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"Right. So here's what we're going to do. The six of us are going to sit in a circle and take turns spinning this bottle, and whoever it lands on, you're to take them into that closet behind us for seven minutes. Got it?"
The five other teens nod as Alaira hums out a satisfactory sound and takes her seat amongst them.
Utowin sits to her right, and from his right sits Easthies, then Luluci, Olruggio, and finally, Qifrey to Alaira's left.
Luluci spins first, and the empty wine bottle the group had just spent the last few hours slowly draining lands on Alaira. The pair stand up, Alaira offering Luluci a hand as they make their way into a room that Utowin can only assume is actually quite spacious, given where they are.
They're at Qifrey's, the large home belonging to his adoptive father, Beldaruit. It's Utowin's first time being invited here, he thinks Luluci mentioned it's her first time as well, but the rest of them seem to have been here enough times to know their way around the place.
Even Easthies, who, up until a few days ago, Utowin had thought hated the white-haired boy.
He had been dozing off, awake far later than he should have been when he received Easthies' text asking him to join him for a gathering. Apparently, Alaira had invited Luluci, and in turn Luluci asked if she could invite Easthies. He had agreed upon the condition that Utowin could come too. Now here they are, in a group playing a foolish game because nobody could come up with anything better to do after finishing the bottle.
Qifrey sets a timer on his phone for seven minutes as the door closes behind the two girls.
"Be gentle with 'er, Alaira," Olruggio calls out in the direction of the door, Qifrey snickering beside him.
From his peripheral, Utowin can see Easthies making a face, his distaste evident.
"Oh come on, Easthies. You needn't worry; she's safe with Alaira," Qifrey says in a way that almost sounds dismissive instead of reassuring.
"Aye, ease up a bit, mate," Olruggio adds, standing up on his feet, a bit wobbly from the wine. "Your friend's in good hands. You want anythin' in here, Qifrey?" He asks as he makes his way to the kitchen.
Instead of answering, Qifrey follows behind him, leaving Easthies and Utowin alone on the floor in the lounge.
"Hey, she's fine. She can handle herself now, y'know?" Utowin says quietly, noting the way Easthies exhales like he's been holding it since before they'd left the room.
"I do know that. But I still worry." Easthies doesn't say more. He doesn't have to, they're both well aware of their friend's past and the efforts she's made to heal, move on from it. Personally, Utowin thinks it's a step in the right direction. It seems Easthies isn't convinced.
He doesn't have much time to dwell on it, however, because Qifrey and Olruggio return a moment later with two glasses in each hand, the taller of the two handing one to each to his guests. "Water. We probably should have been hydrating in between drinks, but now is as good a time as any."
Utowin smiles and nods once in thanks, and Easthies mutters out a quiet "thank you" before sipping from the glass.
Qifrey checks his phone, sitting back down at his place on the floor. "You've got two minutes left!" He calls as he takes his glass from Olruggio with his free hand.
The remaining time goes by quickly, Qifrey letting them know when thirty seconds are left, and then a final ten second countdown.
When the two girls emerge, they come out hand in hand, much like the way they had gone in, but they don't look much different. No obvious looks of bashfulness, or signs of kiss-ridden lips. Utowin wonders what they could have done in there.
Luluci seems content enough as she takes her seat, Alaira looking the same, landing next to Utowin.
"Okay, Olly, your turn."
Olruggio grunts in acknowledgement and twists the bottle on the floor. The group watches with bated breath until it slows to a stop.
"Oh!" Qifrey exclaims, the bottle's neck aimed at him. The two exchange looks, Olruggio seeming flustered as he's pulled up by Qifrey and led to the closet, Alaira making whooping noises after them.
"Finally. Hopefully those two get somewhere tonight. Can't deal with the games they've been playing with each other lately," Alaira complains, palms planted on the rug beneath them as she leans back. "It's as if it's obvious to everyone but them that they should be together."
Utowin thinks about it. He's not overly familiar with either of them, but he supposes they are pretty close. They'd look cute together. He knows Olruggio is from Yorkshire, like him, so there's common ground there. Maybe he should put in more effort to spend time with people other than Easthies.
He's not exactly sure how it happened, but when he and his father moved to London around the time he started secondary school, he had taken interest in a boy with long black hair (who, initially, he had mistaken for a girl) that he shared classes with, and the rest was history. They've been inseparable ever since that first meeting.
It's not as if he doesn't have other friends, he gets on well enough with the people he's gone to school with, including Luluci, but for whatever reason, he's just… always felt closest to Easthies.
Utowin is shaken from his thoughts at the sound of an alarm bell blaring from Alaira's phone, and from the closet emerges a very smug looking Qifrey with a rather dumbfounded Olruggio trailing behind him.
The group (minus Easthies) lets out the typical "ooh"s and "ahh"s people emit when presented with something scandalous, and once they're back in their spots, Qifrey takes his turn spinning the bottle.
It lands on Easthies, and the room grows so quiet, Utowin swears one could hear a pin drop.
