Warnings: Rated T, some mild language

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise


Jeff and Trent were in the sassy Warbler's room when his mobile pinged with an incoming text message. Trent saw that it was from Thad, so he checked it straight away.

Hey Trent, can we talk? T

Trent showed it to an inquisitive Jeff. The blond got up from where he was sat on his friend's bed. "I'll go to my room to change for the party. Why don't you tell him to meet you here so you can talk in private?" He suggested.

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Thanks Jeff." The blond boy nodded and left the room as Trent began to tap out a reply.

Hey :) Sure, I'm in our room, do you want to come here? The *other* T

He got an immediate reply;

I'm on my way

Not even ten minutes later, the door opened and Thad walked in. He locked eyes with Trent in silence, before he turned to shut the door, kicking off his shoes and removing his blazer, making himself comfortable for this chat. He hopped onto his bed and sat with his back to the wall, facing Trent, who was sat on his own bed in a similar position.

Trent could sense that Thad didn't know where to start, so he thought he would make it a bit easier for his friend. "Soooo...Jeff told me about you and, uh, Stacie, breaking up. Are you okay?" He asked, concerned.

Thad nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you first, it's just that she rang me when I was with Nick and Jeff, and from what I was saying during our conversation it was obvious we had split up."

Trent nodded, hoping for further explanation.

"I've been trying to get hold of her since last weekend, but she didn't answer my calls. I'm pretty sure she was out on a date actually."

"I'm sorry." Trent interrupted. "That must have been upsetting for you to find out."

He was surprised when Thad shook his head. "No, not really. Just a bit embarrassing that I got two-timed, but otherwise I'm not upset. I didn't have any feelings for her. We only went out for dates on the weekends, twice in total over the past almost month and last weekend I couldn't get hold of her to end things properly. So no, I'm not upset about that. I'm just annoyed it took so long to get hold of her to sort it all out."

Trent couldn't understand the intense look that came across his face.

"Can I ask you something?" Trent asked. Thad nodded, waiting.

"Why did you go out with her in the first place?" He cocked his head to one side, watching Thad. He was genuinely interested in his answer.

Thad looked down at his hands, fiddling with them in his lap, before he looked back up at Trent. Trent's breath hitched as his friend stared directly at him when he answered.

"There's someone I've liked for a while. But it's complicated and I'd just about convinced myself it was a bad idea to risk messing things up by saying anything. So when Stacie asked me out, I said yes. She seemed nice enough, so I thought it might help me take my mind off of..." he stopped mid sentence, coughing awkwardly as he suddenly got off of his bed.

"Trent?"

"Yes?"

"Will you come outside with me?" Thad was looking a bit nervous. Trent frowned in confusion, shooting Thad a puzzled look, but got off of his bed too.

"Now? Er, sure, but you'll have to give me a minute to get my coat and things on first. I know for a fact it's freezing out there."

Thad nodded and busied himself getting ready too. Once both boys were properly wrapped up in coats, boots, scarves and gloves, Thad opened the door for Trent and gestured for him to go first. Trent's cheeks turned rosy at the gesture and he walked into the hall as Thad shut their door.

"So, where are we going?" Trent asked as he followed Thad along the corridor and down the stairs to the main entrance.

"I thought we could go out onto the courtyard by Warbler Hall, but the long way this time." Thad rolled his eyes, no doubt referring to the mistletoe hanging over the door nearest it.

Trent's good mood vanished. So he really did not want to kiss me! He doesn't have to be so obvious and rude about it! He couldn't help firing a snarky reply back. "Don't worry, I wouldn't try to embarrass you again in front of our friends. It's not like I did it on purpose anyway! How was I supposed to know the stupid mistletoe was there?" His voice was rising, but he didn't care. It felt good to finally vent about it.

Thad watched in stunned silence as Trent flounced diva-like through the doors to the outside, not waiting for him. He snapped out of his shock and ran after Trent who was angrily speed-walking through the snow on the long way round the building to the Warbler courtyard.

"Trent! Wait! No, you've got it all wrong! Please, wait!" Thad stumbled desperately after him, but Trent rounded the corner of the building and onto the snow covered courtyard patio before he could get to him. Shit! I've really messed this up! Thad thought miserably, picking himself up from yet another stumble. I need to explain everything properly and now, before I lose my best friend. His gloves were soaked now so he took them off and stuffed them into his pocket.

He was panting as he rounded the corner, his breath coming out in icy clouds disappearing into the dark night air. Trent had finally stopped, but was facing away from him, looking up at the snow-laden branches on the trees.

Thad approached but didn't touch Trent, mindful that he had upset him.

"Trent? I know you're angry with me right now, but will you please listen to me?" Thad begged. He was immensely relieved to see Trent nod, but this disappeared when he briefly looked at him revealing glistening eyes. Thad's heart clenched at the sight of those unshed tears that he had caused.

"First, I need to explain that, yes, you're right, I didn't want to kiss you under that mistletoe..."

Trent turned disbelieving eyes on Thad at this comment which appeared to be another insult. But before he could yell any more, Thad held his hand up, saying, "Wait, please hear me out?"

Trent clenched his jaw, jamming his hands in his pocket, waiting for the explanation. It had better be good enough or I'm going to shove him into the nearest snow drift. His childish mind supplied.

"How would you feel if you had liked someone for a long time, but you were already good friends and you didn't want to mess it up? Then you finally decide to do something about it and get everything else properly, uh,sorted out..." If that's what you can call dumping Stacie! He thought, "...so that you can talk to that person, and then a stupid piece of mistletoe nearly spoils everything?"

