"Hello?" Blake hoped his voice would filter through the phone.
"Morning sleepyhead."
"Shane? It's…" Blake paused to open his eyes and look at his watch. "It's eight o'clock in the morning."
"You were staying up without me, huh?"
"I was already out late with you, remember?"
"Oh yeah." Blake rolled his eyes, even though Shane wouldn't be able to see it.
"Good times." They spent most of the night talking, but Shane was never one to miss a chance to use innuendo. And it never failed to produce a smile.
However, this one was quickly removed.
"Did you tell Hunter about us?" It was one of those rare instances that Shane was actually serious.
"Tell who about what?" And unusually blunt.
I like it when you're coy, really, I do. You know I think it's cute, but that's not enough to distract me this time. So, have you?" Did he mention persistent, too?
"I did tell Hunter, and it went exactly how I said it would."
"I should have told him with you."
"Suicidal much?" Hunter may not take it out on him, but if Shane was there...
"I could have made a difference, man."
"Believe me, it would have been worse." Blake wondered if Shane already prepared a will.
"Dude, don't forget I have an older brother, too."
"Is he anything like Hunter?" Somehow glaring at his bed wasn't as satisfying as glaring at Shane in person.
"Is it freaky that I can feel your stare all the way over here? No, I can totally see it."
There was one reason why he liked Shane so much. They connected somehow. And it was...different than what he and Hunter had.
"I'll admit that I'm giving you the look, if you'll admit that your older brother has nothing on my older brother."
"Come on, Hunter can't be that bad.
"…"
"Can he?"
"You tell me. You were there when we joined you guys." And they acted like kids. Both Hunter and Shane.
"You got me there. But I think we're better, now..."
He was angry at Hunter yesterday. Angry because he reacted immaturely.
"This is important to me, you know…"
What does that say about him. Having Hunter for an older brother and having Shane for a...something. He didn't know yet.
"I want to prove myself to your brother because I know he's important to you."
Ironically, he was probably more childish last night than Hunter was with Shane.
"I think this is most serious I've ever been with someone..."
He didn't even give Hunter time -
"Blake, are you there?" Apparently, Shane's confession fell on inattentive ears. It was the real reason why he called. Why he wanted to tell Hunter.
"I know this is early for you," It hurt, almost like rejection. Then again, Blake must be worried if he wasn't listening. "You didn't go back to sleep on me, did you?"
"Sorry, I'm still here. Just thinking about what happened last night. With Hunter."
"That's why I called you." To give his unheard confession. "I was worried when you didn't call back, but I thought you were just talking with him."
Shane, thinking Blake opted for silence, remained quiet. Almost missing the unusually quiet voice on the other line.
"Shane?" Blake was afraid that he pushed Hunter too far, that he wouldn't come back.
"Are you worried about Hunter?"
"It's just that…I think I said some things to Hunter last night. Things that don't sound too good in my head, right now." After admitting to it, it seemed to only become worse.
The day after.
"So you said some things. Hunter will get over it." Even though he told Blake this, Shane personally thought it would take a while to heal whatever rift he caused between the two brothers.
"You think so?"
"Of course. I see him differently than you."
"I thought you didn't like Hunter. That's why I'm surprised you pushed so hard for me to tell him."
"It's not that I don't like your bro. I mean, I do respect him." Of course, Shane would never tell Blake why.
"Especially since he had to put up with you."
"Laugh it up, now." But it did make him feel better. "No, really, Hunter is all I have. He's…He's everything to me."
And I'm just a good friend, Shane thought ruefully. "I've seen the way he looks at you. You're everything to him, probably even more.
"What's more than everything, Shane?" And what could be? Not missing the sadness in Shane's tone, he did suspect something.
"Whatever you guys have." Shane wanted to tell Blake the truth, but after the first attempt, he lost his resolve.
"If he still feels the same way."
"Is he awake, now?" At least Blake was still confiding in Shane. That would have to be enough for now. "After sleeping on it, I know he'll come around."
"He's still Hunter." And still the older brother he hurt.
"I know you don't see it, but he would give you the world if he could."
But Blake knew too well that Hunter was his world. Maybe it was because Shane was getting closer to him. All those years he took Hunter for granted were finally coming back to him.
"When he wakes up, you should talk to him."
"Shane?" Sure he and Hunter will probably talk again, but things will never be the same.
"Yeah?"
"…Never mind." Not even Shane could help with this one.
"You sure?"
"No."
"I won't push, but call me later, okay?"
"Yeah."
Thank you again, kindly, for the reviews. Who knew words could mean so much? I did intend to end this in two more chapters, but maybe I'll extend it a bit…hopefully without ruining it.
Shane finally comes into the picture. Although, not too mushy…I hope.
I tried to be a bit more realistic with this, thinking about their characters. I really did not want to do anything sappy. They are in a relationship, but I didn't want that to mean lovey-dovey action. It felt awkward and displaced, which is what I wanted. I hope I could somehow convey that.