Ben
After hearing Bryce say that I was more than a friend to him, I was completely elated that I froze in utter surprise.
"There," Bryce said, "Now you know. Now, scram."
Bryce turned around and was about to head somewhere when I stopped him by putting my arms around his waist and pulled him in for a back hug.
"I didn't like being apart from you either," I told him, "Truth is, I can't live without you."
When I said this, Bryce smiled and leaned further into the hug.
"Then why did you disappear like that on me?"
"When you said that we should keep things purely sexual," I began to explain, "I thought you were wanting to end things with us. So I distanced myself from you to make it easier."
Bryce elbowed me in the ribs and escaped my embrace. "You really are an idiot. I just freaked out because you said I was more than a friend to you and I felt the same. This is new to me and I don't know how to handle this."
"Well it's clear we're more than friends with benefits," I replied, "So are we…?"
"You want me to say boyfriend right?"
"Well," I started to list all the reasons why we technically are boyfriends, "You missed me all this week."
"I didn't miss you…"
"You got jealous when Jackie said girls go crazy over me."
"Who's jealous…"
"And you got me Dr Pepper as an apology," I finished, "Clearly, I must mean something to you."
"Yeah, you do," He said, "You're the biggest pain in my ass, and I don't mean when we're in bed."
Bryce
As much as Ben wants me to admit that we're boyfriends, I still can't bring myself to call us that. But he was right. We are more than friends.
"If you want to call this something," I told him, "Then we're lovers."
"Just lovers?"
"Yeah," I said, "Friends don't kiss or act like we do."
"Fine," Ben said happily, "We're lovers then." He held my hands in his and flashed that stupid smile that I have come to love about him.
"You're easy to please."
"Only with you," he replied, "This lover is yours, and yours alone."
Hearing Ben say that made me happy. This past week without him, I felt lost, like my life was not complete. Even Techno noticed that I wasn't my usual self. Meaning I wasn't calling him names or hitting him like I usually do.
Speaking of my best friend, he has been noticing other things. Like how in sync Ben and I are in our everyday lives, how we would normally eat at the dining hall during lunch. Even though Ben has classes on the other end of campus.
"You two seem pretty chummy lately." Techno said.
"You're imagining things," I told him, "We're the same as we've always been." I tried to sound convincing but the smile on my face gave it away.
"No, no, no," Techno answered, "I'm not imagining things. Lately you two are joined at the hip. Almost like…"
"We're getting along," I told him, "I still hate gay people, but I don't hate him."
Both Ben and Techno were surprised to hear me say it. While afterwards, Ben started blushing like the adorable idiot he is, Techno however kept pressing the matter.
"Why is that, hmm?" Techno asked, getting too close for comfort on guessing what's between us.
"You know," I replied, "You're getting annoyingly nosy lately, pal." I point a plastic knife at him with a smile that would make anyone question their safety and my sanity.
"Fine," Techno said, "I'll drop it. Just, I get the feeling that you're hiding something from me."
Techno
Lately my two friends here have been acting more like a couple than anything. Which can't be considering Bryce's prejudice and the rumor that Ben has a crush on him. I know my best friend too well. Ben would go missing if he confessed to Bryce.
"Fine," I said, "I'll drop it. Just, I get the feeling that you're hiding something from me."
The moment I said this, both Ben and Bryce looked like they knew something I didn't know, and it was really pissing me off. Ben was the first to respond.
"Well," he said, "I better go. I don't want to be late for my next class." As he was getting up, he picked up Bryce's plate like a, dare I say it… A boyfriend? "You finished?"
Bryce just smiled and nodded and said, "You better hurry up. You were late yesterday too."
"That was because of you," Ben answered, "I'm off."
As Ben left, my mind was playing out different scenarios, but two theories came to mind. One, these two are dating and keeping it a secret. Two they're just having sex on the DL. Or both. I can't ask Bryce about this because he would definitely kill me. Unless I was careful around him.
"Wow, wow, wow," I said as if I caught on to their antics, "He was late yesterday because of you. Why is that, friend?"
"He set an alarm," he replied, "And the ringtone was fucking annoying so I shut it off. He woke up late because of it. That's it."
Just as Bryce can tell when I'm lying, it's true in reverse. He seems way too happy and not very hostile, which means he's definitely hiding something.
However, our discussion was interrupted by Champ.
"Hey guys," he called to us, "You guys grabbed lunch and didn't call me?"
"Champ," I said to him, "All you care about is food."
"Not true," he said, "Speaking of which," as if to prove my point, "Got any plans for dinner?"
"See what I mean?" I said.
"Just answer the question." said Champ.
Bryce shook his head and said, "Nope, I'm free."
"How bout you, Noah?" Champ said.
"I'm free."
"Well," Bryce said as he stood up and grabbed his bag, "I'm off to class too. Text me where we're meeting for dinner."
After Bryce left, Champ was excited. "Why are you so happy?" I asked.
"My friend wants to meet him." he said.
"Is your friend a girl or a guy?" I asked.
"Girl," Champ answered, "Why, does he swing the other way?" Champ was referring to Bryce's sexuality.
On any normal day, I would say straight with full confidence. Nowadays, I'm not even sure where on the Kinsey scale he is now.
Bryce
I met up with Techno and Champ at this Mexican restaurant close to campus. From the look of the place it looked like a pricey place to eat.
"This way guys," Champ led the way to a table where two pretty girls were sitting. Champ sat me across this girl with wavy brown hair and dazzling hazel eyes. "Bryce, Techno, these are my friends, Fae," who is the girl in front of me, "And May." who is the girl across from Champ.
"Nice to meet you all," I said, "How do you all know Champ?"
"We've been friends since middle school," said May, "We go to TCU, so we're not too far."
"How about you, Bryce," Fae asked me, "Where are you from?"
"I'm from New Orleans," I answered, "I'm originally from there but I moved here to Dallas when I was a kid." Somehow, I had the feeling that Fae was into me, but I didn't want to assume. If she was, I might have a chance to get a girlfriend before the holidays.