32. take a deep breath

THIRTY TWO

take a deep breath

Friday, May 23rd

It was officially summer, and Isaiah had no idea what to do with his time.

He disliked school as much as the next student, but he couldn't lie and say it didn't keep him busy. Now he'd be stuck at home, nothing to do except for watching all the shows he'd missed out on until there was nothing left to do but wallow in boredom.

He had his friends and boyfriend, sure, but he couldn't see them every day. Steve always went to South Korea for the first month to visit family, so he really couldn't see him. Ashton lazed around, and Marcus visited San Antonio for two weeks to catch up with an old family friend that used to live in their hometown. Morgan and August, on the other hand? He had no idea what they did.

But Steve left Sunday, and Marcus left Tuesday. So he had today to spend with all five of them before they went on to do their own things, and he was going to take advantage of that. And once he had them piled into his car, Ashton immediately began complaining about how hot the seats were.

"Deal with it," Marcus grumbled, "and stop bumping into me. You have bony shoulders."

"This was a mistake," Steve stated, looking uncomfortable pressed up against the window. Ashton was in the middle, Marcus beside him. Morgan had called dibs on the very back, and August (unsurprisingly) snatched the passenger seat. Isaiah wanted to agree, but he also wanted to hang out with all of them, so he merely shrugged in response.

Morgan ruffled Steve's hair, smiling. Steve glanced back at her, a slight lift to his lips, and he relaxed in his seat (though he still tried to stay as far away as possible from Ashton).

"So," August said, clapping his hands together. "What are we doing?"

Isaiah pursed his lips. "I don't know."

August gave him a look. "You don't know? Izzy, what the fuck."

"Stop calling me that."

"No flirting in the group chat," Steve stated, as he did every time August tried to say something suggestive or couple-y. It started off just over text, but then Steve decided to extend the rule to real life as well. It wasn't working, considering he had to keep repeating it.

August turned around in his seat, scowling. "That wasn't flirting, dumbass." He stuck his tongue out at Steve, who rolled his eyes.

"This is chaos," Morgan complained, thumping her forehead against the back of Steve's seat. Marcus grunted his agreement, already escaping to his phone.

August turned back around and lightly pushed at Isaiah's shoulder. "So, you just grabbed us without thinking about what we would do once we're all here?" he asked, grinning in amusement when Isaiah slowly nodded his head.

"Cute," August mused, tapping his finger against Isaiah's cheek. His face heated up at his words and his touch.

"No flirting in the group ch—"

"Steve," August groaned, slumping. "Shut up. You and Morgan flirt all the time."

Steve scowled, and Morgan beamed. "At least we're lowkey about it," he grumbled, crossing his arms. Morgan laughed at how he sulked and squeezed his shoulder, letting her touch linger before she went back to laying down across the seats.

"This sucks," Ashton groaned. "Marcus and I are always fifth and sixth-wheeling." Then his eyes widened and he turned to Marcus, furiously tapping at him until he gave him attention. "Marcus."

The boy frowned, reluctantly looking away from his Twitter timeline. "What? What do you want?"

Ashton held out his hand. "We should date." Due to not having context, Marcus' eyes went big, glancing around at everyone else as if hoping they'd explain what was going on. They didn't, of course.

"Ash, what the hell, no." He shoved his hand away, leaving Ashton to pout. "Why would you even suggest that?"

"I don't wanna fifth wheel," Ashton whined, trying to pick up Marcus' hand again. But he just kept pulling his arm back each time, looking genuinely confused and slightly frightened. "Please? All you gotta do is hold my hand."

Marcus sighed, hesitant, before he eventually let Ashton lace their fingers together. He looked miserable throughout the whole ride to the arcade (which is where August and Isaiah had decided to go during the whole holding hands debacle).

___

The arcade was packed due to kids being out of school for the summer. They were running around, looking like toddlers on crack, and Isaiah thought Ashton fit in quite well with them.

Speaking of, he was dragging Marcus to that one dancing game with the squares. Marcus still looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but there. While Ashton happily danced, Marcus awkwardly and lazily stepped on the squares he needed to, missing tons.

August scrunched his nose up. "It's so loud in here," he muttered, lightly bumping his shoulder against Isaiah's. Steve nodded in agreement.

Isaiah frowned in concern. "We can step outside, if you want," he told him, resting his hand against his back. "Or go somewhere else. We don't have to stay here."

August shook his head. "No, no, it's fine." He smiled, green eyes darker under the dim lighting. "Once those two are done, we should all grab a lane to bowl."

Morgan raised an eyebrow. "Would your leg be okay with that?"

"No, probably not," he admitted, then winked as he added, "but that's why there is no real way to bowl. I have a technique."

Turns out August's technique was putting up the guard rails and using both hands to chuck the ball down the lane. It worked, but Isaiah was having a hard time keeping his laughter down. Morgan, on the other hand, was practically dying from amusement, Steve giving her looks, wondering if she was going mad.

August was up first and when he finished his two shots, he was left with two pins. He walked back to their sitting area and patted his own chest. "See? Skill."

Isaiah grinned when he sat down beside him, Morgan up next to bowl. He shook his head, tucking a curl behind August's ear, fingertips grazing his skin. "Yes," he chuckled. "Tons of skill."

