Chapter Text
Henry takes a deep breath as he catches sight off the lacrosse team.
If he just keeps his head down he might be able to walk past them without Alex noticing him.
Normally he'd enthusiastically walk toward them and accept a good morning kiss from his boyfriend while ignoring all the jealous stares from boys and girls who wish Alex were dating them.
Today is not that day, they fought last night and Henry has been holding his breath ever since.
Logically he knows that Alex stayed on the phone with him to make sure neither of them went to bed angry or upset.
But he can't fight the feeling that he ruined everything, even if Alex assured him he wasn't mad.
He's never been in a relationship before and he's certainly never had a fight with someone he loves this much.
It's even worse because the fight was one hundred percent Henry's fault. So he can't gaslight himself into stop feeling guilty.
There had been a rumour going around that Alex had cheated on him and Henry with his jealous and insecure tendencies believed it.
He'd confronted Alex with a text that read 'Good to know I mean nothing to you" and then to top it off a separate one that said 'I know what you did', like it was a bloody murder accusation.
Pez had warned him he was being too dramatic and defensive, but Henry had been too hurt to care.
Alex, like the great boyfriend that he is, had calmly explained that the rumour had been started by the captain of the rival team because they were sour that they had lost the game of that night.
He'd offered to let Henry go through his texts, but he didn't need any more proof, he never really believed that someone as sweet as Alex would be capable of something so cruel in the first place.
But now the damage is already done.
He walks past the group of athletes and just when he thinks he's in the clear he hears a loud 'Henry, baby' .
He withholds the urge to sigh and turns around to force a smile.
He walks up to the team and does the handshake he must have practised with Pez a hundred times so he didn't make a fool of himself in front of Alex's team mates.
When he gets to Alex he awkwardly looks up to him and holds his hand out for the handshake.
Alex scoffs. 'I am not one of your bro's, do I not get a kiss?'
Henry looks up at him surprised, he'd expected Alex to still be mad, even if he didn't sound angry on the phone. It's pretty insulting to be accused of cheating after all.
"Oh, yes, of course, if you want to', he stumbles.
Alex raises an eyebrow at him. 'It's okay if you don't want to', he says softer.
Henry shakes his head. 'No, I want to.'
'Are you sure?' Alex asks gently.
Henry nods and then Alex grabs his waist and brings him into a movie worth kiss.
His team mates whistle and Alex rolls his eyes as he throws an arm around Henry's shoulders.
Then he manhandles his backpack off his shoulders.
'Why is it so heavy? Did you take your rock collection with you?' He teases.
Henry frowns. 'I don't have a rock collection', he mumbles not wanting Alex's team mates to think he's lame.
Alex chuckles. "I know, but did you bring every single book you own?'
Henry sighs. 'I could just carry my backpack myself, I don't need your help."
Alex shrugs. 'I know but what else did you date an athlete for?'
Normally Henry would make a cocky comment, now he keeps his mouth shut, which apparently is all Alex needs to know that something is wrong.
'Guys, I’ll see you in thirty', he says to his team mates before dragging Henry with him toward their favourite coffee shop to spend the rest of his break with him.
'You're clearly still mad at me, so let's talk', Alex says.
Henry's eyes widen. 'I am not mad.'
Alex rolls his eyes at him. "I know you, you're mad."
"I am scared not mad", he whispers.
Alex frowns. "Of me?"
Henry groans. "No. Yes. Not really. I am not afraid you’ll punch me in the face or something, I am just scared you'll break up with me."
Allex grabs his hand. "Why, baby? We had one fight. Couples fight. And I wasn't even mad. You were."
Henry looks at the ground. "I know but I should have trusted you."
Alex squeezes hand. "You do trust me. You let me explain myself and immediately believed me. Wanting an explanation doesn't mean you don't trust me. I trust you and I'd also ask you to explain yourself if the roles were reversed. You didn't even ask me if you could go through my phone. But the offer still stands if it makes you more comfortable. I have nothing to hide."
Henry shakes his head. "I trust you."
"Then why are you worried?" Alex asks gently.
Henry sighs. "Because I messed up. And it got me thinking it would probably be so much easier for you to date someone that would worship you. Everyone on this school would kill for the chance to go out with you. They'd never disagree with you. They'd let you walk all over them and-"
Alex frowns. "Do you feel like I am walking all over you?"
