i can see you - tsitp

eleven.

NATE GROANS, lifting his head from the mattress set up on Steven's floor. Just as he does, the door swings open, revealing Steven carrying a cup of coffee.

"This is for you." Steven sets it on his nightstand, sending Nate a wink. "Uh, might I add, Taylor and Milo apparently broke up? Belly is with Taylor."

That wakes Nate up immediately, sobering him with ease. He sits up on his elbows, shaking his head with a yawn.

"You serious?" he says, looking at the coffee with a raised brow. He's never liked coffee. Steven knows this, so he's just trying to annoy Nate by giving him no options. "Don't be tricky."

"What the fuck does 'tricky' even mean, bro?" Steven shoves Nate's head, making the younger boy swat his hand away. "You wanna come out to breakfast with me and my mom?"

"If it's not, like, a family thing, then sure." Nate tears his shirt over his head, grabbing a fresh one out of his backpack and pulling it on. "Where are you guys going?"

"No idea yet." Steven grabs his sneakers, sliding them on. "I like to live life on the edge. I'm a Princeton man now. I'm changed."

"You're a loser, that's what you are." Nate pushes him as he gets up. "Now leave so I can get changed."

"What? I can't watch?"

"Fuck off, Steven."

*

The breakfast hadn't taken long to get through, so as Steven and Laurel decide to go walking around, Nate heads to Barnes & Noble to try and find a book that Carlee had been talking about wanting to read.

He's just entered the building when he sees Taylor walking around, and she doesn't look very pleased to see him. She's got a cup of coffee in one of her hands, and Nate can't see a book, not that he's surprised.

"What are you doing at a bookstore? " he laughs, grinning widely at her state of displeasure. "Can you even read, TJ?"

"I'm just grabbing Starbucks." she waves him off, shaking her head. "Can you read?"

"I can. Remember when I had to read all of those terms that came with being your fake boyfriend?" Nate grins but Taylor just rolls her eyes at him. "Your boy was telling me how we're still cool, so I guess that makes me your favorite ex, right? Speaking of which, I'm sorry to hear about your breakup."

Taylor seems caught off guard, but Nate brushes past it. He knows Taylor is dramatic, and him bringing up her breakup is like firing a shotgun at her.

"Belly told me?" he continues, furrowing his brows together.

"Oh, yeah, well..." Taylor lets out a sob, and Nate straightens up, feeling uncomfortable. "I'm pretty upset. Devastated."

Nate raises a brow. "Uh... you don't seem too devastated. Where is Belly anyway?"

"Uh, yeah, she is. She's just..." Taylor stammers, looking around. "She's just grabbing Auntie Anne's."

Nate looks at her suspiciously but hums anyway, crossing his arms over his chest. Taylor glowers at him.

"And I am devastated."

"Really? I'd expect you to be hiding in your bedroom."

"Don't picture me in my bedroom, creep. And I just... I have a feeling we'll find our way back to each other." Taylor rambles on, and Nate groans. "We're soulmates after all."

"I'm sure." Nate teases, putting his hands on his hips. He glances around. "Can I talk to Belly, by the way? I want to-"

"No!" Taylor cuts him off abruptly, pointing a finger in his face. "No, you cannot."