Chapter Text
~Third Person POV~
The night was young, and the house was lit up and lively. Mitch had planned a Christmas party at his house, and people were beginning to arrive. Jerome was the first to arrive, obviously. Jason, Ty, and Quentin arrived next. Brandon came in with Ian shortly after, and then they were just waiting on Adam and Tyler. And that’s just how Mitch planned it.
Adam and Tyler had been spending a lot of time together, and Mitch and Jerome had started spreading the word of a new ship, ‘Skytato’. Ty had accepted it eagerly, relieved that now people would now stop shipping ‘Skylox’, which was him and Adam. Brandon was glad to hear about it — now he had a new victim to tease with his unrelenting sarcasm. Jason, Quentin, and Ian didn’t think too much of it, but they were happy to help when Jerome put forward a plan that would take all of them to pull it off. In fact, this whole Christmas party was just a scam. Sure, they’d still have a party, but the main idea was to try and get Adam and Tyler to confess that they loved each other. Mitch and Jerome weren’t sure that they really did love each other, but they had enough evidence catching them together to put forward a reasonable case of Skytato. Jerome had joked, “Even though we’re probably overthinking this.”
“Hey, it’ll be worth it,” Mitch had then reasoned. “At the end of the night, they’ll be all over each other. Literally.”
“Heh. True dat.”
No, Adam and Tyler definitely didn’t know what was coming towards them on that one snowy night.
~Adam’s POV~
The snowflakes were beginning to fall as Adam and Tyler pulled up in Mitch’s driveway. Adam had picked Tyler up from his house, and they had rode together in Adam’s car. “Any idea why Mitch would give us such late notice on a Christmas party like this?” asked Tyler incredulously as he gazed at the lights hanging down from garage. “Only three days in advance…it looks like a huge party.”
Adam shrugged as he stopped the car and took his keys out. “Beats me. I don’t care, as long as I get some cake.”
Tyler laughed as he flung his scarf over his neck and walked out of the car. Smiling, Adam pulled on his gloves. Thoughts whirled through his head for the few seconds he was alone in his car. Tyler’s pretty cool, thought Adam. He had met the blue-eyed teen about a year ago, but only recently had they become best friends. Occasionally Adam would have his doubts, but then Tyler would prove that he was the best choice for Adam over and over again. And he’s right. Lately Adam had been hearing rumors circulating around Tyler and himself, a new ship called ‘Skytato’, or something. I don’t know what that’s about…I don’t like him like that, do I? Adam felt a queasy feeling at the accusation toward himself. Pssh, there’s no way. I met the guy only a year ago. We’re still getting used to this whole ‘best friends’ thing. I can’t like him in that way…right?
Adam was shaken as Tyler tapped on the window and smiled at him. You coming? he mouthed.
Sheepishly Adam nodded and came out. “Sorry, man,” he apologized.
“Nah, you’re fine. You okay?” asked Tyler, a worried look on his face.
“I’m good. Thanks.” Grinning and trying to push down his embarrassment, Adam nudged Tyler and walked to the door.
~Tyler’s POV~
Tyler stared at his best friend as they approached Bajan’s door. That was strange, Tyler thought. He seemed different. It’s probably nothing.
Tyler waited beside Adam as Adam knocked on the door and then turned to look at Tyler with a blindingly white smile. “This is gonna be fun,” Adam beamed. “Did you ever have Christmas parties with your old friends?”
“Not really. I was sorta…antisocial. I didn’t have many friends,” admitted Tyler.
Tyler stiffened as Adam suddenly put his arm around him, pulling Tyler closer and instantly warming him up with his own body heat. In Tyler’s ear, Adam muttered, “That’s really sad. I don’t know why people wouldn’t like you. You’re a great friend.”
In a moment of courage, Tyler hesitantly laid his head on Adam’s shoulder and relaxed. “Thanks,” he murmured.
As the pair waited for the door to open in the cold, Adam slowly put his own head on Tyler’s, making Tyler’s heart beat quicken. Why do I feel like this?! thought Tyler suddenly. He’s just my best friend. Nothing more. But then again…I’m lying my head on his shoulder…and I’m really close…but that’s what best friends do…right?
~Mitch’s POV~
“It’s the lovebirds!” whispered Mitch as everyone crowded next to the door. “Are you ready, guys? You know what you have to do.”
