You and Me in the Old Jeep - TROYLER AU

Chapter Six

double update what

surprise mothertruckers

Song of the Chapter: Something I Need by OneRepublic

6

Troye's car hadn't gotten any better, and his flow of chatter hadn't gotten any less adorable, but I was making a more conscious effort this time to stay strictly business. Every time I felt that indescribable urge to hold his hand, I replaced it with the numbness I'd become accustomed to over the years - the cold knowledge that no, there was nothing more than this.

I was brought back out of myself by Troye's sudden cheer. I looked at him to see him grinning like a maniac, eyes darting excitedly from me to the radio.

"It's my song!" he said happily.

I listened: "She's twenty two, and she's loving you, and you'll never know how it makes me blue..."

"Oh yeah," I said, trying very hard to sound nonchalant as the Troye on the radio's voice swirled into the hot LA air, angelic in its beauty. I was allowed like his voice and his body, just not his goddamn perfect personality...

"Stop it," I growled at myself, accidentally aloud, and to my surprise Troye flinched, a shiver running through him at my harsh tone.

"Sorry," he murmured, reaching out to turn the radio off and I frowned, stopping him.

"It's okay, I wasn't talking to you," I explained. Why was he so jumpy anyway?

Doesn't matter, doesn't matter, doesn't matter, I told myself firmly, inwardly this time, thank God.

We pulled up to the ice cream place a few minutes later and Troye put his sunglasses on as the sun bounced off the hood of the Jeep and blinded us. I held up my hand, fumbling for Korey's sunglasses in my pocket. "Jesus fucking Christ," I muttered, "Like, rude. Can you not."

Troye giggled, a bubble of sound. "Don't sass the sun, Tilly."

"Tilly?"

"What?"

"What?" I laughed and he did too, rubbing the back of his neck bashfully.

"Sorry," he said, smiling crookedly. "I kind of nickname everything. You look like a Tilly."

"You look like a Troyeboy." I replied coolly and he blushed red, spinning quickly towards the cafe. I smirked, but inside I was melting. Tilly? This adorable little fucker. I wondered if he really could be Troyeboy - a boyfriend with a sweet nickname, rather than a quickie, rather than someone who would regret what he did with me.

As I walked into the shop, I was immediately greeted by the dog from last time - Nala, Troye had said she was called. The girl, Zoe, followed it, reaching down to pick her up.

"Be polite, Nalabear!" she laughed, and smiled at me. "Hey, Tyler right? We were hoping Troye would bring you back here."

"Hi, yeah," I said, and joked, "I'll have to leave it for a few days though, too much ice cream."

"Oh, you'll have to find a new date night."

The smile slid off my face. "What?"

"Zoe!" Troye reprimanded her. "Tyler is not my boyfriend!"

Yeah, no kidding. I wasn't even his friend.

I winced. That hurt a little to think about.

The ice cream was nice, I guess, and the conversation was nice, I knew, but I couldn't concentrate. I was getting a headache that had nothing to do with brain freeze and everything to do with Troye Sivan.

I was obsessed with him - the way he moved, the lean tautness of his limbs, that one pale birthmark on his high cheekbone, his oceanic eyes that were countless shades of blue. The shape of his lips, the way his slender fingers splayed across the table, the rise and fall of the dip in his collarbones where his shirt shifted slightly. I was only half-aware of the fact that I was just sitting there looking at him, but in my daze I didn't mind.

It got to the point where I was sitting on my hands to keep myself from launching my face at his face, so I stood up and asked if he was done. Once again, I'd barely touched my ice cream, but this time, he'd barely touched his either.

Game time, I told myself, shoving the softer part of me away and focusing on the game. "Soooo." I said slowly, drawing out the word. "Do you want to head back to my place?" I wasn't used to asking the question, but I guessed I could work with it.

Until Troye shook his fucking head. "Tilly, I barely know you." he said apologetically.

Immediately I reared back, a scowl settling into my features. Inside, I was reeling. "You know what? Fine." I snapped, trying not to display my disappointment. Because now that he wasn't going to sleep with me, I had no excuse to stick around other than admitting that I wanted him for more than sex - which meant I simply couldn't stay.

Troye looked upset. He followed me without saying goodbye to Zoe and Alfie into the parking lot. "Tyler, wait," he pleaded and I turned to face him, letting my eyes roll over him, maybe for the last time.

"What?"

"It doesn't - don't storm out just because I don't want to have sex with you, for God's sake." Troye protested. "Look, that doesn't mean we can't be friends."

I laughed, bitterly. Why couldn't he see how much I wanted to stay? "Like you said, Troye. You barely know me."

"I'd like to." Troye breathed, and I met his gaze.

The ground felt unsteady. I exhaled slowly and made up my mind.

He wouldn't be able to resist me for long - we could be friends until then, and then I'd get what I came for. Strange euphoria flooded me. I'd found a loophole in the rules I'd left out for myself - I could still be around him. I didn't have to give him up, but it was - it was still about the sex. I was almost sure of it.

Rolling my eyes theatrically, I turned on my heel. "Oh, all right." I called airily, "Drive me home then, Troyeboy."

"My pleasure." he said cheerfully, and I died and came to life all at once.

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Bbbbbbbbbye *wink*