HOMECOMING GAME DAY

I've been really stressed with work these past few weeks, so I'm very excited to relax for the weekend. Tonight is the game, tomorrow's the dance, and then Sunday is just going to be a day for me… and him. He deserves some time to relax as much as I do, if not more. I'm not sure if he thinks I noticed or not, but Dash has been really pushing himself to a new level of intensity, or "insanity" as I'd tell him. It's most likely because of the game that he's been pushing himself like this, and I know this is important to him, but damn. Either he's in the gym every other night, or he's in my room sleeping. For Dash, sleeping in my room is much better than sleeping in his because, well, I'm in there. Sometimes, I sleep with him in his room, but he prefers mine and that's perfectly fine with me. I try to sit up in my bed and stretch, finally relieved that it's Friday, but my body refuses. My alarm is going off as loud as possible as well, which adds to the irritation. I groan, pulling the blanket over my head, trying to drown out the obnoxious screaming of my phone. Out of nowhere, it stops. That can only mean one thing: Dash is awake. Damn it.

"Good morning, sleepyhead." He says in a sing-song voice. I peek out from under the blanket and see him hovering over me, his smile bright in the early morning sunlight. Even at the crack of dawn, he looks ridiculously good. It's almost unfair.

"Morning…" I mumble, forcing myself to open my eyes to see him. They are instantly blinded by the sunlight, reminding me of the late-night study session where I was trying to finish an essay that's been hanging over my head all week. Between schoolwork and trying to keep up with everything else, I feel like I'm running on adrenaline and instinct.

Dash leans down, lightly pulling me up, and plants a kiss on my forehead. He looks concerned, yet still keeps a smile. "You look like you barely slept, baby."

"I could say the same about you, Dashi." I reply, finally managing a small smile as my vision begins to focus on him. "You've been up late every night this week."

"Yeah, well, that's football for you." He answers with a shrug, but I can see the tension in his eyes, the weight he's carrying masked underneath his smile. He's been putting in extra hours at the gym, pushing himself to do harder workouts, and trying to keep his head in the game. What he doesn't realize is that I know him too well. I can see how the pressure is eating at him behind the forced smile. I can see how much he wants to win this game—not just for the team, but for himself as well.

I rest my forehead onto his and speak softly to him. "It's just one more day, Dashi, and then we can relax. One more day."

He nods, but the smile he gives me doesn't quite reach his eyes. I can tell he's worried. Not just about the game, but about us. We've barely had any time together this week, and when we have, it's been more about comforting each other than actually being together. The stress has put a strain on us, and even though I know we're strong enough to handle it, it still sucks.

"I'm gonna grab a shower." He replies, standing up and stretching, his muscles rippling in a way that's both distracting and infuriatingly attractive. "Wanna join me?"

I raise an eyebrow and laugh quietly. "Of course I do, you idiot."

Dash chuckles, leaning down to kiss me again, this time on the lips. It's a brief kiss, but it's enough to remind me that no matter how crazy things get, we're still in this together. "Well, get out of bed and follow me."

"Fiiiiiine." I groan playfully as he takes my hand, but I can feel my heart doing that stupid little flip it always does when I look at him.

By the time we're ready to head out, the campus is already buzzing with activity. Students are walking around, in their school spirit, and there's an electric energy in the air that's impossible to ignore. The game is all anyone's talking about, and the excitement is contagious. Dash is quiet as we walk to the locker room, his hand gripping mine tightly. I can tell he's in his own head, running through plays, thinking about every possible outcome of the game. I squeeze his hand, trying to reassure him without saying anything. I know he doesn't need more pressure right now. When we reach the locker room, the team is already there, suiting up, the air thick with anticipation. I feel a little out of place, standing there among the athletes, but I stay close to Dash, not wanting to leave him until I have to.

"You've got this." I say quietly, as he starts to pull on his gear. He pauses, looking at me with a small, grateful smile.

"Thanks, Danny. I'll see you after the game?"

"Of course. I'll be in the stands, cheering you on."

He pulls me in for a quick hug, and for a moment, I just hold him, feeling the tension in his body. He's under so much pressure, and I wish I could take all of it off his shoulders. I hate for him to be under pressure like this, but all I can do is be there for him—and I will be—every step of the way.

"Go kick some ass." I say, trying to lighten the mood as I pull away.

"Will do, baby boy." He replies, and I can see a spark of determination in his eyes. It's enough to give me hope that everything will be okay.

