twenty ;
b r o o k s

BROOKS DIDN'T KNOW WHY he wasted his time scrolling through Facebook, which was just filled with all the exciting things other people did that he didn't have an interesting enough life for. Carl Hextall went skydiving yesterday. Janet McDavid baked a cake for her best friend's birthday. Elsie Bishop had gotten a new puppy, and as wary as Brooks was of dogs, there was no denying it was adorable.

He sighed and rolled over onto his back on the bed. Facebook was boring, but it was an excuse not to do his homework which he really couldn't be bothered to look at. It was probably the first time he'd put work off for so long, but he simply could not find the motivation or willpower that was usually always there. Good grades = good university = good life. That was the mantra he stuck with when life got tough, and it mostly worked.

Mostly.

Unwittingly, his gaze was drawn back to the screen, and more specifically, to a name. Hale Ryves, along with the little green blob that declared him online. Brooks tipped his head back to stare upside down at Hale's face, tiny in the little box of his profile picture, but still his face in all it's handsome glory. It would be so easy to message him. One click away...and say what?

Hi, Friday was fun, let's do it again - minus the part where we argued because that sucked. A lot. Also, do you hate me? Because that would suck too.

Brooks groaned and tugged at his hair. Even his hypothetical message was getting too rambley and weird, and it was all in his head. He was distracted from his internal struggles when a message popped up on his screen. He rolled back onto his front, expecting it to be Calla or Hassan, and blinked when he saw it was neither of them.

bellamy :
hey xx can't wait 2 see u at dinner at mine tonight! ❤️❤️

It took all of two seconds for Brooks to process that, and when he did, he groaned again. He buried his face in his duvet and wondered what terrible thing he'd done for karma to drop him in this mess. He'd completely forgotten about his arrangement with Bellamy, what with being distracted by Hale and what happened on Friday, and that also meant he'd forgotten to think up some excuse not to go.

He could still bail out, claiming he had the flu or some other life threatening illness. But all he'd be doing was delay the inevitable, that being a painful conversation where he had to figure out how to nicely but firmly let Bellamy know that nothing was ever going to happen between them, and he wasn't interested. He'd hoped persistently avoiding and ignoring her would get the message across without unnecessary hurt, but that was clearly not working.

He'd go to dinner. He'd be nice enough to Mr and Mrs Moore. Then, at the end of the night, he'd come clean and have the dreaded conversation. Bellamy could hate him, but that was just collateral damage at this point.

He replied letting her know he'd be there soon, excluding any kisses or love hearts to avoid further misunderstandings, and had a new obstacle to face now. He usually got the train to her place but it was a Sunday, and train times were dodgy on Sundays. Brooks didn't have any other way of making it to Bellamy's house, seeing as he couldn't drive yet and didn't even own a car.

That meant there was only one thing left to do.

Adam was lounging in the movie room, which was basically just a less formal version of their living room built into the basement. The living room was only ever used when his parents had visitors over, and they wanted to display their wealth through all the fancy, expensive items in there. Adam was watching some kind of action film, the screen filled with explosions and gunfire, and he didn't even glance up at Brooks' entrance.

Brooks cleared his throat. "Uh, hi."

"What do you want?"

Good to see you too, Brooks thought dryly. This was the first time they'd spoken in three days, beyond passing comments of pass the salt and other generalities. "Do you remember Bellamy?" Brooks asked, skipping the pleasantries.

Adam seemed to realise this conversation was going to last longer than their usual two second ones, and more importantly, that it was cutting into his movie time. He paused the film and flicked Brook an irritated look. "That stupid blonde girl you're dating?"

"Uh, yeah," Brooks said. He might have added that they'd broken up nearly two months ago, but it kind of defeated the point he was trying to make. "Well, I need to get to her house tonight - "

"Good for you," he said flatly. "Use protection. Not that I care."

"I...what? No!" Brooks could feel his face getting hot. "I'm not going to sleep with her. Er, kind of the opposite, actually. I'm going to break up with her."

