Fragile Threads [boyxboy]

Chapter 23

"Because couples do things like go to dances," Ari said, dragging Ethan out to dance this time.

Ethan tried to drag his feet but Ari just yanked him forward. They hung to the outskirts of the dancing, where it was less crowded and more mild. Ethan really just swayed from foot to foot with the occasional use of his arms as he did so. Ari just laughed and was too focused on trying to show off that he kept messing up instead.

The music got more upbeat and eventually a circle formed where other students started break dancing. Some were better than others, and one kid particularly topped them all. No one wanted to go after that and so it dissipated.

Brent showed up, though Ethan could almost immediately tell that he hadn't come in sober. He was able to hold himself together around the chaperones though, despite the occasional stumble. Ari kept an obvious eye on Brent, but from a distance so that he and Ethan could sit off to the side and talk.

"So, have you thought any about next year?" Ari asked.

"What do you mean by that?" Ethan replied absent-mindedly. He was too busy watching Brent try and show how well he couldn't dance.

"Your dad, I guess, and what you're doing for college," he paused, frowning slightly. "We're already going to the same school, but we might be able to be roommates in the dorms."

Ethan finally turned and looked at him. "Like living together?"

"Well yes and no," Ari protested quickly. "It's the dorms, so it's not like an actual living... thing. But it could be a sort of test run, you know? And maybe the year after that, we could actually think about something like getting a place together."

Ethan in reality hadn't been thinking that far ahead. "Dorm applications aren't until the spring," Ari added quickly. "So it's not like we have to have anything figured out right now. But it gives us some time to think about it."

Ethan nodded at that. He'd never experienced actually living with someone before, he just knew all of the horror stories of how living with someone was different than being just friends-or in their case, dating. Not that he could think of any pet peeves he had about Ari, but he tried to think of things that he might do that could bother Ari.

"Stop looking like your brain is imploding," Ari groaned. "You're thinking about it too much already. We have time."

"Are you sure?" Ethan still couldn't help but ask, with just a tinge of his old anxiety shining up and bringing in the doubts. "I mean, what if..." 

"No," Ari interrupted him firmly. "Neither of us can predict the future here, so don't worry about the what ifs. The only thing we have control of is right now in the present, and enjoying the moment." Ari paused, looking up and confused for a moment. "Shit, I'm starting to sound like Jace." 

Ethan chuckled a little bit at that, giving Ari a shy look. "But you think you'd want to live together?"

"Eventually. We'll figure it out. Either way, we'll hopefully have each other for stepping into college and all the changes that it brings. Though, I might break Brent's little heart. Forever ago we declared we would room together in college..." Ari started glancing around guiltily, trying to find Brent in the crowd then. 

"I think he'll understand," Ethan laughed. "Otherwise he'll complain about how much time I spend in your room or something." 

Ari shrugged it off and gave Ethan a chicken peck kiss. "Well I'm looking forward to it... but, want to ditch this place?"

Ethan couldn't stop himself from lighting up at that. "And do what?"

"What do you think?" Ari teased flirtatiously, dragging Ethan towards the doors. "Let's celebrate a little, eh?"

Ethan wasn't sure what they would be celebrating but he wasn't going to complain. Ari drove them to his  house, which Ethan realized slowly was empty aside from them. A moment later Ari was kissing him and dragging him upstairs into the bedroom.

Ethan fumbled along as they shed clothes and he put his hands on Ari's skin. The warmth made him shudder as Ari toppled him back onto the bed and started kissing down his neck.

Ethan bit his lip as Ari began to scrape his teeth against Ethan's nipples. Ethan drug his fingers against Ari's back and shoulders, trying to get a hold on something. Ari worked his way down Ethan's stomach with kisses and eagerly pulled Ethan's erection into his mouth.

Ethan swore and let his head fall back. Ari's lips and tongue played with the cusp of the head before taking it down to the root. Ethan curled his toes as Ari bobbed up and down for a few strokes. Ari pulled back with a devilish grin and went in for another kiss.

Ethan felt fingers prodding at his entrance then and spread his knees a little wider as he pushed his hips up into the touch. He reached down and took Ari's shaft into his palm, stroking him up further. Ari dove for a condom and rolled it over himself.

Ethan groaned at the familiar dull ache that followed, though it was more pleasure than anything as his body adjusted. Ari eased inside, his face tight as he rocked his hips forward. Ethan wriggled on the bed and wrapped his legs up around Ari's waist, locking him in close.

Ari sunk into him, pushing deep and making Ethan cry out louder than he had wanted to. Ari let out a strained chuckle as he began to roll his hips, grinding himself inside. He then began to pull back and plunge in with more vigor—enough to knock his bed against the wall.

Ethan swore under his breath as he felt the hot pleasure spreading in his muscles and making his resolve weaken. He dug his nails into Ari's skin and tried to hold on a few seconds longer before he came. Ethan strained against the bed as his mouth was open but his voice was stuck in his throat.

Ari growled as his shoulders tightened, hitting his peak as well. He sagged on top of Ethan to catch his breath and slowly pulled out. Ari fell off to the side and watched the ceiling.

"It'll work out," Ari muttered, sounding like it was partially to himself. "And who knows. Maybe if we ever get into a fight, I'll just start blindfolding you again."

Ethan scoffed and gave him a light punch in the arm. "Idiot. That was still weird as hell."

"It worked, didn't it?" Ari grinned mischievously.

"Only 'cause you're one smooth talker," Ethan grumbled sourly. 

"So I guess..." Ari rolled over and grabbed something from under his bed. "This is pretty useless then, huh."

He tossed a box over to Ethan, who glared at it like it was going to bite him. "What is it?"

"What do you think?"

"I'm going to kill you," Ethan declared as he opened it. 

"Ah, but you'll kill me with love, hopefully," Ari quipped. 

Ethan rolled his eyes and would pass that off as a joke for the moment. Inside the box was a satin blindfold that had 'trust me' embroidered on it in red against the black. Well, at least it wasn't something too cheesy, Ethan tried to tell himself. 

After all it was one of the first things he had had to do with Ari. "Thanks," Ethan said, trying not to show how it was growing on him. He would pretend to hate it.  

Ari still managed to see through it though, giving a happy grin and putting it over Ethan's head. Ethan pouted when he couldn't see anymore but felt Ari giving him another kiss. 

"Just trust me."

The End (redone)

Epilogue after this!