||Three||

I woke up the next morning with a sick feeling in my stomach.

I had to drag my way through my daily routine, each step took a lot more effort than it ever should have.

I had a quick breakfast, walked the dog around the block and occasionally fed him some dog treats.

Everything felt so boring, repeated, plain.

The buildings all looked the same, the people bore the same unamused expressions on their faces as the clouds began to grow darker.

Jake dropped by my apartment almost straight after I came back.

"Good morning," he said as he stood at the door.

I groaned, letting him in.

"Good to see you too," he joked.

"I feel like crap," I grumbled as I flopped down on my couch.

"Boy problems?" He sat beside me.

I threw a cushion at him, "You sound like a girl."

He pulled a face.

"Why do you have to be straight?" I asked.

"Because women have boo-"

I threw another cushion at him, "I'm serious. I could just date you and get over Dev, life would be so much easier."

"I'm pretty sure it's not that easy. What happened this time?" He said, pulling out a few textbooks from his backpack.

"He's gay," I said.

He stared at me. "Liar."

"I swear!"

"Holy shit," he laughed.

"It's not funny," I said through my clenched jaws.

"I beg to differ," he chuckled.

I lifted another cushion.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I take it back, don't hit me with another one, please!" He almost shouted, his hands in the air.

I almost laughed, but was too upset to even smile.

I sighed, "Biology?"

He nodded, and I sluggishly moved towards him so he could begin his lesson.

**

A few hours later, I found my self walking towards the café.

The weather wasn't too bad, a little chilly I would say, but the sun was still out.

A different band was playing on stage when I walked in, the smell of coffee and baked goods filling my nostrils.

"Hello, Nate," Tom nodded when I took a seat. "The usual?"

"How about cinnamon tea this time?"

"Sure," he replied, but only after shooting me a curious glance.

He came back with a trey a few songs later, setting the tea against the table. Then he slid in the chair in front of me. I raised my eyebrows at him as I sipped my tea, the hot liquid warming me from the toe up.

"You seem a little down," Tom stated.

I stared at him, then glanced away.

"Spill."

"You sound like a girl," I said, the second time that day.

"Ouch, you're hurting me. Now spill."

I rolled my eyes, "Dev's back."

He looked surprised, "So soon?"

After my frequent visits to the café, Tom and I developed a strange kind of friendship, and I told him about Devin. Everything about him.

I realized then that Rob, Tom, and Jake were no longer the only ones who knew about my sexuality. It felt weird, knowing that one other person knew. And that it was Devin.

I nodded, "Anyway, he likes someone else."

"And that's new?"

"He likes a guy."

Tom's eyes grew as wide as saucers, "What?"

"I know," I sighed.

He looked at me sympathetically, "Sorry."

"Not your fault."

"I know, I just wish there was a way to make you feel better," he said.

I brushed him off with a wave of my hand, "Now I have to go to dinner with him. And meet the guy."

"Tough," he winced.

"Worst part is, I have to third wheel, since I have no friends. I don't want to drag Jake into this, he's too..."

"Straight," he finished for me. "I could come along if you want."

I blinked, "Really?"

He shrugged, "Sure."

"What about work?" I asked.

"I can have someone fill in for the night."

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, surprised.

"Well, we're kind of friends aren't we?"

I shrugged, "Yeah. I guess we are."

The door to the café opened, and from where I sat I could see anyone who walked in. A familiar tall man strolled in, his black attire looking out of place, his eyes searching for something.

Or someone.

"Look who just walked in," I nodded towards the guy, recognizing him the singer from two nights ago singer, also the guy Tom bumped into.

Tom turned around and saw him, then quickly looked back at me, his cheeks flushed.

"Crap, did he notice me?"

The guy started walking towards the counter, talking to one of the workers there, who pointed at our table.

"I think he's coming over," I said, smirking.

"What?" Tom hissed, sneaking a glance, then quickly turning around with a horrified look on his face.

"Hey," the singer guy said, looking down at Tom.

"Hi."

I watched as Tom tried to act normal, which wasn't working out well for him.

The guy glanced at me, his dark eyes scanning me in an amused way.

"Hi, I'm Tom's friend, Nate," I decided to introduce my self.

He nodded, "Jess."

"I'll leave you guys to it," I say, standing up and grabbing my coat.

"Wait," Tom said, also getting up. "What time is dinner?"

"Seven, I'll meet you here around six thirty."

Tom nodded an okay, then turned back to Jess.

