The New Guy

highs and lows

Gil's POV

Matt left a quick kiss on my cheek when he went home. Somehow that short-circuited my brain more than anything beforehand. I was leaning on the door clutching my chest as if I were going to collapse (or start singing).

Then Toni came into my sight with a shit-eating grin. Two seconds of eye contact and me throwing a shoe at him and we were off on a chase. He was so dead. Deader than dead.

"You're a real prick, you know that!" I yelled at him as I slid to a stop seeing him at the opposite end of the hall upstairs.

"Come on, Gil, you're over reacting." He laughed, his hand swatting at the air as if swatting away his actions from earlier.

"I really hate you."

"No you don't. I'm your best friend, of course!" He put his hands together and rubbed them almost evilly. He wore a sweet smile that contrasted like white on black. "So, when's the wedding? I'd love to be your best man."

"You're actually insane."

"But you two are so cute together, one can only assume-"

"Toni, I'm too tired for your shit." I rubbed my face with one hand trying to get the sleep off, my other hand going on my hip as I shifted my weight onto one leg.

"You're fault, you know."

"Shutup." I groaned. "It's hard enough trying to keep my cool around him, you really weren't helping me earlier."

"That's where you're wrong!"

"Wha-"

"When I yelled from upstairs, you guys were clearly struggling to carry your own conversation and by my intervention I gave you two some breathing room."

"Damn you."

"I'm clever, I know." He winked. "I told Francis, by the way."

"What'd he say?" I let my hand drop from my face.

"That he was going to have a long talk with Matthew about safety when get's to his house."

"He is really trying hard isn't he?"

"I say we let him go for it, if he wants to be a dad, let him try."

"It'll stay at just that, you know." I shook my head disappointed in Francis for trying so hard. "He's going to try to be something that those two don't want. They have loads of issues as it is, how does he expect to push through and at least get their trust?"

"You sound like you know a lot about that family."

"I know a bit about Matt, I'm just trying to put some things together and making an educated guess."

"Quite the genius as always."

"You know me," I relaxed. "I never change."

"That's true-say, why do you have the entire harry potter series open all at once opened to chapter six on your bed?"

"It's a ritual Toni."

"What kind of ritual?"

"To maybe one day summon myself to Hogwartz and leave my shit life behind. It has yet to work."

"Your life isn't shit, you literally just hooked up with your-possibly last-high school sweetheart."

"I wonder a little more every second how I can stand you."

"You're just used to me, is all."

"Whatever." I leaned onto the wall, the exhaustion finally getting to me. I reached out to him for help. "Toni, be a dear and carry me to my bed."