Goal ~ carlando

7

" So you know how most of the people here have known each other since we were kids?" Max asks and I give him a nod. " Yeah well, me and Daniel were best friends, one day Gasly and Leclerc began in our school. Daniel started talking to them and he quickly changed and one day he just turned on me." He say in on breath " the story wasn't as long as I thought" Max say proudly with a smile.

" That doesn't explain the tension between you two. Sexual tension may I add." I say and max's smile disappear.

" oh yeah I forgot about that part. So I had a crush on him, Gasly and Leclerc saw straight through it and told Daniel. Back then everyone thought it was weird and started teasing me, including Daniel." He say looking sad.

" I'm so sorry that happened. I wish I had been there to support you. So yesterday was him teasing you but now it's definitely more normal being gay." I ask still not understanding.

" I don't know, that's the problem" Max say letting out a sight in frustration. " with time they stopped teasing me when it became more normalized to be gay. But Daniel keep teasing me still even after he slept with men. The thing Daniel did yesterday he does it every time when he wants something because he knows I always fall for it" he explain with shame in his voice.

" That's so shitty of him. You need to stand your ground." I tell him getting pissed.

" yeah but you know.." max say looking down. " I still have a crush on him, he just has that power over me."

" Daniel don't deserve you, he's just using you." I say giving max a sad smile.

" I know." He say and then he looks up with a smile on his face. " what if he's doing it because he actually likes me back and just scared of what the others are going to say."  It makes me sad that he still has so much hope in his voice.

" max." I say knowing that it's enough for him to understand that what he's saying isn't making sense.

" okay maybe it's a little delulu but.."

" a little?" I interrupt him.

" so maybe very delusional but I don't think I can take it for what it actually is."

" I know. I just don't want him to break your heart when you realize." I say supporting him.

" yeah yeah, thank you. I don't want to talk about this anymore. What happened with you and Carlos last night when I left?" He ask giving me a smile I don't like.

~~~

Max needed to do homework but we agreed on hanging out later so now I'm sitting in my dorm. Carlos has been in the shower since I came here.

How am I supposed to react and talk to him now after yesterday. Does he even remember anything?

" Hi." Carlos say when he walk out of the bathroom once again with just a towel around his waist, water dropping down from his hair to his abs. I need to keep my eyes on my phone. "Thank you for yesterday." He definitely doesn't find it as awkward that I do.

" No problem." I say while I definitely know that it wasn't ' no problem'. I can't even look at him without being awkward.

" you wanna come to the party at Daniel's?" Carlos ask while he's looking through his wardrobe for an outfit.

" ehm me and max is hanging out later." I say still trying to keep my eyes on my phone but the screen has gone black.

" come on it's Saturday and Daniel always have the best parties." Carlos say looking up at me from where he found a pair of pants. Wait, at Daniel's. But he lives in a dorm, how does that work?

" Doesn't Daniel live in a dorm?" I ask meeting Carlos's eyes this time. Giving up at trying to look at my phone.

" I know it's quite weird actually. He's always been so keen on having the dorm even after his parents moved to Australia and left the house for Daniel. Now the apartment is just being used for parties." Carlos say and take the clothes he found and walk over to the bathroom. I feel quite bad for Daniel that his parents left him here. " Go to the party with me. You can bring max" he say and disappear in the bathroom not giving me a chance to answer.

I don't know why but something in me really wants to go with Carlos. I'm going to say that I just want to keep an eye on him so yesterday doesn't happens again. So I text max:

Lando: Carlos is asking if we want come to a party. Do you want to go?

To my surprise max answer almost directly:

Max: ehm I don't know

Lando: come on it's at Daniel's house and I don't want to help Carlos again today.

I may have added that it's at Daniel's because I know that he's weak for him, it's shitty but you can't blame me the abs are calling me.

Max: I guess we can check it out, but I'm leaving if I'm uncomfortable

That was easier than I thought.

" So? Are you coming with me?"