✩‧₊˚౨Sammyৎ˚₊✩‧₊

You frowned as you watched Blake's head bob for the nth time. Their eyelids drooped as a soft snore rose from their throat. You glanced around you, the librarian giving you a sympathetic, knowing look. You cleared your throat, causing Blake to snort and shake their head with a start.

"Huh?!" they blinked and nearly fell back in their chair. You gasped and helped steady them, your hands falling onto their shoulders. Your cheeks quickly heated up as they planted their feet on the floor.

"Sorry," you muttered and coughed into your hand. Blake simply sighed and ran a hand through their thick, dark hair.

"'s fine," they slurred before taking a swig of their water...at least, you assumed it was water.

You wouldn't necessarily say that you and Blake were "friends", more like acquaintances. The two of you met during your AP Biology course. You, being the brand new transfer student, unknowingly sat beside Blake, thus marking you as a fellow social outcast. Why the student body decided to shun them after they came out as non-binary puzzled you, but you couldn't help but feel a growing fondness towards them.

The way they'd flip their short hair, how they'd poke their tongue out when deep in thought, the way they'd bounce their leg when nervous or excited. Small, intricate little things that made them all the more endearing to you.

"Earth to (Y/N)," Blake said and suddenly snapped their fingers. Your eyes widened a fraction as you shook your head.

"Sorry, sorry. I spaced out," you chuckled as the tips of your ears burned. Blake rolled their eyes and covered their mouth as they yawned. You fiddled with the metal spiral of your notebook as you pursed your lips. "So, are you going to T-Bone's party this Saturday?" you blurted out. Blake paused before tilting their head down and shooting you an incredulous look. "I'll take that as a yes," you murmured and lowered your head. Blake huffed and gave a quick nod.

"Yeah, I'll be there. How about you? Gonna escape your mom this time?" they quipped and took another swig of their drink. You chuckled and played with the pocket of your hoodie.

"Well, she and my dad are on vacation," you said with a nervous grin. Blake curled a brow as they tilted their head.

"What kind of a parent goes on vacation without their kid?" they deadpanned.

"The kind that will once their kid has better grades," you sighed. Blake's frown deepened.

"Sorry," they muttered. You simply shrugged.

"It's okay," you bit the inside of your cheek. "Um, even if they did ask where I am, I can just tell them we'd be going to the park for a study date-I mean! Y'know, get together," you quickly corrected yourself. Blake remained quiet before they pinched the space between their brows.

"How are you getting to the party?" they asked. You couldn't help but giggle.

"With my car of course!" you smiled and jingled your keys. Blake rolled their eyes again.

"Right, with daddy's money I assume?" they droned. You paused and lowered your shoulders.

"Uh...no. I inherited it after my grandpa passed away," you confessed. Some color left their face as they stiffened.

"Oh," they said, their eyeline scrambling across the table. "I'm...I'm sorry," they muttered. You shrugged.

"Thanks," you said. A heavy pause lingered between the two of you. "If you need a ride, I can pick you up," you shifted the subject. Blake hummed, nearly falling back in their chair again.

"Nah, I'll be alright," they looked you up and down. "Thanks though," they grunted. You gave a nod before the bell rang. You sighed and began to pack up.

"So I'll see you tomorrow night then?" you asked with a hopeful sparkle in your eyes. Blake made a soft sound before slipping their sunglasses over their eyes.

"Yeah, I'll see you then," they replied.

+++

The thrumming pulses of “Turn Me On” echoed within the walls of T-Bone’s massive mansion while people danced and ground against each other. A thick, pungent curtain of smoke hung over the expansive halls as you held onto your red solo cup, dodging any couples making out or drunks trying to pick you up with slurred words.

Your heart skipped a beat as your eyes scanned over the crowd. A boisterous laugh pulled you into the living room, your brows raised when you saw Blake taking a long hit on a joint. A couple of guys surrounded them as they blew a thick puff of smoke into the air, the pungent smell making your nose wrinkle.

“Ay! If it isn’t (Y/N). Dạo này sao rồi?” they spoke before hiccuping [What’s up?]. You pursed your lips before one of the guys handed Blake another beer.

“Don’t you think you’re overdoing it a bit?” you yelled over the cheering crowd and music. Blake snorted and rolled their eyes, the joint still emitting a stream of smoke from between their fingers.

“Aw, c’mon, it’s just a few drinks and some weed,” they slurred and took a swig of their drink. “Learn to live a little, đồ ngốc,” they huffed [dummy]. The guys around them snickered as you crossed your arms.

“Yeah, live a little. We’re gonna go upstairs and have a real good time if you want to join,” one of the men said as they wrapped an arm around Blake’s shoulder.

Oh HELL no. Blake grunted as you grabbed their hand, their beer spilling across their lap as they gasped.

“What the hell?!” they scowled and dropped their joint. One of the other guys sneered.

“The fuck you think you’re going?” he scoffed and tried to yank them against his body. You frowned, staring daggers into his eyes.

“I need them for something. It’ll be quick,” you said with an unwavering gaze. Blake hiccuped again before the guy huffed out a “fine” and practically pushed them towards you. You quickly caught them in your arms, their body heavy with their drunken state.

“Oh, hey (Y/N). When did you get here?” they said with a lopsided grin. You gave them a gentle look before steadying them against you.

“C’mon, let’s go somewhere more safe,” you whispered and began to walk them towards the foyer. They constantly stumbled over their feet, the smell of booze and weed lingering over their slumped form. You wrinkled your nose as you brushed past several teens, a gaggle of them surrounding a man with neon green hair as he did a keg stand. You sighed and hastily opened the front door before a hand fell over your shoulder.

You flinched and spun around before you realized it was Blake’s.

