HELLO AGAIN MY BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL INTERNET PEOPLE!!! <3 I have exciting newsssss!!! SO. If you read my little note thingies I post at the beginning and end of almost every chapter, (and the two parts that weren't chapters), you will know that I have had some trouble updating due to lack of computer. That will no longer be a problem!!! my burfffdayyyy was a couple weeks ago <3 And my wonderful mother of mine got me my very own laptop!!! SOOOOOO. My previous updating schedule should be back soon :) AND ITS SUMMER!!! NO SCHOOL WOOOOOOOOOOOOOH I will try my hardest to update as often and quickly as I can with actual quality chapters hahaha. It's hard to believe that this story has been up for about a year now... Thank you to every single one of you who have stuck around since the very beginning :) Zeek and Austen love you!!! I hope you all have an amazingly fantastic day!! ITS SUMMER*sings in Olaf's voice* SUMMMMMMMMMMEERRRRRRRRRR!!! Anyhow, thank you all who have been patient for so long with my lack of updating. I love each and every single one of you from the bottom of my heart. <3
Chapter Twenty Five- Zeek's POV
I watched nervously as Austen tore the paper away from the present I had gotten him. Once he got all the paper off, he studied the photo album, smiling at the cover.
"I love it!" He smiled and kissed my cheek. The night before, I had found a lot of my old photos of us, and put them in the album. Austen opened the cover and flipped through all the pages I had filled. "You were such an adorable toddler." He laughed and showed me a picture of a three year old me with chocolate smeared all over my face, and my arms around three year old Austen as well. He was the cute one!
"You were the cutest. You still are." He shook his head in disagreement.
"You keep telling yourself that, but I know it's not true. You are adorable!" I blushed and he just kissed my nose, setting the book aside.
"Do we have any plans today? Or are we just gonna hang here all day?" He asked, tracing circles on my palm.
"No, I don't think so. We can just hang out here all day and watch movies if you want." He grinned from ear to ear and nodded.
"That sounds wonderful." He stood up from his seat next to me and pulled me up against him.
"It does, doesn't it?" He chuckled and kissed my forehead, then pulled me across the house by my hand.
"Come on, I want to make you breakfast." He made me sit on the tall bar stool as he moved about the kitchen. I was too busy watching him cook and giggling at his goofy dance moves. At one point he even grabbed a wooden spoon and acted as if it was a microphone.
"And even as I wonder, I'm keepin' you in sight! You're a candle in the window on a cold dark winter's night. I'm getting closer than I ever though I might!" He did a funny air-drum solo and continued singing, staring right at me. "Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore! I've forgotten what I started fighting for. And if I had to crawl upon the floor, come crashing through your door. I can't fight this feeling anymore!!!" He held the last note for way too long and bowed dramatically as I applauded him.
"You're so adorable." I managed to say through my giggles.
"Did you like that?" I smiled and nodded. He bowed again and continued cooking. I didn't really know what he was cooking for me until he set it in front of me (I was too busy staring at him...) He made me eggs and bacon which were arranged like a smiley face, and a piece of toast he had cut into a heart.
"Awe! It's so cute, I don't want to eat it..." He laughed and poured himself some cereal. "Babe, I can share. Or I can make you something if you'd like..." He shook his head.
"This is fine. I wanted to make you something, because I love you." He brought his bowl over to sit across from me and leaned over, kissing me softly.
"I love you more." He just laughed and shook his head, taking a bite of his breakfast. I ate mine quickly, eager to spend time with my boyfriend. And it was the best breakfast I had ever eaten in my whole life.
***
Gabe's POV
I was officially being a jerk. I hadn't exactly talked to Luke much since he had told me about his feelings for Zeek. I just couldn't! Don't get me wrong, I loved him. I had finally realized and accepted that. But why did he have to like someone else? And him of all people??? I mean, Zeek was a super nice guy, but it was obvious that him and Austen were meant to be together. Anyone with eyes could see that. I've always hated watching Luke get hurt, and this was no exception. I loved him, and although I couldn't force him to love me back, I would die if I had to watch him get his heart broken... But what if he did actually get his heart broken, and I was too busy being a selfish jerk to be there for him? What if I was already too late?
I jumped up from my seat on the couch and ran to the door, barely opening it before I took off to my car, climbing in the driver's seat. I silently thanked myself for leaving the keys in the cup holder and shoved it into the ignition. I turned the key, expecting to hear the sputtering of the engine turning on, but it never came.
"Are you serious?!?!" I groaned and slammed my hands on the steering wheel. I tried one more time, and it still didn't start, so I climbed out of the car and began running. I never stopped once until I reached Luke's front door, gasping for air. I rang the doorbell and leaned against the porch railing to rest.
"Sorry, my foster parents aren't ho- Gabe? What are you doing here? Why are you all sweaty and out of breath?" Despite my state of almost death, I couldn't help but smile at the worry in his voice.
