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Salem sighed as the cold winter air seeped into zer coat, holding the coffee Caiden got them that he hasn’t taken a sip out of, warming his fingertips as he remembered that ze promised the other they would at least try it and not use it as a heater like last time,
Caiden was swift to their feet as he held a small bundle of paper with a pen squished somewhere between them all and a coffee of his own. Walking to the icy table he chose for himself and Salem with a quick plop of his papers hitting the steel.
“Took you long enough.” Salem joked, Caiden rolled his eyes with a quiet scoff after.
“ April was being difficult, as always.” Caiden responded, his voice was a little stern saying her name like it was poison rolling off his tongue. Salem never really knew who April was to Caiden but ze didn’t ask, it was like he kept her relationship with him a secret and if that's what Caiden wanted then they wouldn’t push… But he was curious.
“Who is April anyways?” Caiden looked up from his papers and gave a quick glance at where Salem was trying to get at, though he complied and gave a short answer.
“They're.. an old family friend.” Now, that wasn't a lie but it wasn’t the full truth either.
“Oh.” Was all Salem could really say, just Oh. Ze couldn't really tell if Caiden was lying or not, but again, he wouldn’t push. Caiden giggled at the lackluster response, Salem smiled a bit.
“Hey, what's with the papers?” Salem pointed out as Caiden sipped some of his latte before answering,
“School work, the usual.” Salem didn’t really like that answer, it had meant Caiden had been skipping school, again.
“You should really be in school, Caiden..”
“Rich coming from you, Mr. Drop-Out.”
Salem rolled his eyes at Caidens playful tone, he was trying to be serious but Caiden always had their ways to make things a joke.
“And plus.. I like hanging out with you. It's way better than spending hours in a big building full of chaos.”
Salem could feel his heart pick up its pace as ze tried to dismiss their pink face with a slow drink of their coffee. Caiden stared gently as he noticed color pick up on Salems face.
“I.. appreciate the honesty but I think it's better if you stay in school, we can always hang out after.”
Caiden groaned, but Salem could tell he understood. “Where's the fun in that, Sal? Are you saying you don’t like my company or somethin’?” Caiden teased.
“Am not!” Salem was quick to defend himself as Caiden laughed, picking up his coffee and taking another large drink, their eyes still fixated on Salems.
“I.. I just want what's best for you is all.” Salem confessed which left Caiden in a warm feeling that no mug of hot chocolate could compete with. Caiden smiled softly as they looked down a bit, it didn’t look playful.. or mischievous.. it looked,,. nice, welcoming, perfe-
Salem shook zer head a bit, gulping as Caiden looked up again after a few seconds.
“Listen, startin’ next week, ill go to school normally again, okay?” Caiden spoke, Salem could feel the smile grow on his face as zey set their coffee down and held their hand out.
“Let's shake on it, so it's a deal.” Caiden stuck his tongue out before taking Salems hand in his.
If they were both being honest, they’d wish that they could keep their hands intertwined like this for almost forever, but that wouldn’t really happen yet. Caiden flushed as he shook Salems hand quickly, pulling away and holding his hands together to savor the warmth Salems hand gave his own.
Salem was grinning like a idiot, which Caiden would’ve pointed out if they weren’t focused on their hands.
“Soo.. deal?” Caiden started, hoping the rosy red color that tined his face would be reasoned by the cold weather. Salem shook his head as words were not available for him to speak because ze would say something they dont want said at this moment.
The pair sat in an almost comfortable silence broken a bit by sips of their half cold beverages and the thoughts that raced throughout the others head.
Caiden patted his papers flat against each other neatly as Salem looked up to the noise, which led Caiden to look up as well,
‘Salem has pretty piercings..’
‘Caidens hair is messy today.’
‘I wonder if Salem would let me see him with his hair down?’
‘Caidens eyes are gorgeous.’
‘ I never noticed zer beauty marks,’
‘Would they let me hold their hand again?’
‘…. Do you like me?’
“Boys..?”
Salem gasped as Caiden silently cursed,
“I'm sorry if I scared you, I was just wondering if you need anything else with your drinks!” The woman smiled, Caiden tiredly answered for the two and she walked away.
“Uhm.. Ready to head out Sal?”
“I am so sick of the cold. Yes please.”
Caiden flapped his hands towards Salem for him to get a move on as ze most definitely didn't hesitate to, picking his papers up and placing them in his bag the duo walked to Salems together.
I would be lying if I didn’t say their hands brushed against each other a few times during the walk.