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11:30PM.
It was New Year’s Eve.
Only 30 minutes left before the year 2024.
Avery had his arms wrapped around Derek, who had his limbs sprawled out rather comfortably, on Avery’s bedroom floor. His head was seated on Avery’s lap. Honestly, Avery doesn’t remember how things had come to this.
Avery and Derek’s family were long-time family friends. That meant Derek and Avery knew each other when they were way, way younger. Both boys are now 19, although Derek was a few months older.
Derek and Avery are inseparable. Despite their distance, they kept in touch and occasionally played Minecraft when their schedules didn’t conflict. Sometimes, Avery would send a blunt text to Derek asking for help with his Chemistry homework. Derek would tutor him.
They would almost only see each other on special occasions since they didn’t study in the same university, nor did they reside in the same town. Rarely, they’d set out for a mall trip or a journey to the movies for each other’s birthdays. If their schedules didn’t overlap.
Now that it was New Year’s Eve, Derek’s family had driven about an hour and a half to Avery’s house to celebrate their annual New Year’s Eve celebration, where both families would come together at Avery’s house.
Both of their parents would chat outside the yard, while their little siblings sat in the living room playing Overcooked. It was this same routine they’ve had when the tradition was established about 6 years ago. Avery had invited Derek to play chess upstairs in his room. And for some reason, they had ended up cuddling on the bedroom floor.
It was a harmless game of chess. Derek had an impeccable sense of predicting Avery’s moves, so he took his chance to make a bet.
“If I win, you have to buy me that King In Yellow book I found in the bookstore at the mall during your birthday. No complaints,” he grinned.
Avery let out a huff. Unfortunately for Avery, Derek emerged triumphant within 10 minutes of the game.
“Checkmate. Too easy,” Derek teased, hovering his pawn over Avery’s king, which toppled over with the motion.
“That’s not fair!” He remarked. “Ugh, fine. But this time, it’s my turn to bet.” Avery arranged his side of the chessboard, gathering his pieces that ended up on Derek’s side. Derek copied his actions, reclaiming 5 of the black chess pieces cluttered on Avery’s side of the board.
“If I win, you have to play Minecraft for a day with me, not considering your schedule.”
Derek groaned and looked up at Avery. “Bruh, you know I’m on the top of my class. What if Hastur claims my throne!” Avery could only stare back up at him with an unimpressed expression. He placed one of his pawns on the board and complained, “Oh come on! Almost every time I invite you to play Minecraft, you’re so engrossed in your STEM shenanigans. You barely even finished your base!”
Derek sneered at him in response. “Well, what can I say? I just want to be a valedictorian for once.”
Avery glared at him, and then let out a sigh. He turned back to his chess pieces and resumed on placing said pieces on their respective positions. “Well, it’s okay to let loose sometimes too, you know. Life isn’t all about academics. Why not give yourself a day without being toooo into your studies,” he emphasized.
Derek froze for a second in realization, hesitating, before placing his King back in his spot. “Fine. One day, if you win,” he conditioned and looked up again with a mocking smile.
Checkmate.
About an hour later, Derek stared in shock as his King had fallen over from Avery’s bishop.
Seems like his prediction senses weren’t impeccable, after all.
“Checkmate! Too easy,” Avery restated Derek’s previous exclamation, with much more enthusiasm than intended. He sneered at the boy sitting across him in shock and utter defeat.
“It took you an hour to defeat me. Just a reminder,” Derek pointed out, staring briefly into Avery’s eyes.
“Still won! No complaints,” Avery’s smile didn’t falter. Derek sighed, then glanced at the number of black chess pieces on Avery’s side of the board. He had underestimated Avery.
“Fine, but only one day.” Both boys began rearranging the chessboard again, eager for another match. Avery was expecting Derek’s next bet, until he had an idea to tease Derek.
Before Derek could grab his last chess piece, Avery swiftly snatched it. He held it up and stuck out his tongue at Derek, who gasped at the action.
“Are we serious. Give that back!” Derek stood up to snatch the chess piece back from Avery’s grasp.