"I don't thi—" Easthies starts, but is immediately cut off by Qifrey who stands and reaches across from him to pull Easthies up, fake smile plastered on his face.
"Nonsense, you're going to the closet with me, rules are rules. We all know how much you're a stickler for them."
Once the pair are away from the group, Utowin turns to Alaira, "I'm not actually sure that was the best idea."
"Tch, nothing to worry about. As long as they don't kill each other in there, they'll be fine. Surely they won't be snogging in there either, so don't worry your pretty little head about it. The boy's all yours."
Well, that's a relief. Surely, Easthies can hold his own but—
Wait. What?
Utowin sits there, mouth agape, trying desperately to force words out of his mouth.
"I-I- That's not-"
"Oi. You aren't exactly subtle, y'know," Olruggio chimes in, a knowing smirk hiding behind his glass of water as he takes a sip.
"Yeah, sorry love, but it's a bit obvious," Alaira adds.
"Honestly, the first time we met, I had thought you two were already a couple," Luluci says, cementing this apparently very obvious sentiment that everyone but Utowin was aware of.
"Guys, I- it's not like that, really-" Utowin stammers, face hot and probably as red as a cherry.
"But Alaira's right, you shouldn't worry about them. After all, the two of us spent our time simply talking," Luluci says, completely ignoring Utowin's desperate attempts to defend himself.
"Right, there's nothing in the rules stating that you have to kiss. It's just a fun little game."
Utowin, still gobsmacked, just closes his mouth and stares at the floor in front of him. He doesn't even know how to begin processing this information.
"Aye."
The minutes pass by slowly, the other three's chatter being drowned out by his own thoughts.
They think… me and Easthies? But, it doesn't make sense. Just because we're close, doesn't mean we like each other. Just because we spend almost all of our free time together, that doesn't mean we want to date… dating is for people who want more, like kissing and...
He doesn't let himself finish that thought, instead thinks about his turn, about how in the back of his mind, he'd been hoping it wouldn't land on anyone but Easthies. Why would he want to kiss someone he barely knows? It only makes sense to do it with someone you trust, someone you care about, someone you'd do anything for—
Oh.
Oh.
He'd sit with that information, if only he were given the proper chance to, but suddenly time is up and Qifrey is holding the door open for Easthies who quietly stomps out, his expression unreadable. To the rest of the group, anyway. Utowin can tell something's up, but before he can ask, Alaira is announcing she's going to use the restroom, urging the group to skip her and move on to Utowin.
So, Utowin does as he's told, and he takes his turn, spinning the bottle.
Maybe, luck is on his side tonight. Maybe, whatever higher being that exists is looking down at him with pity. Whatever the case may be, the group becomes quiet once again as the bottle points straight at Easthies. It's almost suffocating, the silence that emerges. His nerves just make the feeling worse.
Qifrey is the first to speak, "Looks like you're popular tonight, Easthies. The bottle has taken a liking to you."
It seems Easthies doesn't appreciate such a joke, because he stands back onto his feet and pulls Utowin up with him, mumbling under his breath about Qifrey not being as clever as he thinks he is.
After he's dragged into the closet with the door closing behind them, Utowin finally has a chance to ask Easthies what happened.
"Nothing. Nothing happened. That Qifrey is as insufferable as he always has been. Thinking he knows everything." Easthies folds his arms over his chest, leaning against the wall opposite Utowin.
"Eas…" He says, sympathy and worry laced in his tone, "You can talk to me, y'know? If you're uncomfortable, we don't have to stay. Maybe your aunt would be willing to come take us back to yours?"
"She's on patrol tonight, she won't be able to," Easthies sighs. "And besides, I promised Luluci I would do this, so I'm doing it."
Utowin nods, understanding that once Easthies says he's going to do something, he rarely ever goes back on his word. He leans against a stack of cardboard boxes, hand resting on the edge of one.
"So… you and Qifrey just… talked?"
"What?"
"Nevermind."
Easthies looks at him like he's grown a second head.
"You're not asking me if I kissed him, are you?" He asks, an incredulous look painting his features. "Are you mad? You think I'd—" he scoffs, cutting himself off, "That is completely and utterly ridiculous. Ludicrous, for you to ever think that."
Utowin frowns. He hadn't meant to insult him, Lord above.
"Eas, I'm sorry—"
"As if I'd waste my first kiss on the likes of him."
Once again, Utowin finds himself totally thrown for a loop. Easthies has never kissed anyone? He supposes he shouldn't be surprised, for as long as they've known each other, the younger lad had never shown much interest in dating. Didn't even like the topic being brought up, especially the couple of times Utowin had managed to find a girl that liked him enough to be with him for a short while. He had just figured Easthies was a private person?
"Well… if you've never kissed anyone, why'd you agree to this sort of thing, anyway?" Utowin treads carefully, not wanting to shame his friend, but he's genuinely curious!
"For Luluci."
Oh.
"You want to kiss Luluci?" That comes as a shock, and also a bit of a concern.