The other boys in the room — besides Jerome — all looked at each other, smiled, and vanished into the kitchen. Brandon stayed by the entrance, leaning casually against the wall. Jerome stayed by Mitch, a mischievous smile on his face and his carob-colored hair hanging down his face in thin wisps. “Ready, Mitch?” breathed Jerome.
“Yeah. This will be good.” Without a second through, Mitch grabbed the door, flung it open, and shouted, “HEY! YOU’RE LATE — uh…what?”
Mitch found himself staring at two teenagers with their arms wrapped around each other, one of their heads on the other’s shoulder and the other’s head on top of the straight-haired brunette’s. Mitch only blinked, not caring about the cold air flooding in. Oh…this is already going great, was his first giddy thought.
Immediately Tyler and Adam separated, their faces red. “This isn’t what it looks like!” Adam nearly shouted. “We’re cold, that’s all! You guys take too long to open up the door!”
Tyler didn’t even say anything. He looked too petrified to say anything.
“Suuuuuure,” laughed Jerome, who had slid beside Mitch and was shivering in the cold doorway. “Whatever you say. But get in, now. It’s freezing.”
Adam gave Jerome and Mitch a dirty look before pushing past them and entering the house.
~Adam’s POV~
On the outside, Adam was annoyed and slightly embarrassed. On the inside, his heart was pounding and his knees felt like jelly. Why did I put my arm around Tyler? he wondered weakly. What was I thinking? Pulling him closer, putting my head on his…that was stupid! Stupid, Adam! Considering the whole ‘Skytato’ business, and all! He wanted to slap himself, but he convinced himself to keep his cool as he shrugged his jacket off and slung it over the coat hanger along with his gloves and scarf. Tyler did the same, even taking off his red-and-black plaid jacket because of the heat inside the house so that he was just in his white cotton t-shirt. He adjusted the glasses on his nose and gave Adam a nervous grin. Adam returned it but smothered it a second later, not wanting to give Jerome and Bajan any more chances to make fun of the shipping name…
“So what have you guys been doing?” Adam asked, hoping to get his hosts’ mind off of Skytato. “Since apparently we’re late.”
He heard shouting and laughter from the kitchen and looked over to see Brandon wave at him from the kitchen entrance. Why’re you just standing there? thought Adam as he waved back.
Bajan replied, “Oh, just waiting. It’s fine. You’re only, like, ten minutes late.”
“Okay, then.”
Bajan walked ahead of Adam and Tyler and motioned with his hand. “Come on. Follow me; we’ve got tons of stuff planned.”
Adam and Tyler nodded as Jerome ran past them and shared a look with Bajan. Adam stared suspiciously at them as Jerome winked swiftly at Bajan and then disappeared into the kitchen. Bajan stopped at Brandon, glancing at him quickly. Brandon gave Bajan an almost imperceptible nod. Bajan appeared satisfied and then vanished around the corner.
“How you guys doing?” asked Brandon quietly, looking a bit bored.
“Fine,” said Tyler, a bit suspicious.
“Why aren’t you in the kitchen?” asked Adam, a bit more bluntly. “You know, with the others? I’d expect you to be.”
~Tyler’s POV~
Good point, he thought as Adam pointed out the fact that Brandon wasn’t in the actual party. Brandon was pretty much the ultimate party animal, and the fact that Brandon was just standing here, completely calm, struck Tyler strange.
Brandon shrugged, his broad shoulders moving up and down. “Just waiting for you guys. Can’t I be patient for once? But it’s true; I won’t wait forever. Come on. Guests first.”
“You’re a guest, too,” pointed out Tyler.
“Just get in the kitchen,” said Brandon with an impatient sigh. But Tyler could see the smile tugging at Brandon’s lips.
Tyler glanced at Adam, who smiled. Tyler went first and slowly walked past Brandon, eyeing him carefully. But when Brandon didn’t do anything, Tyler shrugged and was about to head into the kitchen when he heard a scuffle behind him and Adam shout out. Something hit his leg, and Tyler turned around just in time to see Adam fall towards him and tackle him.
The next thing he knew, Tyler was lying on his back on the floor with Adam only inches away from his face. Brandon slipped past them, whistling innocently. “Uh…” Tyler gazed straight up at Adam and into his shocked hazel eyes.
