Page 2 of Should Our Stars Collide

Well, he better make time, because I have some ranting to do.

Three minutes and a short search through the Events Cinemas app later, he’s shooting a text to Dawson.

Make sure you’re free on Sunday. We’re going to see the new GOTG.

There. No asking. Not giving Dawson a chance to back out just so he can play happy families with his abusive ass of a husband.

Dawson replies afew moments later.

yessir

Chest feeling a little lighter, Kieran smiles. See? He can be social.

As long as it’s with someone he doesn’t have to keep his guard up around.

1

Kieran’s phone vibrates with a text just as he’s sliding into a parking spot at the movie theater. His mood souring, he reaches for it. If Dawson is canceling on him last minute?—

Just arrived. Waiting in the lobby :)

Thank fuck. His whole week has been shit; getting ditched would be just the fucking cherry on top.

Once in the lobby, he doesn’t even have time to look around before someone screams his name.

“Kieran!”

Dawson’s waving at him with a big smile on his face.

Kieran’s reluctant to admit it, but Dawson looks…good. Happy. He seems to have put on weight, the gauntness gone from his face. And he must be getting a good night’s sleep too, if the lack of the usually ever-present shadows under his eyes is anything to go by.

It’s the weirdest fucking thing to see him like this, considering he voluntarily shacked up with his amnesiac dick of a husband after Cal was released from the hospital.

Kieran still thinks it was a big mistake. Seriously, how often does one’s abusive husband get in a car crash and has his memory return to its factory setting? The universe had thrown the opportunity of a lifetime at Dawson, and he completely let it pass him by. He could’vebeen free, but he let his bleeding heart rule his head, as is his habit.

Kieran didn’t buy it when Dawson insisted it’s fine and that Cal—Dickhead, as Kieran’s come to nickname him—is a‘brand-new person and practically harmless’. Even if that is true, it doesn’t erase all those years he treated Dawson like shit—all those years Kieran had to watch him be treated like shit because his best friend wouldn’t listen and leave.

Kieran sighs.Fine.If Dawson wants to play house with Dickhead, he can’t stop him. But the minute Cal hurts him again, Kieran is gonna bash his already screwed up head in.

“As I live and breathe! You came!” Kieran exclaims with enthusiasm that’s only partially exaggerated. Despite being best friends, getting to spend time with Dawson has been an impossible feat for the past five or so years. Dawson always had some half-baked excuse why he couldn’t meet with him.

Contrary to popular belief, Kieran is neither oblivious nor stupid. Okay, so he may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he’s not an idiot. Even though Dawson never said so, it’s obvious that Cal wouldn’t let him spend time with his friends, or his family for that matter. Controlling fucking asshole. Such a pity that the accident didn’t take him out completely.

“It’s been a while, hey?” Dawson has the decency to look sheepish.

“No shit.” Kieran jerks his head toward the snacks section. “What do you want? I’m buying.”

“I’ve had lunch, so just a coke will do.”

“Yeah, same.”

They fill up their cups under the spout, and Kieran grabs a packet of spiced peanuts in case he gets munchies later.

“So, what have you been up to? Any news?” Dawson asks once they’ve found their seats. The screen is still dark, so no one should complain if they talk for a bit.

“Nothing interesting. Work has been full on because we’ve been two people short since September, so everyone else has to pick up the slack. I swear, when I close my eyes, I see code everywhere.”

Dawson snickers. “I thought you always did. Like inThe Matrix.”