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Luke was drying his hair after getting out of the shower, only in his shorts. He was lost in thought till a knock snapped him out of them.
"Come in." Luke said distractedly, glancing at the door and seeing his friend, "Oh, James," he put down the towel and turned to properly face James, "What're you doing here? How'd you get in?"
"Evening to you too," James closed the door behind him, "Your dad let me in."
Right, his dad was home.
Luke hadn't been talking his dad much after an argument they had, then again, his dad didn't seem to notice when Luke wasn't around. Him and his dad didn't have the best father and son relationship, his dad still didn't think he was man enough.
"I hadn't heard from you, that's all," James stepped closer to Luke, "Hope you don't mind." he smiled sheepishly at Luke.
"No, of course not haha," he tried his best to not sound awkward, seems he failed.
Luke had to admit, he had been avoiding talking to most of his friends in the past few days, he hadn't had the best week. His dad had ruined his birthday, and every time he tried to talk to his dad about it, he avoided the topic. What a father.
"Sorry about that, my dads just been a bit much lately." he responded, trying to keep his voice even to not show his obvious distaste to his father, where it wasn't a lie his dad had been a bit much, he was always much.
"I get it, don't worry about it," he went and sat down on the edge of Luke's bed, "Just checking in, you okay?" James was looking at him searchingly and cocked his head to the side.
Luke tossed his used towel into the washing basket, and took a step over to his bed, "I guess, it's not the end of the world." he took a seat on the edge of his bed next to James, "But he's so confusing! He tells me to start manning up and... and—" he was stuttering, "And then he doesn't even let me take on any of the meetings for example!" he turned his head to James and his eyes softened a little.
Luke had known James as long as he could remember, James was always there for him. They were 18 now, but it could still baffle Luke how understanding and attentive the guy was. Maybe it was how similar their lives were in a way, both closeted gays with dads who expect the best from them. James was the only guy who knew Luke was gay, and Luke was the only one who knew James was gay. They couldn't afford to be outed.
James regarded him for a moment, "Then he should make up his mind," James laid a hand on Luke's nape, "Don't worry about him." he was giving Luke an empathetic look.
Luke leaned onto James's shoulder, then James lowered Luke's head to rest on his lap.
"Yeah... you're right." Luke whispered.
James ran his fingers through Luke's hair in a comforting manner, they stayed in silence like that for a bit.
His fingers paused on one of Luke's curls, "You always straighten your curls out..." he resumed his fingers, "Why?"
Luke hated that question, "The curls make me look younger," he turned his head to look up at James, "So I rather keep them straight." Luke averted his gaze to the side of James to avoid eye contact. James's really had such nice eyes, it made him kind of jealous since his eyes weren't that interesting.
James hummed in a contemplative tone.
Luke looked back at James, "I really like your eyes."
James's eyes widened a little, quirking an eyebrow.
When James's didn't say anything, Luke added out of embarrassment, "Your eye colour," Luke cleared his throat shifting his gaze to anywhere but James, "I meant, it's nice."
Luke heard James giggle, "I'm quite fond of your eyes too." James added softly.
He snapped his eyes back to James and found him looking at him with clear fondness, his gaze down at Luke soft.
Luke had brown eyes, every time someone tried telling him they weren't basic, he didn't really buy it. All his friends had such nice interesting eyes, this wasn't the first time James had tried to reassure him about it.
"Yeah but mine aren't as interesting as yours, I still can't tell if they're blue or green!" Luke lifted his left hand to cup James's cheek, he was warm, so warm.
James's leaned into his hand a little, "Yours are interesting. They seem gold in some lighting actually." he covered the hand on his cheek with his own, "I like that about them, it matches your hair." James eyes flicked to Luke's hair.
He was holding Luke's hand basically.
Ugh.
James slowly started grinning, "Don't tell me you seriously don't like your eyes!"
Luke's eyes were still locked in on their hands touching on James's face. He felt his face grow warm.
"Luke?"
Luke looked back up at James, "Eh?", despite his look of concern, James's pupils were blown.
James just looked at him for what seemed like forever.
"What?"
James mouth opened then closed, he hesitated whatever he was going to say.
"You're very beautiful." James squeezed Luke's hand a little tighter, his face serious as he whispered the compliment.
Luke could tell he started blushing more, but he started grinning when he noticed the serene smile that grew on James's face, "No," a playful tone crept into his voice.
"Admit it," James started giggling in between his words, "You know you're pretty."
Luke pouted, "No!", he pulled on James's cheek a little, "Stop laughing!", even with his protests, he couldn't help but laugh too. James's really had an infectious laugh.
He admired how perfect James's laugh was, James really was gorgeous. He was one of those guys with the most beautiful genes. His platinum blonde hair along with such beautiful eyes, he could stare at them for hours.
