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Foolish had been single for months now and Punz was fed up of hearing his complaints of being lonely. He had been ‘dealing’ with a crush on his friend for a while now and hearing the grumbles of how he just wants to date again kind of hurt him. Being there to support him every time but never being seen as an option, knowing he’ll always just be the best friend.
Punz thought the worst thing was Foolish’s complaints about dating but he was so wrong.
The news that shattered his heart came without warning on Saturday afternoon. Punz had woken up with Foolish lounging around his flat, their lock was dodgy and Foolish had found a way to jimmy it open. It was scary the clutch he had on Punz’s life.
“I have a date. You know Miranda from my class.” The news came from Foolish so casually that Punz had to take a second to register it.
“What? That’s great!” It hurt Punz to say it. He wanted to be selfish and have Foolish himself, but he wasn’t the one brave enough to say it.
“No, not great. I need help.” The worried look on Foolish’s face concerned him. He sounded happy about the date. Where was the worry coming from?
“Oh?”
“I totally don’t have any moves or anything. You need to help me, I think I've totally forgotten how to kiss someone.” Running a hand through his hair, Foolish couldn’t keep still. His leg was bouncing and his hands were constantly moving.
“And what can I do?”
“I need kissing lessons.”
Punz’s mind went blank. There was absolutely no way this is how his life goes.
When people said ‘life’s a bitch’, he never quite thought that would mean he would fall in love with his best friend (completely one sided), have to listen to his moans of loneliness (as he was sitting right beside him, rude much), only to then be asked by said bestfriend/crush for kissing lessons.
“Yeah, okay. I can do that. I guess.” Punz agreed because he apparently fucking hates himself now. “When’s your date?”
“At three.”
“Three?!” Punz checked his phone. “Foolish it’s already 2pm, I thought it was going to be, like, tomorrow.”
“I panicked, okay? I was getting ready for it and it hit me, I had absolutely no idea what to do during a date. It’s been too long. I knew you wouldn’t judge me, so I came here and now… Please just help.” Foolish groans dropping back down on the couch.
“Well shit, we need to get to it.”
Settling himself near Foolish on the couch he turned to face him. Knees knocking together and hands accidentally brushing together, Punz had to swallow down the butterflies in his stomach before he
He was here to help his friend out. That’s all, just helping.
“Wait, this isn’t cheating right?...”
“No. At least I don’t think?” Receiving a glare from Punz, Foolish backtracked. “Wait no I know. It’s not. We haven’t even gone on a date yet and it’s not like an official date, it's a ‘hey let’s meet up’ kinda thing. Definitely no exclusivity.”
“Okay, good. Now c’mere.”
Guiding Foolish’s face to get closer, they got as close as their noses bumping slightly before Foolish pulled away. Dropping his head into his hands he gave an agitated groan. “I don’t know what to do! I panicked and I can’t even kiss anymore, I’m doomed.”
“It’s fine! It’s just me, what’s there to worry about?”
“Okay, just don’t judge me. I need constructive criticisms not you making fun of me.”
Punz just rolled his eyes in return, like he would ever make fun of kissing Foolish.
Trying again, Punz placed a light hand on Foolish’s jaw in an attempt to try and reassure him. This time their lips finally meet and it’s nothing like Punz imagined. It’s so much worse.
Foolish is awkward, stiff and too hesitant. Punz just wants to shake him a bit and get him to loosen up. He knows Foolish and he knows he is not normally like this. Pulling away he gives him an unimpressed look.
“Really? Foolish, c’mon. You have to relax!”
“I’m trying!” Foolish exclaimed. His hands were still restless, moving between wringing his hands and running them through his hair.
“Do you want to kiss her?”
“Probably I think.” Mumbling, Foolish looked up to the ceiling letting out a breath through his nose.
“You think ?” Punz really did not understand where Foolish’s head was at. He doesn’t seem happy at all to be going out on a date. He would’ve thought with all the complaining about being lonely, he would’ve been a bit more excited for this.
“Well it just depends on how it goes. What if she’s actually an asshole or something, I don’t want to kiss someone like that.”
“Oh, what a lovely thing to say about your future date.”
“Not like that! Okay, yes I want to kiss her and I hope this date goes well.” Foolish sighed, exacerbated.
“Then act like it and relax. You’re like kissing a dry wall.” Maybe this would actually help him get over his crush.
“Hey! I said constructive criticism and no mean comments.” Hitting Punz’s chest, Foolish whined out.
“Okay, let’s try again and then we’ll get you ready.”
“I’m already ready.”
Punz looked down to see Foolish in just a casual jeans and t-shirt, though the thing that really stuck out was his brightly coloured socks that somehow clashed with every other item of clothing. “Sure you are, if your date is to the McDonalds drive thru. We need to dress you up a bit.”
Foolish just whined out. “You’re still being mean.”
Was he? Taking a breath he released tension in his shoulders he didn’t even notice. Maybe the news that Foolish had a date, that wasn’t him, had rubbed him the wrong way.
“Alright, I’m sorry. You just look rather casual for a date and we need to change your socks.” Punz relaxed more into the sofa as he took a softer approach.
“Yeah, maybe you're right,” I am Punz’s mind supplied, “I just like the socks.”
“I know but you can change back into them after the date. I have a shirt you can borrow that’ll make you look a bit smarter.” Giving the other a kind smile, trying to seem supportive as his heart slowly breaks. It was painful to get his crush ready for a date that wasn’t with him.
