Duke sighed as he heard the the last bell ring meaning he was to report to the gym where the basketball boys were practicing and head down to the weight room at the other side of the gym near the showers. He stood up waving bye to the agriculture teacher as he headed to the gym waving at Coach Grace on his way to the weight room as he walked into the restroom next to it to switch into his workout clothes as he stretched a little before walking out with his bag as he walked to the weight room as he began working out when he heard the whistle.
Lir was focused as he heard the whistle as that meant to group up and talk out some ideas before continuing as he looked to Elijah and Siam as they were sweating as much as he was. He smiled softly as he knew what Coach Grace was going to tell them as Grace spoke "Alright boys, we have to be focused on this practice since it is our second to last practice before state finals. Now Lir, I want you up against Siam and Justin." Lir nodded as he looked at the two as he knew they had the edge in height but not in speed. Lir smirked as the whistle was blown as he quickly slipped under them grabbing the ball as he quickly ran dribbling the ball as he jumped up putting it in the basket with a grin as he landed on his feet as Grace clapped "Great work Lir, I see you used your height to your advantage. Pray tell where did you learn that trick?" Lir chuckled rubbing the back of his head "I actually learned it from Duke when he was helping me during the summer last year." Elijah nodded "Yeah, I was there. Duke used his own height to his advantage during a one on one with Lir and it was his trump card last minute." Grace nodded as he chuckled "And to think we could've had him on the team, well the past is the past. Practice ends in twenty minutes and Lir lock up on yours and Duke's way out, okay?" Lir nodded as Grace gave him a spare key to the gym as he went back to practicing.
Lir sighed as he looked at his phone seeing the fact the practice would be finished soon as he waved at Coach Grace who blew his whistle "Everyone hit the showers! I will see you all tomorrow." He said as he started picking up basketballs as the players went into the shower room. Lir sighed as the water ran over him as he was pondering the statement Siam had said earlier in the hallway "You never know until you ask." as he sighed deeply before turning off the water as he went over grabbing his normal clothes and slipping them on as he put on his shoes with a click as the metal from his shoelace hit the zipper on his pant leg. He stood up walking to the weight room seeing a shirtless Duke running on the treadmill without a care in the world as Lir could feel the sneaking blush on his face as he cleared his throat.
Duke turned before squeaking turning off the treadmill as he grabbed his tank top covering his chest up as Lir laughed "Duke we have seen each other shirtless before it isn't anything n.new" He stuttered which confused Duke "You good Lir? I'll head to the showers if you need some space or something." Lir shook his head as he walked forward causing Duke to mentally panic as Lir hugged him close as Duke felt Lir move his head to face him as Lir kissed him as he felt his face heat up as he kissed back as he began to pull away feeling that it was a heat of the moment decision and Lir was just testing something as he squeaked out "I.. I am going to take a shower!" as he hurried to the showers as he turned on the water feeling the heat on him as he was trying to mainly hide the blush in the steam as he felt calm for a bit as he spoke softly "was that.... did he? He kissed me." He squeaked out the last part as he felt what he thought was the water but he got the taste of the salty tears of joy as he smiled "I am not sure why I am crying but I can't help it... Maybe I will ask him about it after I finish in here on the ride to my house." He slowly turned off the water grabbing his school clothes off the bench as he switched into them as he chuckled walking out as he laughed nervously at Lir who was leaning against the wall with a complex expression.
Lir sighed mentally as he felt slightly hurt feeling that he may have just ruined his longest lasting friendship for just a kiss. He noticed Duke out of the corner of his eye having a similar expression as he turned forcing a small smile "You ready to go?" Duke jumped slightly as Lir figured he was still processing everything that had happened in this day. Duke gave him a small nod with his signature smirk as he chuckled "Man Duke, even when things are awkward you manage to make me laugh!" Lir was hopeful that a cheerful demeanor would help Duke cheer up completely as he watched Duke chuckled before bursting into a small laugh as Duke looked at him "And your sudden mood change was completely unexpected." He said as he breathed in a bit as he regain his composure "Anyway, ready to go Lir?" He said as Lir smirked "Only if you can beat me there!" as he turned and started running to the door hearing Duke closing in on him as he seen Duke matching his speed as they reached the door.
Duke smirked as he opened the door slipping out due to his smaller frame chuckling as he jumped up and down "I win!" was all he could say before Lir walked out and flicked his nose causing him to drop silent as he rubbed his nose "Heeeeeeey, meanie!" Duke chuckled as Lir nodded "Next time don't use your height in a race then." Duke could practically hear the grin on Lir's face as they walked out to the truck as Duke hopped into the passenger's seat as he set his bag in between his feet as Lir climbed into the driver's side starting up the vehicle. Duke looked out the window as he was building up some of his courage to tell Lir what he wanted to say as he turned "H.Hey Lir?" Lir turned "Yeah dude?" Duke smiled softly "So uh about you ki..kissing me earlier?" He watched as Lir's face became dark red "Oh uh that uh umm yeah?" Duke had never seen Lir this flustered before he gave a slightly nod more so to comfort himself as he spoke "D..Do you have feelings for me?"
Lir blinked a few times "was he really asking this? The question he himself was going to ask?" He thought to himself before speaking "Well umm I don't know, honestly it's a bit confusing but I know there is something I feel towards you." He said this feeling himself starting to tear up but focused as they pulled up to Duke's house "Okay, go in and grab some clothes I will wait here for you." Duke nodded as he got out of the vehicle as he walked to the door heading in. Lir sighed as he felt the tears flow from his eyes "What the actual hell is wrong with me?! I know I love him, so why can't I bring myself to tell him? I thought this was going to be easier than it was to tell my mother I am gay...." He wiped the tears away as he heard the door to Duke's house open as Duke's little brothers came out and ran to the truck with big smiles on their faces "Lir is here!, I wonder why he seems sad?, Maybe he feels bad about something?" They were all talking in rapid succession that Lir could barely keep all of their sentences straight as he smiled "I am good you three, me and Duke just got finished with gym and workout so we are still a bit warm." The youngest of the three piqued up "So did you know that Duke like likes you?" Lir felt the color drain from his face as he laughed nervously as he looked at the screen door as Duke's father came up giving a warm smile "Guys, let's give Lir some space okay?" The three kids sighed in defeat as they headed in with Duke's father as Duke came out just shortly after carrying a small duffel bag. Duke set the bag in the back of the truck as he got into the truck "Dad had me pack some extra clothes he said that he's taking my brothers and mother to go see my great uncle up north." Lir nodded "Well I know you don't get along well with your great uncle so you are welcome to stay at my place until they get back." Duke smiled "Thanks Lir I appreciate it." Lir smiled thinking on what the youngest one said "Hey, tying into your question from earlier. Do you have feelings for me?"
Duke gasped slightly as he stuttered for a moment "If I didn't do you think I would have asked y... oh..." He trailed off as Lir was giving him that look that Duke registered as the "I agree" look coming from Lir as he felt some tears flow down his cheeks "Come on ya big lug, let's get to your house before my waterworks ruin the floor of your truck." He smiled as Lir laughed as he pulled out of the driveway and to his house. Duke was rather quiet during the ride there as he was listening to the radio as a song came on that snapped Duke out of his thoughts as he knew there was a stoplight up ahead as they came to a complete stop as they both looked at each other as Duke was the one that initiated the kiss this time which he could tell caught Lir off guard. Duke had felt this song held a lot of romantic feelings in it as he smiled softly hearing "Doesn't matter if you love a man, a woman or someone else. Just be whoever you are." in the song as the light turned green and they turned down Lir's road and to his house.
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