Housemates 2

Chapter 5

Cade returns home after his session with Zion and proudly shows off his new tattoo. Alec squints to get a better look at it from the couch he refuses to rise from.

"Just come here," he tells Cade.

"Lazy," Cade says and walks over to him. He plops down beside Alec and pulls up his shorts so Alec can see the design on his thigh. Alec looks down for a moment before replying.

"That's sick," he says. "It's the dragon Zion drew yesterday, right? Did he tattoo it on you?"

"Yes and yes," Cade replies, pulling his shorts back down. "You should get one from him."

Alec leans back on the couch and stares up at the ceiling. "That requires intense thought, you know."

"Ah, I forgot you're not capable of that yet," Cade says, snickering.

"I'm serious," he says. "I wanted to get one a little while ago and it's a good thing I never went through with it."

"Why's that?" Cade asks as Alec turns to look at him.

"I would've had to get it covered up by now," Alec says.

"Uh, what were you thinking of getting?" Cade questions.

Alec remains quiet for a moment. "Don't laugh."

Cade's lips immediately form a straight line. "I won't. I promise."

Alec breathes out. "Amber's name."

Cade resists every urge in his body to puff out a laugh at Alec's revelation and bites his cheek before he figures out what to say. But, he's interrupted by the sound of Alec's laughter.

"The look on your face is so stupid," Alec says, unable to control his laughter. "Just tell me I'm an idiot and we can move on."

Cade receives the permission he needs to laugh and shoves Alec's shoulder. "Stupid ass."

"Hey, now," Alec says, shoving him back. "I didn't tell you to say all that."

Cade wipes his eyes as his laughter comes to an end. "We'll come up with something better. Or Zion can just design it for you. Just ask him."

"Yeah, I guess I'll do that," he says, pushing off of the couch. "I'm heading out now though."

"Where you off to?" Cade asks.

"A date."

"Not surprised."

Cade doesn't ask for the details and heads up to his room for a nap.

———

Meanwhile, the intense Fifa match ends in Ryland's defeat. It turns out Jay was right about his abilities and Ryland seemingly underestimated him. Disappointed that he lost the bet and cannot hear Jay sing, Ryland releases a sigh.

"Alright, let's hear what you've decided," Ryland says, turning his head to look at Jay.

Jay doesn't say anything and instead places a hand on the couch beside Ryland and leans in. Ryland's face immediately sports a confused look and he slowly backs away.

"Woah," Ryland says. "Don't you think we're moving a little too fast? I mean, I'm not opposed to it, but—"

Jay's other hand reaches for the remote from behind Ryland and he clicks the power button.

"That song was so damn loud," Jay says, dropping the remote. "What're you talking about?"

No one has ever has flustered Ryland in such a way and for the first time, he's unable to find the words to reply.

Jay puffs out a laugh and looks over at Ryland who silently stares back at him. And now, Ryland is the quiet one.

Finally, Ryland clears his throat and shakes his head. "I misunderstood."

Jay's lips curve up in a smirk. "What?"

"Nothing," Ryland says.

"That would be a terrible way to initiate something," Jay tells him. "Idiot."

Jay's words baffle Ryland again as he pegged him as the quiet and shy type.

"No shit," Ryland replies. "That's why I was surprised."

"Right," Jay says. "Well, I'll let you know when I think of something."

He places a hand on Ryland's shoulder after he stands up and gives it a pat.

"Nice try, bud," Jay says and offers a grin.

Ryland grabs Jay's hand as he turns away and halts him.

"Wait," Ryland says as Jay spins around to face him again. "Rematch."

Jay laughs. "Later. I have to help Vincent with something."

———

Vincent is fumbling around with picture frames when Jay enters his room and he releases a frustrated groan.

"I can't figure out how to organize them," Vincent explains. "They looked like shit when I hung them up."

Jay looks down at the arrangement Vincent has lying on the floor and silently judges his little brother's taste.

"Maybe get rid of that baby picture," Jay says and points toward it with his toe.

Vincent grabs it and holds it into his chest. "I can't."

"Why do you need your baby picture hanging up in your room?" Jay asks, taking a seat beside his brother on the floor.

"Because it's cute?" Vincent says. "I didn't ask you for your opinion on the pictures, Jay. I need help hanging them up."

"Grow."

Vincent throws a punch into Jay's arm and quickly retracts his hand, placing his other hand over it.

"Owwww," Vincent says. "When did you start working out?"

Jay releases a sigh. "A while ago. Let's just get this done."

Vincent furrows his eyebrows together. "As if you have anything better to do."

"I do," he replies.

"You do?" Vincent asks. "You made friends or something over there? I find that hard to believe."

Jay reaches out to hit his brother who quickly winces and backs away from him.

"Scaredy-cat."

Vincent purses his lips and curses at his brother as if they're twelve years old again.

It takes them two hours to finish hanging up the pictures with all of their banter and arguments, but Vincent proudly stands before it and grins.

"Thanks, Jay."

"Mhm."

Vincent begins shuffling around his desk and pulls out two tickets to a Wingspan concert and hands them to Jay.

"I can't go," Vincent says. "Annika has a Yu-Gi-Oh tournament and I'm going with her this weekend. You can have these as thanks for helping me."

Jay takes the tickets and shoves them into his pockets.

"Thanks."

"Take one of your new friends," Vincent says. "That Ryland guy seems pretty cool."

"That's not one of the words I'd use to describe him."

———

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