"Look, I'm... I don't know."
Paul watched his friend, the nervous biting of lips the biggest sign that he was uncomfortable. He'd been trying to say something for almost ten minutes now, yet never managed to finish his sentences. He always stopped, hovering over the words he desperately wanted to say, so Paul waited. Patiently, always.
"Paul, fuck, I don't know how to say this. I...I've been thinking..."
Another pause, and Paul watched his friend struggle.
"Take it easy," he whispered, Brian's eyes wide with surprise. "I know." Then he kissed Brian, hard, and the very first of his many whimpers consumed him.