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Reggie liked to pretend that he fell in love with Luke because of his eyes. Because of the glorious shades of green and brown and the bit of blue in them. Because of the lights that lived in them when he was playing the guitar or when he was humming one of his favorite Green Day songs. He liked to think (because who was he going to tell ? Alex ? No way, he’d never hear the end of it) that he lost himself in those beautiful orbs too many times to count and that one day, he woke up and realized he was in love with his best friend.
But that was not really it.
Surely enough, Reggie loved his eyes, don’t get him wrong, but his realization was not as romantic as this, and he sometimes felt a bit stupid because of how long he took to admit it.
It was a warm evening as there are many in Los Angeles and Reggie couldn’t for the life of him understand how ghosts are supposed to feel the hotness of the weather when they couldn’t even feel Julie when she was sitting down beside them. And yet, Reggie thought he could die a second time with how hot it was.
Luke and him were slumped on opposite ends of the couch, carefully not touching each other, while Alex was laying on the ground, nearly crying for some fresh air.
Julie wasn’t at the studio, but went to Flynn’s, who had a pool. The boys hadn’t gone with them, knowing well that they couldn’t go into the water and that, even if they went in, they wouldn't feel the coldness of the swimming pool. So instead of moping beside a pool, they were moping inside a too warm studio.
Luke kept shifting and trying to get comfortable, and that bothered Reggie a bit, who couldn’t seem to cool down with a constantly moving specimen beside him.
But before he could even begin to complain, Alex let out a loud sigh.
“Luke, I swear to god, stop moving !” Luke stopped what he was doing for a moment, making Reggie quietly thank whoever was watching them. Before getting up and throwing himself at Alex, who screamed so loud it was a miracle they were dead, or people could have assumed someone was getting murdered.
Reggie laughed loudly, getting an annoyed stare from Alex, while Luke was still sprayed on top of him, grinning like a child with an ice cream.
Man, Reggie thought ideally, he could really use an ice cream right now.
“If I had enough strength, I’d beat your ass immediately, Patterson.” Alex tried to push the brunette off of him, unsuccessfully, only gaining another childish smirk.
“You love me too much.”
“You wish.” Alex rolled his eyes and put his hands on Luke’s head, supposedly trying to push him away, only to shriek loudly and roll under the other guy. “Your hair is so wet, dude. That’s disgusting.”
“Hey ! It’s not my fault,” Luke got up, pouting, while shaking his head and splashing a still laying down Alex, who began to kick him with his foot to stop him. “I have long hair.”
“Tie it, then.” Reggie shrugged and presented a hairband he had on his wrist to his friend. “Here.”
“Thanks, Reg !” Luke grinned widely before brushing his hair out of his face and gathering it at the top of his head. He twisted it roughly before quickly tying it, letting out a satisfied sigh when only a bit of his hair fell back on his neck.
While Luke sat back on the couch, grabbing his notebook to check some of his recent lyrics, Reggie was frozen. The little strands of hair that didn’t attach in the bun framed Luke’s tanned face, and the hair on his neck were wet with sweat, but Reggie wondered what it would be like to play with it. He gulped when his eyes went to that neck in question, seeing the hard lines that were hidden most of the time, and those cute ears, flushed because of the warmness.
Reggie felt himself flushing, his breath coming out short, and Luke, not aware of what he was doing to him, took a strand of falling hair and began twisting it between his fingers. That was it.
What the hell was happening ?
Reggie gasped rather loudly, causing both Luke and Alex to look at him with confused looks in their eyes.
“Reg ? You alright ?” Luke asked, inching closer. Maybe without meaning to, but Reggie saw it and laughed nervously.
"Y-yeah, why wouldn't I be ?" From the side, Reggie saw Alex looking at him with narrowed eyes, while Luke continued to be oblivious of Reggie's sudden nervousness. "I- I'm gonna go out for a sec. Just- yeah."
"What ? Reg, wait-" Luke hadn't even finished his sentence, Reggie was already out of there. He poofded out, to the beach, the most relaxing place in the world for him.
Sitting close to the sea, on the burning sand, Reggie looked at the horizon, feeling the light breeze freshen him up a little.
Reggie couldn't understand for the life of him why he had this reaction. He had always thought Luke was attractive, only someone with horrible taste wouldn't, but that was the end of it. He was cute, charming, funny, sweet, and he always tried to make Reggie happy. Not only that, but he had really beautiful eyes and arms that, thank you very much, Reggie was never looking too long at.
And he always loved Luke's hair. It was cool and wavy just right. And it was shiny and soft.
But never before had it made Reggie lose his means. Maybe it was because of the heat.
Reggie nearly laughed at himself. People called him slow, and they were right, but he never thought that would be the case in his love life. If he could even pretend to have one.
Luke was incredible, but Reggie was pretty sure he wouldn't want him. The guy had heart eyes for everyone, but never had he looked at Reggie like he looked at Julie or those people he dated back when they were still alive.
When he thought about it, Reggie was okay with it. He lived ten years of his life (and twenty-five of his death apparently) without needing Luke's love, he could easily continue this way.
