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Neil slumped down on his bed, the old springs creaking in protest as he landed heavily on his back. He sighed as he looked up at the ceiling in frustration.
Todd was sitting across the room on his bed working through some practice work given out by their latin professor. He looked up at Neil’s entrance.
“Everything alright Neil?” A twinge of concern his voice.
Neil turned to look at Todd, smiling weakly. “Y’know that person I was telling you about? The one that I like?”
Todd’s eyes flickered in recognition, Neil had been ranting to him about this person for almost the whole school year. As far as Todd could tell, he was getting nowhere with them.
“Did something happen between you two?” Todd asked, glad that it was nothing serious.
Neil rolled his head back to stare at the ceiling again, clenching his jaw in frustration. “Not exactly,” he gave a small laugh, “It’s just, I’ve been dropping the most obvious hints, for like a year now, and they just don’t seem to get it.” Neil looked back at Todd with a sigh.
Todd smiled at his friend sympathetically. “To be honest Neil, they sound pretty dumb.” Neil couldn’t help but laugh at that.
“They really aren’t. They’re actually really smart. I think they’re just dense.” Todd put his work down on the floor and sat for a moment, pondering.
“Well, maybe you need to be really obvious?” Todd tipped his head up in thought, “Like ‘Hey! I love you!’” Todd figured that someone like Neil could pull off something bold like that.
Neil considered the idea, a grin on his face as he sat up to look Todd in the eyes.
“Todd, I love you.” Neil’s voice was sincere as he smiled, eyes locked with Todd’s.
Todd beamed back at him. “That’s it! If you say that they’ve got to figure it out!” Neil groaned as he smacked his face into his hands. He slouched forward staring down at his feet.
“Holy hell.” He muttered, voice cracking in disbelief.
Todd continued oblivious. “If that doesn’t work, well, sorry Neil. I think they’re just too dumb for you.” The irony slapped Neil in the face.
“Todd.” Neil groaned, his eyes flicking back up to the other boy.
“What?” Todd was genuinely confused. His face creasing in concern for his friend.
Neil sat up again, desperation creeping into his voice as he asked, “Is there maybe something more obvious than saying ‘I love you’?” His eyes burning holes into Todd’s as he silently willed him to understand.
Todd, alas, remained blissfully unaware. He stared out the window a moment before answering “I guess at that point there’s only one option left.” A smile grew on Todd’s face as he continued, “You’ve just gotta walk up and kiss them!”
Neil’s mouth curled up into a grin, new resolve overtaking him as he stood.
Todd stood to meet him, caught up in Neil’s energy.
“I guess you’re right!” Neil took a step forward and, grabbing Todd by the lapels, pulled him into a kiss.
A small gasp escaped Todd as his eyes widened in shock. Time seemed to ignore all laws as the moment stretched into eternity while also seeming end before it had even begun. Eventually, Neil let go of Todd and pulled away, he smiled sheepishly. Todd stood there, stuttering as his mouth struggled to catch up to his flurrying thoughts.
“So…” Neil ran a hand through his hair, losing his nerve as he watched for Todd’s reaction. “Was that obvious enough for you?” He silently prayed that he had made the right decision.
“I..” he tried again, “was tha-“ he was quickly cut off as Todd practically fell on top of him, kissing him hard enough that they felt backward onto Neil’s bed.
“I am such an idiot.” Todd laughed against Neil’s lips.
“You made it there in the end.” Neil smiled as he ran his fingers through Todd’s hair.
“If only I’d realized sooner!” Their lips parted, each catching their breath. Todd gazing into Neil’s eyes, a newfound warmth rising inside him.
“That just means we have to make up for lost time!” Neil closed the gap between them again. Laughing at the absurdity of it all. Todd tasted sweet and warm, Neil closed his eyes, savouring the moment.
Neil realized he didn’t’t care how long it had taken, he would’ve waited forever even just for this one moment