Chapter Text
Sebastian took one last drawl of his cigarette, the ocean breeze and the taste mixing together, bitterness and saltiness colliding. He put it out, stuffing it in his pocket and sighing. The sea was calm, calmer than usual for such a night, its surface was like oil, its colour like the night sky, and the moon -circular and full, with no clouds blocking its incandescence– reflected on it as if the water was the clearest mirror or the most polished glass. Sebastian clicked his tongue and turned away, walking across the pier back to the beach; each step making a different squeak on the sapping hardwood.
To be honest, he didn’t know why he came here to smoke today. It wasn’t raining, there was no reason, it just felt right.
His eyes glanced up to the beach, expecting to see the emptiness that it usually had during the night, no matter how serene it was, but his eyebrows shot up when he realised he wasn’t alone. Something, no, someone was on the beach. Sebastian stuffed his hands in his pockets, and kept walking.
It was…Alex? The jock of stardew? He squinted.
Yes, it was definitely him, and with every step closer, the image got clearer. It was indeed Alex, and he was…he was crying? Sebastian's eyes shot wide open. He immediately tilted his head down, and tried to think of a way to avoid him, but the path was right where Alex was next to, and so, his best option was to just ignore him.
Breath hitching, he walked past Alex with no acknowledgment until a hand grabbed his wrist. A bit startled, Sebastian stepped back.
“Don’t tell anyone.” Alex muttered, looking straight at the sand beneath him, “Please.”
Sebastian stared straight at him, pulled away his arm and said blankly “Okay.”
For whatever reason, he ended up keeping that promise
“Hellooooo?” Sam waved in his face, “Earth to Sebastian?”
Sebastian shot his head up to where Abigail and Sam sat at their respective instruments, both glaring at him with furrowed eyebrows. He must have zoned out thinking about that until-now dormant memory.
“What’s up with that jock, Alex?” Sebastian asked, adjusting the keyboard settings beneath him.
“Dunno.”
“What about him?”
They both said at the same time. Sam played a few chords on the guitar, filling the room with a distorted sound.
Abigail tilted her head, making her purple hair sway, “Didn’t you hate him in high school or something?”
He muttered out a quick nevermind and motioned for them to start the song already. A weird weight sat in his chest every time he thought about that day a year ago, but he didn’t dwell on it. There were more important things to do.
Muscle memory took over as he pressed on the keys, the room became loud, and the atmosphere changed into the perfect disturbance for anyone in the house who was looking to relax. Not really paying attention to Sam and Abigail’s comments, complaints or concerns, Sebastian kept playing the keyboard until he realised it was time for him to head home.
A quick bye, thanks, see you and an even quicker glare from Sam and he was off. The sun had begun setting, allowing the temperature to become bearable. Sebastian walked up the steps to his house, ignored the farmer who was talking an unnecessary amount to his mom, and then just stayed in his room. Falling asleep proved easier than usual, even if his chest felt tighter. Weird , he thought.
Smoking was not doing him any good for his health.
Sebastian did not want to leave the house. Sebastian was forced to go outside. Sebastian was frowning the entire time.
Groaning, he waited with a tapping leg and his very over-excited mom for the farmer to apparently bring a ‘large delivery’. Why Demetrius couldn’t help was a mystery.
The wind was stronger than usual, strong enough to make the trees dance and to make loud whoosh noises every couple of minutes. Strong enough to tangle Sebastian's hair and irritate his eyes. He scowled, directly making eye contact with his mom.
Behind, in the very background, his eye caught onto someone running. Unsurprisingly, the only person crazy enough to go running on the mountain in the summer was Alex. Gym bros , Sebastian rolled his eyes, not realising Alex had noticed him, had smiled, waved and disappeared, leaving Sebastian no time to react. He pouted.
The farmer was extremely late.
The one time Sebastian was actually not sleep-deprived and dead inside was the one time when both Sam and Abigail ditch him. After he had already arrived at the Stardrop Saloon.
Fine, he knew from yesterday there was no way Sam could hang out today with the level of food poisoning he had gotten. Abigail on the other hand was just being an ass. Sebastian’s eye twitched as he looked down at his phone.
Abigail: oops i forgot that haley wanted to hangout today LMAO :p
People around him laughed, drank and ate their food. Usually, he’d be playing pool under the warm lights of the shabby saloon, maybe not cackling or smiling from ear to ear. Not how Sam grins, or how Abigail giggles and then snorts, but his lips would turn into an upside down smile– and if he won a game, he’d smirk, teasing Sam. Sebastian sighed, staring out into the main area of the barn. Maybe he should’ve been an alcoholic like Shane, it’s not like you could smoke in the saloon.
He shook his head and headed towards the exit of the saloon. Completely distracted by typing frantically, sending every possible swear word and insult he could think of, Sebastian forgot to look where he was going. A sharp corner jabbed into his side, Sebastian hissed, stumbled and dropped his phone. Muttering a curse under his breath, he turned to where he dropped his phone.
