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Exam season.
It really was the bane of Cater's existence. Well, good thing he has a boyfriend who's willing to tough it out with him.
Beau and Cater were seated cross-legged on the floor of Beau’s dorm, textbooks were sprawled out between them.
The two of them had made a pact to finally focus on their upcoming exams, but as usual, studying together wasn’t going as well as planned. It felt like it had been ages since they started and honestly, Cater was giving up.
The words were just blurring into an incomprehensible mess by now and he really couldn't focus anymore. With a groan, Cater slumps against the side of the bed behind him.
“Seriously, Beau. Studying sucks.”
“You say that every time,” Beau mutters with a small teasing smile on his lips. He pays Cater no mind, not even looking up as he underlines something in his notebook.
“Yeah, but this time I really mean it,” Cater groaned, tilting his head back dramatically. “Where’s my phone? I need a study break.”
Beau had confiscated both of their phones earlier, tucking them away in a drawer to eliminate distractions.
“No phones until we get through at least two chapters,” Beau had declared firmly, ignoring Cater’s exaggerated groan.
"You're no fun Beau-beau..."
More minutes tick by and Cater grows more and more restless. He really should be studying! But well...it was just so boring! So, to entertain himself a little, he began doodling in the margins of his notes instead. Sometimes, he'd try to make silly faces at Beau, not that the blonde boy paid him any mind. He even tried humming some songs under his breath to get his boyfriends attention.
But wow, nothing worked. Beau really was locked in this time, serious about getting some studying in. His brow was furrowed in concentration as he read through a particularly dry section. Cater could tell from the slight frown on his lips.
Finally, Cater flopped back with a sigh. “Beau, I’m dying here. Just give me my phone for, like, five seconds?”
“Nope,” Beau replied, not even looking up.
Cater sat up, his eyes narrowing with a playful determination. “If you won’t give it to me…” He lunged forward, reaching toward the drawer.
“Cater, no!”
“Cater, yes!”
Cater leaned across Beau to reach for the drawer, his hand brushing the handle briefly just as Beau turned sharply to block him. The movement left them both no time to react, and the result was… unfortunate.
Their faces collided in a rushed, awkward tangle, and Cater’s lips ended up brushing - well, mostly - against the corner of Beau’s.
It wasn’t intentional, nor was it graceful.
Beau pulled back immediately, his cheeks dusted pink as he blinked in slight shock. He looked slightly dumbfounded but he shakes his head. He was calm as he smoothed his hair back, giving a soft look at his boyfriend.
"Cater I told you no phones...we really need to study this time."
Cater, however, was reeling. He throws himself backward with a dramatic groan, flopping against the bed. “No, no, no! Did we just-? That’s not how it was supposed to happen!”
Beau blinked at him, utterly baffled. “What are you talking about?”
“Our first kiss!” Cater wailed, covering his face with his hands, giving a loud groan as he rolled about a little. “I’ve been planning this, you know? It was going to be all #cute! You know like, romantic lighting, maybe a cheesy line or two. Something worthy of a magicam moment! But noooo, it had to happen like that!"
Beau stared at him for a long moment, his cheeks heating up for real now. "You've been what?"
Cater peeked at him through his fingers, his dramatic wailing briefly interrupted. “Uh, surprise?”
Beau crumples into an embarrassed mess, he sighs deeply, running his hand through his hair, clearly exasperated but also a little amused. “Cater, it’s not that big of a deal. I mean, it barely even counts-”
“It counts!” Cater cut in, sitting up and pointing an accusatory finger at him. “And it was a mess. Can we have a do over?”
“You’re unbelievable,” Beau muttered, though there was a small smile tugging at his lips. “Fine, if it’s that important to you, let’s… try again.”
Cater’s dramatic sulking melted away instantly, replaced by a gleam of excitement. “Really?”
“Yes, really,” Beau replied, leaning forward slightly. “But if you make a big deal out of this again, I’m not indulging you next time.”
Cater grinned, his earlier frustration forgotten. His heartbeat quickens as the nervousness settles in. It's for real this time, like for real for real!
Slowly, he leans in too, this time much slower, his usual chatter falling silent.
Green eyes flicker around, taking in his boyfriend's sight. He gently raises a hand, tucking Beau's blonde hair back behind his ear with a nervous chuckle before gently cupping his jaw.
The blonde boy merely smiled, something soft and fond before his eyes slip shut. His hand comes to rest on Cater's arm as the two of them finally lean in, meeting each other as the space between them closed. Their lips met and this time, the kiss was soft, deliberate, much sweeter than either of them had expected.
When they finally pulled away, Cater let out a satisfied hum, a triumphant look on his face as he grinned. “Now that’s more like it! Totally worth the wait~!"
Beau rolled his eyes, clearly amused. He smiles, laughing softly, his cheeks dusted pink. “Happy now?”
“Very,” Cater replied, already pulling him into a quick hug before settling back into his spot. “Okay, now we can go back to studying."
Beau merely hums in acknowledgement before he continues to flip through his textbook, a comfortable silence falling between them.
"You know, maybe I need just one more kiss for good luck?”
“Absolutely not."