Chapter 2

"No."

"Come on!"

"No way. Connor classes just started up again. I'm not going to a party. I got a paper due next week." Sam said, glaring at his persistent friend.

"Yeah exactly. Next week! Come on! Dude you're a friggin' brainiac. You could write that paper practically in your sleep. One night of fun isn't gonna screw that up. Buffy's out of town and I'm booooored." Connor whined in a way that reminded Sam distinctly of Buffy.

"Fine! Okay? Fine. Just stop whining already."

"Yes!" Connor cheered, jumping up from his bed. "Let's go! Let's go! The booze is already flowin man!"

Sam rolled his eyes and shut his laptop before getting up and following his friend out of the room.

….

Connor and Sam stumbled back into their dorm room around 3am, both clearly completely wasted.

Both boys were giggling like idiots as they stumbled over to the couch.

"Fuuuck… tell tah room to shtop spinninging." Sam slurred, his eyes crossing as he stared up at the ceiling.

"Wah makes you think it'll listen ta meh?" Was Connor's barely conherent reply.

"I dunno." Sam said with a chuckle. "But that party was awesome! And You! You made me go! So you're awesome."

"No you're awesome!" Connor said with a grin as Sam burst into another fit of drunken giggles. Connor wasn't sure what possessed him to do what he did next, but the next thing he knew he called Sam's name, Sam looked over at him and he pressed his lips to his.

The kiss was sloppy and unsure, but after a moment, Sam responded. But a moment later, Sam shoved Connor away and buried his head in the trash can next to the couch, emptying the contents of his stomach.

Connor stared wide eyed at his roommate's hunched over form, suddenly completely sober as the reality of what had just happened sank in.

He'd kissed Sam. He'd kissed his male roommate and best friend. He could only hope that when Sam sobered up and remembered what happened, Connor would still be able to call him those things.

…

Sam woke up several hours later and found himself tucked into his bed, a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin on the table next to him. He groaned as the dim light of the room made his head feel like it was going to explode. He quickly swallowed a couple of aspirin and the water before sitting up.

Sam looked around, confused. Connor was nowhere in sight. Sam frowned, trying to recall what had happened the night before. He remember going to a party with Connor and getting seriously wasted, then he had a vague recollection of coming back to the dorm room but things got fuzzy after that. Wait…Oh shit.

He and Connor had kissed. What the fuck was that about? He knew Connor wasn't gay and neither was he. They had to stop drinking so much. Dammit! That's probably why Connor isn't here. He's probably seriously weirded out by what happened.

Sam groaned again, flopping back down onto his pillow. He was so screwed. Connor was his best friend, and if last night screwed that up, he didn't know what he'd do.

By the time Connor returned to the room, Sam had forced himself out of bed and taken a shower and changed. He was sitting on his bed with a text book in his lap and a bottle of water in his hand, making a half hearted attempt to study.

Sam looked up as Connor entered the room. His friend looked like hell. It was clear that he'd showered at some point, but Sam seriously doubted Connor had gotten any sleep if the dark circles forming around his eyes were any indication.

"Hey." Sam said, closing his text book.

Connor looked up. "Oh, hey." He ran a hand through his hair nervously and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Connor had been wandering around the city for the last several hours. After practically dragging Sam into bed and making sure he was okay, Connor had left, avoiding the room like the plague. He'd originally gone to Buffy's apartment and attempted to sleep but his racing thoughts and worries about what the next day would bring had kept him up, so he'd started walking.

Sam frowned. Connor's motions were tense and he was clearly stressed out. They might as well get this over with. It would only get worse if they waited.

Apparently Connor thought the same thing as the other boy sighed deeply and spoke. "Look, man about last night… I'm sorry. I don't know what the hell was up with that. I mean I…"

"Yeah. Hey it's cool. But what do you say we cut back on the drinking for a while?" Sam said with a wry smile, hoping to smooth things over.

Connor blinked. Sam wasn't freaked out? He didn't seem angry or upset at all. Connor breathed a sigh of relief. That could have gone so much worse. "Sounds like a plan." Connor chuckled. "I don't know what the hell we drank but it must have been laced with something if it made even you look pretty."

Sam rolled his eyes and threw the now empty water bottle at his roommate. "Shut up."

…..

"If you don't start talking, I'm going to have to kick your ass."

Connor didn't respond, he just kept hitting the punching bag in front of him.

Buffy groaned in frustration. "Come on! I was only gone for 3 days. What could have possibly happened that was so bad?"

Connor shut his eyes and rested his head against the punching bag. It had been over a week since 'the incident' and he still hadn't told Buffy anything about it. But of course since Buffy was… well Buffy, she instantly knew something was up with him.

"I kissed Sam." Connor confessed quietly.

Buffy's eyes widened. "Oh… wow."

"Yeah." Connor said, sighing. Connor's hands clenched into fists once again and he swung at the punching bag with renewed force. He'd been working out excessively since that night. He'd even thought about patrolling a few times. It seemed the only thing that helped quiet the constant chaos and confusion that had been brewing inside him since that night was hitting something. So here he was in Buffy's training room for the second time that day and about the 50th time that week.

It was all he could think about. That kiss. He wasn't gay, he knew he liked girls. His albeit rocky relationship with Dawn was testament to that, not to mention his brief flings with a couple of girls in his building. He'd never been drawn to another guy before and he still had no clue why he'd kissed Sam, but he just couldn't get it off his mind.

Connor squeezed his eyes shut, trying his best to block out his thoughts. But even still, the memories flashed through his mind. The way Sam looked, his dark hair hanging just above his eyes, his lips parted and his faced flushed with laughter, the way he smelled when Connor leaned in, of booze and sweat, with a hint of hair gel and something distinctly Sam…

"DAMMIT!" Connor snarled, hitting the bag with his full strength, sending it flying across the room. Connor panted, running trembling hands through his hair.

He looked up as a pair of soft hands touched his arms, rubbing soothing circles on his biceps with her thumbs.

Buffy smiled gently as Connor's emotion filled blue eyes met her own. She had been watching the play of emotions on Connor's face when he'd been punching the bag and her heart ached at the utter despair and confusion she saw.

Connor took in a shaky breath and Buffy pulled him into her arms, hugging him tightly.

"It'll be okay sweetie." She said softly.

Connor shut his eyes and buried his face in her shoulder. "This is bad, Buffy." He whispered.

"Why do you say that?"

A tear ran down Connor's face. "I think I'm in love with him."

…

Okay, did I mention that I don't write Slash? So if I screwed that up, I apologize. I've seriously never written Slash a day in my life so I'm kinda winging it. Comments, questions, concerns, suggestions, constructive criticism is always totally welcome... and this this case, begged for. PLEASE let me know what you think.