Update Completed
Beau watched with her brow slightly furrowed. There had been a distinct shift in the interactions between Fjord and Caleb overnight. Subtle for those who were not used to how the pair interacted normally. Touches that lingered slightly. Hands on the small of the back or just at the elbow. The few moments sitting at breakfast where Caleb’s touch was on Fjord’s inner thigh for too long to just be an accident. Gentle finger brushes. It was almost compulsive and natural at the same time. And she knew why of course, because she had been right there the night before.
Not that she could blame Fjord for making his move. Caleb was egging it on for a while as they danced. He had not been hiding his hopes for most of the night from what she could tell. He had danced with Jester for a bit in Fjord’s line of sight, then Molly. He had danced with new people with his eyes lingering on the other man. He had sat beside Fjord every chance he got and took care to watch his alcohol intake and his safety. Caleb had been pretty obvious for anyone who was not as pathetically clueless as Fjord. Beau was not sure if he picked up on Caleb’s hints after dancing or if it was the rush of alcohol and hormones that got to him, but she could hardly blame the guy.
Had it been her and a chick, Beau was pretty sure she would have caved, too.
There was an unspoken decision to not mention it, exactly, but she knew they both remembered it. The long stares when the other was not looking. The sudden need to speak directly to each other. And Christ, the hands.
The plan was to spend as much time as possible together before Jester had catch her train to New York. They had all woken up late aside from Jester and Cad, both of whom had not drunk. They had breakfast at Cad’s apartment together, some with mimosas for the hangover. The four who went to school in the city took them all around the campus for Jester and Caleb’s sake more than anything. They had gotten coffee at Nero’s and now were wandering the Commons toward the center. It was a bit too early for all the decorations, but it was still picturesque as they wandered through the park. Jester had her arm looped into Molly’s as she walked with her travel thermos filled with a Peppermint Mocha (extra whipped cream, of course). Molly was smiling with his nose and cheeks reddened from the cold and eyes glowing. Bryce and Yasha were deep in discussion with Caleb who walked a bit ahead of Fjord, Darrow, and Cad. And Beau?
She took a picture of them all walking behind her and sent it to the group chat for them to see later.
DM: NottListening and SleevesRBS
NottListening does he think he’s being subtle
SleevesRBS prolly
SleevesRBS lamo
Beau looked behind her at the group again and saw that Fjord was still watching Caleb warmly as they walked. Maybe it was finally time for him to accept it was more than curiosity after all.
DM: FjordTough and Widogast
FjordTough [Image Sent]
FjordTough [Image Sent]
FjordTough from the commons
Widogast You are so tall. Mein Gott.
FjordTough that an issue
Widogast Not at all. I am simply used to being the tallest, so it is almost refreshing.
Widogast Will you be going to New York for the holidays with us? I believe the plan was the weekend after the semester ends.
FjordTough I am not sure actually
FjordTough trying to figure all that out because I have games but am in the dorms
Widogast I thought Molly said you were staying with them again.
FjordTough I just feel guilty crashing there the whole time for another year you know
FjordTough they’ve done it already it’s a big reason why I am hoping to get an apartment for next year so I don’t have to ask
Widogast If I were not so far away, I would offer my own space. But if you do stay with them and need a break, I have a couch you may almost fit on.
Widogast It is lumpy and smells suspiciously like Fritos.
FjordTough lmao
FjordTough sounds like a plan if Frumpkin doesn’t hate me
Widogast He hates very few people. I am sure you will not be one of them.
FjordTough :)
FjordTough ill talk to the Clays about staying for some of it
Widogast Gut.
FjordTough I guess that means I will be going to the city with y’all after all
Widogast I’d like that even more.
FjordTough yeah
Widogast Ja. You make the crowds easier to manage. You can be quite the comfort, Fjord.
Widogast And I have never skated before, but I have been told there is a rink?
FjordTough have you never been to NYC for Christmas
Widogast Nein.
FjordTough well fuck that now I have to go
FjordTough and we will skate. Ill wait in that line and wear the shitty rental skates so you get to do it once
Widogast You wouldn’t mind?
FjordTough For you? Nah
GAME HOES
MT siege head count
ItsYaBoi I’m down.
HeySailor too drnk
MT bitch
HeySailor whor
DrunkChild yes
MT that’s three
HeySailor lol contin wth molly
MT I will fight you
GreenTea You will not, he is my house guest.
