A Match Made In Hell

Chapter 14: The Glitch

I would warn about angst but what's one of my stories without a very sad depressing chapter? (I gave you all that kissing for the last two chapters, If I write anymore fluff I might throw up) 

-Rared

Keefe POV

Tam's golden shades of skin drained as he stared into space, the phone sliding out of his hands as he seemed to slip in and out of reality.

"Tam?" I ask, but no response. "Tam."

"Fuck...it." He groans and collapses softly onto the carpet floor.

"Tam!" I cry out as I run over and shake him a bit. "Tam, please wake up!"

"I'm not dead, asshole." he grunted, rolling over, and quietly added, "Not yet, anyways."

"Then why did you drop dead on the floor?" I scoffed as Tam sat up, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Nothing...I'm just tired." He says, pressing his fingers against his temples like he was fending off a hurricane.

"You're lying, Tam."

"The Empath strikes again." He seems to sink to the floor, again.

"No, you're just bad at lying." I crossed my arms, "What did they say on the call?"

"Nothing. Everything's great." Tam nervously tapped his fingers on his knee.

"Does this have something to do with our match?" I could visibly see his face drop, the fib could only last for so long, and I could basically see right through him. I felt my insides churn and my lips forced the words that made me want to throw myself off a cliff out, "Tam, what did he say?"

He gently shook his head as he curled up into a ball, "Well, it wasn't much but it was along the lines of 'come here tomorrow and we'll see if i fucked up the match'"

My heart broke when I heard it, "we might not be soulmates?"

Tam looked up at me, his emotions like a wifi deadzone, "We might not be anything, Keefe."

. . . . . . .

Upon reentering the matchmaking building, a feeling of apathy generated from Tam's side. Mine? This was my worst nightmare coming true.

I thought before that it would be okay to date a boy if the MatchMaker's decreed it, but if that changes, me and Tam could be in a lot more trouble than we're worth (I say we, but I mean me. Tam shouldn't have to go through this just for me). Why is love so confusing and rigged? Only heteronormative/heterosexual pairs get to be in love in public, while the rest of us hide in the shadows, praying to God that they don't notice who they are.

I hated the waiting room. Last time, I had no idea I'd be matched with the boy I sat next to. This time, I had no idea whether I'd be in trouble for feeling what I felt for the boy I sat next to. Overall, the anticipation and the paranoia was killing me, and if Tam could tell, he was good at hiding it because he focused on his hands, fidgeting with them.

The only time he interacted with me while we were waiting was when he gently touched my wrist. I looked down and I was pinching my hand. I stopped immediately and thanked him quietly, and he said something in response that made holding back tears a lot harder than necessary:

"I'm sorry."

I wanted to say, don't be! Or we're in this together, Tam!

Or, what my heart was screaming: Why did we have to fall in love?

But really, I just wanted to go home.

"Keefe Cassius Sencen." The receptionist called. Same as before. Pink hair, daring eyes.