If Brooks hadn't known better, he might have mistaken the flash in Adam's eyes as interest. "Why?"

Brooks blinked, taken aback by the question. I'm gay was the honest answer, but there was no way in hell those words were leaving his mouth as long as he lived under this roof. "It's not working out," he said instead, which was kind of the truth. It wasn't working. Mainly because she didn't have a dick, but her personality wasn't all that alluring in itself.

"And why are you telling me this?" Adam asked, not in a mean way but also not exactly nicely. He just sounded like he couldn't care less. "If you're looking for brotherly advice, you've come to the wrong place."

"Is there another brother I'm supposed to turn to for this kind of thing?"

Adam narrowed his eyes at him. "What do you want, Brooks?"

"I don't have any way of getting to Bellamy's," Brooks admitted. "Please could you give me a lift?"

He didn't even think about it. "No."

"Please?" he pressed, undeterred by the refusal. If success had come that easily, then he would have been surprised. "Trust me, if there was any other option, I'd take it. But public transport is weird on Sunday and you know I can't drive."

"Just break up with her over the phone," Adam said, unsympathetic to his plight. "It's less messy and wastes less time for everyone."

Brooks was appalled at the suggestion. "That's horrible, Adam. I'm not sending her a breakup text. It's just cruel." He was aware he wasn't even dating Bellamy at the moment, but it still seemed too heartless to send her a text along the lines of the following: hi not coming to dinner btw i don't like you and nothing is ever going to happen between us, 'kay? bye have a nice life!

"Then that's not my problem," Adam shrugged, already turning back to the TV.

"Wait!" Brooks was getting pretty desperate and knew what lengths he had to stoop to. "I'll...do you a favour. Whatever you want."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

"Um, I can't offer anything to you right now because I don't know what you want, but this offer stands for as long as you want until you cash it in. I'll owe you one, and I swear I'll do whatever you want."

"Now this sounds semi-decent," Adam said, switching the TV off. He drummed his fingers against his arm as he considered the offer and finally stood up. "Alright, you have a deal. You do absolutely anything I ask and I'll give you a lift."

Brooks grimaced. "Deal."

Maybe it didn't sound so bad, one small favour, but it wasn't the first time Brooks had done this arrangement for Adam's co-operation. Sometimes, they weren't so bad, simply doing his homework for him or heading down to the shops to get food. But he'd never forget the time Reed smashed one of their windows with a football, and Adam cashed in his favour by making Brooks take the blame.

Brooks still had nightmares about the scolding and punishment he received for that one. No wonder his mother thought Reed was such a darling - Brooks ended up shouldering the responsibility for all the shit he did.

The ride to Bellamy's was a mostly quiet one, seeing as Adam had no interest in speaking to him more than necessary and Brooks wouldn't pursue conversations he knew were unwanted. Adam pulled up outside Bellamy's house without having to be told which one it was, despite the fact the last time he'd been here was months ago. "Thank you," Brooks said, getting out of the car. "For the ride."

"Not doing it for free," Adam reminded him.

Brooks rolled his eyes and was about to close the door when a thought occurred to him. "Uh, please could you pick me up, too?" he asked hesitantly, preparing himself for a refusal. He didn't know how else he was going to get home, unless he planned on walking. And in this weather, he wouldn't have toes by the time he got home.

"You are such a pain in the ass," Adam muttered. "Fine. I'll pick you up."

"I can't...wait, really?"

"Are you deaf? I said I'd do it. Now close the bloody door and get out of here. You're letting cold air."

Brooks couldn't help but smile, even though he hadn't said anything particularly kind. "Thanks, Adam," he said, and quickly closed the door before he could change his mind.

Brooks made his way up to the door and had raised his hand to knock before he paused. If Bellamy answered the door, what if she tried to kiss him? Should he duck back to avoid it? He didn't really have much of a choice, because going along with the kiss would just lead her on. He'd move out of the way, and then he'd explain he had a cold and didn't want to pass it on. Yes, that would work. A bit of coughing and sniffling would make it believable.

