Xander woke up feeling groggy, luckily he wasn’t hung over, after spending countless nights out all over the world a few beers still made him drunk but didn’t have any effect on him the morning after. He was still young after all! He glanced around the room and realized he wasn’t at his home and he had no idea where the hell he was. Oh God! What in the hell happened last night? He was in just his boxer shorts. Taking in his surroundings he noted that he was definitely in a guy’s bedroom, the three white walls and one navy blue one, with a wooden floor and wooden wardrobe and chest of draws. Opposite the bed was a big flat screen TV mounted to the wall. Did he hook up with some random guy from the pub?

Just then the door clicked open and in walked a very sexy and sleepy Carter carrying two cups of coffee, in just some green and blue checked pajama trousers. “Hey man” He yawned, “you’re up. How are you feeling today?” He said handing Xander one of the mugs.

“Hey. I’m alright thanks. What happened last night? I don’t remember anything.” Xander admitted as Carter sat down on the edge on his bed. Did something happen between us? No, it couldn’t have done… Although I am in his bed.

“Oh, err well you got very drunk, so err I drove you home, but I didn’t want to wake you, parents, up so I took you back to mine and I took your shoes and clothes off and I slept on the sofa.” He finished quickly running his free hand through his bed hair. “I also thought you should be comfortable.” He gave Xander a slightly shy smile as he glanced towards the window.

“Oh, sorry man I didn’t realize I was that much trouble,” Xander said mirroring Carter and also running a hand through his bed hair and ruffling it up, before rubbing his neck.

“No, no trouble at all. It was quite funny actually when I was practically carrying you back to my truck you stuck your leg out and we fell into the truck and …” Carter trailed off.

“And?” Xander prompted raising an eyebrow, while taking a sip of his coffee, which was just the way he would have made it himself, with milk and sugar. Carter blushed and looked into his cup, his cheeks slowly turning pink.

“And, err, well, you squashed me, dude! You’re not exactly light.” He laughed gently, punching Xander on the shoulder.

“Oh! Sorry.” Xander laughed back, shoving Carter’s shoulder in retaliation. “So I didn’t do anything…stupid or embarrassing then?” He asked seeking reassurance.

“Nah not really, although you did want me to take off more than your jeans and shirt.” Carter waggled his eyebrows, a goofy smile on his face.

“Oh!” Xander managed his eyes widening and his face beginning to heat up once again.

"It's really was funny cause then you started snoring!" Carter teased.

"I don't snore!" He insisted, placing a hand on his chest in outrage. They settled into silence for a while, drinking their coffee. When they had both finished Xander looked around. “So where are my clothes?” He asked glancing across the room.

“Oh! I put them in the wash but they’re not done yet.” Carter replied getting up and heading to his chest of draws. “Here.” He said throwing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt at Xander. “You can borrow these, for now, we’re about the same size.”

“Thanks, any chance of clean boxers?” Xander asked getting out of bed. “Don’t fancy going commando in your jeans!”

“Oh yeah of course. Here.” Carter chucked some clean boxers at Xander. Carter blushed hard when Xander had gotten out of bed in nothing but his boxers, he noticed how Xander’s boxers hugged him tightly. Carter spun around quickly. Xander sighed silently and threw on the clean clothes, feeling grateful that he was roughly the same size as his friend.

What Xander didn’t know was that Carter saw Xander’s reflection in the mirror that stood by the chest of draws and he appreciated the sight of Xander’s naked arse. “What do you think?” He asked prompting Carter to turn around and assess his friend. The T-shirt was a bit loose on Xander’s torso but the jeans fit nicely.

Carter looked Xander up and down which made Xander’s stomach do a little flip. “You look good man.” He smiled walking back over to the bed. Even better without clothes on though. Carter thought to himself. Wait, what?! Oh man! I really need to work this out.

They sat for a while watching TV until Xander’s phone pinged. He reached over and noticed that it was 1:30. “Damn.” He said sitting bolt upright. The text was from his mum asking where he was and if he was alright. After letting him travel the world, she still worried about him. He quickly formed a response, telling her he was with Carter and for her not to worry.

“You alright?” Carter asked glancing over.

“Yeah, it’s my mum, she was worried.” He admitted, tossing his phone on the bedside table.

Carter sniggered, “Well that is sweet. I’m lucky if my mum checks in once a week!”

“Shut up, your mum loves you and you know it! Anyway, I was going to go car shopping today. I still have some money saved up. So I should probably get going.” He said, not making any move to get up and leave.

“Oh cool, what sorta car are you gonna get?” Carter asked suddenly perking up.

“No clue! What would you suggest?” He smirked knowing full well that Carter was really into cars and that asking his friend would mean spending at least half an hour extra with him, which was all he wanted right then.

“Well, now that is a good question,” Carter replied grinning.

After listening to an enthusiastic Carter rattle off a list of cars he deemed acceptable Xander begrudgingly left Carter’s flat. Xander got outside and realized that he had no idea where he was so he typed in his parents address into google maps on his phone and as it turned out it was only a short walk to his home. He used that walk to try and clear his head. He tried really hard not to think about Carter and to think about what kind of car he wanted. But it didn’t really work. By the time he got home, he was mentally exhausted.

He walked into his house and his mum came out of the living room and into the hallway. She took one look of his face.

“Oh, what’s going on?” She asked, her tone full of concern.

“I’m crushing hard on Carter!” He blurted out. Xander’s mum, Tracy, had always been supportive and accepting of her son and never judged. They had a really honest relationship, which in times like these Xander really appreciated.

Tracy was a kind lady. She was tall and thin with honey-colored hair that fell in waves to her shoulders. She had forest green eyes and the start of crow’s feet in the corners. She wore jeans and a cream chiffon blouse which floated elegantly every time she moved.

“Ah I see, but Carters not into guys is he?” She asked.

“Nope, and he doesn’t know about me either, I haven’t told anyone,” Xander admitted.

“Oh, honey, why didn’t you tell him when you realized back in school as I suggested?”

“Because I wasn’t sure how he would take it, I’m still not sure now mum! I really don’t know what to do. I was so honest and authentic while I was traveling, no one ever really judged and if they did I didn’t care, but I care what he thinks.”

“Well, I still think you should tell him, love. He’s known you for so long, surely he already has some suspicions, don’t you think?” Tracy suggested gently placing her hand gently on his shoulder.

“Maybe, but what if he rejects me for who I am? Then what mum? What do I do if my best friend rejects me?” Xander probed, his eye welling up with tears. “I don’t want to hide it from him anymore, I don’t want to hide from the world. But I just, I can’t lose him.” He broke down, tears streaming down his face.

“Come on, wipe away those tears.” Tracy cooed using her thumb to catch a tear that was about to drip off Xander’s chin. “Let’s go out and get a coffee, then we can go and buy you a car and you can talk about it all you want.” Tracy comforted picking up her keys and putting her shoes on.

“Okay.” Xander sniffed, wiping the rest of his tears on the back of his hand and walking back out the door. “Anywhere new to get coffee around here?”

Tracy laughed, “Trust you to perk up after I mention coffee!”