Inhaling deeply, Sam stepped slowly back into the dorm room as he tried to ignore the throbbing his sweaty palm and act nonchalant as he stepped inside.
Upon stepping inside, Sam was greeted with the sight of Hunter exchanging his trainers for some lace up combat boots that accentuated his calf muscles.
Sam blushed, glancing away for a second as he fiddled with his hands and shyly nuzzled his head against his shoulder.
“Hunter” He mumbled through pouted lips. Hunter was too busy tying his shoes but took a second to glance over at the flustered Sam before he returned his empty gaze back to his shoes and tied up the laces with a tight, sharp tug. “M’sorry. I-I—”
“S’fine” Hunter’s raspy voice replied. His voice was laced with his usual care free tone and his face had his constant ‘I don’t give a fuck about anything’ expression painted on it. Sam’s eyes widened slightly as his mouth stuttered open and shut like a fish out of water.
“You? You’re not mad?” Sam stuttered as he held his hands enclosed to his chest and stepped forward with a hopeful look that Hunter wouldn’t slam him to the ground and glare with those sharp, forest eyes.
Hunter stood up as he reached over and grabbed his leather jacket from the corner of his bed before shaking his head as he shrugged his arm into the tight-fitting jacket. “No” He shrugged. He shuffled a second to get it on properly before he straightened out the jacket. “We’ve got the same thing, haven’t we?”
‘Yeah, except yours is monster size’ Sam thought bashfully. Sam nodded as he rubbed the back of his neck. He gasped softly when he felt a large palm brush his locks, Looking up Sam saw Hunter’s extended arm, his hand disappearing into Sam’s thick, wavy locks as he tussled them. “So shy” Hunter mumbled before he gave Sam’s head one last pat and headed to the door.
Like a hopeless sheep Sam followed Hunter with a lost puppy expression.
“Where are you going?”
Hunter turned around with his hand on the handle, “Going out for a few drinks with Carter. It’s the only time they’ll let us out”
Sam’s mouth pried itself open as it begged to ask more questions like ‘when will you be back?’ and ‘you will be careful won’t you?’ and ‘wait with Carter? are you two…’ but Sam knew he’d sound like a nagging housewife and that Hunter would probably find him weird so instead he just nodded but felt hesitant inside.
As if reading Sam like the open book he didn’t know he was, Hunter chuckled to himself in amusement and fondness for the soft boy who cared so deeply about everyone. “I won’t be long—can’t stay out too late anyway because of curfew”
Hunter sighed as he grabbed the hem of his jacket ready to take it off when he saw Sam’s reluctant nod. He wanted to take off his jacket and shoes and tell him he’d stay if that’s what he really wanted. He watched Sam silently, waiting and hoping for Sam to utter the word ‘stay’ even encouraging him mentally.
‘C’mon, Bambi. Say it. Ask me to stay’
Hunter sighed when Sam never said anything and went to turn the handle but before he could the door already burst open. Carter stood grinning from the other side as Hunter glared at him for suddenly appearing with his large golden retriever grin.
“You’re dressed!” Carter grinned as he clapped Hunter’s shoulder. Sam watched moodily from the corner as he climbed up his ladders and sat on the edge of his bunk bed pretending to read a manga nearby. He was mad because Carter and Hunter were close, he was mad because he just couldn’t find it in himself to dislike Carter because he was so damn nice.
Sam was brooding to himself, picturing Hunter and Carter’s wedding as he drunkenly cried in the corner of one of the worse tables whilst the two laughed and kissed, people applauding. Carter popped his head in as he waved to Sam. His gold locks sprawled about in the slight wind that blew through the window and kissed his golden skin.
“Hey, Sammy.” He smiled.
Hunter narrowed his eyes but said nothing as he smacked his idiot friend upside the head and ushered him out the door/ Sam shyly raised his head as he waved back, too friendly to hold a grudge against Carter.
Hunter glanced back at Sam once more before shutting the door as he and Carter walked off down the hallway. Carter immediately slung his arm around Hunter’s shoulder as he started to tell him a funny story about the time he played against another school in his basketball tournament and accidentally yanked down a player’s shorts.
Inside, Sam put down the manga he was pretending to read as he huffed and puffed to himself, feeling sorry for himself as he laid down, spread out, on his bed and flung an arm over his face. Boredom gripped onto him and hung onto his shoulders like a demon boring away at him.
Sitting up suddenly he decided to invite the gang over as they never really seemed to do anything fun. He texted them and Happy responded immediately saying that he would be right over, as long as Hunter wasn’t there since no one wanted to break the rules of stepping into Hunter’s territory. Kay responded that he was currently on hold with the Fall Out Boy’s manager so he’d have to see if he was free, to which Happy texted Sam later telling him he’d drag Kay along anyway, and Bear and Charlie also agreed.
Sam smiled as he waited for his friends to show up, he felt calm and content with the fact that they’d finally get to hang out without there being any weirdness or drama. Just a fun time with the guys.
Only a few hours later…
“FuuuuuCCKk YOuuuuu, BUTTtttt plUG” Kay slurred as he tried to slap Happy’s cheek but was so slow he just kind of placed his hand on Happy’s cheek and pushed.
Happy toppled over with the ‘barely there’ push, tilting over onto his back like a turtle as he just groaned drunkenly.
Sam hiccuped. “Y-YouZE MEanT to bE FRIeNdzz!”
Kay slammed a finger in Sam’s direction, “ShAADUp BUtT plUg tWo!”
Kay was soon flat on his back next to a mumbling Happy as Kay kicked him with his leg, joining in on his mumbles. Sam almost fell forward on his face from his crossed legged position as he hiccupped as if he was a volcano about to rupture.
Bear stood up as he calmly assessed the three. “I’ll take Happy, Charlie and Kay back. Sam will you be okay?”
Sam nodded repeatedly but could barely hold up his own head as he was suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling of sadness and deep loneliness. Bear stooped down as he helped Charlie hop onto his back whilst grabbing Kay and Happy under his arms and holding them like drunk rag dolls.
The moment he left the room the emotional drunk in Sam made an appearance as he immediately allowed the timid child inside of him to come out. He wept in the cornet, crouched with his back facing the door as he drunkenly sobbed.
“Yeah—I left it here, let me run in and get it and I’ll give it to him.” Hunter called out to Carter as the door handle began to turn.
Hunter stepped in as his eyes fell instantly to the bottles and mess of cards and food on the floor. He glanced around careful not to tread anything into the carpet as he made a ‘tch’ sound with his mouth but was not annoyed.
“Thought I was the one supposed to be drunk.” he mumbled to himself.
He stopped halfway through his tracks, his leg extending into the air as he was about to step over a half filled crisp packet when he heard the sniffle. He paused glancing around as his eyes landed on a small Sam squished into a foetal position.
“Bambi?” Hunter mumbled. He stepped closer towards him as he looked down at him. He reached one arm out as his broad hand was about to make contact with Sam’s shoulder, but he was suddenly sent spiralling to the floor, his large frame unable to defend himself as he was unable to prepare himself from the sudden attack of the small rabbit launching itself at the dazed lion.
Sam clung to Hunter’s legs as he threw back his head and cried hysterically.
Had it been a cartoon Sam would have givers pouring from his eyes as question marks frantically flew around Hunter’s head.
As Sam’s fingers clutched onto Hunter’s black jeans, Hunter sighed as he carefully pried Sam off and walked to the door, opening it at only a slither as he looked out to Carter.
“I had too much to drink tonight. I’ll catch you later”
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