Mr. Cupid

Chapter 23

That night I dragged myself home, every step taking a toll on the mental strength I had left, which wasn't much. The second I got through my front door I saw my mom sitting at the table. She looked up when she heard the door open, I saw her eyes tear stained, and she had an expression that made me want to crawl into a hole and die. She knew.

I scrunched up my nose, almost in pain. She instantly got up from her chair and ran over to me, tackling me in her embrace.

"I'm so sorry, Caleb. I'm sorry. I'm so so so sorry." Mom repeated, running her hand soothingly down my back. I sobbed, and clung to her like my life depended on it.

~~~

About an hour later, I was curled up on the couch with a blanket, blankly staring at the tv screen as an episode of Gossip Girl played. A knock came from the front door, and I heard my mom call that she would get it. She rushed downstairs, passed the tv, and towards the door. Curious as to who was here, my gaze drifted over to the door when she opened it.

I saw Daniel standing at the door with a large plastic bag in his hands and a backpack strung over his shoulders. I furrowed my brows, but stayed silent, diverting my gaze back to the tv. I heard them talking about something, but couldn't really make out what since it was quiet. Then, they looked over at me and Daniel stepped inside.

"I'll get some silverware." My mom said, going into the kitchen. Daniel set down the bag on the coffee table, and took a seat next to me.

"Hey Caleb, how're you holding up?" Daniel said gently. I didn't take my gaze off of the tv.

"What're you doing here." I questioned, coldly. I didn't mean to, but I'm all out of sorts.

"Your mom asked me to stop by. I talked to her when we were at school today. After... you know." So that's what he was doing. That talk with Principal Simonsson. He called my mom. That's how she fucking knew.

I was feeling a whole blizzard of emotions. Anger, confusion, relief? I sat up on the couch, still kind of keeping to myself while wrapped in a blanket. I was still silent, not wanting to say anything.

Daniel sighed. He sat forward and started digging through the bag, pulling out a little carton of food, holding it out to me with an expectant gaze. I looked between him and the carton for about a minute. He groaned slightly and shook the carton suggestively. "It's cashew beef. Take it."

I took it out of his hands, my mom walking in just then handing me a fork. Daniel went back to rummaging through the bag and handing out food. When we all got situated and started eating, we put our focus on the tv. Nothing more.

~~~

"Who's that supposed to be?" Daniel asked. I looked at him like he was on crack.

"Have you not been paying attention?" I questioned him. He looked over at me with pure confusion on his face.

"I have, I just don't watch these shows." He said with a shrug.

"The girl is Andie Walsh, the guy with the dorky outfit us Duckie, and the normal one is Blane." I explained once again. He looked at the screen again and then back at me.

"You lost me at Andie."

"Have you seriously not seen Pretty in Pink?"

"Nope."

"What about Lucas?"

"Nuh-uh."

"Purple Rain?!" I asked, desperately. He looked up in thought.

"That one sounds familiar. Does it have... uh... Prince in it?" I heard my mom groan in relief along with myself.

"Finally. He knows one." I sighed. Daniel just laughed at both of our reactions.

"We should watch Purple Rain then." My mom suggested.

"If we do I'll cry." I looked at her. She sighed, and then grabbed the remote, shutting the tv off.

"Remember when you were little and you cried because you couldn't figure out how to spell Giraffe? You tried so hard." My mom spoke. I smiled.

"I was five! And I wanted to label what the animals were. I got frustrated!" My mom started laughing and she looked at Daniel.

"He truly thought it was spelt with a 'J' and when I proved it was spelled with a 'G' he started crying." Daniel looked at me with a coy smile. Oh no.

"Pinkie you seemed so cute when you were little. Didn't change much since then either." Daniel snickered, shortly after receiving a smack from me.

"Cute my ass!" I argued, smile tracing my lips.

"Language!" My mom scolded with a small smile.

"Bet it is." Daniel replied.

"Okay!" My mom got up from her chair and looked at us. "I'm heading to bed. I'll bring you boys some pillows and blankets before I sleep." She walked away from us and I gave Daniels shoulder another smack when her back was turned. He just laughed at my now crimson cheeks.

A few minutes later there were pillows and blankets flying down the stairs and thwumping onto the floor. "Goodnight boys!" I heard my mom faintly call from upstairs.

"Goodnight!" I called back, getting up and picking up a pillow.

"Damn. You do have a cute ass." Daniel deadpanned as I leaned over to pick up the pillow. I felt my face grow warm. I turned around to face him, throwing the pillow I had just moments before at his stupid face.

"Shut up!"

~~~

After setting up the pillows and blankets on the fold out couch and putting on a movie that neither of us were really paying attention to, I decided I wanted to ask about something that's been bothering me ever since that time we talked.

"Uhm... Daniel?" I asked quietly. He hummed in response, shifting his gaze from the movie to me. We were laying right next to each other, but we had room to spread out.

"Do you... well... I have some questions about you... w-well I mean, ever since we talked yesterday, I've had some questions. But you- we don't have to talk about it again if you don't want to." I kind of blurted. I hate me.

"Hmm. I don't mind. Whatcha wanna ask, shrimp?" Daniel replied nonchalantly.

"W-well you said that you got harassed and bullied because there was a rumor that you were gay..." I trailed off a small bit. "A-are you? Gay? I mean, I don't mean to pry. I'm just curious." I finished off weakly. I need social skills :,).

"I'm actually bisexual, but Elson told my team that I was gay. They didn't know the whole story, but I'm sure that if he told them I was bi I would have gotten a little less hate, or more. I don't really wanna know." Daniel explained. I was expecting a whopping absolutely not but I was taken aback a little. I heard a little voice in my mind that chanted 'you have a chance! Kiss le boi!' But I ignored it, mostly.

"Oh. I see." I mumbled. He sat up, looking at me more since it was dark. He had a coy smile along his lips.

"Is that all you wanted to ask?" He prodded.

"I suppose so." I answered.

"Then, do you mind if I ask you a question?" He smirked. Oh no. I wanted to say no, but it was only fair. A question for a question. I mentally sighed and punched myself for even wanting to ask a question, and shook my head, waiting for his query.

"Do you like me?"

It took me a few moments to register, but when it got through I felt my ears and neck burn as I registered what he had asked. I slapped my hands onto my face and vigorously shook my head.

No no no no no no no no no no no-

"Ha. I'll take that reaction as a yes." Daniel laughed wholeheartedly. I could fucking feel his ray of fucking sunshine radiating off of him like a death beam.

Fuck.