New Group Chat Created
Caleb wondered how he got here.
Wulf (11:04am): Why are you heading to Boston?
Caleb (11:07am): I am returning Fjord’s truck.
Wulf (11:10am): And you’re there all day? Why?
Caleb (11:10am): Nott and her husband are coming up from New Haven to see me again. I haven’t seen her since high school.
Wulf (11:12am): And your study date? Why are you ditching everything for them suddenly?
Caleb (11:15am): I’m not. Wulf, I think you are far too offended that I have more than you and Astrid for friends. Please stop acting jealous just because I have people who I want to spend time with.
Wulf (11:16am): I simply don’t like them.
Caleb (11:16am): You don’t know them. Maybe if you would spend time talking to them like Astrid has, you would change your mind.
Wulf (11:18am) Astrid is not their friend. She is making sure they won’t hurt you.
Caleb (11:19am): They’ve done more for me in the last few months than most people have in my lifetime.
Caleb (11:19am): They are good people.
Caleb (11:19m): I will let you know when I return.
Not on a metaphysical level or even a spiritual one.
Astrid (12:01pm): Wow, you really pissed off Wulf.
Astrid (12:20pm): Seriously, Caleb? Why are you taking this out on me?
Astrid (12:35pm): You know that I’m trying to make him see logic on all of this. I think he’s just more pissy that you have stopped trying to date his “perfect choice” for you because someone else came along.
Caleb (12:37pm): I can’t really text about this with a five year old using my phone.
Astrid (12:38pm): Fine. Please just try to see his side? He really wanted you to hook up with Essek I think. I think he feels like we’re losing you.
Caleb (12:40pm): You won’t lose me if you stop pushing me away. I’ll see you Monday
Astrid (12:41pm) xx
He meant quite literally. Caleb was not sure how he ended up here. With his back pressed against a matte-black wall with strange splatter marks of UV paint everywhere and padded carpet beneath his feet. His legs burning from running up and down fifteen-degree angled slants in the dark with lasers and black lights flashing in time with the strange, blaring electronic noise. Playing laser tag with two gym rats, someone who was apparently naturally fit, a collegiate hockey player, and a five-year-old. And roughly a half dozen others who were between the ages of nine and thirteen. Wheezing like he had just completed the London and Boston Marathons back to back while breathing through a straw. His body was sore and flushed warm. He felt like it was hotter than the sun though he was beneath one of the air vents. And the man was slightly embarrassed how quickly he had been winded in this action, considering he could still hear the screams and laughter of the others as they ran by his hiding spot.
No, he knew why he was there. Because it was impossible to say no to Luc when he turned his big, brown eyes to him with the sad begging expression.
It had been the first time he had seen Veth since she turned 18. She looked healthy and happier. Long gone was the dangerously thin and frail body he remembered with gaunt features and sadness behind her dark eyes. Now, her skin was bright and a lovely tan. Her eyes were shining with warmth and understanding, and her hair was tied back in braids. Her body had filled out and she looked good. It warmed him to see just how healthy she was now. So different from the girl he remembered from his past. That, more than anything, helped close the chapter of his life for good. They both had gotten better. Not recovered, because there was always a struggle in their own difficulties, but it was an improvement. Yeza was exactly who she needed, as well. A balancer to her outrageous side. And having a child definitely seemed to have calmed what the husband had not.
When Luc asked to play laser tag, Molly and Beau agreed almost immediately. It took some begging for the others to give in, which was how they ended up at the top level of a repurposed textile mill with a bunch of teenagers, preteens, and what Caleb assumed were two different birthday parties judging by the cakes and pizza. They had waited for a bout a half hour, during which he and Yasha had gone into the arcade area and cleaned up on the Candy Crush and Wheel of Fortune machines until their name was called. The adults were split to make it fair on the children and so Molly and Fjord ended up on one with Luc and Beau, Yasha, and Caleb were on the other. Veth and Yeza waited for Caduceus to show up, though the man stated he would not be playing but would happily enjoy the arcade instead.