Oh great! Thought Trent. He has a crush on someone I know and he didn't want to be seen kissing me in front of them. But still...not my fault! Trent rolled his eyes, his mood only getting worse by the second.

He couldn't bite back his anger any more. He spun on his heel to face Thad, ready to leave him with an icy parting comment, before flouncing off once again. "Well why don't you just man up and tell whoever it is? I still don't see why me accidentally coming in that door would ruin your plans to tell whoever it is? Who is it anyway? Sebastian? One of the other Warblers? Oh never mind, you don't have to tell me any way, I'm only your best friend, last to know, again." He started to make his exit, but Thad reached out to catch him by his arm, holding him there.

"Wait! You're right, I'm sorry you didn't find out about me and Stacie first. And yes, I should man up and tell him. And no, it's not Sebastian. And yes... he's a Warbler..." Thad's voice trailed off, waiting for Trent to look at him.

So it is a he and he's a Warbler. Trent came up empty as to who it could be if it wasn't Sebastian. He felt Thad tug on his sleeve that he was holding him by, so he turned to face his crush.

His eyes widened in shock as the hand on his sleeve slid down to take hold of his. He stared down at their joined hands, not quite believing it yet. I don't want to look up and him explain it's someone else, why can't we just stand here holding hands forever? Trent's subconscious silently begged. I can pretend we're together and this isn't just a platonic apology between best friends.

Trent finally brought his gaze back up to meet Thad's, whose eyes were soft and gazing at him intently.

"Trent, I've know you for ages. We're roommates. We're best friends. Will you promise me that won't change, even if you don't like what I'm about to say?" He gulped nervously.

Trent was confused. "Of course I'll still be your friend. Always." He tried to smile convincingly, even though his heart was about to be slung on the freezing cold floor and stomped on, namely by Thad and whoever his Warbler-crush was. I will always be his friend, even if it hurts to watch him with someone else. He deserves to be happy.

"Trent?" The sassy Warbler simply nodded, unable to speak anymore without giving away that he was upset. "Would you do me the honour of going to dinner with me tomorrow? On a date?"

Trent couldn't breathe. His mind was screaming, WHAT?

Thad started to panic at Trent's non-reaction. He just stood there, staring at him. "Uh, Trent? Trent?" Oh no. I have screwed everything up! I've just lost my best friend. He dropped Trent's hand gently and started to back away, his eyes suddenly finding the snow beneath them very interesting.

Trent was still internally flailing. WHAT? HOW? WHEN? Then he was finally able to register Thad moving away from him. NO! Come back! Thad was almost at the corner of the building when he finally heard Trent speak. "Wait! Thad, come back!" he yelled, hurrying over to the shorter brunet.

Thad turned to look at Trent, a hurt look on his face. "I'm sorry Trent, I've messed everything up." He shook his head sadly.

"No, no, you haven't." Trent said softly. His tone was so sweet that Thad's heart raced with sudden hope and he dared to ask, "You mean...?"

Trent nodded. "Yes, I would love to go out with you." He blushed, ducking his head. Thad couldn't help but laugh in relief. "You will? Great!"

Trent suddenly remembered why he had been so angry in the first place. Oh. I get it now. He didn't want to kiss me under the mistletoe before he spoke to me first. His cheeks reddened even more than from the cold at the thought of kissing Thad. He couldn't help smiling at that and his eyes twinkled.

Thad smiled back and hesitantly reached out to take Trent's hand again. "Is this okay?" He asked shyly. Trent nodded.

Thad spoke again. "I'm sorry about all that mistletoe awkwardness again. It's just that I didn't want the first time I...uh...kissed you...to be in front of all the Warblers. I wanted it to be somewhere romantic and unforced. And I wanted you to want me to kiss you too."

Trent swooned mentally at Thad's unwittingly romantic speech. "You mean, like standing in the snow on a wintry night?" He hinted, smiling softly.

At that moment snowflakes started gently falling from the sky again, settling delicately on the two boys who were gazing shyly at each other. Thad reach up to brush a couple off of Trent's fringe before gently cupping his jaw with his ungloved hand. His breath hitched as he searched Trent's eyes for any hesitation. When he found none, he stepped forward, closing the gap between them, leaning up to softly capture Trent's lips with his.

Trent's eyes fluttered shut and he gently kissed back, the tingles from the feel of Thad's lips warming him all the way down to his toes, even in the icily cold night air.

When they broke apart, their eyes were shining and both had silly grins plastered across their faces.

Thad had an idea. "Maybe we should go inside? I don't know about you, but I'm freezing." Trent nodded in agreement, stamping his feet and rubbing his hands together. "What do you say to going in that door?" He wiggled his eyebrows in a very Nate-like move. Trent smiled happily back, pleased that Thad didn't seem to want to keep this a secret. "Lead the way!" He said, linking his arm through Thad's.

Even more Warblers were in the room as the boys burst through the door, shutting it quickly behind them to keep out the cold air. Sure enough the chanting started as soon as they turned to face the room.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" Clapping and stomping started and quickly caught on all round the room. Jeff and Nick jumped up, ready to land a smacker on each boy, but before they got there, Thad put his hand up and said loudly, "It's okay, I've got this!"

He turned to a cutely blushing Trent, reached up to grab the lapels of his coat and pulled him down into a kiss that started chastely but heated up the longer they stood there. As his lips moved against Thad's, Trent sighed into the kiss, thinking, I got my Christmas wish!

The End


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