novacane | griezmann

16 // ELLIOTT + ANTOINE

"And I can't tell you why
Because my brain can't equate it
Tell me your lies,
Because I just can't face it."

-

-

-

Elliott

"So, how did you meet my son?" Isabelle was staring me down with a pleasant look on her face, one that screamed relief. I hoped his parents didn't think that Antoine and I were dating, or something.

"Uh," I stuttered. "We went to school together? High school?" I said it like it was a question.

"But Antoine is in his last year at university now," Isabelle chuckled, unconvinced. "Surely he would've told us about you sooner."

"Well—"

"We weren't friends until she showed up at Uni." Antoine intervened, unemotionally.

"Friends?" Alain rose his eyebrows. "You do those things with your friends, Antoine?"

I was blushing now. After all, I was embarrassed. Antoine had just friend zoned me after having romantically kissed me three times in front of his entire family—my brain was unable to equate what that meant.

Antoine cleared his throat and looked down at me, clearly because he didn't know what to say and figured that I would. "I, uh..." I didn't know what to say, either. After all, I didn't have his mind. "Excusez-moi," I spoke, before getting up and scurrying off to the ladies room.

"Merde. Elliott!" Antoine chased after me, however I willingly stopped running once we were in the lobby of the fancy building the wedding reception was in. "Elliott, I'm sorry. I choked."

"No, it's okay." I forced a smile on my lips. "It's not like we're more than that."

"More than what?"

"Friends." I muttered, my smile falling. It's a step up from whatever we were before, at least. Enemies with benefits?

Antoine's eyes searched mine for a few moments before he nodded. "Yeah," he agreed. "Yeah, okay. But listen, my parents can't know that. For years now, they've seen me as some kind of...devil child."

"Well, I wouldn't say they're the only ones."

Antoine sighed. "I haven't enjoyed myself like I am tonight in a long time, Elliott. Let's not mess things up."

"Well, I'm not the one that made out with you in front of everyone and then called you my friend in front of my entire family! I'm embarrassed, Antoine!"

"I apologized. What more can I do than that?"

"You can tell me the truth," I responded. "You can tell me what you really think we are."

Antoine opened his mouth. "Elliott, I...I don't know." He spoke, running a hand through the hair which had previously been elegantly combed back. I swallowed, forcing my eyes to search his. Antoine wasn't a liar, this much I knew.

I stepped back and let out a breath of disappointment before turning around, biting my lip. I was so stupid for allowing myself to think that he was finally coming along, finally beginning to feel the same way I did. "How could you do this?" I finally spoke, turning back to face him. "How could you be so cruel and selfish and indecisive—and live with yourself while you're at it? How can you do that, Antoine?"