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albert really liked race. whenever he was with him, it was like time had stopped and they were the only people in the world. sure, he had jack, davey, crutchie, and the rest of the gang, but with race, it clicked. albert loved race.
albert couldnt get race out of his mind. he didnt love race in a brotherly love, no way, it was a full on kiss, cuddle, marriage kind of love.
everything was perfect when it was race. he had eyes that twinkled in the moonlight. twisty blonde locks that were incomparable to the bright fiery hair on alberts head. he was a skinny kid but much stronger than he seemed. race was the kind of guy that people can trust with anything. as irresponsible as he may look, nothing is done better than when its done by antonio “racetrack” higgins.
of course albert had fallen for his best friend, who wouldnt?
—
it had been years since albert first caught feelings, constantly trying to suppress them but failed at the mere sight of race. they had both already come out to each other, and alberts hopes had shot way up, and he knew it was a mistake.
once they were in junior year of college, race was going out late and coming back at 2 in the morning with some random guys, different each night. at first, albert was ok with it, some different flings here and there while your drunk, no harm done. eventually, it got on alberts nerves. especially on the days where race would bring home the same guy a couple of times.
“mornin’ albie” race groans was he walks out of his room.
no response.
“mornin’ albie” he says a little louder.
still nothing.
race walks up to where albert is in the kitchen, starts making a coffee, then stares at albert.
“whats up?” race says a little concerned, alberts never acted like this before.
absolutely nothing.
“fine dont talk, not like we’ve been best friends since first grade or anything.”
the snarky remark makes albert scoff. he really had the audacity to bring up how long they had been friends.
what about how long its been since theyve talked like they used to? how long its been since theyve had a silent night in the dorm? what about how long albert had loved him? he knew race had no clue about his feelings, but it still broke alberts heart to hear him only call albert his best friend instead of lover.
7:30. albert got up quickly from his chair to get ready, but race followed him everywhere mumbling stuff under his breath to get albert to say something, anything. he wasnt used to silence from albert, he knew something was up and he was destined to get it out of him.
“albert… aaalberttt… ALBERT”
“GAH, would you stop that!” albert fell backwards on his bed.
“heh, gotchu talkin’” race smirked before he took a sip of his coffee. “i gotta get dressed too, be right back.”
albert took the opportunity to get ready as fast as humanly possible. jumping around the room trying to slide on his jeans when the door burst open by race, shirtless. albert stopped in his tracks to admire races perfect torso that he wishes he could just dominate right there. a shirt slips in front of his view and he snaps back to reality just to hear race rambling about some guy he met thats “pretty cool”. albert tunes him out again, knowing that if he didnt, it wouldnt end well.
“gotta go” albert manages to slip out before he pushes by race, noticing how close they were for a just millisecond.
“w-what? its only 7:40, you dont leave till 8. al, please, can we talk?”
albert froze, his plans thwarted, he sulked over to the couch bracing himself for whats about to happen. race sat unbelievably close to him, knees brushing against each other at every small movement that one made. albert shook his head and ran his hands through his hair, not right now he thought.
“please tell me whats going on man, youve been quiet all mornin’ and im starting to get a wierd feelin’ inside.”
albert looked the other way.
race grabbed his shoulder when he looked back, and he caught the gaze of those diamond-like eyes that would make any man crumble, especially albert. “please?” albert couldnt say no, no matter how hard he tried, what came out if his mouth was something he was never going to live down.
“i- i just- i dunno, everythings been a little confusing now. youve been coming home with all these different guys and i,” albert took a chance to look at race, whos dumbfounded face only made albert feel more guilty about what he was doing, “look, you have every right to do whatever you want with whoever you want. i have no right to feel jealous about all the boys you bring, i just need to take a hint.”
“… jealous? you feel jealous if those boys because they’re with-“
“you.”
the blonde was more confused than he ever has been, and that was often.
“please, can i go now? this is hard enough as it is,” albert tried to stand up but race pulled him down and slammed his lips into alberts.
“wait, woah, wait!” albert pushed him away, even though he wanted it to go on forever, “this isnt right, racer!”
“its what you wanted isnt it?”
there it was. the one domino that started the collapse.
“what i want? is it something you want?” albert could feel himself losing his temper, he didnt want it to get ugly… please, please dont get ugly.
“i dont… everything is happening so quickly, i- i have no idea what i want.” race spoke quietly with his head down, which only made the red head angrier.
“right. let me just give you the answer then,” he was talking as calm as he could, but he was getting louder every second, “i fell in love with you since i first caught my eyes on you. I hopelessly support you through every relationship youve had while im trying to hang on. i finally confess as you tell me theres this other guy and then you just.. just.. kiss me! but of course, you only do it because thats what i want.”
“albie, ple-“
“not what you want, what i want." albert stops in his tracks. "am i just one of your one-night stands?"
race's posture shoots up on the couch.
"thats all this is... isnt it. youre just gonna use me like you do with all those other boys."
"no, thats not at all what im saying! i never thought tha-"
"god, of course it is! how could i be so blind!"
"albert, listen to me.."
"thats enough. i gotta go to class."
races tear-filled eyes follow albert as he storms out of their dorm and slams the door. what had just happened?
albert was running down the hallway, trying to get away from the mess he created while he was sobbing loudly.
big mistake.
—
albert couldn’t focus on class, he couldn’t focus on anything. he had ruined his chances of being with race, or even being friends with him or that matter. his phone was blowing up with texts and voicemails from race, he turned off his phone. he crashed at jack and daveys place for the night, but he couldn’t sleep. thinking about the last conversation he had with race, he tried to contain the sobs escaping him so jack or davey wouldn’t hear him.
there was a knock on the door. albert quickly wiped his eyes even though he knew it would be obvious that he was crying. he opened the door and winced at the bright lights in the hallway. once his eyes opened, he froze.
“im in love with you, albert, ive always been, but i was just too scared to admit it because… i don’t know… we were best friends. i couldn’t ruin my life, i cant live without you.”
the familiar voice caught albert by surprise. he shook his head in disbelief. there’s no way that was racer, was it?
"race?"
"i want to be with you forever albert."
there was a sudden warmth on alberts face. he realized that his crush of nine years was kissing him, and he finally kissed back, passionately.
this time, it felt right. this time, there was no going back, no do-overs, nothing but love.