what to say. What he couldn’t say was that this was a fake date, and Aiden was just doing his romantically inept best friend a favor. He went quiet.
“Thanks for your input, Z!” said Aiden. “Or whatever letter of the alphabet you are. I don’t know why you imagine you were so much fun, but can you get lost?”
“Or what?” snapped Jay.
He took a step forward, as though he figured it would make him feel better to fight.
Harvard took a step forward, putting himself in the middle.
“Hey,” said Harvard. “Stop it. Aiden never promised you anything. I’m sorry your feelings are hurt. But that doesn’t give you the right to lash out at him. You can want him to like you, and be upset that he doesn’t. But you don’t get to expect that he’ll like you, and you don’t make yourself look like a good guy by making a scene.”
Jay’s eyes fell from Harvard’s, head hanging as he muttered, “You don’t understand.”
“Sure, I do. I’m sure you think you’re a good guy, because you’re nice when things are going your way, but you’re being awful right now. The time you learn if someone’s a loser,” said Harvard, “is when you see how they lose.”
That made Jay’s head jerk back up.
When it did, Jay’s smile had twisted in on itself. “And now get lost?”
“Do whatever you want,” said Harvard. “I already saw you lose a match. And now I know why you did.”
Jay slunk off without another word. A cold drop of water fell on Harvard’s nose, and he glanced up. Clouds were twisting above the Ferris wheel and the treetops, tangled like his Meemee’s dropped knitting.
“Hey, it’s starting to rain.”
Aiden’s voice was mild. “Is it? I guess I didn’t notice, what with the radiant heat from the epic burn you just delivered.”
Harvard’s gaze traveled from the sky to Aiden and stayed there. Aiden didn’t look particularly upset, but Harvard felt he should check anyway.
“Was I too mean? I just—I hate it when your guys get demanding. I always have. Just because you’re… you, it doesn’t mean they have a right to act that way. I always wished I could step in when they behaved like that. I’m sorry if I went too far.”
“Don’t be sorry. You should do it all the time,” Aiden urged. “They are trash. Throw them away.”
“Wow, buddy, don’t, like, give up on love,” said Harvard. “There are good ones out there.”
A look of extreme irritation crossed Aiden’s face, and Harvard was puzzled before he realized he was epically failing at practice dating right now.
He was about to apologize for saying buddy when the heavens opened and poured down a deluge onto their heads. The gold lights of the fair blurred with continuous silver.
“Where’s your raincoat?” Harvard said, and when Aiden made a face: “Aiden.”
“Carrying around a stupid bulky raincoat detracts from my air of insouciance!” Aiden protested.
This was why Aiden got colds all the time, Harvard was sure. Harvard got out his raincoat from his backpack and covered both their heads and also Harvard Paw’s new friend.
“Does it, you insouciant idiot?” Harvard muttered fondly.
There were people splashing past in the mud and quickly forming puddles, and laughter ringing behind the sound of the drumming rain. Aiden slid his hands under Harvard’s leather jacket. “This is romantic,” he informed Harvard. “Young couple caught in the rain with only one coat to shield them from the elements!”
“I don’t know that I find this romantic. It’s happened constantly since we were ten!” Harvard said in severe tones.
“You’d find it romantic if it were Neil!” Aiden paused. “Which is why I’m telling you this. Next time it rains, you can seize your opportunity.”
“Next time it rains, I’ll probably be worrying you’ve wandered out somewhere with no raincoat or jacket,” said Harvard.
Aiden hummed, sounding pleased again, and ran his cold nose down near Harvard’s ear, since he knew Harvard wouldn’t push him out into the rain, though Aiden deserved it. Harvard pushed him a little, and then caught his arm so he wouldn’t stumble out of cover, and Aiden snickered.
“Yeah, yeah, you,” said Harvard, and held the raincoat over their heads as they made a run for it to Kings Row, Aiden clutching his new bear and laughing and being absolutely no help whatsoever.
By the time they reached the hall, both were laughing and had got more than a bit wet. Aiden’s sweater was clinging far more than it had been before. Harvard couldn’t believe Aiden hadn’t even worn a