#tyrus ff

A/N: merry (late as usual) christmas @tarantist i was your secret santa! hope you like this tyrus (high school au??) I wrote!! also I made you a moodboard that I will post later. enjoy <333

Andi and Amber had dated for a few weeks before Cyrus met TJ. It was a foggy afternoon, full of grey and threatening clouds, full of sad smiles and manaces of loneliness. Even though the wind blew very strongly, Cyrus had hidden in the park, as usual.

Sadly, he hadn't been able to enjoy the morning very much: his favorite bar had just terminated the magnificently delicious chocolate chocolate-chip muffins, and all because of a stupid bully, who had come in a second and taken ten, which were all that had remained of the warm tray just taken out of the oven. Buffy was stucked in bed with a fever, while Andi was busy hanging out with Amber – as always, on the other hand. When Cyrus saw the same stupid bully getting closer, started to get up from the swing he was sitting on: he couldn’t stand the face of someone who ruined his day for more than half a second. But the blond signaled for him to stay, and Cyrus hesitated long enough for the stranger to reach him. The features were hard and no longer ones of a boy, and the sweatshirt he was wearing was mostly covered by a military green bomber.

"Hi," he said to him. "you're the dude who was glaring at me this morning, aren't you? When I left with my muffins, I mean."

Cyrus went into a defensive mode. "You followed me or what?"

The blond shook his head no. "I just remembered of you." Cyrus became all red hearing that. "So, what's your name? Mysterious-muffin-guy?"

"Ah-ah. Not funny." Cyrus hesitated before answering. "Cyrus. And you are Creepy-muffin-guy?"

He laughed. "TJ."

"I don't believe you. What is it standing for?"

"Maybe in front of a cappuccino?"

Cyrus hesitated again, but accepted in the end. TJ led him to a café wallpapered with low-quality wall paper. Some portraits of kittens were hung up on the walls, ready to be loved. The waiter at their table brought them two cappuccinos almost immediately after taking the order, and Cyrus took the first sip without hesitation. The waiter also brought them two muffins. "On the house," he said, winking at TJ. Cyrus wondered if there was anything between them, but he decided he didn’t really care.

He smiled and answered with a low 'Thanks Marty' just whispered. Then turned to Cyrus, sitting across the table. "Do you like it here?"

The moor made a sound of appreciation while sipping the hot cappuccino. "How did you find out about this place?"

"My best friend, Marty," began TJ, pointing his head at the waiter who had brought them their cappuccinos. "has been working here for a few months. And my sister convinced me to come and see him. And so I come here practically every day."

Cyrus nodded, enthralled by the very interesting story. He remembered how Andi had met Amber, and decided to tell it. After all, between café and diner there was not too much difference. And, deep down, TJ and Amber were not too different.

"Wait," said TJ as soon as I heard the name 'Amber'. "Does your Amber have long, blond hair, green eyes and bitch face?"

"Definitely."

TJ smiled, probably instinctively. "Amber is my sister."

Cyrus stood still for a few seconds, and then he literally screamed. By the time he had calmed down, the café had emptied itself out for a good half, and Marty had given his place to another guy, who looked like an idiot, though very cute. "I can’t believe it!" he exclaimed then.

TJ nodded by taking another sip from his paper cup. "I know Andi. I saw her a few times, but in passing."

Cyrus blushed for an unknown reason. "How about keeping in touch?"

TJ smiled, and wrote his number on top of a napkin. "I offer," he said, leaving a few coins on the table. "And call me, understood?"

“You're all I have, TJ. I just got scared of losing you.”

“You're all I have too, Underdog. And don't worry - you won't lose me.”

"So, you're going to help me?" he asked, just for confirmation.

Cyrus chuckled and passed his hand through his hair, trying to settle his dark tuft. "Yes, of course. Do we meet tomorrow in the library just after school?"

TJ raised an eyebrow. "Library?"

"Yes, it is that room full of books and tables where you go to study in holy peace."

The blond laughed, slightly bumping their shoulders, but still making the moor a little unbalanced. "I know what a library is, Underdog."

