School has started up again so soz if my updates are slooowww, BUT! This chapter is good and I has good plans for the next chapter too, so, enjoy

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[Yuri's POV]

I wake up the next morning feeling just as empty but more than anything, tired. Tired of thinking over every little thing. Tired of laying around feeling depressed. Otabek didn't disturb me after I told him to go away yesterday, I'm guessing he slept on the couch last night. It's time to face him; like Paula said, 'if I mess up then I have to fix it' and I have messed up our friendship by developing stupid feelings so it's my responsibility to move past them.

I step into the kitchen to find Otabek making coffee, wearing nothing but boxers again. I gulp down the dry lump in my throat as my eyes drift slowly down his body. My heart is thumping wildly. Damn it, now that I am aware of my feelings it is really embarrassing to be around him. I avert my eyes and continue my way towards the fridge.

"Morning." I mumble.

"Oh, you're awake." Otabek puts down his coffee and turns to me with a smiling face. "Good morning."

My heart skips a beat. His smile...makes me feel at ease.

"Sorry I made you worry yesterday," I apologise sincerely. "I think I just needed a good rest. Jet lag, you know."

"Yeah, of course. Don't worry about it." Otabek says kindly.

I feel as though all my troubles melt away under his gaze. It might hurt knowing that my feelings are one-sided, but his warmth makes it a little better. I'm glad I made the decision to stay with him instead of getting scared off by these feelings. It was the right decision.

I take a deep breath and smile widely, "Shall we finish our building job?"

"Get something to eat first," Otabek advices. "You almost collapsed yesterday; I'm worried."

I smirk sneakily and cross my arms. "Only if you cook it for me."

A look of horror dawns on Otabek's face but he shrugs it off. "Well, it's your kitchen. I'm not paying for any repairs."

"Repairs?" I laugh. "You're not going to burn down my apartment are you?"

Otabek doesn't answer, causing me to slightly doubt my decision to make him cook breakfast. He heats up a pan and gathers some eggs, spinach, cheese and ham. Looks like he is going for an omelette, nice and easy. Then, he bends down and starts rummaging through the cupboards under the sink.

"Um, I don't think you'll find any ingredients in there...unless you're planning to slip bleach in my eggs." I say darkly.

Otabek laughs and reveals a bundle of pink cloth. At first I can't tell what it is, until he puts it on. It turns out to be a baby-pink apron with white, bubbly letters printed on the front that read, 'Kiss the Cook'.

"I didn't know we had an apron." I step forward to observe it. "Especially one this hideous..." I mutter.

"We didn't, so I bought one." Otabek says proudly, placing his hands on his hips to display his purchase.

I give him a fake smile as I stare at the blindingly girly apron. Heat rises to my cheeks as I reread the text printed on the front. Suddenly I can't hear anything besides the pounding of my heart, and I see nothing but the fantasy in which I toss aside the ingredients to kiss the cook. My mind is clouding. All I can think about is how soft and warm Otabek's lips must be. My heart flutters. This is the first time I have ever thought about Otabek this way...what I would give to kiss him right now.

"Yura?"

I snap back to reality, my heart still racing.

"Well don't just stand there in a daze," Otabek chuckles. "What do you think?"

"Wh-What do I think?" I repeat dreamily, the images of our crashing lips flashing through my mind.

I know that I'm blushing. I can feel myself growing hot and flustered. I shake myself loose and remain cool.

"I think the apron says 'cook' but you ain't cooking." I answer sassily.

Otabek laughs. "Fair enough. I'll get right on it, boss."

He sarcastically salutes me and returns to his eggs.

I heave a heavy sigh and collapse into a chair at the dining table. These feelings are like a dam that has been building up inside of me; now that I have broken down the wall, endless water just keeps flooding out. At first I felt weird, almost like it wasn't real, I couldn't believe I was attracted to Otabek...but now...now I just can't stop.

Otabek places a steaming plate with a messy pile of eggs, looking more scrambled than omelette-like.

"I tried my best." He says, as if reading my thoughts.

I give a light chuckle before digging right in. "Thanks."

Otabek sits down across from me and rests his head in his hand while he watches me eat.

"You're not going to have anything?" I question.