When James continued to laugh, Luke removed his hand from James's face but James didn't let go. Luke sat up and looked down at their intertwined hands.
After James's laughter finally subsided, he looked back at Luke who no longer had his head laid down in his lap, "Come here,"
Luke shuffled over closer to face James, "Mm?"
James removed his hand from Luke's and moved it to Luke's nape, he laid his other hand on Luke's shoulder.
He couldn't resist the urge to lean into the touch like some touch starved kitten, "James?"
James thumb laid where his pulse was, he leaned in a little, "You smell sweet."
"Vanilla."
Luke loved smelling nice, James always noticed. So attentive, noticing every thing.
"Ah," James smiled softly and leaned in closer, their faces were just inches apart now.
"James..."
James leaned in and kissed the part above his collarbone, "Yeah?", he trailed softer kisses up Luke's neck back up to his cheek, his lips brushed against Luke's warm skin on his face.
"What are you doing?", he sounded a little breathless.
Luke had to admit it felt really nice, but him and James had never come close to this type of thing. James was Luke's closest friend to be honest, but James always had Ryan.
James leaned his cheek against Luke's, "I want to kiss you," he whispered.
Luke's face felt warm again, he had never kissed anyone before. What if he's bad at it? That would be super embarrassing, James would laugh!
Then James added, "I've not kissed anyone before though,"
Ah.
"Me neither." Luke whispered, he was definitely blushing now.
The thought of kissing James actually didn't sound so bad, in fact he actually liked the idea of it. He'd looked at James lips a great deal of times to know they must feel nice.
James pulled back a little to look at Luke, "We don't have to-"
Luke cut him off, "No! I want to. Kiss me!"
His plan to try not be too enthusiastic had easily failed, but James didn't seem to mind.
James leaned in and fit their mouths together.
He was gentle, so gentle. Of course James was gentle, it was him. Luke could feel his heartbeat fasten, warmth growing in his face again.
James held Luke's face in both his hands, making sure to be gentle with him.
James moved his hands down to the bare skin on Luke's waist, pulling him closer against his chest.
He slowly pulled away from Luke.
Feeling a little dazed, Luke focused his gaze on James and found him looking at his lips, they were both out of breath.
James leaned in again, then a sound made him pause.
A ringing sounded from James's pockets.
Really?
James pulled out his phone, "It's Ryan," he looked back up at Luke with question in his expression.
Ryan, of course.
It wasn't like Luke didn't like Ryan or something, but he couldn't help but be a little jealous of what they had. Besides the obvious one sided romantic infatuation James had going on for him, they were a perfect pair. Ryan was as straight as an arrow according to James, he did feel sympathetic for James about it, he couldn't imagine pining after the one guy you couldn't have.
But did he seriously have to call now?
Luke cleared his throat, "Go take it, your prince charming must need something." he smiled sweetly.
James giggled, "He isn't my prince charming and you know that."
James got out the bed and walked out to Luke's balcony, he shut the sliding door behind him.
Luke sighed.
He crawled over to his pillows and flopped back onto the bed.
***
Once he was outside, James answered the phone.
"Ryan?"
"Jamie! Where are you?"
Ryan was slurring his words, was he drunk?
"I'm at Luke's place, are you drunk?"
There was silence on the line for a moment before he heard Ryan giggle.
"Maybe. Can you come over?"
"Why?"
As much as James loved being around Ryan, now really wasn't the time.
"I'm bored!"
"You can call your girlfriend to entertain you then," he replied flatly.
He tried his best to not be salty about Ryan's girlfriend, as long as he didn't openly show it, it should be fine. He didn't hate her, she just seemed to ruin most of his and Ryan's plans together. James missed his best friend, but if he's constantly hanging out with her instead of James then he can call her to entertain him.
"She's..." Ryan paused for a moment, "Jamie, come on!"
"I'm not giving in this time, I'll come over tomorrow if you're not already busy with her." he chuckled to hide any awkwardness.
Ryan groaned, "Where are you again?"
"Luke's."
"Fine," he heard shuffle noises on the line, "Come by Zack's tomorrow, everyone else is."
By everyone else, he could only assume Ryan was talking about the whole Hardaway clan.
"Ok," James paused, "Good night."
"Night."
James hung up.
He loved Ryan, but Luke said he had a bad week, leaving to go see Ryan would be rude.
James slid open the door back into Luke's bedroom and closed it once he entered, he paused when he noticed Luke under the covers.
He rounded the bed to see if he was asleep.
He was, and so peacefully too.
James moved a curl from his face, his cheek was wet.
He leaned down and pecked him on the cheek.
Making sure he didn't leave anything, he left Luke's bedroom and made his way out the house to his car.
Getting into his car, he pulled out his phone and typed a text to Luke for when he wakes up.
Call me if you need anything, Lucy.