Circumstances part 2
back to part 1
Kevin was counting down the days until Thanksgiving break started. He and Joe had a flight out on Tuesday afternoon and to be honest, he needed the rest. He was going to be writing papers for almost the entirety of break but he really wanted to not be in class, and to not have to run around doing a million different things every day.
Five days.
He rushed into the student government office and dropped his backpack under his desk. There were a few things that he needed to finish up before the weekend, orders he needed to send out for an event early in the next semester. Habitually he glanced back at Bill’s desk and did a double-take at what he saw.
Mike was hanging around Bill’s desk, playing with the random trinkets he’d inherited from Gabe when he’d graduated. He’d been in the office the last few times Kevin had come in too.
It was funny, Kevin couldn’t remember him ever coming in to visit Bill in the years before, but then, without the swim team this year he must have had a lot more free time.
Bill leaned across the desk and whispered something loudly. Mike glanced across the room and frowned, shoving Bill back into his seat as he started laughing. He kicked out when Bill got up and slung his bag over his shoulder. He had Film Writing starting in just a few minutes. He ruffled Kevin’s hair as he passed, still laughing.
Mike didn’t immediately follow him up. Instead, he walked the few steps over to flop gracelessly over the arm of the comfy chair next to Kevin’s desk.
“Attractive.” Kevin judged flatly.
“I try,” Mike said, shrugging. “So, I was thinking we should do a Jimmy Eat World song for our guitar final.”
Kevin grinned. He and Mike had run through a couple of older songs in their rehearsals, but their final assignment was to learn a new song and play it for the class.
He nodded, indicating that he was thinking about it.
“What were you fighting with Bill about?”
“What?” Mike asked. Kevin couldn’t be sure but he though Mike’s cheeks turned a bit pinker than normal.
Kevin looked toward Bill’s desk.
“Oh, nothing. It’s kind of our thing, fighting.”
“If you fight so much how did you end up as roommates?”
Mike shrugged, “We got placed together freshman year and I was pretty much ready to switch out after a week, I mean, you know how overbearing he can be. But I’m stubborn, and we’re opposites and we just kind of fit. And worst of all, we’re both English majors so we were in a bunch of the same general English classes so we were forced into spending even more time together. I guess we really balance each other out because we ended up sharing a room every year.”
“Except this one. You’ve got the single.”
“I have a younger brother,” Mike explained, “I’ve shared a room with him since I was five. All my roommates have sisters so I didn’t have to fight them much on it.”
Kevin smiled, “I don’t get the two of you. You seem so different; I mean Bill’s got to be the most outgoing person I’ve ever met. It seems like he knows everyone and then you-”
“Gee, thanks Jonas.”
“No,” Kevin realized how it sounded suddenly and backpedaled, “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. You just have your little group of friends and even though I know most of them somehow I didn’t meet you until this year, and that sucks because you’re awesome.”
“Thanks, I guess,” Mike said, looking at him funny.
There was a slightly awkward silence between them before Mike’s foot ducked under the desk to push Kevin’s chair. “So, Jimmy Eat World.”
“Definitely. Which song?”
“That’s going to be a tough decision,” Mike said, “Are you coming down to the pub night concert tomorrow?”
Kevin nodded.
“Bring your ipod with you.”
“You want to study at the pub night?”
Mike shrugged, “Since we aren’t practicing today we need to fit in some kind of studying. It’s an acoustic act and I’m working the soundboard so it’s not going to be too difficult a night. It’s not like I can drink but some of the guys usually make it down before the end of the show.”
“Okay,” Kevin agreed. “I’ll see you there.”
Sisky dragged Kevin in through the backdoor of the campus center the following night. The band playing was local and there were already a good deal of people milling around the space. Sisky disappeared into the crowd to avoid suspicion while Kevin stopped by security to get a bracelet.
Mike was behind the soundboard in the middle of the room, a half dozen chairs gathered around the table, jackets probably belonging to his roommates marking that they’d been there already. Kevin grabbed a seat and Mike glanced up at him quickly.
“Just a minute.”
He conversed silently with the guys who were setting up guitars and mics onstage. When the last of them finally gave him a thumbs up and headed offstage he turned his attention to Kevin.
“I’m starving; you want to get something to eat.”
“Sure,” Kevin agreed.
He followed Mike up to the counter where they ordered pizza and sodas. Before Kevin could reach into his pocket for his wallet Mike had handed a twenty over the counter, indicating to Kevin with a wave of his hand that he’d take care of it.
