Butterbeer And Apologies [Bayne, Bryn]

[lukas]

Lukas wasn't drunk. He was definitely nowhere near drunk, though he was feeling some effect of the three Butterbeers he'd downed. Which was fine, you know, it kept the feelings of anger that still fluttered around his head from escalating into a fullblown shouting match. So yes, drinking was good. Drinking was very good, though he had to make sure that he didn't get completely hammered or he'd do something stupid like hit on Bryn and try to snog him. He figured he'd get yelled at even more than he was already going to.

Because Bayne had probably talked to Bryn, and the coward had probably said something along the lines of that Lukas was an absolute dickhead and that he ought to grow up or whatever, and hey, he was sixteen! Sixteen and tipsy and entitled to HAVING SOME DAMN FUN. Plus. Bryn was totally his best friend, so Bayne needed to back the fuck off and not mess with that.

In fact, Lukas would make sure that he didn't. He'd go over there right now and claim him and they'd have fun and stupid Bayne could find someone to spend the night with that wasn't him or Bryn Kennedy. Ha! Nodding at himself, the blonde was pleased with coming up with this idea and headed over to his best friend, narrowly avoiding a collision with one of the other party goers. Oops, maybe he was a little more tipsy than he'd thought. Giggling, he dropped himself onto the couch where his mate was sitting on. "Oy"

[Bryn Kennedy]

Bryn was sat quite comfortably on the couch, talking to Bayne and keeping his eye on his rather drunk best friend. It amazed Bryn how Luke could get drunk so easily off butterbeer. Him and Bayne were drinking their weight in Firewhisky. Bayne had told Bryn how the study session went, Bryn had not liked it and planned to talk to Luke about it maybe Luke would listen to Bryn although he doubted it. "Dont worry about it Bayne, sometimes Luke can be a bit touchy." Bryn knew this all too well. He watched as the blonde talked and danced and drank. Having fun, but to Bryn... it looked more like he was trying to rub Bayne's nose in it, and Bayne had noticed that too.

Bayne stood up and moved away, closer to the drinks stand when he saw Luke making his way over here. Bryn shifted, knowing full well Luke would want to sit next to him rather than opposite like Bayne. Bryn felt the couch shift under Luke's weight and looked across to Bayne who was talking and laughing, with someone else. Obviously he wasnt letting the Luke situation worry him too much. Doing basically what Bryn had told him to do. Luke seemed chipper, but Bryn wanted this sorted. Luke was his best mate and Bayne was one of his close friends. There's not a chance Bryn would get involved with this.

"Oy to you too." Bryn smiled at his friend, he still watched Bayne, surprised the boy showed neither Bryn or Luke any interest at the minute. Obviously, Bayne didnt want to seem to Luke that he cared for the situation... Bayne may pretend and Luke may honestly not care... but Bryn did. He didnt want to be caught in the middle... which he probably would be... any moment now Luke was bound to start bitching. Counting down in his head.

Three
Two
One...

[lukas]

He hadn't been trying to rub Bayne's nose in it. He hadn't even noticed that the brunette was at the party, to be honest. Oh sure, he figured that the boy would show up at some point, but he hadn't noticed that he was already here, or talking to Bryn for that matter. It didn't matter anyway. He was a dick who should shoot himself and be done with it. Or maybe not something quite as desperate, but really, he should stay away from Lukas and not insult him any further.

Lukas leaned his cheek against Bryns arm for a moment, quite happy to be cuddled up with his best friend, despite the fact that he was very much straight. It was fun, being with him, spending time with him getting drunk. And yeah, the one thing that showed he was a girl was how quickly he got smashed, but no one ever seemed to notice, and when they did they just laughed and told him he was a light weight. Which he accepted happily before taking the next drink, determined to find that magical world of oblivion.

He wasn't quite there yet, and the situation with Bayne bothered him more than he'd wanted to admit to even himself. "So...what did he say? Was I the asshole in all of this?" Probably. It was probably all his fault.

[Bryn Kennedy]

When Luke leaned his cheek against Bryn's arm, Bryn shifted. Moving his arm so it draped around Luke's shoulder. Everyone knew the two of them were close, as close as brothers. They all knew Luke was gay and all knew Bryn was straight. Yet it didnt matter to either Bryn or Luke. They were completely comfortable around eachother and could easily sit like this without any weird feelings. Besides, Luke liked his hugs, he was pretty much a hug whore. Bryn smiled, Luke seemed to be enjoying himself and that was a good thing.

