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The sound of an alarm broke the silence of the dorm room, the soft rustling of blankets and clothing was heard in between rings of the alarm. A small groan followed by a hand knocking against the desk behind the bed in an attempt to find the mobile phone to silence the noise. Luke sat up and sleepily turned off the alarm, he looked over to Andrew who seemed to still be sleeping soundly. He let out a small sigh and flopped back down to the bed and wrapped himself up in his warm duvet to shield him from the wintery cold. The sun had risen and was shining through a small gap in the curtain, giving him enough light to see Andrew. He wanted to take in the sight of him before spending a few days away from the dorm.
Luke’s mother asked him to pay a small visit during the Christmas holiday, as it had been a while since he had been home. He agreed to do a flying visit, despite trying to avoid going by using classes and studying as excuses to stay with Andrew. Luke had thought about them spending time together but when Andrew found out about the trip home, he insisted that Luke should go. Luke had never asked if Andrew had plans for the holidays, he somewhat assumed it would be spent together.
He pulled the duvet up to his nose and sighed heavily, his blue eyes taking in all of Andrew’s beautiful features. The slow rhythm of his breathing, the soft fluffy hair disheveled, his long eyelashes caressing his cheeks. Luke was jealous of them.
“Aren’t you coming in?” Andrew spoke, keeping his eyes closed.
“No, it’s cold.” Luke mumbled and curled up more in his warm bed. As much as he would love to slip into Andrew’s bed and cuddle for a while before getting ready for the day, it was far too cold to traverse the small distance. Andrew chuckled and got out of bed and stepped towards Luke’s, he grabbed the soft duvet and pulled it out of Luke’s grasp and climbed into bed. Luke immediately shuffled closer to keep warm, he nuzzled Andrew’s chest and smiled.
“What time are you heading out?” Andrew’s words got lost in silver hair as he placed a kiss atop Luke’s head.
“Hnn.. around 11am.” Luke groaned. “Need to take the subway before it gets too busy with late Christmas shoppers.” Andrew nodded and pulled him closer. The two of them stayed together for a while before Andrew convinced Luke to get out of bed and get ready for the trip.
—
“You sure you don’t want me to stay?” Luke spun on his heels and stared at Andrew, pleading with his eyes to give him a reason to stay.
“It’s only a few days, I am capable without you.” Andrew bent down and picked up Luke’s bag and handed it to him. “It will fly by, and you will still be texting me.”
“What are you going to do, all alone here?” Andrew shrugged and looked back at his desk with a study book open. Luke followed his eyes and slumped his shoulders. “You’re going to study here, all alone?” He pouted and grabbed Andrew’s shirt.
“Go, get out.” Andrew rolled his eyes and pushed Luke towards the door. “The sooner you go, the sooner you get back.” He leaned forward and opened the door, Luke playfully groaned and pouted harder. Andrew couldn’t help but laugh, he gave him a kiss and put a scarf around Luke’s neck. “Text me when you get there.”
“Alright,” Luke threw his coat on and picked up his bag, “call me if you get lonely.” Andrew pointed at the open door with a hand on his hip. Luke waved with a big smile and closed the door behind him.
Luke hurried out of the dorm building and made his way to the subway station. His playful tantrum had taken longer than he expected, and he was already 30 minutes late. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see his family, he missed his mom but also he didn’t want to listen to his father complain about his life choices. That, and Luke knew he would have more fun being with Andrew, stay in the nice and warm dorm, order tasty food and enjoy each other's company. His mind wandered to more naughty and intimate ways they would spend their time together and keep warm, most of the dorm had emptied out for the holidays so they would have less chances of being heard by neighbouring residents. The idea made Luke blush and smile like an idiot, he covered his mouth with his scarf so it was less obvious.
