She gave him a stern face before speaking just above a whisper, “I thought you’d be over this crush by now or at least do something about it by now.”

“I can’t,” Stephen simply stated in a quiet voice before knocking back another gulp.

Jess’ eyes narrowed a little, “You really need to grow a pair and tell him. This sad puppy act is getting a little sad after a few years. And if you’re as close as we all you know you two are then something like this won’t hurt the two of you and hell you may even get a boyfriend out of this.”

Stephen made a face and looked out the window, “Why make it awkward? There’s no way he’s not straight and losing that closeness we have isn’t worth it.”

“Wuss,” Jess rolled her eyes before turning to lay across the seat so she could sleep. She kicked up her feet and placed them in Stephen’s lap. She knew he wouldn’t protest since she was clearly the tougher of the two and it was pointless to argue with her.

Stephen took another glance at Josh, wishing he could be his brother laying on the blonde boy’s shoulder, snuggled close. Stephen knew it wasn’t worth the awkwardness plus Josh was straight and even if he wasn’t why would he go for Stephen when he could get just about anyone. Stephen wasn’t anything special or so he thought. He finally picked up a pillow from the floor and replaced it with his now empty bottle before leaning against the window and drifting to sleep.

The van was now silent except for Brian singing along to who knows what now. However not everyone else was asleep as Stephen thought before. Josh was pretty awake and certainly caught all of Jess and Stephen’s conversation. He was throughly confused for a few reasons. He was never sure if Stephen preferred guys or girls before hearing that. He just knew Stephen didn’t do relationships but he had no clue it was cause of this major crush. Now Josh was stuck on figuring it out who it was and how he could get Stephen and him together. He wanted his best friend to be happy.

Step one was to figure out who it was. Well it was someone they knew for awhile that was for sure. Someone who seemed straight. “No,” Josh whispered to himself looking at the seat in front of him. It made sense now. Josh had seen the way Stephen acted around him. How open and comfortable he was, how happy. It was clear now that Stephen was into Godsey. And how that he had the who, he just had to work on the how.

Stephen woke up the next morning when a body landed on top of his. He moaned and clutched his head. The sun was bright and he hand a slight hangover from the drinks he had the night before. He heard his brother’s laugh and that’s when he pushed John to the ground. John whined and rubbed his side he landed on, “Not nice, Stephen.”

“Deal with it,” Stephen told him before finally opening his eyes.

The van was empty it seemed except for him and John. John climbed out the open door before Stephen finally got up and wandered out nearly running into Josh. A light blush graced Stephen’s cheeks but he covered it by looking at the oh so interesting ground.

“So I heard you and Jess last night,” Josh informed Stephen almost sounding happy. Stephen looked up and Josh in fact looked happy. Did that mean he liked Stephen back? The boy’s mind started wheeling a million miles an hour and Josh seemed to take notice. “Stephen, calm down. I think it’s cool. In fact I wanted to help out. I was thinking dinner after the show tonight. I’ll set it all up and text you where to go once I have the details straight. How does that sound?”

Stephen nearly choked on air. Was he hearing all this correctly? “Seriously?” he questioned.

Josh gave him a weird look but nodded, “Yeah I wouldn’t mess with you like that. I can’t guarantee anything but if I want something to happen I can usually make it happen.

Stephen was a little flustered and read at this point but a huge smile graced his face. Stephen couldn’t find proper to express himself so he chose to just hug Josh and shyly peck his cheek before practically running off with a flushed face.

Josh laughed softly. He wish he knew about Stephen liking Godsey sooner so he could set this up and see him smile like that more often. He was proud of himself for helping out his best friend. He spotted Godsey picking up a box of shirts and thought this was the perfect chance.

Godsey saw Josh walking up to him and handed him a box before picking up another and walking inside without a word. Josh followed behind him to where merch was being set up. Godsey set down his box before taking Josh’s and setting it on top.

“So,” Josh started leaning against the table as Godsey set up. “Do you like guys?” Josh was certainly not one to sugar coat anything.

Godsey turned straight towards Josh setting down the shirts in his hand giving him a confused face, “Why?”

Josh smiled to himself then joked, “Cause I was making sure you wouldn’t freak when I gave you a blow job later.”

