Stress Relief

Emily

WARNING
This chapter contains themes of:
- homophobic behavior
• • •

"I'm not even lying, Chappell Roan's album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess is literally perfect for you right now." Chase's hands fell from his face at his other best friend's musical outlet suggestion.

Of all the things she could've said after the ten-minute rant he just went on, why was that the first thing she had to say? "Em, are you seriously giving me music recommendations right now?"

"Hey I'm serious, Red Wine Supernova embodies the bisexual distress you're giving off." Chase only groaned, and Emily smiled softly. Sitting up from lying on her stomach, she crisscrossed her legs atop his blankets and gave him her full attention. "In all seriousness, have you talked with him?" Just the idea gave Chase a sense of dread. "I mean, you two have been fooling around a little but you haven't exactly set up any boundaries for either of you."

That was a good point. Here lately they've just been crossing that bridge when they get to it, but he would like to sit down with him and have a clear understanding of one other's boundaries, rather than stumbling across them.

God, he'd feel terrible if he made Elijah uncomfortable, or like he couldn't trust him. He liked him so much it was pathetic and if he ever accidentally said something wrong he'd be on his knees giving him a thousand apologies. Maybe take him on a date as one of those apologies.

Wait, a date...shit.

Elijah's words from hours earlier rang through his head. We're not a couple. And he was realizing just how painful they were to hear. We're not a couple.

They kiss, but they're not a couple.

They care for one another, but they're not a couple.

He wanted to take him out, but they're not. A. Couple.

"Fuck." Chase groaned in agony, hands on his face.

It seemed clicked for Emily, by the gasp he heard out of nowhere. "Oh my god, Chase do you like him?" There was a soft excitement about the way she asked that question.

With a deep, defeated sigh, he lowered his hands. "Seems like it." The wind was knocked out of him as she suddenly tackled him into a great big bear hug.

"I'm so happy for you!" She practically squealed. Then she tore herself away, holding him by the shoulders. "When did you start liking him? Have you told anyone yet-actually how's everything going with Rachel?"

He laughed a little at her frantic questions. "I'm pretty sure it was when he was cleaning lipstick of my cheek, I'm not really sure" He admitted sheepishly, wanting to feel that touch again, and for Elijah to hold him by the jaw as h kisse him. "Me and Rachel are sort of okay, we're taking a break. And also no I haven't told anyone yet besides 'D."

Emily nodded, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "Sorry, I'm just like-really happy for you right now."

"Thank you, I know, it's way overdue." He returned her smile with amusement, before looking at his blankets bashfully. "I've been like...flirting with him a lot."

"Oh?" She smirked.

The sigh he let out was uncanny to those cheesy he's so dreamy sighs girls on teen shows would make seeing their crushes walk down the halls.

And he was no different, it seems. "He referenced a pretty gay Shakespeare moment and called me sweet prince," he'd never get over the way that little teasing comment made him feel, "and then I kissed him and it kinda almost got a little heated." He rubbed the back of his neck. "We also kissed at the after party, and on his couch the next day and I kind of put my hand up his shirt, and then we kissed a little on his bed."