Unraveling [BXB]

Chapter 18

On Halloween night, Wren pulled up to Hayden Caddel's house with Kai, Taylor, Chase, and Harper in his car. Technically, his car should've only been able to fit three other people, but Chase and Taylor squeezed together in the back to fit. It didn't exactly make him feel comfortable that Taylor wasn't wearing a seatbelt, but considering that he'd picked up Harper before them and she'd already taken the far left seat, the middle was between Chase and Taylor, and he was a bit more partial to Chase not dying if they got in a wreck. That was, of course, only because he had no idea what he'd say to Trey if he accidentally killed his little brother, especially if it happened while he wasn't there. 

Trey would've come to the party, but he had an English assignment to finish, and considering that he was passing that class by less than the skin of his teeth, Wren told him that was probably for the better. Chase wouldn't have gone, but he had nothing to finish and he said it would look weird if he didn't show up to his own "boyfriend's" party.

Pretty much all of them had half-assed their costumes except for Harper, who could pull off a shockingly good Meg from the Disney rendition of Hercules. Wren had thrown on a button up shirt with jeans and a pirate hat, Kai was dressed as a 90s rocker with a black bandana and fingerless gloves, Taylor was wearing a red shirt and had a devil horn headband on, and Chase's only attempt at a costume was a sweater with a ghost embroidered on it.

As they walked in, Wren was instantly hit with the ever-familiar scent of booze and the sound of painfully loud generic party music. For a guy who'd thrown so many parties, one would think that, at some point, Hayden would finally start throwing better ones, but it seemed he was incapable of that. The only reason he still went to them was to hook up with random people, but...well, he hadn't really been doing very much of that lately. He'd just been a bit preoccupied.

Wren walked over to the table of drinks and food with Kai to fill a few cups with various forms of alcohol. He picked up his own, filled with whiskey, and took a sip of it as he watched Chase make a beeline over to Hayden, who was hanging out on a couch with a few other people. He gritted his teeth a bit as he watched Chase's expression slowly fall the more he tried to make conversation with Hayden and his friends. Wren knew his dislike of Hayden was mostly based in a general distaste for his personality in general, and that wasn't a reason to hate him, but he couldn't help it, everything that stupid blond said just made his blood boil. He also knew Chase wasn't really dating him, but out of all of the guys in their school, the first person he could think of was Hayden? Really?

"What are you staring at?" Kai asked, glancing over in the direction Wren had been looking before he quickly took his eyes off the younger dark-haired boy. Kai just looked at him confused and then glanced back to Chase. "...Dude..don't tell me you're into Chase."

"What? No, I was just staring off in that direction," Wren said, taking another sip of his drink.

"You're defensive," Kai said, taking a sip of his own drink. "And you're staring at a boy who is happily talking to his boyfriend."

"I wouldn't exactly say happily," Wren murmured under his breath.

"Shit, you are into him," Kai said, the genuine realization hitting him.

"No, dude, look- I'm just concerned about him, that's all. He's my best friend's kid brother," Wren said, setting his drink down and crossing his arms. "Hayden's an asshole, and you know that. I just don't want Chase getting hurt."

"Suuure," Kai said, picking up a cookie from the table. "It's not like you've had it out for Hayden since day one or anything."

"Are you seriously trying to tell me that you think Hayden Caddel is a good boyfriend?"