The house was quiet.
Jayden had stayed longer than usual.
They had eaten little, spoken less, and somehow said more in silence than most people managed in words.
Jarnell stood near the kitchen sink, rinsing a glass slowly.
Behind him, he heard footsteps.
Unhurried.
Confident.
Too familiar now.
"You've been avoiding looking at me all evening," Jayden said.
His voice was close.
Closer than expected.
"I'm washing the glasses we have used," Jarnell replied.
"That doesn't require avoiding me."
Jarnell dried his hands and turned.
Jayden was standing only a short distance away.
Sleeves rolled up.
Hair slightly messy.
Eyes steady in that dangerous way that made it hard to think clearly.
"You should go home," Jarnell said quietly.
Jayden tilted his head.
"Do you want me to?"
The answer should have been easy.
But it wasn't.
Jarnell looked away first.
"…You ask too many questions."
Jayden smiled faintly.
Then stepped closer.
"And you avoid too many answers."
The air changed.
The room seemed smaller.
The silence warmer.
Jarnell stayed still.
That was his first mistake.
Jayden reached out slowly.
His fingers touched Jarnell's wrist first.
Then slid down until their hands met.
Palm to palm.
Warmth against warmth.
Jarnell's breath caught slightly.
"You always act calm," Jayden murmured.
"But your hands give you away."
He tightened his hold just enough to be felt.
Not enough to trap.
Enough to matter.
Jarnell should have moved.
Instead, he stood there while Jayden stepped closer again.
Until only inches remained.
"Jayden."
It was meant to sound like a warning.
It sounded nothing like one.
Jayden lifted his free hand to Jarnell's jaw.
His thumb brushed lightly along the line of it.
Slowly and carefully
Like he was discovering something valuable.
Then he leaned in.
Their lips met softly.
A brief touch at first.
Testing.
Jarnell's fingers closed around the front of Jayden's shirt before he even realized he had moved.
The second kiss was deeper.
Longer.
Warmer.
Jayden's hand slid from his jaw to the back of his neck, holding him there gently.
Not forcing.
Just keeping him close.
The kitchen counter pressed against the backs of Jarnell's thighs as Jayden stepped between them.
His other hand resting at Jarnell's waist.
Thumb moving slowly once over the fabric of his shirt.
Every touch felt sharpened.
Every breath too loud.
Every second too short.
Jayden broke the kiss only enough to brush his mouth against Jarnell's jaw.
Then lower—
to the side of his neck.
Lingering there.
Jarnell tilted his head before he could stop himself.
Inviting more.
Jayden laughed softly against his skin.
"So this is what happens when you stop pretending."
Jarnell tried to answer.
Instead, Jayden kissed him again.
And the world disappeared.
Jarnell woke up violently.
Breathing hard.
Sheets twisted around his legs.
Morning light spilling across the room.
He sat upright in bed, staring ahead.
The house was silent.
No hands at his waist.
No mouth at his neck.
No Jayden pinning him against the kitchen counter.
"…Unbelievable."
He pressed a hand over his face.
It had been a dream.
Every second of it.
And somehow—
that made it worse.
He walked into the kitchen trying to look normal.
Jayden was already there.
Actually there.
Leaning against the counter, drinking water.
Hair messy from sleep.
Shirt slightly wrinkled.
Entirely too similar to the dream.
"You look exhausted," Jayden said casually.
Jarnell stared at him.
"l... l....I slept badly."
Jayden raised an eyebrow.
"Dream?"
Jarnell nearly dropped the glass he was holding.
"No."
"You're blushing."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Jarnell turned away immediately.
Jayden smiled to himself.
What is he up to now?
By afternoon, Jarnell was already irritated.
At the dream.
At himself.
At the fact that Jayden seemed perfectly calm while Jarnell was haunted by imaginary kisses.
Then the girl from before approached again.
Bright smile.
Easy confidence.
Too comfortable.
"Jayden," she said sweetly. "Are you free later?"
Jayden barely opened his mouth before Jarnell answered.
"No."
The girl blinked.
Jayden blinked.
Brian nearly choked nearby.
Jarnell stepped closer to Jayden.
Expression composed.
Eyes anything but.
"We're leaving."
Jayden looked down at him slowly.
"We are?"
"Yes."
Jarnell grabbed the front of Jayden's shirt.
Pulled him down.
And kissed him.
It was nothing like the dream.
No patience, testing or softness.
This kiss was quick, hot, reckless.
Full of annoyance and possession and everything he refused to name.
Enough to silence the courtyard.
Enough to make several students stop walking entirely.
Then Jarnell pulled back.
Still gripping Jayden's shirt.
"Now we are."
The girl stared speechless.
Brian grabbed Alvin's shoulder so hard he complained.
Somewhere behind them, Calvin quietly looked impressed.
Jayden touched his own lips slowly.
Then smiled in the most dangerous way possible.
"You kissed me because you were jealous."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
"I hate you."
Jayden leaned closer, voice low enough for only him.
"No you don't."
Jarnell turned sharply and started walking.
Fast.
Jayden followed immediately.
Halfway down the path, Jayden caught his wrist gently.
The same wrist from the dream.
Jarnell nearly cursed internally.
"Let go."
"No."
Students passed around them, pretending not to stare.
"You embarrassed me," Jarnell muttered.
Jayden looked amused.
"You kissed me in public."
"You caused it."
"How?"
"You keep letting people think they have a chance."
Jayden's expression shifted.
Softer now.
"They don't."
Jarnell looked away.
"You should make that clearer."
Jayden stepped in front of him, stopping him completely.
Then took Jarnell's hand openly.
Interlaced their fingers.
Right there in public.
"This clear enough?"
Jarnell's heartbeat betrayed him instantly.
"…You're ridiculous."
"But you're not pulling away."
Jarnell tried once.
Weakly.
Then stopped trying.
They walked the rest of the way like that.
Hand in hand.
Jarnell pretending not to notice.
Jayden pretending not to enjoy how red Jarnell's ears had become.
And deep down, Jarnell knew the truth.
The public kiss had not been sudden.
It had only been delayed.
Because he had already kissed Jayden once before—
in a dream he would never admit to.