Bad Habit

five

Sure, Finny probably should have been panicking, but instead, he was doing the exact opposite. After dropping the bomb shell that is 'I know about your thong-dancing, perverted video escapades,' Moss didn't react the was Finny thought he would. Moss' face went as white as a sheet, yes, and he lifted his hand to bite his thumb between his teeth; however, he didn't speak another word. He retreated back into the hallway, leaving Finny alone on the floor, beyond confused. Finny got up soon after and stumbled out of the bathroom, shaken with a bloodied nose. He lazily walked to the library before getting scolded by a teacher for walking around leaving a blood trail behind. She ordered him to go to the nurse to which he said he needed to gather his things from the library. The teacher kindly offered to grab them for him, relieving him because he really didn't want to see Moss again so soon. He wasn't scared or anything, but three minutes after the encounter was probably a bit too soon.

So he retreated to the nurse as instructed and waited for the arrival of his bags and books. He wondered if Moss looked over to see a random teacher collecting his belongings and felt confused. Little did he know, Moss was confused about not only that, but a thousand other things.

When Noah asked Moss why he was gone so long, why he looked like he was about to throw up, and why in God's name was he staring intently at Mrs. Levinn putting someone's shit into a book bag, Moss had no answer other than a mere shrug. The boy was stunned, dazed, stunted. He didn't know what had just happened and more importantly, he didn't know where to go from there. Where could he go? He had basically no options. It wasn't like he could even ask anyone for help without revealing himself to yet another person. He wished he could ask Noah, the boy going into social work, because he knew he'd give him fair advice. But could he tell Noah his secret without being completely rejected and shunned? Probably, but that was a risk Moss couldn't afford. There was no one else he could turn to; Moss felt isolated and different, two emotions he wasn't stranger to.

If it was anyone but Finny, Moss might have been able to formulate a plan to make the kid keep their mouth shut. But no, as if someone finding out was enough, the universe decided to play a cosmic joke on Moss and make the most wildcard kid find out.  Moss hadn't one clue about where Finny's head was at and what he aimed to gain by blackballing Moss in such a way. Moss figured that if it came down to it, he'd be willing to part with ten thousand dollars or less just to get the extroverted airhead to keep his mouth shut. Moss just couldn't have the world find out, he really, really couldn't. It would be one thing if Moss was simply gay and Finny somehow knew, but no, it was bigger than that. In a sense, Moss was embarrassed of what he did online and wanted to end it. But at the same time, it was an addiction that he had no desire to curve. 

And all that was why Moss was utterly wasted at a random house party on a Thursday night. Evidently, Finny, too, was at that party, equally as drunk. 

But if anyone had more of a right to be at the party, it was Finny. After all, his best friend Aro was hosting it. So Finny aimlessly stumbled around the familiar house he had slept over at countless times, except this time he was as drunk as he could be. He had no motives or anything, seeing as he was at a party with all his classmates, none of which were gay. Actually, that was a lie. Finny did know of some gay guys in his grade, and even some bisexual guys, but none of them were A) attractive, or B) willing to hookup with a lowlife such as Finny. Finny hadn't ever had a genuine relationship, he'd only fuck guys two or three times then move on to the next. He never actually hooked up with anyone from his school besides an extremely closeted jock back in sophomore year. The guy came out a year later, but Finny still regretted ever doing him because he felt used for experimentation. And that was something Finny had no respect for. 

In the midst of his wandering, Finny spotted Noah and smirked. He never got the chance to finish flirting with the boy at Moss' party and saw this as his new opportunity. "'Ey, Noah!" Noah glanced away from an intense game of beer pong to spot Finny waving so enthusiastically that he was spilling some clear liquid from his red cup. Noah chuckled and walked over to greet the boy, giving him a stereotypical slap up.