“Thanks.”
Mike shrugged and followed Kevin back to the table through the mess of chairs. They sat as they ate and chatted about Mike’s English seminar, Kevin’s sociology classes, band stories, anything but their assignment.
“Creager’s almost as crazy as Wentz,” Mike said as he drained his drink and tossed it in the direction of one of the trashcans. “Okay, let me see your ipod.”
Kevin dug it out of his pocket and handed it to Mike. While Mike scanned through it he glanced at the crowd that was assembling, seeing a lot of friends and people he knew. It was a few minutes before he spoke up.
“Mike, my Jimmy Eat World collection isn’t that big.”
“I’m checking out your library. I’m impressed, Midtown?”
Kevin shrugged, “I did grow up in Jersey.”
“The Audition,” Mike continued, “Switchfoot, Kings of Leon. Not bad, it seems I misjudged your musical tastes.”
“Gee, thanks Carden,” he imitated Mike’s teasing from the day before.
Mike just grinned, “So, I’ve got a few ideas.”
By the time the band took the stage they had it narrowed down to three choices. Mike moved his attention back to the stage, moving a few dials and adjusting the scales. After that he divided his attention evenly between being bent over the ipod with Kevin and making sure the band sounded their best.
“I’ll look up guitar tabs this weekend,” Kevin said, folding the paper and stowing it in his pocket when the band had finished their set, “I’ll have time to learn it over break.”
“Sounds good,” Mike agreed. “I’ve got to stick around and pack this up but you’re coming up to the party in the room, right?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
-
“Excellent, now Butcher, I know you have the drum line backing you up but you’re the only one with a full set. I want you to play like you’re playing with your band at a gig, not like an orchestral show.” Creager waved her hands around to emphasize what she wanted.
“I can do that,” Butcher agreed, playing a fill as he spoke. “Can I make a few adjustments with the drumlins, especially for that break for the speeches.”
Kevin grinned to himself. Butcher, unlike the rest of the band, picked up on everything quickly. He’d heard Mike and Kevin, and probably Michael and Joe playing All I Want for Christmas for weeks and interrupted one of their practices to voice his suspicions.
And well, Kevin was a really horrible liar.
“I think that would be an excellent idea,” she agreed. “I’ll send you the sheet music we are using, but I’m sure you can improvise.”
“Of course.”
Kevin was expecting it when she took a seat on the piano bench next to him.
“Who spilled?” she asked in a hushed voice.
Kevin chuckled, “No one, but half of the guitar pairs practice in the same apartment, where Butcher happens to live.”
“Ah, well,” she turned to bigger business, “I believe that Mr. Marshall will be playing with you during the concert. He has some experience playing the piano.”
“Has he seen the sheet music yet?”
“I gave it to him last week, but the two of you might want to practice together.”
“I’ll talk to him in class tomorrow.”
“Very good, Mr. Jonas, carry on.”
As she disappeared into the woodwinds section Sisky leaned back in his chair.
“What were you two talking about?”
“She was complimenting me on my excellent technique and constant focus on the task at hand,” Kevin replied dryly, “Unlike some band members who shall remain nameless.”
Sisky stuck his tongue out at Kevin in response.
“I pull through when I matters and we all know that’s what’s important.”
“You’re just jealous that I get to sit next to Melissa through the entire concert.”
“Well, yeah. You’re gay, not blind.”
-
Kevin sighed in relief upon finding the Butcher and Bill having lunch in the Student Union when he walked through on his way to the student government offices. He collapsed into the spare chair at their table and dropped his bag onto the floor.
“Can I crash on your couch tonight?” he asked them both, “Siska’s having a girl over.”
Bill grinned widely as the Butcher laughed aloud.
“Someone’s getting a bit ahead of himself.”
Kevin shrugged. He didn’t even know who it was but Sisky didn’t ask him to leave often, and he more than humored how much time Joe spent in their room, so he figured he owed him the favor.
“Of course you can stay with us,” Bill told him, clapping him on the shoulder.
“Don’t you think you should ask our other roommates before you say yes?”
Bill looked at the Butcher, “Travie, Michael and Mike all adore our dear friend Kevin, so unless you have an objection?”
Butcher shrugged, “You don’t go to bed early do you?”
“I live with Sisky,” Kevin reminded him.
