Archive of Our Own

In hindsight, it would have been so easy to just say it then, to just spit it out. He’d already come so far at that point, already spoken to the school nurse, already made amends with Jonas. As they sat on that bench in the cold winter wind, and Jonas tried to finish his cooling kebab, Isak could admit that he had completed the worst of his task. He had opened himself fully to his best friend. He only had to say it out loud.

“It’s not a girl,” Isak had said, heart in his throat and stomach rolling. 

He didn’t know what he was expecting, but it wasn’t Jonas' cool head or his quiet contemplation. It wasn’t a muttered, “Is it me?”

And Isak denied it. After all, it was true that Isak was no longer interested in Jonas. It wasn’t the full scope of the truth, but there was no point in ruining a perfectly uplifting moment to give Jonas facts that were no longer relevant to the conversation. 

In the end, it only took that small moment of laughter to derail the conversation, to break the tension. Jonas never ended up guessing who he thought Isak liked, and Isak never admitted to his dalliance with Even. 

It wasn’t as if it mattered anyways. 

Isak and Even had only really been speaking for a few short weeks and one night spent together with warm kisses and whisper-soft confessions didn’t make for true love. Isak had shared those things with Sarah, maybe not that many secrets of his own, but he had shared them all the same. And by the time he had spoken to Jonas, Even had already stopped talking to him, and Isak still had no idea what the little drawings he left scattered about Isak’s belongings meant, so he let the moment pass. He didn’t admit to who he had been seeing, but Isak had still accomplished his biggest fear. He had successfully come out to his best friend. And it hadn’t been a failure.

With Jonas’ help, tensions eased between their group of friends. He supported Isak as he explained his behaviour, as he admitted his fears, and as he finally used the word. Gay. Well, maybe a little.  

In the end, it was a bit anticlimactic. Isak came out to his friends without admitting he had had something of a relationship with Even. An almost relationship. Something with potential. Something that really didn't need to be mentioned because it was more of a failure than an event. The bigger thing was coming out, even if it still hurt to think of Even despite the weight lifted from his shoulders at his honesty with his friends. 

To Isak’s surprise, his friends were supportive, if a little miffed at the idea of having one less means to talk to girls. After all, Isak was better at it than all of them, with the occasional exception of Jonas.

Isak was happy. He was able to be truly himself with his friends, and it impressed him how quickly they took to his interests with gusto. Where Isak used to be asked about Sara or Emma, he was now asked about William and the penetrators. It was misguided, but Isak appreciated the effort that his friends put forth.

Isak suffered their questions, ignored their suggestions that this first year or this third year was hot, and refused entirely to entertain the idea that they might go out for a night on the town near the local gay bar.

Because although Isak had come clean to his friends about himself, although he had been honest in those moments and the days following it, things had changed since that day on the bench. And if Isak was asked about going on dates or meeting new men now, weeks after coming out, he would not be entirely honest about his romantic availability status if he agreed to it.

They partied one Friday night, not long after Isak spoke with Jonas, and a conversation between Jonas and Mahdi had perhaps encouraged Isak to message Even, and perhaps he had hurried everyone to leave his house for the party early before begging off himself and meeting up with Even. 

Perhaps he had been with Even since then, through a manic episode and the depressive one that followed. Perhaps, Isak had learned that he could be there for Even and that in return Even made him feel warm, seen, and loved. Perhaps Isak wasn’t at all romantically available the way his friends so believed him to be. Perhaps he hadn’t been in a long while. 

++

It shouldn’t have mattered honestly. 

Surely Isak would find a way in the future to casually bring up Even, to mention that they had started seeing each other, to let his friends know that he was with Even now, and he didn’t really have any interest in meeting or hooking up with anyone else.

But as the weeks passed, it became harder and harder for Isak to find the right moment. 

As Isak sat with his friends at lunch, he found that the longer he waited, the worse the truth would be. It was like before Isak had admitted to being gay. He worked it up so much in his head that every time he thought of just saying it, a lump of nerves made itself known in his throat where he thought the words ought to have been and suffocated him.

“I bet we could find Isak someone,” Magnus said grandly on a Tuesday afternoon.

The table laughed, but Isak couldn’t help but grow weary as it petered off slowly. There was an odd atmosphere that overcame the table, one of excitement and scheming. Jonas exchanged looks with Mahdi, then he studied Isak’s nervous frame.

“Actually…” Jonas said, the picture of casualness. “We’ve talked about it and-”

“No,” Isak said, catching on to what was being suggested. 

“Come on.” Mahdi leaned forward to pat at Isak’s stiff shoulder. “Who knows you better than us?”

“You thought Emma was a catch. You’d be horrible matchmakers.” Isak scoffed.

His friends deflated. Jonas opened his mouth to respond, Mahdi scoffed loudly, and Magnus let out a wounded noise as he placed a hand over his heart. Not one of them rebuked Isak’s claim though. 

He had been forced to fully out himself due to the rumours she had spread at school. The only saving grace was that she hadn’t mentioned Even. Whatever small fortune saved Even from the cruel words whispered about Isak had Isak’s sincere thanks. Even didn’t need any more judgement than he had already received. And as he grew more comfortable in his skin with each passing day, Isak realized he had cared far too much about the judgement he had faced during his years at Nissen. 

Seeing that he had deterred the conversation enough, he moved to end his argument. “You guys didn’t even know I liked men until a couple weeks ago. I think it's fair to say you don’t really know me that well.”

It was the wrong thing to say, and he knew it as the words left his lips. Any friendly atmosphere at the table dissipated following his thoughtless comment. Isak had never before seen three people wounded simultaneously from just his words. 

It was Magnus’ quiet response that really did it. 

“Did you really feel like you couldn’t tell us?”

The guilt washed over him. Isak didn’t keep his interests from them because he didn’t trust them. Not for the most part anyways. It was his own fears that kept him from speaking, but Isak had to recognise that his friends might still feel like they failed him somehow.  It was out before he could think better of it. 

“No, you guys know me. I’m sure you’d have great choices.”

Mahdi smiled, a mischievous little thing, and the mood shifted once more. “We would, wouldn’t we?”

“I think so.” Jonas nodded.

“You know, Isak deserves someone good. Someone who can make him happy,” Magnus said.

“Someone who can keep him from being this grumpy at least,” Jonas agreed.

“Someone we pick out.” Magnus smiled.

It only took a moment before Isak realized his mistake. Choices. Plural. In one bad turn of phrase, Isak had turned this into a game for them. Fun at his expense. 

“Okay!” Mahdi clapped his hands together, leaning forward. “Three parties. A different guy of our choice each week. We party; they click...and the best man wins.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Isak said, but he knew that it was a lost cause.

Magnus was already bouncing in his seat, and Jonas had leaned back into his chair with all the ease of a champion. 

“You know, Issy, it’s too bad you never told me who it was you liked. It would have made this so much easier to set up; I don’t even know your type!” Jonas said.

Magnus’ head whipped to him. “Isak liked someone?” His eyes moved from Isak to Jonas and back again. “Why didn’t I know this?”

It would be the perfect time to bring it up. To mention Even and end the silly little competition that had broken out among his friends. Isak opened his mouth to admit to his secret, but Mahdi cut him off.

“Oh no!” He said. “None of us get to know. It would make it too unfair. We each get a shot at setting Isak up, and whoever gets the pleasure of helping Isak fall in love with his soulmate gets to go on with the knowledge that they understand Isak better than everyone else at this table.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Agreed,” Magnus answered.

“You’re all ridiculous, because it doesn’t even matter.” Isak hoped to ease the competitive mood that had overtaken the table.

“Agreed,” Jonas said, completely ignoring Isak’s words and look of shock. “What? It sounds fun.”

“You’re all insane,” Isak said. “I didn’t even agree to this.”

But it was clear his opinion didn’t matter; the bet was on.

“Alright. It’s a Tuesday. We will think about it for the rest of the week and start on Friday,” Mahdi said.

Isak raised his hands in defeat, exasperated, and said, “Fine.”

If the cheers of his friends were anything to go by, they would have accepted no other option but agreement.

++

“Okay, so… funny story.” Isak waited until later that night, after the hellos, after the ‘I missed you’s’ and after the kisses to broach the subject.

He could feel Even shift from his side of the bed, watched as Even bunched up his blue pillow, and let out a long suffering sigh before settling comfortably on the mattress with a smile. “Why does that sound ominous?”

Isak scoffed, smiling at his boyfriend despite his attempt to maintain his composure. “I swear you’ll find it funny. I hope.”

Even reached his hand out and pulled Isak closer, letting Isak settle comfortably at his shoulder. “What did you do, Isak?”

Isak played with the strings of his grey sweater lying tight on Even’s shoulders. “You know how I haven’t told the guys that we’re dating yet?”

Even’s hand slowed where it had been trailing up and down Isak’s back, hesitant. “Yeah?” 

Isak looked up, catching the question in Even’s eyes. “I want to!” He rushed to reassure. And he did, he really wanted his friends to know about how he was happy, and excited, and if he was honest with himself, a little bit in love. “It’s just that they brought up setting me up today.”

There was a small huff of laughter that escaped Even. “Setting you up? With someone?”

“I know! It’s ridiculous that they would even think they know what to look for...but when I tried to tell them about you, Mahdi got it into his head that it could be a competition between the three of them. Before I knew it, they had rules and even a prize. They think whoever wins gets to be my new best friend.”

Even laid on the bed quietly, contemplative. Isak would have been worried if it weren’t for the fact Even’s hand had returned to its comfortable stroking of his back. 

“What are the rules?” He asked after a long silence.

“Each of them will have a choice for a date for me. Luck of the draw who goes first. I won’t know who won until the end, because Mahdi thinks I might change my mind if I know who chose who. He said I play favourites and then just kind of pointed to Jonas.” 

Even nodded. “Well, I think it’s clear what you need to do.”

He was right, of course. Isak couldn’t let this happen when he was perfectly happy lying in Even’s arms. “I’ll tell them it’s off tomorrow.”

“What?” Even turned shocked eyes to Isak. “No! We have to see which friend knows you best.”

Isak’s mouth opened in shock, but Even closed it with a finger under his chin and a smile in his eyes. 

“You can’t be serious?” Isak asked.

“Of course I am.” Even laughed. 

He moved his finger from Isak’s chin tracing the line of Isak’s jaw before he laid a soft hand on Isak's cheek and let his thumb feel at the seam of Isak’s lips. “It’s just getting introduced at parties right? You spend the night letting me know how it goes, and then you come back to me, and I show you why it is never going to happen with anyone else.”

Even leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Isak's slack lips. Isak accepted it hungrily, licking into his mouth and enjoying the pressure of his lips. He couldn’t help the soft moan that escaped him when Even pulled back. “I don’t want anyone else but you.”

Even smiled brightly, leaning forward again to place a soft kiss on Isak’s furrowed brows, and said, “Good. I don’t think I’ll ever feel anything like this again. It’s all you.” When Isak nodded his agreement, Even whispered, “That’s why this will just be for fun.”

Isak had never known himself to be twice convinced to commit to a bet that was such a bad decision, but if Even kissed him like that again, Isak was likely to agree to anything. 

++

“Party Friday!” Mahdi announced, when they sat down for lunch on Thursday. “Order has been drawn so we know who is going when and the first choice has been made.”

“By you?” Isak asked.

“Rules dictate you don’t get to ask that.” Mahdi bit into his sandwich, grinning.

“The point is you can’t back out like you’re probably planning on,” Jonas said.

Isak threw his receipt at him.

“Isak, it’ll be fun.” Magnus' smile was infectious. “This is a chance for us to be closer to you...to take interest in your life.”

Isak clamped down on the warm feeling within him, rolling his eyes to hide how the words affected him and said, “We are close. Besides, there are so many better ways to take interest in my life than trying to set me up with some random guy.”

“Just say you’ll come already. If it all goes up in flames, at least we have something to laugh about.” Jonas threw the ball of wadded up receipt back in Isak’s direction.

It wouldn’t bode well to admit he’d already been convinced on Tuesday, especially since Even had done a far better job of it than any of his friends at the table. 

Isak released a long suffering sigh, ripping the paper receipt with his fingers. He poked at his cheese toast, looked at his friends one by one, and then at the occupants of other tables. Finally he asked, “Do I at least get to know who I am set up with?”