The other laughed, and TJ noticed that when Cyrus smiled, his eyes were shining. "I just wanted to make sure." TJ smiled in response. "Then... library?" asked Cyrus again.

"I was thinking more about my house, actually."

The moor carried his right hand to his chest and made a surprised face. "Do I have this honor?"

TJ nodded and put his arm around his shoulders, clutching it for a moment before letting him go. "Later, Underdog," he said, before rushing to the literary class.

The next day, having the last period off, TJ waited for Cyrus out of the English class to return home with him. When he saw his best friend leave the classroom at the ring of the bell, TJ flanked him with a smile that was typical of him when Cyrus was nearby. "Hey!" he exclaimed.

Cyrus smiled, noticing him. "Hey," he replied immediately. "Ready for the extra lesson?" TJ nodded not convinced. "One question: why didn't you ask Buffy to help you? I mean, she's your tutor, isn't she?"

TJ bit his lower lip. "She's busy with... other things," he lied. Would he ever have the courage to tell Cyrus the truth? He just wanted to spend more time with him - was that so wrong? "Plus, you have a lot more patience."

Cyrus chuckled and nodded. "That's definitely true." They walked out of the school between the chatter of the students around them and reached TJ's home, who lived right nearby, in an instant. The blonde noticed Cyrus' curiosity and perplexity when, upon entering the apartment, he noticed photos of the Kippen siblings as children or photos of TJ as a child on a stage with a certificate in his hand.

Cyrus pointed to the photo taken in memory of his first concert. "How old were you here?" he asked, curiously.

"Five" TJ remembered that day as if only two had passed. He was so nervous about performing in public for the first time that he had reviewed the score at least a thousand times. When it was his turn to go on stage, his master had encouraged him by giving him light buffets on his shoulder. TJ, who was just under six feet tall, had looked down on his mentor from below: his eyes on the stage, his beard curly, his skin dark. He had calmed down at that sight, sighed, and came out into the spotlight more confident than he had ever been, waiting for the initial applause to go out. He then began to play the first notes of the song he had learned for the recital. He had missed a few notes, of course, but what was most important was that he had never stopped and that he had made his parents, his sister, and his teacher proud. In the photo, he smiled boldly, but it was only because he felt extremely happy with his progress.

"So, you play an instrument?" asked Cyrus, raising an eyebrow – TJ was envious of that ability, because he either raised both eyebrows or none - and crossing his arms, almost demanding explanations.

TJ nodded. If spending more time with Cyrus meant revealing his darker secrets, he would even reveal his real name. "The piano. I have a piano in my room if you want to know."

Cyrus was astonished by the information. "Oh," he said only. Then he smiled sincerely. "I didn't expect you to answer me for real. You wouldn't have done it a few months ago."

The homeowner shrugged his shoulders: Cyrus had that effect on him, even though he didn't know. "Do you think I'm a better person?" he asked, looking at the photo. He felt the moor's gaze on him, and when he did not feel it anymore, he turned in his direction. Cyrus was intent on studying the other photos on the wall and TJ couldn't deny that with that look captured by a story not his without words Cyrus was really very nice.

His friend turned to look at him before TJ could look away; he felt himself blush, caught red-handed. "I think so."

They looked at each other for a few moments and TJ didn't move a muscle. He didn't even smile so as not to ruin the moment. The outside noises seemed like they disappeared, while TJ could hear the wheels in his mind spinning madly like a hamster in a wheel.

Cyrus opened his mouth to talk and came out with a "Shall we start studying?" very nervous. TJ bit his lower lip and nodded bitterly. He made way to the moor to his room through the kitchen and corridor and watched Cyrus react to the sight of his room. The walls were aquamarine, and the white furniture popped from the walls like starfish among colored shells – at the sight of the small bookcase, Cyrus looked up and approached to see what books his friend had read. A full-length mirror was even hung on one wall near the floor.

"Why don't you share your room with Amber?" he asked, still looking around.

TJ shrugged his shoulders for a moment. "I wouldn't stand my sister rummaging through my drawers too: isn't it enough that she cares too much about my private life?"