"What? No. That's not what I meant. I was just being a good sport about it. It isn't stated in the rules that kissing is required."
"Huh. So you were never planning on it, then," Utowin says out loud, more to himself than to Easthies.
"I don't recall saying that."
Utowin looks at him, a bit confused. Easthies sighs.
"I told myself if I were to end up in this closet with someone I didn't want to kiss, I wouldn't kiss them."
Utowin is still confused. His face must say as much because Easthies sighs again, louder this time, most likely annoyed from what Utowin can tell.
"But if I were to be stuck in here with someone I wanted to kiss, then I would do it." Easthies looks at him, pointedly. "If he'd allow it, of course."
It feels as though the entire world stops at that moment for Utowin. If he's not misunderstanding the situation, and God does he hope he isn't, his best friend and newly realized crush has just… confessed to him. Maybe not his feelings specifically, but to Utowin, he may as well have. Easthies isn't the type to talk about these things, let alone admit a desire for them.
He wants to kiss Utowin. He wants Utowin to be his very first kiss.
He feels on the verge of pinching himself to make sure this is real, but instead he steels his resolve quickly, not wanting to seem unconfident.
"I would. Will. Allow it, I mean," He feels like he's already sort of blowing it, but he pushes forward. "You're absolutely sure you want it to be me?"
"Yes. There's no one else I trust more than I do you."
Okay. Okay, this is happening.
"Alright. Yeah. Uh, certainly, w-we can do that," Again, he fumbles his words, but Easthies just laughs in the small, quiet way he always does, and as usual, it makes Utowin's heart flutter a little.
"I assumed you'd be more sure of yourself," Easthies steps closer to him, with an air of confidence that shows he's handling the entire situation a lot better than Utowin is. The certainty in everything he does is something he's always admired about him.
"Oi, I'm plenty confident. You want a kiss? Well, I'm the guy who's gonna give it to you," He steps forward as well, meeting Easthies so they're now inches away from each other. "And I want it too, so you know I won't be backing out."
At first, he isn't sure what to do with his hands. Definitely not on his waist or hips; that's probably too much for a first kiss. On his shoulders? Nah, that doesn't seem quite right either. Caressing his face could be nice, but maybe a bit too romantic?
Ultimately, he decides on taking Easthies' hands in his, and when he does, the younger gives a little squeeze of reassurance.
He can't recall a time he'd ever seen Easthies' face this close up. His features have matured a bit since they had first met, but a lot of them still remain delicate. Dark lashes, longer than his own, a perfectly perched cupid's bow on his top lip, a fair complexion that has somehow remained unmarred from the typical bouts of acne a boy his age would face.
As he looks at Easthies, Easthies looks back, expectantly, like he's waiting for something.
Utowin mentally kicks himself, because of course he should be the one to make the first move. He likes to think of himself as a gentleman, albeit one that's a bit rough around the edges, but a gentleman nonetheless. He leans forward, closing the distance between them.
Easthies' lips are soft against his. He can't remember if the chapstick he usually carries is still in his pocket, but he didn't apply any beforehand anyway, so he silently hopes the state of his own lips is acceptable.
It's a simple, chaste kiss. It ends nearly as quickly as it had started. He wants to ask Easthies how it was, if he liked it, if it was what he'd imagined it would be. He doesn't get the chance to, because Easthies kisses him again.
There's more purpose to it this time, but still a bit of hesitance. They stay like that, exchanging small, closed mouth kisses, slow and a bit unsure, like this moment between them is fragile.
Unfortunately for them, it is, because they're in a closet inside someone else's home playing a game with a group of people outside waiting for them.
The sound of Alaira's alarm goes off, her voice accompanying it to call for them, telling them their time is up. In his mind, Utowin curses the damned time limit.
They finally break away for good, Utowin clearing his throat as he steps back. "Was that, um, good?"
"Yes. Very much so." Easthies says, and he laughs in that quiet little way of his, and Utowin can't help but chuckle back.
He is so glad Easthies chose him.
Easthies leads as they return to the group, coolly and as if nothing that happened within that seven minutes had changed anything between the two of them. Utowin supposes in a way, it hasn't.
Easthies is still the same seventeen year old boy he was before he entered that closet with him, secure in himself and the things he believes in, his conviction for what is right never wavering. Utowin is also still very much the same. Still eighteen, still finding his way, still wanting to be there in any way he can for his best friend.
Their game ends after that, everyone agreeing the fleeting sense of amusement it had brought has now come to an end. After a few minutes of bickering over what movie they should watch, the group settles on a thriller, half of them relaxing on the sofa, the other half resting on the plush carpeting below.
Utowin glances over at Easthies, sat beside him on the floor. The movie's barely started and he's already dozing off, much like every time they watch something together. Utowin smiles to himself, knowing that any minute now, he'll feel the weight of his best friend's head land on his shoulder, and like every time before this, he'll gladly let Easthies lean on him.
Maybe someday in the future, things will be different. For now though, what the two of them have is enough for Utowin.