Henry shakes his head. "No, of course not, you've been a wonderful boyfriend. I am just saying that a lot of people in this school want to date you and dating them would probably be a lot less complicated. I mean If we continue to date I am going to continue to tell you when you hurt my feelings or when I don't like something, but I am sure that a lot of girls and guys in this school would let you do anything if you'd date them. They'd probably let you cheat on them and say thank you in return and-"
Alex scoffs. "For the last time Henry, I did not and would not cheat on you."
Henry sighs. Why doesn't Alex get what he's saying. "I know that. I am just trying to explain to you that a lot of people in this school would do anything if it meant they got to date the Alex Claremont Diaz. They would never confront you, they'd never tell you if they were upset, they'd simply worship you and-"
Alex rolls his eyes at him. "And that sounds terrible. That sounds like an unhappy, toxic, unhealthy relationship. I don't want a relationship with someone who feels like they have to walk on eggshells with me. Plus I don't even want to date anyone who isn't you. But seriously communication is key in a healthy relationship. I want you to tell me when you're upset or when you don't like something. Just like I tell you when I don't like something. I don't want you to build up your frustration. I am glad that you told me that you were worried. I am glad that you were willing to talk with me on the phone so neither of us had to go to bed upset or angry. I don't want some brainless guy or girl who follows me around like an assistant and never calls me out on my shit and never talks back to me. I want a real relationship. I want someone to banter with. I want to have mature conversations with my partner. I want to build something that could last, I know a lot of high school relationships don't but I would never start one if I already thought it was doomed from the beginning. I want to be with someone who likes me for who I am, not for this whole image thing I have going on. I want to be with you Henry and I want you to continue to talk to me about your feelings. Even though you misinterpreted a situation and thought I cheated on you, which I did find a little offensive, I still really want to be with you. And I still want you to tell me when you're upset so I can assure you that you've got it all wrong. I was glad that you called me last night. I was glad that you were willing to calmly listen to me explain the conversation to you. None of that upset me. We're in high school. Gossip spreads like wildfire here and I wouldn't like it if people said that kind of shit about you either. Nothing that you did frustrated me. Not last night anyway. When you acted all scared and cagey around me just now, that I didn't like."
"I am sorry", Henry whispers.
Alex throws his arms around him. "You don't have to be sorry. Just don't let this whole I am dating the most popular guy in school thing get to your pretty head. This whole image thing is not going to last but we might. In my last school I got bullied and had no friends because I never knew when to shut the fuck up and always said the wrong thing. This popularity thing is temporary. Don't let it get to your head. You don't have to do anything to earn my affection. And you shouldn't ask yourself what other people would do if they were dating me, because it doesn't matter what they'd do since I don't want to date them."
Henry nods. "I understand."
Alex places a kiss on his forehead. "Good. Now let's get tea and coffee from the cafeteria before lunch break is over. My treat."
"I can pay for myself", Henry says softly.
"I know, you can pay the next time."
That evening someone rings the doorbell, Arthur opens so Henry goes back to reading the romance novel he'd gotten form him until a knock on his bedroom door interrupts him.
"Come in?" He asks hesitantly not sure who would show up in his bedroom around 9pm on a Friday night, but confident it's not someone coming to harm him if his dad let them in.
"So polite", Alex grins as he opens the door and closes it behind him.
Henry freezes. Alex and him didn't make any plans, so why is he here.
"Wow, no need to look so terrified, Hen. Can't a man surprise his boyfriend? See this is exactly why I came, that rumour got you fucked up", Alex says before he climbs into bed with Henry and opens his arms so he can cuddle into his embrace.
"I thought you had a party?" Henry asks confused.
"I did. And I invited you to come with, which is important context because it makes me sound like less of an asshole", Alex teases.
Henry rolls his eyes at him. "I know you invited me but high school parties aren't really my thing."
Alex nods. "I know that's why I didn't throw a fit when you declined. But I was still going to ask because I want you to know that you're always welcome to join me and my friends."
Henry smiles. "I know."
Then he frowns. "But why are you here? You were looking forward to that party".