Cyrus turned to look at him, diverting attention from the cushions of various shapes that covered the top of the bed of a square and a half. He smiled before saying that Amber's interest in him seemed cute. "She must love you very much."

TJ smiled and nodded. "You are an only child, aren't you?"

"For now," Cyrus replied in a slightly bitter tone. "My father and stepmother are trying to have another child, but still not..." Cyrus blushed a little. "In short, they haven't made it yet."

TJ felt his cheeks coloring regardless of his will. "I understand," he replied. He looked a little around, uneasy in his own room. He cleared his voice. "Umm... How about we start studying? If not, it's too late, I think." He pointed to the bed to make Cyrus sit down and sat after him on the other side.

The other hinted at a somewhat forced smile. "Don't you mind if I… umm-" began him, pointing to his shoes and the blanket beneath them.

TJ shook his head slowly, preventing Cyrus from finishing an awkward question. He watched Cyrus sit cross-legged and settle down well in front of him. "Then," the blond began. "What do we start with?"

Time passed fast between equations, jokes, and mischief, between smiles and touches of hand. It was when they decided to take a break and they lay down next to each other that TJ finally realized the famous butterflies in his stomach. Cyrus was talking about how idiotic Jonah was sometimes, telling him funny anecdotes and silly jokes that the two had exchanged over the years. TJ watched him gesticulate a little and noticed his eyes glistening in the light of the last rays of sunshine. He wanted to print that moment in his mind, because Cyrus was beautiful even when he was talking about futile things, like Andi's passion for belts or the time Buffy accidentally dyed her hair pink, but also while eating voraciously a muffin, or when he pulled out his tongue in a very nice way, making it pop just from his lips, when he was focused on solving a difficult problem with equations – those moments had been TJ's biggest distraction that afternoon, not counting Cyrus's smile, his rebellious tufts that eluded the power of the gel, his way of biting pencils to the mine, and everything about him. TJ smiled as he continued to look at Cyrus, paying no attention to the boy's words.

Cyrus noticed his distraction and turned to look at him, dropping his gaze on the blonde's lips next to him for a moment. "What is it?" he asked, looking into his eyes.

TJ shook his head, smiling. "Nothing." He felt the irrepressible urge to take Cyrus's pretty hand into his, weaving their fingers and stay that way forever. Then he approached his hand slowly and Cyrus noticed him because he smiled and approached. When their hands met, they weaved their fingers into a single masterpiece. TJ smiled, and Cyrus did the same. He felt a knot in his stomach, but at the same time, the nerves of his shoulders relax. A quiet silence fell between them, who kept looking at each other.

TJ dropped his gaze on the other's fleshy lips and felt his breathing get faster, his heartbeat louder, his nerves stiffen again. Fortunately, he left his eyes there a little more than he should, and Cyrus got closer. He put his hand close to his left shoulder and in a moment was on top of him, still holding his hands together. TJ felt his heartbeat accelerate, so much so that he thought his heart would explode soon. With his lips parted little, he waited for Cyrus to slowly approach. Suddenly, TJ had a flash of genius: he hugged Cyrus without getting too close to him and swapped roles, gently resting Cyrus on top of the pillow that was previously to his right. He settled in the same position as Cyrus moments earlier and winked. He approached calmly while the moor still smiled. TJ was tired of waiting: he and Cyrus had been friends for two years now, and the boy had liked him right away, with his big, deep eyes and his irony and smile. When he found himself inches from the boy's face, he smiled for a moment, thinking back to all the times he had wanted to kiss him – and finally, his dream was coming true! – and in one shot he captured his lips in a passionate kiss, taking him by surprise. Cyrus responded to the kiss in a heartbeat, putting his hands in his blonde hair, and TJ felt a thrill of comfort walking his back for a second.

Cyrus felt the first snowflakes fall on his gloves. He held the gift boxes almost unnaturally, as if he was uncomfortable, even if a casual smile was printed on his face. Christmas had arrived and, although in the Jewish tradition no gifts are given, he had decided to make them anyway to his second family.