Butcher grinned, “Fair point. In that case my couch is your couch.”
Kevin was packing a change of clothes and a few other things later that evening while Siska frantically cleaned up the room. As Kevin zipped up his bag he sat down on his bed and watched, trying to hold back his laughter as Siska kicked his dirty clothes into the closet and pushed his textbooks under his bed.
“It’s not funny.”
“No, it really is,” Kevin laughed. “Remember all that teasing me about Mike, totally payback.”
“Asshole.”
Kevin laughed again, getting up as there was a knock at the door. He opened it and came face-to-face with Chelsea. He froze for a moment, just staring.
“Hi,” she managed as he finally stepped aside to let her into the room.
“Hello,” Kevin replied, more than a bit confused.
“Tell Bill and the guys hi for me,” Sisky called as Kevin ducked out of the room.
Despite the fact that it was only a Tuesday night the room was loud and most of the guys were laughing. Kevin could hear them before he’d even reached the room.
Bill waved for him to join them on the couch where he and Michael Guy were flipping through channels on the television, a few beers open on the table in front of them. Travie was fiddling with something in the microwave.
“What’re we watching?” Kevin asked.
“I think Old School is on,” Bill announced.
“Again,” Travie replied with a roll of his eyes. “Bill, sometimes you are a really predictable git.”
He came over to the living room with a plate of nachos and a bottle of water, the latter of which he handed over to Kevin. Just as they were all settling in and the movie starting Butcher came strolling in the door, t-shirt covered in paint.
He dropped onto the floor in front of Kevin. “I hate finals. I always feel so rushed.”
Kevin reached for a chip. It was certainly not going to be a boring night.
Three hours later they’d been through several plates of nachos and a six-pack of beer. While Kevin enjoyed the movie he’d seen it before, more than once. He picked up his bag and headed for the bathroom before it was over. Once he had changed he wet his toothbrush and started brushing his teeth, staring at himself in the wall, a full mirror over the sinks.
He jumped when another figure ducked into the room and did a double-take in the mirror as he recognized Mike, his long hair cut off, now short and messy. Mike stood up, scrubbing at his teeth and raised an eyebrow at Kevin in the mirror.
Kevin inclined his head slightly, trying to convey nice haircut.
Mike smirked around the toothbrush. He wiggled his eyebrows. Kevin could tell he was trying to say something but had no idea what. If he didn’t know better he’d think Mike was flirting, what with the faces he was making.
Well, he could give as good as he could take.
He arched an eyebrow right back, making a face at Mike. The two of them continued like that, looking at each other in the mirror and were so caught up in their conversation that they didn’t notice Bill’s tall figure appear in the doorway, contrasting sharply against the stark, white walls until he cleared his throat.
“You ladies just about done in here?”
Kevin tried not to choke, bending forward to spit into one of the sinks. He missed the annoyed look that Mike shot Bill in the mirror.
“We’re going to bed,” Bill told him, “so you can crash.”
“Thanks.”
He ducked back out of the room and Mike asked him, “So what are you doing here?”
“Sisky’s having a friend over,” Kevin explained. “I like the hair.”
Mike grinned and ran a hand through the short spikes, “Yeah, bad decisions were made over break.”
“I like it,” Kevin repeated. “Why weren’t you out there watching the movie with everyone?”
“Seminar paper is due on Friday.”
“Did you finish?”
Mike nodded, “If you’re not going to bed yet I could use some human interaction.”
“Okay, yeah.”
The apartment was a lot quieter once everyone else had retreated to their rooms to sleep. Mike dropped down onto the couch next to Kevin.
“Are you glad the semester’s almost over?” Mike asked.
“I guess. My finals aren’t too bad this semester. Everyone seems to have it a lot rougher than me.”
“Senior year is awful,” Mike admitted, “But are you happy to be going home over break?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”
“You said you had a rough time after you came out at home.”
“Not with my family. They’ve always been supportive and the people, the ones who picked on me in high school, I don’t talk to them anymore. It’ll be a month to relax, hang out with Joe and our younger brothers, and work as much as I can.”
“You are constantly surprising me Jonas,” Mike said, flicking the television off and turning to look at Kevin, “You’re not what I expected when Bill told me you were picking up the guitar class.”
Kevin hadn’t known that Mike had asked anyone about him so he was kind of taken aback.
“Is that good?” he asked after a moment’s hesitation
“Yeah, I guess it is.”
