cause love's such an oldfashioned word [Kai]

[graham]

(do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?)

Gray had been a little worried about Kai throughout the rest of the day. School had barely started up and already he looked drained, and Graham had decided to take it upon himself to turn that frown upside down. He'd sat through his classes, trying to pay attention, his mind mostly on the Senior, and by the time they were all done with dinner he'd pretty much grabbed Kai's arm and dragged him outside to the soccer field. He knew that Kai had his own home to stay at, but he didn't want to quite miss him for the night already.

"C'mon, sit down" The grass was cool but dry, the August wind lovely and warm around them as Gray plopped down onto the ground, stretching out like a starfish as he gazed up at the sky. "You, my dear friend, need to learn how to relax" He glanced up at Kai, a warm smile on his face. "I'd offer you a massage, but they only work so long. So, why don't you stay here for a while, we can chat and then we can let our animal side out" He almost giggled at that. It sounded so strange, letting their animal side out, like they were going to be wild and crazy. When in reality it was just literally letting their animals out. He wasn't sure how it worked for Kai, but Gray always felt antsy when his Wolf hadn't been let out for a while.

But first, just lying here was nice. Talking a little, if Kai was in the mood. "So tell me sweetie, what's wrong? You seem so tired." He shifted onto his side, resting his head on his elbow as he looked at his friend. "I'm glad you like Can, by the way. He's a sweetie." He loved that they were hanging out on Saturday, that Kai was kind enough to just accept him as a friend.

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[kai]

( TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS AND DON'T YOU LET ME GO )

Sitting on the football field wasn't something that Kai usually did, but if Gray had suggested something like this Kai would do it because he figured maybe Gray needed to talk. He had allowed Gray to tug him out here without so much as a question or a complaint. When he was ushered to sit down, those ocean blue eyes glanced down at his friend with a gentle yet tired smile before he lowered himself onto the grass. "I don't want to get grass stains.." His voice was soft, showing the exhaustion that he felt.

Kai could be a little bit of a prissy boy. He always wanted to look immaculate and his hair was always styled. If Gray knew anything about Kai, he wouldn't take offense to the comment about grass stains. Even though Kai had said it, he still sat down, which said a lot in the first place. He let a soft sigh escape from his lips as he leaned back on his palms and glanced over at his best friend. Gray was right. Kai did need to learn how to relax. He let himself get so wound up about everything that it was hard for him to see straight sometimes.

"I know.. I just can't help it. I have to make sure that I get scholarships because my mom can't afford to pay for the university I want to get into." Kai didn't want to take out loans either. He'd be paying those off for so many years that he might as well sell his soul to the institution he planned to attend.

After a few moments, Kai looked at Gray once more before flopping over to lay on his back. "Canyon seems like a nice guy. I approve of your friendship." The last sentence was said playfully, as if Gray needed to get Kai's approval for every friend he had. "He gets the best friend seal of approval." Then there was a small pause in which Kai tilted his head to get a better look at Gray without having to sit back up. "Do you... like him?" It was obvious as to what Kai meant by the word like.

[graham]

(do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?)

"I promise you'll still look pretty with grass stains" Graham teased, smiling when Kai sat down next to him. He looked exhausted, and though Gray by no means assumed that he was capable of making him relax (or at least not that he was the only one to) he still wanted to try and take his mind off of things. "Oh please" He scoffed, running his hand down Kai's shoulder to let him know his words weren't intended badly. "You'll get into any university that you want to, they'll be fighting to have you" Gray didn't mean to make it seem like he didn't take Kai's issues seriously, but his words were nothing short of honest. He really did think that Kai had a beautiful future ahead of him. He'd get into the school he wanted, graduate as valedictorian or at least cum laude, and become one of the best in whatever field he chose to work in. Because that was Kai. Bright and beautiful Kai Durant.

His hand had dropped to the ground, where he idly began to pick at the grass, inhaling deep lungfuls of air. Graham had always loved being outdoors. From an early age on - even growing up in a beautiful home in Ireland - he had hated being cooped up inside, which was one of the reasons he got so antsy during classes. When it all became obvious that he was a shifter he figured that was why, but there still seemed to be a lot of people in this school that didn't feel the urge to spend so much time outside.

Taking a deep breath, he nearly choked on it when Kai asked if he, y'know, liked Canyon. "Um, no?" Was his very eloquent reply, though he set to explain once he had caught his breath. Unfortunately his cheeks were pink because of the lack of oxygen - something he hoped Kai wouldn't assume meant he did like Can. "I mean, he's a great guy and a dear friend, but no. I don't like him that way." But hey, if Kai had asked, that must mean it wasn't painfully obvious that he was in love with him, so ..

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[kai]

( TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS AND DON'T YOU LET ME GO )

The problem with Kai was that even if he heard what was coming out of Gray's mouth and agreed with it, he simply couldn't stop worrying. Kai knew that he was good enough to get into the best college and he knew that he would graduate top of the class but he still fretted over it all of the time. He simply couldn't help it. When it came to academics the boy was a perfectionist. One day he'd end up making himself physically sick over it. "You're just being nice about it, Gray." He breathed softly, light blue eyes peeking up at his best friend.