In the distance he saw the Mack family home: the black roof had begun to fill with small white spots here and there, as if someone had sprayed a little icing sugar on it. When he came under the porch, he lowered the hood of his coat, revealing a black cashmere cap. He knocked on the door, sure to find someone in the house. In fact, Bex opened it soon after.

«Cyrus!» she exclaimed, genuinely surprised. «Come on in. Andi is in her room with Buffy» he added, stepping aside and opening the door slightly more to let him in. She then closed the door, leaving the cold outside.

«Thank you» he said, heading to Andi's room. He knocked on the closed door.

«Mom, I said I don't want chips!» she yelled through the wall.

Cyrus opened the door and her two best friends stood up as they saw him. «Oh-oh-oh!» he exclaimed, lifting his boxes and smiling.

Buffy smiled in turn. «Cyrus! Why are you here?»

He shrugged his shoulders. «I thought you'd like to receive gifts for Christmas.» He took the first box of the stack and handed it to Buffy, while he put the second in Andi's hands. They looked at each other for a moment before smiling and starting to unwrap.

Andi stopped suddenly and looked up at his friend, who had not unbuttoned his coat but had taken off his hat, scarf and gloves. «Don't... don't you mind if we open them now?»

Cyrus shook his head no just as Buffy said: «Too late.» The other two turned to her and realized she was admiring an elegant box. She opened it with a smile on her face. The box revealed white and pink sports shoes, the same colors on the Spikes uniform.

Buffy immediately got up from bed and hugged her friend with momentum. «Thank you thank you thank you!» she exclaimed, leaving a kiss on his cheek. He smiled and reciprocated the embrace. He was really happy that Buffy liked his gift and was looking forward to Andi opening hers, which happened shortly afterwards.

Andi smiled immediately at the sight of a professional art kit, complete with glitter, fabrics and various objects, colors and brushes. «Thank you, Cyrus!» She ran to hug him with the gift still in her hands, risking everything to fall. She placed the kit on the bed and resumed the hug, and after a while Buffy joined them too.

«I love you guys» he said. He stepped back, dissolving the sweet moment. «But now I have to continue my journey to Jonah's house.» They nodded in response and escorted him to the door, Andi holding the other gift boxes and Buffy helping Cyrus with scarf, gloves and hat. They waved their hand and Cyrus returned to the freezing road.

He walked to Jonah's house, feeling sweat coming down his back under his Christmas sweater and shirt as he moved, in complete contrast to the frost that was pouring over his face. Arriving in front of the majestic door of the block of flats where his friend's apartment was located, he rang the doorbell of Becks’ home.

Jonah's sleepy voice answered the intercom. «Who’s that?» he asked.

«I'm Cyrus. I have a surprise for you.»

«Cyrus! Go ahead, man.» The door opened with a click and a grave sound. Cyrus came in and called the elevator to go up to the fourth floor. He got out of the metal box and found Jonah in his pajamas waiting for him on his doorstep. He smiled earnestly as only Jonah Beck knew how to do and Cyrus for a moment felt that grip on his stomach that had always blocked his breath in those years of infatuation for the boy. By now the crush had passed, but seeing him smile always caused him that tiny feeling of discomfort. «Hey, Cy-guy!»

«Jonah!» Cyrus reciprocated the infectious smile in a moment. «I came to bring you my Christmas spirit.»

Jonah looked at him puzzled and bent his head to the side. «So?»

«I made you a present.» He handed him the box wrapped with red and gold paper and a golden bow on the top left. Jonah took it smiling.

«Can I open it now?» Cyrus nodded in response. Jonah tore the paper in seconds, revealing a set of four personalized guitar picks: the first was black and featured his initials "JB" in elegant white calligraphy, the second was completely white and there were the names of Cyrus, Andi and Buffy, signed just from the three of them; the third was all covered with the Space Otters logo. Cyrus urged Jonah to open the box and turn the third pick: on the other side was the other side of Jonah's freesbe team jersey. «It's great awesome!» The fourth, at last, was white. Jonah frowned. «What about this one?» he asked, perplexingly pointing to the last.