Now, five minutes in, he was pressed flush to a wall, hoping to be ignored while he tried to breathe. It could have been a mixture of exhaustion and a panic attack, but Caleb had started feeling faint when a warm hand pressed against his shoulder. Caleb jumped and flinched away; then he blinked up at the towering figure he recognized as Fjord. From the flashes of light, he saw a concerned expression etched into his dark features, so he offered a weak smile he had hoped was inspiring. The way the other man grimaced said otherwise. The warm hand returned to his shoulder instead.
“Caleb, you don’t look great,” Fjord informed him in a soft tone. He tucked into the tight alcove to avoid being spotted and stared carefully. “You doing okay?”
“Ja just,” he sighed and laughed at himself. “This is more exercise than I believe I have had in years. Combined. I perhaps am more out of shape than I thought.”
Fjord’s soft chuckle was so close he could feel the breath on his forehead. Caleb was never more thankful for the darkness because he knew he was blushing at their proximity.
“Why don’t you hang out here until you catch your breath. We can make excuses with Luc on why you have to sit out, yeah?”
“I doubt he will be so easily swayed,” Caleb pointed out. He got another soft laugh.
“We’ll work on it. Are you okay if I leave you by yourself,” he asked.
Caleb realized now as he looked up that Fjord was leaning down toward him to get a better look. They were nearly pressed together in the small space with Caleb standing between Fjord’s legs and the taller man leaning against the wall with knees slightly bent. The hand had moved from Caleb’s shoulder to his elbow, where he held slightly. Caleb saw with a hint of humor how casually he held the laser gun across his thigh. It probably felt like his rifle in that position, though far lighter. Fjord’s head was bent down, was well, with a slight angle to get a better look at Caleb’s eyes. For a moment, Caleb was not sure he was able to breathe anymore. The music was muted and his heart seemed to beat hard in his throat. It had to be the trick of the lights flashing, because Caleb swore he saw Fjord twitch forward a bit, as though he wanted to close the distance. He cleared his throat.
“Uh, ja, no I am fine. I’ll hide out here a bit longer and try to ditch out.”
“Mkay,” Fjord hummed, but he had not moved. And his eyes were burning into Caleb’s with a flicker of something.
Then, Caleb heard the antique laser noise crackle and echo. His vest lit both of their faces from below a bright orange-red that flashed. Fjord’s lips curled into a smile Caleb wanted to smack and taste at the same time.
“Sorry, darling,” he downright purred as he backed away. “Still want to win.”
What was he even doing here?
GAME HOES
HotNDangerous WHERE IS MY KITTYCAL
SoullessWonder About to face Beau in DDR, why?
HotNDangerous why are you not on the list for laser tag
SoullessWonder I promised Luc I would help him win at the clown game if he let me sit it out.
NottListening Luc already knows what toy he wants from the rewards, so you better get him a jackpot.
SoullessWonder He will have exactly what he needs for that, even if I need to offer some from the Candy Crush win I had.
DarkAngel I still can’t believe you got the 500 bonus.
SoullessWonder You get very skilled at pointless games when it is between those and socializing.
HotNDangerous wow
MissJester Wow is right.
MissJester Though I totally understand why you would get so much attention~ You are, like, literally the sweetest!
SoullessWonder Thank-you Jester.
MissJester Of course! Plus you are like, super ~handsome~ sooooooo
HotNDangerous sooooooooo
DrunkChild lmao guys stop he is bright fucking red rn
DrunkChild okay we’re up tell nott Ill be right there for the next round
DM: MissJester and TeaLeaf
TeaLeaf are you catching heart eyes for our resident ginger dream boat
MissJester WHAT?!~ Noooo!
MissJester I mean he is like, very sweet. And super cute but I doubt he is like ~interested~
TeaLeaf you sure? because you are defo tossing out some leading line there lovely
MissJester Nah <3 he totes knows I am joking! Well not joking but not saying it like ~that~
TeaLeaf mmmmhm
MissJester Molly?! What are you saying?!?!?!
TeaLeaf Read: 14:56
MissJester MOLLY!
DM: FjordTough and Widogast
FjordTough I made it home safely
FjordTough you weren’t kidding about the club traffic coming back
Widogast That is why I said I could take the train back and save you time.
