Temporary Bliss [boyxboy]

39: Up and Down

[note: sorry for the in-chapter POV change :/]

Though we had technically resolved our issues, Caleb was still acting cold toward me a lot of the time. It sucked, but as I said - I was done getting wound up about it.
Besides, I'd apologized to Danny again and he'd decided to forgive me for my little outburst, which meant that I at least had him to go to.

But it was two or three days later, that things really began to get out of hand.

I was just about leaving for Anna's house, when Caleb asked me where I was going.

"Over to Anna's. Just to hang out," I explained as I finished tying my shoe.

"Aha, to hang out... Isn't that the chick you... you know..."
He made a typical hand gesture.

I rolled my eyes, "Yes, Caleb. And yes, just to hang out."

"But... I'm hungry. Can you cook something?"

"What? Just order something," I said, "I gotta go."

"No. Don't."

"What do you want? I'm gonna be late," I said, now getting a little annoyed.

"I don't... I don't want you to go to her house is what I'm saying," he clarified.

I snorted, "Thanks for sharing. And that matters how exactly?"
I realized I was getting an attitude, but Caleb acting like he had any authority over me made me incredibly mad.

"I don't like you going over to the girl's house that you banged. It's... no."

"Caleb, I really don't see why you would care. And frankly, I don't care enough about why you care. Cause again - I'm gonna be late."
I made a move to step outside, but the brunette boy grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"Are you insane?" I tore my arm out of his grip, "Let me go! What is wrong with you?"

"I don't want you going over there and fucking some random girl, okay?!" he exclaimed.

"Caleb, what the fuck?" I said incredulously, "She's a friend and I'm not going to see her for that! How many more times do I need to tell you?"

"Well, I don't have to believe you," he argued and I scoffed.

"True. Just like I don't have to care because you don't have to care what I get up to."

"But I do," Caleb said and I only made a noise of confusion.

"But why?! You are the one who's all about 'casual' and 'no strings attached'. I literally just asked you if it was cool for me to meet other people the other day. So please tell me, why do you care?"

"I just do."

I rolled my eyes, "That's not a sufficient answer. Either you talk to me or I'm leaving."

"I just... I don't like you seeing other people, alright? I don't like it, I don't want you to. End of story." he stated.

"But it doesn't make any sense!" I said in exasperation, "You don't want me seeing other people but you don't want to be with me either. You can't have it both ways. I can't do that, Caleb."

"Who says I don't want to be with you?"

"You say that, Caleb. You've said it multiple times. I know you don't."

"Well, maybe I do. Things can change." he said.

And I swear my heart skipped a beat, or maybe ten, right then.

"What? What are you saying?"

He shrugged.

I took a deep breath, "I need clear answers. Do you want to be with me or not?"