It dawned on Kevin suddenly how close Mike was and for a moment he swore Mike was leaning closer. And something, something incredibly stupid, in the back of Kevin’s head apparently though that it would be a good idea to kiss Mike because that’s exactly what he did.
It was more than just a simple press of lips; Kevin opened his mouth slightly and swore Mike was kissing him back, pushing him back against the arm of the couch a little more.
And then Mike was gone, pulling back out of is reach and standing up. He stuffed his hands into his pockets awkwardly.
“I’m heading to bed,” he said, with a nod toward his room. He didn’t move, just stood there in the middle of the room watching Kevin.
“Okay,” Kevin said dumbly, nodding. He was still a bit shocked that he’d actually done that.
“I-” Mike stopped, “Good night, Kevin.”
He turned and disappeared around the corner and Kevin sat unbelievably still as Mike’s door closed and he heard the sound of something hard hitting a wall.
That was when he crumbled, hands coming up to cover his face. What the hell had he just done? He wanted nothing more than to go back to his room but he had nowhere else to go.
As he sank down onto the couch he thought back to high school, when he’d asked Zac out. Zac had turned him down, more nastily than he’d ever told his parents, or his brothers, and it had stung when everyone knew the next day.
Somehow, it hurt a lot more now.
The next morning Kevin woke well before he had to be awake for his first class. He changed, and before anyone else was awake had already left the apartments. He didn’t want to face any of them, let alone Mike, after what he’d done. Band didn’t start until nine, but he could grab some coffee and sneak into the room early to practice his piano part. No one would go down there to find him this early.
-
Kevin had never in his two and a half years or college skipped a class. He was more than tempted to skip his guitar class, to avoid the confrontation that he knew was coming. There was a missed call from Mike on his phone, that was it. If he arrived before class started Mike would make him talk. The only problem was that it was their final class before the concert. Kevin had to be there.
He had practice, mostly due to Sisky’s chronic lateness, and slipped into the classroom just after Creager had started class. She was talking slowly about their plans for the concert and Kevin slipped into a seat, closer to Marshall and Ian than to Mike and paid rapt attention. He could feel Mike’s stare but refused to so much as glance in his direction.
She ran them through their song several times before letting them pause.
Kevin turned around in his seat to find Marshall.
“Do you have the piano part set?” he asked.
Marshall glanced past Kevin, and then looked back at him. “Yeah, I’ve been practicing. I’ve got it down pretty good, I think.”
“Okay,” Kevin agreed, “you can stash your guitar under the piano.”
“Got it taken care of. Bill’s letting us in to hide stuff early.”
Kevin forced a grin. Of course he was.
As class came to a close Kevin planned to make a quick exit, he just wasn’t sure how he’d get past Mike. As he moved to get up from his chair however, Melissa appeared in front of him.
“Jonas,” she greeted, “I wanted to ask you about your friend in band. “
“Umm… yeah, what do you want to know?”
“Is he single?”
Kevin almost dropped his guitar case. “What?”
“Your cute friend from band - You can have him in a minute, Carden, this is important.”
“Sisky isn’t-”
Oh, God no. Not Adam… the drummer, I think you guys all call him Butcher.”
Kevin saw his out. “I don’t actually know the Butcher too well outside of class, but he’s one of Mike’s roommates so I’m sure he could tell you.”
He slipped from between him and before Mike could say anything darted toward the door while Melissa began questioning him.
Sisky knew something was wrong. He’d known something was wrong in band, but by the time that Kevin came back from guitar the next day Sisky was just giving him that look.
“Bill called. I missed graphic design for it; Mike won’t tell him much. What happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it Adam.”
“He’s not that kind of guy, I’m sure of it. He wouldn’t care-”
“He knows,” Kevin sighed, “He’s known. I just… did something stupid.”
“What could you possibly-”
“Kissed him.”
Sisky didn’t say anything. He looked like he was fighting with himself over what to say.
“You should talk to him.”
“I can’t.” Kevin sighed. “Just leave it alone, please.”
Sisky opened and closed his mouth silently, watching as Kevin dropped down onto his bed. Kevin rolled toward the wall and eventually he heard the door close behind Sisky as he left.
-
The day of the concert Kevin cursed himself for being so active on campus. He’d simply skipped the practice that he and Mike were supposed to have on Thursday but he was part of the student government, which meant he was supposed to be setting up for the concert.
