Chapter 17
It’s been 5 days since he last saw Miles.
They haven’t seen each other, they haven’t texted each other; not a emoji, not a glance. And it’s driving Hobie insane. Before now, like clockwork, they used to text in the morning all the way into the night. Without fail.
But now, nothing.
He’s held onto the hope that he just needs time, or is busy with basically anything else-his family is over for the week after all- but it only gets him so far. He must’ve came back to the dorms yesterday for school, and he’s definitely here today.
He’s already distancing himself from Hobie, and he knows it.
However, instead of wallowing in his self pity for a few more days he decided to text the boy and pray he’d respond.
It was a short text, asking if he’s not busy and wanted to hang out in his dorm, yet they felt like so much more than that.
Words have always been that way for him, a word or a novel could have the same power depending on the weight of the words. A simple yes could ruin families, a quick I do could make the day the happiest of your life. And a short sentence said to his crush could ruin everything; just like the words typed on his screen could fix it. And he could no longer choose the one with more power, only Miles could. Just like his stupid mouth contrived, it’s the boys brain and he’s the only one that can figure it out now.
Anxiously waiting, the punk started tapping a beat with his feet. He would’ve started strumming on his guitar, since it always calms down, but he’s so jittery he wouldn’t be so surprised if he dropped his baby.
“Can you stop?” José said, irritated, “I just said I was gonna go to sleep and you’re doing that shit.” Rude.
Usually when people around him are assholes he tries to annoy them as much as possible- like for example, the wanker next to him- but he’d rather not have problems with him, less he doesn’t let Miles in or makes him uncomfortable.
Plus, the few times he had they’ve almsot gotten into fights. Hobie couldn’t care less about rules, but if he was kicked out for something as little as a fight, he’d be stuck with his crazy parents and never see his Sunflower again; something he would do anything to prevent, even if it’s to follow stupid rules and obey like a little puppy.
“Yeah yeah, was a nice beat though, innit?” He joked. He thought it was funny and called for a little bubble, but his roommate didn’t look as amused when he looked at him in disbelief and scoffed.
“Weirdo.” He muttered and Hobie was really about to start a tussle when he heard a knock on his door and it all faded away. Sunflower!
He let out a sigh of relief and opened the door beaming, thank god the boy came. He doesn’t know what he would’ve done if he didn’t. “Hi.” He smiled which reached a tiny nod from the boy, despite him not meeting his eyes. “Sup.”
…
“Sooo, how ya been?” Hobie said as he plopped himself right on the floor, he’s not making Miles sit on the floor.
“Good, just chilling,” he shrugged before finally looking him in the eyes and over to the chair. “You can sit on the chair you know.” He said.
“Nah, you sit.” He said, staring at him in a way that let him know that he would be persistent if he tried to decline.
“…Okay.” He sighed.
Now both sitting, they were left in silence. Complete silence. That’s never happened to them before.
“Did you put your new drawin’ you were showin’ me… drawn yet.” He said slowly, glancing at his roommate. He’s probably asleep, but better to be safe than sorry.
“Huh?” Miles said confused before following the punks eyes and seeing José. “Oh, you’re roommates here!”
“Yeah, I am.” José startlingly said, turning around to face them. “Whatever you guys are talking about definitely doesn’t sound sketchy at all.” He said sarcastically as he scrutinized Hobie, then looked over at Miles and looked shock.
“Oh hi, by the way. I’m José.” he said, smiling of all things. Strange, he didn’t even know he did that.
“Hey. And uhm... we’re not talking about anything sketchy! It’s an inside joke, right Hobie?” Miles quickly said, smile too wide and forehead to sweaty to sound believable.
“…Sure. Well, does this inside joke actually involve drawing?” He smirked. Again, weird. He barely talk to his own roommate, why’s he so interested in starting up conversation now? This doesn’t feel right.
“Uh, yeah I guess.” Miles said awkwardly, not knowing if he should continue defending his case or just let it go.
“Yours?” He said as he leaned… more towards the boy.
“Yeah, wanna see?” Miles said proudly, as awkward as he is, an artist doesn’t waste an opportunity to show off their stuff; as long as it’s not embarrassing and a very specific drawing that is socially acceptable. “Yeah dude.” José said as he leaned even closer to the boy to see his phone.
Coincidentally, when he leaned over it gave Hobie a perfect view of the pride flag hung up on the wall right next to his bed. There’s nothin’ crazy about it, but in this context somethin’ feels glaringly obvious.
Oh.
Oh hell no.