There were a few hours to kill, as I stepped inside my apartment, and I remembered the assignment Jake handed me this morning after our tutoring session.

I walked over to my desk, a dark wooden thing my parents found in the many store rooms of their 'mansion'. Above it hung a good sized pin board, where I had punctured many assertions of papers, pictures, brochures and such. My eyes landed on a picture that I would always stare at when I felt empty, like I felt at that moment.

It was Polaroid picture of me and Devin, arms over each others shoulders as we held up our golden medals of the time when we joined the swim team and had won our first ever race. I remember the day as one of the happiest I've ever had, the only day where I couldn't stop smiling no matter what. Because Devin was there, he cheered me on when I almost gave up at the end of my round, his determined face at the other end, wet with pool water, his fist pumping in air as he shouted my name.

I looked away from the picture, pushing the memory away as I felt slightly sick. I picked up the package Jake left on my desk before he left, opening it up and picking up a pen. I began answering the questions there, all about the lecture he gave me on the human heart.

Later on, I got up, planning to finish the rest of the package before I met up with Jake again. I walked over to my bedroom, and opened closet door. I stepped in and searched for something casual but nice. I didn't know what to expect of the guy who stole my crush away, or whatever, but I knew I wanted to look better than him. It was almost like a natural impulse.

After I picked up a suitable outfit, I sprayed on my favorite cologne, fixed my hair and fed the dog before heading out.

I headed towards the garage in the basement, finding my car key in my jacket's pocket. I drove the short distance to the café where Tom was waiting outside, and he came forward as soon as he recognized my car.

"Have I ever told you how much I love you car?" He said as soon as he climbed in.

"A thousand times," I replied, then gave him a quick glance before driving off. "You look good."

"So do you," he responded, in mock flirtation.

I managed a small smile, my hands tightening against the steering wheel.

"You don't have to do this, you know," he said.

"I know."

"So why aren't you turning around? We can go back to the café if you're not feeling up to it."

"Thanks, Tom. But I don't want some guy getting in the way of my friendship with Dev. Even if all I want to do is punch his face, which I haven't even seen yet," I say.

"Please don't punch him," he groaned.

"I won't unless I have to," I said truthfully.

"Now I'm nervous."

I smiled a little, my shoulders relaxing, at least momentarily.

We arrived at the Chinese restaurant a few minuets later, just before seven. I parked my car a little distance from the restaurant before getting out, Tom following behind me.

I had texted Devin, saying I arrived at the restaurant in which he replied he was on his way. I sat where I usually did, a booth by the end of the restaurant, a painting of a fiery dragon on one wall, a dim lightbulb hanging over our table. The booth was dark, the material plush and almost black, the table seemed antique enough, Chinese patterns engraved at the edges. Chinese music played in the background, the restaurant not empty, but not busy either.

"This place is nice," Tom commented.

"I used to come here with Dev all the time back when he lived here, and we often come back when he visits."

He smiled a little sympathetically.

"So, tell me about Jess."

His face instantly reddened, "What about him?"

I gave him a blank stare, "Anyone with eyes can see something's going on between you two."

Luckily for him, the waiter decided to visit our table right that moment. He was dressed in traditional chef clothing, menus in hand. I explained that we were waiting for two others, and that we'd order then, so he came back with two other menus, setting them on the table before leaving.

"So?" I asked.

Tom sighed, "You're never letting it go, are you?"

"Nope."

"Well, nothing's going on anyway. He seemed nice yesterday, kept apologizing over and over," he explained.

"But?"

"There's no but," he shot.

"C'mon. I want to know, I told you everything about Dev."

"Fine. I don't know, he just seemed a little off today, like...he was disappointed."

"He didn't seem disappointed to me," I said, recalling his looking around and the relief on his face once he spotted Tom.

Tom just shrugged, then something dawned on him and his eyes widened.

"Oh."

"Oh?" I asked.

"He thinks we're dating!"

I frowned, "What? Why would he think that ? No offense..."

He brushed me off, "He was there when you confirmed dinner, remember? He probably thinks we're on a date. Damn it."

I shrugged, leaning back against my seat, "Just tell him we're not. That we're just friends."

He seemed to relax after that, and nodded.

"I knew you liked him," I said, smirking.

He blushed and opened his mouth to say something when someone else spoke.

"Who likes who?"

I looked away from Tom to the person speaking, Devin.

My heart skipped a beat when I met his eyes and I smiled a little, "Hey."

Devin grinned and sat beside me, "I think we both need to do some introducing."

