Chapter Text
The alarm blares, waking him from whatever dream he had been sleeping through, his eyes blinking open, adjusting to the change in consciousness
Cory yawns, the morning sun bleeding through his thin white curtains and into the closet sized room he calls a bedroom. clothes, books and assignments laying sprawled over his floor, along with a few beer canisters which he doesn't even like drinking. For a minute, he doesn't move, just stares at his ceiling. Theres nothing on it, just his light hanging there, and a mystery stain he hopes the is just some dirt or a water stain. Finally, after the minute passes, he sits up on his raggedy bed, a which has one way too small blanket, a fat hotel pillow and a thin mattress. his bare feet touch the cold hardwood floor he had said he'd get a carpet for but never did, he cringes, its much colder than his bed. It's messy, there are too many Polaroids on the wall, most of them taken when he was drunk, many of him and Aspen out at parties. Plenty of his cat back home, and his little brother and sister; Elliott and Nia. Even a few of mom and dad, they're all smiling, a few letters taped under them, wishing him well at college. It's sweet. The room smells like sweat and the flowers on the balcony, he hadn't planned on having flowers but Aspen had decided to channel some inner gardening spirit and suddenly they a whole field of flowers just on their balcony
He pushes himself onto his two legs, moving to open the window properly, and waft out the smell of sweat. staring out the window, the campus is pretty empty, the trees just having started to get their leaves back, finally making the area not look like an absolutely waste zone since the snow was gone. He takes a deep breath in, before turning around and walking over to the metal clothing rack he and Aspen had haphazardly set up for himself, pulling out a white collared shirt with a missing button at the bottom, and some washed out baggy jeans, which he proceeds to drapes over his bed. He sighs at the sight, he doesn't know where his buttons on his shirts keeps disappearing off to, maybe Aspen is stealing it for his projects, but he decides that's a question for another day, and not one he's willing to think about right now, for his brain it's far to inactive this early, it's only 6:00 AM, he doesn't have to think. So instead, he starts looking for a good sweater to have over the shirt he'd picked out. Sure, it was spring, however it was only April, and it's still pretty dang cold in April, especially these mornings. finally, he spots a beige sweater on the floor, it looks... Clean enough, at least compared to the rest of what practically lives on his dorm floor. He takes a step towards it, bending over to pick it up, his fingers grabbing around the cotton fabric. He remembers his grandma gifting this to him when he was what, 15? It was too big for him then, but it did start fitting him as of recently when he turned 20. thanks grandma... I should visit her more often. He doesn't dwell on it, he'll visit next week sometime
"... This could work" he mutters to himself, lifting the arms and taking a sniff. It didn't SMELL like sweat, so he supposes that's a win and tosses it onto his bed with the other two pieces of clothing hes decided on wearing today, then started to dig up some socks and clean underwear from a drawer, finding a pair of white socks and black boxers. Cory takes a glance at his door, a mirror hangs on it, which he couldn't resist using. He checks himself out, running his fingers through his wavy brown hair. It's a decent length, down to his ears most places, thoughh the tail end swoops down along the nape of his neck. Either way he could probably do with brushing more often, it's pretty unruly and occasionally he has cowlicks, his mom would chastise him about it he knows it. Eventually, Cory stops admiring himself in the mirror and grabs door handle, pulling the door open, peeking his head out into the living room. Aspen wasn't up yet, he never is at this hour. he always wakes up around 10:00 AM despite having morning classes at 8:00 AM, but he always says "it's just some english literature, I ALREADY speak it so it doesn't REALLY matter! Plus writing is Boring" He doesn't agree on that, however Cory isn't one to complain, he has the bathroom to himself for however long he needs it as long as Aspen doesn't wake up from his rock like sleep.