FjordTough I told you I don’t mind
FjordTough I like spending time with you even just us
FjordTough its relaxing you know?
Widogast Ja. Me too.
Widogast I appreciate pillow talk hour, Fjord, but you have practice in seven hours.
FjordTough pillow talk hour, hm?
Widogast Good night, Fjord.
FjordTough g’night Cay
GAME HOES
MissJester OMG GUYS
DrunkChild sup
MissJester Soooooo~ I am on pintrest right~?
DrunkChild I mean its you so that tracks
DarkAngel Play nice, Beau.
MissJester And I found the CUTEST LITTLE TOY PATTERNS TO KNIT!!!! THERE ARE LIKE LITTLE WEASELS AND PUPPIES AND CATS~!
ItsYaBoi I take it you’re knitting again?
MissJester I WILL SPAM WITH IDEAS LATER BUT GET READY FOR CUTENESS!!!!!!
NEW GROUP CHAT
> Huzzah! TeaLeaf, GreenTea, SleevesRBS, NottListening, ItsYaBoi have arrived!
> Chat renamed to SICK OF THIS SHIT
TeaLeaf what are we sick of now
SleevesRBS did fjord and caleb fuck over the weekend and none of us knew about it
MT not that I know of
MT and I know of pretty much everything in his life
MT seriously its fucking sewing circle over here some days
> Watch Out! DarkAngel is here!
DarkAngel With all of the complaining you have been doing, I am surprised it took this long.
SleevesRBS look
SleevesRBS if fjord eye fucked caleb any harder this weekend would have been rated x
NottListening It wasn’t that bad.
MT They were worse when you weren’t there. Trust me.
NottListening Of course they were. Caleb knows I would call him out if he got too obnoxious. And Fjord probably doesn’t want to deal with the threat of me saying something.
DarkAngel I’m more concerned about how Jester is acting. I think she may have a crush on Caleb?
MT I pointed that out to her and she said no but
SleevesRBS but
DarkAngel Exactly. If she does have one or acts like it, Fjord is going to use that as an excuse to not try to figure anything out.
GreenTea He has things figured out just fine, even if not to your desires.
MT what’s that mean
GreenTea I mean he knows who he is and how he feels. It is just not the right time for him to act on anything. He may still need convincing.
GreenTea His previous exploits have not been the best, and those were with partners that his family would have approved of. This is not like you coming home with a boyfriend sophomore year and dad making dad jokes, Molly.
MT I guess you’re right
GreenTea Jester may be a concern for him, as well. But there is no stopping her from flirting. I think she may simply be jealous and not realize it.
MT why would she be jealous
NottListening I’m with Molly, that makes no sense. Even she admitted she may be over Fjord?
DarkAngel No, I see where Cad is coming from.
MT ??
DarkAngel We all have become close to Caleb in the past few weeks. Especially with how literally close he lives.
DarkAngel She wants his attention, too. Or to be part of all the fun, but she has to do it through Discord, so she messages more than normal. To her it’s harmless and obvious.
SleevesRBS and to someone who is always looking for the other shoe to drop its something else
GreenTea This is why I appreciate you, Yasha. You seem to understand me.
MT the issue is who knows if anything will happen
GreenTea It isn’t your place to force their hands, Molly. If it’s supposed to happen it will.
SleevesRBS I guess youre right I mean a year ago id have given my kidney for jester to have a crush on me
SleevesRBS pretty sure that would have fucked up our whole vibe in the chat and I would have been the same fuccboi who had a think for every cute alt girl on twitch
DarkAngel Instead, you are simply stalking every Instagram model and complaining about them existing at 3am
SleevesRBS I give you the same attention when you post pictures no need to get jealous ;)
DarkAngel Fair
DM: NottListening and TeaLeaf
TeaLeaf Oh my god they were roommates
NottListening Molly. Stop, lol.
NottListening But you’re not wrong
TeaLeaf :)
SICK OF THIS SHIT
ItsYaBoi Let Caleb meet Darrow. If Darrow approves, Fjord may make a move.
