Timidly

10 | don't come back

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"DONNA I REALLY need to talk to you-" Manny announces, slamming the door and flouncing over to the hotel bed.

My eyes grow wider, and I feel my face drain of all its colour; leaving a pale, blank canvas occupied by a baffled expression.

"Now? Could you like, possibly come back in about an hour?" I say, the words a jumbled mess. I feel my entire body heat up, until I'm certain something is sweating.

Manny scoffs and joins me on the bed, fanning his body out across the duvet like a proud, gay starfish; this forces me to shuffle over to the corner.

"No. I desperately need the advice of my best friend" Manny tries to get comfortable, propping his head up on a pillow. I fiddle nervously with my fingers, praying to a higher power that the damp, possibly nude, boy inside the bathroom won't decide to exit at this very moment.

"O-okay. About what exactly?"

"So, you know how I've never been the type of person that has ever been in a stable relationship-" Manny begins, pausing for a reaction. I so graciously hold off from pointing out all of his failures at dating.

"-but I feel as if Sebastian and I really hit it off back at the airport last week"

Adjusting my posture, I cover Manny's hands with my own and lean in close so he's looking me dead in the eyes. "Hunny, I hate to be the one to break it to you but, you've never even spoken to him!"

Manny gasps dramatically and pushes me away. "Love at first sight exists. I mean, what about you? I can't believe you didn't tell me about Costello. Like, I knew you were crushing on him hard, but sharing a kiss? I thought best friends were supposed to tell each other everything"

A wave of guilt washes over me. Why didn't I? Is the question I ask myself, over and over again. But I can't come up with a plausible and legitimately correct answer.

"You're right, you're so right; and I'm incredibly sorry. I guess I didn't know what Costello and I were. Or still are. Everything has been a bit complicated lately" I mumble, unable to meet Manny's gaze.

Our legs stretch across the bed, and I dig my toes into the patterned comforter.

"I'm not mad, Don. I'm never mad. But thank you for admitting that things are not sorted out. Maybe that's what you should focus on after calling your mom"

A small laugh coated in nervousness and suspicion escapes my mouth. "So, because your my understanding, loving best friend who is always supportive of my feelings- maybe I should tell you something before you find out in an awkward manner"

Manny pushes himself off of the bed, letting out an unsettling groan. I watch, utterly bewildered, as he struts over to the bathroom, curling his hand around the silver doorknob.

"I'm assuming you mean this?" Throwing the door open, a seemingly surprised Costello is dressed in a dark blue polo and skinny jeans, his hair tangled atop his head; dripping wet. Manny smirks at my expression, and at Costello's, before dragging him out into the centre of the room where my dignity is lying trampled on the floor.

"Before you imply anything, know that we didn't do it. He just needed a quick shower because his pipes are getting repaired!" I quickly say, hiding behind my thick hair that I hadn't yet curled this morning.