“Nuh uh! I won’t let you make another bet,” he stood up and held the piece away to where Derek couldn’t reach. He dodged as Derek tried to pry, and for a brief moment when Derek’s attention was not on his hand, he put both of his hands on his back, quickly slipping the piece into his sweatpants’ back pocket and raising both of his palms in view, mimicking a surrender motion, sneering at the boy in front of him.
“Oh, now you wanna play games with me, huh?” Derek grinned before lunging at Avery and poking at his hip. Avery yelped and tried desperately to escape as Derek held onto him and searched for his vulnerable tickle spots. Avery couldn’t help but involuntarily laugh and flail his limbs about, desperately covering his tickle spots as Derek jabbed at different spots on his body.
“Stop!— Haha! Ah—! Stop it! Time out! Time out!” Avery squealed in between giggles and laughter.
“Give my chess piece back first!”
“Nope!”
“Then I’m not stopping.”
Avery squealed as Derek’s fingertips danced once again on his stomach’s skin, then his neck, and his armpits. Derek dodged each of the limbs that tried to kick and slap at him. Most of Derek’s attention was to one of his flailing arms, and thus, he failed to notice the incoming kick to his knee that was holding himself up. Derek grimaced and reached to soothe it, but soon realized he would fall over. In one swift motion, he held his body up with his hands flat on the floor, on the sides of Avery’s face, just before he could fall face first onto Avery. Phew! Both of their faces would’ve been bruised, and that wouldn’t have ended well.
There was no more laughter anymore. Just awkward silence as both of them stared in to each other’s eyes in surprise at the awkward and intimate position. Both of them stayed like that for a while until Avery abruptly broke the silence by clearing his throat. Derek quickly sat up and created distance between them.
“Oops, sorry about that.” He rubbed the back of his neck.
“It’s okay. Time out first,” Avery chuckled, recovering from the physical activity and laughter as he leaned his back on the side of his bed, seated on the bedroom floor. Derek only looked at him. He was not rubbing the back of his neck anymore.
Avery was staring outside the lone, large glass window. Beside it were other glass windows, just covered by soft, linen blinds colored navy blue. He doesn’t remember when he put one of the blinds up.
Suddenly, Derek shifted and lay his head on Avery’s lap, without saying anything. It was like he just knew what to do. And Avery was okay with it. They were best friends, after all.
He looked to where Avery was staring. His room overlooked the distant city lights.
It was quiet. They heard Avery’s mom laugh particularly loudly at a joke down at the yard, where Avery’s balcony was, and ABBA playing in the background. Avery figured the balcony door was open, but he couldn’t care less.
He doesn’t remember when, but he had snaked his arms around Derek’s head. They lay like that for a while.
“This is nice,” Derek broke the silence.
Avery hummed in response, gaze still fixed on the distant city lights.
“When have we last hugged?” Derek questioned, trying to gain his attention.
Avery looked down at him, then stared up at the ceiling, illuminated by warm cove lights. He thought hard.
“…I honestly don’t remember.” He shrugged.
“Shows that we should do this more,” Derek smiled.
“Do you have a crush on me?” Avery teased and looked at him knowingly.
“What, best friends can’t hug from time to time?” Derek raised a brow.
“Pfft,” Avery stared back at the distant city lights. Another moment of silence.
Derek followed his gaze, shifting a bit, then holding on to the arms that snaked around his head.
“…Well, what if I do?”
“What?” Avery questioned, way too quickly. His head snapped to Derek, who was still looking out the window.
11:40. The tension was becoming unbearable. Derek didn’t repeat his question. They still stayed in that same position, almost unmoving. But Avery’s head was reeling, thinking too much about the question. He didn’t exactly dislike him— in fact, he had liked him for so long. He pushed down his feelings whenever they tried to bubble up to the surface. He was afraid of what his parents--- what Derek would think. But his feelings had always stayed at the back of his mind.
Avery shifted. “Um… I need to get a glass of water.”
He stood as Derek sat up and leaned against the mattress. He was moving a little hastily, trying to escape the tension. He didn’t notice that Derek was already behind him, standing up.
