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Lightning brightened the room. The storm outside didn’t seem to be fading anytime soon, raging and circling around from time to time for the past few hours.
Summer was supposed to be hot and sunny, yet this year it was quite the opposite. The living room you were sitting in was chilly too - maybe it was the fact that it wasn’t sunny for the past few days, or maybe it’s because
someone
left the balcony doors open despite the forecast.
You were wrapped in a thin blanket, turning pages of a very thick and very boring physics textbook, looking for definitions and formulas that your friend should learn to pass a second term. It was one of the downsides of having almost only A’s in most subjects at the university. A lot of people came to you, asking, more or less politely for your help, but you agreed only to help a few. Bazz-B was among this tight circle, you’d help in the blink of an eye. He was a good friend, always there for you, always had your back, so it felt natural to do the same for him.
So here you were, making sure that he'd be ready to retake the exam by the summer break’s end, and get a top score. Or at least one satisfying for him.
And speaking of your friend, the tall man entered the room, holding in his hand the cup of steaming hot beverage you demanded with clatter in your teeth and tighter wrap in the blanket.
“Here is your tea.” Bazz-B smiled, putting the cup in front of you.
It was absolutely bizarre for you, how this man could just sit in a sleeveless top and shorts, while you were dying from cold.
“Thanks.” You murmured, trying not to shudder at the mere looks of his clothes. “So, where were we?”
“Chapter 8?” He looked through his messy notes. “Yeah it’s-”
Lighting struck again, this time very close. Too close. The thunder made your ears ring, an unpleasant shiver went up on your spine ending somewhere at the bottom of your head. Everything was white for a split second, to suddenly become very, very dark.
“Shit! Where is-?!” You reached into your pockets, looking for your phone, taming the surge of a panic that started to wash over you, while your eyes slowly started to get used to the sudden lack of light.
“What’s going on? You’re afraid of a little dark?” Reacting in quite an opposite way, Bazz-B laughed, searching for his own phone.
“Shut up!”
Bazz-B at first laughed, failing to catch that your words were not just a little friendly banter.
“Holy shit you are. Sorry. Uh, here.” The man reflected quickly, catching that you are not just messing around. The screen brightened up his face, his eyes narrowed a little, yet 6% of battery didn’t bode well. Nevertheless he turned on the flashlight, so you finally pulled your own phone. “Mine’s gonna die soon. Yours?”
“I have 10%...”
“Okay. Listen, I’ll go see if I have some candles in the kitchen, okay?”
“Hey, don’t leave-”
“Relax, I’m not going far, just next room.” He smiled, pointing with the light to the next room. “Or actually, come with me.”
“Huh?”
“Yeah, come. Someone has to hold the light for me.” He laughed, extending his hand to you.
You took his hand without hesitation. It felt safer with him, besides, he had the light on and it wasn’t smart to drain both phones of their batteries at once.
The fact that your fingers intertwined somehow escaped your attention. But not Bazz-B’s. Grinning like a Cheshire Cat, your friend guided you to the kitchen. You tried your best to help him but it was inevitable to end up with the man cursing every time his head or hand hit something while rearranging the insides of cupboards.
Finally, after a few minutes accompanied by the battery’s percentage dropping too quickly, the man straightened his back, looking around with a triumphant smile.
“I have good news, and bad news.”
“Uhh… I think I’d rather have good ones first.”
“I got candles. Actually a lot of candles. I have no idea how I have three boxes of tealights in my possession. My ex must’ve left them when she moved away.”
“Finally, she did something useful.” Bazz-B snorted at your comment, fully aware of your reluctance to the girl. “And bad news?”
“Seems like the whole street has lost electricity.” He pointed out the kitchen’s window. “It’s dark- dark. Not even the buildings on the other side. I saw people lighting up candles just like us. Come on. Help me a bit here.”
Armed with a lighter and a box of tealights, beforehand scolding Bazz-B for not putting anything between thin aluminum containers and furniture, you illuminated the room with soft light within minutes. It looked delightfully warm and cozy. Perfect atmosphere for many things, except for going through thick volumes of scientific gibberish.
The man seemed to be pleased with the effect too, along with having exactly the same thoughts as you. But he was a man of action, so instead of just looking at you with a never-fading grin, Bazz-B’s arm wrapped around yours, pulling you closer.
The intention was clear. And it’s not like you didn’t suspect that your friend might have some other feelings for you. After his last breakup it didn’t seem like it was just a need for an arm to yap over how bad the world is and closure of someone trusted. But you just decided to not push, not ask, just be a good friend. And eventually let it unfold or die naturally.
“Well, not that’s what I call a mood. ” He purred with a smug smile, looking down at you.
“Mood?” You let out a small snort. It was hot all of a sudden and you were not sure whether it’s him or was it countless tealights around, bordering on a fire hazard? “I doubt it’s for studying.”
“Your doubts are correct. Come on. We’ve been… Orbiting around each other like some damn celestial bodies.”
His comment came out of nowhere, made you laugh sincerely.
“ Celestial bodies? God, that’s so corny.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s you who insisted on sitting over physics textbooks for a few hours straight.” Little pout curved his lips just to be replaced by another smile. “I have all the cheesy pick-up lines in my sleeve, you know?”
“Oh, do you now?”
“You bet. How about we take advantage of the proximity and do a little… Collision.”
“You do know that these types of events usually are catastrophic in consequence-” You decided to join in the game, throw some on-topic comeback and turn it into a little banter, but Bazz-B shushed you.
“Shut up, smartass.”
Not letting you have any chance for a smart comeback, he leaned closing your lips in a kiss.
You are sure, somewhere in textbooks would be described the phenomena of freezing time and space. Because how else would you explain the fact that you had no idea for how long you two were sitting on the couch, making out?
“When do you think the power will come back?” You whispered finally, when you managed to break away for a moment.
“I hope not for long.” He smiled, placing another kiss on your lips. "It would be a shame to waste such a mood.”