Godsey rolled his eyes and went back to setting up but answered Josh’s question not even looking at him, “In all seriousness I’m bi but I usually dig chicks.”

“Great,” Josh clapped his hands together, “You’re going on a date with Stephen tonight.”

Later after the show Stephen was nervously shuffling his feet outside the restaurant Josh’s text told him to be at. His mind once again a racing mess. What if Josh wasn’t serious? What if this was some sort of set up. A hand went into his hair to play with it in an attempt to ease his mind and remind himself this was his best friend he was talking about. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard his name and he looked up for a small surprise. Godsey was standing there rather than Josh. His face must have shown his confusion because Godsey quickly started talking, “Shit. Did you not know I was coming? Josh set this up I should have known better.”

Stephen’s mind began turning again and he thought back to when Josh’s asked him for this and he realized that Josh never specified it’d be him having dinner with Stephen and Stephen knew he never specified it was Josh he liked in the van the night before. His thoughts were cut off once again by his other best friend calling his name again. “Huh?” Stephen asked focusing.

“What is going on in that head of yours?” Godsey asked almost not expecting an answer.

“A lot. This was a mistake,” Stephen stated mostly to himself and started walking past his friend.

Godsey grabbed Stephen’s wrist, turning him back to him. “Hey calm down. Breathe for a second. I feel like your mind is spinning and you need to calm down.”

Stephen slowly nodded taking a few breaths to clear his mind. And that’s when he realized, “Wait. Are you here to go on a date with me?”

“Well, yeah. I thought that’s what was Josh was setting up.”

“Why?” Stephen’s face showed confusion once again.

“Because he asked me to go on a date with you,” Godsey answered.

“No. Not that. Why would you go on a date with me?” Stephen explained.

A faint blush came across Godsey’s cheeks that could barely be seen in the lights from the restaurant. He wanted to let Stephen know there had always been a little thing for him. Maybe a little more than a little thing but he kept that to himself. How was he going to explain this? Fuck it, he decided and cupped Stephen’s cheeks before leaning just a bit to make their lips meet.

Stephen’s eyes widen in shock. He and Godsey would flirt with each other from time to time and maybe even get a little handsy when they were drunk but he never thought that there was more to it then that.

Just as Godsey started to pull away Stephen’s arms went around the other boy’s neck and pulled him back. Stephen wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about this and he certainly was not about to forget Josh like that but the feeling of someone else’s lips moving with his felt amazing. There was a thought in his head saying this was wrong but the feeling in his stomach made him push it away.

Finally Godsey pulled away and Stephen let a blush grace his face once he remembered they were in public.

Godsey started laughing and Stephen looked at him, “What?”

“Nothing. I just never thought I could make you blush like that,” he chuckled.

Stephen’s face turned a little redder and he just bit his lip and looked down. He didn’t like feeling shy like this with his best friend. It felt weird to him.

Godsey smiled a little wider before leaning down and kissing Stephen again. Once again it took Stephen a minute to pick up on what was happening but he was more than eager to kiss back. The feeling of having someone kiss him like that was already an addiction.

Godsey moved a hand into Stephen’s hair and Stephen basically moaned the second his hair was being gripped at. Godsey smirked at finding Stephen’s weakness. His free hand moved down Stephen’s back until he found the back of his thigh and tugging on it. Stephen picked up on what Godsey wanted and jumped up wrapping his legs around the other boy’s waist.

Godsey managed to stumble into the alley next to the restaurant to get the two of them out of the public view and to push Stephen against the wall and kiss him even deeper. His mouth moved to Stephen’s neck sucking and biting in all the right spots.

Stephen was more than happy to have a distraction for once his mind wasn’t on worry mode as always for once. He was just liking the fact that Godsey was able to make him forget everything for once. His head tipped back and did his best to hold in the moans that were forming in the back of his throat. He stopped Godsey when he felt a hand slip up his shirt.

“Too soon. My bad,” Godsey said slowly pulling himself from Stephen, catching his breath.

“No,” Stephen shook his head and tried to calm his breath, “Just not here.”

Godsey’s smile grew as he let Stephen down and pulled on his hand to find somewhere more private.

The two ended back at the van which appeared to be empty. The rest must be out having fun and getting drunk. Godsey wasn’t quick enough with opening the door and the two quickly climbed towards the back.

