7 New Home

"I didn't mean it like that Andrew. What I was trying to say is like your not musty and smell.  You know coming from a jock ?" 

Ian plays with his fingers like a little boy in trouble from his mother. 

"Umm okay Ian you're being weird right now. Anyways let's eat breakfast. I got us some pancakes from a place nearby. I didn't know what you guys wanted so you guys can choose. I'm not picky." 

Andrew smiles and goes to the bed and grabs a blanket and wraps the blanket around his back. 

"Ooo pancakes! I love pancakes!" Ian jumps from his bed and takes out the to go boxes out of the bag and opens one by one. 

"There's a hashbrown and bacon,sunnyside and sausage,and hashbrown with scrambled eggs. I'll take the sunnyside and sausage okay?" 

"Yeah go ahead Ian." Andrew replies and waits for Tristan to get his breakfast. "Your turn Tristan go ahead. Don't worry, I'm not picky." Andrew smiles. 

Tristan slowly gets up and walks on over to the counter where the boxes are and looks at them."I'll take this one with scrambled eggs and hashbrowns." 

"Okay Tristan go ahead and eat. I'll be there in a sec." 

Ian looks at Andrew and grabs the remaining box with pancakes and bacon and walks on over to Andrew's bed and hands it to him. 

"Please eat with us okay?" Ian smiles at him. 

"Okay I'll eat with you guys. Sorry just a bit sleepy still is all. Oh that reminds me there is coffee and tea for us."

"Andrew, do you want the coffee or tea? I'll get it for you." Ian walks back over to the counter. 

"Coffee please with-"

Ian interrupts Andrew. " Two creamer cups and 2 packs of sugar. Got it." Ian pauses as he rips open the creamer cup. "Uhh."

Andrew dumbfounded to the interruption. "Y-yeah how did you know?" 

"I don't know it was just an instinct, I guess." Ian smiles despite the weird reflex response to Andrew. 

"Hey Ian, can I get the tea once you're done with Andrew's coffee?" Tristan asks. 

"Sure Tristan." Ian finishes mixing Andrew's coffee and hands it to Andrew. "Here you go Andrew." Ian smiles towards Andrew as he hands the coffee. 

"Hey Tristan do you want anything with your tea?" Ian asks.

"I'm okay but thank you though." Ian grabs the tea and hands it to Tristan carefully. 

"Okay let's dig in and thank you for buying us breakfast Andrew." 

"Also Andrew. I wanted to say another thing." Ian chatters his teeth like he was freezing in the cold. "Thanks to you I already feel like I've built a new home here. Thank you for doing that, it means a lot to me." 

"Just doing something I know I would do if I had a bad night is all. But you're welcome Ian. Oh there is a box full of crepes, one for each of us. But if you don't want it it's okay." 

Ian smiles and starts eating his breakfast and mumbles under his breath and sniffles. "Just like how mom,dad and I would eat breakfast in the morning." Ian sniffles and sheds a lonely tear. 

Tristan glances and sees Ian tear up and stays quiet and looks down and continues eating his food. 

Andrew takes a bite of his pancake and takes a sip while looking at them and sees Ian sniffling and eyes turn a little down. 

"Hey Ian are you okay? You look a bit down all of a sudden? Are you in pain or something?"

"Huh? Oh no im okay just thankful I didn't die last night is all. You know the typical having a near death experience and start appreciating life you know." Ian chuckles.

Andrew laughs. "Oh yeah those types of feelings. Hey don't worry. I'm here for you Ian." Andrew smiles. "If you ever need anything let me know. I'm here for you."

Tristan silently sips his tea and eats. As if he doesn't exist in the room. "Do they not see me or something. Umm hello! I'm here too you guys." 

Andrew and Ian look at Tristan and reply. "What's wrong?" Looking back at each other and giggling. 

"You guys are acting like you guys are dating and it's making me uncomfortable. Are you guys gay or something?"

Andrew replies quickly. "I'm not gay. Just nice having like a brotherhood and even better if you kind of live with them. So it's exciting having Ian like a brother you never knew?" 

Tristan snickers. "No, I don't know. I'm an only child." 

Andrew lets out a depressed sigh. "Oh. I-im sorry Tristan."

Ian grinds his teeth and defends Andrew. "Well Tristan, how could he have known that. He doesn't know you like I do. So don't blame him okay?"

Tristan looks away and sips his tea and not even realizing after a second sip. "Hey Andrew is this Earl Grey?"

"Yeah it is. It's my favorite tea when I have a bad day. Thought someone might like it so I got it. Do you like it?" 

"Yeah. It's my favorite tea as well and sorry for snapping. Just have random mood swings is all." 

Ian looks at Tristan and whispers. "Let's make a toast for Andrew for saving us last night and buying us breakfast." 

Tristan smiles and nodes and raises his cup with Ian and they both yell. "Cheers to Andrew for saving us and buying us breakfast!"

Andrew smiles like a kid getting a present he always wanted and raises his cup. "Cheers!"

Tristan lowers his cup and Ian keeps his cup in the air continuing the toast. "As well cheers for making this dorm a place I can call home." 

"Awe Ian I'm touched and let's be best friends forever and you too Tristan. You guys are really sweet."

Ian's smile fades slowly to the thought of 'best friends.' Ian hides his sadness to those words and his hopes for something more. 

"Thanks Andrew."