"Paranoid much?" Bryn asked and removed his arm. "Actually no he didnt say you were the asshole although I think you overreacted an awful lot Luke." Bryn turned and faced him, his eyes stern as he looked at his half drunkern friend. He couldnt believe the amount of trouble he'd gone through to get Bayne to agree to be Luke's studdy buddy, giving Luke the chance to see Bayne... but obviously it was all wasted. "He said that he said... basically he didnt want to be a number in your games." Bryn would agree with Bayne on this, Luke liked his games. "Which I dont think is unfair. He was only being honest with you Luke, you didnt need to spout off at him the way you did." Bryn turned to look at Bayne who was standing by the music set. "Bayne also said that the argument wasnt your fault... that it was his and he shouldnt have been so touchy."

Bryn stood up and walked over to the refreshment stand, getting himself a Firewhisky and Luke a butterbeer. Thrusting it in his hand he stood by the wall, leaning casually on it. Silently wondering if Luke was about to lose his rag at Bryn too.

[lukas]

"I don't play games.." It was hardly his fault that he enjoyed being with people, was it? He'd never led anyone to believe that he was interested in more than a kiss or a fling. How was that playing a game? And he hadn't been playing with Bayne at all. He'd been nice to him, invited him to a party, offered to get him a drink. He'd never said 'hey, come with me and I'll fuck you nice and proper'. He hadn't even thought of that. Sure, he thought of it sometimes, with various boys, but Bayne? What was he thinking?!

Lukas accepted the beer with a pout. "I'm not...I'm not a slut or some kind of whore. And he pretty much said that I was...that I play with people, and I don't. What's his deal with me enjoying my life? I'm not hurting anyone with it and what he said was way out of line." It bothered him, because what if most of the people saw him as that? Not a flirt, not a funny joke around guy, but a slut who tried to get his way with everybody?

[Bryn Kennedy]

"You might not think you do Luke, but you do." It was true, Bryn said it softly and even placed his hand on Luke's shoulder to show he meant no harm to him. "You dont understand sometimes. You go with guys and sure you might make it clear but sometimes its not enough for them, and just as quick you move on and the guy you've left standing there is probably feeling god knows what. You mean no harm, I know that... but sometimes you do leave a trail behind you."

Bryn listened to the music playing. It was mixed muggle music and wizard music. He found himself bopping his head to certain songs and listening to Luke as he ranted. Bryn was beginning to feel slighly frustrated with Luke, honestly could this guy not see a good thing when it was quite literally shoved on him. Placing his drink down rather forcefully he dragged Luke to a secluded corner away from the crowd. "You still dont get it do you?" Bryn asked, his voice hard, "You. Are. Hurting. Him." He spelt out as simply as he possibly could. "You're quite happy to go around with all these guys who dont like you half as much as they should, half as much as you deserve but you wont even look at someone who does really like you!" He grabbed Luke's shoulders and spun him around to look at Bayne who was talking to a girl. "That boy likes you! He's liked you for ages! I didnt set that bloody study session up for you two to study! Bayne is shy and he cant talk openly to people he likes and yes, he is blunt... but he's damn honest and a really nice guy. Why cant you get that?"

Bryn began to walk away from Luke and turned back to look at him as he picked up his drink. "You're my best mate Luke but Bayne is also my friend so get it sorted cause I do not want to be in the middle of this anymore."

[lukas]

"You're quite happy to go around with all these guys who dont like you half as much as they should, half as much as you deserve but you wont even look at someone who does really like you!"

Liked him? Wait. What? Bayne liked him? Liked him liked him? The blonde was about to open his mouth and voice this question to Bryn when he reconsidered. If he asked him that, he'd probably get yelled at or slapped, or both if he was extra lucky. Huh. It took his muddled brain a moment to process the rest of what his friend had said and when he did, he gaped at him. "You...set this up so he could talk to me? But he's only wanted to talk about class related stuff!" Honestly, Luke had tried to get him to engage in something else than homework, but the other had refused, looking as if he didn't like him at all and was only doing Bryn a favor.

So Bayne liked him. And Bryn wanted Luke with Bayne, because Bryn was straight and probably tired of Luke crushing on him and did he know? Well, that would be awkward. Lukas surely hoped that he didn't, that this was just his friends way of trying to make sure he was happy. Which was really rather cute. And okay, if Bryn wanted him to apologize...he liked seeing his best friend happy in return.

Grumbling good-naturedly, he prodded at the others stomach as he passed him. "Fine fine...I'll play nice" He whispered it in his ear, wondering what on earth he was going to say to Bayne-who-liked-him. Eventually, when standing next to him, all that came out was a rather lame "hi"

[Bayne Williams]

For the beginning of the night, Bayne had been talking to Bryn. Though upon seeing Luke making a beeline for him, Bayne skipped out. Deciding against another shouting match with Luke. He hadnt wanted that in the begginning and he didnt want it now. Bayne took refuge by the music stand and found himself in conversation with a guy, then a girl, then another guy. Honestly his throat was run dry but he decided against getting a drink as Bryn and Luke were stood by the stand so he took to the wall and leant there.

