Thanks so much to @umyeahsoidk on Wattpad for writing this amazing short story for me! This does not fit in the actual timeline but it's a cute bit of fluff and wholesomeness that we all need. Go check out their stories if you have time! Thank you again!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A/N~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Simon's POV)
"Kieran!" Simon shouted, glancing back at the dorm door in exasperation. "Get out here or we're going to be late to class!" Furrowing his brow, he shaded his eyes with one hand and looked up to the clouds. It was going to snow today. Just as well, because everything was better with snow and they hadn't had it at all this year. A muffled, "Coming!" came from the door, as it opened to reveal Kieran bundled up in winter clothes, cheeks red.
Simon smirked at him. It was an ongoing joke between them (and all of their friends) how easily Kieran got cold. "Don't look at me like that," Kieran huffed, cheeks flushing a shade redder than they were before. Picking up his bag, Simon hurried to catch up as they headed across campus. He was so cute when he was flustered.
Sure enough, snowflakes began to fall, dusting their hats with a fine layer of powder. Simon strolled along with his hands in his pockets, while Kieran was hugging himself in an attempt to stay warm. He allowed Kieran to get ahead of him a bit, then smiled at the dark hair poking out of the back of his beanie. Simon had picked out that hat when they were shopping for winter clothes, but when it didn't fit him, gave it to Kieran, who wore it everywhere. It looked good on him; but everything looked good on him in Simon's eyes.
"Grey," he said, "you've got a little something on your shoulder." Reaching forward, Simon plucked off a leaf that had fallen on Kieran and offered it to him. He accepted it, smiling from underneath the layers upon layers of clothes.
(Kieran's POV)
Simon looked great today. Kieran couldn't imagine how he wasn't cold without four jackets on, but he'd always had a resistance to the extreme elements. He tucked the leaf into his pocket, reminding himself to look at it later. He had a box where he kept the trinkets Simon gave him, even when they crumbled to dust. It really was a shame that he was straight because Kieran had the biggest crush on him.
The snow was getting heavier, and it was a relief when Simon pushed open the door into the enclosed stairwell leading into class. They had gotten a lot of classes together this year, English being one of them. They hurried up the stairs and were almost to the top when a student, eager to get down the stairwell, bumped between them, knocking Simon's bag to the ground and spilling everything out and down the stairwell.
A couple of students paused but continued on their way because everyone was in a hurry now. Kieran and Simon rushed to pick up the textbooks, and at one moment their hands collided reaching for the same one. Simon felt heat flood his cheeks, and he tried to contain his smile by turning away. Kieran did the same, hastily picking up more papers and books. His hand strayed to a sole, worn, sheet of paper and he flipped it over, squinting to make out what was on the page.
He stilled when he realized it was drawings of him. Intricate sketches of Kieran were scattered across the page: him laughing, him bundled up in his winter clothes, cooking dinner, arguing... the list went on. On another page he hadn't realized was stuck to it, there were all the notes they'd passed in class over the years, glued to the paper.
He blinked a couple times, unsure of what he was seeing. Simon, oblivious, continued gathering the last of his things. Kieran, hunched over, was so absorbed in the page that he didn't notice Simon sneaking up behind him with a mischievous grin on his face, only for his face to drop when he realized what Kier was looking at. He gulped, his breath faltering. This was going to be hard to explain.
Simon tapped Kieran on the shoulder, startling him out of his daze. "Um... can I have that?" Cheeks burning, Kieran rushed to hand him the paper, only for it to slip out of his hands and float down through the air, landing on the concrete floor below. Simon jogged down the stairs with Kieran following, the bag abandoned, and retrieved the paper from its resting place.
"Kieran," Simon said, unable to look into his friend's eyes, "I need to tell you something. Class can wait." He grabbed Kier's arm and led him to a deserted hallway, near the windows where the snow was falling. Kieran felt a momentary surge of endorphins when Simon touched him, but shook it off in light of the issue at hand. Simon leaned against the wall, studying the paper in his hands.
He heaved a sigh. "If I tell you something, do you promise you won't tell anyone else?"
"Of course," reassured Kieran, "You can tell me anything." He assumed a position on the opposite wall, searching Simon's face with his hazel eyes.
Simon hesitated. "I'm pansexual."
A silence permeated, broken only by the sound of a siren going off in the district.
"Okay, and?" said Kieran. "I don't care if you're pansexual. It doesn't change our... friendship."
Warmth surged through Simon, and he smiled. "I guess I should explain this." He gestured to the paper in his hands, sliding down the wall to a sitting position. "I like to draw people. More specifically, I like to draw people that I..."
Kieran waited, holding his breath, hoping against hope that he was going to say it.
"More specifically, I like to draw people that I like." Simon's face burned, not willing to look up and risk seeing pity. "I've liked you for a really long time, Kier." His voice cracked, and he stopped talking. He looked up slowly.
Meanwhile, Kieran was overwhelmed by the fireworks going off in his heart. "I like you too, Simon!" He slapped a hand over his mouth, only just realizing that his voice grew comically high from excitement. Simon laughed, relieving the tension that permeated the air. The feeling of relief spread through both of them, and he walked over to join Kier on the opposite wall.
Hesitantly, Kieran reached out and found Simon's hand. Simon looked over at him, surprised, but Kier was looking at the floor. "Do you- do you want to get coffee with me sometime?" he asked, so quietly that Simon could barely hear him.
"I would love to," he whispered back.
Simon stood up and pulled Kieran to his feet, bringing him close and wrapping his arms around him. Kier held the paper in his hands, unsure what to do, until he remembered how to function and hugged Simon back. They stood there for a second, just enjoying each other's company. When they parted, Simon had the biggest grin Kieran had ever seen on his face. They walked back down the hallway, holding hands.
Needless to say, they were late to class.