It's not because he suddenly understood why he was flustered when he was with Luke that he couldn't be in the same room as him anymore.
It would be fine.
°°°
It would not be fine.
Not when Luke woke up and thought he could go and wear his hair in a bun regularly like he wasn't the cause of Reggie's repeated heart attack.
These man buns were the ban of his existence, but he knew that if Luke stopped doing them, he'd be miserable.
He wore them all the time. When they were rehearsing, when they'd go for a walk on the beach, when they had a gig, when they ate, when they were chilling on the couch.
Every. Single. Time.
One evening, they were slumped on each other on the couch of the studio.
They were alone, Jules was helping his dad with a job he had and Alex was out with Willie at the beach, probably making out in front of all the non-ghosts while laughing at them.
Reggie was looking at some country songs he wrote in his notebook (about Luke, but he wasn't supposed to know that) when the said guy sighed, going through his hair with his hand.
Reggie followed the movement with his eyes, wondering how his hair would look so shiny and soft when they were literally sweaty not ten minutes ago after some guitar playing.
Luke suddenly flicked Reggie's forehead, causing him to shriek. "Hey ! Why'd you do that ?"
"I asked you a question !" Luke pouted, crossing his arms, which absolutely did not looked gorgeous with that tank top of his.
"Which is ?"
"Can you tie my hair please ?"
Reggie froze for a moment, afraid Luke actually saw through him and was just making fun of him, but the other guy looked just genuine, and wasn't it just worse ?
How could Reggie say no to Luke ?
He never knew how, and it was certainly not then, when Luke looked at him with the biggest puppy eyes ever, that he would.
"Pretty please, my Reggie ?"
He had to do it on purpose.
"Alright then, turn around." Luke beamed at him and did as he was told, letting Reggie with the back of his beautiful hair.
He took a deep breath and began the work, gathering the hair at the top of Luke's head and tying it like he saw him do it a good dozen of times, carefully not being too harsh.
"Here. All done." He gently patted Luke's head, who turned with a big grin before he planted a sloppy kiss on Reggie's cheek.
"Thank you, Reg." Reggie flushed bright red as he was spluttering what was supposed to be a response.
They were ridiculously close, but that didn't seem to bother Luke, who played idly with one of his hair strands while reading his own notebook.
Reggie was still frozen in place, like Luke had the capacity of making all his functions going crazy.
And when Luke turned his head, finding him already looking, and beamed at him with the brightest smile ever, Reggie couldn't deny that he was completely and utterly fucked.
Reggie was in love with the guy, no need to elaborate.
They were still as close as before and Reggie could see the light blush on his cheek, the mole just a little under his left nostril, the baby hair and the bit of bright blue in his eyes.
Reggie was mostly a weak boy, pardon him.
He closed the gap between them, crashing his lips on Luke's. It was quite brutal to be honest, and Luke's lips were soft on his chapped ones, but he didn't care. Because he was kissing Luke.
And Luke… wasn't kissing him back. Apparently.
When reality hit him, Reggie moved away quickly, eyes wide with fear and red cheeks burning.
Luke was looking with a bewildered expression, opening and closing his mouth, looking as red as Reggie probably was.
"I'm sorry !" Reggie blurted out, already beginning to stand up, ready to run if he needed to.
"Reggie, I-"
"I shouldn't have done that ! You certainly don't want that, and that was not right of me ! I- I just- I'm sorry." Reggie spoke quickly, burying his head in his hands, feeling angry tears burning his eyes.
Luke surely hated him.
"Hey," Luke called softly, coming closer to him. "Don't be sorry, it's okay."
"But-" The brunette took Reggie's hand in his and lowered them, so he could look him in the eyes, but Reggie turned his head, not willing to see a disappointed stare.
"No buts. I'm the one who's sorry." At that, Reggie looked at Luke, confused. Only to find the softest look ever on his best friend's face.
"Why ?"
"You didn't give me enough time to react. So I just didn't kiss you back." Luke shrugged, playing lightly with Reggie's fingers.
"But you wanted to ?"
"Of course," Luke smirked with a high raised eyebrow. "When a pretty boy like you kisses me, I usually wanna kiss him back."
Reggie laughed slightly, lowering his eyes to their entwined hands, softly stroking Luke's palm with his thumb.
Luke's breathing hitched and Reggie looked up.
"Wanna do it again ?"
"Thought you'd never ask." And with that Luke's lips were on him, with less pressure than before but as passionate, if not more, as they were two to participate this time.
Luke's soft lips moved rapidly and soundly, making Reggie happy they were sitting, or his trembling legs would have already given out. Reggie could finally put his hand in Luke's hair without passing for a weirdo. And man, they were soft. But he was always careful not to unmade his imperfectly perfect bun.
Reggie loved Luke and for the first time, he thought Luke might love him as well.
When they pulled apart, catching their breath, their foreheads still touching, Luke smiled softly when Reggie took one of his front strands and put it back behind his ear.
"Was it the bun ?"
"It definitely was." And Reggie kissed him again. And again.