Mahdi smiled, lifting his hand to high five Magnus. “Nope! You find out when we get there.”

Great.

++

Isak was doing a stellar job of showing his reluctance to be present. He strayed about ten steps behind his friends, and pointed out everything wrong with the night. It was too cold; he wasn’t dressed very well (this had been on purpose); the location was too far; he wasn’t drunk enough to be there.

Nothing had worked.

His friends were ahead of him laughing, sipping on beer cans that were almost empty, and ignoring every one of Isak’s complaints. 

They took up the whole street, loud and happy, as they moved about under the orange glow of the streetlights, their shadows stretching out ahead of them.

“I think it’s a left,” Jonas said, pointing his can to the right. “Big building with a grey roof.”

“Super detailed.” Mahdi nodded. They followed Jonas’ can.

Isak sighed. “Guys.” He pointed to a white building behind them, the grey roof partially obscured in the shadow of the night.

“See, Issy?” Magnus ran in the direction of Isak’s hand, towards the party. “I knew you’d be excited.”

Isak didn't recognize the building, but he knew the area. It was filled with university housing and student accommodation. 

“Are we going to a uni party?” He asked incredulously as Magnus smiled proudly. “How did we swing that?”

Jonas ran a hand through his messy curls. “Eva got us in.”

Isak looked up at the building. He didn’t know Eva had it in her. 

“Sweet.”

He felt Mahdi’s arm swing around his shoulders. It was not long before Jonas reached around his other side. Together they pulled a slightly less reluctant Isak towards the building with Magnus leading the way.

++

The party was thrumming. A deep bass line making its way through the writhing bodies, hushing voices and settling into Isak’s skin. He could feel it in his bones, his fingers shaking with it as he brought his beer to his lips.

Isak looked about the party, scanning for faces he recognised. Sometimes they would fall on a stranger whose eyes didn’t slide away when they caught Isak’s; a stranger who would smile from across the room, who would sometimes step in his direction until Isak shook his head in warning.

Isak stopped looking after the third time it happened. 

He stayed close to his friends, content that they would introduce him to their chosen date, and spent his night laughing as he joked with his friends.

Eva bounded into the kitchen from the living room where there was a makeshift dance floor, her red hair messy and smile bright.

“You guys came!” She jumped on them, uncaring of the beer that sloshed from Isak and Mahdi’s cups onto the floor below them. “I thought you might bail like you’ve been doing for the last couple parties.”

“We wouldn’t miss this, Eva.” Jonas assured her.

He looked to Isak for confirmation, but just as he opened his mouth to agree, Isak’s phone buzzed within his pocket.

Even Kosegruppa

Updates?  

Isak smiled down at his phone, taking a moment to think of his answer.

“Chris goes here,” Eva was saying as Isak typed. “We’re still hooking up when one of us is free, and sometimes I help him when he’s looking for his next conquest. He isn’t picky.”

Nope. I haven’t met the unlucky guy yet.

Will let you know if that changes.

Even Kosegruppa

When that changes.

“We’re setting Isak up.” Magnus explained to Eva, smile bright as he hopped from foot to foot.

Isak tilted his head to the side; he supposed Even was right. 

Okay. When.

Even Kosegruppa

Can’t wait to hear from you when it happens, baby.

“Oh yeah. I’m super fluid when I drink. I guess college is the time to try new things and experiment. I can’t blame him. Boys are hot.” Eva said.

“Do you think it’s hot, Isak?” Jonas asked.

Isak looked up from his phone, barely paying attention to his friends as he thought how best to reply. Being called ‘baby’ always did something to him, and he felt like Even had done that on purpose. 

“Yeah. It’s hot.” He agreed, eyes already back on his phone. 

You could have heard me in person.

Even Kosegruppa

But I like knowing that others are interested, but you're mine.

“Isak, are you even paying attention?” Eva asked as she held out a shot for Isak to take.

Isak looked at the shot of alcohol, at his friends’ expectant faces, and returned one last look to his phone knowing he would have to put it away and be present.

Even Kosegruppa 

And anyways, I’m gonna make sure I hear you when you get home tonight.

Isak gulped down on the rush of heat that settled in his stomach, hurrying to put his phone in his pocket before anyone tried to read it.

He took hold of Eva’s offered shot, pounding it back with little fanfare and hoping his red cheeks would be attributed to the alcohol.

“Let’s party!” 

++

The night passed with drinks, laughter, and dancing. Isak was happy to jump up and down, sway side to side, and let Eva dance against him. He kept one eye on his friends, curious as to what their plan was, and the other on his phone, eager to reply to any and all of Even’s questions.

Isak was surprised to find he was having a good time. Although he knew he was there for a silly reason, he missed being out with his friends without fear of letting something slip. It was the first party he had been to where he felt totally himself. Isak could feel as his shoulders loosened. His smile brightened and came more freely. It wasn’t long before Isak forgot what he had to be worried about, instead letting his thoughts wander to Even and how nice it would feel if he were pressed up against his boyfriend rather than his friend.

Isak let himself go, enjoying himself. He laughed with his friends, and barely paid attention when they let out a collective whoop of noise at a new arrival.

“Eskild!” Isak yelled with his friends when he noticed his roommate.

Eskild preened under the collective attention of the group, laughing and dancing with Eva even as he accepted the beer that Mahdi placed into his hand.

“Hello, lovelies.” His eyes travelled up and down Isak’s track pants and hoodie, tapping it with a finger before tapping Mahdi’s dress shirt with a pointed look. “Don’t we look lovely tonight? Some of us, anyways…”

“Isak didn't want to come,” Magnus bellowed over the music, pulling his own shirt from his skin for Eskild’s amused reaction.

Eskild’s eyes moved from Magnus to Isak with mock shock. “Not our Isak! Not wanting to come and party? Didn't you hear from your friends that there are hot single gays in the area? They couldn't wait to tell me.”

Isak jerked at Eskild’s words and shot a look at his friends, none of whom caught his gaze. “Seriously, guys?”

The group stayed quiet, sipping at their beers, and watching party goers as they made their way drunkenly across the room.

“Did I miss something?” Eskild asked.

“Not at all,” Isak answered through gritted teeth. “Just that my friends are idiots.”

“Oh.” Eskild nodded. “That’s boring, let’s go dance instead, baby gay.” He pulled on Isak’s hand.

Isak went with him, turning to glare at his friends one last time, eyes darkening further when they gestured frankly between Isak and Eskild, as if Isak was the dense one. He turned back to Eskild, getting into the rhythm of the beat and allowing Eskild to move his arms and legs about as he wished. His glare softened, and his smile grew with every prod of Eskild’s hands, with every twirl Eskild forced upon him, and even though he would roll his eyes with each new move, Isak found he was nodding his head and moving along to the music with Eskild’s lead.

It wasn’t long before Eskild grew tired of Isak’s half hearted dancing and focused on the partygoers around them, Eva happy to take on Isak’s role when Eskild moved towards her. 

Isak looked for Jonas, Mahdi, and Magnus in the crowd, finding them chatting with a group of girls, though even from across the room Isak could see how they would turn their heads in his direction.

Isak didn't return to their sides, taking out his phone for a reprieve.

Even Kosegruppa

Any updates?

Wow, no answer. Is it going that badly?

Don’t tell me they did well, and I am going to have to storm over there. ;P

Isak?

Isak snorted. 

They are trying to hook me up with Eskild.

Even Kosegruppa

You’re kidding. :’)

That’s amazing.

Right. 

They hook me up with the only gay guy they know.

Thinking ‘oh these two would be a good match.’

As if I wouldn’t have told them if I was interested.

Even Kosegruppa

To be fair, given your track record… they’d be right

Fuck off.

Even Kosegruppa

I think it’s kind of sweet.

Like they’re easing you in.

Here’s someone that wouldn’t be scary for a newcomer.

It’s a good match.

Stop defending them!

Even Kosegruppa

You can see it too, huh?

“This is disappointing,” Eskild whined, grabbing Isak’s hand and pushing Isak’s phone back into his pocket. “I was expecting an abundance of gays. It looks like it’s just me and you.”

Isak pushed Eskild’s wandering hands away. “What’s wrong with me?” He barked.

“Nothing. Nothing.” Eskild pushed back Isak’s curls. “You’re just not exactly available. To me anyways.” He winked at Isak, sending a surreptitious glance at his friends.

Isak followed Eskild’s gaze, looking at his friends’ excited faces. 

“Well, I’m not the only gay here, anyways.” He said as he pointed Eskild towards one of the men who had tried to talk to him earlier. “Maybe go make a new friend.”

Eskild studied his options, turning to smile mischievously at Isak and said, “No new friends, only new fucks.”

And then he was gone.

Isak returned to his friends, biting down on a small smile as he saw their dejected looks. 

“It was a no go on project hook-up-Isak-with-Eskild.” He announced, accepting the beer Jonas held out for him.

Magnus pouted. “You were having fun.”

“I was.” 

Mahdi was watching where Eskild had already pulled the man in to dance. Grumpily, he said, “You get along so well, though.”

“So do you and I. Should we hook up?” 

Jonas patted Mahdi’s back and said, “We thought that maybe Eskild might have known someone to hook you up with even if you two didn't hit it off. It could have worked, so it was worth a try.”

“We didn't think about how we didn't know that many available men when we made this bet,” Magnus admitted. “We got a little nervous with the idea of making you a Grindr.”

Isak shivered. “Please don’t do that.” 

“Then our options are limited!” Mahdi said sourly.

“But we aren’t giving up,” Jonas said. “Making Isak happy is our number one goal.”

“You guys are idiots.” Isak’s voice was soft, and he struggled to tamp down on his growing smile as he spoke. “But better luck next time.”

“We got this,” Mahdi said. Jonas and Magnus nodded their agreement.

“Well one of you just lost, but sure. You got this.” Isak rolled his eyes. He took a sip of his newly acquired beer before turning his attention back to his phone.

Even Kosegruppa

If you get home soon I can show you how good of a match we are.

.jpeg

Isak’s eyes went straight to the photo Even had attached. It didn't include his face, but Isak got a clear view of the skin of his stomach and the trail of hair that led to and then hid beneath his white briefs. White briefs that left little to the imagination as they clung tightly to Even’s thighs. Isak couldn't take his eyes off the bulge presented to him in the photo. 

Isak downed the last of his beer, placing the empty can behind him on a stray table. “On this disastrous note: I’m out.”

He didn't wait to see if his friends heard him; he didn't wait to see if they protested; he barely waited to send a quick wave around the room, catching Eskild’s amused eyes as he danced with that guy.

Isak had much better things to be doing with his time.

++

Isak knocked on his apartment door. 

He’d left his keys with Even so that he could stay at Isak’s while Isak was out, but as he stood restlessly waiting for Even to answer him, Isak could not help but wish Even had his own set.

The door opened slowly, much too slowly for the promise that permeated the air. Even was smiling, something small and private and only for Isak. 

“Welcome home, baby,” he whispered, conscious of Linn in the next room.

Isak had more important things on his mind than his roommate’s comfort and, pressing into Even’s space, did his best to get Even’s lips on his skin, and all of their clothes out of their way.

++

“I think it’s fair to say that Friday was a bust,” Jonas told the table on Monday.

“One down, two to go.” Isak smiled. 

Although the night had been a failure to them, Isak had ended his on quite the high note.

“You just ditched us, too. You’re not allowed to just leave us high and dry like that when we are trying to get you laid.” Mahdi pointed at him. “You suck, Isak.”

Isak took a large bite of his waffles. Mahdi had no idea how right he was.

“We just thought you got along so well with Eskild.” Magnus frowned, picking at his own waffle.

Isak pat at his shoulder. “You guys are right. We do get along, but there is a lot of history to it. Eskild will always be an important friend to me, but he’s also always going to be just a friend.”

“Which is why our Friday party will be better,” Jonas nodded determinedly.

“There will be an actual person who isn’t your friend for you to hit on,” Mahdi promised.

“It’s going to be great!” Magnus took a large bite of his waffle, smiling through bulged cheeks.

Isak scrunched his nose, eyes sharp, and mumbled, “Yeah. Great.”

++

“Someone you aren’t friends with, eh? Sounds ominous.” Even laughed from where he sat next to Isak in the deserted hallway. 

“You got me into this.” Isak glared.

“Uh uh, Isak.” Even waggled his finger in Isak’s face, smug. “You did this to yourself. I just encouraged it.”

