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After a game, Scott and Shane made their way to the changing rooms together. There was a bit of teasing between the two of them most of the time, but they honestly liked each other.
Scott suddenly turned to Shane and asked him "Can we talk? I mean…after the party. Alone"
Shane looked at him, surprised. That sounded…serious, and unexpected.
"Uh sure, i guess. You can come to my room if you want. I'm in 1356."
Scott nodded and looked a bit relieved.
"Okay, thank you."
They didn't talk much after that. Even at the party, they were both with their friends and didn't even glanced at each other once.
That's why Shane was surprised that he wanted to talk to him, they weren't friends, acquaintances would be a better word. Except if Shane read that wrongly and they were closer than what he thought? It wouldn't be the first time it happened, but still, they never spent time alone together so that was weird.
When the party started to wind off, Shane declined his friends' proposition to go to a bar nearby to get drunk and went to his room, to wait for Scott.
He didn’t want to miss him and that Scott think that he forgot about it or didn't want to talk to him.
Ten minutes later, he heard a knock on his door, he got up from the couch he was sitting on and went to open it, greeting Scott with a tight smile.
Scott nodded back and entered in the room, then making sure that Shane closed it properly and that they were alone.
"Right so…" started Shane.
"This was such a bad idea…" said Scott at the same time.
Shane shook his head. "No..no it's okay. Whatever it is, it sounds important? While i don't get why you would want to talk to me, i can listen to you."
Scott inhaled sharply. "Yeah…uh i know. But…i think you're the most qualified person to talk about this?"
"Okay?" Shane looked confused now. Right. He should maybe start explaining, he would probably connect the dots quickly anyway.
"Yeah so….uh i have this person, yeah? We're like in a relationship and we fought because they're upset because i can't really be seen with..uh-"
"With him…?" Shane prompted.
Scott nodded quickly. Shane noticed that his hands were shaking slightly but didn't make a comment about it, it wouldn't help the situation.
"I see yeah…uh, have you explained him what coming out would imply?"
Scott hummed "yeah, and like he understands, to a certain extent but i think he's tired of lying to his family and his friends you know? It was his birthday a few days ago and i refused to go because his friends were going to be there and i was scared that they would reveal it…and after he saw that i wasn't going to change my mind he left. We haven't talked since."
"Oh i'm sorry…" said Shane, not really knowing how to react.
"Guess i just wanted to tell you because i think you would be the one that would understand the best, but yeah…now you know. You're the first actually. To know. I mean…the first i actually tell.
"Oh Scott that's…very brave of you to tell me" answered Shane, putting a hand on Scott's shoulder and squeezing it lightly, before continuing: "In my opinion, if he trusts his friends to not tell anyone, maybe you can trust him too. You can agree on like compromises you know? He gets to tell his friends and family and you get to be with him."
"You think he would agree?" asked Scott, hopeful.
Shane chuckled at that "Man, i don't know, i'm not him. But it doesn't hurt to ask. Bring him a gift, not a fancy one, he will just think you're trying to buy his forgiveness, a nice gift that you put thought into and go talk to him."
"Yeah…i can do that. He really likes art…so maybe a book about it? Or a small painting. I know his favourite painter."
Shane nodded, "yeah that sounds like a good idea. And…I know it's scary but you deserve happiness, and if happiness means being with him then you need to do something about it."
"Funny, you're the second person to tell me that" scoffed Scott, but the tone was playful.
"So i'm not the only one who has great ideas, good to know" laughed Shane.
"Fuck off." laughed Scott too, flipping him off, and then, more quietly "thank you"
"Of course, man. Keep me posted, yeah?"
Scott nodded and added "yeah…and..don't tell anyone? Please?"
"No, of course i won't. I have the feeling that you know stuff about me anyway, so even if i wanted to, i wouldn't do it." he said lightly, mostly as a joke.
"That would be correct, yes. I remember a specific time i was next to his room when-"
"Ok-ay, shut up now" Shane laughed, interrupting him. "Damn, i didn’t know you would pick up on that."
"Yeah well…" Scott laughed as well.
"Do you want to stay for a bit? I have ginger ale in my fridge."
"Ginger ale…wow, fancy" teased Scott. "But yeah, sounds good."
Shane rolled his eyes at the comment but gave him one anyway. They spent the rest of the evening talking about random things. They sure became closer. Shane was glad Scott was able to talk about it to someone.