“Thanks, Punz. I appreciate it.”
“Make it up to me with a kiss, you seem more relaxed now so let’s go.”
This time the kiss was soft and Punz leaned into it as his eyes fluttered shut. It was still a little awkward, but Punz could excuse that with it being him and not Miranda. It was clear Foolish was a little unsure with what to do with his hands and Punz just wanted to move them for him, but he didn’t think they were quite at that stage yet.
Pulling away, Punz had to fight the blush rising on his face. “That was much better, now let’s get you that shirt and get you on your way.” Standing up and offering Foolish a hand up, they made their way into his bedroom. “And I expect you to be home by 11.”
“Wha- You don’t live with me you’ll never know.”
“Oh. I’ll know.”
With that Punz sent Foolish on his date with a “Goodluck, man” and a pat on the back and if Punz went back into his apartment to cry. Well, that’s between him and the romcoms playing on the TV.
The only warning Punz got before Foolish stormed into his apartment was a simple text.
Be round in 2 mins
“She laughed at me!” Foolish stepped into the apartment after knocking only once. It had been two days since the first kissing lessons and Punz was so piled up with work and classes that they hadn’t had time to talk about it. “She laughed and went, ‘a little awkward’. I’m so embarrassed. I’m trying to impress her and I just embarrass myself.”
“The kissing lessons didn’t help? Damn I thought I’d be a better teacher than that.” Punz walked through from the small kitchen by the sitting room.
“No, they did help. I think I would’ve just ran away without them. I just panicked and got all tense again.” Foolish now sounded completely disheartened. Collapsing on the sofa like his body was made of lead, he buried his head into a pillow and groaned.
“It’s not your fault. Anyone would be nervous, you just gotta practise. It sounded like the rest of the date went well then.”
“Yeah, it was nice actually. She’s lovely, some of my jokes fell a bit flat but she was nice about it.”
Punz gave a snort. He could imagine Foolish making a poorly timed joke just to ease the tension and it failing. He could even hear the laugh Foolish would give as he realised it didn’t land how he wanted.
“That sounds good, are you seeing her again?” Punz asked already knowing the answer was going to hurt.
“Yeah, I’m seeing her tomorrow. I just don’t want her to laugh at me again. Can you help me? Kissing lesson two?” Oh God, Punz surely wasn’t going to do this again. He was hurt enough the first time.
“Of course.” Fuck . He really really hates himself.
Making his way over to the sofa, he once again sat next to Foolish. He internally cursed at himself as he felt his heart flutter. This wasn’t for him. Just like last time he moved his hand to cup Foolish’s face and guided them until their lips met.
This time they went a bit further than just kissing. Next thing Punz knows his tongue is swiping across Foolish’s lip and they are making out. A slight push knocks him back onto the sofa and Foolish is hovering above him. Continuing the kiss until they run out of breath and pull away.
Foolish’s face is red as he jumps back. “Ah, sorry. I think- I think that’ll help me alot, thanks.” Stumbling up he made his way back towards the door. “I’ll see you soon, thanks again.”
Punz managed to call out a confused “bye” before the door was slammed shut. Laying back on the couch he stared at the ceiling trying to ground himself and process what just happened.
This was not where he pictured himself at all. Pandering to his dumb crush by giving bullshit kissing lessons that only drove a stake further through his heart every second that they were near. He was fed up with it.
He was going to change his life. No more going along with the stupid crush, he wasn’t going to put himself in anymore painful situations just to make Foolish happy. He was going to live for himself.
His changed life lasted all of 24 hours before he answered his door to rapid knocking.
“She broke up with me because I’d improved kissing too much. She thinks I’m getting with a shit ton of people.” Foolish pushed past him, letting himself into the apartment. Punz had to remind himself that this was his flat with how much Foolish treated it like his own.
“Huh, I’m an excellent teacher then.”
“Punz!”
Punz made a mental note to maybe wait a day for the jokes.
“I’m sorry, man. That really sucks.” Punz tried to approach Foolish but the other was pacing across the room and he didn’t really know if he should intervene.
“No, it’s fine. I was going to call it off anyway. It’s just- I realised something okay?” Foolish stopped his pacing to look at Punz.
It was scary. He couldn’t identify the look on Foolish’s face. He looked determined, scared and like he just saw a cute cat all at once.
“What did you realise?” Punz asked slowly, scared that Foolish might run.
“I preferred kissing you than anyone I’ve kissed in, like, the past two years.”
“Oh?” Well there goes his new life. He plunged straight back into his crush, the nights of thinking about the other, crying over him and everytime he nearly said his feelings came out.
“Yeah. Then I started thinking about everything, us and shit we’ve done together and I realised I crave that more than anything. Shit, my first thought going into the date was ‘this is a nice place, I should take Punz.’ I’m sorry about yesterday I just panicked cause I realised it all and my head kinda imploded.”
“You’re an idiot, but I like you too.” It felt good to finally say it and it felt even better when Foolish tackled him into a hug.
“This means we can have daily kissing lessons now.”
Punz just laughed and pulled him into a kiss. “I can teach you a lot more as well.” His flirt got him a scuff across the head and a high pitched giggle.
As much as he wanted to revamp his life, he much preferred this. Having Foolish by his side again and not having a pain in his chest whenever he got to kiss him (and the knowledge he is a great teacher).