone around could hear. “Just walk with me, there’s a sketch guy following you. Me and my friend will help you.” He says hushed. She just nods quietly and lets Bryce lead her over to where Austin is sat.“Hey I’m Austin, that’s Bryce. Don’t worry about him kid it’s fine.” Austin keeps a polite distance with a warm smile. All of a sudden the older guy is there and quick as a flash Austin is in his face, screaming. The guys jaw drops and he backpedals as fast as possible.“Sorry. Sorry.” He dashed away as Austin and now Bryce call insults after him.“What a weirdo.” Bryce shook his head exasperated.“Do you want us to walk you home kid?” Austin offers kindly, a total demeanor swap from how he was acting moments earlier.“No thank you, I don’t think he will be bothering me again. Thank you both so much!” She cried and wrapped both of them into a hug, at least as much of them as she could. “I really should get home, thank you both again, enjoy your date!” She bounded off towards the parking lot without a further glance, leaving both Austin and Bryce standing there mildly shocked.Bryce spoke first, “Well my smoking hot date, could I treat you to dinner as a thank you for helping me?” He tried to hold back his laughter as he spoke but had to turn his head to the side, choking on his laughter.“Oh of course! I expect the fanciest of dining…” Austin pauses for a moment. “I think McDonald’s would do perfectly.”“Oh I’d kill someone for a McChicken or twelve right now” Bryce drops the act, holds eye contact for a moment before dashing towards the truck, cackling wildly.“Jesus Christ!” Austin bolts after him. “Stop it! I’m not supposed to be running you a-hole!” Bryce is already at the truck, leaning on the hood trying to catch his breath. “You owe me a god damn Big Mac after that.” Austin glared, far less winded that Bryce was.——-after picking up McDonalds————“Follow me.” Austin passed by his door after delivering Christian and Jason their food.“But your dorm is right there?” Bryce still followed Austin unsure of where they were headed. Austin headed to a window at the end of the hall. He slid it open and hopped out onto the fire escape. “Are you sure that can hold us?”“Yeah I’m positive, I bring all my dates here and you aren’t much heavier than a girl.” Austin teased, climbing up the ladder.“I’m literally bigger and heavier than you.” Bryce scoffs before sliding out the window after Austin.They make their way to the rooftop where the sun is just beginning to set over the city. Austin sits on the ledge and dangles his feet before rooting through the McDonald’s bag for his food. Bryce sits down next to him, a little uncomfortable being so high up.“Scared dude?” Austin jokes in between bites of his burger.“No..” Bryce eats a few fries still tense.“Come here you absolute loser.” Bryce slides over to sit close to Austin, who lays an arm over Bryce’s shoulder. “You’re not gonna fall. I swear on my McFlurry.” Bryce chuckles and relaxes, munching happily on one of his many McChickens.There they sat, eating greasy fast food and melted ice cream on the ledge of a building. Sat in a comfortable silence, watching the sunset, Austin’s arm resting over Bryce’s shoulder like it belongs there. Neither boy felt like breaking the silence, so they just sat admiring the city and marveling at just how right everything felt.
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Bryce drove on an empty road in the middle of nowhere. He has gotten used to the luxury of Austin’s truck so his chevy was an adjustment. Austin had actually offered him the truck but Bryce had declined preferring not to take a very nice truck to his parents house. Even he knew that was not a smart idea. It was pouring rain and there was an occasional rumble of thunder or a flash of lightning. It was pretty dreadful but not out of character for winter in Texas. Austin’s voice sounded from the speakers, apparently angry that his plane had been delayed. Bryce was perfectly content to listening to his angry ranting as it was keeping him entertained.“I just don’t understand! We can send people to space but god forbid it’s raining the skies are closed!” Austin’s flight had been delayed twice now, thanks to the weather that Bryce was currently driving through. Patience is a virtue, a virtue Austin does not have, especially in regard to flight delays.