Alan x Carl ~The Hookup~

Chapter Five: Carl

It's been two weeks since school started. Alan hasn't had a single full conversation with me since the whole locker room thing. Honestly, I think he's just been infatuated with this new girl named Alli. I've never really gotten to known her before now. Alli never seemed to be the dating type. I've heard she made the first move, how bold. I just can't get over how awkward I made Alan feel. Its never felt weird to be shirtless around people, not even any of the girls I've dated. And it has never bothered me to be around other shirtless guys. It's been weird recently Around Alan. I keep looking at him hoping it would change things. Even now in math he catches my eye. All I can see is the back of his fluffy brown hair and grey sweatshirt when I should be working on my homework.
"Carl, are you even listening?" Caleb snaps. I whip my head towards him and nod apologetically. I just haven't been able to focus these last couple days. All I can think about is what happened in the locker room. He probably thinks I'm some weirdo who likes looking at guys. At least he got himself into a relationship.
"Hey, do you know when the next football game is?" I ask Caleb.
"I'm pretty sure it's this Friday. Why? Do you plan on coming?" He replies.
"I don't know. There's no way we are going to win so I don't really see a point in going" I say.
   Caleb leans closer to me and lowers his voice to where it's almost incomprehensible. "I think I know a reason you should go."
   My eyes widen and by breath stops short. What could he be talking about? I laugh a little before saying, "And what is it that should make me go?"
He leans even closer this time before saying, "I've heard some rumors that someone wants to ask you out at the game. Now I don't know who or if it's even true but I just wanted to give you a heads up". I feel blood rush to my face.
"Man, I'm going to feel so bad if that's true."
"Why? You've been single for awhile. You sure you're not losing that super power of yours?"
I smile before asking, "What's that mean?"
"You know, that crazy way that you just pull girls?"
"Now that's not true."
"You sure? Because there have been, like, 10 girls to ask you out since the start of school."
"That's incredibly inaccurate, and even if it were true, I'm not looking for a relationship. I'm going to say no to them."
"Man, if only my life were filled with girls asking me out all the time. I don't even know what I would do with myself." Caleb says with a wide smile covering his face.
I grin with him before focusing back on my work. I just can't seem to figure out this problem. I'm usually able to figure it out on my own but I'm stumped. I look at Caleb's paper and see he isn't even close to the problem I'm on so I glance at the teacher to see if they could help. They're talking with some administrator babbling on about the boys tennis team. The only other person I can think of that would know how to do the problem in Alan and Luke. Now I would save me the trouble of asking Alan if I could, but Luke had to leave school early for a doctors appointment and I need to get this homework done before the end of class. I won't have time to do it tonight since basketball tryouts are going on all evening. I feel my heartbeat quicken and my breath become shallower. I grab my paper and stand up from my desk. The walk over to Alans desk feels like it's in slow motion. I don't even want to imagine all the different ways Alan could react. I finally reach him and call his name. He turns around quickly to look at me with wide eyes. I don't think he expected it to be me. His smile instantly seems to drop a little and his cheeks get a pinkish undertone. His hair seems to be nicer than usual and he's wearing a locket necklace presumably from Alli. I feel my cheeks become hotter than they already were before asking, "Could you help me with this problem? I won't have time to finish it tonight and the teacher is busy."
   He contemplates for a second before looking at me again. His lips move before his words come out, almost like those really old movies. "Yeah, what number are you on?" I point to the last one and get my pencil ready."
"Well, I can already see what you did wrong" he says as he looks at me. "It's a simple mistake, but it threw off your entire problem. You were just looking at it the wrong way. You see, you multiplied the exponent instead of adding them together. I can work the problem out for you if you want?"
That's when it hit me. I've been looking at this from the wrong direction. It was such a simple mistake, but I kept making it over and over again. How could I be so stupid? I've been constantly avoiding him this entire time, but what I should have done is just explain myself. It's not like Alan will make a big deal out of it and I just really want things to go back to normal. His relationship with Alli has basically been put on x2. They didn't even talk to each other before they hung out for the first time 2 weeks ago. I just want to feel less distant from him than what it's been like.
"Carl? Class is over, do you just want me to finish the problem for you?" Alan asks.
"Oh, umm sure, if thats all good with you?"
Alan takes my paper with him out the door leaving the teacher and me alone. I grab my bag and walk out. The hallway is packed with kids and an unstoppable current. A sea of heads leads me to my next class. I step on the persons shoes In front of me a couple of times before I decide to veer to the left. Hanging in the hall I see a poster for Fridays football game. Clubs are named that will be attending the game, one of which being German club. That means Alan will be at the game. If I go to the game, I might be able to hang out with him, even if it's for a moment. Maybe watching our team lose won't be such a loss for me.