they asked me to hangout. I just got done with a shift at the diner, they asked if I wanted to stay and eat. I said yes.” I wave my hand dismissively. “It was a fluke, I didn’t feel like going home yet. They just sat and stared at me a bunch. I thought I had food on my face.” A laugh bursts free from Ares as he scans the others,who all seemed to be engrossed in something other than us.
“Tell me more.” Ares turns to face me putting his elbow on the back of the cushion.
“Like what?”
He shrugs. “What else have you guys gotten up to?” Ares’s eyes flick down to my mouth then back up.
Happy to have a distraction I decide to vent all the strangeness from the guys. I peek at Dante first. He’s rubbing his hands up and down his thighs. “Dante told his girlfriend I asked for his help in art, and now she, and all her friends hate me,” I blurt before I change my mind.
Dante leans his head past Ares to look at me. “I did not.” He sounds like I just accused him of kicking a kitten.
“She told me Dante.” I can’t believe I’m actually still kinda mad about it. He stands when I roll my eyes and his mouth drops open like he’s going to argue. “Milo, he was nice to me at first, but now he’s a jerk most of the time. I mean, I might have flirted with Ollie a little bit,” I push my fingers close together, “but that was before I knew they were boyfriends. And to be honest, I didn’t even realize I was doing it, until he started getting mad.”
Ares’s eyes go wide, and he covers his smile with his hand. I chance a look in Milo’s direction. His phone is in his lap, like he might have dropped it. His face a little pale. “And Ollie flirts with me all the time, right in front of Milo.” Getting the courage, I slant my eyes in his direction. “You shouldn’t do that Ollie, it’s not fair to Milo.” Next, I meet Dante’s stare. “And you… Delaney is not nice, she’s like every mean girl rolled into one, but you shouldn’t treat her like you do either. You act like she’s your stalker, not your girlfriend.”
Ares leans his head back and shakes it slowly, his eyes still blown wide. “What in the actual fuck have you guys been doing here?” His tone is edged with humor, and a little incredulousness.
“Ares shut up,” Dante barks, taking a few steps in my direction. His face is hard as he points a finger in my direction. I sink back into the couch. Ares reaches up and puts his palm over Dante’s chest, stopping his approach. Dante looks down at his brother, then his eyes dart back to me. His shoulders drop slightly. “Delaney is not my girlfriend. I’m doing the artwork for the school yearbook. She’s the head of the committee. I have to work on it after school to get the extra credit.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I just thought… wait, she told me she was your girlfriend!” I begin to apologize, then remember her confronting me in the hallway.
“Well that was obviously a load of bullshit. I didn’t tell her Mr. Adams asked me to help you either.” Dante huffs before dropping back onto the sofa. Is he mad at me? He’s not looking in my direction, so I can’t see his face.
Across from me Milo clears his throat. “Oliver and I… we…” He turns to look over at Ollie, his shoulders rise as his eyes widen. “We… um…” Milo continues to stammer, running his hand through his hair.
“We’re really close, in a lot of ways. But we aren’t together in that sense really,” Ollie interjects. He never even bothers to look up; he’s still completely relaxed. Milo nods his head to confirm Ollie’s statement. He looks the opposite of relaxed. His hands are jerky as he brushes imaginary lint from his shirt.
My face heats, I’ve obviously made a rash judgment, and I’ve embarrassed myself and Milo. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth as I try to form an apology. Ares drops his palm heavily on my thigh, above my knee. I look over at him, my eyes search his for the right words. He winks at me, the only sign of encouragement I get.
I stand, feeling all kinds of awkward. Tangling my fingers together I