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Tony perry and Jaime preciado were practically inseparable. Everybody knew that.
The two boys have grown up, and currently live in the smaller town of Medora, ND. Everybody in their neighborhood went to the same schools, in the same classes, and typically end up going to the same college in town.
Both boys have been close since kindergarten, as they were practically forced together by their mother’s once tony’s mom started her new job in the same cubicle as Jaime’s.
So, as lunches turned to dinners, and dinners turned to sleepovers, it was only a matter of time until the two boys were nearly attached at the hip.
They went everywhere, and did everything together. From first roller coaster ride, to first fake ID. It was simply second nature for one to call the other to explain what the two were bound to do.
They shared the same, nerdy interests in Star Wars, skating, biking, and comedy movies. It was just so easy for the two to find things they both like. If one liked something, then the other automatically did too. Similar to the way of how if one disliked something, the other automatically despised it even more.
The boys were the definition of best friends.
But as they grow and walk through life,
Jaime grows scared.
Jaime has finally acknowledged that unfortunately for him, his feelings for tony have grown stronger than just mere friendship.
Sure, Jaime’s had girlfriends, hookups, and flings. Of course he did, he’s a 20 year old!
But he’s never felt anything so strong towards any of those girls he’s been with. He’s exchanged a few meaningless “I love you”s, like boys typically do in middle and high school.
But it’s never felt so raw, so true, until him and tony started saying the same three words to eachother whenever they wander off by themselves.
Those three words never felt so powerful until both boys almost lost their lives one night to a crazy drunk guy.
It’s like that experience shot reality into the boys. How can they live every day without telling the people closest to them that they love them?
What if you miss saying those words once,
and then you’re gone?
On tony’s half, he’s known about his feelings for Jaime since middle school. He’s been so, so loyal. Barely touching or looking at any girl or guy for the sake of Jaime. For the sake of the not yet established relationship that they have.
I mean, tony’s always been a smart boy. He knew normal best friends didn’t want to touch eachother. He knew normal best friends didn’t just look at eachothers lips. He knew better than that. And he just watched Jaime be confused, letting him work his way through it.
And despite their feelings, they stay attached at the hip. Growing impossibly closer each and every day.
So, when the both of them walk into a bar to meet their group of friends, it’s no shock they walk in together.
Unfortunately, the only two seats available at the big circular wood table were across from each other, and none of their friends would budge.
They look at eachother for a moment, communicating through their eyes as they try to decide on whether or not to find a table for just the two of them.
But eventually, they decide against it, and begrudgingly take the two seats across from each other.
Both of the boys talk to the guys around them. But even the conversations aren’t deep enough to prevent the boys from looking at each other every few minutes. Offering small smiles and making stupid gestures.
Jaime wounds up pulling his phone out of his pocket, discretely pulling up tony’s contact. Which isn’t hard to do, since Tonys the only number he has pinned in his messages.
He finds a cigarette emoji, and sends it to tony. Knowing that his best friend will know what he’s saying. Tucking his phone away and scooting his chair back. The wooden legs scraping against the brick floor.
Not his favorite sound ever.
He pats a few of his buddies on the back before heading out. Rounding the side of the bar and finding a clear spot to sit down. Digging his cigarette pack out of his back pocket.
He doesn’t even look up as he hears the crunching of the pebbles lining the alleyway floor. Knowing it’s tony. He even knows what his steps sound like.
He doesn’t look up until tony plops down beside him with a small grunt. Giving his best friend a small smile as he doesn’t hesitate to hand him his freshly lit cigarette. Taking the first drag. Laughing around the stick as Jaime speaks.
“If I have to hear about Tyler’s most recent hook up one more time, I may shoot myself. I mean, seriously, does he have to simulate literally everything to me? Why are you moaning in my ear??”
Sure, Jaime’s a dramatic guy, but tony knows exactly what he’s talking about. Having gone through the same experience with their mutual friend multiple times.
There starts the effortless conversation. The cold air carries through the alleyway, carrying the smoke of the shared cigarette that they pass back and forth until it finally burns out.
They gradually scoot closer, and closer, and closer, and closer. Their thighs to their matching vans squished together. Jaime’s hoodie clad arm wrapped tightly around his best friend’s shivering form, who now has Jaime’s coat draped over his shoulders.
The cigarette is long stubbed out by now, but they’d rather endure the cold than have to be separated by a stupid table again.
So they sit there, quietly talking to eachother about whatever comes to mind. Effortless conversation flowing through the invisible distance between them.
“You know I love you, right?” Tony speaks. His voice quiet, shaky as he shivers.
“I know.” Says Jaime.
And the silence that follows after is comfortable.
Comfortable, but nerve wracking for Jaime.
Those three words have come out between the two so many times. Before bed, before they go to class, before Jaime heads out in the morning to grab tony’s coffee and his own tea.
But this time, Jaime means it differently. The way he says it holds more meaning than it usually does. It speaks louder than his own quiet, shivery voice does. It makes tony grow warm, despite the shiver inducing cold.
“You know i love you too, right?” Jaime says.
His words shaky, but not just from the nippy air.
His grip tightening on tony’s side, where his hand had rested. His fingers sprawled out, feeling tony’s warm skin through his thin shirt. His arm squished between tony’s back, the jacket draped over his form, and the brick wall of the bar.
And despite the creeping numbness, the thump of his heart so loud he can hear it in his ears, and the unexplainable nerves raking through his body,
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
Especially when the only sounds between them are the mixture of their breathing, and now the rustling of the jacket draped over tony as he lifts his head from Jaime’s shoulder.
And he certainly wouldn’t have it any other way as tony just looks at him. Cuddled up into his side, his taller body shaking, despite being wrapped up in a jacket.
He wouldn’t have it any other way as tony gradually gets closer. Giving Jaime an agonizingly slow time to pull away. But when he doesn’t, he just nods.
Returning the same
“I know.”
Jaime had said only eight minutes earlier.
And pressing his cold lips to Jaime’s.
The kiss soft, tender, and spilling words between them silently. Words the both of them haven’t dare spoken.
And despite the fact that both of the boys lips are sort of chapped, they taste like stale cigarette smoke, and they don’t move them for a solid two minutes,
The kiss is perfect.
Definitely better than any hook up he’s had with a random girl from a frat party.
Better than anything he’d ever experienced.
So when tony tentatively starts to move his lips against Jaime’s, trying to pull the boy closer by snaking his cold, pink, numb fingers up to the other boys cheek,
Warmth of a million fire blooms between them.
and eventually, after pulling away just to kiss again a second later, if even,
They leave.
They leave with zero words to any of their friends in the bar.
They go home. Caught up in the warmth, the feeling of each other.
And neither of the boys regret it.
Not one single bit.
Neither of the boys ever regret that single kiss at the bar,
or any of the ones that follow for years after.