Butterflies

"Jesus, River, you call this food?" Ravish chuckled, taking another bite with a grin.

"Are you kidding? I literally invented the best pasta recipe in the world," River declared proudly.

"Spaghetti with cheddar and BBQ sauce, the future of five-star restaurants," Ravish teased, still laughing. His deep brown eyes sparkled with a unique blend of joy and intelligence; a look that was unmistakably Ravish.

"You don't have to eat it! I'll gladly finish off your plate as well," River retorted, a hint of mock offense in his voice. "I just wanted my best friend to try out my new invention, and look at what it got me..."

"I'd say you were trying to kill me, but I forgive you," Ravish said sweetly, with a twinkle of amusement in his tone.

River admired his best friend more than anyone. His intelligence, generosity, and effortless charm made him completely captivating.

Deep down, River's heart ached with the unspoken desire to tell him how he truly felt.

River shook off his thoughts and reached for Ravish's plate, but a quick glance revealed Finn sitting in his place instead, smiling warmly at him.

"Finn? What are you doing here?" River asked, puzzled.

"Why, isn't this my spot?" Finn's voice was small, wounded. He pointed to the corner of the room, where Raven stood completely unclothed, laughing hysterically.

Finn's tears mixed with laughter as he joined in, the sound getting louder and louder, echoing through River's brain.

River abruptly opened his eyes, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his body drenched in sweat. It took him a few moments to take in his surroundings, and to remember where he was. The sink's ever-present drip echoed through the wide bathroom, each droplet pattering rhythmically on the cold ceramic basin. The harsh neon light flickered above him, casting an eerie, artificial glow that made everything feel surreal.

"Just a nightmare," River repeated to himself, whispering the words like a chant. Just a nightmare.

He could still feel the remnants of fear clinging to him, his heart pounding in his chest. He wiped his face with trembling hands, trying to shake off the lingering dread.

Was it just a nightmare, though? Or was he truly afraid that Finn, the boy he'd met under such dire circumstances, could be replacing Ravish in his heart?

"No," he said out loud, scoffing at the idea. Ravish couldn't be replaced, not in a billion years. What he felt for Ravish was so intense that it made his little heart feel like it was going to burst every time he even just thought about him.

He did like Finn, that much was clear (Well, now it is, River thought to himself), but the feelings were distinct, each occupying a different space in his heart, not threatening each other.

Maybe I just have one of those cheesy, random two-day crushes on Finn, he thought. I'll feel these stupid butterflies for a little while longer, and then it will be over.

What about Raven then?

River felt a mixture of disappointment and offense at Raven's cold demeanor after... whatever that was. But reflecting on it, the thought of Raven didn't stir butterflies in River's stomach, nor did it make his heart feel like exploding. Raven was just okay, neither captivating nor repelling.

Apart from the petty resentment of feeling used and discarded, River harbored no strong feelings for Raven.

The previous night's encounter was just another of River's impulsive, fleeting moments, lacking any real significance to him.

Still freaking hurts to be left like that. What a dick, River thought.

Following this train of thought, River's eyes widened as an unhappy realization dawned on him: what if Finn actually had a crush on him, as he had teased playfully the day before, and now he had callously crushed that boy's heart by sleeping around like the reckless idiot he was?

"No," he said aloud again, trying to reassure himself. They had only known each other for a day; the idea now seemed absurd.

Not everyone swaps their soulmate for a random boy they met the night before. The thought crossed his mind, and he shook his head, as if to dispel it - which left him feeling instantly quite stupid.

The whole situation didn't sit right with River anyway, prompting him to mentally note to pay closer attention to Finn's behavior , looking for signs of offense. Or perhaps a secret crush.

Who would have thought a nightmare could provoke such introspection? River chuckled softly to himself.

He had no idea how long he had slept, where the others were, or what they were up to. Two things, however, were certain.

First, for a good twenty minutes or so, he hadn't thought about the world ending above them, which was quite nice.

Secondly, the idea of Finn harbouring mutual crush-like feelings was absolutely delicious.