Somewhere Only We Know

Acting Every Week

Chapter Six

I think we are friends.

I usually sit alone in the cafeteria. No alone but not with friends either. Sometimes Noah comes to sit with me for a few minutes but then he goes over to join Cassie and I'm left alone again. I've gotten used to it so when someone sits down opposite me, I'm more than surprised.

"So I was thinking," Winston says as he puts his packaged sandwich on the table. "Benny's usually busy on Fridays. And you and I, we're usually free."

I stare at him. He doesn't explain anything, he just sits down and starts talking to me about Benny for some reason

"So I was thinking," he says again and he looks me in the eye. "Maybe we should go out every Friday? Like to see a film or maybe something else? Whatever you like. And only if you're free."

I understand where he's coming from. Friday evenings are awkward, to say the least. We hang out in the dorm room trying to do some homework and pretending that we're busy when really all we wanna do is just have the room to ourselves.

Winston starts chewing on his lip as he waits for an answer and I sigh.

"Do I get to pick the movie though?" I ask and he grins. We both know I wasn't a fan of the movie he picked last time.

"Only if I get to pick the one after that," Winston says and I can't help but smile. So yeah, I think we might be friends. Or at least we will be.

"Deal," I say and I'm about to go back to chewing my food but then Winston holds his hand out across the table and I stop to shake it.

"Deal," he repeats after me and we stay shaking our hands for a moment too long. His skin feels warm and smooth against mine but his grip is firm and I seem to forget that I'm holding his hand in mine.

I quickly pull away like I've been burnt and Winston does the same and he looks down at his food.

That isn't the end of the surprises.

"Monty, hey!"

Winston and I look up at the same time to see a smiling Alex looking down at us.

"Can I sit?" he asks and I shrug.

"We're kind of in the middle of a conversation," Winston says even though we're not. Maybe it's better that Alex is here, it makes things a bit less awkward.

Alex chooses to ignore him and he sits down next to me. Noah's gonna owe me about ten favours by the time all of this bullshit is over.

"We're still on for that coffee?" Alex asks as he tears over a sugar packet and dumbs its content into the cup he's put down on the table.

I was hoping he'd forget about it. Having a coffee with another gay guy? Yeah, should do wonders for my reputation. But who cares. I've got Noah on my side.

"Right," I say and I clear my throat.

"Friday?" Alex asks and he stares at me as he licks his spoon clean. I start to wonder if maybe Winston was right and this guy was asking me on a date.

"He's busy on Friday," Winston interrupts before I can answer. "We're kind of seeing a movie. Together."

Can Winston see something in this guy that I can't? Why is he being so protective?

Alex raises an eyebrow and then turns to me. "A movie? Great, I love movies."

So Alex is either really stupid or kind of pushy. Or maybe he really does have a crush on me.