The next 5 months passed quickly as I focused on my classes and forgot about Casey. I was lucky to never run into him, something that had made letting him go easier on me. The most annoying part of this period of time was Thomas. He never left me alone, regularly walking to and from classes with me, as well as back to our apartment building. I had discovered that we actually shared a few classes, Thomas’ presence in them a fact I had never paid attention to as I had no reason to do so. Reluctantly, however, he had grown on me and I found myself seeking him out, wanting to spend time together even if I denied that he had become my best friend. Ichika would occasionally join us but she had found a new boyfriend and was leaving Thomas and me alone together more and more often. We regularly watched movies in my apartment, Thomas always brought snacks and drinks and he would ask to stay over, wanting to marathon movies and sleep on my couch. I always turned this down and he accepted it but told me that he refused to give up. That I would agree to it someday.
It was now two days to Christmas and I was standing in the San Francisco airport, waiting for my flight to Idaho to see my family. My father Shiloh had agreed to pick me up and I was double checking the small bag I had packed, only planning to stay for 4 days.
“Aero?” a familiar voice called and I rolled my eyes before looking over my shoulder to find Thomas.
“Oh for the love of God even in the airport in a different city I can’t escape you?”
“Hey. Rude. I have a flight to Indiana to catch,” he shoved me gently, “I just… happen to have a connecting flight in Boise.”
“So I get to sit on a plane that you’re also on for four hours?” I sat down, throwing my backpack into my lap and Thomas sat next to me.
“You act like you hate me.”
“I do.”
“No you don’t,” he laughed, “you can’t even lie well.”
“Shut it,” my cheeks grew warm and I stared at my plane ticket, “what’s your seat number?”
“Uh,” he flipped his ticket, “2B.”
“Ah fuck.”
“What?”
“2A,” I showed him my ticket, “I wanted to be near the window and it seems like you’ll be next to me. I really can’t escape you.”
“I’ll come to Idaho with you next year,” he poked me.
“No.”
“Then come to Indiana.”
“No.”
“Ugh… Sparrow…”
“We’re best friends, I admit that. But I don’t want to spend every minute of every day until you graduate next to each other.”
“I do,” he smiled.
“I am well aware.”
“When are you flying back?”
“The 27th. I can only handle my family so much.”
“I’m also coming back that day. Wanna do something for the New Year?”
“I’ll… think about it.”
“This is the final announcement for flight 112 to Boise. Please proceed to gate 15 immediately,” an announcement interrupted our conversation and I jumped up, Thomas right behind me.
We found our seats and after I slipped my bag under my own, Thomas copied and grabbed his headphones, plopping down next to me and putting his seatbelt on.
“Wanna watch a movie together when the plane takes off?” he handed me one of his headphones.
“I guess,” shrugging, I put it in my ear and turned to look out of the window.
The plane took off half an hour later and as soon as we were allowed to have devices Thomas started a movie, placing his tablet on the tray. I had to lean closer to him than I normally like to, the scent of apples coming from his hair and I did my best to ignore how wonderful it smelled.
Thomas suddenly laid his head on my shoulder and I jumped, getting ready to push him off of me when I realized that he had fallen asleep, the tablet falling.
Fuck.
He has been studying until late though…
He’s probably exhausted.
Sighing quietly, I fixed the tablet and allowed him to rest, denying to myself just how much I truly enjoyed his warmth.
“Tommy,” I whispered as the plane landed before shaking him, “Thomas! We’re here.”
He shot up quickly, looking around before sighing softly, “I am so sorry. I… didn’t mean to fall asleep or touch you. I know how you feel about it.”
“I’m not mad. Come on. Get up. You’ll miss your next flight and my Pa should be waiting.”
Thomas slowly got up and we waited a moment to get off the plane, walking down the terminal together.
“Well… I’ll text you okay?” he kicked at the ground, “have fun in Idaho.”
“Y… yeah have fun in Indiana. I’ll… um… let me know when you’re back in Berkeley and we can… figure out something for New Years Eve.”
“Sure,” he reached out for a moment before dropping his hand and turning to leave.
Grabbing him quickly, I pulled him close and gave him a gentle hug, the first one I had ever given him. Thomas was tiny like I thought, but through his clothes, I could feel just how truly muscular he was.
What the hell?
He’s sculpted.
“Aero?” he whispered, wrapping his arms around me.
“I’m trying not to think about the fact that we’re touching okay?”
“Sure,” he laughed, squeezing me, “go on. I’ll text you when I’m in Indiana.”
“Okay,” letting him go, I followed him with my eyes as he made his way to the next gate he needed and once he was out of sight, I headed to baggage claim.
“Sparrow!” a familiar voice called and I smiled when I found my father Shiloh and Uncle Isaac.
