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It was almost midnight when Neil arrived back at his own dorm. He swiped his keycard and pushed open his door. The tv was cranked and some racing game was playing. Aaron and Nicky were over as usual. All three cousins had a controller in their hands as they sat on three of the four beanbag chairs in the dorm.
Kevin was slouched on the couch. No doubt he was still sulking about both Andrew and Neil bailing on night practice. Everyone else refused to drive Kevin. When Neil suggested Kevin walk to court, Andrew glared daggers until Kevin sat down with a pout on his face.
No one acknowledged Neil’s entrance so he headed into the kitchen. Neil grabbed a bowl of fresh strawberries and his water bottle from the fridge.
He plopped down on the beanbag closest to Andrew.and offered him the bowl. Andrew glanced over at his boyfriend and did a double take. The game was paused almost instantaneously. Aaron groaned and threw his head back in frustration.
“I’m going to- Neil, what did you do to your nails?”
At first, Neil thought Aaron meant the way he had chewed them. Then, Nicky squealed.
“Oh my god!” Nicky jumped up from his beanbag and rushed over to Neil. He picked up one of Neil's hands and stared. “Who did them?!” Nicky flipped Neil’s hand and examined the polish from all different angles.
“Oh. Allison,” Neil said plainly.
Nicky dropped Neil's arm unceremoniously.
“I owe her so much money,” Nicky groaned.
Aaron looked at his brother who was transfixed on Neil’s hands.
“Nope. I’m out of here” Aaron threw his controller on the coffee table and stood up. “Nicky, you coming?”
“Actually-” Nicky started
“Out.” Andrew barked.
Nicky squeaked and jumped to his feet. “I’m coming!” The front door slammed shut behind the two cousins.
Andrew glared at the back of the couch like he could see Kevin through it. The man himself sat up into view a second later. Kevin stared right back at Andrew in only the way Kevin Day would. He took one look at Neil’s nails and frowned.
“The press is going to make a lot of assumptions,” Kevin pointed to Neil's painted fingers.
Andrew’s expression turned murderous. The deal between Andrew and Kevin had been null ever since Baltimore but the friendship the two of them shared somehow stuck. However, it seems that delicate friendship is about to snap.
Andrew’s eyes narrow. “Out” Andrew repeated.
Kevin crossed his arms over his chest. Neil thought Kevin looked very much like his father right now. Aside from the petulant pout on Kevin's face.
“No,” Kevin said.
Andrew reached for his knives. Neil rolled his eyes and the standoff in front of him. He took a page from Allison's book of how to instigate 101 and he fixed his gaze on Kevin.
“My, Kevin. I never took you for a voyeur” Neil leaned on his hand and stared at Andrew with open adoration. Andrew tried to remain apathetic. To the rest of the world he would have succeeded. Neil knew better though. A flame of pure heat and carnal lust burned quietly in Andrew’s eyes.
A retching noise broke the couple's trance. Kevin stumbled to the front door. He left without a word but his disgust was evident.
Suddenly, Neil and Andrew were all alone in the dorm. The tv screen was still paused and no sound echoed through the room. Somebody could drop a pin and you would hear every sound it made.
Neil clears his throat. “I wonder if he liked my nails?” he tapped on his lower lip with one of his fingernails and made a thinking noise.
Andrew scoffed and rolled his eyes. “I hate you”
Neil couldn’t help but smile. “Do you like my nails, Andrew?”
Andrew could’ve frozen hell with the side eye he gave his boyfriend. “151%”
Neil’s eyebrows ticked up. 151% was quite a jump from his previous 104%. Andrew must really hate Neil’s nails.
He hummed and walked his fingers to the edge of his leg, where it almost touched Andrews. Neil looked up behind the cover of his lashes. “Yes or no Drew?”
“Fuck it” Andrew whispered before manhandling Neil to straddle his lap.
“Yes” Andrew breathed against Neil's lips.
Neil's right hand cradled the side of Andrew's face while the other he burrowed into Andrew’s hair as soon as Andrew said yes. Neil lightly scratched Andrew’s skull with his dull nails. Andrew’s eyes rolled in their sockets
Andrew groaned low in his chest. Neil felt the vibrations of it and bit his lip. Andrew thread his fingers through auburn hair and tugged. Neil made a sound he couldn’t describe because of the blood rushing in his ears.
“Don’t get caulky, bunny” Andrew muttered against Neil's lips.