“Please,” he begged, “Adam, please go help Bill for me. I just want to get this over with. I can learn the song for finals without Mike.”
“How do you expect to avoid him until the end of the school year?”
“I don’t. I just…” Kevin couldn’t explain how much the idea of seeing Mike hurt right now.
The door to their room opened and Joe ducked inside. He looked at Kevin in the way only his brothers managed to do so. He was terrified of Nick joining them next year. The two of them would be the death of him. There was no doubt in his mind that Sisky had filled him in, what with the sad look he was aiming at Kevin.
“Come on,” he nodded, not at Kevin, but at Sisky.
“We need to get your brother-”
“Adam,” Joe cut him off. “Bill wants us to help set up.”
Sisky paused, looking back and forth between them for a moment before he grabbed his jacket, pointing an accusing finger at Kevin.
“If you try to skip the concert I will come back up here and drag you down by your fluffy, curly hair, Jonas. We need your piano playing skills.”
The door slammed behind them and Kevin sank back to the bed. He didn’t intend to skip the concert; he’d been looking forward to it all semester. Despite his mostly well behaved exterior he honestly couldn’t wait for the guitars, or to see the look on President Franklin’s face.
He dressed in a red buttoned shirt and crisp, black slacks, the uniform for the Christmas concert. The Butcher was the only one who got away with wearing a t-shirt, which Kevin could understand what with his drumming. Carefully, he smoothed his shirt before heading down to the campus center.
The set up had gone well. All the decorations were up and there were already people lined up outside, waiting to have their tickets checked and get inside. Travie was at the side door and let Kevin in with a few of the other band members who were just arriving.
“Well, don’t you look dapper,” a female voice greeted Kevin as he reached the makeshift stage.
He turned around to find Melissa looking him up and down appraisingly.
“You look very nice too,” Kevin replied. She was dressed in a similar color scheme, red shirt and a long black skirt.
“Why, thank you,” she gave a mock curtsy. “The guitars are already stashed under the piano. This is going to be incredible.”
Kevin grinned, “I’d better get ready then.”
The music started off the whole dinner, and the roar of people coming in signaled the growing crowd of students, faculty and alumni filling up the hall. Kevin slid onto the piano bench, reaching down to make sure his guitar was within reach. The seats were filling up, and Kevin watched as a few members of the guitar class slipped into spare seats and picked up the instruments most of them would be mock playing.
Professor Creager walked slowly onstage as the curtains opened. The room fell quiet.
The bench shifted as someone sank down next to Kevin, and he turned from exchanging a nod with Sisky to wish Marshall luck when he came face-to-face with Mike. Kevin choked on a breath.
“What the hell are you doing?” he hissed at the same time that Professor Creager raised her baton.
It was only all the practice he’d done that kept him from tripping over the opening notes. He instantly began wracking his brain to remember the single player version of the songs but Mike was stiffly, but accurately, playing the notes. He relaxed, letting himself focus on the music and not on the fact that Mike was closer than he’d been since Kevin had kissed him.
There were several minutes of playing before the guitar solo and Kevin lost himself in the music, in playing perfectly. When the second pair of hands on the piano keys dropped out he altered his playing and as the band part ended he abruptly cut off his playing.
He didn’t have to reach for his guitar; Mike had it ready, holding it out to him and the two of them turned on the bench to play better. Michael Guy led them, in playing the opening chords and on the same note the rest of their class joined in. Kevin smiled as he heard the gasps, laughs, and other exclamations of the rest of the band and the audience. The surprise had to be the best part. And then Butcher and the drummers kicked in and Sisky’s distinct bass playing picked up, followed quickly by the rest of a band playing their backing parts.
And then there were voices. Kevin recognized them immediately. There was Bill, and Travie, Katy, Chelsea, Brendon, and several alumni that he’d known, at least Gabe, Frank and Gerard, probably Patrick. It looked like Creager had more than one trick up her sleeve. Kevin felt light and happy like he hadn’t in days as he started to laugh.
This was why Kevin was still involved with music; it reminded him of home with his family and his brothers. Playing like this felt exactly like what he and Mike had been talking about all semester.
As the song wound down Kevin could hear the buzz of the crowd. Mike leaned in close to him.
“Can you play the rest solo?”
Kevin nodded. When he went back to the band’s program Mike stayed on the guitar. Kevin glanced out and found that the rest of the students from the guitar class seemed to be doing the same thing.
