Fine

Chapter 13

His lips brush over mine, before he presses forwards with a bit more certainty. I feel frozen for a second, paralyzed by the tingles shooting through me at the contact, before I finally manage to ease into him. He leans up just marginally, and I angle my head down a little to make it easier for him. I can feel his hesitation, before he starts to push even closer to me, one of his hands grazing my wrist and moving up-

There's a vibration between us, and he yanks back. He doesn't meet my eyes as he pulls out his phone, and I can practically see his face harden, and I know that whatever just happened is gone now.

"My parents are asking when I'm going to be home," he states out loud, his tone completely emotionless. I frown a little, wondering if his parents have something to do with...

He stands up, not walking away from the booth, but his back is turned to me now, and it hurts more than it should. A moment later, he raises his phone to his ear, his posture tense and rigid.

"Hi. Sorry, are you making out with Chase?" he asks in a more bitter voice than I'm used to hearing him speak to Jordan with. There's a response that I can't pick up, but I can hear Jordan's tone, somewhere between confused and affronted. "My parents want to know when I'll be home. Are you planning on coming back anytime soon so we can figure that out?" Another pause, where I can't hear anything from Jordan's side. "Good."

I want to ask Nate what's wrong, why he's so tense and angry all of the sudden, but he doesn't turn to face me, and doesn't put his phone back. Jordan and Chase show up not long after, and Jordan looks surprisingly gentle towards Nate as he asks, "You think we should leave now?"

"My parents want to turn in, and you know how they are about having the alarm on while they sleep. If I come in after, it'll set it off and wake them up, and..." he shakes his head, and I catch a glimpse of his expression. Sour.

"Alright." Jordan pecks Chase on the cheek, before giving me a smile and wave. "Bye, Levi!"

"Yeah, see you... Monday."

Nate doesn't so much as look at me (or Chase, for that matter) before storming out of the restaurant, Jordan behind him.

I stare at the glass door, watching the headlights of Nate's parents' car flare on, before pulling out of the parking lot.

Then I turn to Chase, who looks about as confused as I feel. He's frowning a little. "Do you know what just happened?"

I shake my head a little as he slides back into the booth. "I- he... he kissed me."

Chase narrows his eyes. "Again."

I nod, feeling lost. "And then his phone went off, and he just... got up. And called Jordan, and then..."

"Left," Chase finishes, and I nod again. "So you're as confused as I am?"

I stare at the tabletop, because maybe not. I'm fairly certain he's dealing with some internalized homophobia, so it makes sense that if he kissed me and then felt like he 'got caught', he'd retreat. Even if it was only his phone, and only a text. From his parents...

"Do you know?" Chase asks quietly, and I swallow.

"Maybe."

I don't elaborate, and after realizing that I'm not going to, Chase says, "Well, he still shouldn't completely ignore you right after kissing you. Again."

I shake my head. "It's fine, Chase."

He narrows his eyes at me. "You're being too understanding about this, Levi. Last time he was drunk, so that could be argued to not be as much his fault-"