Satisfied with his plan, he knocked on the door. It swung open and everything he had ready was suddenly irrelevant, and his heart stopped, because it wasn't Bellamy or even her parents at the door.

It was Hale.

He looked different, and it took Brooks' dazed brain a couple of seconds to figure out why. Hale was wearing glasses, black-framed lenses that made his eyes looked darker and larger, or that might have just been because his eyes had widened in surprise. Clearly, he hadn't been expecting Brooks at the door, either. He was dressed in sweats and his hair was damp, probably from a recent shower, and even then he so looked so attractive Brooks' heart ached.

For a long minute, that felt more like hours, they just stared at each other. Hale was usually the one to break these weird moments they shared but he seemed to have forgotten that. Brooks wondered if it was too late to run away; but alas, Adam's car had long since sped off down the road, abandoning him here to this strange alternate universe he'd stepped into where Hale suddenly lived in Bellamy's house.

Brooks was the first one to break the silence, with an incredibly witty, "Um..."

Hale's lips curled up into his trademark smirk. "Are you stalking me, Brooks?"

Naturally, Brooks' own face betrayed him in this moment of crisis and began to heat up, but he was saved from having to defend himself. "Brooks!" Bellamy appeared in the hallway, and for once, he was actually relieved to see her. "You made it!"

"I sure did," Brooks said weakly.

She flounced in his direction and threw her arms around his neck in a hug he didn't really have a choice in receiving. Thank god, she didn't try and kiss him, because Hale raised an eyebrow at him from behind Bellamy as if to say, this is an interesting development. Brooks had no idea why he was wearing glasses, and he didn't care. Brooks hadn't thought it was possible or fair for Hale to become even more attractive, but glasses were proving him wrong.

Bellamy finally pulled away from him and Brooks decided to take this time to address the questions that had been bugging him ever since Hale answered the door. "What are you doing here?" he asked, directing the question at Hale. "Last I checked, this wasn't your house."

"I'm her prisoner," he said, pointing at Bellamy. "Also known as step-brother. I know," he sighed, at Brooks' startled expression, "it really is a tragic disaster. They should start a series following my life, called help! I'm stuck with a demon for a sister. It'd probably be a bigger hit than Keeping Up With The Kardashians."

"Oh, funny," Bellamy sniffed, and Brooks had to bite his lip to stop from laughing. He didn't think Bellamy would appreciate it and besides, he still didn't know where he stood with Hale. "Actually, Hale, I'm pretty sure I'm the one who should be complaining. I'm related to a delinquent."

Hale cast his eyes heavenward, as if seeking patience from God. "Jesus, Bellamy, can you drop that already? It was one time."

"Oh, you think that makes it any better, huh?" Bellamy shook her head in fervent disapproval. "A murderer who commits one murder is just as bad as one who commits multiple!"

"Did you seriously just compare me to a murderer? Because that really hurts my feelings," Hale drawled. "I'm very sad. Oh, wait. Your opinion literally holds as much value as the air in your head. And there's a lot of that, trust me."

"Asshole! You can't even play nice when we have a guest," Bellamy snapped, linking her arm with Brooks' to drag him into the living room. He didn't have a clue what that exchange was about and it didn't seem like Bellamy was going to give him a chance to ask. "Ignore him, Brooks. You don't want to associate with people like Hale. They're just bad news."

"Yeah, didn't you get the memo, Brooks?" Hale strolled behind them with an amused expression. "I'm bad news. In fact, if you don't watch out...I might pass you the pepper instead of the salt. Can you imagine the horror?"

Brooks couldn't stop his snort of laughter and quickly replaced it with a guilty smile at Bellamy's look of betrayal. "Stop talking to my guest, Hale," Bellamy said haughtily.