“Dude go get Wendy’s and chill out. You sound totally insane.” Bryce laughed as the rain continued its assault on his windshield. “I’m almost at my parents place, text me when you’re on your plane okay bro?” Bryce turned into a cramped little neighborhood, ranch style houses all surrounded by long dry grass and chain link fences. It wasn’t a wealthy area but it was still perfectly suited for Bryce’s family.“Okay I’ll talk to you soon dude, have fun.” The phone call disconnected and Bryce sighed audibly. After a few more minutes of driving he pulls into the crammed driveway of a medium ranch house. It’s pale blue and a little rundown but looks homey enough. An old car sits in the garage, hood popped open. Bryce smiles fondly at the car before killing the engine of his own. He sits in the quiet car listening to the rain for a moment before sidling out of the car to grab his bag. He didn’t really care that he was getting drenched as he made his way up the driveway to the door.Austin finally made it onto a plane, probably his plane but at this point nobody is quite sure.“Finally on my plane bro, hope you are having a good time with your family” Austin made sure to text bryce, even if he knew he wouldn’t respond for a while. He settled into his seat, flicked his headphone on and turned on some music, ready for his five hour flight.Bryce eased the door open, depositing his damp bag by the door. “Hello?” He shook the rain out of his hair, not unlike a dog. He tracked down the hallway, leaving wet boot prints as he went. “Anyone home?”“Bryce!” A little girl whipped around the corner, sliding on the hardwood floor. She looked very similar to Bryce, she was maybe eight and had curly brunette hair, freckles and even her smile was the same. She ran up and hugged him around his waist.“Hey Bailey! How’s it going kid?” He squats and lifts the girl up.“I missed you!” She’s wearing a Texas University shirt and she points to it like proof.“I missed you too! Are mom and dad home bales?”“Nope! They went to Mr. Eddie’s house!” Mr Eddie is the neighbor, so Bryce assumed that they’d be home soon enough. He set the girl down.“Okay I’m going to unpack my stuff then we can hang out.” He strides off up the stairs, grabbing his bag as he goes. He feels strange walking through the halls of the house he tried so hard to get out of not that long ago. He pushes the door to his room open and it’s exactly how he left it. Baseball posters covering all the wall space, dresser piled high with stuff, baseball gear strewn across the floor. He threw his bag on the ground and let himself fall back onto the bed. He read Austin’s text with a smile, responded to a few other people, including a snap of Christian being spun around by his legs by his older brother from Jason. After a little while of that he heard the door open and shut firmly.“Bryce??? Are you home?” A woman’s voice rang out.“Yeah coming.” He padded down the hallway and down the stairs, head dropped in an ever so subtle way that caused his hair to cover his eyes. “Hi mom. Hi dad” he stood hesitantly on the bottom step.The man probably mid to late fifties was tall, athletically built even in his older age, had a greyed out buzzcut and an irritated look etched into his face. The woman was shorter, had dyed blonde hair and was equally displeased looking.“Bryce. Were you honestly just upstairs when your little sister is down here alone? You know better young man.” the woman scolded him like a child. Bryce frowned but mostly stood his ground, his mother was not the most intimidating person in the world.“Ma I just drove like six hours to get here. I was tired.” He wipes a hand over his eyes.“Boy what happened to your face?” His dad had caught sight of the purple welts across his cheekbone and jaw.“I got into a fight. With Lucas” he added hoping the familiar name would help stop the interrogation.“I bet he beat you good, that boy had always been something else” Bryce’s dad laughed and Bryce scowled.“Don’t stand like that it looks terrible.”This interrogation and guilt trip went on for a while, and through dinner too. Finally Bryce was able to lay down in bed. He was so drained he didn’t look to check if Austin had texted him.——-meanwhile————“My baby!!” A slim, short brunette women burst from the door of the house as soon as Austin had stepped out of the Uber. She hugged him tight around his middle happiness bubbling over. His father then appeared to help take his bags and pry Austin’s mother off of him. They eventually made it into the house where his mom stepped back and looked him over.