Godsey pushed Stephen down on his back before straddling his hips. He leaned down and finally reconnected their lips. Normally unless alcohol was involved he would not be moving this quick but this was Stephen. Yes his best friend, but also the one guy he never thought he would have in a position like this as much as he wanted.

His hands wandered under Stephen’s shirt and Stephen pushed up into Godsey’s touch. He couldn’t get enough of feeling his skin against another’s at the moment. Godsey seem frustrated with Stephen’s shirt cause soon it was off and his hands were roaming freely.

The two boy’s lips connected in a now eager, slightly sloppy kiss. Godsey wanted Stephen and Stephen just wanted to get off and he felt comfortable with his friend. Godsey’s hand slipped lower until they hit the top of Stephen’s jeans. He didn’t even need to ask, he just undid them as fast as possible before slipping his hand inside and stoking Stephen.

Stephen’s back arched against the floor of the van and his hands made it to Godsey’s back letting him scratch down as he let out a loud moan. Godsey’s lips twisted into a smirk as he continued loving the sounds coming out of Stephen’s mouth.

Getting frustrated with the clothing in the way Godsey pushed Stephen’s jeans over his hips and down far enough to be out of the way. Godsey left a trail of soft kisses down Stephen’s chest and stomach before nipping at the smaller boy’s hips. Stephen’s fingers were tangling themselves in Godsey’s hair. Godsey licked down the length of Stephen before taking him in his mouth and slowly starting to suck.

Stephen clutched tighter to Godsey’s hair as his back arched again. Godsey, happy with the noise Stephen was making continued at a slow, teasing pace. “Please,” Stephen finally begged quietly as he tipped his bed back and closed his eyes.

Godsey was more than happy to fulfill Stephen’s wishes and began bobbing his head and sucking faster in attempt to get Stephen off. After a short bit Stephen finally hit ecstasy and moaned out a name before relaxing against the floor but his eyes widen as Godsey pulled off and he sat up fixing his jeans.

“Really, Stephen?!” Godsey shouted at his friend and climbed out of the van.

Stephen quickly grabbed his shirt following Godsey. “Fuck. Justin, that wasn’t suppose to happen,” he yelled following him out of the van.

Godsey turned around and if looks could kill Stephen would have been dead on the spot, “What wasn’t? The blow job or me?!” Stephen shifted awkwardly not sure how to answer. “I thought so. And you know he’s fucking straight right?” Stephen just looked at the ground not responding.

Godsey bumped shoulders with Josh, who was coming back to the van for his jacket, as he was storming off. Josh stopped Godsey for a second, “Dude, what happened?”

“Why don’t you ask the one who moaned your name during a blow job?” Godsey sneered before going off who knows where.

It took a minute for Josh to register what had happened but when he saw Stephen’s wide, scared eyes looking at him it hit him.

“Stephen, what did he mean?” Josh asked approaching his friend.

Stephen refused to look up from his shoes to see the look in Josh’s face. “He meant what you thought he meant,” his words coming out a bit harsher then he meant to.

Josh opened and closed his mouth a few times trying to figure out a way to respond. “You do know I’m straight right?” Josh finally tried.

Stephen finally looked up with an almost glare, “Trust me I fucking know.” He turned his back to Josh and walked off opposite of Godsey.

Josh watched as Stephen stormed off. He wanted to chase after the dark haired boy but he knew Stephen and he knew Stephen would want to be left alone. He needed some time to think himself. He pulled open the door of the van, a little scared to venture inside. He knew Godsey just gave Stephen a blow job in there and that bothered him and he wasn’t sure why. He had set that up and he was the king of casual sex.

Josh decided to sit on the edge of the opening just letting his mind wander and piece things together. He figured it must have been him Stephen was actually talking about last night and how excited he was when he mentioned a date. Josh realized neither of them was clear about the terms of that. He remembered the kiss on his cheek and felt a pang in his heart he didn’t like for a few reasons.

The sound of footsteps interrupted the blonde’s thoughts and he saw Jess. “Let me guess. Stephen and Godsey stormed off from here for some reason and you now know,” Jess said taking a pot next to Josh.

It amazed everyone how she seemed to know everything but Jess just said they were all really obvious. “How long?” Josh asked quietly.

“How long has Stephen had this thing for you? At least a year or two if not more,” Jess replied.