Sorry it took so long to update! My life has been crazy and I haven't had a chance to sit down and write. Also sorry it's short and not that great...I guess I didn't really think through what I want to happen after the Foxes arrive at the Barns...so we'll see where this goes! Thank you everyone for your kind reviews and kudos! It's greatly appreciated!
Adam had been with the Foxes when they were drunk multiple times. Adam had been with Ronan when he was drunk multiple times. But he had never been with both The Foxes and Ronan when they were all drunk at the same time. It was an interesting experience, to the say the least.
Everyone (except for Renee and Adam) was drinking, eager to let loose after a stressful week of classes and practices. They played games, danced to stupid songs, and explored the acres of land that make up the Barns. "Shouldn't we quiet down? Coach is trying to sleep," Renee said at one moment when the group got particularly loud.
"I promise you he won't wake up," Ronan said, straight-faced. Renee gave him a skeptical look before shrugging her shoulders and continuing her conversation with Andrew. Adam raised his eyebrow at Ronan. "Dream mattresses. Have an extra sound sound-proof feature. Figured it would come in handy."
"How do you think of this these?" Adam asked, nuzzling into his boyfriend's neck. Ronan just smirked.
Now, Adam sits on the living room couch next to Neil, both boys watching their boyfriends talk on the other side of the room, which is a spectacle on it's own. "What do you think they're talking about?" Neil asks.
"I have no idea," Adam whispers in awe. Both Ronan and Andrew are not the talkative type, especially with strangers. But somehow, after a few drinks, both boys wandered off without any struggle. The two boys looked comfortable in their conversation, almost as if they knew each other.
"Ronan doesn't seem like the type-"
"He isn't." Adam folds his legs onto the couch, curling in on himself. "And neither is Andrew."
"Yeah," Neil agrees, sipping his drink. Adam has always been curious about Neil's drinking habits. He rarely ever drinks but when he does, he does it with care, like he's scared of drinking more than just a beer or two. Perhaps he is. Adam knows the rough outline of Neil's backstory - his knowledge patched together from news articles and miscellaneous conversations with the Foxes - but he doesn't know all of the details. But Adam doesn't pry; after all, no one questions his own backstory.
"This house is . . . weird," Neil says after a while. Adam doesn't know how to respond. What exactly can he say? He can't just admit that his boyfriend is capable of bringing objects out of his dreams, or he used to be magically connected to a made-up forest, his best friend died then came back to life, and his ex-girlfriend-turned-friend is a psychic battery. The Foxes may be a unique bunch, but they're almost nothing compared to Adam's strange batch of friends.
"Ronan's dad was an inventor," Adam lies, a lie so engrained in his brain it comes out easily. Neil gives him a sideways glance, but doesn't say anything else. He just smiles, knowing that Adam's hiding something, and stands up. "I'm gonna go find where Nicky ran off to," Neil says, heading out the door. Andrew immediately notices Neil leaving and bolts out after him, always so protective, leaving Ronan and Adam alone in the living room.
"Is everyone outside?" Ronan asks, walking over to the couch and sitting beside Adam. He uncurls Adam's legs and stretches them out over his lap.
"Yeah. I think Matt and Dan are checking out the stables, Nicky might have started a bonfire, and I don't really kno-" Ronan's lips crash against Adam's, soft and gentle yet simultaneously fierce and powerful. Adam presses closer to the other boy, wrapping his arms around Ronan's neck and pulling him closer. Adam's body heats up as Ronan's fingers graze the sides of Adam's face. He's missed the feel of those fingers.
"You're an idiot, Parrish," Ronan growls against his lips.
"I know," he replies, attempting to kiss Ronan again.
But he pulls away slightly, not finished with his fake argument. "I haven't seen you in weeks and you decide to turn my house into a hotel for psychotic athletes," Ronan growls, biting into Adam's neck, making him moan. Adam tries to stop the sound, embarrassed, but it escapes, which only makes Ronan smile.
"I know, I'm sorry," Adam whispers, his hands running over Ronan's short hair. "I can tell them to leave tomorrow if you wa-"
"No," Ronan says immediately, pulling away. He gently places a kiss on Adam's cheek, his lips lingering a second too long.
"But-"
"You're happy with them."
Adam swallows hard. "I'm happy with you, too."