“Whatever.” Isak sighed, shrugging. “You don’t get to act jealous.”

“I am free to be a little jealous when my boyfriend is getting actively hit on by another man. I just have to accept that I am partly to blame for it at the same time.”

Isak rolled his eyes, but he couldn't keep the pleased smile from his lips. “Nothing is going to happen Friday.” 

He looked to Even, placing a hand softly on his hip where it might be hidden from prying eyes. Isak searched Even’s eyes for any sign of distress, any sign that this might not be all that Even thought it would be, any sign he might be more comfortable if they stopped.

Even’s eyes were clear, and his hand firm when it took hold of Isak’s. “Maybe not with you or mystery guy, but there will definitely be something happening with us on Friday.”

Isak smirked, his eyes narrowed in on Even’s lips. He liked it when Even promised things like that.

++

The week went slowly, Isak could feel every minute as it passed, and still it was only Wednesday.

“Eva’s on Friday. It’s been decided,” Jonas told him over a video game afternoon at his place.

Isak just finished scoring a goal for his team, so he distractedly said,“Wow. You guys really are pulling out all the stops.”

“Shut up.” Jonas elbowed his side, throwing off Isak’s aim in the game. “You know how you are about new spaces. We have to have you in a comfort zone if we’re throwing something new at you.”

“You act like I’m easy to spook.” Isak muttered.

“Not the great Snakesak!” Jonas smiled. 

He didn’t take his eyes off of the screen, even as Isak sent him a dirty look. Jonas evened the score.

Isak grunted, turning back to the game with half a mind still lingering on Jonas’ words. His friends truly believed Isak wasn’t with anyone because he struggled to get to know people. They didn't even know about Even past the hat incident, and they had no reason to believe he meant anything to Isak. After all, Isak was never one to befriend new people unless they were in his class and scored good grades, they were brought in by one of his other friends, or they collected Isak under their wings themselves. 

When he thought about it that way, Eskild really did make sense as a choice from his friends’ perspectives. He was the first man that Isak was friends with outside of school. He was out and proud and called Isak out when he wasn’t as open minded as he could be, and Isak listened to him. So even though it seemed crazy, because Eskild was like a brother to Isak, Isak could see how they might seem like a good match.

It made Isak wonder if he might have been too comfortable keeping his thoughts to himself. There was no benefit in hiding who he was any longer, but there was still something about it that was normal to Isak. His friends had never seen him smile with Even, flirt with him, or even just sit happily in his presence. It wasn’t their fault they didn’t know. 

Isak could have still been all the things that they thought about him, if he hadn’t met Even. But now that he had, Isak wanted to be more.

“You’re losing,” Jonas said, pulling Isak from his thoughts.

He was ahead by three. 

“Was Eskild your choice?” Isak asked.

Jonas turned to look at him, but Isak refused to share his gaze. Instead, he used the opportunity to score a goal.

“I don’t get to tell you,” Jonas said, but the smirk on his lips suggested he wasn’t too bothered at the loss.

So Jonas still hadn’t gone yet.

It didn’t matter. Jonas knew him the best out of his friends; he knew when something was wrong and always asked how he could make it right. But Jonas didn’t know the parts of Isak that he didn’t want to share, just when something was off, until recently.

Jonas didn’t know Even. 

Until Isak let his friends know Even, they wouldn’t really understand all the things that were important to Isak. 

Still, they tried and that warmed Isak’s heart.

++

Isak admired the photos and drawings on the wall in more detail than he had the last time he was in Even’s room. He’d been too nervous, too excited at the prospect of someone who might share his interests, to spare them any more than a basic glance. 

Even in the hours he had spent in the room that day, Isak had his eyes firmly on Even’s lips, his heart beating against his chest at the possibilities, and his tongue tied. He had been so focused on Even that he doubted he would have noticed a fire burning outside the window even if it had begun to set the house ablaze at his feet. 

Now he was more settled, but not any less excited, and comfortable in his skin. Comfortable in his relationship. So he glanced around, admired Even’s skill, and fingered the guitar strings on his way back to Even.

“Do you play?” He asked.

Even looked up from where he was doodling, a small smile playing at his lips as he said, “Do you want me to play you something?”

Isak smiled back, knowing his cheeks had grown pink with warmth and Even could see. “Fuck off. I was just wondering.”

“No, really. Do you want an acoustic version of Biggie?” Even held his arms out as he spoke, his legs opening wide, and beckoned Isak into the space he had created. 

Isak laughed, letting himself fall fully into Even and forcing him to take his weight, “You wouldn’t be good enough.”

“Uh-uh!” Isak could feel the huff of laughter next to his ear.  “If that’s not good enough, I could write you a song. You know I would, right? I’d be much better at drawing you something, though. Drawing you.” His voice had grown husky, and Isak shivered as it danced over his skin. “Should I draw you?”

Isak wanted to speak, he wanted to answer, but he struggled because his mouth had grown dry. He licked at his lips. It wasn’t the place. Even’s parents’ returns were always unpredictable at best. Nothing would happen, but there was a promise there. A promise that it could, if Isak just nodded. 

“I can’t believe I have to go pretend I’m interested in someone else,” Isak said into the skin of Even’s chest.

Even’s arms tightened around him as he mumbled, “Isak Valtersen, you better not.”

“It’s all just pretending, because I already found the perfect man.” Isak let his own arms wrap around his boyfriend, holding him just as close. 

Even laid a soft kiss on his forehead, smiling through his words, “There you go calling me perfect again.”

“Perfect for me,” Isak said. He looked up at Even, strangely serious in the moment. “Just for me.”

Even was happy by nature, friendly and sweet. But in moments like this, his smile was just for Isak, the wrinkle between his brows was for Isak, and his bright shining blue eyes only saw Isak. 

“Tonight will be fine,” Even said. “But if you don’t want to do it, just say.”

Isak thought about it as he let the silence stretch out around them, and then said, “Is it weird I don’t really mind it? If anything, it makes me appreciate what I have right here.”

“You have no idea how lucky I am to have you,” Even whispered and squeezed Isak close, “but I think it’s time for you to go get ready to be hit on by another guy.”

++

Eva’s house never failed to look exactly how Isak always expected it to. Loud and overflowing with schoolmates and party crashers.

It was chaos, and Isak felt more comfortable in it than any other party he had been to.

His friends were right; Eva was a safe space, something Isak associated with happiness and kindness. And though he had no intention of interacting with their chosen bachelor number two, Isak was more open to meeting him than he had been at the last party.

“Are you guys going to let me know what to expect this time?” 

Mahdi scrunched his nose in a smile, lifting his drink as he shook his head. Magnus gleefully looked around, as if he were expecting a burst of fireworks to precede the impending arrival of Isak’s blind date. Jonas took pity on him.

“No, but we will let you know that it shouldn’t be a shock.”

Isak’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Shouldn’t be a shock?” 

His friends said no more, each staring at their beers or finding excuses to make themselves scarce.

Isak watched as Magnus rushed off to greet Vilde; Jonas left to talk to a classmate from one of the courses they didn’t share, and he was left alone with Mahdi.

When Mahdi drained his beer, he was left with no other option than to answer Isak's heated gaze with a firm, “It won’t be that bad, Isak.”

Isak scoffed, taking a sip of his own beer, but if he was honest, Mahdi was right. If anything, the awkward evening just proved how much his friends were there for him, how they would have been there before, if Isak had just let them.

“Clearly I am trusting you guys, aren't I?” He asked, sarcastically.

“You’re being your usual grumpy self, but yeah, I kind of think you are.” Mahdi let out a loud laugh, and when he calmed, his smile was genuine. 

Isak rolled his eyes, but he didn't object when Mahdi tapped their drinks together. Things hadn’t always been clear between them, and Isak was happy to see the muddy waters getting cleaned. 

“Does this mean you’ll tell me who is coming tonight?” He asked.

“Not a chance.”

“Will you at least tell me who picked Eskild last time?” He tried this time.

“Nope.” Mahdi looked in the direction their friends had headed in. “Maybe after tonight. You won’t be able to cherry pick who it is you like that way.”

Isak narrowed his eyes at him and asked, “Really?"

“Nope.” Mahdi smiled. “Question: Isn’t that guy over with Magnus familiar? I feel like I recognize him, but I can’t put a name to his face.”

Isak, puzzled, turned to look in the direction his friend had indicated, or he would have, if a strong arm hadn’t gripped at his shoulder and stopped the movement. Isak looked up and was greeted with mischievous brown eyes.

“Hey there, Isak. Been awhile.” Chris smiled down at Isak, eyes sharp in the dim light.

“Hi, Chris...” Isak hadn’t meant it to sound like a question, but they hadn’t talked to each other since Chris had graduated the year before. He didn’t really think they were close enough to warrant such a warm greeting.

“You’re looking very blond today.” Chris’ eyes travelled from his head, down his body and back again, while his arm, still wrapped around Isak’s shoulders, reached up to pull at a strand of Isak’s hair. “Nice outfit.”

There was something about the way that Chris looked at a person that could just set their cheeks aflame. Isak was wearing a green button down that Even had told him matched his eyes and dark blue jeans that even he could admit fit his legs nicely. 

“Uh, thanks?”

“We should get you another drink.” Chris smirked as he pointed to Isak’s empty beer. “Maybe we can do some shots so you aren’t so nervous.”

Isak looked to Mahdi for an answer, but he only received a shrug in response. He turned back to Chris suspiciously and asked,“Don’t you want to find Eva?”

“Not tonight,” Chris’ smirk grew as he winked.

Isak’s breath rushed out of him. He couldn't be sure—Isak would never claim he could tell when guys were interested the same way he could for girls—but Chris was anything but subtle. He didn't get a chance to respond before he was being hauled away by the wrist, only having time to send Mahdi a look of distress before he was pulled into the kitchen.

The kitchen was quieter than the main room, and Isak found himself breathing easier. It wasn’t empty by any means, but Isak had space in the room to stand comfortably without being touched. Or he would, if Chris hadn’t backed him into the corner by the fridge and the counter.

“Shots?” Chris asked, but he didn't wait for an answer before he grabbed vodka and began to pour it into two separate shot glasses.

Isak watched as he poured more vodka than necessary into the glasses. 

“Uh,” Isak interjected, “I’d rather have a beer.”

Chris looked over his shoulder, smirking, and said,“We can get you that, too.” 

He pulled open the fridge and gestured Isak towards it. Isak had to scooch past him to get to it, thanking him despite his unease as he pulled out a new can.

Isak tried to stand further from Chris when he returned, but his efforts were in vain as Chris just pulled him closer to offer him the shot. 

“Bottom’s up.” He watched as Isak swallowed, grimacing at the taste and following it with a sip of his beer, before Chris took his own. 

He moved closer, leaning towards Isak in the noise of the room, and asked, “Did it taste that bad?”

“Do you think vodka tastes good?” Isak leaned away from him, face scrunched in distaste. 

“It’s fine.” Chris inched closer still, oblivious or uncaring of Isak’s choice to edge away. “But if you don't like it, I can give you something better to taste.”

Isak pitched forward, eyes wide as Chris bit his lip. He didn't notice that his grip on his beer had loosened until Chris jumped back in surprise.

“Fuck.”

They both looked to the wet spot on Chris’ gray pants. It wasn’t completely obvious, but in the right light, it looked as if Chris had had an accident.

“Sorry,” Isak said, sounding suspiciously amused.

“It’s fine,” Chris said through gritted teeth. “I’ll be right back.”

He left, and Isak was left blissfully alone for the moment. 

It was clear that Chris was flirting. Isak didn't know why, or what had come over him, but Chris was being obvious in his actions, and Isak would need to find a way out of the kitchen and to his friends. His friends. His friends who were suspiciously nowhere to be found.

“Seriously?” Isak breathed, looking through the kitchen door for a sight of them. Wherever they were, they had taken pains to be out of his sight, probably for good reason.

Unless…

Perhaps he was wrong. Chris was flirty by nature, and though Isak hadn’t seen him hook up with a guy in highschool, that didn't mean Chris wasn’t interested in it. There was even a photo of him kissing William on his instagram, but Isak had always thought that it was a joke. Maybe he had been wrong.

He stood in the middle of the kitchen contemplating the likelihood that his friends would do something like set him up with Chris when Isak felt a soft brush against his hand, and scared it was Chris getting too close again, Isak looked up to see who had come so close in the crowded space.

