Norman burst into the dorm room at 11:14 p.m. like a human firework, door banging against the wall hard enough to make Caleb jump three inches off his bed. Caleb was sprawled in boxers and an ancient band tee, controller in hand, mid-game, screen flashing with explosions he no longer cared about because his roommate looked like he'd just survived a near-death experience and loved every second of it.
"Bro," Caleb said, pausing the game with dramatic flair. "You look like you swallowed a lightning bolt and liked the taste."
Norman kicked the door shut, dropped his backpack with zero grace, and collapsed face-first onto his own bed. The mattress squeaked in protest. He stayed there for three full seconds, arms splayed, hoodie riding up to show the small of his back, then rolled over and stared at the ceiling like it owed him money.
"I kissed him," Norman announced to the popcorn texture above his head. His voice came out high and cracked and stupidly happy.
Caleb's controller hit the floor with a clatter. "Wait. Rewind. You kissed who?"
Norman turned his head just enough to shoot Caleb a look that said are-you-seriously-asking-that-question. "Professor Brandon. Duke. The man who's been living rent-free in my brain since day one. Him."
Caleb's mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. "You kissed your professor."
"Technically he kissed me first," Norman corrected, sitting up now, cheeks flaming but eyes sparkling like he'd won the lottery and the jackpot was Duke's mouth. "But I kissed back. A lot. Like… a lot a lot."
Caleb scrambled to sit cross-legged on his own bed, game forgotten, face a perfect mix of horror movie shock and gossip-show glee. "Details. Now. Every single one. Spare nothing. I need to know if I'm witnessing a crime scene or a rom-com climax."
Norman laughed, the sound bright and shaky, like champagne bubbles mixed with nerves. He pulled his knees up, wrapped his arms around them, and let the words spill out in a giddy rush. The office. The desk. The way Duke had looked at him like he was starving. The thumb on his lip. The foreheads touching. The moment Duke whispered "I'm going to kiss you now" like it was both a promise and a prayer. The kiss itself—soft at first, then desperate, hungry, Duke's hand fisting in his hair, Norman making embarrassing little noises he couldn't control.
Caleb listened with wide eyes, mouth forming a perfect O. When Norman finished he just stared for a solid five seconds.
"Dude," Caleb finally said. "You're living a Wattpad story and I'm here for it."
Norman buried his face in his knees, shoulders shaking with laughter that bordered on hysterical. "I know. I know it's insane. I know it's wrong on like seventeen different levels. But Caleb… he kissed me like I was the only thing keeping him alive. Like he'd been drowning for years and I was air."
Caleb's expression softened, the teasing fading into something gentler. "You're in deep, huh?"
Norman lifted his head. His eyes were shiny, not quite tears but close. "I'm drowning too. And I don't want to come up for air."
Caleb exhaled slowly. "Okay. Real talk time. What happens next? Because this isn't just a crush anymore. This is… nuclear."
Norman bit his lip, the same lip Duke had kissed less than two hours ago. "We didn't talk about next. We just… kissed. A lot. Then he pulled back, looked at me like I'd broken him in the best way, and told me to go home before he did something we couldn't undo."
Caleb snorted. "Too late for that."
"Way too late," Norman agreed, grinning despite himself. "But he didn't push me away. Not really. He held on. Like letting go hurt more than holding on ever could."
Caleb studied him for a long moment. "You're glowing, man. Like actual literal glow-up. I've never seen you this… alive."
Norman's smile softened into something tender. "He makes me feel seen. Like really seen. Not just the good parts. The messy parts. The scared parts. All of it."
Caleb reached over and punched Norman's shoulder lightly. "Then don't let go. But be careful, okay? This isn't a movie. If it blows up, it's gonna hurt like hell."
Norman nodded. "I know."
They sat in comfortable silence for a minute, the kind only real friends can manage. Caleb finally picked up his controller again but didn't unpause the game.
"You gonna tell anyone else?" he asked.
Norman shook his head. "Just you. You're the only one I trust not to freak out or post about it."
Caleb grinned. "I'm honored. Also terrified for you. Mostly honored."
Norman flopped back onto his bed, arms spread wide, staring at the ceiling again. "Tomorrow's gonna be weird. Class. Seeing him in front of everyone. Pretending nothing happened."
Caleb laughed. "Good luck with that. You're gonna look at him like he hung the moon and everyone's gonna notice."
Norman groaned but the sound was happy. "I'm so screwed."
"The best kind of screwed," Caleb said wisely. "The kind where you get kissed stupid by a hot professor."
Norman threw a pillow at him. Caleb caught it and hugged it to his chest.
"Seriously though," Caleb said, voice quieter now. "Be happy, okay? You deserve it. Even if it's messy. Even if it's scary. You deserve someone who looks at you like you're everything."
Norman's throat got tight. He swallowed hard. "Thanks, man."
Caleb tossed the pillow back. "Anytime. Now go to sleep before you combust from happiness."
Norman rolled onto his side, facing the wall, still smiling like an idiot.
He closed his eyes.
And for the first time in forever, sleep came easy.
Because across campus, in a quiet house with too many empty rooms, Duke Brandon was lying awake staring at his ceiling too.
Fingers pressed to his lips.
Remembering the taste of Norman.
Remembering the way the boy had kissed him back like he was starving.
Remembering the way Norman had whispered "finally" against his mouth.
Duke closed his eyes.
And whispered into the dark, voice soft and full of wonder,
"I'm not letting you go."
The night stretched on.
Two hearts beat in perfect sync across the distance.
And tomorrow?
Tomorrow was going to be glorious chaos.