They were identical twins and from what I had been told, for most of their lives the only way that my grandparents could tell them apart was the way that they dressed. This first changed when Shiloh had to have his lower leg amputated after falling from a building. The second change came when Isaac was assaulted by a partner and his arm was destroyed, an infection eating through the skin and bone until they had to amputate it at the shoulder.
“Hi,” I laughed when Shiloh hugged me tightly.
“You’re here safe!”
“Well of course I am? I was only on the plane for a few hours.”
“No, you don’t understand. There’s a massive storm coming from the east. Violet, Cal, and Ori can’t fly. They’ve grounded all flights from here to the east coast for now.”
“But…” my heart sank as I thought of Thomas being stuck in the airport, “h… hang on,” pulling my phone from my pocket, I quickly called Thomas.
“Sparrow?” Thomas answered, “are you okay?”
“Was your flight canceled?”
“Yeah? How did you know?”
“My cousin and siblings were too. My Pa just told me. What are you going to do?”
“Stay in a hotel for a few days and pray I can fly back to San Francisco on the 27th I guess.”
“Um… hang on,” covering the mouthpiece on my phone, I looked at Shiloh, “Pa…”
“You don’t have to ask. It’s fine,” Shiloh whispered as Isaac looked at me confused.
“Thanks,” uncovering the phone, I chewed my lip for a moment, “come to baggage claim, Chip.”
“Why Eeyore?” Thomas laughed sadly.
“You can spend Christmas with me.”
“Oh… oh thank you. I’ll be right there.”
I hung up and put my phone in my pocket before turning back to my father and uncle, “don’t act too surprised when you see, Chip… er… Tommy.”
“Why?” Isaac laughed, “does he look like-” his words died as he caught sight of something over my shoulder, “oh what the hell?”
“Told you,” I snorted, “we’re similar looking.”
“Hi,” Thomas bounced up next to me and I rolled my eyes, “I’m Tommy Williams.”
“Shiloh Hartley. This is my twin brother Isaac,” Shiloh shook his hand and Isaac waved.
“Oh, you have a prosthetic arm like my Dad!” Thomas smiled.
“Really?” Isaac laughed, “does your mom have a prosthetic leg like Shi?”
“Uh… don’t have one of those but my other dad wears hearing aids. He’s partially deaf.”
“O… oh,” Isaac stuttered, “sorry. Didn’t mean to offend you.”
“I’m not,” Thomas shrugged, “I know plenty about your family. It’s not that different from mine. Both Aero and I have two dads, a sister that lives overseas, and a cousin we’re close to. But that’s it for me. My family is pretty small. I guess one big difference is him having a grandma and grandpa. I just have Papas.”
“Oh…” Shiloh sighed happily, “no wonder Aero is comfortable with you. I’ve never seen him with a friend before.”
“Pa! Don’t lie. I don’t even like Tommy. He won’t leave me alone,” I huffed.
“He’s lying. He likes me quite a bit,” Thomas poked me and I glared at him.
“Shut up, Chip.”
“Never Eeyore.”
“Can we leave now? Your dad has been cooking all day with Uncle Connor and I guarantee Uncle Alder has broken up like 5 fights,” Shiloh sighed.
“Alright. Hey Uncle Iz?” I looked at Isaac as Shiloh led us from the airport, “where’s Titi?”
“Ve and Yves are out getting the last of the presents with Cora. We realized we forgot to get something for you.”
“Do I get my ribbon color yet?” I sighed, climbing into the back of the truck with Thomas.
“Are you going to give the other piece to Tommy?” Shiloh looked at me from the driver's seat and I blushed.
“Absolutely not!”
“What’s this about ribbons?” Thomas looked around confused.
“Nothing!” I shouted.
“Don’t yell in my truck Sparrow Jasper Hartley,” Shiloh glared at me, “anyway! It’s a tradition started by my Nagyi, it means grandma in Hungarian, forever ago. You and your partner put a piece of matching ribbon into each other's hair in a bow to signify that you’ll always be each other's present. We’ve been doing it for years. Sparrow has been annoying about finally getting his but we haven’t given him one yet because he hasn’t brought home a… hm…” he looked over at Isaac and smiled when Isaac nodded.
“Are you doing the weird twin telepathic talking thing that we all hate?”
“Yes. Anyway,” Shiloh turned down the street I had grown up on, “fine. I’ll give you your color, Sparrow. Silver. I have it at home waiting.”
“Thank you!”
“You won’t actually get it this year since you don’t have anyone to give it to but you finally get a color.”
“Took you forever. Fucking hell,” I groaned, looking out the window.
“Watch your mouth!”
“No,” I shrugged, “I’m almost 20.”
“Fine,” Shiloh groaned, “I hate that by the way.”
“You’re getting old, Pa,” I snorted, looking at Thomas from the corner of my eye who was watching me fondly.
“I am barely 44, you asshole.”
“Oh, you’re so young!” Thomas smiled, “my parents are a lot older than you!”
“Really?” Shiloh looked at him confused as he pulled into the driveway, “you’re what… 23?”
