#fakes

The dingy couch was your only solace as you watched the party goers. Not a care in the world and probably not a single coherent thought at the moment. You sip on your beer, lip curling when you realize that Tryst had doubled the amount of red bull he usually puts into the punch bowl. One of these days you would have to talk to him about his addiction to this shit.

Speaking of Tryst, you wondered where he was. Usually he could be heard even over the music, forever being the loudest man you had ever met, but for some reason you couldn’t find him. Not that you were looking too hard, but you had always made a habit of finding him no matter where he was.

His presence was one of comfort to you. Always had been since you were kids and the feeling only blossomed the older you got. Though he never did see you that way.

You played with his little duck plushie that he got for his daughter, feeling its fuzzy material under your fingers and smiling. He bought this specifically for her because he had one as a kid and wanted to share it with her. It was really the sweetest thing.

Glancing up at the sound of the door, you see Tryst rushing past mumbling something, but you also see him set a timer on his phone. Your head lands on the back of the couch with a sigh as you recognize that action.

Cops.

Someone must have threatened to call.

You spring up from your seat and wander around the room, picking up little things as you went - cash that you shoved in your pockets, empty solo cups and red bull cans to throw away.

Anything you could do to make the cleanup process easier because you knew once the cops showed up it was just going to be you and Tryst cleaning up and frankly you would like to be home and in bed at a decent time.

The music suddenly came to a halt, Tryst commanding everyone's attention.

“Excuse me!” Tryst called, sounding a little happier than he probably was, “I hope everyone had a good time! The back door is right there. The police are now approaching.”

Once the word ‘police’ was spoken, everyone went into a fit, rushing towards the back door as Tryst tried to get them to exit in an orderly fashion though he knew no one was listening at that point.

You started to follow the crowd, stopping by Tryst on your way out. “I’ve got most of the cash. I’ll be a couple blocks away so text me when you get out of handcuffs.” You pat his chest as he wiggles his eyebrows at you.

“As if you hadn’t thought of me in handcuffs.”

“Just get it done quickly, okay? I would like to go home tonight.” You wave one of the duck's wings at him and file out of the building with the last remaining crowd.

You escaped just in time to see the cops get out of their car, getting ready to storm the building. Tryst always had perfect timing. You smile and shake your head, walking down the dimly lit back alley.

You knew it was best to stay hidden until Tryst texts you so you didn’t risk getting caught, but also since he was your ride, you couldn’t leave leave him. No way you were walking all the way back home.

It was an hour before you heard from Tryst telling you that it was clear.

Almost 2 am. You may actually be home to get some decent sleep before your 9 am class.

You push the back door open to find Tryst already picking up some of the trash on the ground.

“Drew should be on his way to pick up the speakers.” Tryst attempted to make a trick shot, missing just by the rim, a pout forming on his face. “We should use it while we can. Little cleaning music.”

You smile and pick up his missed trash, putting it in the bin. “You know phones have speakers too.”

“It’s not the same.” He shrugs. “So, what are you feeling? EDM? Rock? A little country~”

One of your assignments in your Music Appreciation class had you exploring a genre of music you don’t normally listen to and you had chosen country. And since then you had actually grown to appreciate the music, which was the point of the class - from their passion about love to their accents that you found charming.

And you made the mistake of telling Tryst about your new found love for the music.

And he has not let you live it down since.

You shake your head. Normally you would be all for a one-on-one party with Tryst, but honestly the last thing you wanted was to extend this night any longer than you had to.

“Hey what’s wrong?” You shrug, not meeting his eyes, knowing you were going to spill everything to him the second you did and that was the last thing he needed. “No, come on. Don’t keep things locked in that pretty little head of yours. Tell me.”

“I’m just really tired.” You try to reassure him. “Can we just get this over with?”

You tried to walk past him to get something on the other side of the room and he grabbed your arm, gentle and firm. He knew that you could get in your head sometimes. He also knew when it was best to drop it and when to push.

Now was a pushing moment.

“Please?”

You sigh, never being able to say no to his big blue puppy dog eyes and it wasn’t like it was a life or death thing. “I got my grade back for my music appreciation class and I failed.”

“How do you fail music appreciation? You always appreciate music!”

“Apparently not enough.” You scoff. “But I will do some extra credit for the dickhead of a teacher and make it up.”

You really didn’t want to think about this any more than you had to and thankfully Tryst let it be. The two of you wandered around the small space in silence despite his efforts earlier to listen to some music and soon you had forgotten about the conversation entirely, your mind preoccupied with getting the place cleaned up so that you could finally go home and get some sleep.

