#non-binaryumbrella

~

Elliot Solis looked to Nick Rodriguez, his roommate. Nothing more than his roommate… sigh. He had this ridiculous get-up. He had a crisp, white, button-down, a handle of flowers in his breast pocket from picking them off the garden, black dress pants that stood a bit high from the ankles silly-illy enough, if that was a word. And his hair—normally its natural ginger color, wild and loose—had been neatly combed down, with a small ponytail behind his neck, curls still sticking out. He was anxious!

Ever so ridiculously, ever so precisely, he had Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton on loop, while holding an extremely corny card that said,

“Now just like the rocks you study

Solid as true,

one little change

and I could be with you!” it was so unbelievably corny. Elliot had to give it to Nick! Elliot recited the words over and over, drinking his water out of a red, plastic cup between words, pacing and pacing and-

Whoops!

The southerner’s world spun as he tripped over a stray cable of that damn TV he loathed, knocking down several of the decorated balloons he had set up, and falling to the couch, where’d you expect a good and comfortable landing, but instead, he got a face full of gold glitter. Oh, yes, his water! no, no, that thing spilled on the boombox, completely ruining the technology, and warping the sweet, slow country love song. And finally, to add to the chaos, he may or may not.. have twisted his hand in the process. He sat up, bottom lip trembling and cheeks flushed red as he held onto his aching wrist. He frowned, a new sight. “Oh, jeez! I’ll never be good enough for Nicky!” Elliot had pouted.

“I think you’re good enough for me,” A familiar, distinct voice had said, with a surprising lack of sarcasm.

Elliot turned around, eyes wide and wet as tears threatened to spill from the stupidity of his mistakes. “Hic- Nick, I- I was just—“

“You were just being endearing.” Nick had finished for him.

They had elegantly walked over in that way only they could, seeming ever so sexy for Elliot. To him, they were a Prince to be adored… to themself, they were a petrologist to be abhorred. They carefully caught his wrist with thin, nimble brown fingers, tracing soothing circles into the skin as they wiped glitter off his face. “You don’t have to worry about a single thing,” Nick had mumbled, leaning close in a way that made Elliot’s red cheeks flush deeper, and not from the embarrassment or tears! “Not about being embarrassing”—Nick had started, cradling Elliot’s face and wiping away the thick globs of tears finally breaking, using their sleeve cuff to clean the snot—“or about being ‘cool’ enough for me.” they had spoken with a soft reverence.

“So- I-I-I’m not stupid?” Elliot had stuttered, hands trembling.

Nick smiled sweetly, eyelids hooded with admiration. “Of course not,”

Elliot had looked down, biting his lip in thought, then looked back up, “Even if I’m som-some clumsy fat country boy who tries too hard?” Nick had rolled their eyes, placing their finger on their chin in thought. “Definitely!” they giggled, earning a look of desperation and pouting from Elliot: “Hey now! You were s’pposed to say that I wasn’t, Nicky…”

“Hmm, I know, I know—you sort of are, though,” Nick had stated, “Not that I mind,” pressing their cold cheek to the hot injured reddened wrist to cool it down, a soft surprised his escaping Elliot’s lips.

“Uhm, Nick, would—“ Elliot had mumbled, squeezing his eyes shut, but when he opened them again, he got a look of encouragement, “Would you- Would you-!” Elliot tripped over his own words much to his own embarrassment, feeling much smaller than he already is. he took a deep, necessary breath to feel better.

“Would you.. Would you like to go on a date with me?”

Nick had looked away, thinking in thought and holding their chin playfully, then they looked down back at the bigger man who had been cooing quietly to soothe his nerves.

“I would love to, Elliot Solis,”

Nick leaned in, pressing their lips gently to Elliot’s red, tear-stroked cheek. Elliot went completely rigid, pupils blowing out and chubby body ceasing its nervous shifting.