I overtook on the ramp, gliding up it seamlessly seeing over my shoulder as Sky stalled on the ramp, Frankie driving around them and coming up behind me.
He was just short of knocking me off the track all together as we rounded the last corner, the Adonis stood laughing on a pile of tyres a checked flag in his hand ready to wave it to declare the winner.
I overtook in the last second almost sending Frankie spinning but not quite. He did however drive straight into the back of my kart as we stopped in the pit. I turned to look at him, he blew a kiss back at me.
“That was a little too close.” I said, Frankie laughed as he took his helmet off, his hair sticking to his forehead with the sweat.
“I almost beat you.” He said shaking his head, “it was so close that’s so unfair.” He stated, I laughed stepping out of the kart as Sky shook his head.
“How did you end up fifth?”
“It wouldn’t move again. Even Oakley beat me.”
“Hey.” Oakley proclaimed hitting Sky lightly as Kaiden lifted my hand above my head.
“Nonbinary representative.” He declared as I blushed, burying my face into my arm to make sure no one could see it. “Final race.” He added as he let my hand go.
“So, you better win.” Frankie told me, I smirked at him.
“Reclaim our title.” Sky said as they patted me on the back, “if you don’t, I’ll definitely be upset.”
“Nothing like the encouragement of your best friends huh.”
“We’ll have a pint if we win.” Oakley said in a shrug, I smirked at him.
“Now I like you.” I told him he winked at me as I was turned back around and redirected to my kart. A different one to the one before.
The one behind Alistair.
“You know I like you, right?” he said as he secured his helmet, I hummed.
“It’s been unclear sometimes.” I told him, he scoffed hitting my shoulder.
“Well, if it’s unclear I’ll have no worries about beating you.” He said with a shrug.
“Wow it’s going to be so embarrassing when you lose isn’t it.”
“I miss when you were shy.” He said, I laughed.
“I miss when you were scary.” I told him, “now I know you sing when you make a cup of coffee and you’ve lost all your coolness.”
“I do not.”
“Showtunes.” I said, “Luca uploads them to Tiktok.”
“Little shit.” He said nodding turning so I turned too. Rory was stood between Luca and Connor as they sat at the table sharing a can of coke.
“That’s your son.”
“And I can assure you he’s a little shit.” He said gleefully.
“Into your karts.” The Adonis and his friend Adonis two said. We followed the instruction then followed each other out towards the starting line. “Ten laps.” The Adonis informed us before standing up on his pile of tyres next to the start lights.
I revved my engine, biting my lip as I watched the lights flash red, then orange, then, green, green, green and the checked flag was waved.
There was cheering all around me as we celebrated the reclaiming of our title. It had been close very close towards the end.
I’m pretty sure Alistair will never forgive me for beating him come the last lap. I offered to buy him a pint as commiseration – he refused as he had to speak to Luca about his Tiktok content.
The Adonis’ had followed us to the bar although they kept their distance as they drank leaning on the bar.
“You think they’re gorgeous too.” I said to Sky, they laughed nodding their eyes not leaving them.
“They are, bet they’re the most hetero boys to live though.”
I rose my eyebrow at them as they laughed.
“Go on, go talk about football with them.” they said, I laughed.
“You’re coming too.” I said, they shook their head laughing.
“I can’t.” they whispered turning to look at Oakley, I also did as he sat with Riley and Frankie them all laughing as Riley poured a pink coloured drink into their glasses.
“You can’t go and talk about football with two presumably straight guys?” I asked, they hissed at me slightly, I pulled my tongue back.
“Fine.” They said in a breath, drinking more of their pint before nudging me so we both began towards them. “You know for a shy guy you don’t half flirt.” They said, I smirked as I leant next to the Adonis’.
“Pint please.”
Sky cleared their throat,
“Two pints please.” I corrected, they grinned at me as the Adonis’ turned to look at us.
“Good driving out there today.” Our Adonis said, “Sam.” He added, I looked down as I laughed.
