Mini thanked the man on the other end of the phone before hanging up. He turned back to his computer screen excitedly, his heart racing.
"Guys! They asked me start on Monday!"
"Craig that is great news!" SeaNanners congratulated over the Skype call. He was joined by the other four on the chat. Everyone was talking excitedly, completely forgetting about the Cards Against Humanity game they had been playing.
"So whats the role?" Panda asked.
"I'm the main voice for an animated feature at Disney!"
"That's sick dude!" Ze and Chilled congratulated. "I'm so jealous," Chilled added.
"This is crazy! This is my wildest dream coming true!" Mini was shouting at the top of his lungs. His friends were equally as excited, grilling him with questions about the new movie.
Mini was very aware of how silent Wildcat was.
—
Mini wasn't picking up his phone. He hadn't picked it up the last three times either. Wildcat sat in his desk chair silent, staring at his phone, willing it to buzz.
"You're being quiet Wildcat. You AFK?" Evan's voice came from Wildcat's speakers.
"I'm here," Wildcat responded, distracted.
"You know he doesn't stop work until six right?"
"Yeah."
"And it's three."
"Yeah."
"Stop doing this to yourself, Wildcat. This has been the routine for over a month now," Evan sighed. "Mini will call when he can, just like he will play when he can."
—
"You need to come out to LA, Wildcat," Mini slurred on the other end. It was one in the morning, and he was calling him from the rap party on his new film. "It's so much fun."
"Why are you just now returning my calls, man?" Wildcat whispered angrily, still groggy from sleep. "You send one short text or spend thirty minutes playing a game before disappearing for another week! What's going on?"
"Chill out, dude. I've just been working really hard," Mini was clearly annoyed. "I'm trying to play with you guys I really am."
"Yeah? Really feels like you're putting in some fucking effort," Wildcats sarcasm stung.
"Tyler I'm sorry, please. I'm just really excited because this is what I've wanted to do for so long and now I'm able to do it! I'm living my dream right now! Why can't you be more supportive?"
"Well, I'm glad one of us is living it up."
"Tyler—"
"And don't call me Tyler. Only my friends call me Tyler." Wildcat hung up before the first wave of tears hit him.
—
It was a cruel joke. Mini's film was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. His Instagram was filled with captured moments from parties, dinner dates, TV interviews. His YouTube channel had surpassed Vanoss's in subscriptions. Mini was getting everything he ever wanted.
So why was Mini watching Wildcat's most recent uploaded video? Why was he lying awake in bed next to a beautiful blond girl who's name he didn't remember but who knew all about him? When had this, empty champagne bottles and lacy Victoria Secret's underwear strewn around this five star hotel suite in Italy, become his life?
Mini missed Vanoss, SeaNanners, Delirious, Terroriser, and Wildcat. Especially, Wildcat. And Mini felt that pang of longing hit him hard as he listened to his ex-best friend laugh through his headphones.
Mini smiled. He almost felt like they were talking like they used to, Wildcat nothing but a tease and a joker while Mini encouraged him and laughed.
As the headphones fell of his ears and rested in his hands, Mini felt the oppressive silence of his hotel room suffocate him. It was empty, barren without his friend, without Tyler. So Mini crawled back into bed and pretended he didn't miss him, that he didn't care.
—
"Are you watching the Oscars?"
"No," came Wildcat's blunt reply. His back was turned purposefully to the TV.
Vanoss leaned over the back of the couch and glared at him. "He's our friend, Wildcat."
"I'm not interested," Wildcat spoke firmly. He didn't want to see Mini's face, to be reminded of every emotion hit him again. Not in front of Vanoss.
Vanoss raised an eyebrow. "You're not doing a good job at pretending you don't care."
"Eat me."
He shut up and turned back to the TV, wrapping at arm around the girl sitting next to him. Wildcat watched the two out of the corner of his eye, aching to do the same. Then without any warning, Wildcat's eyes were on the TV.
Walking on stage was a group of people, maybe twelve in total, all dressed in suits and long dresses. Yet the most stunning one of them all was a tall, broad shouldered man with short light brown hair and a grin so stupid and large it light up the whole room brighter than any light. Mini.
Wildcat could only stare, forgetting the world around him existed and only saw Mini, only saw his smile glowing and his eyes shining. How could he of been so stupid to of let that, to of let him go?
With the scrap of a chair, Wildcat made his excuse and exited the apartment. He fumbled with his keys as he opened his car, but was soon tearing down the nighttime streets of LA.
—
By the time Mini got home, it was late. Very late. So late it took him several attempts to actually aim the key and slot it into the lock on his front door. When it did open, the lights were already on and Wildcat was standing in his hallway.
The two could only stare, unsure of what to say.
"I'm sorry," Mini finally got out.
"No," Wildcat cut in, stepping forward. "I'm sorry. You were right, I should have been more supportive. I should have been there for you, stayed with you, and congratulated you."
Wildcat's hand brushed Mini's face, and Mini closed his eyes and let out a gentle contented sigh as skin made contact with skin.
"I was just scared of loosing you so much that I drove you away instead."
"You never lost me," Mini's eyes opened and the two starred lovingly at each other. "I would of stayed with you forever if you asked me to."
"Well, I'm asking you now," and with a rush of adrenaline, Wildcat pressed his lips against Mini's. It tasted right, it felt right, and the longer the kiss lasted the harder Wildcat fell for his friend. This kiss was well worth the wait of over a year.
—
Wildcat woke up with his arms wrapped around Mini the next morning. Soft light flowed in through the window above the bed, illuminating an awake Mini Ladd, watching him with a small smile on his face.
Wildcat smiled back, and stretched his neck to kiss the tip of his nose, making Mini giggle.
"Morning, Wildcat," he whispered, hoarsely.
"You can call me Tyler. All my friends call me Tyler," Wildcat whispered as his kiss moved to Mini's forehead. The famous, Oscar-winning forehead of his famous, Oscar-winning boyfriend.
"Okay, Tyler," Mini sighed, and caught Wildcat's lips with his. Mini's phone was buzzing, but he ignored it in favor of his boyfriend. Whoever it was, whatever movie it was, it could wait. Because now, Wildcat was his wildest dream, and he was going to enjoy it a little while longer.