“Why does this keep happening?” Thomas threw his hands in the air, “no! I’m the same age as Sparrow! Our birthdays are two days apart. I just graduated high school really early. Anyway,” he hopped out of the truck before the rest of us, “my parents are 57 and 55. My dad Killian was 38 when I was born and Theo was 36. I have a much older sister. She’s 37 now.”
“It’s weird that your sister is almost the same age as my aunt,” I laughed, going over to Thomas.
“Well it happens,” Shiloh called, leading us to the house, “sometimes, teenage pregnancy means that your kids are far apart in age.”
“Yep. That’s me and Kennedy!” Thomas smiled.
We all walked into the house and a sudden rush of noise overwhelmed me as I took in the scene in front of me. My aunt Cora and uncle Alder were hanging lights all over the house, Aunt Juniper was doing her best to help from her wheelchair as my father Kai and uncle Connor cooked in the kitchen, pushing each other occasionally. My titi River was having a staring contest with their younger brother Yves who happened to be my uncle Oakley’s husband.
“Aero!” a gentle voice called and my older cousin Charlotte came running down the hallway.
Charlotte and her sister Delilah were the only ones that stayed in Idaho when it came time to go to college, wanting to stay near their parents Cora and Alder. Charlotte was a firefighter and Delilah taught kindergarten.
“Hi,” I smiled, hugging her tightly.
“Who are you?” Charlotte narrowed her eyes at Thomas as the rest of the family came over.
“Hi! I’m Tommy. I’m Sparrow’s best friend as much as he tries to deny that I am. I’m actually supposed to be in Indiana but my flight got canceled and seeing as he actually enjoys my company even if he says he doesn’t, Sparrow invited me along so I wasn’t stuck in the airport for four days. Oh! I need to call my Dad’s sorry,” he rushed to the front door and took a spot next to it, pulling his phone out as we all stared at him.
“Holy hell, Aero. Your one real friend is…”
“Just like Connor and Yves,” Juniper snorted, “you found your opposite. You’re so grumpy like Kai.”
“Chip,” I hooked a thumb at Thomas, “is the entire reason I knew that Casey was cheating. He has been nothing but validating of my identity. As annoying as he is, because holy fuck can he be annoying… I enjoy his company. But he… he graduates next year so…”
“Phones exist,” River softly rubbed my upper back, “Uncle Iz and I dated long distance for months. I’m not saying that you would date Tommy, but… you can maintain a friendship that way.”
“Don’t get his hopes up,” I snorted, “Tommy has been begging me to go on a date for months now.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Hartley?” Thomas called, looking at Shiloh, “my Dad wanted to talk to you.”
“Oh!” Shiloh smiled, going over to take Thomas’ phone and putting it on speaker, “hello? This is Shiloh Hartley.”
“Hello,” a deep, thick Irish accent came through the other end, “my name is Killian Williams. I’m one of Tommy’s dads. I just wanted to tell you thank you for letting him stay with you. We were concerned. I’m glad he made a friend in your son. Can you give Tommy your address so we can send you a Christmas gift as a thank you?”
“Oh, you don’t need to do that!”
“We want to,” Killian laughed softly, “my husband Theo insists. Or he will. He’s closing down his clinic right now.”
“What does he do?”
“Veterinarian. I’m a literature professor at the community college.”
“How nice. I run a bookshop and my husband Kai runs the connected cafe. I’m also a baker. How about a trade? We’ll send you some nice baked goods and teas as well for letting us borrow Tommy.”
“Perfect,” Killian laughed, “you’re very kind. It was nice to talk to you, I’m sure we will again soon. Tommy?”
“Yeah, Dad?”
“Be kind and respectful. I know how excited you can get.”
“I know I know. Love you.”
“Love you.”
Shiloh handed Thomas his phone after the call ended and River cleared their throat.
“Where is your father from?” River called softly.
“Killian is from a small village outside of Dublin. Theodore is from Indiana. They met there when Theo moved back from San Francisco with my sister Kennedy.”
“Is that why you go to UC Berkeley?” I tilted my head to the side.
“Nope,” Thomas shrugged, coming over to me, “they just have a really good track for those wanting to teach high school. Specifically English majors. I want to teach literature like Killian.”
“That’s sweet… I’m planning to take over the bookshop.”
“I remembered,” he poked my nose and I fought down the urge to blush, “you told me once in statistics.”
“Ah. That’s right.”
The rest of the family was deathly quiet and I looked around to find everyone doing their best to pretend they weren’t listening.
“Ugh,” I groaned, “Pa?”
“Hm?” Shiloh looked at me finally.
“Are any of the guestrooms free for Chip?”
“Nope. He’ll have to sleep in yours.”
“Ah… fuck,” tossing my bag over my shoulder, I grabbed Thomas by the arm, “come on.”
“Where are we going?” he looked at me confused.
“My room.”
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