“It was close.” I said shrugging towards Sky.
“Oh, you stalling on the ramp was a tough break.” The second Adonis said, Sky laughed.
“I’m still trying to find a way to blame him.”
“Oh I’m sure we could work out one.” The second said, Sky and I shared a look.
“Yeah, he’s gay.” Our Adonis said, “we both are in fact.” He added then he laughed, “I support Liverpool.”
“Oh I’m out.” Sky said shaking their head,
“You could hear us?” I said, they nodded back.
“Excuse me.” Frankie said,
“No show without punch huh.” I said as I turned to him, he grinned at me as he wrapped his arms around Sky’s shoulders.
“Your partner is wondering why you’re flirting with these two beautiful, hold up…” Frankie said laughing then turned, “it’s because they’re beautiful Oakley.” He proclaimed; Oakley began to giggle as Sky shook their head.
“We’re not partners.” Sky said,
“He’s…” our Adonis said,
“They’re.” Frankie, Sky and I all said together, the Adonis looked taken back before nodding.
“They’re taken, what’s your deal?” he asked, I smirked at him as I drank from my pint.
“Depends what you’re doing tonight.”
“Even though I support Liverpool.”
“I suppose I can make that sacrifice.”
“You’re a martyr.” Frankie stated, I looked at him over my shoulder as he pulled his tongue at me.
“Jamie.” The Adonis told me, I grinned at him as he leant beside me on the bar knocking our shoulders together. “You.”
“Sam.” I said, “I thought you knew my name.”
“Yeah, I meant what I’m doing tonight.”
❋
Chapter Twelve
“Flat zero one zero. Here’s your keys.” The man, the unbelievably happy man on the reception desk said as he held out four sets of keys.
“Flat two then.” Skylar said, we all looked at them as they looked around, then shook their head. “Binary code, zero one zero is the number two.” They laughed, “wow, you’re the worse.” They added, I smiled as I took the set of keys off the receptionist, resting them on top of the box I was leaning against their desk.
“Thank you.” I said, the receptionist nodded, smiling at each of us, as Frankie led the way into the block of flats. We walked the stairs, going up and around until we found the right floor. I walked ahead, finding our door and unlocking it. The front door opened into a small corridor that exploded into the kitchen and seating area. I slid the box I was carrying onto the kitchen top then leant against it, looking around as Frankie, Skylar and Oakley came in behind me.
“This isn’t half bad.” Oakley said as he walked towards the two, two-seater couches. He sat on the furthest. “I can get used to this.” He said amused, as Skylar grinned and opened the two doors to the left of us, whilst Frankie opened the ones to the right.
“Bagesy.” Skylar said raising their hand then pointing at the room they were stood in the doorway of.
“Bagesy.” Frankie said, so I went to him, opening the door of the opposite room and taking my box into it.
“This is mine.” I said in a deep breath, then placed
my box onto the bed, sitting on it once I did. Frankie appeared in the doorway.
“Good?” he asked, I nodded.
“Good.” I repeated, then looked around the room,
“Let’s move some boxes.” He said reaching his hand out to me, so I took it letting him help me stand, and walk me back through the flat. I wrapped my arm around his waist as we walked down the stairs towards my Dad’s car where mine and Frankie’s things where.
He was sat in the boot, talking to Kieran who had brought Oakley and Skylar’s things in his car. We pulled out our suitcases, and our second boxes then stood as Dad closed the boot. He hugged Frankie, saying something quietly to him, them both nodding as they moved away then he hugged me.
“Don’t forget to come home sometimes.” He said, I nodded. “Don’t be a stranger Sam.”
“Don’t forget to update me on your relationship status.” I said, he laughed knocking my chin with his knuckle then he hugged me again.
“You too.” He whispered, I scoffed as I shook my head, making him laugh as I took hold of my suitcase, waving to him as he waved back and got into the car. I pulled my suitcase towards the door that led to the stairwell, watching as he reversed out of his spot and drove out of the carpark.