The game is one massive adrenaline rush. For someone who doesn't really pay attention to sports, I'm loving this game right now. It's a back and forth battle. I'm on the edge of my seat the entire time, my heart pounding in sync with every play. Dash is on fire, leading the team with a fierce intensity that's both exhilarating and nerve-wracking to watch. Even with a sprained wrist, which he re-aggravated before halftime. However, the other team isn't backing down, and the score stays close… too close for comfort, actually. I can barely breathe as the clock winds down in the fourth quarter. The score is tied, and the tension in the stadium is palpable. Every eye is on Dash as he takes the snap for what could be the final play of the game.

"The look in his eyes…." I whisper to myself. "Come on, Dashi. You got this." It's very clear that his wrist is killing him, his nerves are sky high, and he wants to… to give up. I look closely at him, and I see him turn his head while calling out the play and, by some stroke of luck, our eyes lock for a moment. This has been a stressful week for us both, but especially him. All of the workouts, practices, and assignments have been seriously weighing on him. "Don't give up, baby. Just keep going." I hold my breath as he drops back, scanning the field for an open receiver. The defense is closing in, but even though he's clearly going through it, Dash stays cool and calm. He threads the needle with a perfect pass to his wide receiver in the end zone.

Touchdown.

The crowd erupts into cheers, and I'm on my feet, screaming along with everyone else. The team mobs Dash, lifting him up in celebration, and I can't help but feel a surge of pride. He did it. He actually did it. But as I watch him being lifted in the air, I can see the exhaustion in his eyes and the weight of everything he's been carrying. I know this victory means the world to him, but I also know that he's been pushing himself to the limit. When I finally make my way down to the field, Dash is surrounded by teammates, staff, and his coach. I hang back, not wanting to interrupt, but he spots me and pushes his way through the team, his eyes locked solely on me. We head to a secluded area of the stadium and finally get some time alone.

"Hey." He says breathlessly as he holds his helmet, his hair drenched in sweat, and his eyes shining with undeniable pride.

"Hi." I reply, feeling a rush of emotion as I look at him. My face heats up and I know for a fact that I'm blushing. "You were amazing out there."

"Thanks, baby." He says, pulling me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me tightly. For a moment, we just stand there, holding each other, and it's like the rest of the world fades away. "I couldn't have done it without you by my side." He whispers in my ear, his breath warm against my skin. The night of homecoming senior year flashes in my mind, when Dash and I kissed for the first time.

The dance was ending, and a slow song was playing. I wasn't sure where Sam was, and I kind of didn't care, but all I know is that Dash approached me and asked me if I wanted to dance with him. I told him yes and we stood together, swaying to the calming sound of the music.

"Had fun tonight?" He asked.

"Yeah, kind of. It's just… well, bittersweet, I guess."

"Why?"

"It's our last school dance, and I think Sam's cheating on me…"

I could tell he was upset based on his expression, but he hid it with a smile. "You know, if we were together, I'd never do that."

"How can… how can I trust you on that, Dash?" My voice is dripping in nervousness, and I feel something wet on my face. I'm about to start bawling my eyes out, in his arms, once again. Damn, I hate doing that. It's so humiliating. Even though we're really good friends, a part of me still thinks he'll turn his back on me like Tucker did. Dash has done some pretty harsh things to me, but ever since he came to my rescue after I was hazed, I've seen a different side of him. However, with the way things have been, it's hard to trust anyone… including my best friend. "How can I know you won't—"

"Shhh…" Dash interrupted, placing his finger on my lips. "I can show you better than I can tell you. That is, if you'll let me."

"What?"

In the middle of the court, surrounded by other couples, Dash rested his hand on my face. The song—a song I knew very well, that being "Best Part" by H.E.R. and Daniel Caesar—continued playing, the lights got brighter, and it seemed as if time was slowing down. He stroked my face, gently wiping away a tear and making me blush even harder.

"Are you okay with this?"

"Yes…" I whispered, feeling the rising heat in my cheeks.

I didn't expect what came next. Dash continued stroking my face with his thumb, pulled me closer to him with his free arm, and in the flash of a light, was connected to me at the mouth. I froze for a moment, not knowing what to do. I've never been kissed by a guy before. Hesitantly, I reached up to his shoulders to push him away, but instead, clung to him. My body was making the decisions for me. The world around us faded more and more as I found myself getting lost in the magic and the heat of what was transpiring. He pulled away and looked me in my eyes, smiling. I blinked, and without thinking twice, glided my hands quickly to his collar and grabbed two fistfuls of his suit jacket. He looked at me, startled, but kept his smile. Sensing that this was a make or break decision, along with the fact that I may have feelings for him, I closed the space between us and shut my eyes. My lips were back on his, but this time, he was the one who held onto me. His lips feel so soft, so warm. I didn't care if Sam came back and saw me or not. Dash was the only person I wanted to be with. At that moment, I realized that he was being honest about never breaking my heart if we ever got together. I realized that maybe, just maybe, Dash could be the one for me.