He stopped at a cafe to get a coffee and a snack, it was already lunchtime and breakfast had been small. Andrew had gone out to get them food and a coffee while Luke was showering. Luke smiled at the memory of the morning's events. Andrew got up early with him so they got extra time together, he even went out in the cold to make sure they both had something to eat. Luke took a sip of his hot coffee warming his hands, he wanted nothing more than to run back and warm up in Andrew’s arms.
Luke got thrown out of his thoughts at the sound of his phone ringing, he hurriedly dug his phone out, hoping it was Andrew changing his mind and asking him to come home. He felt a wave of disappointment to see Malcolm’s name on the screen. He cleared his throat and answered the phone.
“Hey, what’s up?” Luke picked up his coffee and brought it to his mouth, letting the steam warm his face.
“You already left to go home?” Malcolm’s voice was as loud and as boisterous as ever. Luke made a sound of confirmation as he took a sip of coffee. “I just saw Andrew when dropping off your christmas gift, is he staying at the dorm for the holidays?”
“Yeah, he doesn’t go home for the holidays.” Luke remembered Andrew telling him how he rarely goes home. His relationship with his father was still sour, not that Luke was going to tell them that.
“He spends his birthday alone?” Jonas’ voice silenced Malcolm and startled Luke.
“..what?” Luke whispered as he clenched the phone.
“It’s his birthday today. December 24th, don’t tell me you live with him and didn’t know this.” Jonas sighed. “Seriously, Luke. It’s all over the internet.”
Luke stayed silent. How was he meant to know, he still hadn’t searched Andrew up on the internet, he wanted to hear everything from Andrew himself. So many thoughts ran through his head, the countless times he asked Andrew for a reason to stay, he said no; he just smiled and told him to have fun. Andrew never goes home for holidays, so he has been spending his birthday alone all this time. Luke stood up, almost knocking his coffee over.
“I gotta go.” Luke hung up the phone before hearing anything his friends had to say, he grabbed his bag and ran out of the coffee shop. He looked at his phone and his thumb hovered over his mom’s phone number. She was excited about him coming home, but he didn’t want to leave Andrew alone, not now. He opted to send her a text instead, explaining the situation. She happily excused him from visiting but made him promise to visit before New Year’s. Luke felt his heart lighten a little, he was glad his mom was understanding.
He took a deep breath and looked around to see what stores were nearby. He wanted to buy a few things before heading home, he wouldn’t want to greet Andrew empty handed.
—
Andrew looked away from his study book to check his phone. Luke had been gone for hours and he still had not received a message from him to say he got to his family home safely. He was unusually quiet, perhaps he fell asleep on the train. Andrew chuckled to himself. He sighed heavily and returned to his study book, though the words weren’t making any sense, he couldn’t focus.
He closed the book and pushed it away, and looked down at his phone again. He missed Luke, he was only gone for a few hours, but Andrew knew he would be away for a few days and somehow the entire dorm room felt extremely empty and quiet. Andrew got up from his desk and collapsed on the bed. He gazed up at the ceiling and wondered why he convinced Luke to go. They had numerous conversations about it, Luke clearly didn’t want to go and yet Andrew pushed him and said everything was fine. It was not fine.
Andrew had been excited to spend some alone time with Luke, spend the holiday together and make happy memories, and finally spend his birthday with someone who cares for him. He decided that instead of lounging around the dorm, he could go out for lunch; though it was way past lunchtime. He got up off the bed and walked to the closet to grab a jacket, he froze at the sound of a key being inserted into the door. The only person it could have been was Luke, he was the only person with a key, unless it was the owners of the dorm but they were aware he was staying over the holidays, so it couldn’t be them. Andrew peeked around the door frame and watched the door open and a very cold Luke walked through with a box in one hand and a carrier bag in the other.
“Andrew?” Luke shivered and closed the door behind him by nudging the door with his foot.
“Luke, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be on a train?” Andrew rushed to the front door to help carry whatever was in Luke’s hands.
