↳ @drwlf said [ hiding ] sender checks the area around them before kissing receiver, trying not to get caught (kids….)
This was not how Spencer imagined his summer vacation would go.
He knew he'd spend most of it with Oliver, that much was a given; he'd done so since they were children, since that first summer when their mothers had shoved them together hoping && praying their sons would make at least one friend, only for the 2 boys to become practically inseparable. They had been attached at the hip ever since, && when Oliver's family had moved back to the east coast just a short year && a half later, there had been a lot of tears. Ever since then, the two had begged their mothers every year like clockwork the very second school had let out to let one visit the other, && one mother ( typically Dianna, she had such a hard time telling her son no, ) would always give in.
Then Spencer went off to Caltech when he was 12 && it became even easier to convince his mom to let him go off to the east coast first, before he came home. && now he's 16 with a license && doesn't even have to ask his mom anymore; they have an understanding — as long as he promises ( && makes good on said promise ) to visit Vegas before the fall semester starts, he's more than welcome to make his way up to New York first. Ocassionally, Oliver would be permitted to go down to Vegas instead, to visit with both Reids, but it was usually easier for Spencer to be the one to travel.
All that to say, sitting side by side with his best friend, head tipped back to laugh at something Oliver had said, was par for the course. Expected. A situation he'd found himself in hundreds of times over the years. He's happy, carefree, not a thought in his head that didn't pertain to the other boy beside him, to all of the plans they had for the summer, to how content he'd be to just do this until he had to pack up && make his way to Vegas, && then back to California.
What is unexpected is when he tips his head forward again, smile still lingering on his lips, && sees Oliver glancing around like he's looking for something. Spencer's head tilts to the side, smile giving way to mild confusion && curiosity, brow creasing; but just as he goes to ask Oliver what he's looking for, lips cover his own && his entire world screeches to a very abrupt halt.
It's not that he hasn't thought about this a hundred different times since he was maybe 10 years old, not like there hasn't been a hundred different times he'd glanced over at Oliver && wanted nothing more than to close the distance. It's not like he hasn't laid awake at night back in his dorm at Caltech && wondered what this would feel like, what his life would be like if he had more courage && hadn't been burned before when he'd paid attention to the wrong girls && got a load of childhood trauma to show for it.
It's more that all of that had been fantasy, a what-if, something he entertained when he was lonely && wished his only friend wasn't halfway across the country. It wasn't anything he had ever imagined for a second would become reality; not that he never wanted it to, God, he'd wanted it so bad it scared him sometimes.
Something in his chest implodes as his eyes fall shut && his lips begin to move against Oliver's, something warm && sticky that coats the inside of his ribs && travels through his veins, syrupy && sweet && better than anything he's felt in his imagination, when he'd let it get ahead of him && theorize on what this would feel like. On that note, reality is so much better than fantasy; Oliver's lips are soft && warm against his own, && when Spencer scoots the slightest bit closer to reach out && rest one of his hands on the side of Oliver's neck, fingers splayed across the underside of his jaw, his skin is just as warm && soft. Everything about the moment is warm && soft, like his favorite blanket has been wrapped around his shoulders, comforting && warm && everything he's ever wanted.
When they part, Spencer's cheeks && the tips of his ears have flushed red, && his lips part into probably one of the brightest, happiest smiles he's ever given anyone. He feels giddy, pure joy pouring out of every pore on his body to make the room almost appear brighter than it had been moments before. His eyes are alight, practically sparkling, lips parting to show teeth in his smile && he nearly has to suppress a giggle.
No, this is not at all where he thought his summer would go when he'd first stepped off of the plane that had taken him to the east coast, but it's still the best summer he's probably had in his life, so far.
There are a million different things he wants to say to Oliver, all tangled up in his thoughts && doused in a sweet, dizzying haze of nearly overwhelming glee. He could tell him how long he's wanted to do that for, could tell him how happy just being around the other boy makes him, how much brighter his life has been since that fateful day almost 10 years ago, now.
In the end, all he manages is an almost embarrassingly giddy, ❛❛ Can we do that again?? ❜❜