“Even?” Isak must have drank more than he thought. 

“Hey, baby.” It was quiet in the noise of the room, Isak read it from his lips more than heard it.

“What are you doing here?” Isak lifted his hand to touch Even, unsure if he had had too much to drink with the last shot, needing to make sure the man in front of him was real or if he might disappear.

Even laughed as he watched Isak snatch his hand back and whispered, “Got invited by some of my classmates who knew about it. Couldn’t resist coming when I knew I’d see you in action.”

“Shut up.” Isak smiled the brightest he had since he’d arrived. “You can’t be here. I’m going on a date.”

“So I heard. I wonder who it is.” Even looked at the partiers. “I myself am just here to get a drink.”

“What are you going to drink?” Isak followed Even to the fridge and watched him as he opened it. 

“Don't know yet,” Even said. “If I’m honest, this was just an excuse.”

Isak tilted his head to better catch Even’s eyes below him. “For?”

Even ignored his question. “Can you see juice in here?” 

Even scooted to the side to allow Isak access to the contents of the fridge. Isak leaned forward looking for any sign of juice. He turned to Even. 

“I don’t see any-” Even kissed him. 

Isak’s eyes fell shut, leaning into Even as the kiss deepened. They were still closed when Even pulled away. Isak opened them slowly, blinking away the haze as he watched Even pull away with a bottle of water in hand.

“For that,” he said. “Now go see about your date.”

And he walked backwards out of the kitchen, winking at Isak just before he turned out of sight.

Isak stood there, watching the space Even had vacated with a dopey smile. He didn’t know how long he stood there, but it was how Chris found him when he returned.

“Miss me that much?” He smirked.

Isak dragged his eyes to Chris and forced the smile to stay on his lips. He pointed at Chris’ pants. “It hardly looks like you pissed yourself anymore.”

Chris’ smirk fell, replaced by a glint in his eye as he stalked closer and whispered, “You won't be focused on my pants for long. Well, not yet anyways.”

Isak gulped. “Do you know where my friends are?” 

Chris pulled back to look at him. “Why would I know or care about that? Just think of it like it’s the two of us.”

“Why would we want it to be just the two of us?” Isak's voice was uncomfortably high as he asked. He coughed to steady it.

“Because I’m going to kiss you, Isak,” Chris spoke slowly, as if Isak were a particularly dense child.

Isak backed away from him and said, “No, thank you.”

“As if you don’t want to kiss me,” Chris scoffed, letting his head roll back before returning his gaze to Isak.

Isak thought that it was fairly obvious that that was indeed the case, but he continued, “Listen, I’ve heard you are good at what you do, but I’m just not ready-” 

“Isak, it’s just a kiss. I’ve done it with hundreds of people, and it doesn't have to mean anything. It must not have been a big deal for you when you kissed Sarah or Emma.”

It annoyed Isak that he was right. In other circumstances, Isak may have even been open to the idea of kissing Chris. He was hot, Isak couldn’t deny it, and Chris brought a promise of no commitment. It was just that Isak was committed. Very committed, and happily so. With a man that was roaming somewhere about Eva’s house.

“Chris, it’s a very nice offer but-”

“—and if we enjoy ourselves, we can keep hooking up when we are at the same parties,” Chris continued on as if he hadn't even spoken. 

“Listen, I’m sure it's a great offer, but I’m not going to take you up on it.” Isak’s voice was losing its warmth with each reiteration of his decline.

What about no didn’t Chris understand?

“You can’t even know you don't like it if you don't try it,” Chris whispered, lips ever closer to Isak’s ear.

“I’ll have to try to live with myself without the knowledge.” Isak placed a hand on Chris’ chest, keeping him away.

“Come on! Your friends said you were interested in hooking up.” Chris pulled away to look at Isak, scowling.

“Fuck.” He’d suspected his friends had chosen Chris as bachelor number two; this just confirmed it.

“Do you really not want to?” Chris asked.

Isak sighed, shaking his head, and said, “Really.”

“Okay.” Chris pulled away fully, hands up in a sarcastic show of surrender. “Just know I think we would have a lot of fun if we tried it. Hit me up when you realize this was a mistake.”

“He won't.” Even’s voice was hard and angry behind Chris. 

Isak watched his boyfriend situate himself between Chris and Isak to make sure Chris didn’t try anything again.

Chris looked him up and down, before he had to raise his gaze further to reach Even’s eyes. “And you are?”

“A good samaritan who heard him say no,” Even said. 

He was standing to his full height, still and intense. For a moment he was nothing like the Even Isak knew. Then he tilted his head and smiled. 

“I’m sure you can find someone else who would be glad to make out consensually with you.”

Chris scoffed, but his eyes moved to the door. “Whatever.”

“Bye, Chris!” Isak said, watching him make his exit. Chris flipped him the finger without looking back. Isak grinned, turning back to Even. “Do you think you’re my knight in shining armour or something?”

Even returned Isak’s smile and said, “You know, I’d love nothing better.”

Isak loved when Even’s eyes crinkled like that, when his smile took over his face, when he leaned into Isak’s space. Isak couldn’t take his eyes off him. 

“Do you want to get out of here?” 

Even’s smile never slipped as he shook his head and said,“I want to look around.”

Isak frowned, but he still followed Even when he turned swiftly and left the room.

++

“You know,” Isak said, glancing about the bathroom to ensure that it was empty and the door was locked, “I was in here not too long ago, smoking up with the boys.”

Even smiled down at Isak, who knelt on the floor in front of him, from where he sat on the lip of the bathtub that Isak had smoked in all those weeks ago.

“Should I go get them for you or...” He trailed off, glancing pointedly at Isak’s hands on the zipper of his jeans. 

Isak glared at him, mumbling something about how ungrateful his boyfriend was as he returned to the task of riding Even from the confines of his tight jeans. “I just thought you’d like to know.”

“If you would rather Jonas, I can go get him, but you made it seem like you wanted something else a minute ago. Which would you rather?”

Isak pulled Even’s dick from his boxers, running his thumb along the tip, and whispered, “This. Definitely this.”

“I was hoping you would say that.” Even licked his lips.

Isak smirked up at his boyfriend, sure to look Even directly in the eyes as Isak slowly took his dick into his mouth. He loved the sounds Even made, the way he couldn’t hold his hips quite still no matter how he tried. Isak felt powerful in this position, like he could wreck Even with just one move. He knew that he could.

Even’s hand slid into Isak’s hair, pulling softly at the roots. Isak breathed through his nose and took him deeper.

“You’re so fucking hot, Isak.” Even’s eyes didn't leave him, not even when a knock sounded at the door. 

Even muffled his groan, placing a finger between his teeth to keep quiet. Isak didn't stop. 

The knock sounded again, but soon they could hear voices retreating. Even’s hand tightened in Isak’s hair.

Encouraged, Isak licked at the tip, pulling back slightly so he could lick a line down to Even’s balls, one of which he took into his mouth. Even’s groan was louder this time.

Another knock came to the door as Isak moved his tongue from one to the next providing it the same attention he had lavished on its twin.

Whoever was on the other side was clearly in need, but Isak couldn't find it in him to care when Even’s eyes rolled back like that, when his voice cracked on his name, or when he felt the tell tale sign of Even’s impending release as his body stiffened. Isak returned his attention to Even’s dick, licking and sucking and doing all he could to encourage Even to climax. Isak moved his hand to push at his own erection, needing to rearrange himself as he grew more turned on by Even’s quiet noises. 

Even pulled at Isak’s hair in warning, but it only encouraged Isak to continue. Isak looked into his eyes again, asking him to let go. 

Even did.

Isak swallowed what he could, spitting the remainder into the tub that he had sat in not long ago. 

“You’re so hot,” Isak said breathlessly. 

Even always looked good after sex. His pupils were blown, and his lips were red from where he had bitten them. Isak liked that he was the one that made Even look like that.

Even placed himself back into his jeans, lifted himself from where he sat, turning on the tap to rid the room of evidence of their actions. He pulled Isak up from where he kneeled, lifting him from the ground, and asked him for a kiss. Isak let his legs wrap around Even’s hips, enthusiastically accepting the kiss Even placed on his lips. He felt Even place him down on a ledge, but he didn’t take his eyes off of his boyfriend, pulling him into another kiss and letting his hands roam down Even’s back to his ass where they settled. Even moaned into the kiss, only pulling back at a particularly loud knock on the door.

“Should I return the favour?” Even smiled a satisfied little quirk of his lips at him.

Even lowered himself to his knees, smiling up at Isak with promise. Isak groaned at the prospect of what could come, but let his head fall against the cool hardness behind him as another bang hit the door. He pulled at Even’s shoulders, a frown growing on his lips.

“Not unless you want someone breaking down the door.” Isak’s words were punctuated by a heavy knock. “Do we head back out?”

“Not unless you want to get yelled at.”

Isak wrinkled his nose. “Then what do we do?”

Even looked out the window Isak sat in front of, contemplating. 

Isak remembered when Magnus had sat on the same ledge. Like that time, Isak was hiding from the party raging on below them, but now Isak had very different company, and he much preferred the activity. 

“There’s a tree. Lots of branches.”

Isak followed his gaze out the window. He dropped from the ledge to his feet and backed towards the door. 

“Absolutely not.”

“You’ve gotten through windows before.” Even waggled his eyebrows.

“I almost got stuck in that window and charged with trespassing,” Isak reminded him.

Even turned to him, smile bright, and said, “It can be our tradition.”

“I want our traditions to involve doors.”

“And I am happy to fuck you against the door when we get home, but first we need to get out of here without getting caught,” Even said. “You have a decision to make.”

Isak would always pride himself on being a practical decision maker. It really wouldn’t be so bad for Even to make his exit as Isak waited five minutes to then make his. Screw whoever was beyond the door; Isak had dealt with more anger than that in his own mind on a regular basis. It made perfect sense. Except that Even had already opened the window and tested the closest branch with the weight of his foot.

“Are you crazy?” Isak screeched, moving back to the window so he could hold tightly to Even’s hips in case he lost his balance.

“It has been said.” Even twisted his upper body towards Isak, uncaring that his feet dangled from the window on a precarious branch. 

Isak glared at him, his fingers tightening on the belt loops of Even’s jeans, and snapped, “You aren’t funny.”

“But I am fine.” 

Even’s hand had a tight grip on a higher branch, pulling himself easily from the window and lowering himself onto the branch below him. Isak's fingers still held the ghost of him on the window sill. He scooted forward, pulling one leg over the wooden limb, and then the other until he was straddling it and facing Isak. 

“Decision made?” He asked, hand outstretched for Isak to grip.

“I fucking hate you.” Clenching his fingers as he leaned over to look how far they were from the ground below. When his eyes returned to Even’s he couldn’t help but return his small smile.

“No, you don’t,” Even said, soft and sure, his hand moved forward still. “Not even a little.”

Isak licked his lips. He looked back at the locked door, another bang rocking against it. Sighing, he lifted one leg, then the other onto the ledge. He placed one foot where he knew Even had placed his own, again testing the strength of the wood under two teenage boys. Isak bit his lip, unsure, before returning his gaze to Even. 

Even’s eyes were startlingly blue in the light of the moon, his smile sure and his hand steady as he waited for Isak to take it. 

Isak’s decision was made for him in that moment. He took hold of Even’s hand, and trusted him to catch him if he stumbled.

“Decision made.”

“Good boy,” Even breathed, taking the brunt of his weight as Isak adjusted to the unsteady tree. 

Isak smiled and squeezed his hand.

++

Isak sat down in the cafeteria next to his friends after a long literature class, and asked, “Good weekend everybody?”

“We were just talking about the party,” Magnus informed him.

Isak nodded, interested in hearing what had happened after he had left. 

“Eva was pretty pissed by the end, when she finally realised what was going on,” Jonas said.

“Why?” Isak had thought the party went well. 

“It was ridiculous. The upstairs bathroom door was locked and no one could get in at all. People were banging on it and yelling. The main floor bathroom ended up getting destroyed, because so many people were using it and no one could get into the one on the top floor. Someone even ended up throwing up in a white vase that Eva had on her side table,” Magnus said.

“That wasn’t even the best part,” Mahdi said. “We finally bust open the door and no one is there. Poof! Into the great unknown.”