Stepping out of his room into the messy living room which consists of their cheap TV, green couch he and Aspen practically have to snuggle on for them both to fit, which he has to admit makes his heart race like a fool, and a small hardwood table they'd grabbed off the side of the road from a giveaway; it was pretty ugly, he doesn't know who willingly put money into having this but they clearly regretted it. But he doesn't get to complain, it was free and Aspen really wanted a table, which was now covered in cups, stains, paint, thread and a few empty plates from their movie nights and Aspen's crafts. He then walks past the kitchenette and reaches the small bathroom. Opening the creeky wooden door, Cory reaches for the light switch by the doorframe, turning on the florescent light that everyone is always complaining about being so bright and annoying, at least thats what Aspen says, but that guy is always so over dramatic about things that only annoy him. Cory stretches, arching his back into a nice curve. Cmon, you have class today, go brush your teeth. He walks to the small bathroom counter, grabbing the dark green and light blue toothbrush out from the little cup they have by the sink, turning on the tap and getting the toothpaste. Which is very important because his dentist will scream at him if his teeth aren't absolutely perfect. Very important. Totally. Yeah. Cory stares at himself in the mirror, his moles, the acne scars from when he was an awkward teenager who'd pop his pimples when his mom shouted at him for the seventh time to "Stop doing that, Cory!". He smiles at the memory, a stupid grin, toothpaste foam almost spills out of his mouth while doing so
He finishes up, wetting a cloth with some soap and washing off the sweat from yesterday, going across all his bases as well as grabbing new, clean boxers which he put on. Cory grabs the dirty cloth and boxers, glancing towards the woven laundry bin in the corner of the light blue tile room, a small smirk appearing on his lips as he lifts his arm to attempt to throw it, it's a good distance away, but his ego is telling him he can absolutely do this. A smirk starts up. "And there he goes.. Cory with the ball, the hoop only a few meters away now, can he do it? He aims and he—" he throws it. The cloth hits the wall, sliding down to the floor beside the bin with a squeaky watery sound "—and he misses." Cory sighs, finishing his sentence, ego bruised, a slight pout now staining his lips
Suddenly, a door creeks open across the living room. Aspen's up surprisingly early then.
pushing the bathroom door open, then locking eyes on the other boy standing there. he rakes his eyes over the ravenette. His dear, DEAR, crus—BEST FRIEND. Best friend. friend. Totally. Nothing else. They're friends. Friends! Best buds, since childhood. Aspen Amato, a lanky guy hunching over the kitchen counter, a stupid mug with some quote written on, a joke Cory is pretty sure, he never bothered to read it after Aspen got it. He remembers the joke sucks, it's something dirty. Either way, he just watches a little. Aspen is wearing some Band T-shirt they got during a live. Its worn, the design almost completely faded, though the guy loves it as if it were his own child, refuses to buy a new one. Cory supposes be respects it. It looked good on Aspen anyway. He just admires the boy, to lose in thought to realize the olive skinned boy had lifted his head, hair framing his angular face as he stares back at Cory. Those eyes, deep almond brown, rich, deep and slightly downturned. He could look at them for hours. Get lost in then forever—Maybe that's a little much, Cory, he's your best friend, not some girl you're crushing on. Get it together!
"G'mornig, dude" Aspen's speaks up, jolting Cory from thought. That soft hum that seems to follow that smooth voice. Not really deep, but not light either. God he could listen to him talk for hours, just to hear it over and over and over again. "Haven't used all the hot water, have you? I don't get it, how can you stand those hour long showers?" He continues with a question and a grin, the small gap in Aspen's two front teeth visible, one he's had since he was a kid. An imperfection to some, but Cory thinks it just just as pretty as the rest of the guy. Aspen always said he'd get braces to fix it up. But never did. hed look cute with braces too..— God Cory cut it out you sound so gay! You AREN'T gay, not for Aspen, no no no, you like women. Always. Yeah. Women. Hot women, yeah!
"Nah, I haven't, not shower day anyway... You're up early though, what gives?" Cory asks back, raising a bushy eyebrow at Aspen as he joins his friend in the kitchenette, reaching over to turn on the coffee pot for them both and pulling a mug out of their white cabinet. A souvenir mug with a childish doodle you'd see in comics from the 90s of a moose on it. he bought that mug on a vacation to the west of Norway when he was 15, one that his family invited Aspen's family on as well. That was a fun summer, slightly colder than a summer here, but still warm and nice, if a little windy. He's pretty sure Aspen has a Polaroid of that somewhere around his room. He thinks he might too. They spent that vacation bathing in the lake, in which they rough housed a LOT, pulling each other under the water and playfully chucking buckets of water at the other. He wished he'd had more time too admire Aspen's soft and slim body— okay maybe a little bit personal there, Keep it in your pants, Cory. Hes your friend, you aren't gay. you like girls.
