A/N: Note at the end of chapter, hope you enjoy it!!

(2078 words)

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As the world kept spinning, Victor and Andre's relationship began to progress slowly. In reality, they were two best friends learning to love each other in a different way than how they loved each other before.

It began with small, sneaky gestures that only they reserved for each other. For example, on their way to school, their hands would lightly brush against one another until the friends were comfortably holding hands, a reminder that they had each other but separated once they reached school grounds. During lunch, they'd manage to sneak a kiss or two in the empty theater where no one could find them.

It only came naturally to keep what they had a secret because any kid their age would be shy about having a girlfriend or boyfriend. Especially when they really liked them.

Besides, as Andre spent more time in school, he had begun to notice a few things. One of them was that perhaps whatever he felt wasn't as natural as he had thought.

The most obvious observation that led him to that conclusion was the fact that he's never seen two other boys together in the same way he and Victor were. Sure, they've seen friend groups consisting of only boys and male duos that no doubt invited each other to their houses to play basketball or soccer on the street. But friends who held hands and kissed each other just because they could?

Yeah, never.

They've only seen couples, a male and a woman, do all those sappy gestures and Andre began to wonder whether he and Victor had the same label.

Was that even possible?

Or were they just really close best friends?

Andre didn't know, and he'll probably never know. If he was given a choice, he wouldn't change anything of what he and Victor have.

Around the time Christmas break was coming about, Andre began to feel this unexplainable need to be with Victor all the time. Perhaps the day he acknowledged his feelings was the day they confessed.

No words needed to be said as they knew how they felt about each other through their actions that described their innocent love. That was until one day during lunch when three words slipped out of Victor's lips unintentionally.

"I like you."

And when he saw Andre's expression shift into confusion, Victor at once elaborated on what he meant by those exact words.

His confession sparked Andre's confidence about returning his feelings at that moment, a kiss shared between them that felt like the first time; it technically was because now, their feelings were sure and there were no doubts to trail behind them.

The kiss transcended everything they wanted to say, everything they couldn't say in public, yet it was short-lived due to the apprehension of somebody walking in on them.

However, later when the boys were alone in Andre's bedroom like always, Andre let himself wrap his arms around Victor's small waist, hugging him from behind and leaning in to press soft kisses on his neck. Victor's breath hitched before relaxing into his friend's arms, tilting his head a little to give the other more room to trail kisses down his neck, his eyes fluttering close to the touch.

Before they knew it, they found each other tangled up in Andre's bed, Victor's lips now attached to the other's neck as he kissed down to his collarbone, stopping just where his shirt began before returning to kiss his lips. They don't remember when their soft kisses began to turn into heated makeout sessions but were they complaining? Not at all.

Moments like this one, when they felt comfortable enough to explore each other's bodies and open their hearts up, always holding back from going too far because they knew they weren't ready, were memories Andre refused to forget. It was the first time he realized how wonderful it was to love someone and to have them love him back.

He loved Victor and he knew that despite being too young to know what love is. And yet, it wasn't about what love was, it was about how it made him feel. With Victor, he felt safe and cared for, trusting him with his whole life.

In return, he promised to protect Victor from any pain or harm. It was beautiful, this feeling of want, this feeling of peace. They were young, sure, but he knew it was real.

Victor made love real.

When they pulled apart to breathe, Victor looked down into his friend's loving gaze that stared back at him. With their heavy breaths lingering in the air of the hot room, Andre reached his arm up to tenderly brush the strands of hair away from Victor's brow. The same feeling of love only grew as they stared into each other's eyes, trying to read what the other was thinking yet they knew their hearts were in the right place. The touch of Andre's warm hand against his cheek made Victor send him a fond smile that answered all Andre's questions.

Victor leaned down to rest his head on Andre's chest, hearing the subtle heartbeat that filled him with warmth, a sigh of contentment leaving his plump lips. Andre wrapped his arms around his friend's body, one arm around his waist and another close to his head so his hand could caress through Victor's soft hair.

"Andre, did you hear they launched a rocket into space?"

The mentioned boy lifted his head for a second to look at the other who had just spoken. He thought Victor had fallen asleep by how steady his breath felt through his shirt but he leaned his head back on the pillow after realizing otherwise.

"Yeah. In America, right?"

Victor hummed in confirmation, nodding his head to nuzzle closer to Andre. "I'd like to work there someday."

"You want to be an astronaut?"

"No, I want to build the rockets and send people to space."

"That sounds like a lot of pressure. Imagine they die or something as they're going up. They'll blame it on you."

"Yeah, that part is scary. But I know there'll be so many people working on the same project to make sure that doesn't happen. Can you imagine creating a machine out of just numbers and calculations that could send another human to another world? I don't know, it seems like a cool job to have."

