Chapter Text
The foxes had a tradition. Each weekend they would pick someone's house to hang out in and bond together. It only worked when none of them were busy, and if Dan's motherly nagging was strong enough to convince Andrew’s lot to come over.
This weekend they had chosen Aaron’s apartment. They hadn't seen it yet and they wanted to check up on Aaron as he was currently fighting for his life trying to get through medical school. Their hangouts consisted of watching a movie, rating hot celebrities, playing games that usually end with Kevin crying, and gossiping.
Andrew wandered around Aaron’s apartment. It was small, but homey with textbooks and random articles of clothes scattered around. The foxes were currently huddled in the living room watching whatever, Andrew wasn’t interested he was much more interested in finding something to tease Aaron about.
Andrew squinted at the picture frame hung crookedly on the wall. It was Aaron and Kaitlyn’s last hiking trip. The Appalachian mountains were in the background as Aaron was kissing Kaitlyn’s cheek. He was red and sweaty with an ugly cap and even uglier hiking boots, while Kaitlyn was all smiles and holding up a peace sign with her hair held up in a ponytail. Andrew scoffed at the idea, it had to be Kaitlyns, in what world did Aaron willingly go outside?
“What are you looking at?”
Andrew turned around to find his clone leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and brows furrowed, like he was already offended.
“Nothing, just your stupid hiking picture,” Andrew replied, while walking towards the kitchen, passing Aaron on the way and knocking into his shoulder on purpose.
Andrew heard a huff as he entered the kitchen. “You probably can’t even get up a hill without coughing,” Aaron said, he loved to remind Andrew of his smoking problem.
Andrew replied by rolling his eyes and searching for the knife block but he was interrupted by Nicky’s high voice. “Hey can one of you grab the chips?”
“Fine,” Andrew grabbed the bag of cheddar chips on the kitchen counter and walked to where Nicky was laid out on the bean bag. Matt and Dan had stolen the couch and were cuddling. Allison was sitting on the other bean bag across from the couch, and Renee was sitting on the floor between Allison’s hanging legs. Kevin was sitting criss-cross and was playing solitaire by himself. Andrew handed Nicky the bag, and sat next to Renee.
“Thanks Andrew!” Nicky chirped while opening the bag. Aaron chose to sit on one of the arms of the couch. The foxes sat in a comfortable silence watching their show when suddenly Aaron’s phone notification went off.
“Fuck! No way,” Aaron swore and began rapidly typing a reply on his phone. The foxes' heads snapped back to see what had pissed Aaron off.
He was off the couch now and began pacing the living room. “Bro, what’s up?” Matt asked, watching Aaron freak out. The foxes were now looking at each other, trying to get a hint at what was upsetting Aaron.
“Did Kaitlyn send you a breakup text or something?” Allison asked while waving her manicured nails in the air.
“No! My fucking roommate is coming over!” Aaron snapped, while he paced and began to bite his nails.
The foxes looked at each other, trying to understand the situation. What was wrong with his roommate coming over? They had never met his roommate, nor heard anything about them. There was zero evidence of another person in the apartment either, every picture or poster was Aaron’s.
Renee broke the silence. “Aaron what’s wrong? Do you not like your roommate?”
Aaron shook his head. “No he’s just… You guys should leave.”
The foxes were shocked. Nicky’s jaw dropped while Matt and Dan exchanged looks. Allison’s eyebrow raised. Kevin’s eyes bulged out of his head, Renee looked over at Andrew
Andrew’s shoulders tensed. “Aaron, who is he?” If this roommate had been hurting Aaron… Andrew was going to kill them.
Sensing the violent intent in Andrew, Aaron raised both his hands up “No-no! Not like that Andrew… He’s just-” Before he could finish, the door to the apartment had cracked open and the jingle of keys could be heard. The foxes craned their necks to see the mysterious roommate who had caused such a reaction in Aaron.
Aaron stomped over to the door before anyone could get a good look at his roommate.
The foxes, being the nosy people they are, tried to eavesdrop on their conversation. “You can’t be here!” Aaron hissed
Andrew stood up and clenched his fists, ready to knock out whoever this roommate was.