"Believe it or not, but I'm actually going to show up to my 8:00 AM classes this week! Aren't I amazing?" Aspen flaunts, putting a dramatic hand to his chest, the side of his shirt slipping off his shoulder, revealing his sharp collarbone, Cory tried not to stare. Aspen, showing up to class? A miracle, really. Cory snorts, holding back a laugh. Aspen has NEVER showed up for an 8:00 AM class in his life, well maybe the first 5 days of the school year, in which he came back to their original crappy dorm, cried and bitched about it and passed out, vowing to drop those classes the second he could. It's some english class about the history of literature, he finds it funny that an art and design student decided to sign up for, considering it wasn't even a mandatory class and Aspen hates writing, he claims its the most "Monotonous task to ever have cursed humanity with it's presence" , but he did. And he hated it. Cory did warn him he wouldn't like it.
"You'll show up to this one then forget the rest" Cory replies flatly back, a smirk plays on his face, as he nudges his best friend's side "you know the sharade, you always forget
"I do not!" Aspen huffs with an over exaggerating pout on his face, voice full to the BRIM with faux offence and a hint of ego bruise, a playful grin playing on his thin, pale peach lips, a defined Cupid's bow , unlike his own; which is almost just circular, only a small dip lining the top "I'll be up every morning, and get to class on time! I totally will! Do you have no faith In me or what?" He crosses his arms, tossing a mock glare at his best friend. He looks stupid, but cute. Stupidly cute? Yeah, thats what he is. Stupidly adorable
"You will forget, you can't wake up until 9:00 AM, and that's early for you! You are NOT waking up earlier for classes, dude." Cory mocks, and shoves him playfully, enjoying their dumb, meaningless banter, sometimes Aspen really did set his goals a BIT high for himself, okay more than sometimes but its funny so he won't tell him to STOP, who's he to stop him from trying? they laugh, snicker and chuckle, slowly quieting down til a comfortable silence had grown between them as Cory pours both of them a cup of black coffee, leaving a little space in Aspen's cup, since Aspen has gone to get milk from their fridge, because he can't drink straight coffee, he complains its wayyyy to strong "Plus," he continues "You hate those classes. Why'd you even sign up?" He smirked, watching Aspen pour the white liquid carefully into the coffee, lightening there near pitch black color to a nice warm brown tone, the bony hands wrapping around the handle. Aspen's nails are painted black with gel polish, since he's a nail biter. It stops him from doing it. And its also pretty stylish so you won't hear Cory complain. Then again Cory doesn't really complain about anything Aspen does, he looks good with everything. "And no, I don't have faith in you, dumbass" he teases, flicking his cheek, getting a quick "ow! Rude!" In return
"If you want, I'll walk you to class as a motivator, keep you from being lonely, you know?" Cory finally speaks up, and he catches the glint in the other man's eyes, it makes his heart flutter and stomach do summersaults with joy. That look, happy, mischievous, and so thrilling. It makes him smile, his friend so eager to walk to class with him
"Really?" Aspen grins excitedly, before turning smug, putting a hand on his hip "now now NOW!—if I didn't know any better, I'd say you have a biiigg FATTTTT crush on me, walking me to class like a school girl" Aspen teases, sipping his coffee, placing a flat hand under his chin, a wide, stupid grin on his stupid gorgeous face, he was NOT in love with him, Cory would never like a boy like that, not that being gay was bad—Aspen likes guys and girls! Its cool! I just don't like boys, I like girls, I'm straight! Straight as a line, straighter than a teenage girl with natural curls hair who discovered a hair straightener!... Okay that was stupid comparison probably
"Ah yes of course, come let me give you a big wet kiss, because I'm SOOO very in love with you, Aspen" Cory replies sarcastically, his eyes opening a little wider, as he smirks at Aspen, who rolled his eyes, grinning back at him as he drank his milk infused coffee. he himself took a big gulp out of his steaming hot mug of coffee aswell, the bitter liquid slipping down his throat easily, god it really is bitter though... He feels a slight throb of pain in his lungs, coughing up as he realized he swallow to heart. But there throb of pain in his lungs isn't as noticable as the throb in his heart when he sees Aspen. Shame fills his brain. he doesn't like boys. he doesn't. He's not gay. He repeats it like a mantra in his head. Wishing the throb away. He isn't gay, he likes girls. He does. But that doesn't matter. He just wants to walk with Aspen to class. So he ignores it, continuing on.