Cyrus smiled, glad his friend asked him that question. «It's a simple pick that you can still customize. You can always go and customize it from anywhere in the city saying that I sent you, and you won't have to pay anything, and you can do the same with all the picks you want in your lifetime.»

Jonah gasped for a moment, then smiled. «Cy...» He looked up at him and approached to hug him. Cyrus reciprocated the gesture with happiness. «It's the best gift anyone's ever got me. Thank you, man.»

He smiled: he had desired for so long to do something special for Jonah Beck, and now that he has done so he felt happier. «You’re welcome» he said only.

They hugged for a few more moments, then Jonah took a few steps back. He noticed the last box left in the hands of his best friend and frowned. «And that,» he began, pointing to the gift. «Who is it for?»

Cyrus smiled without thinking and looked down at his clinched hands, which held the small box tight. «TJ.»

Jonah nodded and smiled. «Well, then I'll let you go and give him that gift. Good luck.»

Cyrus nodded and greeted his friend with a hand gesture. «Bye, Jonah.» He took back the elevator and, in an instant, found himself on the streets of his city again. The children had started to go out in parks and courtyards to play with the snow that had fallen up to that point and the moor smiled spontaneously at the sight of a beautiful snowman, complete with a scarf, carrot and buttons. He took the phone out of his coat pocket and wrote to TJ to join him at the park. He didn't know where the blonde lived, so he thought of that solution to give him his Christmas present. He felt the phone vibrate between his fingers and looked at the bright screen. TJ had answered with a "I'll be there in two minutes". Cyrus smiled spontaneously and put the phone back in his pocket. He picked up the pace to reach the park as quickly as possible. Arriving at the swings, he noticed that the blond had already arrived and was slightly swinging on one of the swings.

«Hey!» he exclaimed, when he was close enough.

TJ raised his green eyes from the whitewashed ground under his black shoes. «Hey» he answered only, hinting at a smile. Then he returned immediately with his eyes to the ground.

Cyrus frowned and took his seat on the other swing next to him, settling the box on his lap and trying to catch TJ's tempo. «Is there something wrong?» he asked. He saw him very sad and thought talking about it was the best of therapy.

«I don't like Christmas, that's all» he said. «Why did you bring me here, anyway?»

Cyrus sighed. «I got you a present. If you prefer not to receive it, I won't-»

TJ stopped him. He looked up at him and really looked him in the eye for the first time since they were there. «Thank you» he said, stretching his arms beyond the chains of the swing to receive the gift.

Cyrus passed it on and watched him gently remove the scotch to open the package. «You know that if you don't tear the paper, it doesn't bring luck, don’t you?»

TJ laughed up his sleeve, continuing to carefully unwrap the gift. «You wrapped it?» he asked.

Cyrus said yes and shrugged his shoulders. «Even if it didn't come very well» he added.

The friend shook his head and looked at him for a few moments as he said: «No, I'm glad you did.»

Cyrus smiled. «Really?»

«Really.» TJ pulled out the little black box. He looked at it with his furrowed brow, not understanding what it contained.

Cyrus, noticing his expression, stopped his swing. «Open it» he said.

He looked at him curiously but opened the box. Inside, there was only a piece of paper written on it, in a messy and quite cursive calligraphy, an address just outside Shadyside. TJ looked at him even more puzzledly. «What is this?»

Cyrus smiled. He knew TJ wouldn't understand, so I presented him with his present. «I had a debt and I repaid it.»

«I don't know if I'm stupid, but I still don't understand.»

The moor chuckled. «The address written there – sorry for the handwriting, I write quite badly – is that of a pastry shop. My stepmother knows the pastry chef, so I asked him for a favor.»

«That is?» asked TJ, still not understanding.

«I asked him to invent a muffin.»

The other looked at him in underhisd. «The Blueberry Macademia» he whispered.

Cyrus nodded. «New Blueberry Macademia Muffin. Nickname: TJ Kippen Muffin; ingredients: whole wheat flour, blackberries, blueberries and vanilla blue dye.»