A warm hand wrapped around his wrist.
“Stay.”
Avery froze. His knees weakened at the mellow voice behind him. His eyes widened at the doorknob a few steps in front of him. Warmth crept up his cheeks. His head was rushing. His chest was thumping.
“Umm… okay, maybe later then,” Avery pushed his thoughts aside and retracted his hand from the other’s grip. He faced Derek, who only searched his face for any sign of discomfort.
Derek motioned back to the spot they had left. This time, Derek sat first and had his back already leaned on the side of the mattress. Avery hesitantly followed. He found a spot between Derek’s legs and sat a little awkwardly, shifting a little. Derek pressed his chest against the other’s back.
“Are you sure this is okay?” Derek whispered in concern.
Avery gave a small nod, before gazing back at the window in front of them. He tried to find something that could avert his attention and forget how awkward and nervous he felt.
Both of them sat like that once again. Derek placed his chin atop the shorter’s shoulder, arms circling around his waist and finding their spot.
Avery’s chest was thumping. Derek would be lying if he said he didn’t feel it.
“It’s okay,” Avery blurted out.
“Hm?” Derek shifted his focus on Avery.
“… I… have a crush on you too,” Avery hesitantly declared.
Derek’s arms didn’t move. He didn’t pull back from his neck either.
“Really?” Derek thought out loud, voice low.
Avery felt Derek’s heartbeat against his back quicken up a touch.
11:45.
“Can I kiss you?” Derek finally pulled back, positioning his head to fully face Avery.
Avery’s breathing quickened a little, but subtle enough for Derek not to notice sooner. He abruptly turned his head, eyes glued shut. He was expecting Derek to kiss him. But he didn’t.
Curiosity took over his senses. Out of impulse, his eyes opened, and he met Derek’s tender, loving gaze.
Derek chuckled lightly. “You’re so tense. Just relax.”
His hand met Avery’s warm cheek. And Avery melted into it, almost instantly. His heartbeat quickened a little, and at this point, it might just burst from all the nervousness.
Derek parted his lips slightly, eyes lidded, still searching Avery’s face for discomfort. His thumb caressed the boy’s cheek in hopes to relieve all the tension.
Avery sighed, his breath ghosting Derek’s face. Derek shivered a little. Avery shut his eyes, parting his lips. He didn’t know much, and he wasn’t certain how to do it, so he copied Derek, silently hoping he was doing it right.
Their lips met. Chapped lips dancing against soft, hydrated ones. Both of them sighed into it, swallowing each other’s breaths. Derek pushed a little into the kiss, licking Avery lips. Avery opened his mouth out of instinct, and let out a soft whine. Derek inhaled it immediately and his experienced tongue entered the caverns of Avery’s mouth. Avery continued to lick and swirl his tongue around the other’s, learning from how the other’s tongue moved with expertise.
Derek pulled back from the kiss breathlessly. They didn't realize how much air had been sucked out of them until they both pulled away from the kiss. Their eyes met again.
Avery placed his own hand on top of the one resting on his cheek.
Derek’s eyes slowly fell downward. He notices the growing bulge on the other’s sweatpants.
Avery notices his gaze, and this time, he doesn't look flustered, nor did he want to leave. He averts his gaze out of shame.
Derek gives him a chaste kiss on the other side of his cheek.
“It’s okay, Avery. Do you want me to help you with that?” The hand that was on his cheek falls to his shoulder. Avery lets go of his hand.
Avery blushes, and turns his gaze back to Derek. “Well, if that’s okay… but I could take care of myself in the bathroom too, you know,” Avery insisted.
Derek looks to the hand that slowly slid from his shoulder towards his chest, then his stomach. “But I want to take care of you, Avery.”
Avery feels his face get hotter. He swallows the growing lump in his throat.
11:52.
Avery doesn’t remember when his pants were pulled down. Wow. His brain must be lagging, he thinks. He still processes the hand on his inner thigh, and Derek’s hot breath ghosting the helix of his ear. Derek’s nose is buried in Avery’s blonde locks, and he gets a whiff of the scent of his shampoo. Cedar.
