Nathan

❶⓿

"The jealousy ends today."
- Peri

On the walk home, Nathan decided to finally speak up on the situation. I had been hoping ever since it happened that we would have this conversation, even if it took a little small talk to get it out of him.

"Uhh, did you decide who you're going to bring with us this weekend?" Nathan asked, looking over to me fully. I glanced down at our feet, noticing how he was walking more in sync with me. Which meant that he officially wasn't trying to avoid me by walking faster.

"Yeah, Roman, I had to jump through like fifteen hoops for him to finally say yes. I swear he made it seem like this was a big commitment or some shit." I vented, feeling more comfortable talking to my brother now.

"Really!? Im surprised that he didn't jump at the opportunity, but hey, what do I know." He shrugged, knowing that I was going to hit him – which I did – and make him elaborate – which I also made him do. "How does, what's his name, Eli, how does he feel about this?"

"Firstly, he's not my boyfriend, we only talk. Second, he's verbally fine, I just wish that he grasped the idea that Roman is only my friend a bit more but hey." I shrugged, playing with the strap on my book bag.

"Firstly," He mocked, getting my voice perfectly. "you guys only talk when his tongue isn't down your fucking throat. Second, I can guarantee you he's not fine, and stop lying."

"What do you mean, stop lying? About what?"

"Nothing, look, I've been putting this off for a bit, but I think we should talk about what happened at Asher's." Nathan changed the subject quickly, probably because he had been stalling from the very beginning.

I nodded in agreement, not feeling the need to verbally agree because all I wanted to hear was his explanation for doing what it is that he did. "I don't know ... why I did what I did, but just know that it was completely unintentional. I admit it, I did kiss you, I just hate to get your feelings all mixed up."

"You admit it, what?" I ask with a scrunched up face.

"Like, actually kissing you, I'm not going to sit here and say 'I wasn't in my right mind' or 'I didn't know what I was doing' because I did. Something kind of came over me, but I assure you it's gone." Nathan clarified, and I was almost okay with this.

I say almost because his words made my throat swell, since it wasn't what I wanted to hear. But then again, what was I expecting, I mean, he did say he disliked me having these feelings for him. So any disappointment that I feel right now is completely self-inflicted.

"Okay." I wasn't going to push or pry any longer, he said what he said, and it would be foolish of me to try and get him to say anything different.

X

After I went home and checked in with my mom, I drove Nathan's car over to Eli's house. Farrah had called me as I was walking through the door, and let me tell you, she was not happy. "Sis, I'm sorry, but what importance is this to you anyway?" I asked, trying my best to get out of this dog house she had put me in.

"It's every importance! You asked Roman to the Hampton's instead of me!? What did he offer you, I'm sure I could double it." Farrah insisted, and I honestly wasn't expecting this reaction from her.

"Nothing, Farrah If I were to take you on this trip instead, you would do nothing but sleep the entire time." As I spoke to Farrah, Eli was trying his hardest to get into my pants. I kept shoving him away because I was on the phone, I'm sure Farrah wouldn't want to hear me moaning his name in her ear either.

"You don't know that!" She yelled, and Eli had finally settled on just kissing my neck, which was something I could resist much easier than anything else.

"I do, when I brought you with us to Manhattan, all you did was stay in the hotel and watch Teen Wolf." I recollected, "Which was something you could've done from the comfort of your own bed."

"Fine! You know what, have fun with Penelope and Nathan." Farrah finalized, right before hanging up on me. I just chuckled to myself, knowing that this little hissy fit of hers would end as soon as Justin Bieber posts another picture to his Instagram, and she needs someone to obsess over it with.

By now, Eli had backed up away from me, and just sat there beside me with a blank face. "What's wrong?" I ask, placing my hand on his shoulder. He tried to ignore me at first, but I guess he caved moments later.

"You ... you're bringing Roman with you instead of Farrah?" The boy asked, and I instantly knew just how he felt about this whole trip. "Isn't she like your best friend?"

"They both are, and it's not like I invited him over her because I'd prefer to go with him instead. Well, actually I would, but it isn't because I'm more fond of him." I explain, hoping that he realized where I was coming from.

"No, you know what, I can't do this anymore." He blurted, and stood up from off of the bed. "I can't keep holding this in, you have to hear it."

What was Eli about to say?

"Roman likes you, and trust me when I say this because nobody understands a boy better than a boy. That dude is geeked over you, and I don't know if you're lying to yourself, or if you just honestly don't see it, but it's true." He informed, talking with his hands the entire time.

Letting out a deep breath, I fell backwards onto his bed. His words reminded me of what Nathan told me earlier today, and I was still choosing not to believe them. Nathan, I can't understand his motive, but Eli, I knew exactly what would make him say this.

"Why the fuck are you so jealous of Roman!? It's the both of you, like ... is this about the trip? Are you upset that I didn't ask you, I just figured you'd want to stay with your sister." I honestly told him, watching as his face contorted into a confused expression.

"Yo ..... are you serious? I swear I've never fucked with someone as blind as you." Eli scoffed, and sat back down next to me. "I admit it, I'm jealous of Roman, only because it seems that you have a better time with him than you do with me.

Other than that, I don't like him, simply because I can see that he has feelings for you, despite the fact that you and I talk."

Now that Eli completely explained to me how he felt about Roman, it all made sense now. It doesn't make me believe that the boy likes me, though, I'd have to hear that from his mouth. Only because we've known each other for years, and this is the first time that I'm hearing this directly.

"I'll talk to him about it at some point, but you don't have to be jealous over him, I have fun with you too. It's a different kind of fun, that I've never had with him before." I knew that in saying that, Eli would feel better, because he's done something with me that Roman has never done.

Boys are weird, it's all a damn pissing match when it comes to them. The amount of reassurance that they need is insane because you could literally be in a relationship with them and they'd still feel the need for it.

"That's good to know, I'll remember that next time." Eli nodded, placing his arm across my shoulder. I was confused, because I hoped that there wouldn't be a next time. The jealousy ends today.

"The next time?" I asked, looking up at him weirdly.

"The next time we're having fun."

X