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“I mean that I...”
The color was rising fast across David's cheeks and Exer didn't feel far behind, staring wide-eyed at his best friend. His best friend who seemed to be dangerously close to saying something Exer needed to hear. To know.
“You...what?”
David just kept staring in Exer's eyes, unblinking, wordless. Every muscle in Exer's body felt like it was locked up. Dammit, David, just fucking say what you're gonna say. For a fraction of a second, he almost wished he could magic the words right out of his friend. He felt frustrated, confused, and worried. What was so damn...
Oh...
Oh my god...
Exer stared helplessly as he saw the tears start to pool in David's eyes.
...no way...really?
As soon as the possibility had started to solidify in Exer's mind, David closed his eyes and turned away from him.
“Nothing! Forget it!” And then David took off running.
“DAVID!” Exer yelled as he watched his friend gain distance. “David, tell me!”
Adrenaline took over and Exer rushed after him, willing his magic to help give him speed. He didn't want to seem too quick to catch up, though technically he was the faster of the two on the football field. Exer started gaining on David, who noticed and panicked and tried to lose him by taking a sharp left into a large patch of open grass in the park.
“David, dammit, STOP! Talk to me!”
Exer got close enough to David to grab him by the arm mid-sprint, but David tried to yank it back with a considerable amount of strength and they both ended up losing their balance and tumbling onto the ground. Exer on his ass, David on his hands and knees.
“Day...are you okay?! What is going on with-”
Blinded by tears, David did the only thing he could think of and took a swing. His fist connected hard with Exer's right shoulder.
“AH, what the fuck?!” Exer gripped his arm as he watched David stumble up off of the ground and glare down at him, tears streaking his face. He looked absolutely furious and Exer felt a pang of fear. But it wouldn't stop him. He still needed to know.
Exer got up off the ground, wincing as he massaged his shoulder. David continued to stare at him and all of a sudden Exer felt completely exhausted.
“David...please...just tell me, man! You're my best friend! What are you afraid of-”
“It's fucking wrong, man!” David shouted. “God...it's so wrong...and I shouldn't even-” He trailed off, pressing the heels of his hands to his eyes.
Exer started slowly towards him, holding out his hand like he was trying to calm a scared animal.
“Day, I'm sure whatever it is isn't a big deal. We can talk about this...”
David glared up at him, red-faced and shaking.
“I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU, YOU STUPID ASSHOLE!!!”
He gasped and put his hands over his mouth, eyes wide with horror and shame. Exer felt the air leave his lungs and his whole body constrict. The adrenaline made his fingers tingle and all of a sudden he couldn't move.
Exer felt his own eyes well up as he watched David sink to his knees in the grass, cradling his head in his hands.
This...this is what this was all about. My best friend is in love with me.
He had a feeling it might be SOMETHING like that, but not EXACTLY that.
How did I miss it? Wouldn't I have noticed?
Exer saw a flood of memories rush by in sequence. When David was jokingly touching his face in the car that one morning. When Exer defended them in front of Ricky and Marty. When David commented on Exer's half-naked form outside the locker room. David's beaten but beautiful face when Exer cradled it in his hands in the infirmary. Piece by piece it was starting to come together. He felt an unfamiliar warmth come over him and a single tear slid down his cheek.
David was still kneeling when Exer made his way over to him. Exer kneeled in the grass in front of his friend and gently pushed his shoulders back, bringing David's reddened eyes up to his.
“E-Exer I'm...so, so sorry. I tri-I tried so hard to hold it back but then everything with Brenda and *sniff* and you wouldn't let it go...and I *sniff*...just didn't want to ruin our friendship-" David shook his head like he was in disbelief of his thoughts and feelings, but Exer put his hands up to David's cheeks and stopped him.
"Day," Exer smiled softly. "You didn't ruin anything. I swear to you." He slowly tilted David's head down and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. David looked up in shock and Exer pulled his best friend into a hug. It was a few seconds before he felt David's arms come around him, their heads leaning against one another. It was the first time their embrace ever felt like something bigger, something truly special. Exer felt David's shuddering sigh of relief and he smiled.
Now we can go from here.