“You look terrible Austin! Have you slept? Ate anything? Drank water?” She began bustling around the kitchen fixing him a snack.“Momma I just got off a plane I’m fine”“Sue leave the boy alone he’s perfectly fine!” His dad clapped him on the back firmly. “So what have you been up to in college? Texas alright? What about football, we see you on the television..”Austin launches into telling them all about college life. He gets to the part about his friends, particularly Bryce, Jason and Christian and his mother gasps.“My baby has friends?? I was so worried you’d be lonely!” She gushed and Austin gaped at her in mild shock. He shook it off after a moment and continued his rambling.“—-oh actually this is Bryce’s, huh I didn’t even notice.” He studies the flannel he’s wearing curiously, he remembers shortly that Bryce had let him borrow it at a party. He’s pulled from this thought by his mom giving him a plate with apples and peanut butter.“That’s great to hear hun.” The night progressed normally, lots of catching up and helping his dad with various projects. He kept a close eye on his phone for texts from Bryce but nothing. He showed his dad the video of Christians brother spinning him around and they both laughed for a while. After a while Austin headed to bed, he checked his phone one last time before he went to sleep and to his disappointment nothing from Bryce. It had only been a day and Austin was already getting lonely.“That’s my car.”“I’m borrowing it I need to go to the store Bryce.”“Drive your own car, not mine.” Bryce stood on the driveway glaring at his dad who held the keys to his beat up car. “It’s the only car I have and I can’t risk anything happening to it.”“I’m your dad I can take your car if I want to.”“No you can’t! It’s mine!” The were both yelling now, and the neighbors definitely heard. After their next door neighbor came to watch by the fence, Bryces father threw the keys at Bryce and stormed inside. Bryce stormed in after him and went directly to his room. He had one new text message.“Hey how’s it going there bro? It’s insane here lmao. Kinda lonely without my bros tho.”Bryce couldn’t help but smile. “It’s going good dude.” He typed casually, despite wanting to scream seconds ago. He followed that text nearly immediately with “simp🫡”“Haha bro no group cuddling for u when we get back:(““Stfu I am group cuddling🫥”“Wtf is wrong with u”“Idk prob stuff”They lay there in their beds texting for hours. Austin eventually falls asleep with his phone beside his head and Bryce lays awake for a while, brain quiet but sleep was just not coming to him.This little routine of trudging through the day to lay awake talking to his friends all night is what kept Bryce sane through the five days he was home. Showing his little sister pictures of them and laughing as he told her all the (child appropriate) shenanigans they got up to. Austin also awaited the nightly chats, with all his friends but especially Bryce. Being a social person is hard work Austin had realized.Leaving was bittersweet for Austin, he would miss his parents but was ready to get back to his daily routine again. Bryce on the last day of his visit had really gotten into it with his dad, and wanted to be home as fast as possibleFinally after five long days of winter break, Bryce was loaded back into his crappy car and Austin onto his non-delayed plane. Both boys were beyond ready to be going back home. ✨Chaos House Extra Blooper Special✨“Get off my table this minute Alexander before I crucify you like Jesus Christ!” Christian and Jason were silently crying with laughter as they watched Christian’s younger twin brothers, Alexander and Julius fight it out in the kitchen. Christians dad was also in the fray, trying to get the two seventeen year olds to be somewhat civil, although based on the last threat out of his mouth it was not going well. “That’s it! Outside!” Alexander was hauled off the table by his father and they were escorted outside. “Everyone get outside!”———————————————————————“Noah! That’s not funny put him down!” Noah had Christian’s legs over his shoulder and was spinning him around. Everyone but their dad found it hilarious, including Christian.“Yeah Noah put him down.” Gabriel teased as he walked in the door, dropping his hockey bag. He walked over and plucked the mute boy off of his brother.