AN/: Hey! I finally got around to getting another chapter finished. Sorry it took awhile. I had some stuff to do before the holidays and such. But luckily I was able to get it up today. I guess it's kind of a Christmas gift? But anyway, I attempted to put some of the ideas I was given in here, but I might be able to get some in in possible later chapters ? I don't know yet but we'll see! This authors note has gotten kind of lenghthy. Anyway, Hope you like the chapter! :D
Dave couldn't get any sleep that night. He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He hated himself so much for screwing everything up. It wouldn't be a surprise if John never wanted to speak to him again. He bit his lip, he knew he couldn't think about it too much, he might start crying. He couldn't think of life without talking to John ever again.
Striders don't cry, Striders don't cry, he told himself. He turned his head, glancing up at his own bed, where john lay sound asleep. John's back was facing him, but Dave could still see the gentle rise and fall of the sheets, he listened to the calming noise of his friends breathing. It chimed along with the low hum of the air vent, producing a gentle flow from the corner of the room, level with Dave.
Dave sat up, glancing at the digital clock on a tabletop beside the bed. The red numbers glowed; showing the time 1:57, accompanied by a small am resting in the corner of the clock. The red color shimmered on the thick lenses of John's glasses, along with his own shades. Dave laid back down on his makeshift bed, letting out a heavy sigh.
His eyes where heavy from lack of sleep, but he couldn't shake his worry. He gently brought his fingers to his lips, replaying the kiss in his head over and over; it made his heart pound all over again. But it also made his heart ache, how could he be so stupid? Why would he do that?
Dave had known how he felt about John for a long time now; he had intended to admit it to him at some point, yes, but he didn't want John to find out like that. But knowing John he can be kind of a dense numbskull so he might not have even figured it out yet. Thinking about this made Dave chuckle a little. He forced his famous Strider smirk onto his face and closed his eyes. He kept telling himself in his head over and over, It's going to work itself out; it always does. He just hoped he was right.
John blinked the crust out of his eyes, gazing up at the unfamiliar ceiling. It took his brain a moment to process, he looked side to side confused and sat up with a start.
Oh, that's right. He slept over at Dave's last night, and…
Sudden memories from last night flooded back in. Dave catching himself from smashing into him; his face suspended inches above his own. Dave's lips. His best friends lips pressed againced his own. There hearts pounding.
Did it really happen? Was it just a dream? He remembered Dave's face, wide-eyed and flushed as red as his eyes. And more emotion in his expression than he knew Dave was capable of.
John took a few deep breaths, calming himself. He lay himself back down and rubbed his eyes. He turned towards the desk, looking at the clock. It read 8:30am, small streaks of sunlight crept through the curtains seeping into Dave's room giving the room a warm morning glow. Dave was still sound asleep on the floor in a heap of covers.
John sat up, propping up pillows for him to lean back on. He really did sleep soundly considering what happened last night. He looked down at the crumpled sheets he had kicked to the bottom of the bed.
You could tell they had been worn down and used for multiple years. Their brightly colored card symbols where worn out and faded. They're where several holes from severe uses, all those years of being rolled on.
Dave sleeps on these sheets, every, night. John thought, glancing at the bed. He looked around the room, thinking about how many times Dave walked over the floors, sat down at his computer. How many times had he sat down, anticipating one of his friends to message him?
John's pondering was cut shirt by a rustle from Dave's cocoon of sheets. John didn't know what to do. Should he say good morning? Should he wait till Dave says something? John just ended up staring strait forward, as if he hadn't noticed.
Dave sat up, glancing over at John he wasn't quite sure what to do or say either. The both sat there for a long while, stealing glances at one another, hoping that someone would say something. After a long while Dave finally stood up.
"You want something to eat?" The blonde boy said, stretching his back as he stood, turning towards John.
"Uh, yeah, sure." John said, wondering if Dave was going to avoid talking about last night. He stood up and followed Dave into the kitchen.
John glanced at the clock on the stove as they entered, 9:12. Geez how long had they been sitting in silence?
Dave opened the door to the fridge wit a long creek as it slid along its hinges before bumping into the wall. He crouched down, leveling himself with the shelves, pitifully stocked with food, and some scattered weapons of his brothers hiding in the back corners. He stretched out his arms and rustled around inside it, looking for something.
"Cereal okay with you?" he asked before emerging with a carton of milk.
"Yeah its fine." The ruffled haired boy replied, leaning back on the counter awkwardly, wondering if he should bring up the kiss.
Dave shuffled back out of the fridge, swinging the door shut again with his foot. He set the carton of milk down on the counter and reached up for the cabinets above. He pulled out two plastic bowls and placed them down beside the milk. He took a few paces to the other side of the kitchen; he took a box of cornflakes out of another cabinet. He gave the box a quick shake to make sure there was enough for two.
He walked back over to the bowls. Despite the fact neither of them had said anything about last night, you could still feel the tension in the air. Dave quietly prepared the cereal without a word. Just before he was about to put the milk back into the refrigerator…
"Hey Dave?" John said in a voice that made Dave's heart drop.
"Yeah?" He said, still trying to act his cool normal self, giving a shy smirk.
"Um… I know you probably don't want to but… can you tell me what was up with... last night?" John started shyly.
Dave could feel his heart pounding up to his throat. The cold feeling of worry seeped down to his stomach. "I… I don't know man. I just… I don't even know… Fuck, I'm sorry." Dave clenched onto the milk carton, averting John's eyes.
"Hey, don't apologies." John was a little unsure of what else to say. He finally decided to blurt out the question he had been wondering all mourning. "Do you… Like me Dave? Like… Like, like me." He stuttered awkwardly. It sounded stupid but he wasn't quite sure how to word it.
Dave gave a small nervous chuckle. "You really are dense Egbert." He said shyly.
"Why didn't you ever say something?" John asked, hesitantly.
"Because," Dave said with a sigh, turning towards John. He looked strait through John's blue eyes. "Because I really didn't want to fuck up our friendship…which I guess, now I already have." Dave placed the milk carton back into the fridge. "And I'm really sorry." He said, quietly and a little more to himself.
Dave plopped a spoon into one of the bowls of cereal and handed it out to John. "Here…" He let out a sigh as John took his bowl. " Want to watch some TV?" He suggested calmly, in a voice that almost sounded defeated.
John paused, he knew this conversation wasn't over, but he would wait till he asked any more questions. Dave seemed upset enough already, John sighed. "Sure."
AN/: Wow, I originally planned this out to be fluff but it turned out to be more drama than anything ? Isn't it funny sometimes how wrighting can take on a life of its own? Well anyway there is defiantly going to be another chapter and possibly one to two more after that. It might be another day or two before I get the next chapter up. I'm not even sure where I'm going with this story anymore! I'd love to get more ideas and reviews! I can't wait till I can get started on the next chapter.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS. 3