“Come on.” Frankie said, I turned to look back at him as Oakley and Skylar came down the stairs and walked past us to Kieran’s car. “Let’s go home.” He said happily so I smiled, nodding to him and pulling my suitcase behind me as we began up the stairs. I laughed once we reached our door, smiling at the nonbinary flag that was now pinned to our front door. I heard Skylar and Oakley’s amusement as they came up behind us, both with their own boxes.
“I thought I’d make it ours from the off.” Skylar said, then they shrugged. “And it’ll be far easier to find when we’re drunk.” They added amused then pushed the door open.
I lay back on my bed, my fingers stroking through my hair as I examined the ceiling. The flat was quiet although it hadn’t been for long, Oakley and Skylar had practiced their bass clarinet and trumpet, respectfully, for at least two hours in amongst loud laughter which I’m sure were hilarious inside jokes between them. I’d hidden away in my bedroom, as I’m sure Frankie also was. Although he was more likely scrolling through numerous clothing websites, whilst I wrote the outline of my dissertation.
Now I lay on my bed trying to figure out where the rest of the flat actually was, my finger stroking over the pad of my laptop whenever it dimmed, until I pulled it onto my stomach. Swapping my internet to private then searching through the deep dark web until I found a video that sparked some interest. I watched for a few seconds before slipping my laptop off my stomach, resting it on my bed then sliding myself down until I was lying on my bed.
I rose my knee, sighing before slipping my hand into my shorts and stroking my finger over myself, hissing as something sparked through me. Raising my back off my bed then I laughed, letting out a deep breath before taking hold of myself and moving my hand. Getting quicker and quicker until I jumped, raising my legs to my stomach as Frankie laughed in my doorway.
“Sam baby.” He purred, as I sighed headbutting my bedframe as I clicked my laptop shut.
“Frankie.” I snapped, he bit his tongue so I looked away as he laughed and came to sit on my bed. “What do you want?”
“Am I okay to sit here?” he whispered, I scowled. “Okay, okay I get it.” he said laughing as he crossed his legs. “I was bored wondered if you wanted to play with me.” he said, I sighed as I bit my lip, running my eyes over him. “Seems you’re already playing with yourself.” He said, I threw my pillow at him so he laughed. “Oakley and Sky are having sex; I think they’re officially having sex like officially now.”
“Like they’re with each other?” I asked, he hummed.
“I guess so.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“I guess so.” He said amused, “sorry, I can go, let you finish.”
“Frankie.” I said, he grinned. “I brought my Switch; we can connect it up. Play.” I said, he nodded.
“I feel like Mario kart is almost a downgrade from masturbating huh.” He said as he picked up my laptop and put it on my desk. I laughed as I started to connect the wires.
“I’m definitely going to win, there’s a lot of frustration.” I said turning to look at him, he laughed happily so I tossed him the remote, then sat back against my pillows as the screen loaded. We played through the first two trophies before my phone vibrated against my bedside table. Frankie reached for it, reading the screen as he passed it over to me, a frown on his face.
“Whose Hannah?” he asked, I frowned back as I took my phone, tilting my screen so it’d light back up.
“Oh.” I said nodding as I sat up a little better, “she was who I slept with. You know when you went home with a boy, and Dad pulled.”
“And you kept in contact?”
“She was nice.” I said shrugging, as I read the message, smiling at the offer of a coffee. “I don’t just fuck once and be done with it you know; I have the number of everyone I’ve slept with. Lydia on Pride, Adam and Harry from the festival, Hannah. Ben.”
“Ben.” He repeated, I nodded as I shrugged.
“I like making new friends.” I said, he raised an eyebrow at me, “what? Are you telling me you fuck them once and get out?”
“Sometimes.” He said shaking his head, “sometimes I don’t even get their names.”
“I couldn’t do that.” I said, he looked at me as I shook my head. “I just, couldn’t.”
“Are you going to meet up with her?”
