golden boy

“Hey Peri, you busy?” Terence asked, awkwardly shuffling a bit. “I just...umm...needed some time out. And I just wanted to see you because it’s been a while and I miss you?” He felt lame just hearing the way he sounded. Honestly, he did not understand why Peri dealt with him. She was a little more sane than Tink so it was odd that she dealt with everyone and their shit as much as she did. “It’s cool if you’re busy...”

“No french films!” she exclaims angrily, grabbing Terence’s hand in her own and giving it a squeeze. “You can watch it when I fall asleep. Or if you win, which isn’t going to happen.” Shaking her shoulders a bit, Tink looked him directly in the eye and nodded. “On three… One, two, three.” And with that she began to push against their connected hands.

Terence rolled his eyes but did his best to keep his arm up against Tink. “It’s really a shame you aren’t ready for a good french coming of age story. I had like, five different suggestions.” He could feel himself losing and knew he needed to think fast. “Oh my god..” he exclaimed, looking behind her. “Peter is really trying to fly into your closed window. What a dumbass.”

terence stopped what he was about to say, frowning instead. he wouldn’t say his dad wasn’t always mad, just...in his own thing. but he didn’t know how to explain it. for some reason he felt like every explanation was an excuse and he didn’t know what to do. “i...he’s doing his best,” he said finally, knowing fully well he was lying to them both. “it’s nothing i can’t handle. i can handle him. i’ve lived my entire life with him.” that was supposed to be funny but it wasn’t. it just wasn’t.  “why are you....why are you bringing this up?” @perijingles

terence wasn’t sure what to say. he couldn’t let him inside, fearing his dad was worse than whatever slightly was avoiding. “umm....let’s take a walk then? we can...walk off whatever is bothering you...” he put his hands in his pockets to make sure his keys were on him. then he made sure to quickly see himself out and lock the door behind him. there. it was already easier to breathe out there. “yeah...sorry for being weird....”  @slightlysawyer

Terence wasn’t stupid. He knew that Tink could murder him in an arm wrestling contest. But he was not about to watch whatever she wanted so he reluctantly put his arm on the table, frowning a bit. “You just won’t let me have this french film, Tink. You just gotta take it to the next level...”

@tylertootlesanderson

Terence scoffed, looking away to hide his own blush. He knew Tyler was teasing him, he had to be, but that didn’t mean it didn’t work. It worked a lot. It always works. “Thanks.....I don’t know what I’m doing that is so sweet but I guess I will just take the compliment and shut up...” He was trying to at least. Failing miserably, but trying his best. 

“He’s...nice? I mean.....I had a nice time with him and that’s the first time I’ve ever hung out with him so I...yeah.”

“Terence,” Fred repeated with a nod, trying the name out on his lips. Something about it fit the boy, he thought. The small laugh was nothing short of cute, he registered in the back of his mind, making this situation all the more unbelievable; how had he managed to find the only innocent person in the room? Innocent, but not entirely, if the look he sent him was any indication. There was a question there, one that was all too familiar, and it confirmed to Fred what this was; Terence was forcing himself out of his comfort zone tonight, and he was the lucky guy who got to help him do it. The smile on his lips reverted to a smirk, empowered by the realization, and the hand he’d rested on the guy’s hip tightened a bit. It was enough to guide his hips in time with his own, smoother than they’d previously been moving, and he stepped the final gap between them. The two guys weren’t pressed flush, but close enough to feel each other, and Fred leaned his head in to speak into his ear. “Try wrapping your arms around my neck, or hold onto my shoulders, and move your hips with mine. Just do what feels right, Terence. Let go.”

He was hoping those words would just jolt him out of his trance, but they didn’t. Terence wanted to let go more than anything but he was struggling still. He did as he was told and wrapped his arms around the other boy’s neck, but it still felt awkward. Like a high school prom and Terence refused to act like that now. So he took a deep breath, the tension building in his lungs, and then he let it go, feeling himself loosen his grip a bit. He let himself move to the music a little more, press his chest against Fred’s just a teeny bit, but still refused to meet his gaze. He was sure if he did he would run off and he didn’t want to ruin the moment they were having. Not when he finally felt himself getting into it a little. “What feels right...” he mumbled, a shiver running down his spine at the thought. There was a lot that could feel right, being close felt right. His grip on his hips felt right. So he did what he thought felt right and pressed his forehead against his, closing his eyes so he didn’t have to see. No more seeing or thinking; that was what he needed. 