"I had a sandwich before you woke up." Otabek answers without breaking his gaze.

I continue eating my eggs, feeling a little self-conscious with him watching me so closely. Otabek looks as though he has something stuck in his throat, after a while his face turns a little red even.

"Are you choking or something?" I ask.

Otabek gets startled, clearly he was lost in his own thoughts. "No, I just—" He begins watching me intensely again, his cheeks blushing. "I-I was wondering if it was good."

"What? The eggs?" I reply.

"Yeah, I mean, I'm not the best at cooking." Otabek says shyly.

"They're fine." I assure him.

"But...But I want the best for you." Otabek replies.

I smile as I finish scraping up the last remains of egg. "Anything you cook for me is the best."

Otabek grins, dimples creasing his rosy cheeks.

He's so cute! His smile makes my heart flutter.

"Can we go build the bed now?" I plead.

"Okay, let's go." Otabek agrees, leaving the table.

I follow him down the hall and into the spare room where the pile of bed parts and tools still remains. I took on the job of reading the instructions and directing Otabek, while he put together all the heavy stuff. He is still wearing only his boxers...not that I'm complaining, but watching his muscles tense up as he works with the tools makes me feel kind of inferior.

"Hey Beka," I say after a while. "Do you think I'm scrawny?"

"What?" Otabek puts down the bed leg he was trying to screw a wheel to and looks at me. "Do you know how much strength ice skating requires?"

I suddenly realise how pathetic I must sound and get a little embarrassed. "I—I just mean...you're a lot bigger than I am."

"I'm also older." Otabek points out.

"Well I feel unmanly around you." I pout.

"I don't care if you're manly or not." Otabek laughs. "I like you just the way you are."

I feel myself blushing so I keep my head down to hide it.

"Besides," Otabek adds. "Didn't I tell you just yesterday that you are an intensely hot male?"

"Y-Yeah, I guess you're right..." I mumble, keeping my eyes down as I fiddle my thumbs.

"Now." Otabek says, picking up a different bed piece. "Where do I put this?"

I distract myself by concentrating on the instructions but it's hard not to look at his rugged body. In three hours we had only finished the bottom and still needed to build the bedframe.

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[Otabek's POV]

"Do you wonna call it a day? Maybe go out for some frozen yoghurt?" I suggest.

"Yes please!" Yuri answers. "But, um, you're going to have to put on some clothes first."

I look down at my boxers and laugh. "Oh, right."

Yuri and I gather some clothes and disperse to get changed. I pull on some jeans and a leather jacket before heading out into the living room. Yuri is wearing is go-to outfit—black leggings, a black singlet and a leopard print jacket.

"Ready to go?" He asks, grabbing his keys.

"Yup."

I follow Yuri out the door and down to the carpark where my motorcycle is parked. He jumps on and quickly clips on his helmet, looking enthusiastic. I guess it has been a while since we rode together. I smile and put on my own helmet before hopping on in front. I'm barely on the seat before Yuri's arms fly around my waist. He cuddles up closely to my back, ready to go. I pause for a moment, taking in his warmth and appreciating this feeling, before starting the bike. Yuri doesn't show any signs of letting go the whole way...nor when we arrive.

"Y-Yura." I say awkwardly. "We're here."

Yuri seems completely content in staying where he is—like a kitten that has fallen asleep on me, I don't want to move him.

His arms suddenly retract as he straightens himself up. "Oh! Sorry, I was really comfy and I kind of spaced out."

"That's okay," I say with a nervous chuckle.

I wish he didn't have to let go. I wish I could cuddle him every second of every day.

"I lose track of time when we're on the motorcycle, you know," Yuri continues as he hops off the bike. "I feel so safe holding onto you, and relaxed as we speed through the wind...I wish we could keep riding forever."

I gaze at Yuri in awe. "You...You feel safe holding onto me?" Before I can stop it, a bashful smile spreads across my face.

Yuri's ears go red. "W-Well yeah. Like we said before, you're older and bigger than me and so a lot of the time I feel vulnerable or insignificant, but...but if I stay close to you then I feel safer...I don't know."

