Chapter 3
Arthur doesn’t reply to his message for a day, because every time he looks at it he gets a little heat in his stomach that’s hard to ignore.
Arthur:
so
you do know me
Mango Vape Guy:
Yes
Arthur:
and weve had sex before
Mango Vape Guy:
And apparently that doesn’t narrow things down for you
Can I ask a question
Arthur:
absolutely not
Mango Vape Guy:
Do you only go after white guys that work out
Because that’s kind of against D&I
Arthur:
i go after a lot of people
Mango Vape Guy:
And do you think it helps you, begging for sex?
Arthur:
you are not my therapist
and i dont beg
Mango Vape Guy:
I could be your SEX therapist
If that’s someone you have sex with to resolve emotions
And you begged for so much when we fucked
Arthur:
what do you want from me
Mango Vape Guy:
I just want more of you
Arthur:
not particularly helpful
Mango Vape Guy:
Who said I was trying to be helpful?
I’ll like it if I confuse you
Means you wanna figure me out
Arthur:
i wanna figure you out the way people with depression wanna understand how hormones work
Mango Vape Guy:
Am I the depression in this scenario
Arthur:
yes
Mango Vape Guy:
I’m imagining how your lips looked when you pressed them together when I said stupid shit
And how sweet they tasted
Arthur:
im imagining smashing your vape under a car tyre
Mango Vape Guy:
That vape has seen things. Been places. Your mouth, for example. Don’t kill a veteran.
Arthur:
im a veteran of homosexual encounters and youre literally killing me
Arthur looks up at the lecture screen. He should really, really be focusing right now. This is really bad.
Mango Vape Guy:
It kills me that you don’t remember me as well as I remember you
I feel like I’m drowning in a memory of you
I saw you and remembered everything and now all I want is more more more
Yearning shouldn’t turn Arthur on this much. Especially when this guy is fucking crazy. But fuck it, Arthur kind of likes him.
Arthur:
thats kind of hot
Mango Vape Guy:
I just bared my soul to you and that’s your response?
Arthur:
you want me so bad it sounds like youre burning for me
yes its hot
Mango Vape Guy:
Shut up or I’ll get hard
Arthur:
make me
Mango Vape Guy:
I know you’re in lecture now and I know what theatre it is
I could drag you to some place quiet and show you how bad I want you. Any time I wanted to
There’s a fork in the road here. Arthur should stop flirting with some guy who’s borderline stalking him. It shouldn’t feel good to keep this up. He should stop it.
Arthur:
do you want to?
Mango Vape Guy:
I want whatever you’ll give me, darling
But I have a feeling you like eyes on you more than hands
Arthur squeezes his eyes shut and presses his legs together at the back of the lecture theatre. He’s in the last row. He should walk out. There’s half an hour left. This guy's reading him like they've traded souls.
Arthur:
how do i know youre not watching me now
Mango Vape Guy:
You don’t
I might be
Watching you try to stay focused, try to quell the pit of heat that’s stirring in your stomach
You’re doing so well to hide everything
Wish you could make those pretty noises again.
Arthur:
shut up
Mango Vape Guy:
You don’t want me to
Arthur doesn’t.
A minute passes.
Two.
Arthur shouldn’t message again. He’s almost getting focused enough to watch the lecture.
Arthur:
what do you think about when you look at me
Mango Vape Guy:
What it was like to watch you fall apart
And how it felt to hold you in my arms
Arthur stares at the message, the words blurring slightly. His fingers flex against his phone. He should lock the screen. Should take notes. Should do anything but this.
He types without thinking.
Arthur:
youre not helping
Mango Vape Guy:
Not trying to
Just trying to help you remember
Arthur exhales slowly. He looks down at his lap, at the glow of the screen resting against his knee.
His mouth moves before he types it out.
Arthur:
i think im starting to
And he closes the app.