PHASES

Episode 7: No Rainbows

"So how was it?" asked Zoe teasingly

They were both outside the school, early Monday waiting for the bell to ring.

"You were there for most of it, Zoe" answered Justin a little shyly. "We went to the mall after you left, did some sight seeing and went to the concert; which was fun by the way. On Sunday, we saw the parade and then came back. Theres nothing else to tell"

But something did happen, thought Justin to himself, although he wasn't sure what it was. On Sunday morning, the day after the concert Justin had woken up alone, shirtless and slightly hungover. He wasnt sure yet but he was pretty certain that he and Mark had slept in the same bed. Why couldn't he remember? Had he done something embarrassing?

He had found Mark hours after in the hotel's restaurant alone with an untouched coffee. Althroughout the winding and eleborate street parade, Mark had seemed preoccupied, like someone who didn't want to be there, even his smiles looked strained and forced. They had driven back home in silence and had not talked to each other since.

"You can't tell me that's all that happened! The two of you stuck together in a hotel suite, in an exotic city"

"What did you expect. We have been alone together plenty of times. Why would this time be different?"

"Well-"

"Well, no!" Justin interjected as Calvin walked passed them. He waved and smiled warmly as he strode past. And suddenly his fight and momentary reconciliation with Mark flashed past in his mind but he quickly pushed it out of his mind. This was not the time. "oh and we ran into Calvin and his hot cousins"

But Zoe only nodded weakly in Calvin's direction.

"Are you ever going to tell him?" asked Zoe, her tone had changed and her voice now streaked with worry and concern.

"Tell him what? asked Justin, a little distracted. "What would be the point? And telling him would do neither of us any good. It won't change what he is"

Zoe could not ignore Justin's dismissive voice that told her that nothing further was to be said on the matter.

A moment later the bell rang and they made their way towards their first class.

*****

Nu'Est High School was in high spirits as it waited for the highly anticipated basketball match against their archnemisis, St Judes College, a fancy private school located in the heart of the Katnis City. St Judes had defeated
Nu'Est in all their matches for the last 18 months, but the school felt confident that this match would be different.

Zoe and Justin were sitting outside on one of the benches near the administration offices watching as Nu'Est and St Judes students alike passed them now and then.

"Hey!" exclaimed Zoe, as if suddenly remembering something. "You never told me what you guys were fighting about before"

"What?"

"You know that whole weird tention between you and Mark after his party"

It took Justin a moment to get what Zoe was talking about. And when he did he was hesitant to talk about it.

"Well?" asked Zoe, sensing Justin's reluctance.

After some intense glaring from his best friend, Justin finally answered.

"I kissed him the night of the party"

Zoe had made  a loud noise of surprise before she said "what!"