“More like out of the open window,” Jonas said.

“Anyways,” Mahdi glared at Jonas before turning back to Isak to continue the story. “It would have been quite funny if we didn’t have to hear Eva and Vilde freaking out.”

“Vilde more,” Jonas said.

“Of course,” Isak agreed, taking a bite of his sandwich.

“You would have known this if you hadn’t disappeared,” Mahdi said. “Does that mean things went well with Chris?”

Isak choked on his sandwich.

“We couldn’t find you anywhere.” Magnus smiled. “Is our next party cancelled?”

“Fuck no,” Isak said when he got his breath back. “I know Chris is hot, but he wasn’t very good at taking no for an answer. At least not the first time.”

Three heads swung to him in concern.

“What happened?” Mahdi asked.

“Did he do something?” Jonas accused in a silkily steel tone.

“Do we need to beat him up?” Magnus asked.

Isak shook his head, touched by their concern even if the idea of Magnus trying to beat up Chris caused more laughter than comfort. “No, it was fine in the end. He’s just a pushy mother fucker.”

The tension eased, but his friends sent uneasy looks to each other.

“Seriously. It was fine in the end. I just don’t think Chris is used to getting a no thanks.” Isak said before he took another bite of his sandwich. “If he had tried again, I would have punched him in his pretty nose.”

Jonas broke first, snorting. It broke the tension, everyone joining in. When things settled, he asked, “Why didn’t you want to kiss him?”

Isak was glad he had taken another bite. Chewing slowly, he took his time to contemplate his answer. The truth wouldn’t quite work. 

“I was kind of caught off guard. I’m not really interested in being someone else’s eighth friend with benefits.” His friends nodded; Isak knew that’s despite being open to hookups, each of his friends were also more than happy at the prospect of a long term girlfriend. “Besides, I didn’t even know Chris was interested in guys.”

The nodding stopped. Mahdi’s head tilted to the side as he regarded Isak. 

“You said it was hot last week.”

“Fuck off,” Isak grunted, but as his eyes shifted from Mahdi, to Jonas, and settled on Magnus, Isak realized that Mahdi’s words were no lie. “When?”

“Were you that drunk, Isak? We weren’t even at the party that long,” When Isak continued to stare at him blankly, he continued, “When we were talking to Eva?”

Isak distinctly remembered being more interested in his phone than anything Eva could have wanted to say. He shrugged. “Oh, yeah. Well it is hot, objectively. Just not for me.”

“So that makes two duds.” Magnus smiled.

Isak narrowed his eyes at him. He turned to look at his two other friends, finger pointing accusingly at them. 

“Magnus hasn’t chosen yet.”

Mahdi blanched, and Jonas let out a long sigh. 

“No,” he confirmed.

It was the most interest Isak had shown in the game since it was decided. 

“Well, who chose who?”

Mahdi and Jonas looked to each other guiltily, shrugging when they looked to Isak.

“Don’t want to say,” Mahdi admitted.

“Nope,” Jonas agreed.

“Bullshit.” Isak pointed to Magnus. “You don’t tell me, I don’t go to his party.”

“No, Isak!” Magnus whined, knowing Isak wasn’t one for idle threats.

There was a quiet battle between the three friends, a test to see who would give up first. He couldn’t say how long they sat there, assessing each other as Magnus continued to beg in the background. Isak just knew that he wouldn’t break first.

Jonas slid back in his chair, raised one hand in the air to point at himself, and said, “Chris.”

“What? No. Fuck!” He laughed, his smile growing wider with each new breath quickly adding to the sound. “I never would have guessed.”

“Well, Mahdi already chose Eskild, so I didn’t really have that option,” Jonas said with a sigh.

“Stole him right from you, too.” Mahdi laughed. “He was the easiest option. And honestly, Isak, he can call you out on anything, and you will listen. Maybe not right away, but you’ll think about it. You need someone who can call you out.”

Isak thought of Even. How quick he was to call Isak or those around them out on their bullshit. Even called out Emma out that one time because it was right, not because it had any direct effect on him. It made Isak feel bolder every time he saw it. Like his opinion mattered too, and he could make a difference just by voicing it.

“Yeah. I can see that. Too bad he’s more my brother than my boyfriend.” Isak shrugged.

“That’s why I thought Chris wouldn’t be so bad,” Jonas admitted. “You guys hung out his last year at Nissen, and you never said anything bad. Even when there were some rumours.”

“About me and him?” Isak scoffed. “I never heard them, but some people have wild imaginations.”

“It was mostly just Eva and her friends.” Jonas smiled sheepishly. “She might have asked me about it once.”

Eva did sometimes act suspiciously around Isak, but he couldn’t blame her after the shit he pulled. “It’s fine. I just don’t get why you would believe it.”

“Well I just thought you got along, then you said his curiosity was hot, and I thought ‘hey maybe Isak is actually looking for something more casual and less daunting’. Someone you knew seemed like a good choice,” Jonas explained.

“But it wasn’t,” Mahdi said, clearly put out.

“But it wasn’t,” Jonas confirmed.

“And now it’s my turn,” Magnus said gleefully as he placed his hands on Isak’s shoulders, shaking them. “Friday. Chris Berg’s. No disappearing because my choice is perfect.”

“We’re for sure losing.” Mahdi scoffed.

“Lonely Isak. Forever without best friends,” Jonas intoned.

“Oh come on! Fuck you guys!” Magnus complained.

Isak spent the remainder of lunch laughing.

++

“One more and it’s done,” Isak said. 

He studied Even’s hands where they rested on his stomach. Even was always quick to link their fingers making sure they were intertwined closely. He said it was because Isak’s hands were always warm, and Isak could believe that because every time Even’s fingers searched out his, the first thing Isak felt was a shock of cold before the tingling sensation overtook all thought.

“Come on. I know you kind of like it.” Even swung their hands up and let them fall onto the bed.

“What is there to like?”

He lifted their hands again, this time bringing them up to his mouth, exhaling a warm breath on their fingers before turning Isak’s hand to lay a soft kiss on his skin. 

“That they love you.”

Isak rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help but tighten his grip and pull their hands back to his lap. “They do, don’t they?”

Even smiled softly, his gaze distant, and whispered,“You’re really lucky to have friends like that.”

Isak studied him, his closed off expression and quiet words, and said,“I think they could be that for you too. When I introduce them to you.”

Even looked to him, thoughts no longer misplaced among memories. 

“You want to introduce us?”

“You’re my boyfriend. I have to introduce you.” Isak nodded, squeezing Even’s hand again. 

Isak wouldn’t need anything else to survive if Even smiled at him like that. 

“Yeah?” He asked, quiet and full of awe.

“Yeah.” Isak assured him.

Even nodded. “Okay, but after Friday.”

“Even!”

Even shrugged. “You can’t let your friends down in the third act. Besides, I have a good feeling about it.”

++

The yellow house was easy to spot even in the dim light of the setting sun. There were party goers sprawled out on the large lawn despite the cool weather, and Isak could hear loud music echoing across the empty street.

“This one will be good.” Magnus smiled.

Isak knew Magnus was just excited to be the last one in the running for the bet, but even Isak couldn’t deny the electric feeling in the air. He didn’t deny Magnus the point.

They walked past the garage, bypassing the front door, and making their way to the back lawn and through the open glass doors there.

Chris’ house was filled. Isak didn't know how they did it. The girls weren’t a particularly popular group, and yet they always succeeded in getting enough word around to have a successful party when they planned one.

“How am I even going to know who you set me up with?” Isak asked. “You never tell me, and there are way too many people here to guess.”

“We agreed we’re going to be nice to you this time,” Mahdi said.

“It’s our last chance.” Jonas agreed.

“Eh, eh, eh, eh!” Magnus screeched. “If I do good, this is my win and mine alone.”

“Technically, it’s Isak’s win,” Mahdi said.

Isak rolled his eyes. “How are you being nice again?”

“We’re introducing you to him as soon as we find him,” Magnus said.

“Which might be hard,” Jonas said, assessing the scene before them.

“Which might be hard.” The rest of the group agreed.

++

The girls were easy enough to find. Chris sat regally in her living room, a queen surveying her court. Beside her, Sana pretended to be more interested in the books lining the wall behind her than the debauchery taking place before her, but Isak could see her eyes watching the particularly drunk guests. 

He hadn’t even thought they had been arriving that late. 

Eva had spotted them, rushing up to hug each of them individually and laughing delightedly when she knocked Isak’s snapback askew. She completely ignored his glare for her actions.

“How do we get to your level?” Jonas joked, as Eva clung to his arm for balance.

Eva smiled, pointing to her left in the general direction of the kitchen. “Can you get me another one?”

“I don’t think you need it,” Jonas said, inching away from the group with Mahdi at his side. They signalled to Isak and Magnus their intent, silently asking if they wanted a drink too.

“You don’t get to decide that!” Eva yelled at their backs, only calming as Vilde and Noora joined her.

“He might not, but I have to make sure you get home safely,” Noora said, taking Eva’s arm before smiling sweetly in their direction. “Nice to see you boys.”

Eva waved as she was pulled away by Noora and Vilde. Vilde who smiled softly at Magnus. Magnus who blushed.

“What the fuck was that?” Isak asked, watching as Magnus’ cheeks grew warmer.

“You know the last party?” Magnus smiled with such excitement that Isak felt shocked by it too. He nodded. “Well, I went to say hi to Vilde, and there was another guy that she was talking to. He was super nice! Really chill, and encouraging when I told him that I am interested in Vilde. He said I should just go for it, even if I seem desperate. So I did. And well…”

Isak couldn’t help but pull Magnus into a hug. No matter how much they made fun of him, Isak truly did want to see Magnus happy. 

“Congrats, man.”

“Thanks. I was scared shitless.” Magnus’ smile when he pulled back was brilliant, and he ran a shaky hand through his hair.

“Well, it seems like you got good advice from mystery man.”

“Actually,” Magnus’ eyed something in the distance, lifting and waving over Isak’s shoulder. “He knew Vilde from Kosegruppa. It’s why they were talking. He seemed so cool that I actually wanted you to meet him. He said he didn’t know if he could make this party, but he’d try to make an exception if there was a cute boy involved.”

Isak, whose eyes had been growing steadily wider, could feel the warm presence as someone came to stand beside him. He didn’t take his eyes off Magnus because Isak knew exactly what was about to happen.

“Isak, I want you to meet Even.”

++

It was probably his fault. Again. 

It was just that every time the perfect opportunity to acknowledge his relationship came, Isak shut down completely. It was only after Isak stared blankly at Even for what must have been a solid two minutes, Even shuffling from side to side with a mischievous smile, that Magnus broke the silence. 

“Have you two met?” He blinked at how quickly two sets of eyes swung to him. “At Kosegruppa? I know you went there when it first started. I told you Even said he’s been right?”

Isak turned back to Even, an accusing glare pointed at his boyfriend. At Even, whose eyes shone with mischief and not a hint of guilt. Isak couldn’t believe his boyfriend.

And maybe that was why he didn't think about how it would look when he shook his head. Unaware at all of how Magnus would read it.

“Oh, you haven’t?” Magnus asked, excitedly. “This is the perfect chance for you to get to know each other.”

“Isn’t he the guy that gave my hat back?” Jonas asked.

Isak wasn’t sure when he had arrived, but he happily accepted the beer and took a deep swig. 

“I knew I recognized him last week!” Mahdi nudged Isak in his side, nearly choking him. “So you must have met.”

“I just found it in the cafeteria,” Even said sweetly, saving Isak again. “Returning it seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”

“Thanks man,” Jonas said. 

“No problem. Returning things is the least I could do. I wouldn’t want to waste something that was in perfectly good shape and force someone to spend more replacing it. After all, there's already enough garbage out there without adding a perfectly good hat to the pile.” 

Isak rolled his eyes as Jonas leaned forward with each of Even’s words, eager to listen and jump in with his own opinions. He didn’t even notice when Even shifted to catch Isak’s eye and send him a self satisfied wink. 

Isak took another sip of his beer, nearly hitting himself in his face as he realized it was empty.

“I’m going to get a beer,” he told the group.

They seemed more interested in Even than their original plan to get Isak together with him.

Isak turned to make his way further into the house. 

++

“Hey stranger,” Even whispered into Isak’s ear.

Isak jumped, but recognizing Even’s voice, he leaned his head backward to look at him. 

