"If I profane with my unworthiest hand, this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: my lips… two, um… oh, fuck it! I'm never gonna get these damn lines right."

Peter hops off of his perch across the room and sits down next to his roommate, lacing their fingers together. "Calm down," he says. Peter unfolds the script from Jason's tight palms and opens it to the scene he is practicing. "Try it again, I'll help you if you mess up."

It takes him a moment to blink the frustration out of his eyes, but Jason breathes deeply and starts again.

"If I profane with my unworthiest hand, this…"

"Holy-"

"…holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: my lips, two… two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."

"Good pilgrim," Peter begins, glancing over at his roommate. A soft smile spreads across his lips as he continues. "You do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this; for saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss." Peter's cheeks flush and he averts his eyes from Jason, trying to hide his affection.

But Mr. McConnell will have none of it.

Jason kneels on the ground in front of Peter, wrapping their hands together, and continues. "Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?"

Peter giggles, finding it hard to avoid his friend's beautiful eyes. "Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer."

Jason grins, his grip on Peter's hands growing tighter. "O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do." Jason takes Peter's right hand and plants a kiss on his palm. Shivers travel down Peter's spine like electrical currents. "They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair." Peter closes his eyes as Jason kisses his left palm, enjoying the sensitive feeling of Jason's lips against his skin.

"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake."

"Then move not while my prayer's effect I take." Peter's breath hitches. "Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged." Jason pushes Peter's bangs out of his face, their faces so close that Peter can feel his friend's warm breaths falling into him. He wants to close the gap between them, yearns to run his hands through Jason's hair and feel Jason's lips against his neck, singing soft love songs into his skin. "You're beautiful," Jason says, blinking quickly and coolly.

"I lo-" But Jason's lips keep him from speaking.

Peter remembers the first time they kissed as if it occurred seconds ago. It was during Winter Break; Jason asked Peter if he wanted to see a movie and came to pick him up in his car. After the movie, Jason parked the car in Peter's driveway, both of them completely silent. Peter thanked Jason for a great night and Jason told him that he liked hanging out with Peter. Not much else was said because Peter had grabbed Jason's hand and they were kissing quicker than either of them saw coming.

"I think I'll be able to remember my lines," Jason whispered into Peter's neck.

"If Ivy keeps skipping rehearsals, maybe I could play Juliet."

"Sister Chantelle would be all for it."

"Would I look good in a dress?"

"You'd look beautiful."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"You were about to say something… before we kissed?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

"You're perfect, Peter."

"Correction, we're perfect."