I'm Still Here

Eventually a smile breaks through, followed by a short breath of a laugh, and those dark brown eyes light up with a new life. “You sure about that though? I mean, you haven’t hit your head too hard or anything right?”

“I’m sorry,” Kade finally manages through a tight jaw. “But it’s better like this, it’s safer.”

A long sigh passes by her glossed lips, Mich nodding along for a moment. “Yeah, that’s usually what happens when you can’t talk to women without feeling like you’re going to pass out...” Realization hits her suddenly; realization that she isn’t even sure what reputation they’re talking about. Realization that she’d said all of that out loud. Realization that she’s now staring directly into their face mouth stuck in some weird buffering motion of attempting to speak. 

Blue eyes gaze just past her, avoiding any kind of open emotion. He can’t risk it. He’s seen what can happen, and if Tristan’s entirely honest, he’s not sure it was worth it again. “I think I’ll pass,” he just manages to huff out, turning now to reach for his drink and taking a long swig from the warming bottle. 

“You’re right, you shouldn’t be.”

The entirely unimpressed face before him reeks of sarcasm, Kyler standing before them, smug grin still plastered right over his face. “Wouldn’t have pegged you as a liar,” It’s a weak attempt at a quip, though his confidence is still unshaken. Rather than backing down, Kyler tries again, this time with his hand supporting his weight against the wall. “How about you share your number, and I get a real blush outta you in the future?”

“Jack? Why would I say that?”

Her head twists, a tight scowl turned towards the honest man, and finally Hayley huffs. “But I don’t want Mexican. Buy your own dang food and stop mooching off of others.” Her eyes turn to the delivery app once again, scrolling through the limited options. “What about....sushi...?”

Jayden spins, apron flowing freely from the speed, only to catch Eli, frosting at the corner of his lip. “Put. The spoon. Down.”

“Oh,” He feels the hurt before it shows on his face, Hunter never one to really catch up on things all that quick. “Is this like....a bro breakup?” Yet again Hunter pauses. “This isn’t because I kicked your ass in Smash Bros is it?”

“I really didn’t mean to spoil you’re night.” Quieter than before, SJ begins to move away, fingers fidgeting between his shirt and the collar. “I gotta go...take care of something. We can talk...later.”

Jayden can’t help the chuckle that comes watching Alice wobble on his board. Not even moving forward and she’s a squirming mess. “I promise,” he adds, keeping a close eye on her footing. “I’m only so cool ‘cus I practiced a lot and fell a lot.” Jayden offers a careful smile, doing his best to distract from the blonde’s fear and uncertainty. “But that’s why you got me, I’ll catch you if you lose your balance, just tell me when you’re ready to move a little.”

“Bro,” Hunter says, eyes hazy as he clumsily pushes off the floor. “Bro it’s okay. Yer’my main gay man, dude.” He slurs with a slight stumble, managing to collapse on the couch beside Jack, closer than what should be considered friendly. “Jus’say the word, and you can touch my abs’n dick maybe if it’s hard or somethin.” A hand comes up, ruffling through thick curls as Hunter leans in closer to his scrawny best friend. “You’ll alllllways have a place as my main bro.”

"What?” He’s not sure the word even fully comes out, rather a sound that he manages to choke on somehow. Nervous fingers toy with the fabric of his shirt as SJ stammers out a few more vowels, panic in his eyes. “No, no I just, I don’t know. It’s not safe and all that.” 

Kade attempts to smile, cracking his facade of nonchalance for a painful one closer to oblivious. He’s sure he’s failed. “Besides, you were my friend before all this anyways. I don’t see why you can’t still be that somehow.”

"Oh-kay,” Hayley nearly yells, placing a solid foot between her and Jack though his long arm stays lazily drooped on her shoulders. “This is how I know you’ve had way too much to drink.” She begins to stand, hand firmly at Jack’s wrist as the other reaches to help him off the couch. “Come on, buddy, time to go home and get some water.”

“You - You mean now or like ... ? Or uh, on the lips? Cheek. You probably mean cheek.” He sputters out, hands flat against the couch he sat on, heart racing as his face flushed.