Andre hummed listening to his friend talk about his dreams, knowing he was voicing out the future as he imagined it. He felt consolation hearing his friend having a plan for the future when he'd need it, unlike Andre. Andre preferred taking his time, enjoying the present because he knew it would be over very soon.

"I want to write a book someday," Andre decided to share.

Now that caught Victor's attention.

He lifted his head to rest his chin on Andre's chest. "What about?"

Andre moved his gaze from the ceiling down until he met Victor's eyes. He took in the soft tenderness lingering in them before smiling softly and shrugging. "I don't know. I don't have any stories to tell. But if I were to come up with one someday, I'd want it to change someone's life."

They let that hang in the air for a moment, with no words to follow it. Victor's head returns to resting on his friend's chest, and Andre is suddenly reminded about the concept of time. How long have they been here without getting any schoolwork done? How much longer until Victor must leave? And yet, as he stared down at his friend, he noticed how Victor didn't seem to have any worries running through his head.

Andre doesn't want to ruin this moment but he knows he has to at some point. Just feeling Victor's warm body close to his, he wants to be selfish and never let him go. But he and Victor are just kids.

Victor has a home he must return to and Andre has homework he must complete before the morning. They can't get what they want right now but perhaps in the future, when they're both independent grown-ups with responsibilities, they could create another moment like this. One that could last for as long as they both wish it to.

But for now, he'll engrave what he has into his memories, just like he guessed Victor was doing as well.

"You've changed my life," the faint whisper broke the silence. "In more ways than one."

It was like their minds connected telepathically because even though Andre didn't say anything directly after, Victor knew Andre felt the same way.

"Oh?" He smiled, raising one of his arms to place it behind his head. "Then would you like me to write my first story about you?"

"Um, yeah?" Victor answered as if Andre had asked him the most obvious question ever. "Then when it sells over a million copies, you can come to visit me in America. Hell, I'll be the first to buy your book!" He smiles widely, showing his cute crooked front teeth as he lifts his head again to see Andre's reaction. Andre mimics Victor's smile, a chuckle leaving his gummy smile.

"Hmmm." He pursed his lips and raised an eyebrow, pretending to think. "I'll name it, 'The Pretty Boy with The Flower Crown' because that's how I met you. Heck, I won't even mention your name. You'll just be 'Pretty Boy'."

Victor nodded approvingly. "You know, if I ever become famous for my rocket-building abilities, I'll write a book too."

"Really?" Andre asks, not taking his eyes off the other as he rolls off him, the position becoming uncomfortable and hurting his back. Secretly, Andre was thankful Victor decided to get off since his weight wouldn't let him breathe properly.

Besides, he preferred Victor laying beside him, scooting closer to him until they were cuddling, until their arms were around each other protectively and legs were tangled together.

"What about?"

"You, of course. And I'll name it 'Under The Stars, It's Just Us'. Because that's where I saw you for the first time, and it was the night I discovered my dream," Victor admitted.

Andre looked down at his friend, surprised. "That was the first time you ever looked at the stars?" Victor nodded, earning another nod from the other before his gaze shifted to the window.

There weren't stars in the sky like he expected- that would have made their conversation more lovey-dovey- but instead, he was presented with a sky of pink, orange, and purple shades. It was just as beautiful as the stars at night, yet with the stars, they let you admire them for as long as you want until they lure you to sleep. They love the spotlight, unlike the sunset, who shines only for a little while and if you miss the show, you'd have to come back tomorrow evening. Not with the stars or the moon; they performed all night.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?"

"So beautiful and don't know it... like you."

Andre felt a sheepish smile form on his lips and his cheek blush because he knew what Victor was trying to say.

God, he was so in love. So in love with his best friend and he didn't know when he started to fall.

And while it was strange, it felt wonderful.

"Victor?" The other hummed at the call of his name. "One last kiss before you have to leave?"

It was an innocent request that made Victor stop tracing shapes over the other's shirt with his index finger. Without hesitation, he placed his hand on Andre's cheek and lifted his head to capture the other's lips in a kiss that was returned in an instant. They kissed sweetly, slowly, taking their time because in that case, Victor could stay a little longer. Andre made sure to remember the way Victor tasted, how every kiss felt like their first with cute butterflies in their stomachs and blushing cheeks; how his warm touch made him feel because every memory he could create with Victor in it would be a memory he'd store in his brain for the years to come.

Because kissing the love of his life made him feel powerful, made him feel like a superhero on top of the world.

None of them knew this would be the last time they would ever kiss and transcend the love that no one but them understood.
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A/N: ok so... it's March and I'm going to camp this weekend, which is why I wanted to quickly publish this chapter,

Hope you guys liked it!!

2 chapters left😞

Once again, thank you so much MKKflower