Chapter Text
“WHAT IS LOVE? BABY DON’T HURT ME, DON’T HURT ME, NO MORE!”
The two young men were screaming along to the song that was blasting from the radio at full volume. Craig Cahn could have sworn he was wearing pants a moment ago, but he sure wasn’t anymore. He tumbled over the couch on his way to his bed, wanting to join in on his roommate’s fun.
Said roommate, named Koy McBeuph, was currently jumping on his own bed while doing something that could only be described as flailing to the music, while singing along all out of breath. A loud crack, and the party came to a quick end as Koy’s bed finally gave in below him, sending him headfirst towards the floor.
With the strength of a man who could do a thousand keg stands, Craig launched himself forward, catching his friend just in time for him to not eat the floor.
“Bro, you almost died!” he yelled over the music.
“I almost died!” was the only response yelled back, followed by a crazy cackling.
He slowly put the laughing man down, who rolled onto his back and kept laughing. Craig couldn’t do anything but kneel down and laugh along.
---
Sitting in the couch with the TV on, Craig was telling about the classes he’d be taking that year, especially the ones where Koy wouldn’t be.
“And then there’s this new teacher? Aah, what was her name…?” He shuffled through some papers. “Oh yeah, Tracy!”
Koy made a choked squeak which made Craig turn his attention to him.
“Do you know someone named Tracy?”
With a slight shrug, Koy pulled his knees up to his chin. “I kinda used to, I guess…” It’s been so long since he’d heard that name, he was surprised he still reacted to it.
“Kinda?” Craig obviously caught onto the strange phrasing.
Outside their dorm window, the darkness of autumn had fallen over the campus, heavy rain drumming against the building. Koy looked thoughtfully out the window, and Craig followed his gaze as if the answer was out there somehow.
His head snapped back towards Koy when he spoke up. “We’ve known each other for a few years now, Craig.”
“Yeah?”
“You remember how I needed a lot of time before agreeing to apply to be roommates?”
“You left me hanging for a really long time, bro.”
“It wasn’t really because I needed to think about it. If I could have, I would have said yes right away. It was more a matter of…. Yeah, whether I actually could.”
Craig muted the TV, seeming to realize the seriousness of the conversation. He got up and went to sit on his own bed, more face to face with Koy.
“So there was a reason,“ he said, urging Koy to continue.
The other man shifted, clearly unsure about the mood he had created in the room.
“Bro, if this is something you’re not comfortable telling me about, I don’t want you to feel forced to.” Craig paused and scratched his legs, no longer meeting Koy’s eyes. “Just remember, you’re one of my best friends, and I’m here for you no matter what.” He seemed just as uncomfortable getting deep with his friend.
“Tracy was actually my birthname.”
There, he said it. Almost too fast and too low to be audible. He gasped for air after getting the words out, holding his breath while awaiting a response.
It took a little for his roommate to process the information and what it entailed. He thought about it for a while. Then he put his hand on his chin, thinking about it some more. Eventually he got lost in his own head, no longer aware of the stretching silence.
“Please say something,” Koy’s voice cracked at the last word, barely louder than a whisper.
Craig was no wordsmith, and soon figured this was way out of his league, deciding actions spoke louder than word. He quickly moved across the room, leaned over Koy’s bed and hugged him close. Koy responded by immediately relaxing in his arms, knowing that this was simply the start of an even closer friendship between them.
---
“Craig! What the hell?!” Koy’s voice was hushed, but agitated.
“I couldn’t just leave him out in the rain like that!”
The wet puppy yelped in agreement. Koy rubbed his nose, a compelling argument from both Craig and the puppy.
While wiggling his eyebrows, Craig moved the puppy closer to Koy’s face.
“Craig, no.”
He inched the animal even closer.
“This is stupid.”
Finally, the puppy was right in his face, and it gave him a quick lick on the nose, his face scrunching up. He threw his arms in the air and sighed dramatically, giving in to the collective puppy eyes from both of them. Honestly, how could he say no?
---
Koy flung the door open, scaring the ever living shit out of Craig who was napping on the couch.
“Dude, it’s happening!” Koy beamed, waving a sheet of paper around.
“Oh shit, bro! I’m so happy for you!”
“Here, look!” He leaned over the couch, letting Craig read the letter confirming the scheduled date for his top surgery.
“This means you’ll get rid of… all this?” Craig gestured vaguely to his chest, as Koy nodded excitedly. “And you won’t have to wear those uncomfortable binders anymore?” Even more excited nodding.
“Does this mean you’ll be participating in the wet t-shirt contests now?”
Koy paused for a second before his face lit up again. “Fuck yeah!”
---
“You’re going to prom with Smashley, then? Damn, aren’t you a lucky fella!”
They fistbumped. “Hell yeah, I am! What about you? I don’t want you to feel left out.”
“Fear not!” He raised his finger, as if he was going to make a big announcement. “I do in fact have a date as well!”
Craig put his hand to his mouth and gasped theatrically. “Do tell!”
Koy leaned closer. “Remember Alex from James’ party?”
“The guy who spilled his beer in the pool and still tried to drink it and went to the hospital?”
The look on his friend’s face was all the answer Craig could ever need.
“No way! Shut up!” He punched him playfully in the shoulder. “That guy is like way out of your league!”
Biting his lip and nodding, Koy shot back. “I know right! Yet little old me got the hottest date on the entire campus!”
“I’m glad that you’re glad, bro.”
“Same, dude.”
---
Adorning their graduation caps and capes, they all waited for their name to be called. Their last moments on this campus as students. Ready to leave with the ultimate proof of four years of hard work, hard partying and even harder headaches. Flashes from a thousand cameras blinked, every single parent wanting to document their child’s accomplishment.
Afterwards, Craig’s family had finished taking every possible photo of him, and he was waiting for Koy’s family to finish taking theirs. Koy’s mother called him over, saying they needed a last photo of the roommates. His family joined too, making sure both families had proof of their close friendship.
Craig was struggling more and more to keep his smile up. He knew this was it. They were all heading their separate ways. Koy and Alex, him and Smashley.
“Come here, bro,” Koy pulled him into a hug, making it impossible to hold back anymore. Tears welled up in his eyes, before rolling down his cheeks. Big fat, proper crocodile tears. Koy patted him on the back.
“Hey now, you’re gonna make me cry too!” He said that, but his voice was strained and the tears were running for him too. “We’ll keep in contact! This is just one part of our lives, it’s not like it’s over just because we’re graduating!”
They pulled back and looked at each other with teary eyes.
“You promise you’ll be in touch?”
Koy chuckled, then sniffed and wiped at his eyes. “Of course, I promise.”