“Is this okay?” Derek whispers, and Avery feels the hairs on his skin shoot up.
“Please…just…” Avery manages to breathe. He doesn’t realize he’s been holding his breath.
“Hmm,” Derek caresses his inner thigh, then moves it up to the base of his cock. He finally grabs the shaft and works his way up… then down. Slowly. Avery whines.
11:54.
Derek works his way up again. He stops at the tip, smearing some of the pre-cum gathered there, then drags his hand to the shaft again. Avery balls his hands into fists. His breathing gradually quickens.
11:56.
Derek’s pace on Avery’s cock speeds up, but only gradually. “You’re doing so good for me, Avery. You’re amazing. Just a little more,” Avery makes out from the haze. He can feel Derek looking at his face from the side. He tries to think about how messy he must’ve looked, but all his thoughts are buried by the warm hand working on his leaking cock.
Derek’s phone chimes. A message from his mom. He reaches for it using his free hand. Avery watches with lidded eyes as Derek types out something along the lines of “Avery fell asleep” and “We’ll come down later” after his mom had asked him when they are coming down to watch the fireworks. Derek puts the phone down after Avery bucks his hips up, searching for pleasure.
“D-Derek… ah— ah! Faster..” He lets out a moan.
11:58.
Derek’s hand is now moving at an inhumane pace. He admonishes Avery to tone his moans down a bit and reminds him that the balcony door is open, and their parents might hear. He proves his point by slowing his hand down a touch. Avery lets out a whine and slaps his own hand on his mouth, trying desperately to conceal his needy moans. He twitches when Derek firmly places a thumb on the slit of his cock, and he involuntarily bucks his hips up. Derek moves again and resumes the pace he had left off earlier.
11:59.
“Derek… Derek— ahh.. hnn.. please!” Avery whines. Sweat is beading at his forehead, and his eyes are glued shut. He desperately claws the carpet beneath him, reaching for his climax.
“Good boy… such a good boy for me,” Derek grits his teeth. “Just a little more, baby…”
Avery whines at the pet name. His hips are now moving alongside Derek’s hand.
He hears fireworks in the distance, and his family in the yard counting down. He makes no effort to silence his moans anymore. Derek doesn’t, either. He doubts anyone can even hear Avery.
12:00
Derek finally lets him go.
“I love you, Avery.” Derek whispers in his ear.
“Mmm— I love you, I love you!” Avery moans particularly loudly. He opens his mouth, and his eyes, and he’s astonished by the sight outside the window as his climax washes over him. Fireworks. The colors paint his blissed out face. It’s perfect. He feels euphoric. Everything is still so hazy. He continues to twitch in Derek’s arms, and his eyes fall closed again.
Derek hopes no one heard that. He continues to move his hand, sloppily, as Avery releases onto his hand. When Avery finally slumps on his chest, he stops, and reaches for the tissues on Avery’s nightstand.
He cleans Avery, gently, careful enough not to overstimulate him.
———
When Avery finally opens his eyes again, he processes his surroundings. They’re lying on his bed. The lights are closed. Derek is spooning him. Fireworks are still booming in the distance, and he can hear laughter downstairs.
“Did we miss it?” Avery groans.
“Yeah. Told mom you’d fallen asleep.” Derek answers, eyes closed. He’s so close to falling asleep.
Avery sighs. Then he realizes something, and his eyes widen a little. He turns over to face Derek.
“Hey. Weren’t you hard?”
“Mmm. It’s fine. Let’s just sleep it off.” Derek pulls him closer.
“But you have to go home soon.” Avery argues.
“I’ll just tell Mom I can take a cab… tomorrow, and then…” Derek trails off. Oh. He fell asleep.
Avery doesn’t know what time it is. But he doesn’t care. He closes the remaining space between them, and cards fingers through his hair.
“Whatever you say.” Avery giggles. He shuts his eyes and absentmindedly combs his fingers through Derek's frizzy hair.
The chess piece that Avery stole—- Derek’s king, laid forgotten on the carpet while the pair lay in bed, basked in the afterglow. It must’ve fallen while Avery stood up.