Ronan's eyes shift to the window, where the reflection of the bonfire flickers. "Yes, but this is a different kind of happy," Ronan sighs. "You're comfortable around them."
Adam doesn't quite understand where this conversation is going. "I'm comfortable around you, though. And I get to see them all of the time. I should have thought this through, I should have asked-"
"No," Ronan growls again. "I'm glad they're here."
"Really?"
"Yes, you fucker," Ronan says, nudging Adam in the side. "I like seeing you like this."
Adam is touched by this rare piece of vulnerability from Ronan. He leans forward and kisses him softly, their lips barely pressing against each other. "I like seeing you in general."
"I know," Ronan smirks.
The front door opens and Allison pops her head in. "Come on, you two. You're missing all of the fun!" she says, gesturing for them to come outside.
Adam looks at Ronan in question. He's spent all day with the Palmetto State Foxes. He should probably just head to bed and spend some alone time with his boyfriend. But Ronan stands up and heads towards the door. "You coming, Parrish?" Ronan says, holding open the door. Adam smiles and heads out the door, reaching backwards for Ronan's hand.
The two walk together towards the makeshift bonfire and settle into the circle, where all the other Foxes are already gathered. There are bottles and cups scattered around them, half of the Foxes laying down in the grass in exhaustion, the others sitting on pieces of wood or old wooden chairs they pulled from the porch. When Ronan and Adam join the group, Nicky applauds them and Renee smiles brightly.
"We were just saying how cool this place is," Dan smiles.
"It's like fucking Narnia here," Nicky adds.
"Thanks," Ronan replies.
"You live here alone?" Matt wanders.
"Most of the time, yeah," Ronan shrugs. Adam squeezes his hand. "My brothers sometimes stay when they're in town. And Opal, too."
"Do you go to college?" Renee asks, leaning forward.
"No."
"What do you do all day?" Kevin grumbles, almost accusingly. Adam shoots him a look but he doesn't react.
"Whatever the fuck I want," Ronan replies, smiling mockingly at Kevin. Some of the Foxes laugh. Kevin keeps his face blank.
"Did you grow up close to here, Adam?" Dan asks.
It's a tricky question. It's not meant to be too personal-the Foxes know their boundaries-but it's further than any of them have ever prodded. All Adam's really ever admitted about his past is that him and his family aren't close, and that his friends are his real family.
"Uh, no. About 30 minutes away or so," Adam shrugs. Ronan places a gentle hand on Adam's back, steadying him.
"How did you two meet?" Nicky says, finishing the rest of his drink.
"School," Ronan grumbles at the same time Adam says, "Mutual friend."
"Wow. What a riveting story," Allison snorts, laying back in the grass.
"What a riveting personality," Ronan retorts back. Allison doesn't respond, but Adam knows she's probably smiling. Allison and Ronan will get along nicely.
"I like you," Nicky says, pointing at Ronan. "You're like Andrew but with less of a hassle."
Ronan raises an eyebrow, watching as Andrew casually tosses his empty can at Nicky's head. Adam muffles his laugh. "I disagree," Adam smiles. "Ronan is very much so a hassle."
"The fuck does that mean, Parrish?"
"Ooh, language," Dan teases.
"It just means that you're not exactly trouble-free," Adam jokes, wrapping his arm tightly around his boyfriend. The others laugh and continue talking, eventually drifting away from the topic of Ronan to school and exy and politics and plans for spring break. Ronan listens patiently - something Adam is astonished by - and gets along with everyone. For some reason, Adam feels proud of this, like Ronan's just accomplished something major, though all he's done is been civil. But still, Adam feels good knowing that Ronan cares enough about him to get along with the Foxes.
They eventually make their way back into the house, trashing empty bottles before climbing up the stairs sluggishly. The Foxes divvy up into different bedrooms and eventually all drift off to sleep. Adam curls against Ronan in bed, basking in the warmth of Ronan's skin pressed against his. He sleeps peacefully, and when he wakes up, Ronan hasn't dreamt up any nightmarish creatures, so Adam suspects Ronan slept well, too.
When Adam heads downstairs to start making breakfast for the Foxes, Opal is sitting at the kitchen table across from Blue Sargent.
"Adam!" Blue says, as Opal pummels into him, wrapping him in a hug. "Why didn't you tell me you were visiting this weekend? And why is there a huge bus outside?"