Match

56: Dinner

Jonah sits in his car parked by the roadside. He stares at his phone while waiting for Cole.

Cole<3:

so since we both failed the challenge, does this mean we have to save it for another time?

Jonah:

I guess so lol :P Do you wanna come to my place to have dinner? I'll order a pizza, it can be our victory to failing

He stops reading when he hears someone knock on the window by the passenger seat. When he looks up he's met with Cole standing by the door awkwardly, so he unlocks it for him.

"Thanks," he says, hopping onto the seat and shutting the door.

As Jonah's about to drive, both of them catch someone frantically running to the car. It's Hayden, flailing his arms about.

"Hi Cole's boyfriend! I'm Hayden, I don't know if we-"

"Drive," Cole turns to him with desperation. "Drive now."

Without second guessing, he shifts the gear to drive and speeds off. Neither of them look back, as Hayden slows to a defeated stop with his hands on his knees. Jonah's mouth creases to a smirk.

"Was that your roommate?" He asks.

"Yeah," Cole clicks on the seatbelt. "He's drunk right now."

"Drunk?" He raises an eyebrow, flicking the left turn signal. "Shouldn't someone be with him in case he, well, fucks shit up?"

"One of his friends are with him. She, seems responsible enough."

Jonah makes a laugh noise through his nose. "Wow, you sounded eager to leave, then."

The air grows quiet in the car. Jonah presses a button to turn on the radio, then splays out his hand on the armrest so his palm faces up. Cole looks at it, puzzled.

"Hold my hand."

Cole looks between his hand and the windshield. "But you need to keep both hands on the wheel."

"Your boyfriend missed you, thooooough."

He makes a pouting expression like a puppy, wiggling his fingers.

"My eyes are on the road, don't worry."

Cole shakes his head and sighs. "Okay, okay."

He holds Jonah's hand. Jonah interlocks their fingers, making his smile widen.

"So how'd you play?"

"Me?" Cole sounds surprised. "I dunno..."

"Don't tell me you think it was bad just 'cause you didn't score a goal."

He wants to say something to deny it, but deep down his modesty can't hide it.

"I just dunno if I'm playing right. It's only been, what? Almost three months?"

"Well you didn't touch the ball with your hands on the field, right?"

"Uh, no."

"Never kicked into your own net?"

"No."

"Never went the wrong way?"

Cole tilts his head at him. "Are you joking around again?"

He chuckles. "No. I'm saying you should be proud of how you've improved. I told you that before, didn't I?"

Habitually he wants to rub his arm, but stops when he realizes his other hand is busy being linked with Jonah's. Instead he looks out the window on his side. The sky is beginning to turn to a faded blue colour.