Weeks had passed since the altercation between Finn and Embry, they'd kept their distance but the conversations they held were more than friendly when they ran into one another. They kept each other updated with their lives and whenever Finn had issues with Alistaire, he confided in Embry. This morning's errands brought Finn to 'The First Chapter' for breakfast. With the sun sitting in the middle of the sky like a ball of fire, he took advantage of the earliness and decided to treat himself. He deserved it.
The brick slabs that held the building together were dipped in a smokey grey paint, the monochrome exterior gradually brightening to a vibrant sapphire overhang. The window frames were coated in a semigloss paint and a line of book titles decorated each window.
As he stepped foot inside, he was immediately greeted by a friendly smile and shown the miniature library left of their dining room. "Thank you," he smiled and folded his arms over his chest as he sauntered down the first aisle. Finn trailed his fingers along the spines of the books he passed, adjusting his glasses with his free hand. A playful hum escaped his lips as he plucked a book from its shelf.
He turned on his heels and felt his face flush as he watched a familiar brunette from three aisles down. It felt like the first time they'd seen each other, and the feelings he tried to cover up, once again came to light.
Chestnut-colored hair fell down to his chin as he graced the floor. Shuttered emerald eyes watched the customers in passing, his ominous appearance drawing in more attention than he'd hoped. Scattered freckles decorated his cream skin- a crooked smirk instantaneously swooning the surrounding women and some men.
This was the face of Embry Dannan, who stood alluringly among others, despite his newly resting bitch face.
Finn's eyes fluttered to the side as he tucked his hair behind his ear, placing the book back on the shelf beside him. "Hey," he gave him a crooked smile. "Do you think I could talk to you tonight?"
"Again?" He glared at the blonde and sucked in a sharp breath. "Didn't I talk to you last night?"
A nervous chuckle escaped his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I just... I don't know what I'm doing..."
A frown spread across Embry's face as he made his way around a bookshelf. "I'm busy tonight."
"It's dinner instructions..." Finn frowned as he glanced up at the brunette, his cobalt eyes searching for some hope that Embry was lying.
"Mm," A weary groan escaped his lips as he picked up his pace, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "Watch a video online. I'm sure you're capable of that. Or are you that helpless?"
Finn's mouth dropped open as Embry scolded him, his ears and nose a shade of crimson. He'd tried his best to keep their friendship intact, but it seemed like they finally shifted completely apart.
As he paused in his tracks, Finn bumped into him and fell backward, his glasses clattering on the carpeted floor. "S-Sorry, I wasn't paying attention..."
"That's nothing new." He outstretched a hand and yanked Finn to his feet, humming as he dipped down to retrieve the blonde's glasses.
"Thank you..." he whispered as he grabbed them and slipped them over his eyes.
"Are you still holding onto our old relationship?" he questioned, his eyes lowered to a judgemental glare as Finn twiddled with his thumbs.
"Is it wrong to want to keep my friends close?" Finn lied.
Friends. Embry gave him a subtle scoff before nodding. Every time he said the word, it felt like a dagger pierced his heart- but he promised himself he'd get over it. "I see..." he mumbled.
"You don't still like me, do you?"
The atmosphere went from airy to dense as Embry growled and grabbed a fistful of Finn's collar, his cobalt eyes shaken with what Embry registered as fear. "Never," he spat out. "Fuck you." He loosened his grip and felt his face heat up with embarrassment.
As Embry released him, Finn felt his breath hitch in his throat, shaky hands adjusting his glasses as he exhaled. Besides playfully pissing him off, Finn found himself aroused at the situation.
Why is he so hot?
"H-hey, wait!"
Embry was outside, his back pushed against a metal pole as he exhaled a massive puff of smoke. His green eyes were scanning the people in passing as he cleared his throat and hid his cigarette. "What do you want?"
"Why can't you help me tonight?" Finn arched an eyebrow and folded his arms over his chest.
"Fuck you," he cursed. "Help yourself."
"Embry," he pleaded.
"Ask someone else..." he placed the cigarette to his lips and puffed another plume of smoke in the air. "I'm busy."
"Doing what?!" Finn adjusted his glasses and flipped his hair out of his face as he grabbed the remainder of Embry's cigarette.
"Give it back..." he growled.
His lips pursed as he flicked the cigarette on the ground and twisted it into the concrete.
