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It’s funny how you can fall in love with someone and not even realise it. You’re just minding your own business when that special feeling sneaks up on you and you suddenly find yourself head over heels.
Alejandro could tell even back then that there was a spark between them. They had a tendency to fixate on their private competition, their own little game of back and forth. As they travelled across the globe he and Duncan would get lost in each other. Sometimes their eyes would meet and Alejandro would wonder if Duncan’s heart was beating as fast as his own, if he could feel that rush of adrenaline soaring through his entire being.
Nothing ever came of their friendship slash rivalry; Duncan continued his dalliance with Gwen and Alejandro gave up on their potential chemistry to focus his attention on Heather. Sure parting ways stung a little but it was just a crush, nothing major. When they were finally free from that dreadful contest for good the two would go on with their lives and forget all about each other…
Alejandro stretched and attempted to check the time on his watch, it was pitch black in the apartment save for the light of the TV. It was Duncan’s turn to choose a movie for the night, some awful horror flick that Alejandro had tuned out about an hour ago. They’d only been roommates for a few months; Duncan had needed somewhere to go after his short stint in prison was over and Alejandro had a room to spare now that Heather had moved out (luckily it was an amicable split). The pair had settled into a routine together surprisingly quickly.
Looking over at his best friend Alejandro stifled a chuckle, it looked like Duncan hadn’t been enjoying the film either judging by the drool on his chin and chainsaw-esque snoring. Using his phone as a flashlight Alejandro switched off the TV and quietly tidied up the living room before padding off to bed. He was only halfway across the room when a particularly loud snort from Duncan made him pause in his tracks. Veering off into his companion’s bedroom he grabbed the duvet from the bed, along with the secret blankie he wasn’t supposed to know existed, and returned to the couch.
With far more care and precision than necessary Alejandro gently tucked Duncan up in his duvet, folding up the childhood blanket as a makeshift pillow for his friend. Satisfied with his work Alejandro was finally ready to go to bed but something compelled him to stay seated. Duncan was still snoring away as he slept, the drool on his chin was slowly drying out, and his mohawk was drooping down in front of him til the ends of his hair brushed his eyebrow. For all intents and purposes he was a mess, but Alejandro couldn’t bring himself to look away. Smiling softly he forced himself off the couch, years later and here he was still getting butterflies.
At 9am Duncan woke to the smell of bacon and an empty stomach. He lazily wiped his mouth and started to curl back up under the covers when it hit him. This was not his bedroom. Sitting bolt upright he finally noticed Alejandro cooking breakfast in the kitchen. Duncan could only see him from the back but he’d clearly not been up very long, he was still dressed in his silky pyjama pants and his hair was tied back loosely while he cooked.
Quietly slipping out from under the sheets (and hiding his blankie, Mr Buddlebottom, from view) he crept into the kitchen. The table was set for two with a rack of toast and bowl of scrambled eggs already placed in the middle ready to serve. His mug was next to the coffee maker, full to the brim with his favourite creamy mocha that he pretended to hate but secretly loved. Alejandro didn’t seem to have noticed him yet, still frying the bacon for their breakfast as he sang along quietly to the radio.
Duncan felt hot all of a sudden, his normally pale cheeks turning rosy pink as he watched his friend. Alejandro had brought him blankets and made him breakfast but that was normal, friends did that sort of thing for each other all the time, Alejandro did that sort of thing all the time. He never felt this flustered afterwards though… did he?
Before he knew it Alejandro was switching off the stove top and getting ready to plate up the bacon. As the Spaniard finally turned round Duncan’s bright blue eyes met Alejandro’s emerald greens. It felt like he’d run headfirst at an electric fence, his entire body seemed to tingle and his heart raced. His cheeks flushed even darker as Alejandro held his gaze. Said man had looked a little shocked at first but now there was a grin creeping up his face, almost as if he knew something that Duncan did not. Maybe he’d understand how Duncan was feeling. Maybe… he was falling in love too.