“Seriously boys can we put him down.” Their dad sighed.“Here you go!” Gabriel handed Christian over to Jason after Christian had attempted to kidney punch him from his spot on Gabriel’s shoulder.“I’m just gonna stop talking.” Their dad walked away from the situation causing everyone to laugh. “Jesus Christ when is this break over.”————————————————————————“Hey Christian’s friend! Want to play rocket league?” Julius asked waving a controller at Jason.“Yeah sure!” Jason came to sit on the couch beside the younger teen.“How are you so good at this!” Jason had just won again, much to Julius’s dismay. Julius slammed his controller down, accidentally causing it to fly into the tv, obliterating half the screen. “Oh crap. Quick before my dad gets home let’s go!” They both book it up the stairs to hide in Christian’s room.
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Austin was first to arrive home, a day earlier than Bryce or Jason and Christian. The dorm hall was still empty, and Austin felt like a ghost, roaming in a place that was familiar yet he went unseen. He busied himself with tidying his house, grocery shopping and cooking for the week. He soon passed out on his couch, juul empty and forgotten, mentally drained from his flight.Austin was woken up by a frantic banging on his door at sometime past 3 AM. The banging was so aggressively loud that he rolled off the couch in a panic. He scrambled to the door, tripping over himself multiple times in the process.“Whatswrongwhosedyingareyouhurt?” He opens the door panicking. Bryce stands there, obviously not bleeding, bags in hand.“Sorry. I’m locked out..” Bryce smiles cheekily and Austin hangs his head.“Get in here.” Austin sighs and turns back into his room knowing Bryce would follow. Bryce follows and shuts the door behind him. “Let’s go!” Bryce scrambles his away behind Austin, fumbling in the dark dorm. Austin flops down onto his bed with an “oomph”.“I’m gonna get changed.” Bryce trails off with his bag into the bathroom and emerges moments later in basketball shorts and an oversized sweatshirt.“Get over here and sleep, you have to be exhausted.” Austin groans into his pillow, trying to shield himself from the bathroom light. Bryce shuffles his way to the bed and climbs in far from gracefully. “You are such a hippo.” Austin chuckles sleepily.“Mmm.” Bryce rolls his eyes, but the gesture goes unnoticed in the dark room. He wriggles around until he’s comfortable before tucking the covers beneath his chin and falling asleep.The next morning Austin wakes up in a daze. His breath catches for a moment when he realizes someone’s arm is draped loosely over him but quickly settles when he turns to see Bryce. He flips over so he’s facing his friend who looks so different when he’s asleep.Then, the edge of what looks like a deep purple bruise peaking out from the neckline of Bryce’s sweater catches Austin’s eye. He hesitates, not wanting to pry but his curiosity quickly gets the better of him and he’s nudging the baggy material out of the way to reveal a few purple and blue bruises, startlingly in the pattern of knuckles. Austin’s face falls and he lets the sweater fall back to where it was. He lays still and lets Bryce continue to hold him in his sleep, unsure if he needed the comfort or Bryce.This time Bryce was first to wake up but he wasn’t the least bit startled by the fact that he was wrapped around his friend like an octopus. He pried his sleep heavy limbs off of Austin who opened his eyes to glare at him. “Sorry dude I can’t feel my hands.” They both roll onto their backs, stretching the sleep from their muscles, both unfazed by waking up cuddling. Bro things apparently.Once they are properly awake, Austin stares at Bryce, the expression on his face mildly confusing. “What do I have something on my face?” Bryce teases and Austin snaps out of it for a moment to laugh.“Bryce?” Austin is still sitting in bed while Bryce mills about the room.“Mhm?”“Who punched you bro?”“What?” Bryce adjusts his hoodie.“Just tell me bro I’m your friend, I want to help.”“My dad okay? It wasn’t anything crazy..stop making that face it’s fine really-“ Austin’s jaw dropped and Bryce just seems exasperated. “I’d rather not talk about this man. Let’s just go get breakfast at the dining hall.” Bryce says casually.“Yeah okay breakfast sounds good.”
