Temporary Bliss [boyxboy]

20: Once Is A Mistake, Twice Is a Decision

Finn

The next day after Caleb had gone to work, I did some laundry and cleaning because even though he had told me not to, I didn't want him to come home from work and then have to do even more work.

I tried to finish as quickly as possible, because there was something else I was itching to do - and that was watching the movie Caleb had gotten me.

Doing something like that was uncharacteristic for Caleb, yet so undeniably cute that I couldn't help grinning like an idiot.

When I so much as thought of him these days my stomach seemed to swim with a weird feeling that had nothing to do with the food poisoning - whenever I was around him, I just wanted to smile. And whilst I didn't mind it for the most part, I was also very worried.

There was no denying it anymore, that for some reason my feelings for him were changing.
But the thing was that they shouldn't have been.
I'd been over this in my head so many times and even I was getting sick of just repeating myself...
But it couldn't work. For obvious reasons.

I figured that I just had to distract myself and then the feeling would pass, because ignoring your problems always solved them in some way or another... Sooner or later... Right?

I sat down in front of the TV, deep in thought as I sipped my tea, thinking of all the twists and turns my time with Caleb had taken already. It was definitely a dysfunctional household we were living in, but rather than this thought making me upset, it made me chuckle.

---

I got up after watching the movie and a few others, figuring that Caleb was probably going to be home soon. I scanned the contents of the fridge, debating if Caleb would like a chicken stir-fry as the front door opened and Matt walked in, smiling brightly as always.

"What are you doing here?" I asked and Matt shrugged.

"Thought I'd come say hi. How're you doing?"

I was about to answer when I caught a glance of Caleb who passed by the kitchen and my heart sank a little.
He looked terrible, worn out, tired and paler than usual.
It was a stark contrast to what he'd looked like when he'd left the house in the morning and I was worried.

I really kind of wanted to hug him then, but not only did I not know how he'd react, but I just didn't have the nerve.
And in any case, Caleb didn't look all that interested, hadn't even looked in my direction since he'd entered the house. I pushed past Matt to go talk to him, but when I approached the couch he was sitting on, he immediately got up.

"I'm going out," was the first thing he said and I frowned, feeling a little hurt.
"Oh..." I mumbled, "Where?"

"Probably to get hammered," Matt piped up and I looked at Caleb questioningly. Were they fighting? Caleb closed his eyes, looking frustrated at the comment, but he didn't say anything. This confused me - Caleb usually had a smart remark ready.

He gestured for me to follow him into the hall and out of Matt's earshot.
"Are you okay?" I asked softly and he just nodded, even though we both knew he was lying.

"Are you sure?" I insisted and he sighed.

"Yeah, don't worry about it."

"But-"

"Forget it. Just go have fun with Matt for a while, okay?"

"I guess," I answered, not being able to help the way my bottom lip jutted out, "When are you gonna be back?"

"Later," Caleb said and it was vague and I didn't like it at all. I wanted to ask him to not go out, but he was a grown man and I couldn't tell him what to do.