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the morning fog still hung low over newport beach, softening the rows of expensive houses, sparkling pools, and quiet streets that looked untouched by actual human suffering.
the pier cut through the ocean like a spine, gulls circling overhead while the water slapped lazily against the wooden posts beneath it.
seth, ryan, and zach walked side by side down the pier with coffees in their hands, the boards creaking under their sneakers.
"so what do i do?" seth asked, sounding genuinely tortured by it.
zach glanced over. "what do you wanna do?"
seth pointed dramatically at himself. "what i wanna do is drive over to her apartment right now and just ask her flat out, alex, are we in a relationship or are we not."
"good, man," zach said immediately. "you should do it."
ryan looked at him. "he's not doing it."
"ryan," seth said, exasperated, "it's been almost a week, okay, and i still don't know where alex stands." he gestured wildly with his coffee. "is she back together with her lesbian ex, and if so, are they open to some sort of ménage à trois situation as seen in the film summer lovers."
zach's eyebrows lifted. "oooh. i didn't even think of that."
"yeah, well," seth muttered, "i did. quite a bit actually."
"if you have to wonder about it," ryan said dryly, "it's probably not happening."
seth frowned. "which part? the threesome or the relationship?"
they headed off the pier and toward the diner, the bell above the door jingling as they stepped inside.
"so you never had, like, a moment's doubt about you and lindsay?" zach asked as they slid into a booth.
"not really," ryan said automatically.
seth coughed into his fist. "denial. uh-hm." ryan shot him a look while seth glanced around theatrically. "is there pollen in here or something?"
ryan sighed. "alright, there may've been a moment."
seth coughed again, louder this time. "liiiiaaaar."
