Pathos [Gay/BL]

Chapter XI

CHAPTER XI: Date to the movies

"Who do we have to kill, huh?" Amy said with fury in her eyes when I joined them back in the gym, my eyes flooded in tears. 

"I think I know who, Amies," Stella added and pointed with her finger to the entrance of the gym, where Eric and Summer were walking in.

"Oh..." 

I just let Stella hold me in a sweet hug as I just breathed unsteadily. I wasn't crying and I was not going to. I was done with all of that. I met Eric's eyes across the dance floor, signs of crying left on his own cheeks. He had a devastated look and seemed really regretful, but I didn't care. He chose his dignity as a straight man rather than my friendship and that's what he would get.

"Can we leave now?" I huskily groaned against Stella's chest. There was a brief silence, in which, probably, they communicated with their eyes.

"Sure, let's drive you home, bitch," Amy finally said and we left with Eric's eyes closely following us.

During the ride home, none of us talked. I knew I had to tell them what had happened, our conversation and everything, but I just had no will. They seemed to understand, because they didn't press me. We finally reached my street and I bid my best friends goodbye while I got out of the car.

"Call us if you need anything, Noah," Amy said before I closed my door. I just nodded and headed home. 

I thanked God Mom had night shift today so that I didn't have to go through her questions and concerned looks. I just went straight up to my bed and threw myself face down. I sobbed. I cried even if I tried not to. Because I was mad, I was raging, I was angry, disappointed. But most of all, I was devastated. I really liked Eric, I really enjoyed his company. 

Our short relationship after four years had been like Narcissus's obsession with his reflection: just when he had his hands touching the water, his own eyes looking at himself, the reflection disappeared and he never got to kiss the only person he had ever loved, even if that person was himself. That was exactly it. Or worse, because I did get to kiss the person I liked just so that we had to split up.

First day of vacation was not that bad. Mom didn't even try to call me down for lunch, she must've thought that I was passed out or had a hangover. I was still in my clothes when I walked down the stairs at 3 p.m. and my mom stood up from the couch when she removed her eyes from the TV. I said nothing and she didn't either, she just hugged me so I could cry in her chest.

"The party was a disaster..." I said when I was back to breathing normally.

"It sure looks like it," she answered, sitting next to me on the couch.

"I like Eric," I confessed setting my eyes on hers. A soft and almost sad smile settled on her face and she reached my cheek with her hand.

"Of course you do."

"You knew?" I asked surprised.

"Honey, I can read you like an open book."

"I hate when you do that," but I actually didn't. 

"And what happened? Did you tell him yesterday and he rejected you?"

"It's more... complicated."

 I told her about everything that had happened between us, from the moment we started to meet again to the very last night. She listened carefully, made almost no questions and held my stare. She then tried to cheer me up and, after I showered and ate something, we ended up spending the rest of the day watching TV with her hugging me. It was comforting having her by my side and being so supportive all the time.