Roommates

Chapter 13

"Well of course you like me, we're best friends, but I don't see what that has to do with me going out with Josh," Connor said, confusion contorting his features. Jude smacked his forehead, letting out a mangled yell in frustration. He never realized Connor was so fucking thick.

"Connor, that's not what I meant!" Jude replied sharply, his voice far louder than he intended it to be.

"What did you mean then?" Connor asked, still sounding bewildered.

"God, you're oblivious," Jude muttered.

"Oblivious? What do you mean by—" Connor started but stopped when Jude started advancing across the carpet towards him. "J-Jude, what are you doing?"

"Something I should've done a really fucking long time ago," Jude murmured under his breath. He stopped, standing in front of Connor so close that he could feel Connor's sharp, short breaths on his face. Jude stared right into Connor's hazel eyes. Waiting for Connor to turn and walk away. Waiting for Connor to speak and tell Jude to stop. Searching for any sign that he didn't want Jude to do this.

Connor didn't move, didn't make a sound; he just stared right back, so Jude slowly snaked his arms around Connor's neck, still giving Connor every chance to pull back. But then Connor put his hands on Jude's waist, so he closed the gap, gently connecting their lips together. Connor let out a quiet gasp, so Jude pulled back but Connor followed him, shifting one of his hands onto the back of Jude's head as he moved his other arm to wrap around Jude's waist, delicately bringing Jude's whole body back closer and keeping the soft pressure of their lips pressed together.

This was it; this was the kiss Jude had been waiting his whole life for. All of the tentative, experimental chaste pecks, every sloppy, drunken make-out felt like nothing compared to this. Electricity was racing through his every nerve, heightening every sense and sensation. His heart was beating so fast it was threatening to burst through his chest. His entire body felt like it was on fire as he and Connor stood, pressed together, kissing each other. Connor's lips were smooth and firm, with a bit of peppermint taste lingering on them.

Jude was the one who had to come up for air first, easing his head away from Connor. Connor let out a whimper, leaning forward and trying to chase Jude's lips down. Jude used his hands which were still around Connor's neck to guide his head so that their foreheads were touching.

"Th-that's what I meant," Jude panted, still trying to catch his breath.

"Oh," Connor mumbled.

"Oh," Jude mimicked. "Dork," he continued, letting out a breathy laugh. Connor laughed with him for a few seconds before the room went quiet again. Connor was gazing into his eyes, looking like he was thinking hard about something.

"But I—I thought you said you didn't have any romantic feelings for me," Connor pointed out. Jude nodded in recognition.

"I thought that's what you got out of what I said," Jude, frowned, sighing loudly. "I was just trying to be ambiguous so I could hide my feelings, but it ended up coming out sounding like a denial rather than an open-ended statement."

"So—so you're saying you've been trying to keep your feelings secret?"

"Yeah," Jude admitted.

"For how long?" Connor pressed.

"Since before we became roommates," Jude whispered.

Connor burst into hysterical laughter, throwing his head back as his whole body shook up against Jude's.

"You mean to tell me," Connor gasped once he managed to bring his cackling under control, "that this whole time we've both been trying to hide the fact that we like each other?"