Chapter Text
What hardly anyone knew about Alex was, he was very cuddly.
Henry'd been best friends with him for a decade, since they were in the same third grade class (Alex having been so smart that he had skipped a year) the year Henry and his family came to America (which he should call the States, Alex told him the day they met), and every single one of their sleepovers on Henry's pullout couch had ended with Alex latching his arms around Henry (which was quite the feat, given that Henry'd always been taller).
Henry, of course, had never minded these moments. After all, he'd had a crush on Alex for as long as he could remember. It did make things awkward, though, the morning when Henry was thirteen and Alex was twelve that Henry's dad had walked in on them and seen them holding each other. He'd gestured for his son to join him in the kitchen, and it was then that he'd asked Henry in hushed tones if there was more than friendship between himself and Alex.
It was then that Henry had come out to his dad, telling him he had a crush on Alex but didn't dare say anything, and the sleepovers where they were allowed to sleep in the same bed had ended (Arthur telling Alex that they would be more comfortable with more space in their own beds).
Alex, though, chaos demon that he was, still continued to sneak upstairs into Henry's room, setting his phone alarm so they didn't get caught. Bea knew, since she heard them giggling at all hours of the night, but she had always been Henry's primary confidante and would never tell on them.
Tonight, Alex had come up to his room, a bounce in his step despite the fact that he knew they had to be quiet. The second he was burrowed under the covers with Henry, he declared, “Henry, I think we need to play truth or dare!”
“Alex, you're mental,” Henry scolded him. “How are we supposed to play truth or dare if we're supposed to be quiet?”
Then Alex's hand was cupping his mouth and he was whispering in his ear, “Like this. Truth or dare?”
There was no question about it. “Dare.” After all, he might not be a menace like Alex, but there was one truth he didn't want Alex knowing under any circumstances.
He could practically hear the grin on Alex’s face when he instructed, “I dare you to go out in the snow wearing only your boxers.”
“Alex!”
Henry did what he was told, though, both boys giggling all the while. Best friend that he was, Alex was waiting for Henry with a warm blanket when he got back inside.
They continued to play for a few more rounds, Alex's dares getting more outlandish every time. Finally, on his next turn, Alex said, “I dare you to ask for a truth next time. All these dares aren't like you, H.”
Henry nodded. When Alex's turn came around again, Henry waited for his question with bated breath. “Who do you have a crush on right now?”
Henry had never been more grateful for the fact that they were surrounded by darkness than in that moment. “Do I really have to-”
He had known exactly what Alex would say to his objection, and he was proven right when Alex pointed out, “A dare’s a dare, H.”
Alex had known Henry’s sexuality for years, ever since he'd caught Henry staring at one of their classmates in the gym locker room in middle school. So even if he didn't like Henry back (which was, of course, the most likely scenario), their friendship would outlast it. Alex had always said their friendship could survive anything, and Henry believed him.
“You,” Henry finally whispered so quietly that he hoped Alex wouldn't hear him.
His confession was met with silence, and Henry panicked. Had he done the wrong thing?
Then Alex's arms were surrounding him, his lips brushing Henry's ear when he admitted, “Ditto.”
“Alex, what-”
But then Alex was kissing him, and Henry’s mind went blank. His fingers automatically sank into Alex's curls like he'd been dreaming of for years, the sensation apparently so good that it made Alex moan.
They had said they would go to bed after that round, but instead, they took their time exploring each other's bodies, Henry thrilled to finally trace the muscles Alex had acquired from lacrosse practice with his fingertips under his sleep shirt.
At last, when the sun was starting to creep in through the window, they fell asleep, Alex's head on Henry's chest.
Henry, though, stayed awake, his mind buzzing. This might be the end of their sleepovers at his parents’ for awhile, but if you asked Henry, it was absolutely worth it.