HeySailor haha
NottListening Yeza said he can hop on for a bit
MT A RARE YEZA
MissJester I’M DOWN TO PLAY WITH YEZZZAAAAAAA
MT but not me
MT I’m offended
MT wounded
DrunkChild stfu no you’re not
MT WOUNDED BEAU
Astrid (8:55pm): Caleb?
Astrid (8:56pm): I know you’re avoiding me. Look, I know what they said but I swear I am not just trying to pretend to like them. I do. I was mad I didn’t get to meet them when everyone was up, but Wulf made it sound like it was more aggressive than them just crashing the place.
Astrid (8:59pm): You don’t have to talk to me right now. I get it. Just, please. I know you’ve been falling into your old habits again. I’m worried. At least take your multivitamin.
Astrid (9:00pm): I’ll try to fix it
“Well,” Fjord muttered as he dropped his gym bag on the bed with a creak. “Fuck.”
His eyes were glued to his screen as he looked at his phone. The new request was pretty obvious who it was based on the name. And he had a public account that had been tagged on Jester’s account. Molly did not look back from the match he was playing but made a grunting noise.
“Got an Instagram DM,” Fjord explained. Molly grunted again. “From Astrid.”
Asteriods96 really random sry but I found you off jessy
Asteriods96 have you talked to caleb in the last 2 days hes been dodging me after wulf kinda was a douche
Asteriods96 im really worried because hes starting to act like he did in high school
Palomares83 sorry was at practice its fine you found me here I know you and her have become friends
Palomares83 what has you worried he hasn’t been on but that’s normal for him
Asteriods96 there was another blow out up here and caleb has a habit of shutting himself in when he gets low and wont reach out
Asteriods96 his boss said he hasn’t been eating and I haven’t seen him at the cafeteria or the usual coffee shops between classes
Palomares83 stalking him
Asteriods96 look I am not going to tell you everything but yeah when he gets like this I do because he wont reach out for help
Asteriods96 so you’ve heard nothing then
Palomares83 not since he said he got back Sunday but he had to work Monday so I thought nothing of it
Asteriods96 fuck
Asteriods96 if that changes can you let me know? Please
Asteriods96 you are so good for him I just wish wulf could see it too
Palomares83 Ill do you one better
“Fjord,” Molly asked again. “What’s wrong, you look freaked.”
“I don’t know,” Fjord answered honestly. “But Astrid said something’s up with Caleb. I’m going to try and get a hold of him, but she should be popping into the group chat soon. She’s scared.”
“Yeah, yeah. Everyone on call heard. We got it. You just call your boy.”
Fjord’s jaw clenched and Molly felt a wave of panic. There was no resistance to the statement like there normally was, especially after Saturday. He would not explain what happened, but the embarrassment and sputtering had doubled since then. Now, he was looking lost with worry bright in his eyes as he grabbed his jacket from the floor where it had landed and headed back outside. Molly scowled a bit and turned to the chat.
“Hey guys, can’t do call outs right now, yeah? But I’m here”
”Molly, what the fuck is going on” Beau snapped from over the headset. ”Cay alright?’
“That’s t-b-d, my guy but I have some shit I need to do. Gimme like two minutes.”
”I have cameras handled,” Yeza promised in a soft tone.
Molly leaned back in his chair far enough to snag his phone from the charging port it sat on. He flipped open to the Facebook Messenger App before opening the bubble he had prepared just in case something happened. One of the times Caleb was leaning over Fjord, he had slipped out the phone, snagged Eodwulf’s name on FB, looked him up, and drafted a message so it would wait for him. His hands shook a bit as he got ready to actually send it. His hand tremors were usually manageable. Small twitches here and there, but right now the shake was visible for both. He shook out his right hand and flexed the fingers a few times before gripping the phone again.
”Molls,” he head Beau in his ear. ”Your snarling. Unclench your fucking jaw so you stop grinding your teeth.”
That actually explained the pain in his mouth. Molly listened because of course he did. Beau was one of his best friends despite what they liked to portray for the public.
M: hey big daddy need to as u a few ??
M: because if your this big of a dick in person I hope what your packing makes up for it
M: tho with how far somethings shoved up ur ass I can say maybe you’d be down to be the little spoon instead
M: because if asking to talk to us wont fucking work maybe promising you a broken bed frame will get you interested
M: or you can apologize to my caycay and ill stop annoying you
M: uwu
Molly hit send over and over then tossed the phone to the side. It was a great deal nicer than the drunk message he had just read over again and decided again. (“okay this is one of caycays buddies from boston and I have been letting this salt n vinegar fuckin marinate over here for a while but I really gotta ask my guy what is your issue with us? Are you jealous because you want to be the one he’s swooning over? Do you wish he was that excited to see you? Are you really that miserable that you don’t want to see that cay is fucking happy right now? And before you get pissy at him he had never once ratted you out to me but we all fucking know wtf is going on so srsly what the fuck? Astrid has even become our friend why cant you just get over yourself for cays sake? Do you even fucking care about him?”) He picked back up the controller and tried to stop his hands from shaking more. They were halfway through the next round when his phone’s LED blinked green for a new FB Message. He snorted but waited for the lobby or a death to respond. When he did, Molly unlocked his phone.