Someone was already picking it up. Sebastian looked up to see Alex, smiling and tilting his head to the side. He held the phone out to Sebastian, and luckily, the screen hadn’t broken.
“You okay?” Alex questioned, straightening himself back up and re-adjusting his jacket. Sebastian sighed, and finally, actually , for more than a second, looked at Alex. He was wearing the same green jacket he always did along with slightly baggy dark blue jeans. To be honest, on anyone else, Sebastian would’ve said that colour combination would be downright atrocious, but to be honest, Sebastian found himself thinking that Alex actually pulled it off. The colours brought out his eyes, and his brown hair and tanned skin contrasted the cooler toned blue jeans he was wearing.
Before long, Sebastian wasn’t just taking a good look, he realised (only after Alex nervously repeated himself) that he was staring.
“Sorry,” he paused, his eyes going wide and a tint of pink surfacing to his cheeks, “rough day.” Wait , Sebastian thought, that was too many words. Usually it would be a nod and a thanks, or maybe even just a grumble. Sebastian's eyebrows furrowed.
Alex chuckled slightly, a slight rasp to his voice, “I see, well, wanna play pool? I’m not very good at it but-” Sebastian must’ve made a face, because Alex abruptly stopped. A weird twist appeared in his gut, guilt, he realised, or something along the lines of that.
Somehow, Sebastian started backtracking, softening his expression and then looking Alex dead in the eye, “Alright, let’s see what you’ve got.”
They made their way over to the pool table, completely silent except for Alex greeting some others in the saloon. When they made it there, and finally started playing, Sebastian realised that holy shit he was not lying when he said he was bad at pool. Alex used more power and brute force than any form of logic or precision, which was not surprising, but it was apparently getting on his nerves that he was losing horribly because Alex’s smile turned into a pout.
That was incredibly amusing to Sebastian.
They hadn’t really talked the whole game except for some complaints from Alex every time he did bad and some ‘hms’ of affirmation from Sebastian, who now had decided it was time to break the silence.
“You suck,” He said, going for his turn, “really bad at this.” Alex groaned and threw his hands up when Sebastian succeeded, again , almost beginning to say something until Sebastian spoke up again, “Want me to teach you?
Alex scrunched his nose at first, but then slowly, his eyes flicked around the room, and his face relaxed, almost like you could see the cogs turning in his head and when they finally stopped, he nodded enthusiastically.
Telling him to give it a try, Sebastian stepped closer and then comprehended what he was actually doing. He was hanging out with Alex. What the fuck? More importantly, he was hanging out with Alex and not hating his miserable life. Which like, what the fuck? His face got redder. It was much too hot for this.
Sebastian took off his black hoodie and draped it on the chair nearby to –surprise! Reveal a black shirt.
He did not want to do this.
Too late, he already agreed, and so, he began ordering Alex to move his hand further down, and Alex began teasing him; which meant that Sebastian had to glare every time he tried to coach him. That just meant that Sebastian had to be a little less nice as well, and so he finally let Alex try.
Another failed attempt. Sebastian smirked.
“Seems like you’re a bad teacher.” Alex said, putting away the cue.
“Maybe you’re just a bad student.” Sebastian chimed. Alex glanced up, stopped completely in his tracks, and then finally put on a grin, different to the one he wore last time. The two bantered for a bit, and then suddenly, Sebastian felt an odd dread come over him. His mouth turned downwards, completely straight, and he immediately stuck his clammy hands into his pockets. Checking his phone, maybe impulsively, as an excuse, or maybe looking for one, he then apologised, rushing and telling Alex he ‘needed to go’ .
He needed to go, but not because he had other commitments. No he just…felt strange. Too strange, and he’d rather contemplate it in his cave of a room than in the now too bright lights of the saloon. So there he found himself, pacing the steps leading to his house, cigarette and lighter in hand. The warm, yet small, light of the cigarette contrasted the half full blue moon up above him, until finally all of those lights disappeared behind the bright lights coming from inside his house. Keys jingled as he took them out of his skinny jeans pockets, he unlocked the door and pushed down the cold metallic door handle to reveal his mom and Demetrius chatting in the entryway.
Making the least amount of conversation possible, he greeted them and rushed down into his bedroom. Random items scattered the floor from the impact Sebastian made while flopping on his bed with a loud exhale. A small pounding made its way to his head when he thought of the events that transpired tonight, and then his skin heated up with embarrassment –which really didn’t make sense. It’s not like he was the one failing spectacularly at pool.
He grabbed his pillow, yelled into it once, then twice, and then Sebastian proceeded to throw it across the room with all his strength (which was not much, thankfully for the furniture in his room). Abigail was right earlier, he did used to hate Alex back in high school, since he was literally the most stereotypical jock he’d ever met, and well, Sebastian was (and maybe still is) the most stereotypical broody ‘emo’ teenage loner you would’ve met. However, he had matured and no longer hated Alex just for his existence, until today though he didn’t expect to be compatible with him. That’s it . Sebastian decided he was going to do what he does best: ignore his problems.
One youtube video essay later, Sebastian had fallen asleep.