MT what makes you so sure
ItsYaBoi Darrow has his ways and I would rather not get in the way of his process.
DM: NottListening and Widogast
NottListening Caleb, you’ve been very quiet in chat
NottListening Are you okay?
Wulf (8:43pm): I thought you were going to stay out this time?
Caleb (8:45pm): I did not like the crowd at the bar. They were too loud.
Wulf (8:45pm): It’s a bar. Of course it’s loud.
Caleb (8:46pm): Which is why I normally avoid them. I have a paper to write anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Astrid (8:43pm): Hey, you looked freaked out, what happened?
Caleb (8:44pm): Someone got too far into my personal space and I panicked.
Caleb (8:44pm): Wulf is going to be mad isn’t he?
Astrid (8:45pm): Yeah, but he’ll get over it. He always does. He is just jealous.
Caleb (8:46pm): Why? Why is he acting like an asshole? He said it wasn’t because of Essek.
Astrid (8:47pm): Oooft, sorry about that being sprung on you tonight btw. I swear he never told me Essek was coming along.
Astrid (8:48pm): He’ll come around. You’re right, he hasn’t tried to get to know them, but he’s stubborn. I think he’s afraid you’ll just disappear.
Caleb (8:50pm): As I told him, it won’t happen if he stops being such a prick about it. He’s why I am avoiding him.
Astrid (8:50): I know :(
Astrid (8:51pm): What did that guy say, btw?
Caleb (8:51pm): He saw the picture of Fjord and I as my background and started to pressure for more seeing as I was a “size queen.”
Astrid (8:51pm): Gross. Yeah, best you left. Still on for brunch?
Caleb (8:52pm): You know I will never turn down brunch with you, Liebling.
Caleb looked at his phone and gawked for a moment as he saw the incoming call. Normally it was Veth who called to talk. Beau drunk called twice and one time it was Yasha who called because she needed someone to debate with for her persuasion essay. But it had never been Molly before. Part of him was sure it was simply that Molly had not viewed them as close friends. Or maybe he was simply not the type to call. But there was his icon with the incoming call noise trilling in the silent apartment and lighting up the entry way. Caleb licked his lips and answered. The line clicked over in his headset.
“H-hallo?”
“Kittycal, you live.”
“Ja, sorry. I guess I have been quiet recently.”
“Hmmmm,” Molly purred. “Everything cool.”
“Ja, It’s all fine.”
“I don’t believe that Caleb.” Molly’s voice was oddly… sure of that. And it made Caleb pause and bristle slightly. His mouth opened to argue but he was cut off by Molly charging on, as he did. “See, I think this isn’t any of our faults. So, not taking it personally. There is something else that you probably don’t want to bother anyone with. Other than Nott, which fair. You two are like b-f-fs or whatever. I dig it. But something is up.”
“Molly-“
“I’m not done, baby,” Molly continued. “I’m not asking you to spill your darkest secrets to me. I’m just a kind of friend or your crush that you don’t have’s roommate or whatever you see me as. But if you want someone to chat to, take it from me. Cad is… really fucking good. With even some dark shit. I am shit at saying the right thing, so you opening up to me would end worse than you are now. But… you know. If you need someone to actually do more than listen. My brother’s great for it, aye?”
Caleb stood stunned for a moment with his arms hung loosely at his side. Because something tickling his brain but also made him feel terrible.
“You are my friend, Molly,” he muttered quietly. “I had not realized you… thought I felt so luke warm toward you.”
“That wasn’t my point?” Molly tried to sound breezy, but Caleb heard the slightly bashful tone he had picked up on when Cad teased him the other day.
“I will think about it. I’m sorry for worrying you. And thank-you for calling. It was… a nice surprise.”
“I’m shocked you answered,” Molly replied with a laugh. “But if you need a shitty asshole who says the wrong things but does his best. I mean. I got you, too, right?”
“I know, Molly. And the same for you.”
A silence hung in the air between them and Caleb figured they were about to hang up when Molly spoke again.
“So,” he purred. “Whatcha wearing?”
“Good night, Molly.”
Caleb smiled to himself as the tinkling giggle that was Molly’s laughter echoed as he hung up.