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Theatre School Duo
It’s happened five times this week now. Late to sitting together at lunch, late to seeing each other before classes start, and now late to meeting after school. Tom wouldn’t usually mind (he can never stay mad at Matt for long, not really) but it’s almost been half an hour, and they’re going to miss the movie and their ‘date’ at the cinema. Fingers tap restlessly against the short brick wall he’s sitting on; chewing on his lip slightly, a little paranoid that Matt’s bored of him already.
In his mind, Matt’s so far out of his league so he’s gleefully surprised each time he gets a murmured compliment when a lesson is about to begin. Matt’s supposed to be that guy who’s with the coolest, most popular kid in school like the model head cheerleader in every 90s teen rom-com. Except he’s not. Perhaps it’s more like those movies where the bad boy (who's secretly a softie inside) is fed up with his popular group, and ends up falling in love with the nerdy, unpopular geek. Tom likes to think it’s like that.
He’s waiting in their secret spot just behind the main school building: a small space behind some bushes with a half-broken brick wall to rest on which he found while he was running away from some Year 11s during his first year. He’d never told anyone about his hiding place until he’d shown it to Matt when they needed time away from everybody else. Tom’s so close to leaving and just going home (because he totally wanted to stay even longer on a Friday afternoon after school), when strong arms sneak up behind him, wrapping around his waist tightly and he almost falls off the wall from the force pulling him backwards, if it wasn’t for Matt standing so close behind him. It takes all his willpower to stop himslef from nestling further back into the warm chest and just melt into his arms.
“Hey,” Matt breathes into his ear, and Tom allows himself to tangle his fingers with Matt’s, still around his waist. He carries on frowning and stays quiet, even when Matt tucks his chin over the blonde’s shoulder, although he can’t keep silent when Matt gently kisses him on the cheek.
“There are still some people hanging around Matt.”
“So?”
“I thought you were the one who didn’t want to tell people.” The words are an uncalled-for reminder of an old argument considering they’re guarded by the unkempt hedges; nobody can see them unless they're really looking and Tom feels a little guilty straightaway.
That’s when Matt props Tom back up on the wall, and walks around the side of it to stand in front of his boyfriend. He lifts Tom’s gaze from the floor to meet his eyes with his finger curled under his boyfriend’s chin.
“Soon, I Promise. “ There’s an element of caution to this whole thing, because he’s never really been in a relationship as long as this and he’s never really been with anyone like Tom. ( There isn’t really anyone like Tom, he thinks to himself.) He can’t deny he’s a little worried that it will all change when people find out, and he doesn’t ever want this to change; the little smiles and glances when nobody’s looking in class. Then later on they go around to one of their houses and spend the evening wrapped close together just being able to talk about anything when nobody’s around (because Matt’s so much more of a sap than he’d like to admit).
However, as much as he loves Tom, he can be cryptic sometimes.
“I’m sorry for being late.” He watches as Tom relaxes a little, a step in the right direction.
“And I’m sorry for being late a lot this week,” He adds quickly, wanting Tom to stop giving him the Look that makes him feel like he’s done something awful.
“It’s just Mr Henderson wanted to talk to me after the lesson today. He said I was distracting other people again. Didn’t think I was but ya know: it’s Henders.” Tom raises an eyebrow at that, but he looks like he’s fighting off a smile. Matt takes that as him being in the clear. For now, at least.
“I’ll make it up to you. My parents are out this weekend; you can come around after the movie.” Matt gives his infamous grin and winks playfully.
“Matt!” And Tom really can’t fight off that smile anymore, lighting up his face alongside a blush.
“Such a dirty mind!” He teases, even though it’s what they’re both thinking, “All I meant was that we can eat at mine. Mum probably left something in the fridge to microwave.”
Matt leans in then, resting his forehead on Tom’s, framing the blonde’s face between his hands.
He drops his voice low in the way he knows Tom loves, “We can do what you were thinking of too, if ya like.” Grinning widely again, Matt kisses him deeply and feels Tom’s flush rising up his cheeks (a blissful mix of embarrassment and pure want) under his calloused hands. They both break away from the kiss, (faces still centimetres away) breathing heavily and Matt steps back, pulling Tom’s hand lightly so he jumps off the wall.
“Come on, we’ll miss the movie,” Matt laughs, still holding Tom’s hand tightly. Tom follows Matt’s lead, left a little dazed and bumping his shoulder with Matt’s briefly as a sign of affection and forgiveness. He managed to stay mad at Matt for all of two minutes.
“You’re ridiculous,” Tom smiles, his dimple appearing easily (because it’s just that easy to smile when Matt’s around) and Matt smiles back in response, carefree and genuine.
“I know.”
~
He’s not going to tell Tom the truth until later; that the reason he was late today was because he was trying to find James and double-check the plan - making sure he had the key to go to Matt’s house and prepare everything, tablecloth and candles and the whole set up, as well as heating the food Matt cooked yesterday. He knows he’ll fidget all the way through the movie, worrying and hoping that everything goes right, to show Tom he loves him, even if he doesn’t say it all that much (can’t quite put the right words together to say what he truly feels).
Because as much as Tom feels as though he doesn’t deserve Matt, he believes the complete opposite; that Tom could do so much better with someone that didn’t live half his life in the detention room, not understanding most of the maths homework he gets. That Tom should be with someone who spent his time hanging around with the not-quite-popular yet well-liked people rather than the damaging, troublesome group in school like Matt did.
But being with Tom has changed him for the better and Matt wants to show his boyfriend how much he appreciates that. (Through a date, dinner and then maybe a little something more.)