Before you read, here is the URL to the picture talked about below: simplyme26. tumblr .com/post/6930709608/justin-gray-barnhill. Enjoy! :)

A Thousand Words
by simplyme26

"Shane?"

No response.

"I think we broke him."

"Shane?"

"Earth to Shane!"

"Gentlemen, Shane's brain has officially left the building."

"Ah, what a simple picture can do to the average hormonally-driven teenage boy."

And average hormonally-driven teenage boy he was.

With unblinking eyes, a hanging jaw and a missing train of thought, Shane practically drooled over the picture in his hands. His breathing malfunctioned and his eyes hungrily drank in the blonde boy of his affections who seemed to be staring directly at him from the picture with those deep, hypnotizing brown eyes. Curly blonde locks protruded every which way, looking so carefree, so terribly sexy.

Shane nearly moaned at the sight of it. How could anyone possibly be so damn perfect inside and out? Seriously. How?

The most intense gaze- a mix between a deathly glare and a blank stare- was being directed at him, and Shane couldn't help but be lost, get drowned, lose all sense of logic. Those brown eyes drew him in like a fat kid to cake. And that perfect, flawless, smooth, creamy skin that Shane just wanted to run his hands, his fingers all over on. And then those lips, oh dear God, those lips.. So meticulously sculpted with the most skillful hands in history, so plump and soft-looking and kissable..

Geez.

The vest. Shane wanted to kiss whoever had made Reed pose nearly half naked- with only a vest for his upper torso.. his well-defined upper torso. Did Reed work out? Because judging from the toned chest and perfectly toned arms and those abs.. What gym did this boy go to? No seriously, what?

And just when you think it can't get better, it does. That small, but very noticeable trail of hair lining down, disappearing into his bright red pants..

"Dormouse!"

"What are you-?"

"REED! PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!"

"Or a pair of BOXERS, at least!"

Shane whipped his head so quickly that his neck nearly snapped, mind already in a frenzy, only to be met with.. nothing. Nothing but boisterous laughter coming from the group of Windsors.

Turning red, Shane glared at each and everyone of them. "You guys suck."

"It was the only way!" David cackled through uncontrollable fits of laughter.

Shane mumbled curse words under his breath, all directed at the group of boys in the room. He looked back down at the picture, licking his dry lips, and folding the picture for keeping.

"What are you doing?" Kurt asked, hilarity subsiding, but a giddy smile still on his lips. "That picture's not yours."

"Yes, it is." Shane grumbled.

"It's Reed's!" Kurt cried, laughing some more.

Shane blushed again, getting annoyed at the amusement at his expense. He pursed his lips, scowling in thought. "I'll give it back then." And then he stalked off, up the stairs, happily leaving the group of boys who were still laughing like wild hyenas.


Gingerly, Shane pushed open the already ajar door. He peeked in, one green eye showing from the outside, and noticed Reed looking frantic. The blonde boy was upturning pillows and going through canvases and wearing a worried expression.

Shane couldn't help cock a brow and smile. "Looking for something?"

Reed jumped. "Shane!" The worried look on his face didn't leave.

Shane looked sheepish, apologetic. "Sorry! I guess I should've knocked. I didn't mean to scare you."

Reed sighed, eyes still darting fervently everywhere. "It's okay.. You're- you're here. When did you get here?"

"Just five minutes ago." Shane smiled. He was about to fully step into the room when the blonde suddenly stood in his line of vision, arms outstretched and palms open.

"No, wait!" Reed bit his lip. "Um, ourroom'samess. We should go outside and spend some time with-" Just as Reed was about to usher Shane outside, his eyes caught sight of the photograph Shane had been holding behind his back. He looked accusingly at the dancer. "Where did you find that?"

Shane stared into the terrified look in Reed's eyes. "The guys were looking at it when I got here.. I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have looked. I mean, I should've asked you about it first. I'm sorry.." Shane offered the photo back to Reed, who took it begrudgingly.

"Kurt." Reed said this with an amount of venom Shane didn't know he was capable of. With purpose, Reed marched towards the doorway. "I am going to- to-" Reed pursed his lips.

Shane found it endlessly adorable that Reed didn't even know how to rant.

"I'm going to burn all his clothes! Starting with his favorite McQueen boots-"

"Woah, woah, woah." Shane took Reed by his biceps- his significantly toned biceps- and guided him back towards his bed. "Let's not do anything.. drastic here. I mean, it's really not that bad."

"It's horrifying!" Reed cried, throwing his hands in the air. "I was going to burn them all, but then Kurt comes and-"

"WHAT?" He was going to burn this precious, precious picture?

Reed peered up at him, confused. "What?"

"You were going to bu- Wait. Wait a second." Shane narrowed his eyes, a finger held up. "Burn them ALL? You mean.. There are more?"

Reed shrugged, eyes downcast. "A few.. Mother took the courtesy of sending me all of them." He sounded miserable.

