“How about we watch a movie?” Tawson suggested. “I’ll cut up some fruit and you pick one out. My laptop is in my bag.”
Once everything was settled, they snuggled on the bed. Vic picked out a romance-drama Tawson hadn’t seen before. But it was cute. Tawson fed them pieces of fruit throughout the movie. Vic’s head was nestled on his shoulder and Tawson’s other arm stayed wrapped around their back, fingertips brushing up and down Vic’s back idly.
Vic reached out to close the laptop when the credits started rolling. Neither of them moved. Tawson wasn’t sure what to say and it seemed Vic was in the same boat. A lot had happened in a short amount of time. Tawson moved his head to the side, kissing the top of Vic’s head. Then he kissed their forehead when Vic tilted their head back.
“I think you should head back,” Tawson whispered. His words were undermined by the way his arm tightened around Vic. “In a minute. Head back in a minute, I should say.”
“I wish I could stay here the rest of the night,” Vic said into his neck. He felt the breath of air over his skin and shivered slightly.
“I wish you could too,” Tawson said. “But we’ll drive together tomorrow.”
Vic sat up and moved to straddle Tawson’s lap. They didn’t initiate anything and both of them took a minute to just look at each other. Vic’s features were beautiful. Blue-green eyes that were still red-rimmed a bit. Shoulders slumped forward a little told Tawson that there was still tension running throughout their body.
“Can you come to my apartment tomorrow night?” Vic asked finally. Tawson started to sigh and shut that idea down, but Vic continued. “Not for anything sexual. Really. I just- I miss you during the week. And I really want to show you… my clothes. I want to… To try and show someone else that side of me.”
“Baby.” Tawson drew out the word, running his hands up and down Vic’s thighs. “If I can get by with it, I will. I have classes back-to-back and then office hours until four.”
“I can make us dinner,” Vic said. “And I’ll double check that my roommate isn’t going to randomly stop by. Not that he does, but just to be extra safe.”
“I’ll let you know, but I’ll do my best okay?” Tawson smiled. He wiped his hand down the side of Vic’s face and neck. “I miss you during the week too. I had a lot of fun today.”
“Me too,” Vic said. “I mean, before crying on you and all. And I want you to know that you are helping me. To come to terms with how I feel and stuff.”
“I’m happy to hear that, Vic,” Tawson said with a smile. “I’m still sorry that I outed you earlier. I never meant for it to come across like that.”
“I know you didn’t,” Vic said. “And I know that I’ll have to tell people eventually. I think- I might tell Joe about it.”
“You don’t have to tell anyone you don’t want to,” Tawson said. “But if you do, just remember that I’ll be in your corner no matter what.”
Chapter Twelve
~ Vic ~
Monday morning came way too early. The only good thing that came of it was the half an hour drive with Tawson.
Vic’s mom, having been left alone for the majority of the day, decided to rearrange the living room. Vic jumped in to help when they got back to the house, letting their mom direct them this way and that until she was satisfied with it. There was talk about repainting the walls too. Vic was glad they wouldn’t be around for helping with that. They didn’t have the patience to paint a room.
They texted with Joe and Tawson the whole evening. Tawson sent Vic a picture of the dinner he made, promising that there were leftovers that he’d save for Vic. Joe was living it up on campus. Vic was a little bit jealous that they were missing out on some things with having to come back home each weekend. Vic knew they could ask off for a weekend here and there, but the deal with their parents was hard to pass up and they wouldn’t take advantage of it.
Plus, the weekends meant Tawson. It was a good trade. ButVic did miss their best friend. They’d have to hang out soon for sure.
“Good morning,” Tawson said when he got in the car with Vic. He’d set his bag in the backseat and his coffee cup in the console holder.
“Morning,” Vic said with a yawn. Tawson chuckled and moved his hand to the same spot on Vic’s thigh. It was his go-to move when they were in the car and Vic loved it. “My class doesn’t start until ten. I regret this decision to drive you in so early.”
“I’m sorry, baby. But hey, we get a little more time together.”
“That is almost worth it,” Vic said. They opened the gate and drove through. Vic looked over at Tawson with a grin. “Can I have some of your coffee?”
“It’s still hot, so be careful.”
Vic took a large gulp, not caring that it burned their tongue and throat a little. It wasn’t even eight in the morning yet. They’d definitely be going to their apartment and getting another hour of sleep. Vic set the cup back down and started driving again.
Tawson kept the conversation steady during the ride. Vic gave a non-committal ‘yeah’ and ‘Mhmm’, which Tawson found funny. He squeezed Vic’s thigh several times, getting their attention in more ways than one.
“You are really not a morning person,” Tawson said when Vic finally pulled into the parking lot and found where Tawson’s car was parked. This early in the day, there were more than enough empty parking spaces. “Go get some more sleep, baby. I’ll text you later during my lunch break.”
Vic drove around the campus to park closer to the apartments.They fumbled the keys before getting into the apartment. The whole building was quiet. Either that was because of the early morning and most were smart enough to not take ass crack-of-dawn classes or there was a party or two and students were sleeping off hangovers. Either way, Vic was happy for the silence.
