With Riona having travelled from afar, Kenny’s parents had convinced her to stay the night before heading back the next morning. That meant that Kenny and Denny had to share a bed while Riona occupied the other room. It had been fun when they were little- a perfect excuse to stay up late muttering gossip about all the nonsense the world had to offer and catch up on all the tittle-tattle they missed out on while entertaining guests, giggling then shushing themselves repeatedly until one of their parents came over and rapped their door, nagging for them to sleep. They could’ve still done that, except Kenny’s body was spread flat on the wall against his brother’s size.

“You know, Kenny” Denny said quietly, “I never bothered asking you the important question”

Kenny groaned, knowing completely well the circumstances of what the ‘important question’ would be. He yawned and sank his face into the plush of his pillow, snoring obliviously. Unfortunately, Denny had known Kenny for all twenty-one years of his life and was certain that Kenny did not snore. Kenny peeked at his brother’s face with one open eye, “I don’t-“

“You do” Denny cut him off sharply, “I can tell”. He knew that arguing with his brother was pointless and stayed as still as a rock. Attackers won’t notice you if you don’t move, they also sense fear, so Kenny told himself to shut up and calm down. Denny shrugged the quilt off both of them and sat up, it gave Kenny some space to expand his lungs and breathe. His brother’s shirt had rolled up his front in the mess, revealing an intimidating set of abs, making Kenny rather jealous. Someday, he too would work hard for those – maybe even a better set. Denny propped himself on one arm and looked down at Kenny carefully.

“Who is it?” he smirked. Kenny squirmed under the sheets; he couldn’t keep eye contact. “Well?” Denny demanded, holding his brother limp at his shoulders, “I’m going to swing you upside down if you don’t tell me.” Although Kenny knew his brother won’t actually do it, he wasn’t willing to take any chances.

“Lane” he whispered, barely audible to the human hearing range. How his face burned hot with passion! How his eyes teared-up with need!

“I’m sorry, who?” Denny said, placing his ear closer to Kenny’s mouth.

“Lane” Kenny repeated just a bit louder. Denny finally slid away. Silent. His pulse hammered through the veins on his throat. He had never told anyone before, and his head told him he had made a mistake. He gritted his teeth to prevent them from clattering beneath Denny’s gaze. He was quite certain his brain playing tricks on him, but he saw a look of stern disapproval in his brother’s eyes. It made him tremble.

“Lane, as in Lane Kalchik? As in our family friend, Lane Kalchik? The Slovak kid?” Denny confirmed, backing away, “That’s interesting!” He leaned back on the wall and crossed his arms thinking deeply for a good quiet moment. “I don’t see what you like in him…He’s nice and smart and all-“

“And sassy” Kenny added-blushing. He was opening up, understanding that his brother didn’t mind the slightest – the rush of adrenaline that flowed through him being used up in excitement instead of his initial terror, “and cheerful and…just the slightest bit demanding, you know?”

“I guess” Denny smiled. Kenny felt like an entire weight just lifted off his chest- and he didn’t mean his brother’s mass either. It made him laugh bashfully.

“And pretty?!!” Kenny hyped up just once more. The pointed, triangular nose that Kenny wished would breathe down his neck, that deep, satin voice whispering into his ear. the plump lotus-pink lips that Kenny wanted to run his fingers along then kiss and suck on until they became cherry red, the emerald, green eyes he wished would share every emotion with him and the fine slender figure he could easily wrap his arm around and caress the smooth satin skin.

“Pretty?” Denny raised his eyebrow with a smile, “Well maybe…I haven’t seen him in quite a while”. It made Kenny giggle until it gradually progressed into a loud hearty chortle. He grabbed his pillow and buried his head into it to stop it from echoing down the hallways. “Well, look at you” Kenny’s laughter was contagious, it made Denny chuckle, “you’re head over heels for him, aren’t you?”

“I AM!” Kenny yelped mid-pant, rocking back and forth in excitement before slowly came back down to his senses. He looked at his brother, then looked away quickly, chewing on the inside of his mouth in embarrassment. Denny scooted closer and put a big-brotherly arm over Kenny’s shoulder.

“Then tell him” Denny instructed.

“No way!” Kenny argued, throwing his brother’s arm off, “That’s a death sentence!”

“Kenny” Denny said more sternly, “you may never get another chance. Maybe he likes you back! How will you know if you never-“

“Because that’s not how it works” Kenny whined, “my friendship with him is already as perfect as it can get. Asking for it to be more perfect is like asking to lose it all”

“Oh, what has this generation brought love down to?’ his older brother sighed, looking up at the heavens. He straightened himself, “It’s cringy but…just do what your heart tells you”. He poked the left side of Kenny’s chest “Heart.” He repeated.

“Boys!” a familiar voice hollered through the bedroom door followed by the loud knocking on the door, that made Kenny jump “sleep please!”

They both broke down into fits of nostalgic laughter, “Good night, Amma!” they greeted and fell back into the pillows. Denny threw a protect arm over Kenny and pulled him tightly into his chest. It felt like sleeping in the grasp of a bear. Always the baby in the family…He finally dozed of tired of trying to decipher exactly what it was that his heart was telling him. It wasn’t being very explicit.