August smirked, leaned in close, and whispered, "You wanna know what other types of balls I'm skilled with?" And before Isaiah could reply, Steve stated loudly:

"No flirting in the group chat!"

"How the hell did you hear that?" August complained, turning to look at Steve, who looked smug. The blond scowled. "I was fucking whispering."

"I hear everything, Knight."

"Yeah, okay," August scoffed, then mocked under his breath, "I hear everything, my ass."

"I heard that, too."

"Oh, fuck off!"

___

Their group stayed at the arcade until seven, and then Morgan's mom was texting her to get home before nine, so they decided to leave. They took the same spots in the car as before, except this time Steve sat in the very back with Morgan. Which left Marcus with space between him and Ashton, finally.

Isaiah dropped Morgan off first, the next two being Marcus and Ashton, and then lastly, Steve. The end result being Isaiah and August alone, the blond free from the restraints of Steve's motherly rules.

"Hey," August stated suddenly when they pulled into his neighborhood. "I have a question."

Isaiah glanced at him before nodding. "Yeah, okay. Shoot."

"Do you..." August bit his lip, sounding hesitant. "Do you maybe, want to meet my mom and stepdad? As my boyfriend, not my friend?"

Isaiah's eyes widened momentarily, and he spared him a look of surprise once he parked outside his house. "What? You mean like, right now?"

"Yeah, right now."

Isaiah rubbed at his face, staring at August's front doorstep, at the faint welcome mat. They accepted August for who he was, so he'd be fine. Right? He sighed. Why was he hesitating so much? They loved August and didn't care who he was interested in. Maybe he was more scared of the fact he'd somehow make a bad first impression as his boyfriend, even though he made a good one before.

August touched his shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. We don't have to if you don't want to, you know? There's no rush."

Isaiah placed his hand over his. "No, I'm okay. Let's do it." He squeezed August's hand for emphasis, and a breathtaking smile took over the blond's features, and Isaiah thought, wow. Even if something somehow went wrong, it would've been worth it just to see that.

"Yeah?" August grinned, already unbuckling his seatbelt and sliding out of the car. "Come on, let's go."

"Shit, okay." He turned off the car and locked the doors when he got out, jogging over to August and grabbing his hand. August brought their laced fingers to his lips and kissed his knuckles, easing the butterflies in his stomach.

August unlocked the front door and led Isaiah inside. "Mom! I'm home!" he shouted as he shut the door behind them. "Where are you?"

"Living room!" she called out, and August tugged Isaiah into that direction. Isaiah could tell he was eager to tell her; it was adorable. It made him wonder what it would be like to come out to his own family. He knew his mom and Jordan were fine with it one hundred percent, but what about Dylan? Dad? Would they be? Just because Dad made some joke with Mom about Jordan being a lesbian didn't mean he was okay with it.

Stop that, Isaiah told himself. Don't get worked up about that right now.

"Hey, Mom," August said, "David." His stepdad was just then walking into the room, a glass of wine held in his hand. He smiled at his stepson as he plopped down in an armchair. "I have something very important to say."

August happily held up their locked hands, beaming. "Isaiah and I are dating," he stated proudly.

His mom chuckled. "That was obvious before you told us," she replied amusedly. "Remember when I asked you two to help me with the groceries? Don't think I didn't notice the hickey on your neck, Isaiah."

Isaiah's free hand flew to his neck with a shocked look, and he felt his face heat up. August scowled, facepalming. "Mom. Don't embarrass him like that." He wrapped an arm around the other boy's shoulder and tugged him close, playfully adding, "He's fragile."

David let out a booming laugh. "He doesn't look very fragile," he joked. "He's got some muscles."

Isaiah shifted awkwardly. "I play baseball."

"Hence the nice butt," August stated solemnly. Isaiah smacked him upside the head.

Laughter coarsed throughout the room, and August sat down, Isaiah taking the seat beside him. August's parents pulled the two into a conversation, asking about how they met and when they started dating. The mostly teasing questions about Isaiah's intentions, and then inquiries on what Isaiah wanted to do in the future. It was nice, calming, and it gave Isaiah a bit of hope when he thought about finally breaking the news to his family.

It was a few minutes past nine when Isaiah told them he had to leave. He bid them goodbyes and let August walk him to the door, the two sharing a gentle, loving kiss that set Isaiah's heart aflame. He smiled against his lips, squeezing August's side before pulling away.

"I'll see you," August murmured, nudging their foreheads together. "Bye, Izzy."

Isaiah didn't even bother complaining about the nickname. It was growing on him. And he was too happy to care.

When Isaiah got back to his car, he pulled out his phone, biting his lip. A ball of anxiety swirled in his chest as he texted Jordan.

Isaiah: is everyone home?

jordan: yeah why?

Isaiah: can you get them all together in one room? I think I'm ready to tell them

jordan: holy shit!!!!!! holy s h i t!!!!!' yes omg oh my god brb. eeeeee i'm so proud of u, lil bro <3 i love u sm

Isaiah: I love you too (': thank you

Isaiah set his phone off to the side—

—and he took a deep breath.

___

A/N: it's time!!!!!!