Fred wouldn’t say he was the best at judging people, but the boy before him was certainly presenting as an enigma. Where there had been confidence moments ago, flickers of something else were settling in, and a look akin to fear shadowed his eyes. He thought for a moment that he’d read things wrong, but he saw an unmistakeable agreement mirrored back. Perhaps he was just shy, then. Or, nervous? The fact didn’t deter him as much as it probably should have, and he instead found himself inching closer so as to hear the following. He smiled a bit warmer at the question, licking his lips before responding. “Sorry, I knew I skipped a step. I’m Fred. And you?” In all honesty, he’d withheld the info until now as he wasn’t sure it was wanted; he’d been in situations where it seemed like the other was living out a fantasy, and introducing any actual information about himself ruined it. He wasn’t going to judge the boy, regardless of what he was looking for, but he was still piecing this together. Noticing that he was allowing himself to relax, Fred untwined their hands, leaving the other’s alone on his neck as he lightly replaced his on the boy’s hip. He left it there, present but powerless, allowing him to grow comfortable with the feeling.

“Terence. My name is Terence,” he said nervously before adding a light laugh after it. Great. He was doing great.  The hand on his hip was very noticeable to Terence but it made his brain stop a little at the same time. He wasn’t focused on the physical appearance but more so on relaxing into it. He wanted to move with him not against him. He wanted him to keep looking at him like that. He lightly squeezed the other boys neck, nothing too risky, just testing the comfort levels. He was given so much control over the situation and he was grateful but he had no idea where to go. He needed a guide and he was sure Fred was capable of giving it to him....but he wasn’t sure how to ask. He just gave him doe eyes and hoped that it was enough of a hint. If it wasn’t he was sure the blonde would get bored of him soon.

Admittedly, Fred was a little surprised by the guy’s lack of hesitance. He had expected at least a moment of indecision, or some visual debate, but he happily allowed himself to be pulled in by the hand. It seemed he really had just been waiting for an excuse, and to hell if Fred wasn’t going to make sure that he was a good one. Following willingly, he stepped quick enough to keep close, not giving a second thought to the drink he’d left behind; he had a feeling it wasn’t worth missing this. When they’d secured themselves deep enough in, meshed into the masses, he squeezed the boy’s hand to signal as much. Or, at the very least, to pull his attention back to him. It was easy to start moving to the music, hips swaying in time, and he sent the brunette an encouraging half smirk. Fred wasn’t quite sure where the boundary was, or what his intentions were, but, given the fact that their hands were still connected, he risked stepping a little closer. Lifting the guy’s hand to his own neck, he held them there, signaling it was fine to touch, if he wanted. “Okay?”

Terence felt himself turning red but he wasn’t backing out now. His confidence was already fading and he was scrambling to figure out what the next move was supposed to be. It had to be something good, something deserving of the person in front of him. God, it was all a mess. But his hand on his neck was reminding him that he was doing something right. That he hadn’t ruined things yet. “Okay,” he said softer than he could be heard. He was still frozen in place but now he was surrounded by people letting loose, being themselves, and honestly it was an experience he didn’t wanna miss out on. Moving to the music came easier than he thought it would and for a moment the world was okay. He was okay and feeling and letting things happen without his big brain getting involved. “I never....I never got your name.”

As Camden’s eyes adjusted to the person in front of him, he couldn’t help but to naturally relax a bit. Terence and him had never been close, by any means, but they’d also never been enemies. If anything, the guy had only treated him with kindness, in his own way, and that was enough for Cam to feel a trace of comfort in some classes and settings where he would’ve otherwise felt incredibly out of place. He couldn’t place why the other didn’t seem to share the sentiment, but he wasn’t one to push anyone, if he thought it wouldn’t be constructive. Instead of remarking on the awkwardness that even he could pick up on, he nodded with a grin as he stepped out of the way of the dessert table. “For sure! I don’t know if you’re allergic to nuts, but the brownies on the left look like they have macadamias. Just, you know, a little heads up.” His gaze lowered to his plate for a long moment, staring at it dumbly before perking back up with a smile. “Oh, I meant to talk to you! I was thinking about making a study group for the fall semester because I heard Physical Chem is hell and a half. Then I thought about who I could tolerate from our year, but I realized it’s only you, and like, three other people I could go either way on… Long story short, I was wondering if you’d want to team up? You’re welcome to invite people, if you want, but I figured there’s no point in struggling alone.” He rambled, shrugging his shoulders after and looking back down at his plate with an embarrassed smile. “Sorry for cornering you. You can think on it too, of course, or always say no. No hard feelings.”

The words were moving too fast and Terence’s  heart was beating so fast that he was having a hard time keeping up. “I....Yeah. Sure teaming up. Sounds cool yeah.” He cleared his throat, eyes darting to the food he had mentioned. ‘I..Be right back...” And he ran off. Or he might as well have. He needed to get it together. Terence wasn’t sure how to calm himself down though. He knew he should have stayed at home. With shaky hands he grabbed a few random treats as he tried to think of a way out of this. Maybe he could give himself a stomach ache....make himself throw up....No. That wasn’t right and Terence couldn’t bring himself to do it. He didn’t think it was that dire in the grand scheme of things. Camden just wanted to be lab partners or whatever. He could handle that. Make normal conversation. He got this. He turned on his heel and made his way back, slower than he left, and sat across from Camden. He looked straight at his food, too nervous to make eye contact. “Sorry about that. Where were we?”