TJ began to smile. «They're my favorite tastes.»

He shrugged his shoulders. «I’ve had them suggested by Amber.»

TJ got up and approached his swing. «Thank you.»

Cyrus smiled. «I owed you that.» He stood up to face his friend, though he was decidedly taller.

«You could have thought about it earlier» TJ laughed.

Cyrus looked up and noticed something attached to the swings rod. «What is that?» he asked then, pointing to the mysterious object.

TJ raised his head to see what the moor was pointing to, then went back to look at him. When Cyrus looked down, TJ spoke. «It's my Christmas present for you.»

Cyrus chuckled. «And why is it attached up there? Did you want to make me feel short?»

The other shook his head. Their eyes fit perfectly. There were no too much words, no useless gestures. The park was deserted. «It's a sprig of mistletoe.»

Cyrus felt a dip in his heart and a knot in his stomach. TJ approached slowly, resting his hands on his shoulders. Time stopped, and with it the snowflakes that were falling at that moment. It was just them, it was their time. Cyrus approached and watched TJ's face do the same. Suddenly, their lips touched, and the snow began to fall again, and the seconds to pass, and Cyrus closed his eyes, imitating TJ. His lips knew of snow: they were cold, but at the same time they transmitted that unique warmth that filled Cyrus' chest at the time. He pulled TJ closer, and felt the other's hands on his shoulders, and then he felt them to come down to his hips. When their lips parted, Cyrus felt the cold winter air on his face. He was still close to TJ, who held his hands tightly on his hips.

«So, we...» Cyrus began. He didn't really know what to say and for the first time in his life he felt as if the cat had eaten his tongue.

«Yes» TJ replied. He smiled, relaxing his shoulders and taking his hand.

Amber knocked on the bedroom door before pushing it gently and putting her head inside. «Can I come in?» she asked.

TJ nodded. He was in front of the mirror and admired his white shirt over the black jeans. He seemed nervous. «How do I look?» he said, turning to his sister.

She smiled and raised her thumbs. «Who are you going out with?»

TJ bit his lower lip. «With Cyrus» he replied. He smoothed his shirt for the millionth time and put his hands in his pockets, a clear sign of his nervousness.

«Did you ask him out?» asked Amber. She got closer and put her gracious hands on his brother's broad shoulders. He shook his head and repeated only the name of the boy he had a crush on for more than a year. «It'll be fine» she reassured him. He exhaled heavily and smiled at the blonde through the mirror, still visibly agitated. «Do you want me to drive you?» TJ nodded and preceded her to the car, parked from the afternoon of the day before on the road in front of the house, after Amber had finished her shift at the Spoon.

They went up and Amber drove cautiously to the Goodman's house. TJ looked at the watch on his wrist that he put on for the occasion and shook his head. «It's still too early.» Amber shrugged her shoulders and watched her little brother move his leg up and down for a while: they were stationary across the street from the villa, and a strong warm light came from one of the first-floor windows – Amber assumed it was Cyrus' room. «Maybe...» TJ began. «Should I get him a bunch of flowers?»

Amber smiled. Although TJ seemed to have asked her the question, she knew that more than her, he was asking himself. She let him dwell for a few moments about what to do. «Do I have to make a turn?» she asked.

Her brother bit his lip and nodded as she got the old black Ford started and headed to the nearest florist. He waited for TJ in the car as he picked flowers for the occasion and drove back to Cyrus' house as soon as his brother got in the car. As soon as they arrived, TJ got out of the automobile and tried to relax his shoulders.

«You look great» she complimented him. He smiled - a forced, very nervous smile - and closed the door. He looked at the road to see if there was anyone passing by at that moment, and when he finally made sure to do so – he hesitated, as if reaching the door of the Goodman's house caused the end of the world – he crossed the asphalt and the walkway covered with stones before ringing the bell of the blue house, not unless he exhaled the last sigh.

