37. RUMOR

"Do you mind?" Allie pushed Dave's arm off T's shoulders and pulled him closer to her. "Stop teasing him already. If you're afraid to come out of the closet, just say that."

"Ooh! Girl got a pretty sharp tongue, though I guess you already know that, don't you?" Dave smirked, giving me a playful shove.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the fact that you and Ariel over there, made out last night. We've heard the stories." Dave grinned eyeing me and Allie.

"That's what you're talking about?"

"Is there anything else that's mention worthy?" Karl laughed.

I was so relieved they'd only heard about me and Allie.

"And now you're sitting together. How cute."

Allie didn't say anything. For the first time she actually looked embarrassed.

"Shut up, man." I said.

Dave leaned in and whispered in my ear. "Dude, I don't blame you. She's actually kinda hot. Who knew?"

I could deny it but then they'd try to find something new to tease me about and what happened between T and I could leak! I had to play along or at least keep my mouth shut.

Dave smirked proudly. "So, uh... Allie, what was it like? You know he's a popular dude. Must've been nice to kiss him."

"Ha-ha." Allie snapped. Her cheeks turned red. The guys all laughed at her. God, this was embarrassing.

"Alright, let's go." I got up.

"No, dude, we wanna talk to your girlfriend."

"Shut up!! Do you want details or not?!"

The guys all smirked and laughed.

"Ooh, I want details." Taylor said as he got up.

"See you later, Ariel." Dave said before following me back to the cabin. I gave Allie an apologetic look.

She just sighed of relief when she was alone with T again.

I told my friends all kinds of bullshit. That after the party I touched her boobs and that it got really heated. Maybe I shouldn't have but you know how guys can rile you up to say the dumbest shit! And this way at least they won't ask me about T anymore.

✪

I walked into the kitchen. It was T and my turn to cook tonight. Every night two people get in the kitchen to cook for what we called 'kitchen duty'. We get a recipe to make. It's just a sample so it's not like we have to make a lot of food. It's really just one of those stupid things where school wants to always be 'educational'.

Anyway, I had kitchen duty with Timothy. Which I was a little too happy about.

"Yo." I said when I came in.

"Hey." T smiled softly. Then he continued staring at the card.

"What's on the menu?" I asked.

"Spaghetti with meatballs."

"Easy-peasy." I stood behind T and glanced over his shoulder to read the recipe. It's not like it was necessary. I knew how to make this by heart.

"Alright, you start cutting the onions. I'll start on the meat."

"'Kay." T agreed.

I grabbed a bowl and some spices.

When T picked up the knife I weirdly got nervous. Should he be holding a knife at all? I imagined him hurting himself.

"Actually, why don't you go boil the pasta?"

T glanced at me. "You think I can't cut onions."

"I know you can't cut onions. You can't even follow a basic cake recipe."

"Rude."

"Yeah, whatever."

T smiled and obediently followed my orders. He filled a pan with water and dropped the spaghetti in.

"Now what?" He asked.

"Just wait until it's done."

I grabbed a spoon and started mixing the meat with the spices.

"You know what? I'll just cut those onions while I wait."

"No."

"Josh-"

"No!"

Timothy stared at me for a long time. I turned away.

Maybe it was dumb but it just made me uncomfortable. I knew he wouldn't do anything but still..

"Are you scared I'm gonna hurt myself?" He asked gently.

I frowned and looked at the ground.

"Josh, I wouldn't do that. I'm much better than I was a couple months ago."

I ignored him. I don't care what he says. I just don't want him to get hurt. Ever.

Timothy grabbed my wrist. I met his eyes. "I promise I would never hurt myself. You don't have to worry about that. I'm doing great."

I think back to the weeks where he couldn't get out of bed. Or barely talked. Barely moved. I know he's much better now but still I get scared when it seems like he's even in minimal danger.

"I know." I frowned.

"I never thanked you. I started feeling better because of you."

"You don't have to say that." I shook my head.

"It's true. So thanks." T gave me an earnest look and squeezed my arm.

I shifted on my feet.

"I guess I didn't think about how hard it was for you."