Sebastian had an unusual dream, but he didn’t think too much about it. Nope, he got up at a normal time (12pm) and began doing normal things (trying to work but actually just texting Sam and Abigail).
Once he actually started being productive, he was interrupted by a knock at the door and his half-sister Maru’s voice asking for him. He opened the door to see his half-sister very awake, confused, and also concerned. Sebastian ignored all her questions regarding his sleep schedule, eating habits, and general life, just blinking at her as if that would hide the eyebags. He was just about to shut the door in her face before she told him Alex was looking for him. Now that was a wake up call.
Sebastian scowled and turned around to see how he looked in the mirror. The answer was sleep deprived and very gross. He hadn’t even taken a shower. His hair stuck up all weird and the hoodie he was wearing was his oldest, most stained hoodie he owned. Maru clicked her tongue and went back upstairs. While he’d rather not have anyone see him like this outside of his immediate family, and actually, he’d rather not even have his immediate family see him since they’d just chastise him for poor decision making, he decided there was no point.
He dragged himself up the wooden steps, almost tripping when he realised that there was literally no fucking reason for Alex to come see him, and that made his heart flip. Maybe he should ask Maru to check up on him.
Groaning one last time, he walked to the entryway to see Alex waiting outside, not wearing a jacket. Yep, he’s asking Maru to check him, the cigarettes got to him early. This was the end. Alex wearing a tank top and showing off just how seriously ripped he is had nothing to do with the loud, annoying, irritating beating in his chest.
Sebastian almost facepalmed when he realised what he was thinking. Alex began greeting him, still smiling like an idiot and then held something out. Neatly folded, there he had Sebastian's favourite black, very comfortable, hoodie. The memory of Sebastian taking it off last night due to overheating came back, and so did the urge to run off again.
“Thanks,” Sebastian averted his gaze from Alex, who somehow found something to ramble on about, and while he was doing that, Sebastian ran his fingers through his hair, glanced at Alex’s flushed face and said without thought, “Come in, it’s too hot for you to be standing there like that.”
Not only did Alex’s eyes grow wide, but so did Sebastians. Biting hard on his cheek, he stepped aside and let Alex step in and take off his shoes.
What the actual FUCK was he doing.
He wasn’t dressed, he hadn’t asked any of his family, who (the ones nearby at least) were looking at him like he’d gone mad, which he might have at this point, he hadn’t cleaned his room or prepared himself mentally and who the fuck even said Alex would be going into his room anyway but oh well it’s too late now.
Alex asked where to put his shoes, and he managed to actually get a response. Sebastian took a deep inhale and then nodded his head (when Alex wasn’t looking), stuffing his hands in his pockets and putting on a face that didn’t appear to be completely disconcerted. He guided Alex down to his room, briefly apologising for the mess before opening up his dark, air conditioned, very unorganised cave.
None of these factors seemed to repel Alex, who’s eyes were scanning the room. He ended up smiling, very wide, and began asking questions about, like, literally everything and anything in Sebastian's room, and obviously, when someone asks Sebastian about his nerdy interests, he’s gonna give nerdy answers.
How Alex managed to sit through Sebastian’s entire lore-dump of LOTR and Star Wars, and a ton of information on how games are programmed and made, he did not know. He did know that Alex sat through all of that, nodding his head, asking questions and commenting the whole time. Oh, also, he had no fucking clue how he actually ended up talking so much. He talked more than he had ever done with Sam and Abigail, who are –as much as he doesn’t really want to admit it– his best friends.
Sebastian shut his mouth instantly.
Which he also regretted immediately, because now, he was no longer distracted and his eyes once again caught onto the fact that Alex was not a sore sight. He was actually a pleasant sight, very pleasant once you notice how his hair frames his face and how his smile brings out dimples.
Some deity decided to save his ass because Alex’s phone rang, he excused himself politely, and picked it up. It was a girl’s voice on the phone, Haley, probably, he realised and Sebastian’s heart stopped. He began fidgeting with his nails and tapping his foot, and he clenched his jaw once he realised he was being unreasonable. Again, he barely knew Alex and out of all people he shouldn’t care because it’s not like he liked him or anything…even if that rang a bell. A very loud bell. Actually a siren began ringing in his head because oh fuck Sebastian liked Alex? His still heart started beating again, and his leg followed the quick ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum in his chest.
Sebastian’s head shot up once Alex pushed himself off the bed, apologising, and then thanking Sebastian for no reason whatsoever because it wasn’t like he offered a drink or a snack, and then all he could do was thank him again for the hoodie and open the door to the hot, sunny, mosquito ridden outside world before just staring like a deer caught in headlights as he watched him walk away.
Sort of mortified, he put his head down and walked back towards the staircase leading down to his room, ignoring his moms raised eyebrow. Someone decided to block him though.
“So.” Maru asked, crossing her arms.
Sebastian glared, “What?”
She shook her head and smiled, turning away and murmuring, “Nevermind.”
Sebastian continued to ignore his family's glances between each other, and just headed down to his room.