The One That Got Away

“Only cause you’re a homophobic di*k,” Ty shot back, but there was no bite to his words, and there was no doubt in Oliver’s mind Ty didn’t actually mean it. “Sheesh! One tiny, little glimpse of ass and you’re rolling on the floor scratching at your eyes. You’d thought you saw the devil himself, you chicken sh*t!”

“It was traumatizing!”

“Chicken sh*t!”

“No,” Oliver said quickly with a laugh, amused by their banter but figuring he should step in before someone got hurt. They both turn their headed to stare at him with stupid looks on their faces as if they’d momentarily forgotten Oliver was there.

“No,” Oliver said again. “There’s no girl.”

Ever since Monique left, he had been sort of adrift. The only person who seemed aware of his pain in the last six months of high school had been Tim. They’d grown closer than ever and Tim’d tried to get him to go out with other women; frankly, to get in bed with other women. But Oliver couldn’t muster the necessary enthusiasm. So he really wasn’t lying when he said there was no girl. Monique wasn’t there anymore; disappeared into the ether. And all other girls just seemed to fall short. He knew that made him a pathetic loser. God knows Tim had told him so numerous times…he just couldn’t really help how he felt. He was doomed and he knew it. Sometimes he imagined Monique, wherever she was, going out on dates and laughing with her new man about the schmuck who used to be her husband; who refused to sign divorce papers because he was clinging to her so hard. It hurt. It hurt like hell. Oliver didn’t like to dwell on it, much as he couldn’t seem to help it.

Chris gave him another one of those odd looks that made Oliver feel oddly scrutinized, but nothing more was said on the topic.

All three of them finished their chicken shortly thereafter, and Oliver was kind of impressed; he was fairly certain Ty ate more than both Oliver and Chris combined, and it wasn’t every day Oliver met someone capable of eating more than him. He said as much, and Ty threw his head back and laughed again–one of those laughs that for some reason just seemed to warm Oliver to the pit of his stomach and make him feel like everything was right with the world. Like if Ty could be so laidback and happy and easy about things, Oliver could too.

Chris wasn’t actually staying, which Oliver found slightly weird since Chris did live there after all–at least Ty assured him he did–but he was headed back out of town for some music gig or other in Ohio, and was crashing with the mysterious Clarence until then.

As he headed out the door he gave Ty a manly hug, complete with wide hand gestures and a thorough thumping of Ty’s back, before turning to Oliver and shaking his hand. It was a firmer grip than before, and he looked Oliver straight in the eye with a stare so intense Oliver almost wanted to take a step back from it.

“It was real nice meeting you, Oliver,” Chris said, and man oh man, had he perfected the poker face. “You take care of yourself, you hear? And of our boy Ty, here.”

It was an odd thing to say–at least with the weird emphasis Chris put on every word–but Oliver still nodded and managed a smile.

“Nice to meet you, too, Chris.”

Chris headed out the door with a final wave, and Oliver couldn’t shake the feeling of having been both tested and evaluated, though he was not quite sure what for. Though considering Chris and Ty’s last roommate apparently turned out to be a homophobic asshole, it would make sense that Chris was a bit protective of his friend. And regardless, it seemed like Oliver passed, so he guessed that was a plus.

He turned to head back upstairs to his room, but that was the precise moment when Ty nudged his shoulder and nodded towards the living room.

“Come on, dude. It’s time for the traditional post-KFC video game ass kicking.”

Oliver immediately brightened at that. He could do video games.

“You traditionally get your ass kicked after eating KFC?” he asked, mostly because he couldn’t help himself, but a little bit because he was feeling bold, and Ty was easy to talk to.

“Oh, you’re on,” Ty said with a wicked smile, and Oliver grinned back.