TJ watched insecurely at the daffodils and red tulips of his bouquet. He didn't know if Cyrus understood the language of flowers, but at least it was worth a try. He had been ringing the doorbell for a few minutes now but had not yet received any response. He tried again and this time, after a few moments, he heard some quick steps on the stairs. Soon after, the door opened, revealing a Cyrus with a blue shirt and denim jeans tighter than usual. A smile was painted on his face, but he gasped as soon as he noticed the bunch of flowers. He raised an eyebrow, very confused. «TJ?» he asked.

The blonde began to sweat cold: had he done anything wrong? Shouldn't he have brought the flowers? Was Cyrus allergic? «Yes?» he asked, in turn, with a lump in his throat.

«Why do you have flowers in your hand?» Cyrus seemed somewhat puzzled.

TJ opened his mouth when he finally noticed that Cyrus was dressed like every day: it wasn't a date. «They're for your mother, I thought it was a nice thing to do. Is she in the house?»

Cyrus shook his head no, smiling again. «She went out with my stepfather. Anyway, thank you, I think she's going to be very happy. Come in,» he added, stepping aside to make room for him. «so that I can put them in a flowerpot with water.» He took the bouquet from his friend's hands and walked to the kitchen.

TJ entered insecurely, closing the door behind him. Cyrus' house was full of photographs as usual and he would recognize the scent of lavender that lingered inside among a thousand. He stopped at the entrance, admiring a photo of Cyrus as a child – he must have been between three and five years old. The shot portrayed him building a sandcastle, a Nemo's beach hat pressed on his head and his cheeks red in the afternoon sun. He was so innocent and above all so chubby that TJ would recognize him very little.

Cyrus came back and smiled. «Are we going?» TJ nodded in response. He let the moor speak. «The flowers you have chosen are beautiful. I don't know the language of flowers, but my mother does, so I hope she will like them.»

The blonde opened wide his eyes: he imagined Mrs. Goodman seeing the red tulips, a sign of declaration of love, and the daffodils, indicating unrequited love. Luckily the latter could also be a sign of respect, or TJ would be really, really screwed up. He swallowed, though not too soundly to be noted by Cyrus. «I think so.»

Cyrus returned home exhausted after the long walk with TJ, spending chatting and laughing together, and the video game room. He had enjoyed it, apart from the moments when TJ had complimented him – like, on his shirt, or how good he was at playing pinball – and Cyrus couldn't help but blush. He had really hoped that the flowers would be for him, but when TJ explained that they were for his mother he felt more relaxed: he still didn't feel ready to reveal his feelings to his friend. What if things got complicated with each other, getting awkward?

TJ had accompanied him to the front door anyway and hugged him, then waved his hand as he walked down the illuminated walkway to the street. He turned around again on the main sidewalk and smiled at him. Cyrus had stood on the doorstep, watching him go away with the last rays of the sun. He then smiled at himself and began to unlock the door, turning around one last time to watch TJ walk away, even though the boy had disappeared from his field of view.

When he entered the house, he found his mother on the couch with a cup of steaming tea in her hands. She lifted her head as soon as she heard him close the door and looked at him with tired eyes. «Hey, honey» she greeted him with a smile. «How did it go with TJ?»

He shrugged his shoulders, holding back an involuntary smile. «Totally normal.»

«Very nice to bring you flowers, don't you think?»

Cyrus raised an eyebrow. «He told me they were for you. Why did you think they were for me?»

Leslie shrugged her shoulders, then explained the two meanings of the flowers in the bouquet. «I thought he confessed to you his feelings!»

Cyrus blushed violently and shouted a "Mooom!" in protest. He climbed the stairs and locked himself in his room. He immediately threw himself on the bed, without having the strength to do anything else. He grabbed his phone from his jeans pocket and opened the chat with TJ.

"Thank you for the bouquet. Both my mother and I loved it!"

"Let's talk about it tomorrow, all right? At the Spoon at six o'clock."

Cyrus smiled. "So... It's a date?"

TJ blinked several times before opening and closing his mouth once or twice, not finding the right words.

"Kippen, are you dead?" asked Logan at one point, snapping his fingers in front of his eyes lost in the void.

