the love triangle trope, but it's actually a triangle

"that's so gay, dude," says the gay man.

andrew snickered. "dude what is this?"

"what's what?" zubin asked. he sat against andrew on the couch, using each other to prop themselves up on. andrew tapped away on his laptop while zubin watched the tv.

"'favorite member: horowitz'?" he read aloud. "that's so gay, dude."

their laughs filled the air together, feeling each other shake from the movement. "you're better than the others, what can i say? it's not gay to like your friend."

andrew shook his head, his eyes scrolling down the rest of the autobiography. "sure it isn't."

"i'm not gay. especially not for you," zubin said, simply. "don't flatter yourself."

"what's with this rob thing?" he said, changing the topic. his eyes found them staring at the brief mention of rob.

"rob thing..?" he thought back to remember what he meant. "oh, rob was being a bitch like always. you know how it is, had to put a bitch in a bitch's place."

"you're so gay, dude!" andrew laughed, closing his laptop in his fit of laughter. "so do you have a thing for me and rob, or what?"

"pfft no.,, of course not." andrew didn't know it, but zubin could feel himself break into a sweat. he twiddled with his thumbs, hardly realizing it.

"really?"

"really!"

andrew pushed zubin off of him, turning around. zubin turned to face him, his back now leaning against the armrest of the couch. andrew looked at him with a dopey grin, and zubin could feel his heart beat faster. he felt hands clasp his face, hardly taking in the fact that they belonged to andrew. all he could focus on was how close their faces was. he was so close to him.

"i think you're gay, zoob."

"where's the proof?" he asked, trying to remain collected on the surface. he didn't know if andrew could tell how much this was killing him, but part of him wished he did.

"like, everything about you. it's okay, zoob, i don't judge." andrew laughed again and leaned back finally. he got in a similar position that zubin was in, but on the opposite end of the couch. they stared at each other from opposite armrests, smiling like idiots.

"well i think you're gay." zubin crossed his arms and gave a knowing smirk.

andrew gasped. "oh no! how could you tell?"

he almost let himself fall victim to the sarcasm, his hope rising until andrew started giggling uncontrollably. zubin let himself laugh, just to try to ease off the disappointment he felt.

the door to the house opened, and in came rob with arms full of groceries. "could you two help me with this?" he called and instinctually zubin and andrew got up to help him.

"i'll make dinner tonight," rob said, "would either of you like to help?"

"of course!" andrew said immediately. "i'd love to cook with someone else. sounds fun."

rob grinned at him. "thanks. what about you, zoobs?" he looked at him hopefully, his small smile on his face.

he thought it over and shook his head. "no thanks. maybe next time."

"bummer," he remarked, frowning but quickly smiling again. "i would ask joe or ross, but i don't know where they are."

"they're out i think," andrew responded as he helped put groceries in their proper place.

"doing what?"

he shrugged. "never said."

"it doesn't matter as long as they're home before dinner. i'll text them." rob started fumbling around trying to find his phone. with zubin's eyes on him, he seemed to struggle more.

"i'll text them for you!" andrew said with a smile, his phone already out. "i'll call them actually. and you can get started on cooking."

"thank you andrew." he nodded at him and andrew smiled much longer than anyone would've thought was socially normal.

"so whatcha cookin, good-lookin?" zubin said to rob, leaning against the kitchen counter. andrew whispered something about him being gay before joe (or ross?) picked up.

rob found it hard to compose himself. "w-well, i'm... making spaghetti. something simple... tonight." he anxiously grinned, eyes darting around.

zubin didn't notice his odd reaction. "sounds great. i'll see you at dinner then."

"see you..!" rob called as he made his way to his room. he sighed and tried to let himself focus on what he was about to cook. andrew's chatter in the background helped soothe his strange, strange thoughts.

he wasn't the only one there who was learning new things about himself, things that almost scared them to come to terms to.