The Lies That We Tell

𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞

Walking to the coffee shop, Theo was surprised to see Quentin behind the desk in all his glory. It was a little unexcepted because for some reason, he thought that extraordinary person like him wouldn't do such a typical work.

Today, he was wearing his dark work clothes, which was almost boring to his normal colorful clothes. This time, his nail polish was red. He frowned at that but said nothing.

"Freddie! What can I get to you?" he narrowed his eyes at him when he said that nickname. He hated it and yet, this must be, what, the fifth time he heard it. How embarrassing it would it be if some of his teammates heard it!

"Don't call me that! And what are you doing here anyway?"

"Stupid idiot, I met you here when you just moved. You were very rude like you always are. Anyway, I work here on weekends," he explained and continued when he must have been how confused Theo was.

"My aunt Vicky owns this coffee shop and lets me earn some money here. Sometimes I do work shifts on weekdays but mostly only on emergencies like, if someone gets hit by a car suddenly or something like that."

"Alright... just give me one coffee with sugar in it," he said, not really caring what the boy said, and got a nod with a smile in return before he turned to do his order. Soon he got his drink and paid. Before leaving, he looked at Quentin whose back was to him now as he was cleaning.

"Why do you wear red nail polish?" that made him turn around too and now his brown eyes met blue eyes that held no anger or frustration that he excepted when he asked that question.

"Why wouldn't I? I like the color and my nails look better with it," he said, raising eyebrows as if it was no big deal and Theo wondered if there could be anybody more gay than him.

"You do realize that all that makes people judge you and bully you," he said for some reason while knowing that he himself had called him with few not-so-friendly names.

"And why would I change something about myself that I actually like just because some random people don't like it?" he asked. Theo was about to answer even though he didn't know exactly what to say. He was right but he wanted to prove him wrong somehow. One thing he absolutely hated was being wrong.

However, he was interrupted by a girl. She started to walk towards them and he realized she was looking at him with a wide smile on her face. "Theo, here you are! I've been trying to find you everywhere since you forgot to give me your number!"

He had no idea who she was but damn, did it feel good to know you have made such a great impression on people. Desperately he tried to remember how exactly he knew her as she seemed to think they were great friends or something but for him, she looked like any skinny, blonde-haired girl at school. Maybe a cheerleader?

"Hello... you," he lamely said and turned to look at Quentin who was staring at them with no shame like a stalker. As if reading Theo's mind and knowing he has no idea who this girl was, he wordlessly whispered a name Stacy for him.

"Stacy, how are you? Last time was great but..."

"Did you say Stacy? I'm Miranda, you asshole! Guess what, karma will hit you right in the face and make you wish you never messed up with me or any of those hundreds of girls whose hearts you have broken!" And just like that, she was gone before he could say anything. Good, now he didn't have to deal with her anymore.

Theo turned to look at the oh, so innocent Quentin Adams who was now serving a customer. "You think you're being funny, don't you?"

"Usually yes but now I have no idea what you're talking about," Quentin said and tried to avoid looking at his way. If it wasn't the smile he was trying to hide, Theo would have maybe even believed that he really made a mistake and accidentally said a wrong name. But because he was such a bad liar, he knew better.

"Why did you say Stacy?"

"Why shouldn't I say Stacy? And why did you assume I said it to you?"

"Because you were looking at me! And well, because I'm me!"

"Do you really think I'm so interested in you that I know every name of the girls you have fucked? If you weren't such an asshole, you would have maybe remembered her name and avoided that situation," the red-haired boy said and turned around without even waiting for his answer.

What was it with people ending conversations before he could have the last word? He was Theodore Peterson for a fuck's sake!

"And you suck dicks!"

"I sure do and you know what?" Quentin was now getting closer and closer and before Theo could say something to stop it, he was already whispering his ear, trying to be seductive.

Somehow, he could only stand there and let it happen. He was shaking. Oh god, what was happening? His mind and body, everything in him went blank as Quentin slowly started to speak again so quietly that he almost didn't hear it.

"It tastes good. Want to have a try?" Then he stepped back with a stupid smirk on his stupid face as if he knew some big secret.

It took him a while, maybe couple seconds or so, but eventually Theo realized what just happened. There were no words to describe how embarrassed and terrified and disgusted he felt.

He had two options: one, leave and avoid Quentin for the rest of his life and forget that he didn't just use Theo's own tricks on him. Two, punch him in the face so hard that he would know not to get in his eyesight ever again. Because he wasn't a coward, he chose the later one. And that's how Quentin ended up with a nosebleed.