E: Who the fuck is this? And how did you get my name?
M: ur searchable for friends of friends baby boii now whats up
E: Who are you.
M: u but gay lol
M: and apparently a better friend
E: I’m blocking you. Bye.
M: Lol I have you on every other platform
M: really itd be easier to talk and answer my question
E: Which one?
M: the obvious one. Why tf you wont just get to know us
M: we were in Amherst you literally looked at us and left
M: astrid stalked one of us to ask if we heard from cay
M: and what you just hope you can bully him into giving us up because up
E: Please do not act like you actually care about Caleb. You have all done nothing but force him into socializing and leaving his comfort zones to fit your ideas of fun and entertainment.
M: ha ahahahah hahahahahah ahaha
M: u fucking serious wow ok like the party you ditched him at so he could get laid out of loneliness
M: the bar where you let guys fucking creep on him and p much call him a cock slut
M: fucking wow my dude pots and kettles. The only thing we’ve forced on him was a fucking scarf when we went walking the other day
M: Bad molly for keeping his ears warm
M: n I know for a fact it aint your bitch ass calling him rn to see how he’s doing
M: my dude, my guy. That gorgeous little lady you’ve been friends with forever? Maybe you should listen to her on things from here on out
[Message Not Received: You are unable to message this person]
“Fucking bitch,” Molly laughed and tossed his phone.
DM: FjordTough and Widogast
FjordTough If you don’t answer tonight, I’m just going to drive up after practice. Please Caleb, we’re really worried about you
FjordTough you don’t need to tell us what happened just let us know youre okay and that you’ve eaten or had something to drink
FjordTough not even me, you can tell Cad or Nott
FjordTough I just need to know you’re okay
GAME HOES
DrunkDaddy anything?
NottListening Nothing.
MissJester No :(
GreenTea I’m sorry.
DrunkDaddy fuck.
SassyWitch ooft hey molls tf you do to piss off wulf so much
MT spammed the slut why
SassyWitch [Screenshot Sent]
MT good
MT let him stew
SassyWitch I’ll keep him from kicking down Caleb’s door tonight because that will only make it worse. <3 but hey you got him acting out now so that’s a start.
MT no one hurts my family without getting fucked
SassyWitch honestly? I love wulf, but he doesn’t even deserve a courtesy spit. Fjord swing by my Starbucks and I’ll give you my spare key
DrunkDaddy yeah thanks
MissJester Are you going up there~?
FjordTough he has until the morning
DrunkChild good keep us updated
DrunkChild Caleb if you’re reading this we fucking love you dude
GreenTea Exactly.
MissJester No matter what, okies~?
Caleb had not received the messages. He had muted the group chat and turned off push alerts. He hid his phone and shut himself in. Shut himself down. The words had hurt. He knew Eodwulf cared. He did. But there was something cold and harsh right now that was so at odds with what he remembered. The softness to that strength. The kindness. He had always been someone who was a protector. A defender as much as a shoulder to lean on. He had been the one to stand up to bullies when they were in high school. Aggressive, maybe, but he had been the reason why Caleb survived it with minimal extra damage. He had been there the whole time without judgement for his issues. With only support and kindness.
That changed when he and Astrid started dating. A part of Caleb wondered if it was the fact that their trio dynamic had become thrown off by the change. That he was suddenly not okay with the relationship. That being a third wheel had made him feel jealous. Astrid had replaced a lot of the duties Wulf had done previously. The gentle guidance. The shoulder. But it was because they were dating, not because Wulf was less important. Frankly speaking, Caleb sometime simply wanted to be kissed softly after being comforted, and not by Eodwulf. The dynamic never fully shifted back after he and Astrid broke up. Some of that he knew came from Caleb distancing himself from her to preserve his heart. Now that he had recovered, it seemed she was willing to forgive it. Wulf, however... It seemed he was stung by Caleb pulling away.