Hobie Brown gawked at the asshole who’s made his dormin’ experience a load of shit as he flirted with his crush. Yeah, he was fuckin’ flirtin’ with Miles. Who the hell does he think he is, goin’ around and messin’ with someone that someone he hates brought over when he was barely willing to let him over a few minutes ago when he asked.
“His drawings are good right?” Hobie fake grinned. He didn’t want to seem pissy, but damn did he want to knock this guys teeth in. Two-faced cunt.
And besides that, he just felt left out, as childish as it sounds. The fact that Miles only started smiling when he wasn’t talking to him didn’t fly over his head.
“Yeah.” He responded, but didn’t even look at him. Instead he was making stupid googly eyes at Miles, who didn’t seem to notice. (Or worse… he did and liked them.)
“Thanks,” Miles smiled before finally looking back at Hobie. “Oh and, I didn’t get to get the drawing “drawn” yet. Too busy with family.” He said, sheepishly answering his question from earlier that he only asked just for the boy to start talking to him again.
“Too bad, you had fun with your cousins right?” Hobie smiled while José just looked at him weird. Good. For a second, he seemed to forgot that he knew Miles more, that they’re closer than he’ll probably ever will be with him; if he has a say in it. Which, he doesn’t really have. Miles is an independent person and not an object and all that.
But, he’ll be damned if he doesn’t warn Miles either way. He doubts someone like him would appreciate dating a two-faced condescending berk like him. In fact, he’d deserve a heads-up.
“Yeah I guess, the little ones are in an argument though.” Miles shrugged.
“Little ones… you mean Lisa and Sesa right?” The punk smirked as he saw José’s eye twitch.
“Yeah, how’d you remember?” Sunflower perked up, and for the first time today he actually smiled at Hobie. And believe when he says that if he wasn’t in front of him right now, he would’ve took the biggest breathe and sighed in relief.
Things will be fine. As long as he gets to see that smile, things will be fine.
“I ‘ave a good memory, plus your whole family tree is interestin’.” Hobie shrugged.
“Interesting? How?” José butted in, probably trying to be included again.
“Eh, they’re not that interesting. I just have a lot of them.” Miles said awkwardly. He most likely didn’t want to talk about personal things with a stranger. Cause that’s what he is to him, a stranger.
Suck a cock José.
“Well that’s interesting in of itself, isn’t it?” José said “flirtatiously” as he leaned even closer to the Puerto Rican.
“Uh dude…” Miles muttered as he glanced nervously between them, obviously uncomfortable. He even leaned his chair back to make more distance, but was too nice to actually move back enough where the boy would fall.
José didn’t seem to get the hint though and right before Hobie could get up from his spot on the floor Miles got up from the chair completely, politely pushing the douche away from him. Hobie doesn’t know how he does it either, if he was him he would’ve lost it by now.
“Well, I only came here to check on you Hobie, but it’s already past curfew soo…” he said awkwardly, knowing that the boy in front of him knew he could give a rats ass about some curfew.
And as much as he wanted to make him stay so they could talk more… he’s not making him stay near this asshole any longer. They’ll talk later, somewhere that’s not his own dorms.
But they’ll talk again. They’re still talking.
“Alright bye.” Hobie said, dapping Miles up (The boy himself told him what that meant and showed him how to do it.) and mouthed the words ‘sorry’ out of sight from his roommate that got a nod of acknowledgment.
“Bye,” Miles smiled softly before glancing over at José. “Bye… José.” He said after reluctantly.
“Bye.” He pouted. Pouted. Seriously, where was this José before?
“Oh I almost forgot can I get your-“ before José could even finish his sentence, Miles comedically ran out the room and sprinted down the hallway; to make sure he’s not caught by a teacher monitoring the halls or from one of the two boys in this room no one would know.
“Damn,” he grumbled. “Yo can you give me his number.” He said blankly as Hobie gave him an incredulous look.
“Didn’t you say you would take a nap?” He managed to grit out, clenching his fist at just the chance of a brawl. His tolerance is wearing thin, especially with Miles gone. “Yeah, but then I changed my mind. Your friend is hot.” He rolled his eyes.
“Is that why you harassed him to the point he left?” He said as he practically itched for a fight. Damn the school and their rules.
“I didn’t harass him, the fuck are you talking about?” He said, starting to get more loud and hostile.
Good. If he’s wants to fight too, he won’t feel bad when he knocks his teeth in.
“You don’t even know his name.” He snapped with thinly veiled rage.
“What?” José said, momentarily calming down as he stared at him in confusion.
“You never even asked for his name while you were on top of him like a fucking mut!” Hobie snarled as he finally lost it and grabbed the boy by the collar.