He recovered himself from a beautiful dream and crossed Ethan and Noah's eyes in front of him. "Can you repeat?"

Logan sighed beside him. "We were telling you about Goodman. You've been too distracted lately."

TJ shrugged his shoulders. "What should I be distracted by?"

Logan gesticulated, as if it were obvious. "By Cyrus."

Noah nodded and TJ turned his attention to him. "When he's here, you're always so…" A slight silence fell on top of them, and Noah stopped in the middle, perhaps for fear of offending him.

"Softened" ended Ethan who, as always, was a plainspoken man.

"Yes, man, you look like a pussy," added someone on the team, and others added to his laughter.

Logan took a disgusted look at them, only to return to TJ, who still didn't understand what they wanted from him. "In short. What we're trying to say is that... you should ask Cyrus not to come again."

"Or we will!" the voice they heard before came in, and TJ saw someone banging on that idiot.

Logan totally ignored them this time. "For the team."

Just at that moment, Cyrus went back to the gym and sat down, studying them a little confused.

TJ sighed. "I'll see what I can do." Logan smiled encouragingly at him. Then someone said it was already six o'clock, and they said goodbye as the practice had come to an end.

The team headed to the dressing room, while TJ went to sit next to Cyrus with a towel resting on his shoulders. Cyrus smiled softly at him, and TJ couldn't help but reciprocate. "Training passed really fast today " Cyrus put it out there.

He nodded and took a sip from his water bottle, throwing a quick look at the phone lock screen to see if there was a missed call from his mother. Still nothing, despite Amber's messages in which she freaked out about Andi who had told her this and that, and Marty's confirming that Saturday he was free to hang out. "Would you like to come to my house?" he asked, biting his lip for a second before continuing. "We watch a movie and talk a bit."

Cyrus thought about it for a moment, but TJ knew he was doing it just to put him on pins and needles. "I'm in," he said. "as long as we see Queer Eye."

TJ looked up and chuckled. "Again?" he asked, sounding almost exasperated. Cyrus nodded and TJ imitated him – that smile was contagious. "As you wish." They got up and took their things before they left.

Outside, the stinging air of late February soured into their jackets and, as a result, Cyrus moved closer to him. "Are you cold?" asked TJ, though the answer was quite obvious. In fact, Cyrus nodded and smiled as TJ placed his hoodie over his shoulders.

"Thank you," he muttered, clinging to it as if it were a lifeline. He smiled for an inexplicable reason and continued to walk, side by side, to TJ's house.

When the door was opened, Cyrus entered first at the invitation of TJ, who sighed hearing no one in the house.

"Is Amber here?" asked Cyrus at the very moment.

The blond shook his head. "She's probably at work," he said. But, thinking back to the messages he received from his sister, he added, "or maybe she's with Andi."

The other boy shrugged his shoulders and began to go upstairs as if he were at his house. TJ reached him in the room, and closed the door behind him. Cyrus was already lying on the bed and looking around, perhaps looking for the remote control, and when he found it, he pointed it to TJ, still standing, to get it for him.

"You're too lazy," he jokingly scolded him, holding the remote control and stretching out next to him.

Cyrus shrugged his shoulders. "It's in my DNA."

They chuckled and, in silence, began to see the 20th episode of the first season, one of those that drove Cyrus crazy.

"I wanted to tell you..." TJ began, not very sure what he would say. Cyrus nodded to know more, and their eyes stuck together like pieces of a puzzle, and TJ felt that unfriendly knot at the mouth of his stomach. "Maybe you should stop coming to our practice."

Cyrus sat down and continued, very confused, looking for his gaze, that TJ dropped on everything in the room but him. "Why?"

"My teammates... Well, they think I'm too... soft if you're there." He bit his lip and tortured it until Cyrus could just say ‘Oh’.

"I understand," he added, perhaps not believing his own ears. TJ breathed a sigh of relief and finally relaxed his shoulders, in which he had clutched involuntarily. "I could... I could always come after practice. And then we could have coffee together."

TJ smiled. "Maybe you meant: a macchiato coffee for me and an iced coffee with too much sugar for you."