“Heyyyyy! I know *hic* you,” they said and clumsily booped your nose. You tried to ignore the way your cheeks heated up and cleared your throat. “It’s youuuu, it’s you, it’s always you,” they began to serenade. You raised your eyes up towards the heavens, silently praying to whatever deity that they’d give you some strength.

“Come on, let’s get you home,” you said and fully opened the door. Some people were passed out on the trashed lawn as you led Blake along, doing your best to avoid stepping on any of the drunken masses.

“(Y/N), I wanna tell you something,” Blake groaned as you fumbled with your keys. You helped steady them, your heart fluttering.

“Of course, what would you like to say?” you asked and laid your hands on their shoulders. Your breath hitched as they gazed into your eyes, their lips parted and chest brushing against yours.

“I just-“ you watched in horror as they opened their mouth and a stream of warm vomit splashed against your clothes and shoes.

“Eww, God,” the man behind you whined as your jaw dropped. Blake coughed and spluttered as the acrid smell of their upchuck entered your nostrils.

“Oh shit shit shit. I’m sorry,” they rambled and tried to wipe off the puke with their hands. You quickly held their wrists and shook your head.

“It’s okay. There should be a hose around here somewhere,” you reasoned aloud. You turned to see a young man nudging at an unconscious partygoer with his shoe.

“You’re so nice, (Y/N). I-I’m sorry for always being so rude to you,” Blake sniffled. Oh God. You quickly shook your head as you led them around the house.

“It’s alright, Blake,” you began. They frowned as tears streamed down their cheeks.

“Please…please don’t leave me like everyone else,” they cried. You went to hug them before remembering your foul-smelling predicament. You instead gently rubbed their back.

“I won’t leave you, ever. I’m right here, Blake,” you reassured them. They sniffed and wiped their nose on the sleeve of their hoodie. “Now, let’s get cleaned up”.

+++

It took a while for you to find the hose, but you were able to spray off most of the puke from your clothes and Blake’s hands. They rested in the passenger seat of your car, the window rolled down in case they had any more incidents. Blake softly hummed to the music playing on the radio.

“I like this song,” they muttered sleepily. You tapped your fingers on the steering wheel as you maneuvered your way through the suburban streets. Blake suddenly turned towards you. “I like you,” they spoke. Your breath hitched as your heart slammed on your brakes. Your head began to spin as you gulped.

“I…I like you, too,” you murmured. You wrinkled your nose as Blake leaned out of the open window and wretched. You heard the vomit spill against the pavement as you continued to drive. They coughed a few times before wiping their mouth and leaning back inside.

“You know, you’re always so nice to me. I wish…I wish I wasn’t such an ass to you all the time,” they sighed and settled into the passenger seat. You glanced their way before turning your eyes back to the road. “I just…everyone left after I came out as non-binary. Not even my own parents acknowledge it,” they sniffed, their fists balling up into their jeans. “I just want to be who I am. So why then…why doesn’t anybody stick around?” their voice cracked. You frowned, your heart aching at their quiet plea. You flipped on your turn signal, pulling into your driveway before putting your car into park.

“Blake, I’m sorry people have left you after you came out. That was really shitty of them,” you said with a waver in your voice. They stared at you blankly, their hands relaxing in their lap. You took a deep breath and held their hand in yours, giving it a soft squeeze. “I won’t leave you, I promise,” you said, your face inches away from theirs. You heard them audibly swallow as tears welled in their eyes.

“Thank you,” they breathed before wrapping their arms around your torso. You smiled and hugged them in return, gently patting their back.

“You’re welcome,” you grinned.

+++

Blake woke up to the sound of someone humming nearby. A savory smell wafted in from the kitchen as they wrinkled their nose.

"Mom must be cooking breakfast," they thought and yawned. They groaned and blinked several times, their vision still blurry from the night before. Their mouth felt parched and cracked as they looked around, panic setting in.

This wasn’t their room.

“Oh God, oh shit!” they thought as they clumsily flopped out of the bed and tumbled onto the floor. They winced as they rose to their hands and knees, their head throbbing with a dull ache as their throat burned. They narrowed their eyes as they fiddled with the doorknob, the bedroom door creaking open before the humming became more clear.

Blake peeked out of the crack in the door, seeing you swaying side to side as you cooked at the stove.

"Oh my God," they breathed and quickly ducked back into the room. They clawed a hand across their chest as they tried to steady their breathing.

They were in their crushes' house (and you were wearing an apron no less).

"Okay," Blake said as they steeled themselves. They took a deep breath before the door suddenly creaked open. Blake's eyes widened, as did yours.

"Oh! I didn't know you were awake," you hummed. Their mouth watered when they saw a plate filled with eggs and waffles.

"I-yeah," they cleared their throat and scrambled to sit up. Their head spun as their body tilted back. You quickly set the plate on the nightstand before steadying them.

"Still feeling dizzy, huh?" you said as you guided them to sit on the edge of the bed. Blake sighed and nodded, trying to hide the blush covering their freckled cheeks.

"Yeah...dizzy," they muttered and rubbed their head. They watched as you placed a glass of water on the nightstand with some pain relievers. Their heart skipped a beat as their throat grew tight. After years of partying and drinking, no one has ever taken care of them like this.

"I hope all of this helps," you said with a warm smile. Blake turned to you and gave a small nod, their heart sinking as you began to slip away.

"Wait," they called and grabbed onto your wrist. They flinched when you froze, expecting a glare...but they were only met with a look of concern. They swallowed. "Can you...stay, please? I don't...I don't want to be alone right now," they spoke so softly they were almost sure you didn't hear them. They blinked as they felt the bed dip while you slid beside them.

"I'd be more than happy to, Blake," you grinned. They shared your smile, your hands caressing one another.

"Thank you," they sighed with relief.

————