Etho's Perspective-

Etho got up and Joel handed him a bowl of soup.

"Thanks." Etho smiled, "I didn't know you cooked."

Joel shrugged, watching as Etho blew on the soup, "I'm not great."

Etho smiled as soon as he took a bite, "This stuff if great!"

Joel blushed and smiled as well.

Etho happily ate and his heart fluttered.

Joel seemed perfect.

And he seemed to like him back so now all Etho had to do was tell Joel that he liked him.

Simple.

Easy.

Just say it.

Just say it.

Etho stared at Joel, frozen in place.

Just say it.

"What?" Joel asked nervously, catching Etho's intense stare.

Etho laughed nervously and continued eating, blushing.

Say it god dammit! It's not that fucking hard!

Etho finished his meal, thanked Joel, and headed to his room.

He grabbed his phone and pulled up his messages before clicking on Joel's name.

'Hey, I really like you and was wondering if you wanted to go out sometime!'

Etho stared at the text.

Suddenly his phone started ringing.

Etho gasped, answering the call, "H-hello?"

The person on the other end laughed, "Is this a bad time? It's Cleo."

Etho sighed in relief, "You scared me. And no, I'm not doing anything... well I am but it's not that important."

I guess it is important.

"You sure? Are you studying for a test or something? I can call back later." Cleo suggested.

"No. I'm just... no I'm good."

"You're just..." Cleo said, edging Etho to go on.

"Er- nothing!" Etho said, wincing at his voice crack.

"Uh-huh. Does that nothing have to do with Joel?"

"How did you- "

Cleo laughed, "It's pretty obvious that you two like each other. And I assumed it had something to do with the rumors going around about you two. You're not dating yet, right?"

Etho sighed in frustration, "I'm trying! He kissed me and- "

"He WHAT?!"

"Kissed me, yeah. On my forehead when I passed out from dehydration."

"And you know this, how?"

"Overheard fWhip and Joel talking about it."

"Hmmm. Alright. So just tell Joel that you like him. He likes you; simple."

"Yeah but... what if he hates me?!" Etho whined, panicking.

He told her about how he wanted to text him because he gets paralyzed with fear when he tries to talk to Joel.

"Okay, first off, he won't hate you. That's just stupid. He likes you; he cares about you." Cleo said, "And if he hates you then tell me, and I will put a stop to it."

Etho laughed and then there was a knock on his door.

"Hey Etho. I was wondering if you wanted to watch a movie. fWhip's over at Sausage's dorm."

"Got to go, Cleo. That's Joel." Etho said.

"Oooo! Have fun!" Cleo mocked and then hung up.

God I hate her sometimes.

Etho walked out.

"Yeah?"

"Er- do you wanna watch a movie together?"

"Sure. What'd you have in mind?"

"Would you like to watch Wall-E?" Joel asked, holding up a movie disc.

"I love that movie!" Etho smiled.

-

They were watching the movie, both cuddled up with blankets and there was a bowl of popcorn on the table in front of them.

Etho had taken his mask off to eat and then he looked down at Joel's hand.

Joel seemed to have devoted all of his attention to the robots on screen and didn't notice Etho.

Etho took a deep breath.

Do it. Just fucking do it. Do it. DO IT NOW!

Etho held his breath and put his hand on top of Joel's.

Joel flinched a bit but didn't do anything.

He didn't move his hand.

Etho's mouth fell open and he stared at Joel.

D-does he not care?

Joel then took a deep breath and said, not looking at Etho,

"I heard you know what happened when I rushed you to the nurse's office."

Etho froze, "W-what do you mean?"

Joel now looked at Etho.

"You heard about how I..." He trailed off, looking back at the screen.

Etho now understood what he was talking about.

Joel didn't say anything, he looked incredibly embarrassed.

Etho knew what he had to do and sat there, hyping himself up.

He looked down at their interlocked hands and got confidence, though the butterflies in his stomach seemed to have multiplied and gotten faster.

You have nothing to lose. Well except one of your closest friends, and your confidence, and your-

Etho shook his head, clearing his thoughts and did it.

He kissed Joel's cheek.