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It was not often that Alejandro indulged in more than light drinking. Sure, he was a social drinker, but generally he would limit himself. His body was his temple after all and excessive amounts of alcohol would be very detrimental to both his mind and body. Tonight he'd gone to a party on campus. One of Geoff's parties. He had thought about making his excuses, he could easily say he was busy with studying or something, but he really needed a distraction. Any distraction.
You see Alejandro lived at his school dorm, mostly to avoid his elder brother Jose. So naturally, he had a roommate. His name was Noah. He had brown hair that reached his shoulders, brown eyes that were nearly always half lidded, tan skin and a slender body. He wore three layers of shirt, a long sleeved white shirt, a teal blue button up, and a red sweater vest, as well as a pair of shorts and clunky boots.
Honestly Alejandro was quite relieved Noah was his roommate. He was neat, he was intelligent, he was very rarely annoying. In short he was the best roommate Alejandro could have hoped for. The exception of course being when he was hanging out with his best friend Owen, who Alejandro couldn't stand. He had no idea how Noah was best friends with the guy. They were practically opposites in personality
Luckily, they usually hung out somewhere on campus or in Owen's room. On the rare occasions they did end up in his dorm room, Alejandro would make up some excuse to leave. Still it annoyed him. At first he thought it was because it was an invasion of his personal space, but to be honest even when he just glimpsed them together it would rub him the wrong way.
So perhaps it was because he didn't think Owen was worthy of being Noah's best friend. He definitely wasn't. Noah deserved to have someone a little less insufferable as a best friend. Still, that seemed to only be part of the bigger issue. Something underlying. It took him some time to realize it, but one day he walked in on Owen giving Noah a massage. "Hey Al, Noah's really stressed out from his cashier job so I'm trying to get him to relax."
Alejandro didn't know why but seeing Owen in such a personal activity with Noah made him really annoyed. He chalked it up to the fact that they were doing it in his personal space. That made sense to him.
Of course things only got worse from there. Not that Owen and Noah kept coming to the dorm to do things. No it was more like he was starting to feel annoyed whenever he sees them together. They don’t have to be doing anything personal. The mere fact that they are hanging out together is enough to bother him.
It’s infuriating because he doesn’t even know why. He should be above jealousy. He’s Alejandro Burromuerto. He’s gorgeous, smart, and talented. There is no reason to be jealous of anyone.
He decides it must be because he feels like Noah is too good to be hanging out with Owen. It made sense. Owen was a rotund childish oaf with poor manners. Certainly not someone Noah should be hanging out with. In fact he’s surprised Noah even tolerates him. Noah has a very low tolerance for anyone, yet Owen somehow breaks down this barrier.
Then he starts to realize that his dates don’t feel fulfilling anymore. Not like there was much romance in the first place, but he could still indulge in their compliments and infatuation. Now it doesn’t feel enjoyable. Now it feels like he doesn’t care.
The only person he cares about liking him is Noah. He wants Noah to hang out with him. He wants Noah to praise him. Or at least show him more than the slightest congenial glance. Sure they talk in their dorm room but that’s different. They’re together in that instance because of the dorm room. Not because Noah seeks him out.
It doesn’t help that the times they do hang out in the dorm room are starting to feel like the highlights of his day. They get along well. Noah is intelligent and enjoys shit talking the other students. There’s no need to put on a socially acceptable face. He can be himself around him. In fact Noah prefers his true self over the visage he usually wraps himself in. Something no one has ever done.
Then earlier in the day he saw it. Noah and Owen were kissing. He’d known they were close. Extremely close best friends. But he hadn’t realized they were romantically interested in each other. It was at this point that he realized he liked Noah romantically.
It was awful. He can have practically anyone he wants and of course he falls for someone he can’t have. Not only that but he can’t have Noah because of Owen. He’s lost to Owen. The clumsy, annoying, stupid, overweight oaf. Jose would laugh if he knew.
Which is what had led him to go to Geoff’s party. He’d been hoping for a distraction. But it hadn’t worked. Mingling with everyone simply didn’t feel enjoyable. So he’d gotten drunk. As drunk as he could. He’d never inbibed enough to get intoxicated before. His body was his temple. So he’d never poison it.
He just wanted his brain to turn off. He wanted to stop thinking. Of course you don’t stop thinking when you’re drunk, you just have less inhibitions. Which wasn’t a good thing as when he got back to his dorm room Noah was there.
“You’re home late.” Noah remarked not bothering to look over his book.
“Yeah. Directions are weird.” He slurred.
At this Noah looked up at him. His eyes widened in shock. “Are you drunk?”
“Maybe little bit?” He manged to say. Words were hard to come by at the moment. His brain feels like a morass.
“You’re plastered.” Noah said, still looking shocked. “I thought you didn’t get drunk. Body is your temple and all that.”
“Need to stop thinking.” He nodded, the world swayed around him.
“About what?” Noah asked.
Were he sober there was no way he would have told him. He’s not sober. “You.”
Noah looked confused. “Did I upset you somehow?”
Alejandro can’t quite articulate his words. “Not fair. Why him, not me?”
Noah still seemed confused. “Who are you talking about?”
“He’s gross. And I’m hot. So why?” He slurred.
“Gross… you’re talking about Owen.” Noah nodded.
“Yeah. So why kiss him?” He asked.
Noah’s eyes widened further still. “Are you saying you’re interested in me romantically?”
At this point Alejandro feel like he might fall over. So its no surprise that his next words aren’t the best. “Feelings hurt. I hate feelings.” He stumbled over, clearly about to fall to the floor. Noah caught him.
“Dude. You should probably sleep this off.” Noah told him.
“Yeah.” He replied. Noah helped him into bed and without thinking he kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks you.” And with that he passed out.
Leaving Noah holding a hand to his cheek in shock. “I really hope he doesn’t remember this in the morning.”