"Yeah, about that." Hale paused in the doorway to lean against the frame and regarded him with a curious look. "What are you doing here? Don't tell me you willingly chose her company. I've been forced to spend the weekend here, but no one dragged you here."

"Excuse me!" Bellamy shot him a withering look. "I am standing right here."

"Yes, Bellamy, it's unfortunately impossible to ever forget that no matter how hard I try," Hale sighed. "Can you go check on the vegetables or something?"

"Vegetables?" she frowned.

"For dinner. Or go tell your parents that your 'guest'," he made a point of showing air quotes with his fingers, "has arrived. Or just find an excuse to leave the vicinity before I do something that means I really live up to the title of delinquent." He narrowed his eyes with menacing intent, although Brooks couldn't really take him seriously because he knew there wasn't actually anything threatening about Hale to him.

Bellamy seemed to find it menacing enough, however. "Uh, I'll be right back," she told Brooks, pushing him down onto one of the sofas. "I'll just let mum and dad know you're here. Just wait right here, okay?" She didn't give him a chance to reply before hurrying from the room with one last hateful look in Hale's direction.

Brooks looked after with a bemused shake of his head before turning his attention to Hale, who'd dropped his "scary" face in favour of a grin. "Well, that was the weirdest thing I've seen in a while," Brooks admitted, although he couldn't help but smiling. Hale's smile was so infectious it was impossible not to return it. "Do I want to know why she's under the impression that you're a delinquent?"

"Do you?" Hale rolled his eyes. "Careful, you might fall asleep before I finish the story. One fateful day, before I was cursed with Bellamy as a step-sister, I wanted a bottle of water from the school cafeteria. Well, I didn't have enough money to buy it so I just stuck it in my bag."

Brooks frowned. "You stole it?"

"Yeah, yeah, Mr Righteous, I stole it," Hale said with a lack of concern, waving a dismissive hand. "I'm not going to pretend it keeps me up at night or gave me a guilty conscious or whatever. It was just a bottle of water. But Bellamy saw the whole thing, and I am now officially a delinquent going to hell for my sinful crime."

Brooks chuckled. "Yeah...that sounds like Bellamy."

Hale's smile faded away and he stepped into the living room, closing the door behind him to lean back against it. Brooks said nothing, a little nervous himself at the sudden change of atmosphere. Was Hale going to bring up Friday? They hadn't spoken since then, and it was Brooks' fault. He'd bolted after the late meal at the diner and hadn't given Hale a chance to talk to him, not alone. He hadn't wanted to be alone because he knew his judgement would be clouded, and it'd be too easy to forget what had happened before.

Because Hale had hurt him. Brooks believed that it hadn't been his intention, and that he didn't truly mean what he'd said, but it didn't change the fact that Hale had the power to crush his heart into pieces with a few careless words, if he wanted to. Brooks wasn't hung up on the words anymore but on the fact that he was invested in this thing, whatever it was, where he seemed to care about Hale way more than Hale cared about him.

And he was scared that he was just going to be another broken heart in the trail Hale left behind.

"I'm just going to be upfront," Hale said, all the humour gone from his eyes. "Are you dating Bellamy?"

"What?" It was the last thing he'd expected him to say. "Hale, I'm gay."

Hale folded his arms across his chest. "That didn't stop you from dating her before."

"I, uh..." Brooks bit his lip. "You know about that?"

"Bellamy sure likes to talk," he shrugged. "Especially about you. I never mentioned it before, because I didn't think it was relevant. But she seems to think you guys are back together, or you will be soon. And if you're coming here to have dinner with her family..."

He trailed off and glanced away. Brooks couldn't help staring at him, because it was rare to see cracks in Hale's confident facade, or to see uncertainty in his dark eyes. It was a reminder that he was human too, that he felt all the scary things even if he was just better at hiding them, and Brooks' heart swelled with something that felt far stronger than affection at Hale's almost shy expression.

"Hale," Brooks began, but Hale held a hand up as if to indicate he wasn't finished.