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Austin and Bryce were sprawled out on Bryce’s couch, shoulders pushed up against each other and PlayStation controllers gripped tightly in their hands. “You suck! You suck you suck you suck!” Austin slams his controller onto the couch as Bryce cackles.“Maybe you shouldn’t suck at this game.”“Maybe you should have a social life and get off the PlayStation.” Austin grumbles, distressed by the fact that he had lost again.“You are my social life. And parties.” Bryce shrugs.“You sound like a lovesick girl.”“Shut up. At least I’m not the little spo-“ Bryce’s sentence was interrupted by a pillow being smashed into his face.“Oh you really want to go there bro?” Bryce lunges at Austin, sending them both crashing onto the floor. The commotion draws both Christian and Jason from their rooms.“What is wrong with both of you.” Jason stares down at Bryce who is now sitting on top of Austin, grinning. Austin is struggling to get away but to little avail.“He called me a girl!” Austin swats at Bryce’s hands when the curly haired boy try’s to mess with him.“You are going to crush his ribs get off.” Jason sighs“Are you calling me fat?!” Bryce gasps in mock offense“Yes you fatass.” Jason is now smiling his laughter back.Jason and Christian go back to their rooms and Bryce and Austin just sit there for a while in silence. “If you want to cuddle bro just tell me, you don’t gotta sit on me.” Austin laughs and Bryce stands to help him to his feet. They both fall back on the couch.“Shut up.” Bryce turns his attention back to the tv rubbing at his forearms absentmindedly.“Wanna watch a movie? I’ll order pizza.” Austin waves his phone tauntingly.“Yeah as long as it’s a scary movie.” Bryce settles back into the couch. “And pepperoni!”“Oh yeah? What’s your favorite scary movie?”“I like scream,” he pauses “the original.”“Hmm I like Blair witch.” Austin states matter oh factly.“Of course you do.” Bryce groans and buries his face in the cushions.“Alright don’t cry about it we can watch scream.” Austin sighs and Bryce springs up from the pillows with a grin. “I hate you”“You love me.”“Sure.”——-after the pizza arrives———“I never understood why they kill Steve.” Austin muses through a mouthful of pizza.“They kill him because Stu is jealous! Are you stupid??” Bryce smacks him with the empty pizza box. “Idiot.”“Whatever.”After a while Austin grew bored of the movie and stifled his yawn by smothering his face into Bryce’s shoulder. Bryce, beyond engaged in the classic slasher film paid him no mind and stayed sucked into the tv. Pretty quickly Bryce’s excited commentary faded into the dull thrum of the background noise and Austin’s eyes drifted shut, head resting comfortably on Bryce’s chest. Bryce, quickly realizing his friend was fast asleep, shut up and finished the movie in silence. As the credits rolled Bryce let his head drop and sleep clouded his brain like a fog. In his sleep induced haze he pressed a soft kiss to the sleeping boy in his arms head.The next morning Christian walks out of his room and quickly notices the pair curled on the couch. He snaps a quick picture for his story and darts off to get Jason. Jason emerges from his room followed by Christian rubbing sleep from his eyes. “Awww they’re cute.” Jason smiles softly at the mass of limbs on the couch. “Come on let them sleep you can hang in my room.” Christian bounds off to his room with far too much energy so early in the morning. Jason turns to look at his friends for a moment, before smiling, snapping a picture and following Christian back into the room.
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Bryce is a boy who craves physical affection and contact. Some would say his parents didn’t give him enough hugs as a boy but he is an extremely physical person none the less. Austin on the other hand is a boy who runs from physical intimacy and his feelings. He’s very much a one and done type of guy and whenever people start getting too close for comfort he runs. All the early mornings waking up curled into Bryce’s arms or fleeting arm touches in passing began to give Austin that oh so familiar itch, the itch to run. He began avoiding Bryce, going to the gym far earlier than normal, staying late after class and most notably locking his door.“Austin? Bro can we talk?” His phone buzzes on the coffee table but it goes ignored.