Friday Night

“Goddamn! Do all YouTubers live like this?”

Lucas gapes at the mansion that belongs to Rory Carter, never having seen such a beautiful house before. Lucas wonders if the interior looks as fancy as the exterior. Lucas repeatedly rings the doorbell, hoping someone will hear it over the loud music that’s being played from inside.

Joshua stands idly by, beginning to feel less optimistic as the minutes pass.

The only reason why he showed up to this party is because he hoped to be able to spend some alone time with Rory. But, taking into account the full house that Rory has tonight, judging by how many cars surround the place, it’s safe to assume that alone time isn’t going to happen.

"My dumbass,” Lucas mutters after catching Joshua on his phone. “I totally forgot you have Rory’s number. You should text him and let him know that we’re here."

“I already did—” Joshua starts, then pauses after the front door opens.

“Sorry, fellas! I’m not sure which asshole locked the door.” Rory greets them both with a warm smile, giving Joshua a quick look over. “Hey, Joshua. Nice outfit.”

“T-Thanks.” Joshua smiles back, blushing. As always, Rory looks good enough to devour. He’s wearing a fitted black shirt, ripped jeans, and the same white and black converse shoes that Joshua has on. Casual, but still sexy. Even Lucas agrees.

"Well, fuck me sideways and call me Sandra… Now I know what all the fuss is about," Lucas accidentally says aloud, speaking before thinking. Rory chuckles in response and Joshua turns beet-red. "Holy shit. I so did not mean to say that out loud! Please pretend you didn't just hear that." Lucas laughs while extending a hand for Rory to shake. "The name is Lucas and it's a pleasure to finally meet the guy that this idiot next to me can't stop talking ab—"

"Okay, introductions are over! Shall we go inside now?" Joshua slaps Lucas' hand out of Rory's before he's able to finish that embarrassing sentence.

"Yeah, sure. Let’s head inside." Rory can't help but find it cute at how jumpy Joshua is right now. Rory moves aside to let them into the crowded house, making sure to whisper low enough to where only Joshua can hear him. "By the way, I really like your shoes."

My shoes? But we're wearing the same pair... Joshua looks down at his feet, then at Rory's, and then his eyes drift upward until they make contact with Rory's amused face. Oh, wait, I think he's joking with me. Or is he flirting with me? No, can't be that. It wouldn't make any sense for him to flirt with me when he’s...

"Great minds think alike, I guess." Joshua clears his throat before changing the subject, not liking being the center of attention. "You have a very beautiful home,” Joshua calls out above the music as Rory gives them a quick tour of the first floor. "You must get lonely living here all by yourself. I know I would."

Rory shrugs his shoulders while guiding them through the crowd. "I'm not really that bothered by it. I work so much that I don't have the time to focus on being lonely. I barely had the time to squeeze this party into my schedule."

"Ah, you’ve got to be more careful. If you overwork yourself, you'll eventually burn out and that won’t be good for your physical or mental health," Joshua says, voicing his concern. Rory smiles, appreciating how genuine he sounds. "Sorry if I sound like I'm preaching—"

Not having been paying any attention to what’s going on in front of them—a playful tussle between two big drunk men—Joshua finds himself suddenly being yanked to Rory's side just in time before the two men go rushing past them in a hurry, nearly knocking all three of them over.

"Woah!" Joshua exclaims, his heart racing a mile per minute. "That was close."

"You okay?" Rory asks Joshua, one of his arms wrapped tightly around Joshua's small frame. Meanwhile, Lucas stands off to the side slightly pissed because there had been no one to save him from the drunk men's playfight. "Hey. Joshua. Can you hear me? I asked if you were okay."

Slowly registering whose arms he’s wrapped in, Joshua looks up into the bright concerned eyes of his savior and he feels as if he had died and gone to heaven because never in a million years did he ever think that he would get the chance to be held like this by Rory Carter.

"Yeah, I-I'm fine. Thanks for saving me." Joshua's blush deepens in color after Rory brings a hand to Joshua's face, sweetly brushing a dangling curl away from one of his eyes. Rory successfully tucks it behind Joshua’s ear and smiles. “Better?” Joshua whispers, unsure of what’s reality and what’s fiction.

"Better," Rory whispers back, his demeanor and expression are both cool, calm, and collected. But, on the inside, his frantic heart is beating faster than it ever has before. Rory carefully separates from Joshua before he leans down and… "Let's head out back and I'll show you guys the pool that I never use."

Standing this close to Rory and mentally reliving the moment of when his strong arms had been wrapped around Joshua, protecting him from harm, Joshua knows in his heart and soul that he'd follow this man to the ends of the earth if asked.