Page 2 of Where the River Meets the Skye

River looked, for a moment, like he wanted to ask Skye something, but then decided against it and went back to unpacking.

“Mind if we play some music?” Skye asked after another minute. They’d gotten all the things in the dresser and River was moving to setting things up in his closet as Skye did the same. “We can listen to whatever you were listening to when I came in here.”

River flushed again. Skye noticed that he did that a lot. “I don’t think you would like it,” the boy said softly.

“Oh, why not?”

“It’s worship music.” Skye cringed, but managed to get a laugh out, and he noticed that River smiled a little.

“Yeah, maybe not,” Skye agreed, and the other boy’s smile widened. God, he looked good when he smiled, an adorable dimple on his left cheek, his eyes lighting up behind his glasses. And the fact that he wasn’t trying to shove anything about his religion or his faith down Skye’s throat was kind of awesome. He would not handle that well.

“You okay with my stuff?” Skye asked, taking out his phone and scrolling. “We can do my chill section.” Skye grinned at his roommate and winked, and the other boy’s cheeks flushed yet again. Fuck, why was that so adorable?

River shrugged, his lips pursed like there was something he wanted to say again but wasn't sure if he should.

Just as Skye was about to press the play button he heard, “I’m sorry.”

His gaze lifted to meet his roommate’s. He blinked. “For what?”

“For all the Christians who ever hurt you and made you feel bad about who you are.” The other boy glanced down and shuffled his feet, hands in his pockets. His sapphire eyes met Skye’s again. They were warm and sincere when he said, “There’s nothing wrong with you. I…uh, I just want you to know that.”

Fuck. Skye was not crying. He absolutely refused to cry in front of some guy he’d just met. But he was stunned. River’s words were more life-giving and liberating than he could have imagined. And yes, damn it, there were definitely tears stinging at the corners of his eyes.

He’d never had someone apologize for mistreating him for his sexuality before, especially when they hadn’t personally been the one to do the harm. And while he’d been out for a while, it hadn't all been sunshine and rainbows. His mom and brother had accepted him right away. Coming out to them had been the hardest thing he had ever done. Skye had known he was gay since his freshman year of high school, but it had taken him another year before finally gathering the courage to tell them, and he’d cried like a baby when he had.

But they hadn’t batted an eyelash. They’d just hugged him and told him they loved him, and wanted him to be himself. When Skye had asked his mom what she thought his dad would have said, she’d just smiled and said, “He would have said he loves you and that he’s proud of you.” It had gone better than Skye could have imagined, and he’d wished he’d told them sooner to keep from carrying all that guilt, fear, and shame for so long.

It had given him the courage to come out to a group of friends at school, all guys. Unfortunately when they found out, they hadn’t had the same positive reaction. They hadn’t called him names, or harassed him, but they had ignored him, and made it very clear he wasn’t welcome in their company anymore. Which may have actually been worse. He’d been afraid to come out to anyone for a long time after that. It had taken meeting the right people, forming new friendships, and the love and support of his family to realize that who he was was nothing to be ashamed of. He had been very open about his sexuality since, and refused to hide who he was or let others make him feel like shit for who he was attracted to.

“Uh, thank you,” he said. “So, uh, you, you really don’t mind?” River frowned and it made Skye laugh. “Sorry, I just, I’m not sure what to make of the Christian guy telling me I’m not going to hell for liking dick.”

River’s face flushed and Skye realized that maybe he wasn’t used to such crass language. Well, for Skye it wasn't crass, but he had no idea how sheltered his roommate might be. Had he ever even had sex? Seen a woman naked? Was he a virgin? He was too fucking gorgeous to have never been laid, that was for damn sure. If he had any interest in Skye at all he would not say no to fucking his roommate senseless.

“Maybe that not all Christians are assholes,” River replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

Skye smirked, pretty damn proud of himself for actually getting his roommate fired up over something enough to talk, and show some sass.

He shrugged. “All the Christians I’ve ever heard open their mouths are.”

River narrowed his eyes. “Except me.”

Skye couldn’t help it when his lips quirked into a small smile. “Except you.”

“So, if I’m bringing anyone back to the room for a good time I’ll just put a sock on the door or something. You cool with that?” They both moved around again as they continued to unpack. Skye’s unpacking was a bit more haphazard, while River had things neatly organized and stacked perfectly. Skye had a feeling being roommates with River was going to be an adjustment for both of them, but found himself not minding.

River shrugged. “As long as it’s not every night.”

Skye laughed. “Same goes for you. I don’t want to walk in and see tits bouncing and hear those girly moans.” River coughed and Skye grinned. Virgin or not, River was definitely a bit shy when it came to sex.

River shook his head, seeming to shrink back into himself. His voice had gone soft again when he said, “That won’t be a problem.”

“Why not? Don’t like girls?” Skye winked at his roommate again, that adorable flush back in an instant as River cleared his throat.

“No, I…” he cleared it again and ran his long, slender fingers through those thick, dark strands. “I like girls, I just…I’m not…” Jesus, he was flustered.

“You’re a virgin?” River's face paled as he swallowed again, then rubbed his palms on his jeans, letting out a deep breath, and Skye wondered if he had overstepped. He hadn’t meant to make his roommate uncomfortable. Shit. “Hey, it’s not a problem. I’m not gonna judge you for being a virgin any more than you are judging me for being gay, okay?”

Those blue eyes met his again, darker this time, like the depths of the ocean. Skye’s heart sank when he saw the pain behind them. “Can we not talk about this, please?”

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