3 months later, new years eve.
The adrenaline courses through Alex's body, and he thrives on it. Alex steps off stage, just finishing his set for the new years carnival at BU campus. The crowd is vibrant, praising Alex who can barely hear a thing as he enters the crowd. It's almost the best feeling in the world.
His eyes search the sea of faces, looking for Henry who he promised to meet after. The past few months have been slow, but it's been perfect that way. Alex has taken every day at Henry's pace, always respecting his boundaries while still making a significant effort to initiate dates and hangouts.
They've studied together, been on countless miscellaneous dates, Henry has gone to every one of Alex's gigs and Alex has been reading everything Henry writes—that he shares, of course. Alex never thought he'd have a person like this. He never thought he'd deserve it. Sometimes he feels like Henry is some insanely realistic fragment of his imagination because, truly, how can someone like that be real?
He pushes through to the back of the crowd, his eyes scanning over all the faces, until he sees him. Henry stands, laughing mid conversation with Sabrina, the same girl he attempted to ballroom dance with at the party he picked him up from. The two have become quite close lately and Alex will never not find the height difference amusing and beside Henry, bless her little cotton socks, she looks half his height. Alex smiles to himself, before approaching them.
"Hey Henry," Alex grins and then playfully feigns surprise. "Oh, I almost didn't see you there, Sab."
"I hate you," Sabrina says, with zero bite and an affectionate eye roll.
"Hi," Henry says, his eyes soft accompanied by a fond smile. Alex feels like he's been set on fire with the way Henry looks at him, melting into the ground he stands on.
Sabrina chimes in, her enthusiasm palpable. "You two coming to mine for the countdown to midnight?"
Alex raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "You hosting?"
Sabrina nods with a mischievous grin. "Duh. Nora, Pez, and June are already there setting up for me. I think Pez brought fireworks."
Henry lets out a chuckle, half-joking. "I don't think you'll have a house next year if you let him do that."
Sabrina, Henry, and Alex make their way to Sabrina's house, welcomed by the warm atmosphere of a New Year's Eve gathering in the making. As they step inside, they're greeted by the sight of their friends already busy preparing for the night ahead. June and Nora are meticulously setting up the TV to ensure a seamless countdown experience in a few hours, while Pez (the social butterfly he is) is deeply engrossed in conversations with one of Sabrina's friends, trying to figure out the perfect playlist.
Amid the cheerful chaos, Alex can't help but smile as he looks around the room. It's a perfect representation of the happiness he's found in these past few months, his heart feels like it's swelling.
Hours disappear after lots of drinks, dancing and conversations. The house starts to fill as midnight grows closer, the promise of the new year fills the air with anticipation. Henry and Alex dance in the living room and it's as if they're alone, despite the crowd of bodies surrounding them. Wrapped in a cocoon of solace.
"Do you want to get some fresh air?" Henry whispers, his mouth by Alex's ear. It sends a shiver up Alex's spine, his skin tingling everywhere. Alex nods wordlessly, knowing speaking would fail him now.
Henry walks out the open door, only a few people scattered in the backyard. The muffled sound of conversation and music spills into the backyard, slightly dimming as they walk outside further.
Then Alex sees it. "Oh my fucking god."
"We're not going on the tramp–"
"Too late," Alex interjects, tugging on Henry's arm without looking back. "It's already in motion."
Alex climbs through the opening to the net, bouncing the moment he gets on his feet. He knows he looks like an idiot but he's too happy right now to care. Henry attempts to climb on.
"Quit bouncing for a moment will you?"
Alex complies, momentarily halting his jumps, but in the next instant, he's spear-tackled—literally—onto his back with a bounce. Henry rolls onto his back beside him, laughter filling the air.
Their laughter resonates through the backyard, two souls entangled on a trampoline. Alex almost can't believe how lucky he is, when he turns his head to watch Henry—the way he laughs, the way he smiles, the way he sounds. He feels his cheeks start to hurt from the way he's stuck smiling.
The world around them fades away as they lie side by side, Henry's eyes gazing at the stars above them but Alex can't pull his eyes off him.
Henry turns over and lays his head on Alex's chest, and their hands find each other, fingers entwining and Alex feels like his chest might explode. The tingling sensation that shoots through his fingers as they rest together on his chest. Alex can barely breathe.
Alex feels himself, without thought, leaning in and pressing a tender kiss to Henry's hair. With that, Henry lifts his head and gently reaches for Alex's face as he leans in to kiss him, so softly that Alex can't help but lean in closer and deepen in. Henry smiles at that, his teeth against his lips and a breathy laugh as he pulls back only barely to look Alex in the eye.
Then, with a mysterious smile, Henry says, "I got you something."
Henry reaches into his pocket, pulling out an airpod case and passing one of them to Alex.
Alex raises an eyebrow in curiosity. "You got me... a left AirPod?"
Henry laughs. "No you cretin, just listen." He inserts the AirPod into Alex's ear, pulling out his phone and hits play.
As the music begins, they lie side by side on the trampoline, wrapped up in their own little bubble. The world around them becomes muffled, and it's just them and it's as if no one else is around them. It takes Alex a second to click that Henry has made his own playlist for Alex, a playlist of handpicked songs for him. No one has ever done anything like that for him and Alex didn't think he could fall more in love but Henry has miraculous ways of surprising him.
From inside the house, the countdown begins. A minute until midnight. Alex and Henry both pull out their airpods, their eyes locked. Alex feels his heartbeat go faster with the way Henry's eyes search his face nervously.
Henry, with a soft, slightly self-conscious smile, finally speaks, his words filled with gratitude. "Alex, I appreciate how patient you've been with me."
Alex can hear his heartbeat in his ears. "Henry..."
Henry gently lifts Alex's chin with one hand and looks into his eyes, his expression one of deep affection. "I think I've had enough time to know what I want now."
Ten!
Nine!
Eight!
Henry whispers, barely audible over the chanting and music inside. "I want you. I know it's always going to be you. That is, if you'll have me."
Three!
Two!
Henry kisses his mouth as Alex nods wordlessly, his breath caught in his throat.
"Yes," Alex whispers, his voice thick with tears.
"Please."
One!
Happy New Years!
Cheering and hollering erupts loudly around them, the popping of fireworks above them. Any thoughts Alex was thinking immediately turn into mush against his mouth. Alex pushes Henry onto his back, hovering over him without pulling apart. Henry's hand travels underneath Alex's shirt, feeling up his chest to around his back and pulling Alex's body closer to him with a buck of his hips.
Alex pulls back just to look at Henry beneath him. His face is a mirage of orange dancing light and flushed cheeks. His pupils are dilated and he smiles up at him lazily with his wet lips glistening under the shimmering gold light of the fireworks above them.
Alex slowly dips his mouth closer, their noses bumping and his lips barely touching Henry's. Alex sucks in a deep breath, feeling Henry's hot breath on his mouth.
"I love you," Alex whispers, their lips brushing together as he says it. He feels Henry smile wider against his mouth, tears tracking down each of their cheeks.
"I love you," Henry says back just the same, breathless and full of affection. Alex's chest swells and no string of words can form a sentence that best describes how in love he is right now. Alex's breath shudders as he pushes their mouths together, slotting together gently.
It's the most intimate moment of Alex's life, kissing his boyfriend - he finally gets to call Henry that - under the glow of golden fireworks, alone in their own bubble of warmth and tenderness. He never thought he'd love like this–a love that feels forever, that feels made for him.
Alex thinks that maybe they proved each other wrong after all.