“You didn’t tell me you were going to be my date tonight.”Isak shifted so that he was half facing Even and half facing the fridge, catching sight of Even’s taught frame.

“Isn’t this more fun though?” Even smiled, sweet and innocent, but Isak knew better. “It’s like every touch is something forbidden.”

Isak’s breath quickened, his skin tingled where Even’s fingers traced from his wrist to his elbow. His voice was quiet and excited when he asked, “What are you suggesting?”

“Oh, I think you know.” Even’s words caressed the skin of Isak’s ear. 

His tongue darted out to follow a short moment later. Isak shivered at the contact. Even pulled away, allowing Isak to vacate the spot in front of the fridge after a moment so that he could take Isak’s place. 

“Anyways, I have to get this beer back to Magnus. We finished ours.”

“Don’t try to play like you don’t know what you are doing!” Isak accused.

Even licked his lips, already taking a step backwards to make his exit, and said “I just think we could have a really, really good night.”

++

Isak settled next to Jonas on the couch, bumping into him accidentally as he looked over his shoulder to see the message he was showing Mahdi. Isak was all jittery energy, aware exactly where Even stood across the room by the table talking to Vilde and Magnus. He hoped his friends would decide it was the alcohol and nothing more. 

“What's up?” Isak asked. 

Jonas looked up from the phone at his words, and said, “One of the first years messaged me about hooking up tonight.”

“Nice!” Isak lifted his hand for a high five, which Jonas returned with a smirk.

“Speaking of hooking up,” Mahdi said, pointing his beer in the direction Isak’s eyes kept involuntarily turning towards, “aren’t you supposed to be on a date?”

Isak shrugged and took a sip of his beer, “He doesn’t look like he misses me.”

“Isak, are you going to give anyone a chance?” Jonas asked.

Isak let out an affronted noise. “I gave everyone a chance!” 

“I’ll admit Eskild and Chris were bad choices,” Jonas’ words grew louder as Mahdi nodded beside him, “but Even seems like he’d be really chill if you give him a chance.”

“I like him,” Mahdi agreed, “and clearly Magnus does too.”

It was ridiculous. 

Here were his friends trying to convince Isak to give his boyfriend a chance. They just didn't know it.

It was everything Isak wanted to hear when he told his friends about Even, and everything he was afraid he wouldn’t get. His friends met Even and literally loved him in minutes. Isak supposed he had more in common with his friends than even they knew.

“I have given him a chance,” Isak mumbled. More than they knew, and it was his fault.

“If this is how you give chances, it’s no wonder you’re single. Even we can’t help you,” Mahdi said flatly.

“Just go over there and talk to him.” Jonas pushed at his shoulder, and Isak was on his feet before he knew it.

He walked the short distance across the room, eyeing the partiers on the lawn as he passed, before he settled in front of Even.

“Hey,” he said, licking at his lips.

Even looked down at him with an amused expression, but Isak had grown better at reading him. Even was holding back a smile, charmed by Isak’s nerves. 

“Hey.”

They looked at each other for a moment, trying to gauge which of them would crack first. Isak didn’t know how long they watched each other, conspiratory smiles growing.

“Isak, you look very nice today,” Vilde interrupted, trying to force conversation.

“Thanks.” Isak ran a hand down his front, smoothing down the material of his shirt.

Isak was wearing a green button down and tan pants. It was more effort than he had put in for the other two dates, but it was only because Even had insisted that he looked hot in green earlier that day. He’d said it just after Isak mentioned his date and just before he refused to come upstairs to Isak’s bedroom, because he had sworn he had an important thing to do.

Isak narrowed his eyes, looking up to Even’s smirking lips.

“You do look very nice,” Even said sweetly.

Isak could hear Magnus’ loud gasp of excitement.

“Thanks,” Isak repeated through gritted teeth; Even’s smile brightened.

“Isak!” Magnus elbowed him, pushing Isak closer to Even in the action. 

Isak stumbled forward a bit, easily catching his balance, but not before Even’s hands came to his side to steady him. 

Isak resituated himself, finding he was standing closer to Even than needed. Even had not removed his hand fully from Isak’s side, and now his thumb rubbed back and forth on the exposed skin of Isak’s hip. To anyone looking, it would appear that Even had decided to rest his arm against the table behind them, but it was twisted just so that his fingers brushed Isak’s side.

Isak gulped, “Sorry.”

“No problem at all.” Even punctuated his words with a slide of his thumb.

“I was just telling Vilde that Even is your blind date tonight.” Magnus pulled Isak’s attention from where he had been looking down.

“And I was just telling him that you were both at Kosegruppa,” Vilde said. “I know you skipped out early that first day, Isak, but Even is hard to miss.”

Isak shrugged. He had definitely noticed Even that day, but with his mind half on the lie of not knowing him and half on the way Even’s finger had dipped below the band of Isak’s boxers, Isak really didn’t have it in him to answer.

“Well, I guess it works out that you only met just now anyway,” Vilde said.

“What do you mean?” Even asked, attentive and completely unaffected by what he was doing to Isak.

That just didn’t work. Isak leaned back to place his finished beer on the table, as Vilde answered. Shifting closer still to Even, Isak snaked his arm into the space between Even and the table and placed his hand on Even’s hip. 

“So Eva maybe thought that he,” Vilde lifted her hand to encompass Isak in his entirety, “was gay, but we couldn’t know for sure. It wasn’t really until after this first year’s party that-“

Even shifted closer, but he was still focused on Vilde. Isak let his hand slide slowly from Even’s hip to his lower back letting his hand settle so that his fingers dipped below Even’s boxers as his thumb rested on the edge of his jeans. 

Even stiffened, and his smile faltered a moment before he turned burning eyes on Isak. Isak shivered.

“What? Isak!” 

Isak’s eyes darted to Magnus. “Huh?”

“You didn’t tell us that you kissed someone before Christmas!” Magnus said it loud enough that heads turned toward them.

“Where’d you hear that?” 

“A rumour that you’d kissed a guy, and that’s why you and Emma broke up.”

Isak narrowed his eyes at Magnus and tilted his head to the side as he spoke, “Emma and I didn’t date enough to break up...and we also didn’t date because I’m gay.”

Magnus quieted, considering, and then said, “So you didn’t kiss a guy?”

Isak didn't answer. 

“I think we need more drinks,” Even interrupted, pulling away entirely from Isak and pointing to Vilde’s cup. “What can I get you, Miss?”

Vilde smiled, brushing her blond locks behind her ears and letting Even lead her into the kitchen.

They watched them go before Magnus turned to Isak. “I did good right?”

Isak rolled his eyes; Magnus bounced in place as his smile grew wider. He looked so proud. Isak couldn’t let him have it. 

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t know what?” Mahdi asked as he joined them at the table.

“Isak doesn’t know about his date.” 

“Eivend? He seemed cool.” Mahdi shrugged.

Isak opened his mouth to correct him on getting Even’s name wrong, but he caught the smirk Mahdi sent his way. He knew Even’s name, he was trying to see if Isak did. If Isak was more interested this time, than his last two dates. Isak switched tactics. 

“Where is Jonas?”

“Went to go hook up with the first year.”

“Huh. Feel like I might go fuck that up since you’ve all been meddling in my life, and I am too nice to pick on Magnus after he tried so hard.” Isak already turned to leave.

“Aww thanks, Isak,” Magnus said, waving him off. “That was nice right?”

“Nope!” Isak and Mahdi answered in unison.

Isak circled the table, intent on stopping in the kitchen before he left to find Jonas. He sidled up between Even and Vilde, placing an arm over Vilde’s shoulder. 

“Did you make me one?”

Vilde looked up at him and said, “You have hands,” but she was already moving to grab the vodka. “Even and I invented a new drink!”

“Oh?” Isak glanced at the muddy concoction in her glass. “That looks… good.”

“I’ll make you the same.” Vilde smiled.

“Thanks.”

Even moved closer to him, leaning towards Vilde to help gather their ingredients. “It’s simple really, Isak. We just ended up adding all of the alcohol and all of the chasers into one cup.”

Even had leaned into Isak’s space, forcing Isak to take a step back to allow Even access to all the ingredients. It left Isak with Even pressed closely to him with a devilish idea.

Vilde was focused on the drink, Jonas was off hooking up, Mahdi and Magnus could not see them from the kitchen, Even was leaning just a little too intently into Isak’s front, and Isak had a clear view of Even’s neck.

Isak took a quick look around the room to make sure no one was paying attention. He leaned forward to point at the drink. “So what are you adding now?”

Vilde pointed to the various bottles around them, breaking out into a list of what they had already put in, when Isak leaned further still and let his tongue trace the tendon of Even’s neck up to his jaw before biting softly at his ear. 

Even shuddered, a gasp escaping his throat before he cleared it. 

“Everything okay?” Vilde looked up from the drink.

“It’s fine.” Even smiled. “I’m just excited for Isak to try it.”

Isak eyed the mixed drink Vilde was just finishing and said, “Actually, I’ll have to get a rain check. I found something much tastier to have. I’m gonna go see if I can catch it.” 

Even caught his eye, nodding when Isak jerked his head to the closed door beside the kitchen that led up stairs. 

“I guess Even will have to have two to make up for me,” Isak yelled as he exited the room.

Isak opened the door when he reached it, already knowing Even had made his excuses to Vilde so that he could follow him, and headed up the stairs. The second floor consisted of two bedrooms and a bathroom. All the doors were closed.

Isak tested the bathroom’s knob, twisting it back and forth, but it didn’t budge. He moved to the first bedroom and repeated the process with no luck. He stepped toward the last door.

“I suppose that’s a good thing, because us being alone upstairs for too long would lead to questions you might actually have to answer,” Even said, arriving in the hallway from the main floor.

Isak lifted an eyebrow and said, “And here I thought you might want to make out in a dark corner.”

“Oh, I want that very much.” Even moved closer taking hold of Isak’s waist and slotting their legs together. “You look so fucking hot today.”

“Because you wanted me to.” Isak moved his hips forward, pushing into Even’s crotch as he searched for friction. His shoulders leaned against the wall behind him, his mouth falling open in invitation to Even.

“Every day.” Even lifted one hand, trailing his fingers from Isak’s hip, over his ribs and chest as he let his fingers graze at the sliver of skin on display between the opened buttons of Isak’s shirt, before it came to rest on Isak’s jaw with his thumb playing at the seam of Isak’s lips. “You look hot every day. Just for me, and I am so lucky I get to see it.”

Isak’s tongue brushed against Even’s questing thumb, asking for more contact, asking for Even to lean over and kiss him.

And Even did.

He pressed a hot kiss onto the corner of Isak’s lips, pulling back to smile as Isak chased the contact. Even returned, pressing deeper into Isak’s mouth. Isak could taste the concoction Even had drank on his tongue, but he knew it was the heat of him, the taste of pure Even that was truly intoxicating him.

Isak pulled Even closer, one hand playing with his styled blond locks, making sure his hair was ruined. His other hand had made it to Even’s lower back, moving ever lower to take hold of his ass through his jeans.

Even groaned, jerking into Isak’s hand before pushing forward to line the heat of his dick against Isak’s growing bulge, “More?”

Isak nodded, turning toward that last door, and hoping that luck would be theirs. Fuck whatever his friends might have thought of their disappearance.

Isak tested the doorknob, finding it turn slowly, and grabbing eagerly at Even’s hand. 

But the room was not empty.

On the bed was Jonas, one hand up a first year’s shirt and his face buried in the groove where her shoulder met her neck. 

Two things happened in quick succession. She screamed, pushing Jonas from his space on top of her and onto the floor, and Even dropped his grip from Isak’s hand to hide himself from view and edge towards the stairs.

“What the fuck, Isak?” Jonas yelled from his place on the floor.

Isak blinked at the scene before him, turning to catch Even’s laughing eyes as he stood at the top of the staircase as if ready to run. 

“Isak?” Jonas' voice had grown irritated at Isak’s continued presence.

“Sorry!” Isak turned back to him, taking in his disheveled state and the lump of first year hidden under the covers by the bed. “I did tell the boys I was going to ruin your night, though. I’m a man of my word.”

“You’re a snake!” Jonas pulled himself from the floor and headed to Isak at the door.

“Perhaps, but I’m honest.” Isak smiled as Jonas started to push him out the door. “And you’re the idiot who didn’t lock the door!”