But before he could plan his attack, he saw him.
Aaron’s roommate was gorgeous. He had curly auburn hair, tan skin, scars on his face, and the most beautiful blue eyes Andrew had ever seen. He was wearing jorts with a gray hoodie that looked like it had seen better days, and dirty running shoes. Despite his ugly outfit, he looked like a Greek god.
The foxes noticed too, everyone looked him up and down as he stood in the living room.
“I just need my notebook,” Aaron’s mysteriously hot roommate had said. He began walking to his room as Aaron was trailing behind him,and closed the door in front of Aaron's face.
“So… Who's your roommate?” Nicky asks with a slight smirk on his face
The foxes looked towards Aaron for his answer.
“Please don’t get with my roommate,” Aaron hopelessly begged.
“Oh c’mon, Aaron he’s so cute!” Nicky gushed, the foxes nodded their heads in agreement
“Does he work out?” Kevin asked, abandoning the cards in favor of learning more about Aaron’s hot roommate.
Aaron sighs “Guys, please. This is why I didn’t want him over!”
Andrew was stuck in place. What the fuck? He didn’t mention his roommate or introduce him because he was hot.
“Dan..I’m having a gay crisis,” Matt exclaimed while griping the couch arm.
Dan patted his back and nodded “It’s okay babygirl, take your time.”
Allison was cackling. “Are you serious? You’ve been hiding this hot ass man from us on purpose?” She threw her head back and laughed louder, as Renee giggled
Their laughter stopped as Aaron’s roommate’s door opened, and he walked out carrying his notebook tight against his body, as if he was scared someone would try to take it from him. He didn’t pause to look at the foxes, but he was stopped when Nicky asked “Hi cutie, what’s your name?”
He stopped and turned his body towards Nicky, then cocked his head like a puppy would. Aaron visibly tensed, and looked like he was about to push his roommate out the door himself.
He looked to the side like he had to think about his answer. “My name’s Neil... Neil Josten” He replied, and turned around to leave. Suddenly, he turned back around and stared at Andrew, then looked at Aaron, and then back to Andrew.
Andrew gulped and stared back. He felt his gay panic throughout his body.
“You must be his twin,” Neil observed.
“Who else would I be?” Andrew retorted, mentally slapping himself. Of course he flirts back by being mean.
Neil shrugged, and turned back to the door and left the apartment.
The foxes waited a beat before interrogating Aaron. Aaron sighed and deflated into the couch as he sat down.
Nicky whistled, and blurted out; “Well, I know what name I'm singing tonight!” as he stretched out on his bean bag.
The foxes barked out a laugh except Andrew and Aaron. Aaron stared at Nicky with a disgusted and traumatized face. “Nicky, what the fuck-” Aaron put his head into his hands, and questioned the meaning of his life.
Andrew realized he was still standing. Coming down from his gay panic, he sat down in his original spot and huffed. Renee looked at him to see if he was okay, and Andrew nodded his head.
-
The foxes began their interrogation and asked Aaron everything they could about Neil. “Why’s he so hot?” “Is he single?” “What’s his workout routine?” Aaron could only take so much before he snapped. “Okay! Let’s stop talking about Neil!”
“Why? He’s a hot topic,” Nicky said, looking smug while wiggling his eyebrows.
Aaron scoffed and crossed his arms.
The foxes picked up on Aaron’s mood change, and stopped interrogating him to continue watching their show. While Andrew was grateful for the silence, he wasn’t sure if he could handle anymore talk about Neil. Andrew doesn’t date, and he doesn't do feelings in general, but he couldn't just ignore the feelings he had when Neil’s attention was on him. He mentally cursed himself and pushed those thoughts to the side.
–
The night was late. The foxes started to leave Aaron’s apartment, saying their goodbyes to one another.
“Hey, when does Neil come back tonight?” Nicky asks, innocently batting his eyelashes
Aaron, obviously over it, replied “Shut up and leave.” He pushed Nicky out the door. The rest of the foxes laughed at their banter and left out the door.
With all of the foxes gone, Aaron let out a relieved sigh, and texted Neil that he could come back to the apartment.
Hopefully, the foxes never chose to hang at his place ever again.