Merciless! How could anyone be cruel enough to part the curtains right in the morning? Ciaran grumbled and tried his best to protect his eyes in a desperate attempt. Soon the blanket was taken from him, his mother towering over him. He wanted to curse her for her strict demeanor, but as soon as she smiled at him, whispering the three magical words, the anger subsided. “Coffee is ready.” 

Ciaran sighed, sat up on his bed and had a good yawn. “Morning, mom.” 

“Good morning, Cia.” She kissed his forehead, causing him to grumble in protest. 

“Mom, I’m not a little child anymore.”

“No, but as long as you don’t stop being my child, I’ll dote over you however I please.” She laughed and left the room to let him change. Ciaran lived up to the title of a morning grouch, but as soon as he smelled the taste of freshly brewed coffee, he ceased his petulance. 

He checked his smartphone first thing in the morning. As expected, the first messages already awaited him. Of course, one of them was right from his boyfriend. 

Ciaran shook his head. Typical Pierce. Still, he couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. Simply knowing he was eager to see him was enough to turn a morning into a real ‘good morning’. Life couldn’t have been brighter for him. Many young gay men had countless problems awaiting them, especially in high schools. 

For Ciaran, things turned out better than expected. He was still an appreciated member of the basketball team in school. People weren’t stupid enough to harass him despite his orientation. Yet, he never had expected that Pierce, one of the football stars of the school, would accept his confession. 

As he scrolled through the further messages, he saw another one right from Logan, the captain of the basketball team.

Ciaran sighed. Why did he agree to show the new guy around? The reason was actually simply. It was Logan who asked him to do it. The first guy he ever had a crush on, so he couldn’t say no to him. And he still was saved in his phone by the stupid nickname he once came up with.

Ciaran didn’t simply like him for his looks, though. Logan was the first guy he ever confessed to and even though he told him right to the face he wasn’t gay and couldn’t return them, he never treated him any different. If he ever felt uncomfortable around him, he never showed it. Thanks to Logan being cool about it, all the other teammates adjusted to the situation. Unlike him, they still weren’t sure how to deal with it at first, but time calmed the waves thoroughly. He tipped an answer for him right away.

With this message answered, he returned to Pierce. Should he admit to dreaming of him? No, probably not. If Pierce knew he infiltrated his dreams already, he was sure to plan the conquest of something else. 

Yeah, that would be a far better counter to him. Grinning on the phone, he changed into his clothes and stumbled down the stairs to fully awaken on a cup of coffee and breakfast.

School wasn’t too far away from home. He could have taken the bus if he wanted to, but Ciaran preferred to enjoy the morning air. Or rather the special atmosphere in the morning. In Mistdale there was rarely a morning completely free of fog. It wasn’t as bad as in some parts of London, as the mist never was too dense. Still, it gave the town the nickname Little London even though it was located in the USA.

Ciaran enjoyed the view and sensation. He always felt as if he entered one of the horror movies he loved to watch. This little excitement in the morning was enough to forget a morning started by forcibly waking oneself.

He had just entered the school grounds a few minutes ago, as someone wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. Pierce pressed his lips against Ciaran’s, devouring him in a hungry kiss. Overwhelmed by all the butterflies swarming around in his stomach, Ciaran supported his weight by leaning in the kiss, twining his arms around Pierce’s neck. 

He chuckled into the kiss, enjoying the known taste of Pierce’s aftershave. A small wisp of mint that combined itself well with the mint gum he loved to chew. One audacious hand sneaked itself to his butt, grasping it tightly. Ciaran’s heart skipped more than one beat as he reminded Pierce, with a cuff on his neck, that he wasn’t appreciating this assault. 

Pierce laughed at him, parted their lips and pulled him tighter into the embrace.
“I’m sorry. Every time I know I’m so close to you, I just can’t help myself. Forgive me, babe. I’m losing control if it comes to you.” He smiled at him, oblivious of any guilt.

“Maybe I would, if it wasn’t your excuse for every single greeting”, Ciaran responded. “But I’ll let you off because you're handsome. And a damn good kisser.” 

Handsome was an understatement. Pierce had broad shoulders to lean on, a body steeled in hours of training. Combined with a face that could have been from a teenage model with his hazelnut colored hair, the refined edges of his cheeks and chin and the blue eyes that feigned innocence better than anyone else. Not to forget the dimple shown on his broadest grins. 

“Well, thank you for understanding.” He grinned, released Ciaran out of one arm just to pull him to his side with the other, wrapping it around his shoulders. “I have to sort some things in the equipment room for the coach in the lunch break. Would you join me, so I have at least something pretty to look forward to?”

“You mean something pretty to strip with your eyes?” Ciaran grinned, but shook his head. “Sorry, I’d love to, but I promised Logan to show the new guy around today. So, I fear you’ll have to live with the memory until then.”

“You could leave me your shorts instead?” Pierce looked at him with puppy eyes as if he had asked the most usual question.

Ciaran answered him with a small slap against his upper arm. “Oh, no! You can forget that. I need my shorts for myself, Mr. sex addict, thank you!” 

Pierce laughed at him. He released him as soon as they reached the front of the classroom. “Than, I’ll have to dream about you instead. And believe me, these dreams will be really wet.” He smirked, before slipping through the door, before Ciaran could counter again.