“Aren’t you on a date?” Jonas snapped. 

“Aren’t you bombing a hook up session?”

“Goodbye, Isak.” 

Isak went easily enough, letting Jonas push him out the room. After all, with it occupied, he couldn’t do what he wanted to.

He moved to make his way to the stairs when he realized that Even had disappeared. That just wouldn’t do. Isak now had a hard on and a desire to make out and get off with Even before the night finished.

Isak set off to find Even.

++

Even was nowhere inside the house. Isak stood by the edge of the door with a clear view of the kitchen, the dining room table, and of the living room across the way. He could see where Eva danced with Noora and Sana. He could see where Chris and Vilde talked as they got another round of drinks, he could see Mahdi flirting with a group of girls that only seemed semi interested. 

But Even was nowhere to be seen.

There was a loud burst of laughter outside the windowed doors, and Isak turned to look into the dark of the night. He thought he saw a sliver of blond hair, tall above the partiers outside, and his feet were already carrying him out of the house.

“What’s up with you?” 

Isak stopped in his tracks where he had bumped into Magnus. He glanced at his friend, eyes looking over his shoulder for a sign of Even, before they returned to Magnus’ frown.

“Everything okay?” Isak asked, eyes darting away from Magnus’ accusatory eyes and into the long shadows the street lamps created.

“Even just left. He said things weren’t working in the house. What the fuck did you do to him?” Magnus asked.

Isak frowned. Why would Even leave? Isak had thought they were on the same page about getting off. Why go outside at all? Unless…

Isak moved to the door, but he was blocked by Magnus. 

“I didn’t do anything to him,” Isak said. It was true. He very much wanted to, but he hadn’t had the chance yet.

“I get that you didn’t want us to do this game. I get that you haven’t liked it so far. But Even is a nice guy. If you don’t want to date him fine, whatever. None of us win. But don’t be mean to him, Isak. I think he’d be a really cool friend, and maybe with him around I’d get some more support.”

Isak snorted, but he grew somber at Magnus’ continued disapproval. He just didn’t suit anger, and it made Isak feel off. It was that, and Isak’s desire to reunite with Even, that made his decision. 

“You’re right Mags. I’m going to go apologize. Right now. Excuse me.” Isak pushed past a more pliant Magnus, and entered into the cool night.

He could see groups of partiers, uncaring of the cold as they drank in Chris’ backyard. They milled about the yard, picking up twigs and pulling leaves from bushes and throwing them into a pile in a makeshift pit as they laughed loudly. He could see the neighbours lights flickering on and off as the noise of the party ebbed and flowed. And as he looked for Even, he saw a group slinking away clearly drunk and ready for bed. Isak rushed towards them, using their numbers to hide himself from any of his friends who might be looking. They passed the yellow garage, and Isak peeked his head in while passing for any sign of blond in the darkness. 

“What are you doing?” 

Even stood in the middle of the garage surveying the space. He tested the lock on the only vehicle in the space, a van, which opened to a mess of boxes, before moving gingerly around the van’s exterior to see the remaining space available in the room. He turned a wide smile to Isak. 

“The house wasn’t working. We needed other options.”

“And you thought of the garage?” Isak scoffed, pulled in by Even’s excitement, despite himself. He helped Even look around the cramped space, even though there were clearly no options.

“Well, I really want to make out with you, and I really want to do it without it being a big deal, but I know if you disappear again your phone will be going off the hook all night.” Even gave up with a sigh as he leant back on the van’s edge, pulling Isak to his side. 

“Probably.” Isak nodded. “Magnus sent me out to apologize to you for making things bad tonight.”

“I love him.” Even smiled. “He couldn’t read the room if it was on audio tape.”

“Maybe, but he got you right.” Isak placed a hand on Even’s neck, asking him to lean closer. 

“Should we go congratulate him?” Even nudged his nose against Isak’s neck inhaling deeply before he placed a soft kiss on the exposed skin there.

Isak keened, giving Even more access. “I don’t want him thinking he did this. I got you all on my own. He just had a lucky guess; we can tell them that.”

“Isak, I’d be happy to chat with your friends, but you’ve been pretending you don’t know me all evening. Then you kept giving me these looks and touches like you wanted to make out, so forgive me if I’m getting a few mixed signals about what it is exactly that you want.” Even punctuated his words with a soft bite to the sensitive skin of Isak’s neck.

Isak knees felt weak. “This.”  His hand tightened in Even’s hair, pulling him from his neck and opening his mouth in invitation. “Who needs friends?”

“You are so lucky you have really good friends,” Even sighed into the kiss. 

Isak took the lead, pulling Even onto him as he flipped their positions and holding at his shoulders as he leaned on the van’s bumper to pull Even between his legs. 

It was a mistake. 

The car jerked with the tremor of boxes losing balance as they tumbled out of the open door, ringing out into the quiet of the garage. Even pulled Isak close, pausing only a moment before they ran to the exit, hand in hand. Someone would be there soon, and Isak would be left to answer the questions he was finally ready to receive. He just didn’t want to answer anyone right now. Right now, he wanted Even out of his pants.

They made it out the door before they heard the entrance into the house open loudly.

“Where to now?” Even asked.

They could have gone back to one of their houses. They could have done their best to ignore Isak’s phone until it inevitably died, but Isak wanted nothing more than to be satisfied now. 

“Did you know that Chris’ parents let her use the shed in the backyard as a doll house when she was growing up?”

++

They passed drunk party goers in the yard without care, lighting collected greenery into bright orange flames with hoots of approval screaming across the yard. With Even’s hand in his, Isak found there was a greater heat to fuel than the growing flame of drunken shenanigans. 

It was small and cramped. Years of disuse had led to nothing but mallets and inflatable floats taking up the space that had used to play house to a little girl. But when they pushed that aside, when they threw them out of the shed to drunken hollers and laughter, they found blankets and pillows. A child’s approximation of a doll house.

“Fuck, Isak. How can one person be so hot and so smart at the same time?” Even fell to the floor gracelessly, holding out his hand for Isak to follow.

In the dark of the night, orange light cutting angular shadows into the small space from equally small windows, Isak could admit to himself just how charmed by Even he really was. His smile came so easy, and his touch so freely. And even though Isak knew others got to see those aspects of Even, he also knew that Even’s heart was Isak’s alone. 

So he took Even’s hand and tumbled into his arms. 

Even let out a soft, delighted laugh as Isak fell onto him, his free hand at Isak’s jawline as he guided Isak’s lips to his. 

It was surprisingly quiet in the shed, with partiers just outside, and Isak felt like he was alone in the world with Even. It was just how he liked it. Even surrounding him with his scent and touch. It wasn’t often like that, with Even’s parents and Isak’s roommates, so he had to take advantage when they did fall into perfect moments like this.

“Even,” Isak panted against Even’s lips, forcing himself away despite Even’s grunt of protest. “Do you have-“ Isak fell into a second kiss. “Do you have-”

“Yes.” Even moved his hand to Isak’s ass and pulled him against his growing erection. “I swear to God I have to have something on me every time I’m around you; you’re so fucking hot.” He let his fingers slip below Isak’s pants.

Isak couldn’t keep himself from jerking his hips forward, seeking out the friction of Even’s body against him. He wanted more; he wanted skin on skin. 

“Off,” He mumbled, jerking his hand on the belt loop of Even’s jeans as he licked at Even’s neck. “Off,” he punctuated the command with a nip.

Even groaned, but Isak didn’t wait for him to act, working to undo the button and zipper before Even formed any words that could put a halt to the proceedings.

“You, too,” Even said when he was able. 

He already had a hand down Isak’s pants, firmly pressed against his ass, but the jeans were tight and Isak would struggle if he didn’t listen now. He became desperate when Even squeezed Isak’s ass as he whispered, “I want to see you.”

It was a scramble of limbs in the small space, and although it wasn’t easy to see in the low light, they managed to rid themselves of their clothes.

Though there was little space, Isak found that it was big enough for Even under him, looking up at Isak, eager, above him.

This was always Isak’s favourite part. Even’s eyes on him like a brand, mapping out the ridges and curves he would explore later with his fingers and tongue. Isak loved the look of hunger in his eyes, the way his Adam’s apple bobbed as he took in the sight of him, the way his dick twitched in interest where it lay hot and heavy against his belly.

Isak felt the same reaction grow within him; the promise of something more burning across his chest. He knew a flush flooded his cheeks, he knew it ran a line across his pale chest where his blushes always deepened, and he knew that Even’s eyes would follow it. 

Even’s eyes would come to rest on Isak’s eyes, asking permission to continue, and Isak would give it. He always gave it.

Just like they found his eyes now; just like Isak said yes, eagerly. Even raised a hand to touch Isak’s chest. A thumb seeking out his nipple and pressing gently. Isak let out a quiet noise, encouraging, and Even took his hand back to lick at his thumb. When it returned to Isak’s skin, the heated pad left a wet line to cool on Isak’s skin, to raise goosebumps where his skin tingled.

Isak leaned up for a kiss, hoping to ease the heat burning within him.

Even let his hand slide down Isak’s chest just reaching his happy trail to press his fingers against the hair there. “What do you want, Isak?” He asked into Isak’s neck.

Isak’s hips jerked forward. 

“Nuh-uh.” Even tugged gently, smiling when Isak jerked again. “Use your words, baby.”

“I want,” Isak placed his hand onto Even’s and pushed it down until Even took hold of his dick. “You to fuck me.”

Even gulped, the strain of his neck clear under the orange glow of the streetlight, a reminder of their location, and Isak smiled when his hand tightened over his erection ever so slightly. Even liked when Isak told him what to do, and Isak liked when Even listened.

“Okay,” Even breathed, letting his hand rub up the length of Isak’s dick until he reached the head and collected the precum there, returning it to the base to ease the slide. Back and forth. 

Isak lost himself to the sensation. Even’s hands were large and warm, and he was very good at finding a rhythm Isak enjoyed, but it wasn’t what he wanted. “Ev- Evy.”

Even didn’t let go, but his free hand grabbed hold of Isak’s ass, pulling just slightly to place a questing finger against the pucker of skin there. “How do you want it, baby?”

It took lsak longer to answer than he wanted to admit, pressing forward into the circle of Even’s palm and back against the pressure of his finger, seeking out each sensation that Even was creating.

“I want to see you.”

Even didn’t wait to be told again. Gripping Isak’s ass, he flipped them so he was above Isak on the abandoned sheets. 

“Baby, I need you to get my jeans.” He chuckled at Isak’s whine. “Baby, we need it. I want in you so bad.”

Isak took his hands from Even’s body, annoyed by his own reluctance to part from him, even if it was a few scant inches to retrieve his jeans. He stuck his hand into Even’s pocket pulling out two small packets and pushing them into Even’s skin. “Now.”

Even wasted no time. He ripped open the condom and rolled it onto his dick. Then he ripped open the packet of lube. “Care to help?”

Isak didn't, but if it got Even in him faster, Isak would make an exception. He took what Even offered, reaching below himself to press at his skin. The first finger slid in easily, and knowing Even would get distracted if he had the chance to stretch him, Isak pushed a second in quickly.

“I wanted to do that.” Even pouted, but his eyes stayed firmly on Isak’s ass. “Just wanted you to ease my situation.”

Isak could see where Even strained against his stomach. He licked his lips. “If I helped you with that, I wouldn’t get what I want.”

Even made a considering noise and whispered, “I don’t think I could stop giving you what you want if I tried. You’re so perfect, Isak.”

Isak readied himself, eager for what came next, but unwilling to make things anything less than good for both of them. Even watched, soft, encouraging noises escaping as he tried to hold his hips steady. Isak removed his fingers, using the slick hand to reach for Even’s dick and maneuver it towards his entrance. “Not perfect until you’re in me.”

“Such a romantic,” Even said, but he bit off a groan just as Isak teased his tip against his entrance. He waited for Isak to nod before he pushed into him.

Isak moaned, a soft sound into Even’s neck, as he pulled him closer. “Yes.”

Even waited for Isak to adjust, for him to make those delicious short thrusts, for him to pull Even fully into him. 

Isak grabbed at Even’s ass and pulled him, flesh to flesh. “Fuck me now, Even.”

He did.

Even’s thrusts were powerful, intent on making Isak come. He licked a strip down his hand and brought it to Isak’s dick, encouraging Isak to rock forward into his hand and back into his thrusts.