“Please Austin did I do something wrong? I’ll fix it I swear.”“Just text me back so I know you’re alright we don’t have to talk.” Austin stares at his phone for a moment, his heart and his head giving him conflicting signals. Without really thinking about it he snatches the phone off the table.“I’m ok just busy sorry.” He throws the phone away like it burned him. He then sat on the couch to watch something, anything to get his mind off Bryce. Naturally the first channel he flips on is playing scream, he can’t bring himself to change it. As the movie plays on Austin’s mind wanders farther and farther and before the movie is even a quarter through he’s balled up in the corner of the couch, tears threatening to spill from his overfilled and glassy eyes, and several empty white claws are strewn across the floor surrounding the tragic scene.————————————————————————“I don’t know what to do..” the curly haired boy hiccups drunkenly. His face is rosy and his hair is stuck to his forehead with sweat he’s obviously extremely drunk. His phone lays discarded on the floor beside him and he clutches a tequila bottle like it’s his anchor on earth and without it he will float away.“You should stop drinking that’s what.” Jason snatched the once full bottle of tequila from Bryce and sets it on the nightstand. “You didn’t do anything wrong, I’m sure it’s going to be fine but drunk texting your….friend, isn’t going to help anyone ok?” Bryce nods and lays back on the bed.“I’m..just gonna lay right here..” His words are slurred and barely audible but Jason just sighs and pulls the blankets over his limp friend.“You do that. Try to make it to the toilet if you’re gonna puke k?” Jason pats his friend on the chest softly before heading out. He slides some shoes on, Christians he thinks for a second, before marching to Austin’s door. “Open up!” He pounds on the door but is met by nothing but the muffled tv. “I know you are in there come talk to me like a man!” More pounding on the door is met with no new response and Jason sighs. “We are going to talk about this!” He storms back into his dorm just to give Christian a disappointed look before going to lay in his own bed.————————————————————————Austin heard Jason’s aggressive knocking and yelling but he didn’t move to answer them. Instead he curled further into himself and turned the movie up trying to drown out everything. It doesn’t usually hurt like this to run away he think for a second before he’s ripped from his thoughts by more yelling from Jason. The final straw was the silence after Jason left. After a moment the tears that had been threatening to spill over finally flooded out his eyes and down his cheeks. The salt stung the small nicks all over his face from football and for just a moment he couldn’t breathe. He cried and cried until his eyes ran dry and his face hurt. His chest heaved and his eyes burned. He sniffled half heartedly before curling into the couch and falling into an anything but restful sleep.
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“Austin! Open the door!” Someone slams the door so hard the frame rattles. “Open the god damn door! We haven’t heard from you in days!” More slamming seems to knock the shitty lock out and on the next hit the door swings open. “Austin?” Bryce calls into the dark dorm. A television can be heard coming from the bed room but the normally tidy apartment is littered with empty cans, clothes and juul pods. All the lights are off, the only light in the room is the light bleeding in from the hallway. Bryce picks his way through the mess to the bedroom door, he doesn’t bother to knock figuring the screaming and slamming already gave him away. He eased the door open to reveal a seemingly sleeping lump on the bed that he assumed was Austin. The tv played some random rerun and the figure in the bed lay flat on his face, breathing steady, head tucked neatly beneath the pillows. “Austin?” Bryce called gently. Austin’s head snapped up from under the pillows with a start. Within seconds he was sat upright, eyes blown wide with fear and glaring at Bryce.“Why are you in my dorm!? Get out I was sleeping!” He hurls an empty can at the curly haired boy angrily. It misses by a hair and goes sailing into the other room, landing with a hollow clank.“I just want to talk! I was worried about you! You just dropped off the face of the fucking earth!” Bryce’s tone grew aggravated quick as he paced through the small doorway.