Bayne seemed to drift into his own world for a moment but soon enough he found himself brought back down to earth with a sudden bump. Luke was stood beside him and was actually saying hello. Well that was more than Bayne deserved as it was Bayne who had began this anyway. Bayne stood there for a moment, open mouthed and slightly flabberghasted. Bayne couldnt actually speak, wondering what Bryn had said to him to make him come over here.

"Uh... hi?" Bayne put his glass down on the table near them and turned to Luke. "Look... about yesterday. I..." He tried but he was no good about this. "I wasnt calling you a whore I didnt mean for it to come out the way I did... What I meant was I just wasnt... I didnt want... uh... I dont just want to be a plaything for... not just you but anybody. I guess I'm not that kind of person." He walked over to the drinks and poured himself a drink. "But... still I guess It is better if we dont do those sessions anymore. Not gonna get much done through arguing and I study better alone anyway..." Still being distant.

[lukas]

He honestly didn't get that guy. Okay, so he got an apology, but then the next second he was being blown off again. Was Bryn just toying with him? Did Bayne really like him? Because it absolutely didn't look like it. "Oh" He chewed on the inside of his lip for a moment, sucking it inbetween his teeth and running fingers over his bottle of beer. "I was actually...but okay. Nevermind then" He tried his best to smile at him, grabbing another bottle of beer as he'd finished his current one.

He'd figured, if Bryn thought it was a good idea to study together to get to know him, that he could do his friend that favor, and find out if this was really such a good match as the other Gryffindor seemed to think. But Bayne didn't want to study with him, didn't seem to even want to talk to him, so that kinda messed up his plans.

"Thanks, I guess. And yeah..sorry for. You know." He wasn't all too good at apologies, since he barely ever said things like that aloud. It was usually a slap on the shoulder, a grin, maybe some cute puppy eyes and he was forgiven. Lukas unscrewed his next beer, took a sip and wondered why on earth he was still standing next to this boy if he didn't want to talk to him.

[Bayne Williams]

Bayne had no idea what Bryn told him, but the awkwardness told him Bryn had told Luke Bayne fancied him. Which sent a slight blush to his cheeks. Of course he wasnt about to blurt it out either. He studied Luke's reaction to Bayne telling him they shouldnt work together and something made him stop and add. "Unless you actually still want to?" They stood in an awkward silence again for a little while, Bayne began to sing along to the song that was playing, hoping to ease the tension between the two.

"You dont need to apologize." Bayne smiled as he finished his drink, feeling the effects of it now. His head became a bit fuzzy. "I shouldnt have said you played games. It wasnt fair." Beer was useful, it loosened you up. There was no way he'd have said that to Luke if he hadnt had some beer for dutch courage. Bayne would have either nodded to Luke in acceptance or just not said anything, but now he would tell him simply it wasnt his fault and that he was just too touchy about things.

"Not to mention the numerous other things I said..." Bayne retreated into his new beer as his eyes scanned the room. Bryn was watching them carefully, Bayne rolled his eyes at this. He should have known Bryn would be watching making sure they didnt get into another fight or anything like that. He still couldnt look at Luke, but hey, at least he was being somewhat conversational, right? "... good party..." Lame... he tried though.

[lukas]

Lukas probably had enough beers for one evening, but he was quite fond of drinking himself into a stupor, especially when it meant he wouldn't be remembering awkward things like Bayne liking him the next morning. Honestly, it didn't do much good being told this little fact, as it didn't seem true or very likely. He hadn't done much to make Bayne like him, and he wasn't quite sure if there was something he was supposed to do now that he knew. If he'd snogged him it'd be out of pity more than anything else, and that was hardly fair.

"We can try" He shrugged a shoulder as if to say it didn't matter, but his blue eyes looked at him, giving him a small smile. He'd like to get to know him better, if only to make his best friend smile. After all, his heart was somewhat taken for the moment. Sure, it would never work into anything proper, but you couldn't simply tell your heart to stop feeling something. It'd have to happen slowly, and maybe hanging with someone that wasn't his crush was a good idea.

Laughing into his beer, he shook his head a little. "Ah but it's true, innit? 'S what Bryn said too...I do play with people. Tend not to look back to see if they're okay after we've had our fun. Never figured it could do much harm but maybe I'm wrong, see?" Alcohol was definitely helping him, making him more relaxed and able to forgive Bayne. "Yea...suppose the party is going well. Figured I'd be well on my way to sloshed right now but I'm still standing"

[Bayne Williams]

Bayne made a mental promise to be nicer to Luke from now on. It was something Bryn had said to him. Luke thought Bayne didnt even like him, let alone like him like him. So, he smioled at Luke, uncharacteristically and rather cheerfully. Bayne didnt want Luke to kiss him or anything like that, quite the opposite actually. Bayne was happy standing here and having a rather awkward but yet decent convesation. There was no doutbt in his mind Luke knew he liked him, Bryn would have told him, but Luke wouldnt remember tomorrow...

