The Stars That Night [boyxboy]

The Stars That Night {6}

                My phone rang as I tossed the last of my stuff into a bag. I picked up my cell phone, checking the ID and mentally sighing as I slid my finger across the screen.

                "Hey, Roan," I said.

                "Hey. Come over. I'll order us pizza. That movie you like was on sale at the store, so I grabbed it," he said.

                Aw, man, way to make me feel guilty. "I can't tonight, Roan. I already have plans. I was actually just about to leave my house."

                "My parents won't be home tonight," he said, his voice insistent. "We'd have the whole house to ourselves. We could just hang out and watch a movie or...whatever, Garrett. We can do whatever."

                "I'm sorry, Roan. I really can't tonight. I'll keep tomorrow free for you, if you want?" I offered.

                "My parents will be home tomorrow," he said. "If we do it tomorrow, we'll be stuck in my room the whole time. Dad doesn't give up the living room TV. If we do it tonight, we can go in the living room and pull out the couch. We can have Fireball and cream soda."

                "Stop trying to tempt me," I groaned. "Roan, I mean it, I already have plans. I can't just cancel on them. I wouldn't cancel on you, and I won't cancel on my friends. If you want to come to our bonfire, I can ask Akira if his dad would be okay with that many of us."

                "No, it's fine," he said, but I could hear that irritation in his voice. "Have fun at your bonfire, Gar."

                "Roan-" I started.

                "I'm going to call Ali and see if she wants to hang out tonight. I'll talk to you tomorrow," he said and hung up.

                I rubbed my eyes and set my phone down. He could be so sweet and so exhausting all at the same damn time.

                I grabbed my bag and left the house, getting into my car. Roan would hang out with his friends, and I'd hang out with mine, and everything would be fine next time we saw each other. I wasn't going to cancel on my friends for my boyfriend, not unless it was important.

                So I drove myself to Akira's house, going up and ringing the doorbell. Mr. Riku answered and led me inside.

                "Hi Garrett. Akira and Jack are grabbing the stuff from the basement. You can wait in the kitchen for them," he said, gesturing to the kitchen table. He didn't give me any instructions for what to do about the three people gathered around the island counter watching me.

                "Um...hello," I said, sitting at the table as Mr. Riku left the room.

                Kaito, Silas, and Jill all watched me. Kaito looked irritated that I was in his house, and I briefly wondered if he and Roan would make good friends. I seemed to be able to piss them off with mind-blowing ease.

                "Staring at me won't make me go away," I said after another awkward moment. "Please direct your attention to literally anything else in the room."

                "So anyways, my mom said she can get us those tickets at a reduced price," Jill said, and the three fell back into conversation with each other.

                Now that Silas's nose wasn't bleeding, I noticed how nice his hair looked. He'd cut it shorter, and it rested at a nice length. It gave him a much cleaner appearance. He looked a lot less like a guy who would corner you in gray sweatpants and socks and sandals to steal your lunch money, and more like a guy who'd hold the door open for you on your way into the store and tell your grandma to have a nice day.