without answer, tom shoved the rose into tords hands.

"here," tom stammered, "it matches your hoodie..?"

tord shot him a look that made tom regret his actions. tord looked so very puzzled, but then he said,

"aww, tom. your so cute." tord cooed, pulling tom into a hug and the spiky rose leaves tickled toms neck. tord pulled away, but his arms were still wrapped around toms upper waist, leaving their faces just inches apart.

"yes. yes i did get it from the florist." toms answered. he patted tords back and began to wander off into the darkness of the apartment.

"so, you planning to stay or no..?" tom asked, folding his arms behind his back as he calmly paced around the room.

"well, do you mind?" 

"no. 'not like i have anything else to do anyways."

"well, other than cutting yourself, contemplating suicide, throwing your guns-"

"stop." tom said, a look of held back laughter and boredom expressed on his face. 

"thats great!" tord cheered, pretending his other comment did not exsist. he wiped off his timberland boots before stepping into the house. tom studied his appearance.

"damn, your dressing like its the middle of december." he chimed.

tord looked up at tom while he shut the door. 

"well, i sure am not a furnace like you are." he said, taking off his coat and rubbing his biceps for warmth. the rumbling of a machine filled the silence.

"is that an air conditioner i hear?" tord asked, looking concerned. 

"i am a furnace." 

"i am  an air conditioner."

tom made his way to the a.c. that was perched into a window. he pushed the on button that glowed green until the jolly color turned to a dull gray. the sound of the machine and the constant frigid air that tom was used to, stopped. it was like a new car, something totally alien. 

"opposites attract." he murmured.

"hm?" 

"oh, nothing."

he turned around to see tord comfortable on the couch.

"tord?" he called, just to check.

no response.

tom laughed to himself.

"golly, your already asleep." he whispered to himself. he sat down next to him, carefully trying not to shift the weight on the couch.

he decided to roam on social media (probably instagram.)

his account was mostly just videos of him doing guitar covers. it surprisingly drew a crowd, a little over 400 people liked his playing.

a majority of his 'followers' were a mix of family members and people he had met over the course of his bass playing. he subbed in for bands whose bass players couldnt play. it was how he made money.

no, he didnt make a lot. the bands he played for were usually only town known. the biggest band he played for was only county-known.

he got free merchandise, despite his short acquaintance with the bands. he sometimes sold them for extra money.

one of the bands he played for invited him to participate in a meet and greet as a substitute for their bass player. a lot of fans requested to see him.

they told him he was better than the original bass player.

they asked him if he had his own band.

they asked him for social medias.

they must have liked mistakes because he made a lot of them.

the band didnt notice his mistakes either. they liked him a lot because they gave him free tickets to their next concert.

tickets.

ticket plural.

he didnt have any friends. so he ended up selling those too. turns out they were worth a lot.

he bought a lot of vodka that night. the neighbours complained. fun times.

it was hours later tord woke up.

he shot up into a sitting position, scaring the hell out of tom.

"oh dear im so sorry." tord said, his eyes slanted at the ends.

"no worries, its fine."

"how long was i out for?"

"couple of hours."

"oh my."

silence filled the air. there usually was the air conditioner that would usually prevent awkwardness.

"what now?" tord asked.

"well your the social one. you tell me."

"so guess what?" tord asked excitedly.

tom looked at him with curiosity.
"i bought a ticket to an alt j concert!"

"really? lucky you."

"yeah, i would have brought you but i didnt have enough for another ticket."

me? tom thought. no, you must have the wrong person.

"why me? dont you have better friends?"

tord smiled. he looked like a child when he did, due to a gap in his teeth. it was cute.

"you should know why."

and tom did know.

it was because tord loved him.

atleast, he thinks thats what it means.