Elliot

17 - Whiskey

Nate adjusted the string of orange fairy lights around the doorway for the third time, muttering under his breath. "Why does this need to be so perfect? No one's going to care." He climbed off the step stool and took a step back, examining his work. Mia was bustling around behind him, carefully arranging a table full of Halloween-themed snacks.

"You're muttering again," Mia called over her shoulder, a teasing edge to her voice. "Don't think I didn't hear you grumbling about the cobweb placement earlier."

Nate shot her a look but didn't respond. She wasn't wrong—he'd been muttering about everything since they started setting up for the party. He adjusted the cuffs off his vampire costume and sighed. "I just don't see why we need to go all out for this. It's just a party."

Mia turned, hands on her hips, her witch costume flowing dramatically as if to underline her authority. "It's not just a party. It's Halloween! Besides, Alec and I worked hard on this. You're just moody because you hate socializing."

Nate rolled his eyes. "I don't hate socializing."

"Yes, you do," Mia interrupted, smirking. "And I know exactly why. It starts with an E and ends with lliot."

Nate froze, his jaw tightening. "That has nothing to do with it."

"Oh, please," Mia said, waving her hand dismissively as she walked over to him. "I've seen the way you've been acting lately. You've been sulking around here like someone stole your favorite hoodie. You're avoiding him, aren't you?"

"I'm not avoiding anyone," Nate muttered, turning to straighten a decoration on the wall. The bat-shaped cutout wobbled under his hand, and he pressed it down harder than necessary.

Mia wasn't buying it. She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "You know he's coming tonight, right?"

Nate's stomach twisted, though he tried to play it off with a shrug. "Why wouldn't he? Alec invited him. And probably Aaron, too," he added, the name slipping out like a bitter pill. He still hadn't been able to shake the image of the two of them in the elevator, laughing, being all cute together, as if Nate didn't even exist.

"Ah, there it is." Mia's knowing expression softened slightly. "You're jealous."

"I'm not jealous," Nate snapped, his voice harsher than he intended. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I just... don't want to deal with it, okay? Whatever it is."

Mia regarded him for a moment, then stepped back and crossed her arms. "Whatever reason you have for avoiding him, you need to deal with it."

"Maybe later," Nate said flatly, turning toward the kitchen. "Preferably much later."

Mia shook her head as she returned to the snack table. "You're impossible," she muttered, but there was a hint of sympathy in her voice.

The door opened, and Alec stepped in, carrying a stack of pumpkins. "We're carving these before the guests arrive, right? I brought the tiny knives!" he said with far too much enthusiasm.

Nate groaned inwardly. The party hadn't even started, and he already felt exhausted. If Elliot showed up with Aaron, he wasn't sure how he'd keep his cool.

But as the thought crossed his mind, another followed close behind, unbidden and unwelcome: What if Elliot didn't show up at all?

Nate stabbed the carving knife into the pumpkin with a bit more force than necessary, the sound of the blade sinking into the orange flesh startling even himself. He scowled, pulling it out and glaring at the jagged line he'd made instead of the precise curve he'd been aiming for. His vampire cape caught on the chair as he shifted, adding to his rising irritation.

"Stupid costume," he muttered under his breath, yanking the fabric free.

Across the table, Alec was humming cheerfully as he worked on his pumpkin, carving an intricate spiderweb pattern. He glanced up at Nate, his expression shifting from amusement to concern when he noticed the storm brewing on his brother's face.

"Hey, man, what's with the aggression? Did the pumpkin insult your cape or something?" Alec teased, though his tone was gentle.

Nate didn't answer, his jaw tight as he reached for his drink instead. The whiskey burned as it went down, a small relief from the tension tightening his chest. He poured himself another, ignoring the flicker of worry in Alec's eyes.

Alec set down his carving knife, brushing pumpkin guts off his hands before standing. "Alright, Dracula, time for a break." He grabbed Nate's arm and gently steered him away from the table.

"I'm fine," Nate protested, though he didn't resist.

"Yeah, you're really convincing," Alec said, steering him toward the quieter corner of the living room. The room was dimly lit with flickering orange and purple lights, the decorations casting eerie shadows on the walls. "What's going on with you? And don't say 'nothing,' because I've seen this before."

Nate leaned against the wall, swirling his drink in the glass as he avoided Alec's gaze. "I'm just tired," he said, the words hollow even to his own ears.

"Tired, my ass," Alec shot back, crossing his arms. "You've been off for weeks. You barely talk to anyone, you're always in your room, and now you're downing drinks before the party even starts. You're spiraling, Nate."

"I'm not spiraling," Nate muttered, though he couldn't meet Alec's eyes.

Alec softened, his voice quieter now. "Look, I know this isn't just about the party or the stupid costume. Is this about Simon?"

The name hit Nate like a punch to the gut, and he flinched despite himself. "Why would you bring him up?" he asked, his voice rough.

"Because I remember how broken you were after he left," Alec said, his tone steady but kind.
"You shut everyone out for months, and it took forever for you to even start feeling like yourself again. I'm not going to just stand by and watch you go down that road again."

Nate sighed, his shoulders slumping. He stared into his glass, the liquid catching the flicker of the Halloween lights. "It's not Simon," he admitted after a long pause. "It's... complicated."

"Complicated how?" Alec pressed, leaning against the wall beside him.

Nate hesitated, the words heavy on his tongue. He thought of Elliot—the spark in his eyes, the easy way he laughed, the way he'd almost kissed him but then pulled away. And then Aaron, always there, always close, with that infuriatingly perfect timing. "It's Elliot," Nate finally said, the admission feeling like a weight lifted and a burden gained all at once.

Alec's brow furrowed, his concern deepening. "Elliot? What about him?"

Nate let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair. "He's... I don't know. He's everywhere, and I can't stop thinking about him, but I screwed it up. And now he's with Aaron, and I can't even imagine being in the same room with them without feeling like—" He cut himself off, shaking his head.

"Like what?" Alec prompted gently.

"Like I'm losing my mind," Nate admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Alec exhaled, his hand clapping Nate's shoulder firmly. "Alright, listen. You've got two choices here. You either sit here and wallow, or you get up, fix your costume, and deal with this like an adult. Talk to him. Figure out where you stand. But don't do this to yourself, man."

Nate scoffed, but Alec's words lingered. Could he really face Elliot tonight? Or would he just make things worse?