jade 𖤐

“It’s not my problem how he deals with his emotions.”

“It is when he’s pulling stuff like that on you.” She said, pinching the wet fabric of his clothes “So, you did do something.”

Evan stopped in his tracks, to Dorcas's confusion she could only see his shoulders tense. “I didn’t- We- . He can’t make a fuss just because he bloody regrets-” He took a sharp breath “It’s not fair.”

His tone was tight and Dorcas considered him for a moment. “Let’s go, we need to change.” He wiped his eyes and nodded but she added one thing, “Ev?”

Evan turned back towards her, the gentle frown and genuinely concerned though understanding eyes almost enough to make him choke a bit.

“Talk to him.”

***

The cold traversing Evan’s back when he opened the door to his room hit far deeper than the bucket of water thrown on his head. Didn't help that he was still soaked and shivering.

Barty sat there, sprawled on his bed — Evan’s bed. Like he owned it. To think that if he wasn’t being a shithead about it all, Evan might let him.

Because the way Barty’s shirt bunched up in a way that left a small part of his stomach exposed, and that jerk’s smug, knowing grin, lit up a whole new kind of rage.

“Get off my bed.”

Barty didn’t move, or answer. And Evan decided he wasn’t dealing with this still covered in drenched fabric. Only when he opened his drawer, Barty spoke.

“What are you doing?”

“Changing.” He breathed through gritted teeth. Like the bastard didn’t know damn well.

The smile in Barty’s voice when he asked “Why?”

Taking a deep breath, Evan locked the door to the bathroom, in silence. He was not going to give him that satisfaction.

When he emerged, Barty hadn’t moved an inch. But Evan needed to sit to put his socks on and last time he checked, it was still his bed. So, without even speaking, Evan plainly pushed him out of the way.

Like a cat to the piece of food you forbid, Barty crawled back next to him, only nesting closer than he’s previously had been “Why are you ignoring me?”

“Because you’re being a dick.”

He scoffed “Yeah, ‘cause you started it.”

Evan’s fist tightened on itself. “I didn't start shit.”

Instead of answering, like a normal person would, Barty did what only Barty could think of: charged at Evan, pinning him flat onto the bed. A hand next to his head and another one quickly coming to fit on his side.

Evan’s heart started pounding louder and louder into his chest as the pressure of Barty’s hand gained in firmness and he recognized the scene.

“You’ve made your point.” He hissed, looking anywhere but the other boy's face. His face was burning although what he felt was beyond embarrassment. Shame, betrayal, guilt. The dangerous cocktail of emotions made him slightly nauseous.

“Have I?” Barty whispered in an equally angry tone, though something a tad softer, undescernible hid beneath. He took a stand of Evan’s hair and twirled it around his finger. All of it in a perfect mockery of Evan's gestures, in this same bed, just about a week ago.

The hand slid to his cheek, under his chin, and soon enough Barty’s lips were almost brushing against his own. Not quite there, but enough to make Evan react.

“Fine!” He yelled, pressing a hand on Barty’s mouth to make him pull away, which he did with no resistance “Fine. I’m sorry, okay? You regret it. But you don’t fucking get to take it out on me! Remind me constantly that it was a mistake for you and hold me responsible. You were there. You kissed me back. Fucking live with it and stop making my life hell.”

Silence reigned over the room as Evan let his hand fall.

Barty’s grin faltered.

“You think I regretted it?”

“Didn’t you?” His voice was softer, less prone to accusation and more to confusion.

Barty sounded nearly as distraught “You were ignoring me. It was so awkward and silent and you weren’t even looking at me. Like it’d been nothing for you.”

Evan has propped himself up on his elbows, looking at Barty intensely, trying to find the certainty in his belief of what Barty implied.

“It wasn’t.” He whispered in a hesitant voice.

Barty smiled “I know. S’why I was mad.”

Reaching up, Evan grabbed a fistful of Barty’s hair and tugged, forcing him down to catch his lips in a rough kiss. “For the record arsehole,” he murmured, “you were weird first.”