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“It’s called a chime candle,” Wallace said, “Each color represents a theme.” He took the candle and inserted it in the candle holder. He cut the wick and handed the candle in its holder to Scott. Scott was sitting at the head of the air mattress while Wallace slid onto the bottom half of the bed to face him. Scott stared at the candle his hands with curiosity.
“Does pink represent…” he looked at Wallace for help.
“Love,” Wallace said, striking the lighter he held in his right hand, “Pink represents love.” Scott watched as Wallace lit the pink chime candle. He held onto it carefully.
“What now?” Scott asked. Wallace smiled at his quick boredom.
“Typically you say something out loud,” he answered, “it could be something like a chant or an affirmation.” He studied Scott’s confused look. “An affirmation is a positive thing you say to yourself.” A small “ohhh” from Scott made Wallace smile again. He was never the brightest. “Do you wanna try it?”
Scott looked at Wallace nervously. “An affirmation…” he said aloud, “…about love?” Wallace nodded. Scott didn’t have to think long about his, and Wallace already knew exactly what Scott was going to say.
“I hope Ramona comes to our concert!” Wallace knew it. He wouldn’t shut up about this Ramona girl he’d recently met. Wallace gave Ramona the benefit of the doubt and assumed she was a lovely woman. She had to be, being compared to Scott at least. He wasn’t the jealous type, so he didn’t let Scott’s Ramona rambling get to him. He was, however, the open type. He beckoned for Scott to give him the candle. Scott complied. Wallace held the candle thoughtfully.
“I hope…” he started, “You forget about Ramona and go out with me instead.”
You could hear a pin drop. It was getting dark. There was but a dim light coming from the kitchen and a rather bright light coming from the candle. Wallace couldn’t see Scott’s expression, but he didn’t have to see it. He didn’t care (he did). He had spent such a long time pining for Scott that he no longer cared what happened to their relationship (he did). At worst, Scott stops mooching off of him. At best Scott kisses him. Right now.
“Wallace…” Scott responded quietly. Wallace wants to hear what Scott has to say, but at the same time he doesn’t care at all. Wallace was well versed in the world of casual sex, but his romantic life was rather pathetic. He’d gotten rejected so many times it was engraved into his brain. Out of all the rejection messages, Wallace picked out the one in his head that he thought Scott would say.
“I’m straight.” replayed in Wallace’s head at lightning speed. “I’m straight I’m straight I’m straight.”
In reality, Scott had said nothing. Scott must have had better eyesight that Wallace, because he could see Wallace expression changing. Fear? Sadness? Maybe a bit of that jealously he doesn’t think he has?
It didn’t matter what expression Wallace was trying to hold because all Scott ended up really seeing were the tears at the corners of Wallace’s eyes. They shined in the candle light.
Scott quickly placed the candle in a safe spot near the bed on the floor.
“Hey,” he whispered, scooting closer to Wallace, “Hey hey hey.” As soon as Scott gets closer the waterworks start. Tears are flowing faster than Scott can wipe them away. As soon as Scott goes to wipe Wallace’s tears for the fourth time, Wallace backs up.
“Stop,” he said between light sobs, “This is pathetic.” Scott looked at him with sadness.
“Not to me,” Scott said quietly, “especially not since it’s you.” Wallace looked up from his pity party to see Scott’s face. Scott’s frown turned into a light smile when Wallace looked at him.
Wallace wiped away the rest of his tears. “I’m sorry,” he said, “That was awkward of me.” Scott snickered.
“Wallace Wells?” he said, “Awkward?” Wallace smiled at this and gave him a light shove on the shoulder. Scott smiled back. Despite Wallace backing up, Scott was still close to him, almost close enough to kiss him.
Scott looked down at Wallace’s lips. Now that Wallace mentioned it, maybe Scott was thinking a little less about Ramona. His brain was now mostly full of thoughts of Wallace and his soft skin when they accidentally touch backs in the night. Of his soft hair. And now of his soft lips that are really catching his eyes right now.
“Scott…?”
Scott leaned in parting his lips.
“It’s always been you, hasn’t it?” He thought of all those times with Wallace that left him feeling all weird inside. It was even more intense than his time with Ramona. How had he ignored that feeling all these years?
Scott’s words sent shivers down Wallace’s spine. He couldn’t believe it. The boy he’d always wanted. The boy he’d thought about each hook up. Right in front of him. Ready to kiss him.
“Yeah…” Wallace whispered, “…it’s always been me.” Scott smiled against the breath he and Wallace share. He leaned in. Wallace leaned in. Closer. Closer.
Wallace feels Scott’s chapped lips on his much softer ones. He’ll have to chew Scott out later for not taking care of his skin.
They move in sync, moving heads and deepening lips into one another. Scott’s not sure if he’s doing anything right since it’s first time kissing a guy. Wallace feels he’s doing everything right.
They part. And look at each other. They dive back in. After repeating this for what felt like hours, Scott is the first to speak.
“Was that okay?” He said nervously. Wallace rolls his eyes.
“I just made out with you for like an hour,” he said, “Let’s make it two.”