My own
by M. F. Luder
Seth feels like he's always been competing.
Well, maybe not always. He never had to compete for his parents' attention, because, yeah, he's a single child. But he did, for friends.
Until Ryan came along.
Only, when Ryan arrived, he had to start competing for Ryan's attention.
So, yeah, he's Ryan's best friend. That's cool, but Ryan wanted Marissa, which meant spending time with her. Seth so hated spending time with her.
He used to feel like a third wheel, and knew Ryan would rather have Marissa to himself.
Yeah, he had to compete for Ryan.
Until he got Ryan.
Seth grins, stretching his arms and leaning against the back of the couch. He won Ryan, fair and square.
That was a good day, the day he stood with Ryan on his parents' backyard and placed a kiss that came from bravery Seth didn't even know he had.
That was in high school.
Now, in college, he has even more competition. Well, not the same kind of completion, because he really does have Ryan, but competition nonetheless.
Ryan's studying Architecture while Seth's stuck either reading or writing. They don't have classes together, which sucks because Seth was used to having classes with Ryan. They spend lunch together, and evenings.
But it's times like this, Seth sitting in the living room of their one bedroom apartment that Seth hates. Ryan's out with his friends, doing a project of some sort Seth never really gets, and it's over ten.
Seth tells himself that being jealous is not him, that it sucks, that he's not that kind of boyfriend.
Denial lasts a good two seconds, then Seth starts wondering if it'd be too possessive to call Ryan's cell and ask him to come home.
Seth thinks that it just might.
He hears the door unlocking and he springs to his feet, running towards his desk. He sits, heart racing though he only ran fifteen feet, and opens a book. He pretends to be readying as he hears Ryan opening the door.
"Hey, babe."
Seth smiles inwardly.
Babe. Kewl.
Standing up, he walks toward Ryan and places his arms around his boyfriend's neck.
Seth kisses Ryan thoroughly.
Pulling apart, Seth nods in self-appreciation at the dazzled look on Ryan's face.
He's good at this.
Ryan pauses, then rolls his eyes. His hands move to Seth's waist.
"You were here sulking, weren't you?"
Seth frowns as innocently as he can. "What? Who, me? Nah, I was reading, dude. Reading. I have stuff to read, you know? Yep. Lots of stuff."
"What?"
"Eighteen century poets."
"Name five."
Seth's brain is blank, and he groans.
Ryan chuckles, smile still on his lips.
"Idiot."
"Hey, I resent that."
"Idiot." Ryan pulls Seth closer to him, chests touching and kisses Seth tenderly. They relax in each other's arms. "I love you."
"I know."
"And you love me."
A snort. "I know that."
Ryan grins. "And I'm yours."
Seth tilts his head. "Really?" Still, he's smiling.
"Yeah. Yours."
Seth nods once before placing his head on Ryan's shoulder. He sighs softly. Ryan smells of cigarettes and the ocean. Seth doesn't know why, but he doesn't care either. He likes the way Ryan smells.
"Mine."
He feels Ryan nodding. "Yours."
He likes not having competition. "Good."
Ryan's chuckle resounds in his chest and Seth's feels the movement against his own.
"Love you."
"You too."
Seth hugs Ryan tight and just stands there. He likes this, having Ryan here, with him, in his arms, knowing Ryan is his.
His
Mine, Seth can't stop thinking. My own
Finished: July, 26th.