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"Why are we here?" Will groaned as he and Ryan sat on the grass in Jemima's backyard. It was his and Ry's three month anniversary and they were spending it at a bloody high school party. "We could be doing something cute and romantic, not sitting around drunk teenagers."
"I have something planned for tomorrow, don't worry," Ryan reassured, taking another swig of his beer. "Now c'mon, babe, unclench and have a bit of fun! We could go to the pool?"
"If we go to the pool, I will push you in again like last time," Will threatened, scrunching his nose at the foul stench of his boyfriend's beer. He would never understand why anyone would like beer, it didn't make sense.
"I remember that! Wow, that was a while ago," Ryan reminisced.
"Yep, start of the year party and here we are now, just about to start winter break," Will filled in. He took mouthful of his scotch and coke, relishing the alcohol. It had been a big week for him, with mid-year exams just finishing; Ryan, the girls and even Oliver demanding more of his time and attention; and his minor film project due that morning; he needed to have some fun and forget about the headache his life was becoming. Alcohol always helps with that.
"Wow, would you have believed someone if they told you that you'd be dating me now?" Ryan asked, resting his head on the other boy's shoulder.
"Hell no," Will laughed. "I would've told them that they were crazy and I'd never date you in a million years." Ryan lifted his head to scowl at his boyfriend and childishly pull on Will's now chocolate brown hair (Will had decided he'd had enough of the red and went back to his natural colour). Will scowled back, rubbing his scalp. "I was about to say that I was glad that I was wrong, and I'm over the moon about us dating," Will added, slapping Ryan's shoulder hard.
The two began to bicker back and forth, continuing to carelessly hurt each other before Will decided to just tackle Ryan and tickle the hell out of him. Ryan laughed uncontrollably as he slapped Will's hands away and tried to get him to stop.
"I don't know if anyone's told you but this is a seniors party, not one for 5 year olds," the two boys heard someone tease from above them. They both turned to look and found Oliver looking down at them, Stacey hanging off him.
In the month since the queer party, Will and Oliver had returned to how they used to be. They'd talk at least once a day and hung out together quite a bit. Will, however, was always sure to remind Oliver that they were just friends and nothing more. Oliver didn't argue, talking to Will endlessly about his relationship with Stacey and how well it was going. Ryan had been jealous and sceptical at first, but soon realised that Oliver posed no threat to his and Will's relationship anymore, especially now that Oliver was dating Stacey. Ryan had since calmed down, even becoming good friends with Oliver himself. Will was glad, to be honest, now that everything between him and Oliver was sorted. They were both happy with their partners and content with their friendship. He just hoped it would last because these things never really did.
"Ha ha, very funny," Will replied sarcastically as he got off Ryan. The two stood up and faced the other couple. It was only then that Will eyed what Oliver was wearing. "Hey, you're wearing what we picked out yesterday!" Will exclaimed, pointing to Oliver's tartan button up and black skinny jeans that he'd helped pick out when they went out on a shopping trip the day before.
"Thank you so much for helping him, Will! He's been dressing like a hobo for months. He needed the new clothes," Stace spoke up, drunkenly stumbling over to Will to give him a clumsy hug. Will awkwardly hugged back, trying to keep her steady.
"You're gonna crush him, babe," Oliver laughed, pulling her off Will and holding her against him. "And like I said yesterday, thanks for the help. I wouldn't say I was dressing like a hobo though," he continued, taking a sip of his beer.
"I need to pee," Stacey announced, tugging on Oliver's sleeve for him to come with her.
"Actually, I need to too, so I can take her if you want," Ryan offered. Oliver nodded, handing the drunk Stacey over to Ryan who stepped forward to take her. "We'll be right back, babe," he said, leaning back to give Will a quick peck before stumbling off with Stacey, who was singing loudly to the new Taylor Swift song playing over the speakers.
"How much has she had to drink?" Will asked Oliver as they watched the other two walk off.
"No idea, she had drinks with friends before coming. She was pretty much already like that when I got here. Have you drunk much?" Oliver asked in return, sitting down on the grass.
Will joined him and shook his head. "Nah, not that much tonight. I wanna be good drunk and not too much where bad things happen," Will replied, remembering how most of his bad nights always involved too much alcohol. A part of Will thought that he might have too many bad experiences involving alcohol for a 17 year old.
The two boys continued to chat, discussing their plans for the winter break and how stressed they both were about the exams that they had once they got back. As their conversations always seemed to go, their relationships came up again. "I'm sorta surprised that you're not just the little bit jealous," Oliver had just said when Will mentioned Stacey.
Will's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Why would I be jealous?" he asked, turning to look at the other boy properly.