You were so focused that you hadn’t even noticed the sound of a guitar start to play or that Tryst had made his way over to you until his hand gripped your shoulder, spinning you around so fast that you had fallen forward. A cry escapes you as Tryst catches you.

“What the-”

“Dance with me.”

You scoff as you push at his chest lightly. “You can’t just scare me like that you idio-” You trail off as a familiar voice starts to come over the speakers. A smile creeps across your face as you eye him. “Taylor Swift? Really?”

Tryst didn’t like to admit it out loud to most people, but you knew that he was a secret Swiftie at heart. It’s what made it so funny that he made fun of you for your appreciation of country music, because you had shown him her early work.

“I don’t know a single person who can be upset while listening to T-Swift.” He grins and takes your hands in his, the touch already melting you. “Now dance with me.”

You could have said no, both you and Tryst knew that, but you also know you weren’t going to. He started singing along low, his voice a little off pitch and the most beautiful thing you had ever heard. You wrap your arms around his neck and his arms come around your waist, pulling you close to him as he begins to sway.

It was moments like this where you let yourself pretend that you meant more to Tryst than just being his friend. Savoring the feel of his fingers when they brush over your waist, the way he holds you close and presses a kiss to the top of your head.

“All I know is, I was enchanted to meet you...” Tryst sang along, his arms tightening around you.

You knew it was part of the song he chose, but it felt oddly different this time. Something about the way his voice was low and soft, as if it held a secret that he wanted to tell you.

The two of you continued to sway in the same spot, wrapped up in each other’s arms, head resting on his chest and listening to his heartbeat.

“Do you remember how we met?”

You smile at the memory of being in fourth grade when a small, lanky - lankier than now if you can believe it - Tryst who had a missing tooth, courtesy of a boy named Sam Hendrex, came up to you with a big bag of animal crackers and a can of Red Bull asking you if you wanted to trade some of your hummus for his crackers.

“You.” You laugh, smiling into his chest, “You had a Red Bull addiction even in the fourth grade.”

His laughter rumbled in his chest, a comforting sound that you wished you could hear forever. It had been so long since you had felt him this relaxed, not being able to take a breath since his daughter was born and especially not since he started helping Becca and Zoe sell fake IDs. You asked him not to do that, knowing it could get him into way more trouble than just selling drugs, but he assured you it would be a lucrative foolproof plan.

“Can I tell you a secret?” You pop your head up from his chest, eyes sparkling because of course you would want to know a secret. “I don’t like hummus.”

You pause for a second and he continued rambling on, “I never really have. Too garlicky for me, and the texture weirds me out.”

“But then why did you ask for my hummus?”

His hands twitch, eyes looking up towards the ceiling like he was about to tell it his most inner secrets, a breathy sound leaving his lips. “The reason I asked for your hummus was because it looked like the most appetizing thing you had in that horrible lunch box.” Tryst laughs as you smack him on the shoulder, “It was! But I really wanted to talk to you.” 

He pauses, tongue wetting his bottom lip. You could honestly feel the nerves rolling off him in waves and rub his arm, trying to comfort him. “You okay there Tryst? You se-.”

“I love you.” Tryst interrupted you, still continuing to not look at you, as if he did you would tear him apart.

Three simple words. Words that took the air out of your lungs, left you feeling weightless. Insides turning into soup, warm and liquidly, along with your legs and you were grateful for Tryst’s arms keeping you upright.

Thoughts raced inside Tryst’s head. Did you hear him? Of course you did, that was a stupid question. Why didn’t you say anything? No emotion on your face other than shock, eyes wide and eyebrows reaching your hairline.

“Could you…” Tryst chuckles, his nerves showing in every line of his face, not used to bearing his soul, “Could you say something? Anything? Please? I’m kind of dying over here.”

A smile, warm and kind spread across your face before you tugged him down, crashing your lips to his. The kiss was sweet, soft, but filled with every unspoken word between the two of you. Your fingers tangle in the hair at the base of his neck, body pressing closer to him, loving the feel of him. Just loving him.

You pull back slowly, smirking a little when you open your eyes long enough to see Tryst follow after your lips, seemingly desperate to keep kissing you. “I love you.” You breathe.

God if you could keep the smile that broke out on his face forever you would. So bright that it warmed your heart to the point of combustion.

No words were exchanged as he pressed his lips to yours again and he pulled you closer if it was even possible. Kiss after kiss, the joy only continued to spread through the room while the song started on repeat, serving as a theme song to yours and Tryst’s moment.

The moment you wanted to last forever.

The moment of enchantment.