The party had stopped. Everyone was staring at them, eyes wide. “Well, then!” laughed Jason suddenly. “What are you two doing down there?”
Tyler felt his entire face get hot as Adam looked at Jason and the others, and then back down at him. Without looking, Tyler was conscious of Adam’s chest on his, his legs on the sides of Tyler’s, and his elbows propping him up. If Adam dropped his elbows, then he would completely fall on Tyler…
“Adam?” squeaked Tyler. “Can I get up, now?”
Adam didn’t move as crimson flooded his face. Ty grinned down at them. “Yeah, Adam. Are you going to let Tyler up?”
That broke Adam’s trance. Adam snapped up faster than Tyler could register and straightened up instantly. Tyler was left lying on the ground until Brandon offered Tyler his hand and pulled him up. But Brandon yanked Tyler closer and whispered in his ear, “You’ll thank me later, Tyler.”
Tyler didn’t respond. His breath wouldn’t allow it. Tyler only nodded numbly, not completely realizing what Brandon had said. Thankfully, the activities went back to normal after Tyler and Adam maintained their composures…but Tyler’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. That was crazy, he was finally able to think. What happened? Did Brandon trip Adam? But why would he do that?
“Tyler,” said Adam, bringing Tyler back. Tyler looked at his curly-haired friend, who motioned to the counter filled with food. “Let’s go get some food…and try to forget about this.”
To Tyler, that sounded more like a plea, like Adam was trying to tell himself to forget about what had just happened. But Tyler was more than happy to oblige.
~Brandon’s POV~
As Adam and Tyler walked to the island full of pastries, dinner plates, and desserts, Brandon chuckled to himself and watched as Jerome nonchalantly sneak over to him. “Nice job,” whispered Jerome. “That was perfect. I could have asked for any better.”
Brandon gave Jerome a crooked smile. “Oh, tonight’s only just getting started…”
Jerome winked at Brandon and gave an almost sinister laugh. “They’ll thank us tomorrow…”
“Got a bed ready?” snickered Brandon.
“Oh, Brandon. You have a dirty mind,” said Jerome, only half teasing. “But…I mean…the guest room is always open…”
“HA!”
~Adam’s POV~
Adam walked slowly as he moved down the island, filling his plate with food. Why did Brandon trip me? he thought, a bit nervous about how this night was going to turn out. He had a feeling that that wasn’t going to be the last awkward moment that he would suffer tonight, as far as his and Tyler’s relationship went. But he knew that Brandon tripped him on purpose. It seemed so perfect that it was planned, like Brandon relied on them going one at a time for it to work. And it did. Terrifyingly…and yet, it almost felt…natural. If everyone hadn’t been staring, Adam might have done something he would have regretted. So thank goodness they had been watching. Adam loved Tyler, but not like that…at least, he didn’t think he did. Right?
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Quentin and Ian casually standing at the backdoor, whispering to each other and occasionally glancing towards him and sometimes at Tyler. Adam didn’t acknowledge that he saw them and turned his attention down to his food. Tyler was right beside him, and every so often Adam would feel Tyler’s shoulder bump his, and Adam would feel the shivers plaguing Tyler’s muscles.
“Hey,” Adam said in a low voice as they both finished getting their food and walked over to the living room to eat, where everyone else was beginning to get drawn towards. “Are you alright?”
Tyler looked startled as he looked at Adam. “Oh — um, yeah, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“You’re shivering.”
“What? No, I’m not,” protested Tyler.
Adam rolled his eyes as he sat down on a couch and Tyler sat down beside him. “Yes, you are,” retorted Adam, glaring straight at Tyler. “Look at your shoulders. You’re shaking.”
Tyler glanced down at his arms and seemed to just realize now that his hands were shaking uncontrollably. His face burst into a vibrant shade of red as he vainly attempted to still his hands. “Sorry,” Tyler muttered. “I didn’t know.” Without another word, Tyler grabbed his already-opened bottle of beer and took a swig from it.
Adam sighed and began to absentmindedly pick at his food…until a shout came from the kitchen. “Who wants to play Spin the Bottle?” yelled Ty, holding up an empty beer bottle.
Adam and Tyler shared a wide-eyed look. “Um, Ty,” said Adam in a shaky tone. “We’re all guys…”
Ty had a major glint in his eye as Quentin stepped up behind him and agreed, “That’s what makes it fun.”