head over heels

51 ~ liminal space

[A/N - COVID SUCKS BALLS!!!!!! FUCK THAT WAS AWFUL!!!!!!!! sorry guys, god i was so sick, absolutely taken out for two weeks there, now i'm back at uni and have so much work to do its actually insane!!! YAY........... hence why this took so long. oops! so thanks for waiting, love you allll]

Evan woke the next morning to Kei running his fingers gently through the back of his hair. Immediately, a dim flame lit up in his chest as he remembered Kei, what he'd said last night, how he'd just been so— so fucking perfect.

He lay with his face buried sleepily into the pillow, Kei flush beside him. His hands moved gently over his skin, but also firm, obviously trying to rouse him.

He let out a little yawn.

Evan sort of felt surprisingly content, considering he'd cried just about his weight in tears just barely twelve hours earlier.

His eyes fluttered open to a dark room, illuminated only by a small lamp that flickered ever so slightly. It was seemingly still dark out. On seeing the darkness beyond the curtains, Evan promptly decided that it was far too early, and shut his eyes again.

However Kei ran a hand over his shoulder.

"We have a game at nine, remember?" he mumbled tiredly.

Evan sighed, "What time is it now?"

"Six."

"Ugh."

"Ugh," Kei agreed, shifting so that his head rested between Evans shoulder blades.

For a moment, they just lay there, Kei tracing soothing patterns into his back, and Evan fighting not to fall right back asleep.

Then, Kei let out a long sigh and dragged himself upright.

Evan turned to watch him, and the other boy scrubbed at his eyes as if to wake himself up. His hair stuck up wildly, Evan was sure his looked worse.

Kei's eyes surveyed him carefully, "You okay?"

Slowly, Evan nodded, taking stock of his mental state. "I think so," he managed, and for the first time in a few days, it didn't feel like much of a lie.

He actually sort of felt okay again.

As if to test that, he sat up slowly, waiting for the inevitable crushing weight of anxiety to whack him in the chest.

He paused, taking a slow breath, and it was... Fine?

He blinked in surprise.

No crushing, all consuming anxiety. Nothing. He just felt— normal again. Unexpected, and he was sure it wouldn't last, but well— he couldn't help but feel a pleasant warmth burning steadily in his chest.

The difference Kei made in his life was like night and day.

Kei yawned as he set out to grab their things. "C'mon, gotta be downstairs in ten minutes."

Evan flopped backwards, "Oh god," he grumbled, pulling the covers up around him.

"You lazy ass," Kei snorted, promptly whipping the covers off the bed, exposing Evan to the chilly air.

"Why did I sign up for this shit again?" Evan groaned, curling into a ball. "Seriously—"

The last thing he wanted was anything to do with volleyball right now.

He just wanted to make the most of whatever Kei related miracle had made him feel normal again, just by sitting here, with Kei, and watching some dumb movie or something.

Of course though, life never went his way.

Kei playfully grabbed his ankles next and gave them a good yank. He yelped, and Kei left him hanging halfway off the bed with an amused snort. "Lets gooooo—" he uttered, gathering both their bags.