CECE, DISRESPECTFULLY | ✓

30: LEARNING NEW TRICKS

            Jumping into things without thinking is summat I do professionally but I may have outdone myself this time. How exactly am I planning to keep Diwa occupied for two weeks? Only things I do in my free time are get high and vandalise public property and somehow I don't reckon she'll go for either. Not to mention the fact that I might experience a compulsive need to blow my head off from spending so much time with her.

I drop my phone onto my bed when the featured snippets on my google search only provide stupid ideas, tugging my earbuds out without bothering to pause my music.

Caleb's dulcet tones reach me the moment I open my door.

'–then Rishi said our relationship is based on entirely the fact that we're both trans which is totally unfounded cause we're also both autistic actually, so yeah, what're you gonna say about that?'

I step back into my room only to immediately step out of it. I don't wanna interrupt but I also can't wait for some perfect opportunity cause one will never arise with these two.

'I'm not talking to him until he apologises.'

'I'm sure he will,' Nicolás responds. 'And you know it must've come from a genuine place. You talk about it all the time—how your dating pool is so limited. He's just worried you're settling cause–'

'That's not true! I well fancy her. I know we've not really got much in common but I don't understand why being in a relationship means we have to do everything together. Why can't we just have our own hobbies and interests and tell each other about them?'

'Course, you can. Eilidh makes you happy, I can see that. And I well hope you don't split up cause I'm not doing it on your behalf like last time–'

'Why are you bringing that up now?'

Nicolás don't take the bait. 'Look,' he says, 'Rishi's mean. But so are you. You have to tell him he hurt your feelings cause he might not even realise considering how you two talk.'

Caleb mutters summat I can't hear before giving in. 'Fine. I hate it when you bring reason into the conversation.'

I've slunk as quietly as I can down the stairs and now listen from outside the kitchen door. Either they've suddenly started talking much quieter or there's a pause in the conversation because I hear nowt. As perfect timing as any, then.

They both flinch when I open the door though gladly greet me when the intruder turns out not to be a robber.

'Are you hungry?' Nicolás asks, already fetching me a plate. 'Caleb brought gyoza.'

I try to thank him though my voice might rust into my throat so I take my seat in silence. We only have two chairs but Caleb conveniently comes with his own.

Nicolás gives me a Monster from the fridge, brushing my shoulder as he passes. I flinch away from his touch and he pauses on his trip around the table.

'Sorry.'

Nicolás keeps his eyes downcast as he sits back down. Caleb takes his hand under the table.

I look at the dumplings in front of me and wait for the warning that they're poisoned but it don't come. Maybe Beewolf trusts Caleb's mum more than Nicolás or maybe it's luck but I know not to question it too much. I've no clue how to use chopsticks so I dunk the gyoza into the dipping sauce with my hands. Surprisingly, Caleb don't look like I've insulted his entire bloodline.

They watch me and I watch them back.

'So you've been friends for a long time,' I say. 'Back when you didn't have any money–'