“I might.” I shrugged, “she was nice, it’s nice to be around nice people.” I said, he hummed, I frowned at him.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing.”
“Frankie?”
“I don’t know, I guess I just thought…” he said, then he shook his head, “I’m going to bed.”
“Frankie.” I said as he got off my bed, he turned to look at me as he searched through the pockets of his joggers until he found his vape. He put it in his mouth and shrugged.
“I guess I should only vape in my own room, right.” He said as he pressed the button, he inhaled it then blew it out before leaving my room. I sighed as I inhaled the smell of what I could only describe as vanilla then looked down at my phone as it gave a reminder ding that I had an unopen message.
“What did you do?” Skylar whispered to me across the table as we both sat eating cereal. I frowned at them. “To Frankie.”
“Why do you assume I did something to him?” I asked, they shrugged.
“I assumed he was coming to get breakfast, and then going into your room so you could have it together, he didn’t, and he didn’t sit with me, so what did you do?”
“Are you and Oakley together?” I asked, they frowned. “Well, he mentioned it. It might be your fault.”
“Hey.” They said pointing their spoon at me, so I smiled. “Oakley and I… yes.” they sighed, “I don’t really know how it happened, honestly. We’ve been friends since we were fifteen but we’ve never really been friends.”
“What?”
“Well, I’ve always liked him, honestly. We kind of just danced around each other and now I know that, that was what he was also doing. I mean, Frankie is my best friend, I’ve known Frankie longer than I’ve known Oakley and I never felt like I was replacing Frankie with Oakley, because he felt different.”
“That makes sense.” I said softly.
“So, what did you do?”
“Nothing.” I said in a gasp, “nothing that I can…” I began then looked at them as they frowned back at me.
“What?”
“I got a text, from Hannah.”
“There’s a girl.” They said in a gasp, I gasped back as I laughed.
“There is a girl.”
“Shit.” They said then smiled, “Hannah, what’s important about Hannah?”
“She asked me out for coffee. I said yes.”
“Like a date.”
“I guess so, but he left my room after that, he kind of got weird and left, I don’t know why.”
“You don’t know why?” they replied, I frowned at them, they shook their head.
“Boys can be so dumb.” They said, I gasped at them, they did it back. “Figure it out Sam, so that Frankie is preferably not in a mood until Christmas.” They said then stood from the table, “please.” They added then went towards Frankie’s room, knocking on his door before letting themselves in. I sighed as I picked up my bowl, taking it to the sink as I heard a door open so I turned, smiling at Oakley as he came out of his room.
“Where…”
“Sky? He’s in Frankie’s room.” I said, Oakley looked towards it raising his eyebrow thoughtfully. “Don’t worry, it’s probably my fault.” I said, Oakley laughed it sounded as if he felt sorry for me.
“Oh Sam.” He said shaking his head, then came towards me getting two bowls out of the cupboards and placing them on the table top.
“What are you doing?”
“Dye day.” He said amused as he put some rubber gloves on. “I’ve managed to synchronise both Sky’s and mine so that we do it on the same day.”
“Good?” I said shrugging, he nodded.
“It’s good.” He laughed as he opened the box that had a model with electric blue hair on it. “Good practice too, after the summer at least.” He added, I frowned so he looked at me. “Well, Jesse gave me a chair in his barbers for the summer, and it was amazing, I loved it. But there wasn’t a lot of dying involved, and when I go back to class, there’ll probably be even less dying involved.” He said thoughtfully as I watched him mixing the two liquids together.
“I didn’t know you did Sky’s.”
“Yeah, I’ve done Sky’s since we were about fifteen. I’ve wanted to do hairdressing since I was very little. Sky was the first willing volunteer. Pa won’t let me touch his hair.”
“Riley?” I asked, he laughed as he nodded.
“He went white when Luca was born and he was officially a grandpa, but before that he was every colour of the rainbow changing it regularly. I’ve offered to do it for him every few months and he just won’t let me.” he said, I laughed.
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