“I’m fine now get out Bryce.” Austin tugs the blankets tightly around his shoulders but doesn’t move to get up, instead he just sits there staring at Bryce, his expression unreadable.“What is your problem man! I didn’t do anything and even if I did you can’t give me the dignity of knowing what I did wrong?!” Austin was up off the bed quick as a flash, glaring at Bryce as the taller shouted and stomped around fitfully, almost like an irritated toddler.“Just go away.” Austin’s voice was calm but laced with malice dripping like poison off a dagger. That was Bryce’s last straw, his hand shot up and pushed Austin hard, sending the somewhat smaller boy stumbling back.Austin may be physically smaller but he’s a force to be reckoned with. Once he regained his footing he flung himself at Bryce, grabbing him around the waist sending them both careening into the living room with a crash. Bryce, now stuck underneath Austin clawed and punched at Austin’s ribs in an effort to get him off. He eventually dislodged the boy just enough to land a punch in his gut but Austin was quick to recover and send them both rolling around the room once more.“Stop it!” Jason stands in the doorway, his hair messy and face tired, Christian stands looming over his shoulder. Both Austin and Bryce freeze, Bryce pinned to the floor beneath Austin’s knee, his head pushed back by a hand in his hair and his hands fisted in Austin’s shirt. “What is wrong with you?! Both of you!” He storms into the dorm, Christian close behind. The mute boy wastes now time tearing Austin off of Bryce and setting him on the floor beside him. “You need to figure this out.” He pauses. “You,” Jason whirls so his attention is on Austin, “had no right to do that to him or us. You are our friend and we do not deserve that from your bitch ass. And you!” He spins to glare at Bryce. “You! You had no business bashing your way in here like a brute! That was completely unnecessary and beyond rude.” Bryce ducks his head shamefully like a kid being scolded by their mother. “Now get up. Sit at the table like big boys and figure this out because I am done with this whiny missing my boyfriend shit.” With that he storms out, Christian hot on his trail leaving both Austin and Bryce stunned in his wake. Bryce was first to haul himself to his feet, wiping the trickling blood from his nose. He pauses for a moment before going and sitting on one of the stools at the counter. Austin is close behind, dusting himself off as he goes.“So..” Austin runs a hand through his hair nervously as he sits beside Bryce.“So..” Bryce studies Austin for a second, “What happened man? Everything was so chill then you dropped off planet earth!” He wipes more blood from his nose with his hand.“I-“ Austin grimaces. “I was scared.”“Scared? What were you scared of I don’t bite!” Bryce is stunned by a volatile mixture of shock, confusion and amusement.“That’s why I ran! You don’t bite Bryce! You’re too nice to me and I don’t like know how to deal with it so.., so I just dipped.” Austin turns away ashamed of his own actions as he hears them spew from his mouth.“I’m nice to you because you are so cool and so funny and without you around me all the time I don’t know what to do with myself. You can’t just drop off the face of the earth when you feel a feeling Austin!” His voice is strained and he frowns ever so softly at his friend.“Im sorry.” The brunette boy mutters ever so softly, barely audible but Bryce doesn’t miss it.“I forgive you buddy, it’s gonna be fine. We are gonna figure it out bro, and if that means no more cuddling or whatever the fuck then that’s what it means. I’d rather have you as just a friend than not have you at all.” Austin’s attempts to conceal his overwhelming feeling throws himself at Bryce, who tenses expecting a fight but instead met by a crying boy wrapping him into the tightest hug he’s ever experienced. He’s quick to relax and opens his mouth to say something but instead opts to sit there in silence, face buried in Austin’s shoulder, rubbing soothing circles into his back as he sobs and blubbers apologies into Bryces chest. It felt like a bubble of tension and fear had just burst and all that was left was quiet affection and flustered apologies. Bryce tightened his arms around Austin and whispered quiet promises to him, a smile grazing his lips, finally feeling normal again.