"Hey Luke. My car wouldn't start so I ran here."
"Gabe, that's almost three miles! Why would you do that? Come inside, I'll get you some water." I followed the cutie into the house and plopped myself down onto the couch. I could see him bustling about the kitchen and I couldn't help but chuckle. He was so cute! I loved him so much!!! He eventually came back into the living room with a tall glass of ice water in his hand, setting it on the coffee table in front of me.
"Thanks." I told him and picked up the glass, taking a small sip.
"Gabe, why are you here? It's freezing outside and you aren't wearing shoes!" I frowned and looked at my feet. Sure enough, I was only in a pair of black socks, which were now soaked from running in snow. I guess I was that excited to see him.
"I needed to see you. I haven't really even talked to you in a while and I realized what a douche I was being to you." He shook his head.
"Gabe, it's fine. I understand completely. You don't need to explain yourself." I shot him a confused look. What did he mean by that? Did he somehow figure out my feelings for him?
"W-what do you mean?" Luke just sighed and sat next to me, putting his hands in his lap.
"Ever since I came out to you, you've been acting different. You don't talk to me much anymore, you never come over, and even if I am talking to you, you almost always look like you'd rather be anywhere else. I know you tried to accept me and everything that I told you because we're best friends, but deep down you aren't okay with it. Not yet anyway. You still think it's disgusting and unnatural, and that's your opinion... It's fine... I just don't want to make you uncomfortable. So if you came here to tell me you never want to see me again... Well, I understand." He looked sadly at his lap, and I just stared blankly at him.
"You think I don't accept you? Luke, of course I accept you. I know it must have been a scary thing to do, telling me that. Especially after how I acted toward Zeek and Austen. But you know I would never do anything to hurt you in any way. You're my best friend, and I can't even imagine a life without that." He still was looking at his lap, but I could see his cheek stretched slightly in a smile.
"Then why are you here? Why were you being so distant?"
"I came here to apologize to you, and to tell you that I'm done acting like that. I need you just as much as you need me. Maybe even more." I whispered the last part to myself and continued. "You said you liked Zeek, and I'm not saying he's a bad guy... I just don't want you to get hurt. You can see the way him and Austen look at each other... There is no denying that they are completely in love. I know you can't help who you fall in love with, trust me. But you can change what you do about it."
"What do you mean? Are you saying I should go after him?" He finally looked up, his forehead scrunched up slightly.
"No...He wouldn't leave Austen. What I'm saying is maybe you should distance yourself from him for a bit...until you think you can face him again. Like New Years. We can have a little party, just you and me." He shook his head.
"Gabe, I can handle it. It sucks being in love with someone who can't return the feeling, but I can handle it. I have for a long time. Zeek and Austen are my friends, and I want to see them on New Years. I'll be just fine. This whole thing may be new to you, but I've dealt with it for as long as I can remember. One night won't change anything." I smiled slightly and stood up from the couch.
"You wanna go play video games or something?" He just nodded, so I held out my hand for him. I somehow managed to control my the huge grin that wanted to appear on my face the moment his hand gripped mine.
***
We played video games for many hours until I noticed the sky was dark and Luke was yawning constantly.
"Hey, you wanna go to bed?" He just yawned again, resting his head on the arm rest of the chair he was sitting in. I chuckled and stood up from my own chair and made my way over to him, scooping him up into my arms.
"Wh-what? Why are you carrying me?" His eyes fluttered open and he glanced up at me.
"Shh. Just go back to sleep." His eyes closed again and he rested his head on my shoulder. I carried him to his room, and gently dropped him on the bed, pulling the blankets around him. I turned to leave, but something gripped my wrist, making me turn around.
"Stay?" He whispered. I nodded and turned off the light, climbing into the bed next to him. He didn't just roll over like he normally would. No, he snuggled right up to my side.
"Luke?" I whispered to him.
"Hmm?" He was still awake.
"If someone were to come up to you...Someone you've known forever... And tell you they were in love with you, would you give them a chance?"
"Of course I would." And with that final thought in my mind, and a beautiful boy in my arms, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
WAS THAT LONG? I CAN'T TELL :O OH WELLSSS DID YA LIKE IT? DID YA? HMMMM? Well I hope you did :) If you did enjoy this chapter of Solace, please give it a little vote and leave a comment! And maybe even follow me and read some of my other stuff?
EXITING NEWS TIME :)
So, you guys remember that poetry contest I entered a while ago? Yeah, well I WON!!! There were over 200 entries and only 10 chosen finalists and I was one of them. If you read some of my poems on here it was the one titled "The Box" that one :) I eventually will repost it so you can enjoy the awesomeness once again :) I love you all and I hope you all have a lovely summer!
Love, Ash <3