"But yeah I'll walk you to class, mines like two hours later anyway, so I have time" he finally breaks the silence, smiling again "I'll go get dressed, yeah? You go shower, you stink" he mumbles, finishing his coffee just before Aspen. "brush your teeth properly, not just mouthwash you little freak" he jokes, nudging the guy once more. For good measure. Gotta make sure he's nudged enough. Important bro stuff, nudge your friends. Do it.
"Alright alright" Aspen smiles back, before turning on his heel and beginning to walk away and enter their shared bathroom, Aspen walks with a slight hip sway, its entrancing almost. Cory heard the door clicking shut, and just stares at it for a minute, not at the door. Not at anything really, his eyes weren't really where his brain was. It wasn't fair, why does he have to feel this. Why does he suddenly have to feel this? He isn't gay, he's just a normal, straight and cis-gendered guy. He's not interested in Aspen like that. He isn't! His brain is just confused. But it isn't fair, why does Aspen feel so... So...
...so perfect!?
It isn't fair, that short, scruffy raven hair that he'd always joked to Aspen looks like it was cut in a back alley looks so good!? that nearly golden olive skin, even his eyebags were hot to him, his small lips, his perfect button nose, no bump, no practically straight nose bridge, but a curved, perfect button nose that was absolutely adorable, his slim, dark almond colored eyes and thin, plucked brows, his teeth, slightly crooked, a small gap in the middle, looked... So perfect on him. Like he was just built to look like that, sculpted in the image of a god. So utterly perfect... Every "flaw", every mole, every quirk or habit made him feel so perfect but so human at the same time!... Why couldn't Aspen just be a girl? He'd so be Cory's type! He's still handsome as a guy but he REALLY, really isn't gay! He likes women! If Aspen was a woman he'd probably be in love with him, and it be fine!
he sighs to nobody but himself and dragged his feet back to his own room, pushing open the door and walking across the room to his bed, grabbing the clothes he'd picked out like 25–30 minutes earlier. He slips into the washed out blue jeans and two shirts, brushing his hair out with the red plastic comb he picked up off the floor. Glancing towards the mirror on the door, fixing the collar of his undershirt, before scrolling through his phone while he waited for Aspen to be done. He looked through the lastest social media posts of Aspen, seeing some dumb pictures from last weekend, where he got WAY too drunk at some frat party he and Aspen snuck into, and had an absolutely nasty hangover afterwards, like, he was not getting out of bed and refused to talk to anyone because the noise felt like it would probably kill him. shuddering just thinking about it, he closed the app. He had a few messages from his little sister. the hell does she want? He questions himself before opening it. It was just a collage of pictures of their cat, who looked miserable as he was carried around by Nia
He texts back, warning her to be nice to the fat cat of theirs, he loves that cat. he misses Nia too.
"Hey, im dressed, lets go." Aspen speaks up suddenly, jolting Cory out of his train of thoughts, he was now wearing some gray skinny jeans Cory is pretty sure he's had since their first year of highschool, and a three coloured striped shirt, in a washed out red, yellow and blue, its pretty raggedy, but Aspen always really likes raggedy clothes he finds at the local thriftshop. I wonder if the people who used to own those clothes ever see him, considering how much of it hes thrifted... He looks cute. Aspen always does, but Cory really likes this outfit on him; It matches him in his opinion. And Aspen is always gorgeous when he's confident, but then again, Aspen always seems confident. always so gorgeous, always, always has bee– God, Cory! get yourself together
"im coming, wait up!" Cory replies, getting back onto his feet to follow him. they cross the livingroom once more, reaching the entryway, which only houses a small army green keybox that Cory DIY-ed with some paint, wood and screws, and a clothes hanger with their jackets, shoes are just stray across the false stone floor. Cory grabs his white sneakers, which are more greysih brown than they are white at this point. Aspen takes some black converse that he actually bought first hand.
"Hey, 'Pen, do you have your set of keys so you can get in?" Cory asks, raising an eyebrow; His friend has a horrible habit of forgetting them in a his work jacket or in the green keybox, Cory can't count on his body the amount of times Aspen has called him going "Coryyyy!!! i forgot my keys can you come let me innnnn???" he can practically HEAR the moaning and whining just from memory
"Yeah dude, totally" Aspen reassured, putting his hands in his hips. "Lets go, i dont want to be late for my morning classes" he said with a shit eating grin, pulling the brunette through the door and they started their treck to class