It was all over too soon and the crowd was cheering. Kevin looked in the direction of the President’s table, curious to see his reaction. President Franklin was red in the face, and he did not look happy, but he was all about appearances and the rest of the crowd loved it. He was sure that half the band had the same idea he did.
Professor Creager dismissed them with a wave of her hand and Kevin turned to share a congratulatory nod with Sisky but his roommate was already disappearing off with most of the other students. Kevin moved to follow but before he could make it offstage there was a hand on his arm, jerking him back.
“We need to talk.”
Really, it was funny how things slipped Kevin’s mind when he was playing music.
Kevin turned to face Mike as he was pushed behind the curtain and up against the wall. His hands came up defensively almost of their own accord.
Mike’s face changed; he looked hurt. Kevin dropped his arms and sank back against the wall.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking,” he said in a rush, “Can we please just pretend it never happened?”
Mike made an annoyed sound in the back of his throat, one Kevin had heard him make before, usually when they were having a hard time with guitar or Bill was being particularly trying. He looked down at Kevin, jaw clenched.
“You don’t get it.”
“I get it. I just, I can’t believe Sisky or Bill or someone didn’t spill at some point this semester. I like you, and I know, okay, I know that it’s stupid and you were with that girl at Bill’s party. But I’ve just gotten to know you this semester and it’s just a crush, it’ll go away and we can forget-”
“You are an idiot.” Mike cut Kevin off abruptly. “Seriously Kevin, I voluntarily hang around the student government offices, I ask you to hang out, I bought you dinner.”
Kevin frowned, confused. “But…”
Mike was starting to smirk.
“But you stopped, you went to bed!”
“I invited you to come with me.”
“Oh.”
Well, that made a lot more sense.
“Yeah, do you know how much crap my roommates would have given us if they found us making out on the couch?” Mike was smiling, chuckling. He looked a lot less serial killer now, and a lot more amused. “We would have never heard the end of it.”
“I’m an idiot,” Kevin agreed, sinking back into the wall even further.
“Don’t worry; I’ll let you make it up to me.”
Mike looked up obviously and Kevin followed his line of sight to find a sprig of mistletoe. Damn Mike and Bill and their now very apparent planning.
“Really?” he asked Mike, “That’s the most obvious thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Yeah, well apparently subtlety doesn’t work with you.”
Kevin was about to protest when Mike leaned in and kissed him, effectively cutting off any further argument. Not that Kevin minded, in fact just about everything he’d been worrying about just went out the window as Mike pressed him bodily against the wall, sucking Kevin’s bottom lip between his and sliding his hand around the back of Kevin’s neck. Kevin kissed back enthusiastically, enjoying the warm, tingling feeling that spread out from everywhere Mike was touching him.
Finally, Mike pulled back slowly.
“Come on,” he said, “I promised Bill and a bunch of the other guys that we’d find them. Plus Pete was raving about tonight to Creager this afternoon. I want to see if he spontaneously combusted. Or if Franklin’s had a hernia over our little show yet.”
“Probably,” Kevin managed, trying to straighten his shirt.
Mike chuckled, shaking his head, “Stop trying, you’re just making it worse.”
“It’s your fault.” Kevin threw back petulantly, reverting to the teasing he was used to with Mike.
“Yeah well, let’s make our rounds and get out of here and we’ll see how much more damage I can do.”
-
On Sunday afternoon Kevin was still in Mike’s room, decked in a pair of jeans and one of Mike’s old t-shirts. He was leaned back against the wall behind Mike’s bed, playing Mike’s guitar quietly while Mike talked on the phone with his mom. It was cute and Kevin grinned, ignoring the glare Mike sent in his direction when he caught him.
“So, I’ve been thinking,” he said when Mike hung up, “about how Creager likes us to be ambitious.”
“Yeah?”
“Well, what if we got Sisky to come play bass with us for our final, and Butcher to play drums and -”
“If you suggest letting Bill sing I will break up with you right now.”
“He has a really good voice, Mike.”
“And he’s already insufferable to live with. Do you have any idea how bad it would be if I put my grade in his hands? He’d-”
Kevin leaned forward and cut him off with a kiss, hands curling into Mike’s t-shirt and pulling him down to Kevin’s level. He didn’t let go until Mike’s shoulders relaxed and when he sat back Mike was just staring at him.
“That’s not going to work every time.”
And Kevin grinned because yeah, it kind of was.
---