More Than Friends (boyxboy)

Chapter 5: The canteen

"Wow... she is just. Wow!"

☆

He didn't expect his tutoring session to be as much fun as it was. Nor did he expect the most popular guy to give him the time of day, but the world was full of mysteries and wonder and unexpected things, such as seeing Archie sitting at a table with that girl in the canteen.

The promise of a snack from his best friend was nowhere in sight and now Bay knew why. He stands, just shy of the doorway, not knowing whether to approach or not. Bay was no expert in the art of chatting someone up, but the way he saw how Archie was looking at the female opposite him, told him everything he needed to know. That Archie liked her... seemingly very much and that for some reason, that bothered him.

He glances over to the girl. Lena. His previous thoughts about her, of being cool and a possible role model to many were now being replaced by negative thoughts. Why did she wear a beanie hat 99 % of the time? And inside where it wasn't even cold. She was just trying to get attention. A stupid cry for attention....

"Bay, over here!" He sees Archie waving furiously at him and it prompts him to move his feet.

"Where's my snack?" Is the first thing which leaves his lips.

"Ooh, he's getting hangry." Archie giggles, making sure to look at Lena to see how she would respond to his remark. Lena grins as they both turn to look at Bay, who feels obliged to smile along and be the subject of their amusement.

"I'm just hungry. That's all." He says as he sits at the table, feeling a little like an unwanted extra.

"I got you a snack. Relax." Archie pulls a pasty from his bag to give to Bay. "I just didn't get around to bringing it to the library."

"Thanks." He says, pulling the packaging open to take a bite.

"Archie, you're so considerate. You know, he bought me pizza." Lena grins, first looking at Bay, then at Archie.

"It's fine." Archie pulls his straw towards him, taking a drink to hide his butterflies wanting to surface. Bay just watches on, feeling even more out of place with every second that passes.

"Lena!"

They all turn to see a group of girls approach their table. Bay now feels completely out of his comfort zone as he finds his head looking down.

"Hey guys." She accepts the friendly gestures and pats on the shoulders from her friends. "In case you didn't know, This is Archie and...." She looks at the two males, as her finger hovers over the boy whose name she had already forgotten.

"My best buddy Bay." He feels Archie's hand on his shoulder, rocking him back and forth and causing him to break into a smile as he finally looks up.

"Ok, so... are you ready?" One of the girls glances at the two boys before looking back at Lena.

"Sure. Thanks for the pizza Archie. See you around." She gets up and walks away. Not even turning back to see the longing stares Archie was boring into her back.

"Wow.... She is just. Wow!" Archie stretches across the table before glancing up at Bay.

"You really like her that much huh?" Bay raises an eyebrow in wonder.

"Why?" He sits up all of a sudden, scrutinising the look Bay was giving him. "You don't like her too do you?"

Again for the second time that day, Archie's actions had caught him off guard, as this time, Bay could not maintain the stare. The look he was giving, was making his pulse quicken. "No. Of course not. She's... she's not my type."

"Are you sure? Because you know what we have is far more important than any girl. You remember the pact. We walk away if we both like the same girl ..."

"I said I don't like her ok?" Bay dares to look back at Archie, who jerks his head back in surprise. Bay drops the pasty on the table, watching it land with a weighty drop. "That tastes off."

"Bay, what's the matter... Did Mark give you a hard time?" Archie knew something was up. Bay was never any good at hiding his emotions.

"No it was fine...." Bay paints a grin on his face as he looks at Archie. "Like you said, I'm hangry and... I promise, I don't fancy Lena, so you do what you gotta do."

Archie grins once again. "That's good because...."

"Because.... What?" Bay didn't know why he was asking for clarification. He knew why already. Archie had that look. The one where he was about to beg for something.

"Can I stay over at yours this week?" He sees the hesitation in Bay's face. He begins to nudge his arm. "Go on. Please, please please."

"What for?" Bay just had to ask.

"Why do I need a reason? We are best buds. We sleep over at each others' houses all the time." Archie points out.

"That was before I moved. I don't live next door anymore. I don't have my own room. I share it with Sim now. There's no room for a sleeping bag..."

"I can sleep on the sofa. It will be fine!" Archie tries to dismiss everything Bay was saying.

It causes Bay to wonder. "Is it because of her? Because of Lena? Because she goes on my bus?"

Archie's eyes look up as if he were trying to think of a response. "Ummmm..."

It causes Bay to shake his head. "I'll ask mum. See if you can sleep over Friday ok?"

"Bay, you are the best. You really are." Archie ruffles Bay's hair once again.

"Why do you keep doing that?" Bay tries to avoid the interaction.

Archie pulls his head away laughing. He picks up the pasty which Bay had dropped on the table. He takes a bite and frowns. "There's nothing wrong with it."