"Hold on, I need to get this all out before I mess up and say something stupid. Okay." He took a deep breath and looked at Brooks, really looked at him, with his warm brown eyes. "I'm really sorry for what I said on Friday. I guess I was just mad, because everything you were saying was true and I couldn't accept that, and I never should have said those things. I hope you forgive me because...well, I don't really like it when you're mad at me," he shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "As lame as that sounds."

"I don't think it sounds lame," Brooks murmured, feeling guilty himself at the fact he'd made Hale beat himself up over this, all because he was too scared of how fast he was falling for him. "And I said some things I regret too so no, I'm not mad at you, Hale."

"Really?" Hale's eyes lit up and he shook his head with a wry laugh. "Jeez, I sound like such a girl. I should probably stop now while I still have my dignity, but I spent ages preparing this damn speech so I'm going to give it all."

"You prepared this?" Brooks grinned. "Wow, I feel honoured. Do you do this for all the other fans too?"

"As a matter of fact, I don't. And you're really not helping with this dignity thing," Hale pointed out, with a flat look when Brooks' grin only widened. "I suggest you shut up and start appreciating. You won't be getting anything like this again."

"Alright, I'm shutting up."

Hale chewed his lip as if considering how to continue, and moved away from the door to the sofa Brooks was seated on. It was an automatic response for his body to tense up, his heart rate picking up at the proximity, but if Hale noticed he showed no indication. Brooks tried to discreetly wipe his clammy palms on his jeans to avoid sweaty shame.

"I don't see you as a toy or experiment," he said finally, and Brooks winced a little. He didn't know why he'd felt the need to use those words. He'd just been upset that Hale had taken the whole gay bar thing in the complete opposite way he'd hoped, and lashed out. "Honestly, I'm not just saying that to get in your pants or whatever fiendish thoughts you think I'm entertaining. I told myself I didn't know why I'd kissed you those times because I was too much of a pussy to face reality but, I mean, it's pretty obvious."

Brooks realised he was holding his breath and exhaled. "Uh," he said stupidly, and tried again, along with a reminder to breathe. "It is?"

Hale's lips tugged up into a soft smile. "Why do people usually kiss, Brooks?"

Brooks could barely think over the rush of blood in his ears, and his heart slamming against his ribcage as if it was planning on leaping out of his chest straight into Hale's hands. They were sitting close enough that Brooks could smell the musky and familiar scent of him, and he could see Hale's pulse beating at the base of his throat. It offered a little to comfort to know that Brooks wasn't the only one affected by the lack of distance between them, and a little confidence, too.

He leaned in and pressed his lips to Hale's. It was meant to be quick and chaste, an answer to his question, but Hale responded in a way he hadn't expected. His arms snaked around Brooks to pull him closer, and Brooks might have fallen off the sofa if he wasn't pressed against Hale, only a couple of layers separating them. Brooks instinctively tilted his head to deepen the kiss, his hands crushed between them as they flattened against Hale's chest.

Brooks had forgotten how good of a kisser he was. He hadn't truly been able to appreciate it previously, seeing as he'd been caught off guard, but he'd been the one to initiate this time. Hale seemed to know exactly what to do, but more than that, how to do it. His fingers threaded through Brooks' hair with expert ease before trailing down his arms, brushing over his shirt before finding the hem and slipping under the fabric. Hale's hands were hot as they moved across his skin before moving down again, towards his zipper.

Brooks had no idea how far they would have gone before one of them had the sense to stop, and he didn't get to find out, because a loud clatter sent him jerking away from Hale straight off the sofa. He hit the floor on his butt with his shirt half ridden up, the poster kid for caught in the act.

Bellamy stood in the doorway, a silver platter she must have dropped at her feet, spilling crisps and snacks. Her expression was one of comical horror but the last thing Brooks felt like doing was laugh as she stared at the two of them.

"What the actual fuck?" she yelled.