SMILE.

“Oh, Avery, you’re so wrong.” Phoenix pushed as he poked his cheek and giggled. “Everything about you is precious, you’re like my little gem.” He said with a dimply smile, noticing the blush on the blue eyed boy’s face but thinking nothing of it. “Still, I really appreciate it.. your words, I mean.” He added in a softer tone more serious than the last. “You always know how to make me smile.”

“I’m so right, actually. I thought we had the understanding that you should never question me and always assume I’m right.” He pouted his lips, nudging the other gently. “You’re too kind, Nix. I’ll always be your little gem. I wouldn’t want to be anyone else’s.” He pressed a soft kiss to the taller boy’s cheek. “You’re welcome. It’s my pleasure.” He mumbled, his eyes locking with the others. “You always deserve to smile.”

Phoenix could’ve sworn that he felt butterflies fly up into his stomach but brushed them away as he giggled in response to the kiss on the tip of his nose. “I’m the lucky one,” He insisted with a smile, cuddling closer to the boy and the fluffy blankets he had sprawled over himself. “You know, you’re one, if not the greatest, person that I’ve ever met.”

“I will fight you on this for the rest of our lives. I think I’m the luckiest one when it comes to this.” He insisted, sighing contently. His entire face flushed a deep shade of red at Phoenix’s words. “There’s no way I top you, come on. You’re so sweet and nice, and your hair is so curly and beautiful. You have the cutest little laugh and your smile could probably cure cancer, just saying.”

Phoenix cuddled closer, sighing into his chest as he ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Avery,” he said, looking up at him with a pout on his lips. “You’ll get something soon, and if you don’t.. well, you’ll always have me. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Come on, don’t pout at me. Kicking a man while he’s down already is very bad, Nix.” He pressed a gentle kiss to the tip of Phoenix’s nose. “I don’t know how I got so lucky to have a Phoenix Fairchild in my life, but I’m so glad it happened. It’s comforting to know I’ll always have you. You’ll always have me too. No matter what.”

Phoenix’s eyebrows furrowed in question as he listened in, his hand rubbing against the small of his back in an attempt to soothe the boy. “You haven’t?” He asked, a clear rise in his voice. He couldn’t understand why a single school wouldn’t want him. “But, why wouldn’t they accept you already?” He asked, unsure of what the right words to use were. “They should be fighting over you.”

“I don’t..I’m not entirely sure. It’s not like they’ve all rejected me, you know, which is sort of a good sign, it’s just be silence for like a month now, and I’m getting worried.” He sighed, nuzzling his nose against Phoenix's chest lightly. “I don’t know if they think taking the year off for the show was irresponsible or something, but I’d just like some kind of response, anything.” He shook his head a little. 

Phoenix frowned a little bit, pushing an obnoxious curl out of his line of sight. “You too?” He asked as he crawled under the covers, pulling them up just underneath his chin as he turned to face the older boy. “Bad dream or somethin’?” Phoenix questioned, his arms immediately moving to wrap around his torso before nuzzling his face into Avery’s neck.

“Yeah, me too.” He mumbled, letting out a soft breath. Avery immediately nuzzled against Phoenix’s chest, closing his eyes. “I’ve just..been thinking a lot..and it hasn’t brought a whole lot of happiness.” He whispered, squirming a bit to get comfortable. “I haven’t..heard back from any of the schools yet, Nix.”

It was late at night and Phoenix was wide awake, clutching onto a blanket as he tossed and turned in bed. He tried everything from getting a drink of water to opening a window to breathe in the fresh air with no avail. He sighed to himself as he sat up, his feet dangling slightly above the ground before he stood up and pattered across the hallway to his roommates bedroom. Normally, he wouldn’t invite himself in without a knock, but he didn’t bother as he opened up the door and walked up to the brunette’s bedside. He shook his shoulder gently, “Move over,” he said, “Can’t sleep. I’m getting in.”

Avery hadn’t much luck sleeping lately. He still hadn’t heard back from the colleges he applied to. He was becoming incredibly stressed and insecure about himself. He had the tendency to overthink think things. He couldn’t ever help himself. So, here he was, lying on his side, his eyes wide open, trying to force himself to go to sleep. Once his door opened, he lifted his head up, smiling sleepily at the other male. “That makes two of us.” He mumbled, scooting over a little in bed. “As long as you wanna cuddle. I could use them.”

Phoenix smiled, although it soon faded as Avery continued to speak. “Yeah, as long as he’s happy, I can be strong about it,” He said, clearing his throat as he held the older boy close to his chest. “Just wasn’t meant to be.”

“That’s a really good outlook to have, Nix. I like that you’re staying strong about it. Not letting it get you down too much.” He said, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek lightly. “I feel you on that front, Steven and I just..kind of crumbled within like two weeks of us being together in person. I don’t even know what happened. I just..wish we could have had a conversation about it. The whole not knowing is the worst.”

Phoenix sighed, it always stung a bit to see his friends not doing their best. If it were all up to him, Avery would be the happiest man on the planet. “Let me fix that, then,” He said as he pulled him close, running his fingers along the small of his back. “It’s been okay, I guess. Not all what I expected, but I’m learning to live with it.”

“You’re seriously my favorite, you know that, right?” He mumbled, resting his head against Phoenix’s chest, sighing softly. “Did you and Harry have that talk? Did something happen between the two of you?”

you think everyone has the same heart as you, and thats whats gonna fuck you up

“I’m good,” Phoenix said, tilting his head in a questioning manner. “Just pretty okay?” He asked, “Well, I’ll snuggle with you a lot so it can be great.” He said with a goofy smile before pulling a warm and fuzzy blanket over the two of them.

“Just pretty okay. Still not feeling a hundred percent.” He shrugged, letting out a soft breath. “Snuggles with you sound amazing. I could use them. Bring it on.” He giggled softly, nuzzling against Phoenix’s side, making sure the blanket covered the two of them evenly. “How have things been for you since you got here?”

Snapchat: Avery