Chelsea Chelsea slowly opened his eyes, grogginess clinging to his mind. The soft morning light streaming through the window highlighted the gentle contours of Arc's living room. He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and that's when he saw him.Arc stood by the kitchen counter, sipping his coffee, his gaze lost in the window's vista. The morning light danced across his features, accentuating the stark asymmetry of his face. The right side, with its sunken eye and twisted contours, seemed to pull his entire visage into a perpetual scowl.Yet, as Chelsea's gaze lingered, the sun's rays caught the dark strands of Arc's wispy hair, casting a warm glow that softened the jarring lines. His tall, broad, lanky frame appeared almost majestic, like a weathered statue reclaimed by nature. The contrast between Arc's rough, imperfect exterior and the gentle morning light was captivating. Chelsea's heart skipped a beat as memories of last night flooded back
ArcArc didn't understand, but his irritation simmered, threatening to boil over and unleash hell on anyone in his path. As he bent to muck out the pigpen, a gruff voice growled from behind him."Something wrong with you, boy?"Arc didn't need to turn; the tone was unmistakably Bill's."Fine," Arc replied, his curt response a warning.A grunt sounded, followed by the unmistakable sound of Bill spitting. "You don't look it.""I'm doing my job, aren't I?" Arc retorted."Well, you're doing it with an attitude," Bill snapped. "You'll scare my sweet piggies away with that long face of yours."Arc clenched his jaw, choosing silence."Don't care how you're feeling, boy," Bill continued. "As long as you get your work done. No work, no pay."Bill's crunching footsteps faded into the distance, leaving Arc with the unspoken threat.Hours later, Arc discovered he'd be working overtime. One of the other workers had fallen ill with severe diarrhea. The ext
ChelseaChelsea seethed, resisting the urge to visit Arc. Hurt and anger warred within him, but anger dominated.He thought gaining 20,000+ new followers after posting the picture with Penelope would lift his spirits. His total now stood at 55,000+, but the milestone felt hollow. He craved the rush of his previous millions-strong following. Nothing seemed to work: Chelsea's frustration simmered. Why couldn't he regain his online momentum? "You've been too busy with distractions to focus on reclaiming your old life," his subconscious taunted. Why did Arc's approval mean more to him than thousands of adoring fans?But Chelsea hesitated. Did he truly want his old life back? He'd built his identity around being Chelsea Waters: the gay influencer son of a wealthy actor and modeling mom, the "fucked-up twink hottie" with daddy issues.Who was he without that persona? Chelsea's thoughts swirled with uncertainty. Had he ever known himself outside of his curate
Arc Thursday was not looking to be a good day for him. His leg was a throbbing mess and even though the weather was warm, his skin was beginning to feel irritable. And he still wasn't able to take his mind off Chelsea. How was he even sure the thing he was feeling for Chelsea was love? The fairytales his momma used to read to him offered no clarity. Nightly, he scoured those worn pages, seeking answers, before collapsing from exhaustion. To make matters worse, his workmate's diarrhea persisted, and the pigs' sty had become a messier nightmare. Arc gazed out at the sprawling pig farm, Bill's pride and joy. the numerous sties, tucked away in every corner, seemed to stretch on forever. his task was daunting: cleaning each one to Bill's meticulous standards. viruses and diseases lurked around every corner, or so Bill's wikipedia research claimed. Arc's workdays blurred together: 7 am starts, 9 pm finishes. little extra pay, but he could
Chelsea"You now have a million freaking followers Chelsea! That is crazy. It took a week for you to hit a million followers when you'd first created your I*******m account. And the tweets on Twitter about you and Archer are crazy." Lily's voice sounded in his ear. "Have you seen the comments? They are buzzing and raving. Larry Barry and Kevin can take that for a comeback! I'm back baby." Chelsea squealed, reveling in his triumph of a rebound. "Was I brilliant or was I brilliant?" Lily asked. Chelsea knew the question was rhetorical. "You're the total best Lily. I don't know what I'd do without you." Chelsea replied sweetly. "How about you start with adding a sizable bonus to my earnings, huh?" Lily said, suggestively. "As sizable as your wife's ass." Chelsea teased. "You leave my wife's booty alone. It's all mine." Lily laughed. Chelsea rolled his eyes. "I'm not interested in your wife's anything, nor will I ever be." "Just don't forget the bonus." Lily reminded. "Yeah I won
ArcArc's hands shook as he devoured his food, desperate to distract himself from Penelope's piercing gaze. Did she sense the turmoil brewing within him? Could she hear his heart racing like a wild animal, driven by the sweet strawberry scent wafting from Chelsea's direction? Could she also feel the fear and excitement that filled him all at once? Penelope's knowing smile seemed to hold a secret, as if she saw the vulnerability Arc desperately concealed.The kitchen, once a cold space, now radiated warmth and connection.Chelsea's innocent question, "How was work today?" hung in the air. Arc nodded curtly, avoiding eye contact, haunted by the memory of Chelsea's kiss on his cheek. The gentle stretch of Chelsea's arms, the warmth in his eyes, had made Arc feel seen, welcomed home.The flutter in his chest intensified as Chelsea's hand brushed against his.Fear and excitement wrestled within him, threatening to expose his deepest emotions. Chelsea's gesture, stretching up to reach Arc'
ChelseaChelsea retreated to his room, seeking solitude as he struggled to process his emotions. The memory of Arc's peaceful snores on the couch and Penelope's warm smile at the door lingered in his mind. He wasn't ready to face Arc again, unsure of how to navigate his conflicting feelings. The thought of Lily's lectures, Patricia's sympathetic listening, or his mom's persistent cruise invitations only made him want to hide further. Chelsea's phone buzzed with a text from Sarge, a reminder of their Saturday plans. Anticipation mixed with apprehension, as Chelsea hadn't had a thrilling experience in a while. But a lingering fear whispered doubts, making him uneasy. His thumbs hovered over the screen before typing out a simple 'yeah'. He hesitated, wondering if he should express his reservations or enthusiasm, but settled for neutrality. Sarge's response came quickly: 'Okey dokey! See you at 7pm at Rick's Riot.' Chelsea's stomach fluttered at the plans, his mind racing with possibil
ArcThe garish neon lights of Rick's Riot towered above, casting an eerie glow over the darkened street. The bar's name pulsed like a warning signal, sending a shiver down Arc's spine and stirring a primal unease that made his instincts scream warning. Arc's hand hovered over the door handle, hesitation warring with curiosity. Rick's Riot, Thorne Town's beloved gay bar, beckoned with its vibrant neon lights. He hesitated outside Rick's Riot, his heart racing with uncertainty. He'd never set foot in a place like this before. The vibrant bar seemed to pulsate with a life of its own, intimidating him.But Chelsea waited inside, and Arc's desire to see him outweighed his apprehension.He took a deep breath and stepped into the unknown, and was suddenly enveloped by the lively atmosphere. The air pulsed with indie beats, and the scent of craft beer mingled with the hum of conversation and laughter.As he scanned the crowd, Arc's insecurities resurfaced.