#fshdkshfjsjkd

“Best friends playing best friends - how poetic.”

Even as a flush blooms across Peter’s cheeks, his heart twists at his mother’s words. Best friends. It’s not wrong. But it’s not the entire truth either.

The thought gets tucked away when Jason wrap his arms around him, resting his chin in the crook of Peter’s neck.

And maybe it’s the giddiness of being cast in the play or the way his heart flutters as he feels Jason’s smile that makes him nudge his phone towards Jason eagerly. He can’t quite hide the disappointment in his voice as Jason untangles himself and pushes the phone away like it’s poison.

As he hangs up on his mom, he turns his face away from Jason, schooling his features into a more neutral expression.

But Jason’s always been able to read him anyway - knows Peter’s every heartbeat and every mannerism better than Peter himself - and he must’ve caught the way Peter’s expression falters or recognised Peter covering up his emotions because he yells “Give me a second!” to Nadia and takes Peter’s hands in his.

The hallway is mostly empty but Jason’s eyes dart around for a few moments before settling on Peter. And even as he meets Jason’s blue eyes and Jason squeezes his hands and leaves after Nadia with a “see you later” and a smile that speaks more than those words could, Peter can’t quite shake the feeling Jason’s still not entirely focused on him.

It makes sense, Peter supposed, pulling into the straps of his backpack as he wanders back to the dorm. They were still in public - anyone could’ve walked in - so they had to be careful.

They’ve been best friends since twelfth grade and have been able to get away with being a bit more tactile - pressing up against each other, arms wrapping around each other, a hand resting on the other’s arm - the kinds of things that could be brushed off as affectionate best friends.

It’s only behind the closed doors that they can be more.

----

When Jason comes back to their room, Peter’s lying belly-down on his bed, the script for Romeo and Juliet in front of him.

He can’t stop the smile from forming when Jason flops down next to him, half on the bed and half on top of Peter, and plants an awkward kiss on his cheek.

“Well done, Mercutio,” He teases, prodding Peter to reposition himself on his side so they’re both squeezed onto the single, noses almost touching.

Peter grins, “Not so bad yourself Mr ‘I-decided-this-morning-and-got-the-lead-role’.”

He stifles a laugh when Jason groans and drops his head to the pillow. “I have no idea why I did this - I’ve never been in a play before!”

“Hey, no,” Peter says, using one hand to cup Jason’s cheek, “You were incredible and you totally deserve the role.”

He doesn’t give Jason a chance to say anything before he leans in and kisses him tenderly on the lips.

“You’re my best friend y’know?” Peter mumbles when they pull away, foreheads still touching and breaths intermingling. “And so much more on top of that.”

Peter wants to live in this moment forever. Him and Jason in each other’s arms. Feeling all this rush of tender love and affection for each other. It’s a feeling he wishes didn’t have to be confined to the walls of their room but that’s not an argument he’s willing to bring up now.

Jason smiles at him softly, eyes understanding as though he understands every emotion Peter is trying to project, “I love you too.”