And they'd be back to square one.

Well that wasnt a positive reaction. "Wont be a misery guts." He laughed, shocked at himself, he hadnt laughed in Lukes presence. "I promise." He looked over to Bryn again, who was talking to a black haired girl, then back to Luke, who was too, looking at Bryn. Bayne sighed, why would Luke look at him when Bryn was around. Didn’t Kennedy get it? As long as he was around, Luke wouldn’t look at anybody else. ”You can go back to Bryn you know… if you want to.” It was an attempt to get Luke off the string that was obviously holding him here against his will. ”I don’t mind.”

”Yeah, but if there was a problem then surely they’d have said something by now?” Bayne shrugged, ”Regardless whether its true or not it wasn’t my place to say.” Bayne turned around and grabbed a bottle and shoved it into Luke’s hand. ”Well then, you should drink more if your not living up to your own expectations.”

[lukas]

That laugh was a surprise, and Lukas couldn't help grinning back at him, happy to have gotten such a response. Yes, he was a flirt, but he honestly just loved to see people smile, and even more to know that they were smiling because of him. He liked spreading a little happiness wherever he could. "Welll..." He dragged it out a little longer, before giving in, his blue eyes twinkling over his beer bottle. "Alright then, if you promise to be a little more fun I promise to try and actually do some work in your presence" The blonde reached out his hand, offering to shake on it and seal the deal.

Hearing the others next sentence though, he nearly choked on the sip he'd taken. Was it that obvious? Glancing over at his friend, he saw him talking to the girl and looked back, gazing into his beer for a moment. "'S no point. He prefers female company, and oh God, I never thought it was that obvious. He probably knows, doesn't he?" Bryn wasn't stupid. If Bayne knew...then again, Bayne watched him more than Bryn did. Maybe Bryn, sweet dear little Bryn, was clueless?

Shaking his head again, he downed his drink and gratefully accepted the next bottle Bayne offered him, snickering for a moment. "Thought I was supposed to give you free drinks, not the other way around? Thanks though, mate." It was probably better to hide out with Bayne for a while, lest he'd be all awkward around his best friend.

[Bayne Williams]

Now, even though Bayne was drunk, he could see there was more to Luke than just a pretty face. Bayne smiled back, although his laugh was still shaking him. He smiled when Luke said he would continue their study sessions. That was the answer he wanted. One point to Luke! Bayne had to drink some of his beer when he saw the look in Luke's eye, and look away. "I promise on my Gryffindor...ness to be more fun and plesant to be around!" He held his beer to his heart and his other hand up, before laughing again and shaking Luke's hand.

Bayne clapped his hand on the other boys back as he choked. Bayne's eyes followed Luke's and it landed on Bryn, now dancing slowly with the girl. He knew Luke had a thing for Bryn and honestly, he felt bad for him that nothing would amount between them. "Yeah he knows." Bayne answered honestly. "He's known for a long time, you tried to hide it but... well it is obvious... the way you look at him and sometimes talk about him... its hard to miss." Bayne smiled, "He knows you dont want him to know so he tries to act like he doesnt notice... but he's not phased by it you know. You're his best friend, nobody can replace you in his eyes."

"Well..." He smiled and downed his drink, folded his arms across his chest and looked at Luke. "You can get me that free beer now if you want?" He smiled then laughed. How many times had he laughed just now? A lot, thats how many.

[lukas]

Ngn. Bah. It wasn't the answer he'd wanted to hear but at least Bayne was being honest, that had to count for something. Lukas nodded at him, absently handing him a beer when he'd asked for one, lost in thoughts for a moment. It was a harsh truth, knowing that Bryn would have been able to fancy him if he'd been happy as a girl. He wasn't, and he'd rather be single and male than be female and have Bryn, but it was still a cruel twist of fate.

Lukas glanced at Bayne again and chewed on his lip. How would this particular boy react when he found out? Sure, he liked him now, but he was gay. He fancied males, and male parts, and sure, Luke had them, but they weren't natural. Luckily he wasn't a Muggle who needed surgery to get the right parts, but he was born female and it might gross out some people...hell, he was pretty sure there were a bunch of guys he'd slept with that would freak out completely if they knew he was a 'trannie'.

"You're not into girls at all, are you.." It was an odd remark, but not so much when you knew what was going on in his head. "It's odd, how that works. I mean, you're both really manly, and yet he's straight as an arrow and you're well...curved as a bow?" The analogy made him snort softly into his drink again, shaking his head. He'd never been the truly manly type, so being gay was more expected of him than it was of Bryn and Bayne.