He was a little surprised as such a blunt response from Gray about whether or not his best friend liked Canyon. Kai blinked several times, the surprise evident in his facial expression. He hadn't expected such a.. well.. "duh" sort of response. However, as Kai observed the blush that clung to Gray's cheeks he began to wonder otherwise. But Gray was his best friend and Kai trusted him not to lie so he simply smiled and took Gray's response at face value. "I'm starting to get afraid that you'll never have a boyfriend before you graduate high school, Graham Kerr." There was a gentle teasing manner to those words.

Slowly, as if he were too tired to do but wanted to anyway, Kai reached out and swatted Gray's arm. "You're a nice guy.. a great guy. I don't understand what's holding you back." Kai wanted to see Gray happy, even if Gray's happiness meant some unnameable squelching in the pit of his stomach. "You're handsome.. with a killer smile." It was obvious that Kai was listing all of the things he liked best about Gray in hopes of encouraging his best friend to finally go for it and find someone he likes.

"Anyone would jump at the chance to be with you."

[graham]

(do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?)

Gray wrinkled his nose at Kai's reply, resisting the urge to roll his eyes - though just barely. "Uh, no. Baby you know me better than that. I don't sugar coat things. If I say you're going to be amazing, that's just plain fact." He smiled at him instead, shifting until he was on his stomach, his head propped up on one arm. Graham really wasn't the type to say exactly what people wanted to hear. He didn't have feeling for what was the right thing to say or just the polite thing. He called it as he saw it, and he knew for a fact that Kai was going to achieve great things.

His friends comment about Gray graduating without a boyfriend made him laugh, and this time he did roll his eyes, though it was amusement more than annoyance that prompted it. "That is probably a good thing, since I'm barely gonna graduate as is" He wasn't stupid, he just wasn't smart. He had to work hard to concentrate enough in class, and sometimes he just plain didn't get something. "Besides" He remarked, rolling back onto his back and stretching his arms out in the air, before letting them flop to the ground as he shifted his head to look at his friend, an impish grin on his face. "All the cute guys are straight."

He liked that Kai was saying those things, it was nice to hear, but at the same time it kind of hurt. Because Kai thought he was great and handsome and had a beautiful smile, but when it came right down to it, his killer smile and attractive features didn't count for anything, because he lacked the right physical features for his friend. Gray had long ago accepted that, but it didn't mean it had stopped hurting to hear those things and feel that wild flash of hope, only to talk himself out of it. Kai was straight, there was nothing to hope for, end of story.

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[kai]

( TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS AND DON'T YOU LET ME GO )

Kai scrunched his nose as he stared at his best friend. He didn't like hearing that Gray was barely going to graduate. On numerous occasions Kai had offered up some after school tutoring sessions and now it looked as though Kai would have to offer them again. Whether or not Gray took Kai up on those offers was a completely different story. "I am willing to tutor you in whatever you need. I don't want to see you fail. You're too smart for this, Gray. We can pull up your grade point average together." He offered a reassuring little smile at this. Gray was not alone. He never was.

But when it came to the comment about all of the cute guys being straight, well, Kai could only frown. Sometimes he didn't know what to say to Gray when it came to relationships. He tried to convince Gray to go for someone he liked but it either seemed that Gray simply didn't like someone or he just wanted to sit around and be alone without even really trying to find a boyfriend. Granted, Kai probably shouldn't be talking because ever since he broke up with his girlfriend last year he hadn't really done any searching for himself either.

But Gray was different. Kai wanted to see him happy and successful. Gray had a really tough life where Kai didn't.. and it made Kai almost feel guilty sometimes for being as privileged as he was. His family wasn't rich, but they weren't poor either. Slowly, Kai flopped to lay down and he rolled over to halfway squish Gray with a small smile. He reached up, his hand gently fussing with Gray's hair. "But then again.." His voice was soft, a mere whisper. ".. Then again.. if you don't have someone.. that means I get you all to myself.."

[graham]

(do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?)

Kai had offered to tutor Gray before, and he had always said no. It wasn't that he didn't need the help, but the simple fact that he knew he would be more distracted by his friend trying to help him (scrunching up his nose when Gray didn't get the explanation, tapping his fingers onto the table top to the point where he couldn't look anywhere else) had always been enough to decline the offer. He loved Kai, he honestly did, but he could only take so much of him in a day. It was hard enough keeping his feelings inside as it was, he really couldn't stand being around him more, knowing he would never be anything other than a friend to the boy. Gray was happy to be his friend and most days he knew that their friendship was enough, but sometimes he just felt that little stab of pain that came right after his heart skipped a dizzy beat. He could only stand to reason away Kai's lack of interest so many times before his mental monologue went from he is straight to of course he wouldn't be interested in you. Kai was out of his league, and maybe him being straight was a good thing. If he'd been gay, or even bisexual, it would have been a lot harder to watch him with someone else than it was now.

Kai rolled himself half on top of him, whispering those words, and part of Gray wanted to jerk back and run. How, in any universe, was this fair? To have his best friend, whom he had the hugest crush on, combing fingers through his hair and whispering that he was all his, and knowing that it meant nothing? That it was just his way of being cute, that it was a joke. But Gray, for as many flaws as he had, was a good actor. He'd learned to hide his emotions, had managed quite a pokerface with the life he'd led, and it was that more than anything that saved him right now. Instead of jerking away he just smiled, brushing a strand of hair from Kai's forehead before he dropped his hand back to the ground. "If you want me so badly, maybe I should let you tutor me this time" There was a smile on his face, the corner of his lip drawn up into somewhat of a smirk, and the tone of his voice managed to be teasing, but God, it was hard.

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