Isak let one hand free from it hold on Even’s behind, pushing it into his hair and pulling Even down for a kiss. 

“More, more, more,” he encouraged.

Even listened.

Even looked beautiful above Isak, painted in orange light and blue shadow. His thrusts had come to match the pulsating rhythm of the music just outside the small space of the shed. He looked larger than normal; as if the world had grown smaller, and Even was the most important thing within it.

Isak could feel it building. That warm wave that sat at his center, a telltale sign of his climax. Even was above him, his hands beneath Isak on his ass, lifting him to change the angle and pull deeper moans from within Isak. His breath was hot on Isak’s skin, and his voice hummed soft sounds into Isak’s skin. Even was surrounding him, and he was inside him. Even was everywhere.

Isak tightened, unable to control his body any longer. Then, with a soft warning, he came.

“Yes, baby,” Even said, mouth soft on Isak’s forehead. His thrusts quickened as he chased his own release.

Isak’s hips moved, encouraging Even to lose himself fully. He pulled Even down and nipped at his soft bottom lip. “Come on, baby.”

And just like Isak liked, Even followed his orders.

++

They lay there a while, spent and relaxed in each other’s arms.

Even had pulled one of the covers over them, a smart choice in the cool air. 

“This is how I’d draw you.” 

Isak tilted his head, just catching Even’s profile in the glow of the street lights. “What?”

“If you let me draw you. Really draw you. This is how I’d do it.” Even’s eyes followed the movement of his hand where he traced patterns on Isak’s skin. A line traced across the skin of Isak’s bicep, over the dip of his collarbone, over his Adam’s apple, his jaw, his cupid’s bow and into his hair.

“You would be beautiful. Just like this.”

Isak looked at Even beside him. In the orange glow of the artificial lights, his hair looked almost brown. It was soft and dishevelled, and Isak knew even after their activities it would still smell of a hint of apples.  

In his friend’s backyard shed, in the middle of a cold night, Isak saw that Even was as beautiful as he believed Isak to be.

Isak was falling in love with Even.

It was new and unknown for Isak, but there was nothing else to describe his feelings. He had been halfway there, inching closer little by little. Before, when he allowed himself to be honest with himself, he’d say a little bit in love. Isak had never admitted the true extent of his feelings, just how far Even had worked himself into Isak’s heart in such a short time, but there was no other word for the way he felt about Even.

How someone so beautiful could make Isak feel the same was astonishing. Even told Isak he was beautiful, and Isak believed him.

He moved to Even, asking for a quiet kiss his boyfriend gave happily. “You really want to draw me?”

“I’d draw you forever, if I could.”

“Okay. Forever, then.” 

Isak rested his head against Even’s shoulder.

They would have to part soon, replacing their clothes and rearranging the space to hide their activities. Soon Isak would go back to his friends and feign boredom so he could leave, and Even would return to the party as if nothing had happened.  Even would wait patiently for Isak to finally say something in the future. 

Isak felt that swirl of guilt build in his stomach, so uncomfortable compared to the soft release of heat when he was with Even. When he was fully honest about who and what Even really was to him.

“I think I need to tell the boys. For real this time.” He tapped a finger against the skin of Even’s chest, just where he could see the line of his collarbone.

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” Even’s arm rested around Isak’s shoulders, holding him close as he rubbed up and down soothingly. “I can wait. You’re worth it.” 

“But you’re worth telling everyone about. You really are.” Isak lifted his head from Even’s chest tilting his chin up in a silent request as his fingers traced softly on the tendons of Even’s jaw. Even answered it, his mouth soft and pliant on Isak’s. “You told people about me. I should be doing the same.”

Isak watched as Even’s head tilted back in quiet laughter, how his eyes crinkled in merriment. “I told my mom and dad. And I told Sonja. Hardly a big deal. It’s okay, Isak, if you need time.”

“But you’d tell your friends about me. You wouldn’t hide it.” 

Even’s throat bobbed softly under Isak’s fingers as he swallowed. He was quiet for a long moment. 

“I’d like to tell everyone that I love about you if I could,” Even turned his eyes towards Isak from where he had been gazing out the small window. “But I get it’s hard with friends sometimes. And I don’t think you’ve done anything wrong, Isak.”

He was so serious in that moment, his eyes intense and honest, and that little thread of guilt eased in Isak’s chest. 

Isak moved closer to Even still, aligning their noses in a soft caress before he moved to place a kiss on Even’s lips. “I want to tell the people I love about you. You’re just as important.”

Even closed the distance between them again as he tapped the tip of his nose to Isak’s. “Okay.”

“Tomorrow. When they’re sober.”

Even nodded, smiling wide as he placed another kiss on Isak's lips.

That would have been it. 

Truly, Isak felt he would have done it. He was really ready. But it seemed fate had other ideas as the shed door opened. If they had been listening to anything more than each other’s breaths, they might have heard the music stop, they might have heard Chris shout about the inflatable animals, they might have heard the voices growing closer. As it was, they weren’t prepared at all for the flash of light and the cold breeze that accompanied the swinging doors.

Isak and Even blinked up at the shadowed figures haloed by the house lights. It was as if time stopped a moment, it was so quiet.

“I can’t hate the player, Isak, but you are so cleaning my shed,” Chris said, a bright grin on her lips as she broke the silence.

“I fucking win! I am Isak’s best friend!” Magnus shoved at Jonas beside him, arm soon reaching past him to hit Mahdi.

“You do fucking not!” Isak yelled, his hand tight on the blanket covering him, conscious of his boxers lying next to him.

“I mean,” Jonas’ voice was hollow and his eyes wide. “I think he found the perfect guy to set you up with.”

“So he wins.” Mahdi nodded.

“No!” Isak ground out, hooking his toe into the cotton material and pulling it closer to him. He began to scoot them on beneath the blanket. “I found Even all on my own.”

“Isak, don’t be a sore loser,” Mahdi said. “We’re not.”

“Magnus chose the right guy, sure.” Isak nodded. He had to focus on redressing, or he would be swallowed by the embarrassment of being caught after the act by his friends. “But I found him first. We’ve been dating since Christmas.”

“Before actually,” Even pipped in. He sat up, uncaring of the blanket shifting to fall low on his hips as he wiped his hands across it. “I should have really introduced myself better earlier the other night. I’m Even, Isak’s boyfriend.” He waved. 

The group was quiet, and Isak watched with growing horror as Magnus leaned forward to offer a hand to shake. 

“Out!” Isak shouted. He reached for something, anything, beside him to heave at his friend, and when his hands felt purchase he threw it. “No fucking way! Get out!”

“We’re talking about this!” Magnus said excitedly.

“Damn right,” Jonas agreed.

“Can we get our clothes on first?” Even asked, cool and unaffected by the embarrassing situation.

“Only if we get details,” Chris said.

“Out!” 

Isak hid beneath the covers until the door closed behind his laughing friends.

“I don’t know about you, but I think that was pretty successful.” Even rubbed his hand against Isak’s bare shoulders.

“I am going straight home,” Isak declared, pulling his jeans on.

“Your friends want to talk,” Even argued, as he followed Isak’s lead.

“Straight home.”

Isak held the door open for Even to exit. They entered into the cool air of the night together, Even’s hand warm in Isak’s.

Even moved toward the yellow house, where Isak could see his friends laughing as they waited for them to make an appearance. He stopped as his hand was pulled by Isak, turning to look at him in question.

“Even.”

“Were you serious?” Even moved to Isak, pushing Isak’s hair out of his eyes. “Straight home?”

“Tomorrow. When they’re sober.”

Even nodded, hand tightening in Isak’s grip. He pointed to the street, empty in the night and painted in the same orange glow that had bathed Even earlier. 

They left the party.

++

“Isak!” 

Isak sighed, placing his fork down on the canteen’s table and contemplating his options.

It was inevitable, really. His friends would find him eventually, and he wouldn’t be able to run. He'd already managed to avoid them the night of the party, all weekend, and this morning. They’d put their clothes on, stooped in the cramped space of the shed, and hauled ass as soon as Even agreed to go with him, before his friends could catch him. They spent the weekend in Even’s bedroom, accepting no calls. He came in early, sat with his teacher to ask about his science homework rather than get caught in the hallway by one of them, and he sat in his lab for lunch, ignoring the fact that there were waffles available, and eating a salad Noora had made the night before.

He really didn’t want to deal with this, but escaping his friends meant running by them, and Isak just wasn’t particularly sporty like that. 

Isak took his phone beside him and sent a text.

SOS. 

Science room. 

It’s time.

“Hey, guys.” Isak dropped his phone on his notebook as he leant back in his chair, gauging the reactions of his friends to his nonchalance. “How’s the day been?”

“Where the fuck did you go yesterday?” Mahdi asked.

“What the fuck happened yesterday?” Jonas asked.

“Why did you say I didn’t win? I clearly won. You must have liked Even to bone him in the backyard. Unless you were super horny,” Magnus said.

Any nerves Isak may have harboured over the circumstances of the night before drifted away. Trust Magnus to restore peace. 

“As a matter of fact,” Isak said and then turned to look at the classroom door as it creaked open, “I was super horny.”

Even broke out into laughter as he made it to Isak’s side. When he calmed, he winked at Isak with a wolfish grin. “Same.” 

It was almost worth the embarrassment to see the similar looks of shock and curiosity flit across his friends faces. 

“Explain,” Mahdi demanded.

“I did. Friday. Even is my boyfriend.” Isak liked the way Even squeezed his side when he said that. It was clearly meant to be comforting to Isak, but, by the way Even smiled, it clearly meant something more than that for him too. “See? This is why we decided to wait. You guys don’t even remember.”

“I introduced myself and everything,” Even agreed.

“Yes, but it didn’t make sense,” Jonas said. “Isak never mentioned you.”

“That’s not true!” Isak said.

“When did you tell us you have a boyfriend?” Mahdi asked. “I know you came out, but I would have remembered a boyfriend.”

Isak’s nose crinkled. “Well, okay. Not boyfriend. But I did mention a crush.”

Jonas’ hand fell heavily to the table, a loud bang bringing everyone’s attention to him. 

“That long?” He shouted incredulously. “That long and you didn’t say anything? Isak, you’ve been dating him for weeks!”

Isak rubbed a hand against his neck, his cheeks burning. “Well, we weren’t together when I told you about it, and then we were. After awhile, it just seemed like a weird thing to bring up.”

“You didn’t think it would be suitable to mention when we wanted to set you up?” Mahdi scoffed.

“That was partly my fault.” Even grinned. “It sounded fun to sneak around a bit.”

“Was it?” Jonas asked.

“Honestly?” Even asked.

Isak could tell he was thinking of the night before, of the bathroom at Eva’s house, of the night Isak had returned home after receiving Even’s texts. 

“Yeah. It was fucking awesome.” Even let out a devilish laugh.

His happiness must have been contagious, because soon Jonas had given into it, then Mahdi, and even Isak.

“But I should win!” Magnus interrupted. “I still chose best. I mean, I picked your boyfriend without even knowing it was your boyfriend.”

Isak pat a conciliatory hand on Magnus’ back. “You did good, Mags, but you had an unfair advantage. I already knew I really liked him. No one else would have stood a chance.”

Even’s hand took hold of Isak’s and their eyes found each other. If looks could compare to caresses, Isak had just been kissed. 

“I wouldn’t have let Eskild or Chris near him,” Even said.

“How did we not notice that Isak was lovesick?” Mahdi asked.

“I don’t think we knew what it looked like before this,” Jonas answered.

Isak threw his book at Jonas with his free hand. “You all can kindly fuck off.”

“Fine, but we are all hanging out this weekend. I want to get to know your boyfriend,” Jonas said, Mahdi and Magnus nodding beside him.

“I still think I should get an honorary win. I clearly know what Isak likes best.” Magnus pouted.

“I don’t think that’s really fair. I kind of cheated when I mentioned I was interested in guys the first time I met you,” Even said. “I even said Isak looked cute.”

“Is that true?” Isak accused.

Magnus shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t see how that should affect my choice. Best choice means winner. I chose the best, so I win.”

Isak shook his head, smile wide as he squeezed Even’s fingers, and said, “Again, that was me.”

“I don’t know,” Even said, lifting his free hand to scratch at his jaw, smirking, “I think the pleasure of the game was more important than who wins.”