"You did all the work." I replied, my voice choking with emotion. "I'm just here to watch you shine."

He pulls back, looking at me with a seriousness that makes my heart skip a beat. "You're more than that, Danny. You're everything."

"I–I am?" Fucking hell. Why is he doing this? I don't want to start crying, but damn it, Dash. DAMN IT, you're going to make me cry.

"Of course you are, Dan–Dan. You…" He started, his voice emotional yet stern and calm all at once. "You've been the driving force behind me getting through this week. There have been so many moments throughout this week, and the past two or three weeks if I'm being honest, but it's over now."

"Dash, it's been a crazy week. With everything that's been going on, I feel like we haven't had the chance to get some time to be alone. Even the one time we did, I spazzed out because of stress, so I'm sorry about that." I felt a tear begin to stream down my face. "I didn't want you to worry about me because I felt that all of your attention needed to stay on you…"

"Hey. I know we've barely had any alone time together, and that's all on me, okay? I've been so wrapped up in the stress of the game and classes that I didn't make sure you needed me for anything."

"Fuck you, Dashiel J. Baxter, for making me cry. Fuck you for making me become more aware of the fact that we're in this together. Fuck you, Dashiel J. Baxter… fuck you for loving me so damn much." I thought.

There was a shimmer in Dash's eyes as they twinkled like stars in the moonlight. He had proven to be different from Sam, Kwan, and Tucker… three people I thought I could trust. He had shown me that, even though I can be a little much to handle, he'll always be here for me to run into his arms. He'll always be my protector.

"How did you even get to this point?" I asked. "You used to hate me."

"I used to hate you because I thought you wouldn't like me if I was just being myself." He said truthfully. "So, me joining the football team and being one of them was the only way I could hide who I was. As far as how I got to this point, it was just about how much time I spent around you. Yes, I used to consistently mess with you, but as time passed, I realized that it was better to, you know, drop the mask and be my true self. Look where that got me: here with you in my arms."

A thought ran through my head, and I knew it was best to ask him. "But Dash… if you were pretending to dislike me that entire time, why did you come to my defense when I was hazed?"

"I thought I told you why. You didn't deserve that, Danny. No one deserves to go through anything similar to what you went through. Besides, I handled them."

"You almost killed one."

Dash looked at me as if I had just uttered some triggering words. His expression hardened, and he tensed up. "I know. And I told him that if he bothers you again, I'll actually kill him."

"What?"

"I ran into him at the gym last night and told him that if he messes with you again like he did, I'll finish what I started junior year and eliminate him."

I got to say, having the one guy that everyone thought wanted me dead come to my defense and threaten to eradicate his former best friend is a pretty cool feeling. I nestle myself in his arms once again, resting my head on his chest like a kitten. He starts to lose all the tension and holds me tight. I'm beginning to think Dash is the one that needs me more than I need him. "You okay?" I whisper.

"Yeah. I'm good. You?"

"As long as I get you, I'll be fine."

"Danny, can I ask you something?" He asked quietly as I pulled back from the embrace.

It's just the two of us out here. None of his teammates are here to bother him, and luckily for me, Sam isn't blowing up my phone right now. Just what I wanted. As our eyes meet for what feels like the millionth time today, all I can do is raise an eyebrow in suspicion.

"Will you be my boyfriend?"

"Wait, what?"

"I've been thinking about this for a long time. I promised Jazz I'd protect you, and I like you a lot. So, will you be mine?"

Woah. That night last week was intense, and while I did tell him I wanted to be his, I refused to act on it. Right now, though? Right now is the perfect time to do something. Similar to his previous question, I didn't respond to his question with words. Instead of verbally replying or raising an eyebrow, I rest my hands on his shoulders and plant a tender kiss on him. My body felt like fire every time we got close, always desperate for him to put me out. This time, I feel like I'm an even bigger fire that's waiting to get put out. When I pulled back, I felt my face burning up. There's no way I'm not blushing HARD right now, and the reason is because Dash is blushing hard as well. I smile and speak. "Did that answer your question, Dash?"

In most cases, he would respond verbally. Sometimes, he would respond non-verbally. However, I can tell that he's thinking of something to say because he wasn't expecting me to do that. He just looks at me, unsure of what to do or say. I don't know what he's thinking, but before he can even say anything, a familiar voice interrupts everything.

"Dash? Fenton? What the hell are you two doing here?!"

I turn around instantly and my body begins to freeze in shock and shake in fear. Dash's eyes narrow sharply, and I can sense the protective side of him coming out like a lion protecting its offspring. My stomach starts to twist in knots as the person I didn't want to see tonight shows up. What the fuck, man?