Coby & Alex [REWRITTEN] | OC

Chapter 4

(Tw: mild anxiety, sexual mentions)

"Am I... attracted to Coby?" Alex shakes his head in denial. "Nah. That can't be right. Maybe it's just the excitement of a new friendship..."

Alex closes his biology book and puts it back on the shelf. Moving back to his desk, he gathers up his notes shoving them in a drawer and stands up from his chair beginning to pace back and forth in the room lost in thoughts of uncertainty. Denial lingers like a shadow, whispering comforting lies to drown out the truth. With each step, Alex retraces memories of the party, seeking clues to unravel the mystery picturing those moments with Coby, his comfort, smile, laugh, and those ocean eyes.  Alex's heart races blushing at these thoughts. He remembers when their hands accidentally brushed against each other when they were hiding in the wardrobe.

"Oh my god. Could I be bi?" Alex wonders aloud. He thinks of times he's spent with Emily, Jonah, and Hailey, but comes to terms that they are more like family to him. Yes, Alex would do almost anything for them, but there is no romantic feelings.

As he sinks back into his chair at his desk again, he lets out a deep sigh now feeling a heavy weight settling in his stomach. "Maybe... I am... gay?" He doesn't want to believe as the bad memories of Kane's bullying resurfaced like a tidal wave, the relentless torment and what occurred at the party. "Shit..." Alex says as he plants his face in both of his hands. "Kane might have been right all this time..." Taking a deep breath, he gazes up with hands still pressed against his face, sitting in silence. Yet within the stillness, his mind races screaming and contemplating his sexuality crisis.

"No. I CANNOT let Kane's pathetic hatred define me." Alex snaps with trembling hands letting go of his face and onto his lap. "He may be right about me potentially being gay, but... I can't let him stomp all over me. Not anymore... If these feelings still happen tomorrow with Coby. Then that'll be my answer." Alex says to himself with a firm tone. He releases a sigh, shaking his head to clear his thoughts, and then stands from his desk. Retrieving his laptop from the floor, he collapses onto his bed. With a flick, he opens the laptop launches Netflix and settles in to watch a movie.

The day flows by quickly and Alex has been hibernating in his dorm room all day. As the clock ticks over to 6:15 pm, he feels a rumble of hunger erupting from his stomach and immediately opens the Uber Eats app scrolling through deciding what to order but Alex couldn't see anything that sparked his interest. With a deep sigh, he closes the app.

Remembering the cafeteria downstairs, he rolls out of bed grabs his phone and keys, puts his shoes on and heads out the door stepping out to the quiet hallway and walking down to the elevators.

Reaching the cafeteria on the ground floor, he notices that the place is not very crowded. A few small groups of students are scattered around, chatting and eating. He scans the room and spots two familiar faces in line, plastic grey trays in hand. Emily and Jonah are both laughing about something as they wait to help themselves to the buffet. Alex walks up to them tapping their shoulders.

"Wow, long time no see!" Alex laughs with sarcasm. "It's been forever!"

Jonah grins and waves. "Hi, Alex!"

Emily laughs. "Oh hey, Al! It's been a whole... what, seven or eight hours since we came back?"

Alex chuckles and grabs a tray. "So, what's on the menu?"

"Looks like one's a chicken and a vegetable curry... and something else, I can't see," Jonah answers peeping through the gaps of people lined up in front.

"Yesss I love the chicken curry!" Alex smiles doing a little dance.

They all reach the buffet in a few minutes and one by one, they pile up their plates with curry and rice and find a table to sit at.
Soon enough, another familiar face walks into the cafeteria with a friend. Coby and Jai both grab trays and each get a plate of curry
Coby spots Emily, Jonah, and Alex in the distance sitting at their table chatting away, indicating Jai to follow, they both make their way toward the group. "Hey guys! Mind if we join you?"