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Andrew Minyard sat on the edge of the roof, his legs dangling over, eyes set on the street. Two guys were trying to get into a car, one being so drunk the other had to practically carry him with both arms. The drunk one was singing some random song, in what Andrew guessed was supposed to be English, but didn’t sound like it.
Finally, the sober one managed to get his friend into the car, then got in himself, and they drove off. Andrew looked around for some other thing to focus his attention on, but he found nothing. The night was quiet. It was nearing the end of May, so the weather was nice and warm, with the occasional fresh breeze.
Not for the first time, nor the second, he found himself missing the taste of smoke in his mouth. Not necessarily the act of smoking, but the feeling of having something to do with his hands, the distraction, the excuse. It had been more than two years since he quit, and he was over it, but in quiet moments like this, he wished he hadn’t.
The rest of the Foxes were inside, celebrating the end of exams, and drinking to their hearts content. He would join them again, for Neil was sure to be coming to get him soon, but for now it was only him, in the quiet night, staring at random people.
In only a couple weeks, he was graduating. It seemed surreal to think about it. years ago, he would never had dared to hope for a normal life, or as normal as it could being one of Palmetto’s Foxes. Teams had reached out to him, all over the country, but he had not made a final decision. Wymack, Kevin, Neil, even Aaron were pestering him to make a choice, to set a contract, to assure a future, but Andrew was reluctant.
Signing a contract was something too definitive. It confirmed the end of his college life, of being a Fox, of having this home he had built with sweat, blood and tears. He would never admit it to anyone, except maybe Neil and Bee, but this was his home, and these people were his family. Obviously, Nicky and Aaron were his actual family, but Neil, Kevin, Coach, Bee, Abby, took part of it too. They understood him, respected him, knew him deep enough to have carved a place inside Andrew’s dead and cold heart. He was not ready to let go.
Logically, he thought that taking different paths in life did not mean never speaking again. Logically he knew that Nicky was going to call him at least once a week, even all the way in Germany. Kevin was going to call him all the time too, be it his deficient diet, or just Exy bullshit. Aaron was… complicated. Both had come a long way since ending their deal. Aaron got to be with his cheerleader, and Andrew had kind of gotten used to her. He no longer wished to keep them apart forever, now his feelings veered to simple irritation. They still went to their joint therapy sessions, in which they had progressed, and now used them as a more of a catch-up time.
Their relationship wasn’t ideal, and they were far from being normal brothers, but they were in a well enough position to keep in contact even after graduating.
The one that worried him the most was Neil. It was already hard enough for him when the girls and Matt graduated the prior years. For Neil, the Foxes were his first real friends and family, and to lose them was hard, but he was not alone then. He still had Andrew. Now, he was going to be on his own. Yes, he had the baby Foxes, he had Robin, and he had Coach and Abby, but it was not going to be easy on him to be the only one remaining of the original Foxes.
The worry for Neil almost took over the worry for himself. It was easy to pretend it was not equally hard for him to leave him here, especially considering that no team that reached him out was closer than five hours by car.
His thoughts were interrupted by Neil coming into the roof. He had hardly drunk anything, but his blue eyes were sparkling in a way that revealed a little tipsiness. He stopped about two feet away from Andrew, and just stared at him. He was wearing his usual jock attire, including the orange bandana Allison had given him on Christmas.
- Staring.
- And what if I am?
- Junkie.
Neil huffed a laugh and he sat next to Andrew on the edge of the roof, legs barely short of touching his, hands stretched out behind him.
- Nice night, huh?
- Decent enough. Tired already?
- They were getting a bit rowdy down there, had to take a break.
Andrew just hummed, taking his eyes away from Neil.
- Soo, gonna tell me now what’s bothering you?
Andrew looked back at Neil. The full force of those clear blue eyes was directed at him, like two lighthouses. Neil’s eyes watched him with an openness that never failed to make Andrew’s stomach quiver. Andrew tried to repress the wave of affection he felt towards Neil, who had come to see him, to ask him how he was, because he knew something was bothering him. He said nothing.
- Come on, I know something is up, you hardly ever come alone to the roof anymore. I gave you some space, but I don’t want you feeling bad these last weeks.
- I hate you.
- Love you too, Drew.
It was something semi recent, both the nickname and the “love you” part. Andrew had not said it yet, but Neil once had let it out by accident, and Andrew had kissed him. So now Neil had those two weapons against him.
- 248%.
- Ohh, nice, this morning was just 245%.
- Yes or no?
- It’s always yes with you, Drew.
And Andrew kissed him, nothing too scandalous, no tongue, just a brush of lips. Neil sighed into the kiss, and inched closer to Andrew’s body, but still not touching him. Nowadays they barely needed to ask, but it was still their little tradition, something that was only theirs to enjoy. When they separated Andrew said:
- This is nice.
- It is.
- You are annoying.
- I am.
- What am I going to do without someone to annoy me every day next year?
Neil’s eyes shone with understanding. It was extremely annoying how this Junkie read him so well, he barely needed anything to get it.
- You are worried about the future. - It was not a question.
- Hmm.
- It’s just one year, Drew. Sooner than later, we are both gonna be playing together again.
- Stop making everything about Exy, idiot.
- Sorry, sorry. I am not going to say it’s gonna be easy, but I am going to be visiting you every chance I get, and you are going to do the same. You’re going to get tired of me. Plus, the life of the pros doesn’t leave much free time, you are not going to be able to even think about missing me.
- Not all of us are Junkies like you, Junkie. I am going to have all the time in the world.
Andrew didn’t have to put everything into words for Neil to und stand. Their dynamic, the easy way of understanding each other was something Andrew knew for sure he wasn’t going to find anywhere else.
- Hey, you asked me to stay, didn’t you? And I promised. So, I am going to promise it again. I’m staying. You are not getting rid of me that easily. I know it’s hard, and I know you hate fundamental changes, but it’s all going to be worthy. You are going to like your life; you are not going to lose any of us. In just a year I’ll be doing everything possible to be on your same team.
Little did Neil know, the one team Andrew had been looking to the most was in New York, one where one of the strikers confirmed this to be the second to last season, as he would be retiring in a year. Andrew didn’t say any of this out loud, but he thought Neil understood, nonetheless.
He kissed Neil again, a nonverbal thank you, a way to convey everything Andrew was feeling without having to express it out loud. He then got up and offered his hand to Neil. Neil took it, and they started to make their way back inside.
Next year was going to be different, maybe even complicated, but Andrew had learned to adapt, and with his family by his side, and especially Neil Abram Josten, it was going to be fine. Really fine.