“Well, I was on my way, but I was given some very important information.” Luke spoke slightly out of breath as he strategically removed his coat and shoes with his hands full, his cheeks were red from the wintery chill. “Happy Birthday, Andrew.”
Andrew stood with a shocked and somewhat confused expression on his face, before Luke could say anything else, Andrew threw himself at Luke and wrapped his arms around him; almost knocking him over in the process. Luke simply laughed and nuzzled his nose into fluffy brown hair. Luke nudged Andrew to let him enter the dorm and set the items down. Luke sat down on the bed and dug into the plastic carrier bag.
“I got a few things on my way back.” Luke wasn’t phased by the fact Andrew was practically clinging to him as he unpacked the bag, it in fact made his heart flutter. He placed a few boxes of hot food and some cans of beer and bottles of soda on the floor in between their beds. “I got a variety of food and snacks,” Luke pulled out a party hat and placed it on Andrew’s head, he grinned at the sight, “I wasn’t sure how hungry you were or what you were in the mood for, so I got a bit of everything.”
Andrew shook his head, he didn’t make any effort to remove the silly party hat that had been affixed to his head. He was just happy to see Luke and how much effort he put in at the last minute. He felt a lump form in his throat when Luke presented him with the box he had been carrying and refused to let him take. The box contained cupcakes that had been decorated to spell Happy Birthday.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Luke’s voice was soft, though Andrew knew he was being scolded. Andrew looked up from the box to meet Luke’s beautiful blue eyes.
“It’s been so long that my birthday ever meant anything, it’s just a normal day like any other.” Andrew simply shrugged.
“Well, that changes tonight!” Luke tried his best to hide the sadness he felt knowing no-one had bothered to celebrate Andrew’s birthday and make him feel special. He opened the box and took out a cupcake, he rummaged into his bag and grabbed a lighter and a singular candle. He placed it in the center and lit it, holding it carefully so he didn’t drop it. “Make a wish, Andrew.”
Andrew couldn’t help but feel so overwhelmed by Luke’s affection and effort, no matter what he would wish for, it would not compare to anything he has been given today. Nothing would ever compare to Luke and his kindness, his smile, his beauty and heart. What could Andrew possibly wish for? Andrew gazed into beautiful blue eyes filled with happiness and a childish joy, he knew what to wish for. He closed his eyes as part of the act and blew out the candle.
“What did you wish for?” Luke asked with a big grin. Andrew shook his head and began eating some of the food Luke had placed out. “Aww, come on tell me~”
“No, if I tell you it will never come true.” Andrew said as he put a french fry in Luke’s mouth to silence him and reached for a drink. Luke pouted with it hanging from his mouth, Andrew laughed and handed Luke a can of beer. Neither of them were drinkers, but it was a special occasion after all.
–
The day had become night, they had both sat beside each other, watched movies and ate the food Luke brought home. Wrapped under a blanket to keep warm, Andrew held Luke close not wanting to let go. Luke rested his head on Andrew’s shoulder, enjoying the warmth. The movie they were watching finished and Luke’s phone went dark, Andrew moved and brought their lips together in a slow and sensual kiss. He whispered about getting into bed, he bit Luke’s lower lip to indicate that they would not be going to sleep. Luke began to remove Andrew’s shirt and soon they were both entwined under the duvet of Luke’s bed.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get you a gift by the way.” Luke removed Andrew’s glasses and brushed brown strands out of his face.
“This was the best gift I could have ever gotten.” Andrew smiled, his eyes practically sparkled in the dim light.
“Are you going to tell me your wish?” Luke grinned, Andrew shook his head. “Next year then!” Andrew propped himself up on his hands and gazed down at Luke who was smiling sweetly. Next year, the idea that Luke planned to be with him next year made his heart almost jump out of his chest.
“Next year.” Andrew repeated, it felt so surreal planning so far ahead when he usually kept people at arm's length, it was nice. A warm and fuzzy feeling wrapped around his heart as he returned into Luke’s embrace, one he wished he would experience for many years to come.