Oliver shrugged his shoulders, not turning to look at him back. "I dunno. You told me once that you really liked me when we were up on that bench and I just thought you'd be as jealous of Stace and my relationship as I was about you and Ry's."
Will frowned. Why was Oliver saying this? Will was sure that he's moved on now that he was dating Stacey. "Oliver, I've told you this so many times, we won't ever happen. We're just friends," Will reiterated for maybe the hundredth time. He was enjoying how his life was now and he didn't need Oliver going about making it complicated again.
"I know," was the blonde's simple reply, still not turning to look at him. He just continued to watch the party ahead of them as he fiddles with the label of his now empty beer bottle. Will stared at the side of his face while the two sat quietly.
"Are you still jealous of me and Ry?" Will asked out of curiosity, breaking their silence.
"Not as much as I used to," Oliver simply replied, finally turning his head. The two made eye contact and Will got lost in the mesmerising blue that were Oliver's eyes. A shiver ran through him as if he'd jumped into the ocean. It was only then that he realised how close they'd shifted together during their chat, sidled up next to each other and faces close. Will could feel the heat of Oliver's beer-laced breath. To be honest, this excited Will as much as it made him uncomfortable. There was a tug-of-war in his brain, fighting over whether he should move closer or move away. Why was he feeling this way though? Will was utterly confused. He thought he'd finally gotten over Oliver, that that chapter of his love life had closed, but here he was, confused as always when really, the decision was clear.
Will cleared his throat as he scooted away from Oliver. The other boy frowned, confused why the brunette was moving away from him. "So, how about that fight Shayla had with Fr. Harries?" Will brought up awkwardly, desperately trying to move the conversation on. He had no idea how bringing up Ms. Jesus Freak's fight about God with a priest was a good idea, but it was the only one he had at that point.
"Yeah, crazy..." was Oliver's quiet response. The two sat in silence again. Will sat with his knees pulled up to his chin, staring at the grass in front of him. He couldn't bring himself to look at the other guy again. Now it was now Oliver's turn to stare with no eye contact in return. He watched Will in his foetal position as they sat quietly. He desperately wanted to know what was running through the brunette's mind. Was he thinking about what he'd just admitted to him?
Truthfully, Oliver was still fiercely jealous of Will and Ryan. The times he'd spent with the couple drove him nuts. He so badly just wanted to strangle Ryan whenever he spoke but he knew he couldn't. He'd been doing so well over the last month, befriending Will again and trying to get the boyfriend comfortable around him. He'd slipped up tonight, with the countless times Will had told him that things between them were shut, iron clad, but now he wasn't so sure it was. He'd seen the tug-of-war that was raging inside Will's brain. He just hoped the rope was pulling in his favour.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Hello, hello! We've returned," Ryan announced as he and a now more sober Stacey approached the two sitting on the grass, neither of whom had spoken.
Oliver bolted up and swooped in to take a hold of Stacey. She may have been a bit more sober, but she still couldn't keep herself upright. "Thanks Ry, I think we better go," Oliver stated, giving the other two boys a half-hearted wave before stumbling off with Stacey, who turned her head to yell out a "goodbye, lovelies!" before resting her head on her boyfriend's shoulder.
"Yeah, bye," Ryan muttered, waving half-heartedly back, while Will didn't even acknowledge their exit. He continued to stare at the floor. He didn't want to watch him leave, mainly because he was scared of what he'd feel. "Are you ok, babe?" Ry asked as he plopped down next to his boyfriend. Will just nodded, leaning into him and sighing when Ryan wrapped his arm around his shoulder.
The two did not speak until Ryan's watch began to beep. "Huh, it's midnight, happy three months, babe. I love you," Ryan whispered, almost breathing the last part as if he didn't want Will to hear it. But he did. And to be honest, Will was absolutely shocked. Neither one of them had said it yet and he was absolutely touched hearing it.
Will stretched a leg out of the foetal position, throwing it over Ryan's waist to straddle him. Their bodies were pressed against each other as Will wrapped his arms around his boyfriend's neck. "I love you too," Will said back, a huge grin on his face.
Ryan just grinned back, leaning forward to capture Will's lips with his own. That sweet warmth that Will felt whenever he and Ryan kissed enveloped his body. He felt warm and cosy pressed up against Ryan. It felt... perfect. As cliché as it was, it really did. It might not have been the most romantic of settings, but this was something Will wouldn't forget.
Having Ryan was all he needed. Will felt stupid for letting Oliver's words get to him earlier. It didn't matter that Oliver was still sort of jealous of his relationship. It didn't matter that a connection between him an Oliver might still be there. It didn't matter that things always seemed to be getting in the way of his and Ryan's relationship. Because really, for now,
Ryan is all I need.
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