Embry grabbed a fistful of his sweater and growled as Finn gave him a playful smirk.
"Fuck off, Finn." he sucked in a sharp breath and felt his face heat up as the blonde stuck out his tongue.
"Oops." Finn shrugged.
"You think this game is funny?"
Even though his breath reeked of tobacco, Finn wanted to close the gap between their lips. "Your breath stinks... back up..."
"Tsk," he rolled his eyes and shot his middle finger up. "You provoked me," he mumbled. He refused to fall into another one of his traps, he refused to let Finn's charm get the best of him.
Wrapping his arms around the brunette, Finn buried his face in his t-shirt and sighed. The feelings he bottled up had officially resurfaced, and this time, he'd make sure he was ready to act on them. No more hesitation.
"Why are you avoiding me?" his voice came out in a muffled sigh as his glasses pushed against Embry's chest.
He refused to fall for it. As cute and submissive as Finn was, he knew any prolonged interactions between the two of them would only result in pain.
From that hug alone, he found himself smelling like autumn. The mixture of cinnamon that must've been in Finn's soap, and the scent of pomegranate on his hair seeped into the fabric of Embry's shirt, and it was plaguing his mind.
Placing a hand on the blonde's shoulder, he hesitantly shoved him away and shook his head. "I'm not avoiding you," he grumbled. The cross dangling from his left ear clinked against the frame of Finn's glasses, as he shut his eyes.
"You're lying," he muttered, looking up at Embry with cloudy eyes. "And your breath still stinks." he giggled.
Embry rolled his eyes and groaned. "At least your glasses are fixed."
"Alistaire got them-" he paused midway through his sentence and felt a lump form in his throat as Embry scoffed.
"Good," he said bitterly. "Glad he's finally looking after you."
"He always has been, I've just been causing problems is all." Another roll of Embry's eyes made him grimace. It seemed like he wasn't getting anywhere with their conversation and Embry's cold remarks seemed to be in a dismissive tone. "Are you listening to me at all?"
"You repeat the same thing over and over again, and it's fairly annoying," he retorted. His eyes burned with one-sided passion as he tucked his hands in his pockets and kicked aimlessly at the dirt.
"Then what would you like me to talk about?" Finn asked. "Or do you have something you'd like to discuss yourself?"
Embry felt his face heat up as Finn silenced him. He hated how blind he was to Alistaire's motives.
"I've got nothing to say to you." he spat back. "Why the hell are you even here?"
"Breakfast," he replied.
"So that's it? Breakfast?"
"And books," Finn added.
Embry gripped the sides of Finn's face gently but dominantly- his narrowed eyes studying the blonde's wide ones. He wanted to close the miniature gap between them, to taste his tongue with his own, but he knew it would've been wrong.
"You smell good," he muttered.
"So you're gonna snap my jaw to smell me?"
"Smartass," Embry's face reddened. He kept his eyes focused on Finn's kissable lips, as thin as they were, he was almost certain they'd feel like silk against his own.
"Do you want to have breakfast with me?" Finn smiled as he fiddled with his fingers.
"Yeah, whatever," he grumbled. "It's not a fucking date."
"Not at all," he felt his entire face light up as Embry grabbed his wrist and led him away from the cafe. "Where are we going?" he inquired.
"It's a surprise." Embry grinned.
⍝⍝⍝
The surrounding greenery managed to expand beyond view as Finn was guided through the brush. The canopy overhead was contested by pomegranate, maple, and cinnamon trees- the twinkling of skylight overhead bursting through the crowns allowed for diversity in saplings below.
Bundled vines hung from spliced trees and a mishmash of wildflowers sprinkled the grass below their feet. It was rare for Finn to have seen these flowers in bloom, but their vibrant colors stood out among the solid colored greenery.
A variety of animal noises was orchestrated around them as Embry helped him over a fallen log, the bird songs echoing in harmony as they conversed with one another. The rush of water crashing against the perimeter of rocks introduced a moderately sized waterfall. On the opposing side of the rapids was a stone gate and marble walkway, just after the bridge to cross over.
Finn's eyes widened in awe as Embry sat him down on a blanket beside the raging water. From the look of it, it seemed like Embry had this planned out.
"Secret spot?" He questioned.
"Secret spot." Embry grinned.