Shane straightened. One measly photo already reduced him to a incoherent, bumbling fool. And suddenly, he finds out there are more? Is this real? "Can I.. Um, can I see them? The others?" Shane sounded like a wounded puppy.

Reed stared, scrutinizing and cautious and reluctant. "You promise not to laugh?"

Oh, Shane would do so many more things before he would laugh. "I promise."

With a resounding sigh and a lick of his dry lips, Reed hauled himself up and trudged towards his closet. He squatted down, reaching for something under the hangers of designer clothing, and took out a large, flat black box.

Shane watched anxiously. Thousands of images swam in his mind- half-naked Reed, hot Reed, sexy Reed, perfect Reed.

Very hesitantly, Reed outstretched his arms and shoved the box in Shane's face.

Shane watched with sympathetic eyes at the tight hold Reed had on the box, at the wince ready to form on his face, at the nervous lip-biting. He looked down briefly. He couldn't believe he was about to say this. "I don't have to see them if you don't want me to."

Reed looked away, loosening his hold on the box. "No no, you want to see them. It's okay."

Shane grinned, falling that much harder for this boy. "Seriously Reed, I really don't need to see them. I'm content with just looking at you."

Reed stopped. His expression softened, arms slowly falling to his sides and the blush he now wore complimented the shy look on his face.

"You may look absolutely gorgeous in those pictures, but I'd still much rather look at the real thing."

Reed's breathing hitched. As many times as those kinds of words were said to him in photo shoots and from his mother's lips, he's never heard it said so genuinely. "You.. You think I look pretty in these pictures?"

Shane scoffed. "Pretty? Reed, you look GORGEOUS. BEAUTIFUL! Hot, even." A thought, and then a nod. "Yes, very very hot."

Reed bit back the unbelievable grin making its way on his lips. The ridiculous flutter in his heart sent a rush of blood coursing to his cheeks. How does this boy know exactly the right things to say? Shyly, softly, Reed spoke. "Do you want them?"

All present thought in Shane's head just successfully killed themselves as thick brows shot up into his hairline. He reeled back a bit, disbelieving. "Do I want them? Wha- you're.. you're giving all of it? To me?"

Reed nodded with a sweet smile, handing over the box.

Shane's own grateful grin splayed on his lips. "Thanks." Slowly, as if giving Reed a chance to take all of it back, Shane reached out and took the box from his hand. He smiled.

"Your welcome." Reed said.

Shane, ecstatic that he had the sacred box in his hands, held it up with a grin. "You know, this way I'll always have you even when I'm not here."

Reed automatically blushed, eyes downcast. "..I don't have a piece of you though."

Shane had not expected him to say that. But he was glad he did. With an embarrassed look, he quickly searched his jacket and pants pockets for something, only to find nothing of any value or importance. And then it hit him. Hastily, he shrugged off his jacket. "It's not much. It's nothing compared to all the designer stuff in your closet. But it's the only thing on me right now.." He said with a sheepish smile, giving Reed the worn out jacket.

Reed took it happily, hugging it to his chest and inhaling the scent he loved so much. "It think it's better.."

And just like that, Shane couldn't hold it in anymore. Not after everything. "I like you, Reed. Really really like you. You know what, my feelings for you are very dangerously.." Shane swallowed. "..close to love. And I know that you're probably uncomfortable with that fact, but I honestly don't think these feelings are gonna go away anytime soon so I just wanted to get it all out there so.. Yeah. There it is. Out there." He nodded to himself, inwardly convincing his conscious that that was the right thing to do.

Reed seemed to be simply staring at him, cheeks red and eyes wide.

Shane didn't know what to think. But then he caught the sudden shift of gaze to his lips, and then Shane felt himself shiver.

"I want to.." Reed whispered, almost pleadingly. "Can I..?"

"Please.."

Very slowly, Reed touched Shane's cheek with a fingertip, maybe two. And then a warm palm pressed itself on his entire cheek, and suddenly, Shane wasn't breathing.

Hearts raced. Lips leaned so unbearably close to exposing every pent up frustration, every hidden secret, every longing wish.

It was when Shane felt it- the sudden weight on his lips- that he was in a different world- a better one, a perfect one. He wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. He wanted to jump and scream and thank the world for bringing this perfect boy to his life. He's felt the most alive he's ever been.

And it was all because of one boy, one perfect boy.

They pulled apart, much to their chagrin.

But then Reed whispered, and suddenly, that perfect world was back. "I think my feelings for you are dangerously close to love too.."

Shane felt himself shiver and melt at the same time. He tightened his hold on whatever was in his hand- Reed's own. "Can we establish one thing here?"

"Yes?"

Shane fixed his gaze into Reed's hazy one. "Would it be safe to call you my boyfriend?"

Reed's eyes widened. "I've never been that before.."

Shyly, Shane urged. "..Is it okay to call you mine?"

Reed smiled. "Please."

END.