this is salvation

“You’re actually getting jealous, oh my gosh.” He chuckles, feeling strangely pleased with himself. He’s never had someone jealous of him before. Even Eric seemed so very calm about him talking to other guys.

   “i’m not jealous, i just don’t think Chad’s intentions are pure. who really knows anything about math anyway?” liars who wanna steal Jamie away from him, that’s who.

Is it bad he finds this actually hilarious? “Miles, he’s straight. Calm down.”

   “that’s what they said about James Dean.” okay, so he knows it’s an irrational jealousy. he’s hot as hell and Jamie’s head over heels, and Miles knows this, but he’s head over heels too and he can’t deal with someone else in the picture.

“Uh huh… are yo secretly just jealous of Harry there?” Not Chad. Good old Harry. “He was helping me understand my homework.”

    “is that what they’re calling it?” he mumbles, fighting the urge to scuff his shoe against the floor angstily. there’s no better time for ‘a you plus me equals romance’ pick-up line than when maths is actuallyI involved in the equation.

“I…don’t think you are peachy keen. Namely because you’ve never said that before.”

   “my sister was watching Grease last night.” he was watching Grease last night. Chad has probably never even seen Grease. “I’m still riding the Hopelessly Devoted blues.”

“Are you okay there?” What is happening? Seriously.”

    he finally - finally - peels his eyes away from the Guy. named Chad, probably. fucking Chad. “peachy keen, jelly bean.”

“Uh…Miles?” What’s happening?

    he’s doesn’t take his eyes off the guy Jamie was talking to when he says, “yeah?” god, who does that guy even think he is?

He smiles shyly. “Yeah.” Because he gets it. Remembers coming out to his mother, how nerve-wracking that was. Of course, then he came out to his father and the man basically disowned him, but that’s by the by. “I’ll be your date.”

   “thanks. “is it stupid to want to cry over something so small? she’s never been particularly nice to Nando, and yet he’s going to do this for her anyway. "do you own a suit? nothing fancy, just kind of casual.”

“Oh. Well– this is super shocking, wow.” And he’s seen literal werewolves and the like. “I always thought you didn’t like me but, uh–….sure. I’m not busy. I’m never busy. And Tori’s my roommate so–”

   she’s not quite over the nerves of actually saying it out loud yet, but she does give him a small smile, avoiding all eye contact. “you’re a total dork, but my brother likes you so you can’t be too bad.” ignoring Tori’s questionable dating choices, of course. if he dates one more guy that breaks his heart, she’s going to scream. “you’ll go, then?”

“No but I’m also gay so… I mean– I know you’re probably not hitting on me but I’ve always wanted a legitimate reason to turn down a pretty girl.”

   she physically deflates. “shoot. i wasn’t hitting on you, not really, but i do sort of need a date to this ball thing and you’re sort of all right looking, i guess, i’m just not ready to deal with locker room name calling, you know?  like, i know they’re going to make it a big deal if i ask a girl, so i thought i’d– but you’re– busy.”

“Wait, if you’re conversing with a troll then that makes you– wait, there’s a troll on fifth?” He sighs. That’s a way he sometimes walks home. “Note to self: either stop walking down fifth or prepare your riddle trivia. Anyway– you. What’re you?”

      “i’m charming. cool. collected. why, what’re you?” he shakes his head. “i won’t be having that troll discrimination. they’re not all like that, some of them are shit at riddles. one asked me  ‘what time is it?’ once.”

“I honestly couldn’t care less, I just want you to get it away from my roommate. He gets kinda weird when he’s high.Y’know– weirder than usual.”

      “you’re obviously underestimating the chillaxing powers of weed, my friend. i bought this from a troll down on fifth street, and it’s potent enough to get through that, ya know, troll stench.” he’s trying desperately to communicate how amazing and wonderful the power of this weed is, without actually having felt its impact in several decades. his efforts come up a little short.