the cold air of an early winter's morning rest upon nick's arm. goose bumps protecting his skin as the only source of warmth was stolen from him.
he let out a yawn as he turned on his side, sleepy eyes meeting closed ones in shock. the pair he stared at seemed to belong to his best friend, jack.
now, nick was all for cuddling up for the night with his friends, thats what everyone knew him for anyways.. for being the affectionate, loveable one. but, this was jack.
the person who instead of making them blush in embarrassment of his flirting or touch, was right next to him. jack always seemed to make him heat up just looking at his gorgeous smile alone.
this man stole his heart and his blanket! the audacity! but he just has to look oh so lovely as he calmly sleeps, only lightly breathing as he curls up on himself, a small smile on his face as he rests.
how had they gotten there in the first place? honestly, nick had no idea himself because jack seemed to mutter absolute nothingness and the man himself just seemed to nod and agree to whatever this beautiful man had said. i mean, who was he to deny jack? and this offer in specific.
perhaps it was something about it being too cold at night. 'honestly, what a hypocrite!' nick thought as he slowly reached out to grab the blanket that jack now held to his face.
but his movements were not as soft as he thought, it seemed, when jack opened his eyes to see.. was nick about to stroke his cheek was it?
both of their faces turned bright pink as they made eye contact, dark brown eyes meeting blue. silence, other than the pounding hearts they swore the other friend could hear.
jack just smiled, leaning into his hand as his eyes fluttered shut as he stilled again. nick trailed his finger down and upwards jack cheek, both of them unaddressing it but most definitely enjoying the feeling.
"good morning, nick." the other breathed out in a low, almost tired whisper, "i see you're first..thats new."
"oh don't tease me too much, jackie, it's just you waking up too early. you remind me of my grandma!" nick shot back, sending them both into chuckles.
"well, i'd hope you don't get this intimate with your grandma, now.." jack seemed to purr, this sending a chill down his friend's spine in embarrassment.
"..but you couldn't exactly blame me if i was. if she was as pretty as you, that is."
"hm," jack thought for a moment in amusement, "now it seems you're holding me to the standards of your grandma. only barely touching me when if you thought i was actually pretty, you would have kissed me breathless already."
"jack!" both of nick's hands rushed to cover his face to hide his very obvious flushedness. his bedmate only seemed to giggle in return, lightly exaggerating his sigh in feigned disappointment.
"ah, i see how it is. you're too embarrassed to even look at me!" he cried out, he hid in the blankets at once. "there nick you won't have to hid anymore."
"nooo! jackie! come on out, i'm just messing with you! i'll look at your face." he rolled his eyes at the words, but they seem to 'work' anyways.
"promise?"
"i promise."
"alright.." jack peeked out of the blanket with a grin, "why hello there."
"hi, cutie. how did you sleep?" as if on cue, both of them yawned, even stretched out as they poked one another.
"well it definitely could've been better. i mean, whats the point of sleeping in a bed with someone if they won't even cuddle."
"whoa whoa there, i know you're used to being a little spoon, but here in my bed, we're too shy to lay a hand on jack."
"but nick! i'm cold!" jack threw his arms around the said man and fake cried, "why don't you love me anymore!"
"jack please!" nick hugged him back, hiding his face away from jacks, "it's way too early to tease me like this."
"i'm just in a mood! i'm happy! this is rare, why aren't you enjoying it," jack actually frowned, causing of pang of guilt to overflow nick.
"i don't know.. you're right. you're usually not like this and its making me nervous! but i do like this jackie!see?" he placed a kiss on jacks forehead, in which he would smile widely in return.
"oh i don't know!" jack sat up, quite perky might i add, "i'm just reflecting on our 2020 together! it's been pretty shitty at times, but you've always made me really.. really happy."
nick sat up with him, a shy smile on his face as he felt his heart flutter. jack had no idea what his words meant to him, and nick almost didn't understand them.
could he.. be hinting at his feelings? or simply just be glad that he had a friend to spend the year with? but he had so many others, better that him at least.
jack seemed to read his friends expression and he sighed, thinking his words over. had nick ruined the moment?
"maybe i'm reading this all wrong. lets just go get breakfast, yeah?" but neither made an effort to move.
"jack! stop messing with me," nick squealed and fumbled with his hands, "if you have something to say just say it!"
"..okay.." a minute passes. "youre always asking to cuddle, hug or even hold hands as always.. made me feel weird. and i felt too embarrassed to, maybe i wasn't as warm as the others? but you touching them made me.. envy it."
jack looked up to meet expectant eyes, it was his turn to flail in embarrassment. he didn't speak, seeming to allow nick to make the next move. and that he did.
"jack, can i.." nick now sat in front of his friend, putting himself in a more open position, "can i kiss you?"
the words could've paused time. but cars still flew by outside and the birds still sang their morning song. both men let out a heavy breath, glancing at each other's lips shamelessly.
jack nodded and closed his eyes in wait. the sight sent nick into a mental frenzy, but he shook it off and giggled.
"words, jackie, i need a yes or no."
"...yes.. yes you can kiss me. please do." he almost begged, and thats all that nick needed as he cupped jacks face and turned it upwards to face him.
wet lips met ready ones both immediately melted into the kiss. as if two best friends had been waiting for this moment all along.
jack turned his head for a better angle and both made a sound of pleasure in return. his arms naturally wrapped around nick's neck as the his 'friends' hands traveled georges upper half, but making due with just his waist.
neither seemed to want to pull away, almost going even further unconsciously before they eventually parted.. breathing heavily as they process what just happened in silence for what seemed like hours.
"wow.. that really just..happened." had it really been april when nick first had these feelings towards the other and months later it became reality?
"yeah," even jack seemed surprised, especially with himself! "i..i.. i've never really done this, i'm sorry uhm.. so. you.. like me?"
nick burst out laughing, his partner turning away in shame but he just turned jacks head again to meet his eyes.
"yes, jack, i do like you. you're amazing. and pretty hot, might i add."
"oh?" jack tried to be smug but hid himself in nick's chest, too bewildered to match the others energy, "i think you might be pretty cute too."
it was adorable! at least in nick's eyes. being able to make his.. admirer this flustered when this was all the other unknowly did to him, felt amazing. he just laughed in response and wrapped his arms around george, attacking him with kisses all over the face.
"am i now? cuter than ryan reynolds even?" more kisses, even 'mwahs' to every time his lips made contact with jacks skin.
"oh definitely, nicky, he's not as soft as you. you're like a panda!"
"really? im a big, cuddly, adorable panda?!" both of them giggled and hugged each other tight, "so.. what are we?"
"hm.. i guess we would be boyfriends, right?"
"i don't know.. kinda bored actually." Nick flopped back on the bed and hid from george just for the other to tackle him at the teasing. "i'm just kidding!! i love you soooo much!"
"love you too." jack happily sighed and cuddled up with nick's relaxed body, "happy new year!"