Taking Hits

Prologue: Just Ok?

Troye woke up first. He was still laying halfway on Connor. He tried to move, but Connor instantly awoke and tightened his arm, pulling Troye back to his body. "Con, I have to pee," Troye said.

"Oh," Connor replied, removing his arm and opening his eyes to watch Troye get up and stumble to the bathroom. Connor sat up and checked his phone, ignoring all his notifications for now. He was going home today, and everyone was excited to see him again, but that was one of the last things on his mind.

Troye walked back in and sat on the edge of the bed, his back to Connor. He was silent for a long time, and so was Connor. They both stared off into space, wondering what the other boy was thinking, wondering what they were thinking themselves.

Finally, Troye spoke up. "This isn't going to work," he said, staring at the wall. He felt like an idiot, and he didn't really want to explain himself. Connor didn't make him.

"Ok," the other boy said quietly. They just sat there again without talking for a few minutes. "Hey, what do you want for breakfast? I'll go start some coffee," Connor finally said, standing up. Troye remained silent, unmoving. "Hey, Troye? You ok?" he asked softly.

Troye shrugged and stood up. "Yeah, fine." He turned to look at Connor - his messy hair, his crumpled white T-shirt, his dark sweatpants, that worried expression on his face. And suddenly it all came back – everything from last night, their conversations, their touch, their bodies so close and breathing in time, Connor's voice whispering from between his perfect lips.

And suddenly Troye couldn't just be ok with it all. He wanted a fight. He wanted to feel, he wanted Connor to. He wanted something other than the numbness. His face became a mix of sad and angry. "Ok?" he asked in a hurt tone, bordering on a yell. "Just ok? That's all you have to say? That's all this means to you??"

Connor's eyes widened, not prepared for this sudden battle. "Troye..." he started, hurt evident in his voice as well.

"Don't, Connor, just... You don't have to explain. Please." Troye backed down quickly. He turned around and sat on the mattress again, holding his face in his hands. "Just leave me alone."

Connor took one look at his hunched body and knew he couldn't do that - not in a million years. He quietly padded over to the other side of the bed and sat next to Troye. He didn't even know if Troye realized he was there, he just felt like he needed to be close. So he sat quietly and motionlessly.

After a few long minutes, Troye looked up. Apparently he had known Connor was there. He leaned his head over onto the other boy's shoulder. "Let's just be friends, ok Con?"

Connor paused. "I don't really know what to say here..." he mumbled.

Troye almost laughed. "Ok is fine, I swear."

"Alright," Connor said. "Ok," he corrected quickly, then glanced sidelong at his friend.

"Pancakes sound good," Troye mentioned, lifting his head.

"You got it," Connor replied with a smile, standing up.

Troye stood up with him. "I'll help you."