My smile fades a little. I grip Yuri's shoulders gently and look him in the eye. "Yuri. I never want you to feel insignificant. You are my inspiration, my reason to skate. You have been guiding me through life—You are my life!

Yuri's eyes grow wider, his cheeks a little pink.

"You shouldn't need me to feel greater. I'm the one that relies on you." I finish. "Now come on, let's get some froyo."

I let go of Yuri's shoulders and start walking towards the shops. He blinks a couple times before relaxing his bewildered expression and jogging to catch up to me.

We turn into a small corner shop that sells a variety of smoothies, ice cream and frozen yoghurt. The cashier is a young girl with dirty-blonde hair, bright green eyes and a cute smile.

"Hello, what can I get you?" She asks happily, directing her question mainly to Yuri.

"Oh, ah," Yuri stammers, obviously used to me ordering for us. "Well I'll have a mixed froyo, strawberry and chocolate, in a regular cup please."

"Sure thing." The cashier girl grabs a regular cup and scribbles Yuri's orders on it, taking longer than usual to write two flavours down.

"And could I get a regular caramel coffee froyo?" I speak politely after she shows no signs of asking for my order.

"Oh, yes, of course." The cashier giggles and grabs a second cup, taking a substantially shorter time to write my order.

I peer at her suspiciously as I hand over my money. I don't like it when girls giggle—it's like, you're not that funny.

I glower as I turn and take a seat on a small table outside, Yuri following me closely. Not too long after, that cashier girl comes out with our two cups of frozen yoghurt and places them on the table gently. She smiles shyly at Yuri before quickly returning to the counter.

"I don't know what it is, but there is something about her that I don't like." I say as I grab my froyo sulkily.

The writing on my cup is lazy and unattractive, and it is only half-full.

"Really? I think she seems nice." Yuri says. He takes his cup, which is overflowing with frozen yoghurt unlike mine, and pauses. "...That's strange."

"What?" I mumble with a spoon of frozen yoghurt in my mouth.

Yuri spins his cup on the table. The hand writing is neat and pretty, no wonder the cashier took so long to write it, and below Yuri's order is a phone number.

I stare at the number, not really sure how to react.

"Do you think it belongs to the cashier?" Yuri asks before casually digging into his mountain of froyo.

My stomach drops. "Maybe...are—are you gonna call her?"

Yuri shrugs, clearly more focused on eating.

Suddenly I don't feel so hungry. My head is buzzing, I can't concentrate on anything other than that stupid number.

"Well, do you...do you like her?" I persist.

"I don't even know her." Yuri says.

"Do you want to know her?" I question.

"No— I-I mean, I don't know!" Yuri outbursts, his face turning red.

"I'm just asking because she seems kind of rude. She didn't even ask for my order." I reply bitterly.

What am I doing? I don't know what I'm doing! That girl is just so cute and nice it makes me sick, I can't stand the thought of Yuri being with her.

"I don't know about her, but—but if you want to call her..." I add stubbornly.

"I don't really wonna call her." Yuri says timorously.

"Wait—you don't?" I look at the pretty girl standing behind the register and then back at Yuri. I'm relieved and happy, but at the same time a little confused that he isn't taking the chance like any other guy would. It feels almost too good to be true. "W-Why not?" I ask.

Yuri jabs at his frozen yoghurt, his cheeks a hot red. "Because I don't like her." He mumbles.

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[Yuri's POV]

That girl is nice but I don't want to date her. I only want Otabek.

"I don't really wonna call her." I tell Otabek.

"Wait—you don't? W-Why not?" He asks.

Otabek watches me intensely, waiting for an answer. I feel flustered under his gaze. Does he want me to like her or something? Maybe he is trying to set me up with her so that I will get over him...I keep my eyes down on my spoon as I mix it around in my frozen yoghurt.

"Because I don't like her." I mumble.

Well it is true. I don't like her, I like Otabek. But of course I can't just say, Because I'm in love with you idiot!

Otabek seems unsure about my answer, but he drops the subject and returns to his froyo.

Feeling embarrassed, I allow my eyes to wonder in the scene. Couples surround us at every table, feeding each other ice cream and sharing smoothies. As my gaze falls back onto Otabek, I find myself blushing. My heart starts racing. I-Is this a...!

Is this a date?!