SIX

Winter on campus meant Christmas decorations and happy faces. Candy canes were on sale and a huge tree had been placed in the centre of the campus, lights and massive baubles hung from the branches. As Connor walked across the campus carrying his art folder filled with tattoo designs he pulled his coat tight around his chest. It was cold, and Connor felt like every bone in his body was shivering.

He enters the dormitories and is thankful that the staff had decided to turn on the radiators in the corridors as he made his way to the elevator. He'd just left his December progress meeting with his lecturer, Michael, and he found out he was on track and doing well in his course, Michael told Connor he had no doubt that one day he would fulfil his dream of being a tattoo artist.

Connor opens his dorm door and steps inside, he closes the door behind him and places his folder neatly onto his desk. Connor hadn't much respect for his bed or his walls but his desk? He would notice if only one thing was slightly out of place.

He opens his mini fridge and takes out a can of Dr Pepper before sitting down on his sofa and relaxing. He didn't have to be at his next lecture until 3pm and it was currently 12:30pm.

He fumbled around with loose threads, sighing as his body fell back against the warm sofa, his eyes settle on the TV that was currently turned off and he lets his head fall back against the sofa.

He wondered how Christmas would go, of course, he was going home to Ireland to be with his mother and little sister but he wondered how it would go in terms of his mother having a new boyfriend or something. He wondered if he was treating her right, if she even had a new boyfriend of course. Connor sat there, his overthought mind whirling with questions of; what if?

He sits up a little and turns on his TV as he pulls his laptop onto the sofa from the floor and he opens up it up and finds himself googling new tattoo designs. In the past, most of his tattoos had either come from himself or close friends who had recommendations. He looks towards his desk and sighs. Maybe he could work more on his project or maybe he could just chill out and relax, after all, it was only a week until the Christmas break started.

A few more searches on his laptop and he's disturbed by the sound of knocking on the door. He sits up and shouts, "Come in,"

The door opens and Simon stands there holding a heavy looking plastic bag, "Hey, I know you texted saying you'd be over later but I wanted to bring you this,"

"Its fine, I was just doing some...Research," He says, closing the laptop and putting it on his side table.

Simon opens the bag and pulls out a well wrapped box, "Merry Christmas,"

Connor gulps, he didn't even know what to say, "Urm...Thank you,"

Simon smiles as he holds the box towards him and Connor takes it and reads the tag left on the box.

To Connor,

Merry Christmas!
I hope you can appreciate this

love Simon x

As Connor looks at Simon he lets out a soft breath, "I thought we'd all agreed, no presents,"

"I agreed on that with the others, I think you deserve one," Simon says, sitting down beside him.

"Well...Thank you," Connor says, he felt awful, he hadn't gotten Simon anything in return.

Over the last 2 months Simon and Connor had grown quite close, Simon would even class Connor as a best friend. Simon had pushed aside his initial attraction and had shifted his feelings into being a good enough friend.

"So, what were you researching?" Simon asks as Connor gets up to put his present on his desk.

"Just some things for my project," Connor says and Simon nods his head.

"Sounds cool- speaking of, when are you going to show me it?" He asks and Connor sighs. He didn't want to show him, ever.

"When its done I guess," Connor mutters and he sits back down on the sofa.

"Don't forget you have to show me, I've seen some of your stuff and you're really good," Simon says and Connor gives him a soft smile.

"Can I suggest something?" Connor asks and Simon nods, "You should come to Ireland, maybe the last week in the holidays,"

"I...I'd love to but I don't know if I could," Simon says.

"Well, maybe ask your mam, she might let you if she knows you're staying with your best mate," Connor smiles and Simon smiles too.

"Alright, I'll ask her, it'd be fun to see Ireland, and you of course," Simon says and Connor smiles again, lips curving upwards softly.

"My mam'll be fine with it, she loves having guests- she cooks all her best meals when she has guests so," Connor says and Simon chuckles.

"So thats why you want me to come over, so you get all the good food," Simon laughs and Connor lets of a soft sigh.

"I want you to come over because I might miss you a little too much- plus I think you'll really like it over there, all fresh air and green and shit," Connor says.

"Miss me? Really? I thought if anyone would miss anyone it would be me missing you," Simon says and Connor shrugs.

"Maybe we're gonna' miss each other more than we can handle," Connor says and Simon nods.

"Maybe," Simon mutters and he checks his watch, "I have a lecture in 10 and I have to collect my things for the class,"

"Oh, alright, I'll see you..."

"Tomorrow," Simon smiles as he gets up. He moves towards the door and Connor gets up too.

"I'll see you tomorrow then," Connor says and Simon looks up at him and nods softly.

"See you tomorrow," Simon says, "And don't get opening your present early,"

"I would never," Connor says, smirking at the silver haired boy in front of him.

"I best go," Simon says and Connor looks into his eyes, he lifts his hand and places it on Simon's neck and pulls him closer. He brings their lips together in a soft kiss and Simon tenses at the sensation, his whole body felt like it was on fire as Connor moves back.

"Sorry, I-"

"Don't apologise," Simon says, "I've wanted to do that since I first saw you,"

Connor smirks, "I knew you were always checking me out,"

Simon rolls his eyes, "I really do have to go,"

"Its a shame, I'd quite like to kiss you while you're naked, but if you really have to go," Connor says and Simon laughs as he opens the door.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Simon says and Connor nods.

"I'll see you to tomorrow- don't forget about Ireland, or about that kiss," Connor says and Simon smiles.

"I don't think I could ever forget
about that kiss,"

_________________

y e e t

thank you for reading and i hope you enjoyed!

so yeah, the kiss happened, they're both like yessssss and yes, there was a little time skip between this chapter and the last one but i don't wanna be like dwindling around with writing filler chapters.

just to warn you all early because i had LOTS of complaints in Lethal about this; there will probably only be 20 chapters of this book like there was in Lethal.

anyway,

much love to the most Savage fam on Wattpad!

~lachys-loch
❤️