"I was but then some dumb asshole thought it was funny to start a rumour that I cheated on my amazing boyfriend and made him all sad. So I'm here to fix that. Priorities, baby."
Henry tilts his head. "But we already talked things out.'
Alex nods. "Yeah, but You're still not yourself around me. You're being all shy and flinchy and I don't like it. Not in an I am going to break up with you way, but in an I want to fight everyone whose ever made you feel insecure way. I don't like that you're scared and sad and insecure around me. I miss our banter and your random phone calls and those cute selfies you send me every time you do something you think is worth mentioning. And those long paragraph texts you send me every day. I don't like the staring at the ground when you talk to me, avoiding me at school, sending me one word responses and flinching away from me like I am going to hurt you", Alex confesses.
"I am sorry", Henry whispers.
"No, it's okay. Don't be sorry I just want to remind you that I am not going anywhere", Alex promises as he tightens his arms around him.
"So you're really not thinking about breaking up with me?" Henry asks softly.
"No, baby. Not at all. Why does one rumour got you messed up like this?" Alex asks concerned.
"Because I see the way people look at us in the hallways. Like you deserve better than me", Henry whispers.
Alex sighs. "Babe, that's bullshit. I hate to bring it to you but half those stares are not Alex should dump him and date me stares. They're homophobia stares. Texas is a red state after all. But fuck them.'
"So you don't think everybody thinks you can do better than me?" Henry asks softly.
Alex shrugs. "I don't know nor care what they think, babe. I care what you think and I don't like that you're being so mean to yourself."
Henry sighs. "I am sorry the rumour got to my head."
Alex rests his head on Henry's shoulder. "For what it's worth I didn't like it either. When you send me those text messages my hands started shaking and I threw coffee all over myself because I got so anxious."
"I am sorry. The text messages were rather dramatic", Henry chuckles.
Alex raises an eyebrow at him. "You think?"
Henry chuckles as he hides his face by burying it against the fabric of Alex's sweater.
"I am sorry you're missing your party because I freaked out about a stupid rumour coming from a rival high school", Henry whispers.
Alex shrugs. "It's okay. I mean it's not okay that you were upset and insecure because some asshole is a sore loser and started a stupid rumour, but it's okay that I am missing the party. I want to spend as much time with you before our senior year comes to an end and we're going to do long distance when you get accepted into Oxford's creative writing program and I go study Law undergrad at Georgia town."
Henry looks up surprised. "You want to do long distance?"
Alex takes his hands away from Henry's waist like he's been burned. 'You don't? I thought we were on the same page. We've talked about this.'
Henry groans. "Of course I do. I am sorry. I guess that rumour really did mess me up. Don't mind me. I am sure I'll be back to normal after some cuddles."
Alex sighs as he takes Henry back into his arms. "Baby, stop being insecure. I didn't cheat on you and Of course I see a future with you. I've already planned put all the surprising my long distance boyfriend TikToks I'll be filming.'
Henry smiles. "I love that. I am sorry I am being like this."
'No, I am sorry my lacrosse team winning a match had such stupid consequences", Alex sighs.
"It's okay. At least you looked hot while you won", Henry teases.
Alex laughs.
Henry bites his lip. "But for the record you won't feel like you're missing out on your college life because you're trapped with a boyfriend whose thousands of miles away?"
Alex scoffs. "Baby, you're not a trap. I don't have to have sex with everyone I meet to enjoy college. That sounds awful actually. I mean I am not opposed to having sex with my boyfriend when we're both ready, but I don't need to fuck my whole college to have a good time."
Henry smiles.
Alex raises an eyebrow at him. "Is this your way of telling me you will feel trapped?"
Henry shakes his head. "No, of course not. You're the best thing that had ever happened to me.'
Alex hums. "The feeling is mutual, baby."
After a few minutes of cuddles Alex gasps. "I do have a confession to make."
Henry looks up curious. "Do tell."
"Well it's good you're no longer jumping to disastrous conclusions. But I think your dad is in love with me", Alex teases.
Henry hits him with a pillow. "You're 18. He's 56. And married. With kids."
Alex laughs. "No, I know but he's always so excited to see me."
"Because you're good to me", Henry reminds him.
Alex smiles. "Yeah."