That was when I noticed him, the one and only. And damn did I wish I pulled on a fancier shirt because I felt down right intimidated when my eyes settled on him.

He sat next to Devin, too close to him, his face relaxed, perfect lips set in a simple smile. His foam green eyes stared back at me, dark hair falling just a few inches over them. His jaw was perfectly shaped, cheeks just high enough to make him look good. When he moved his head a little, something on his ear shined and after closer inspection I saw that he had a ring piercing on his ear lobe.

He looked like a freakin' model.

"Hi, I'm Tom."

I quickly looked away, my eyes anywhere but on him, and turned away as Tom and Devin began conversing.

"Devin, or Dev," he smiled.

"I've heard a lot about you," Tom said.

"Good things, I hope?"

Their voices seemed to fade away as I looked down at the table, not knowing what to do, my hands clenched in painful fists. I could hear my blood rushing in my ear. Jealousy, anger and hurt coursed through my veins.

"...Nate?"

My head snapped up, "What?"

Devin shot me a confused look before saying, "We were wondering what you'd like to eat?"

Confused, I saw that the same waiter was standing in front of our table. "Oh," I said, then pushed all feelings away as I ordered my favorite dish, hoping it would cheer me up.

"So, how'd you meet Tom?" Devin asked.

"He works at the café," I say.

"How come we never met before?"

I shrugged.

"How long have you been dating?"

I looked up at the un-familiar voice.

And something about the whole situation drove me to do the stupidest thing ever.

I mean, it was probably the stupidest thing I ever did in my entire life.

"Two months," I quickly answered, internally cringing at the lie.

Tom kicked my leg as I watched Devin's eyes grew wide.

"You didn't tell me you were dating anyone, I thought you were only brining along a friend."

Shit.

"Ouch,"Tom said with a small chuckling, playing along.

I sent him an appreciative look in which he returned with a defeated one.

"Uh, I guess I wanted you to meet him first."

"Well, I'm glad you're finally dating," he smirked.

I rolled my eyes.

"So, Ian," I say, "I hear you're studying at the university?"

He nods, "I'm majoring in architecture.

Oh.

I nodded, "That's cool."

"That's what I said when he told me," Devin grinned.

"Do you know what you want to do, Nate?" He asks.

"Undetermined," I managed to let out.

"You'll figure it out eventually," he says, "I thought I wanted to do chemical engineering at first, things change."

"Yeah, I guess."

"So, Tom, do you study? Or are you a drop-out like this guy," Devin asks, pointing his thumb at me.

I clenched my jaw.

"Oh, I'm still in high school. I just work part-time, for college funds and all. Not all of us have rich parents," he teased.

I ignored him, focusing at the food the waiter was starting to place on the table. I grabbed my plate and began eating, but not before I noticed Ian's curious head tilt.

"Dev mentioned you dropping out, how's that working out?" He asked, his eyes shinning curiously.

"My parents hired a student from the university to teach me all the things I need to know," I said, referring to Jake.

"That's nice, don't you miss hanging out with people your age?" He asked.

All I could think to do in response was shrug my shoulders.

After dinner, I left with Tom. I hugged Devin goodbye, but not before we made plans to meet up some more. On the way to the car, I couldn't help but think of the fact that they were both going back to Ian's apartment.

Alone.

Doing god knows what.

I slammed the car door behind, then backed the car up before driving away.

"Are you going to tell me why you just lied and told Ian and Devin that we're dating?"

I sighed, stopping at one of the red lights. "Not now, Tom."

"Then when? Because I really need an explanation to why you just forced me to lie."

"I didn't force you to do anything," I said.

"Are you kidding me? The least you could do is thank me for playing along, because god knows how much I'm regretting it," he groaned.

"I don't know what came over me, I guess I just blurted it out without thinking, I'm sorry, Tom."

"Whatever. But just so you know, we're breaking up soon."

I managed a small smile, "Okay."

After a silent moment he said, "Great, now three people think I'm dating you."

"It's not all bad," I said, nearing Tom's house.

"How is anything good about fake-dating you?" He asked, sounding exasperated.

"Well, for one, at least I'm not ugly."

He punched my arm, and I almost lost control of the wheel.

"Ow!"

"Good, now drive faster, I have school tomorrow."

I just realized that I haven't put up an A/n for some reason (don't even ask why, I have no idea) but I just felt like I should so here it is. Lol. Thanks for everyone who's voted/commented/read any of the chapters I put up so far. It means a lot and I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I'm sure I'll enjoy writing it.

:D