That did not excuse the statement. That the group would leave him like everyone else had. That he was abandoning the few people who cared about him when he was at his worst to be with these new friends who were nothing like what Caleb ever wanted. It had cracked something in him. The sliver of hope, maybe, that new people would see something more than a broken fool who was slow to trust but desperate at the same time. The belief that maybe they would stick around after he was no longer something new and shiny. That maybe the way Fjord watched him was a sign of something more than just friendly, platonic flirting and touches. But Wulf’s conviction and venom snapped that away.
He had left before Astrid arrived and tossed his phone away. He had called out today but had avoided people the best he could the night before. He had not touched food after throwing up what was in his stomach Monday night. He had some water, but the throbbing headache and tightness in his chest said not enough. He missed a lecture. He had not showered since Monday after work. He was alone, as he should be. Shut in his room with a confused, worried cat chirping and his phone lost to the darkness that was his apartment.
It was early in the morning, that much he knew. Light was peaking through the blinds, but he stayed under the blanket. His head hurt. His heart hurt. He knew it was not their faults. Everyone was busy and that was why no one checked on him. And he had shut the online ones out because maybe this would finally be too much. It would push them away. But Astrid worked the crazy morning shifts right now and Wulf? Well, he had lost that friend along with Essek.
His body tensed when he heard the door open. A few people had a spare key, which was what clinked in the silent room. Caleb stayed in bed for a moment before he heard the door shut and someone shuffle through. It was heavier footfalls and he finally sat up and looked around for a shirt. Frumpkin was already off the bed and hiding in the corner by the time the man stood and moved to his bedroom door. He peaked through the crack and saw the towering frame of Fjord bent down in his apartment, picking up the depression trash that he had left all over the place. He blinked a few times, not sure if he was imagining it or dreaming the fact that he had driven over and, in the face of what had come of his silence, decided to just clean up without question. But there he was, using his large hands to carry three Red Bull cans from Monday afternoon to the kitchen area.
“Fjord,” he asked from behind the door. The man froze and spun in his spot, startled. “Was are you doing here.”
“Cay,” Fjord replied, then looked at the cans in his hands like he was shocked they were there. Then he looked back at Caleb with his eyes soft and open. “I just needed to see you were okay. I’m sorry.”
“How did you…” He remembered that his phone was dead somewhere in the apartment.
“Astrid,” he replied. “She said that your silence was not you catching up on classes and… Christ I was so worried.”
There was something to raw and pained in Fjord’s voice that Caleb felt a sharp pang of guilt knowing he had caused that. He stepped out of the room slowly with his eyes downcast and wandered over with a soft comment on how he had not showered in a few days. It meant nothing to Fjord, apparently. He was simply whisked into his arms and held in a tight hug as Fjord released a long, shaking breath. One of his hands snaked down Caleb’s arm with a slow drag of the thumb across his forearm before linking their fingers. Caleb instantly realized what Fjord fear was and that he would feel the proof that years ago, it was a true possibility. He also remembered a haunting statistic of 22 a day and Fjord’s past.
“He said you would all abandon me eventually,” Caleb mumbled into Fjord shoulder. He was only hugged tighter. “I believed him. And it hurt. I’m…”
Caleb froze when he felt the soft press of lips into his greasy, three-day hair. Part of him winced that the soft moment was invariably ruined by that factor. His hand twitched then gripped Fjord’s tighter in response.
“Take a shower and freshen up,” Fjord murmured after a long pause. “I’ll get some food in your stomach.”
Caleb felt the pang in his chest again. Astrid must have hinted at that, too, then. He would explain it in due time. He did follow that instruction and came out a half hour later to find Fjord finishing breakfast and the missing phone charging on a bookshelf for him. It was still off but had enough juice in it. Caleb was not surprised by the swarm of messages he had upon turning it on. He fired off an apology to Astrid as well as a thanks. Multiple messages to everyone, especially Nott, individually. He looked at the few from Wulf with a frown before ignoring his request to talk. That would happen when Caleb decided he was ready to talk again and it was not right now. With that all handled, and a new wave of replies coming in, he put the phone down before he was overwhelmed and looked back at Fjord. The man put the plate on the table and froze under the gaze. His eyes widened slightly, and his normally full mouth pulled thin and tight, a sigh Caleb knew indicated he was blushing under that dark tone. It was the same face he made when they jumped apart at the club thanks to the sudden intrusion.
“How long are you up here,” Caleb asked carefully. He slid into the chair with the food in front of it.
“I have the day off,” Fjord replied. The man’s hand came into view long enough to brush off some rogue drops of water from his hair. Caleb shuddered at the touch and blushed. A silence fell between them.
Astrid (7:55am): He’s a keeper.