"It wasn't hard, it was.. scary. I just don't want you to get hurt." I grumbled.

I heard a light scoff.

I frowned and looked at T as he chuckled a little. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm sorry, it's just funny. I still can't believe you like me... And.. care about me." T smiled. His eyes were playful like yesterday. He was absolutely making fun of me.

I smacked my teeth and pushed him against the counter. "I just said that to make you feel better."

"I see." T nodded. He didn't believe a word I said.

"I'm serious!"

"Uh-huh. Yeah, I know." He smirked.

I was so humiliated. Like sure, I cared about him. I liked him.

He knew that. So shut the fuck up. No need to say it!

T wrapped his arms around me. My eyes widened in surprise. He wasn't a very affectionate person normally. My heart was pounding so fast. I was scared he'd hear.

"I won't cut the onions if you don't want me to." He said softly.

I pulled away. "Good."

"So.. what do I do now then, captain?"

"Sit down on that chair and don't move."

Timothy gasped dramatically. "I'm just trying to help."

"You're most helpful to me when you're not in the way. You might fucking poison everyone if you touch this food."

T chuckled and sat on the chair behind me. "Fine."

He tapped his foot and watched me cook.

"So," He said after a while.

I waited for him to continue but he didn't. He said it in a very peculiar way.

"So what?" I snapped.

T giggled. "So, you and Allie."

I sighed. "What about me and Allie?" I said through clenched teeth.

"Nothing.. I was just thinking the two of you look kind of.. Cute together."

"Shut up, Timothy, before I get mad."

"How is that something to get mad over?" T laughed.

Well, him pushing me towards his friend was a pretty clear confirmation he liked me about as much as he liked sports.

"It's none of your business."

T scoffed.

"I'm serious! Ask again and see what happens."

"Tempting.."

"Timothy, I swear to God."

He laughed and didn't say another word about it.

I angrily cut the onions. It's not like I was surprised but it still stung. He was never going to like me like that, was he? He liked people like Fangs. Expressive, creative, emotional, sensitive.

"How's that asshole doing anyway?" I grumbled.

"Hm? Who?"

"Dracula."

"Oh, you mean Charlie? Great last I heard. He's uh.. dating. That girl." T sounded a little irked there.

"Is she thirteen or twelve?"

"Josh."

"Do you still.. Like him?" I asked softly after a moment of silence.

When T didn't answer I turned around.

He was staring at the floor. He didn't look all that sad.

"I don't think so." T looked sort of surprised there. "Although it does bother me he moved on so fast."

"Well, just means he's an asshole." I turned back to the food. "You should move on too."

"With who?" T chuckled. "I'm never dating again. I'm reserving my love for people out of my league like Andy Black from now on."

Yeah right. Fast forward three months and he'll be dating Blade.

I wanted to bang my head against the wall a few times and get that nightmarish image out of my head.

✪

After dinner and hanging with my friends for a while I crawled into T and my tent. He was already lying under the covers. I could tell he was awake, though.

"You warm?" I asked.

"Yeah, I just put on a few extra layers."

"You can sleep here if you get cold." I mumbled as I dove into my sleeping bag.

"Thanks."

I fumbled with my fingers. I thought of last night. I thought of Timothy's breezy attitude and his soft lips.. his masterful touch..

"Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"You know... I think Allie likes you."

I smacked my teeth. "Not fucking that again."

"I'm serious! She's constantly talking about you and when I ask she starts to smile.. Allie seriously likes you, Josh."

I sighed. Great. Just great. I didn't want her to like me. I loved being her friend. I loved hanging out with her but now it would all get awkward. Shit man. Why must I be so goddamn irresistible?

"..I know you don't wanna talk about it but.. I need to know. Do you like her too?"

"No! I don't!" I snapped.

"Everyone's saying you do like her though. And it's not a bad thing-"

"Who the fuck is saying that?! I never said anything about that!"

I thought about my conversation with my friends. Nah, are you kidding? Did they tell people?

"Everyone. Even your friends-"

"I don't like her!"

Timothy chuckled. "Then why are you getting so upset?"

"Because it's a stupid fucking question!"

Why couldn't he just shut up? He was breaking my fucking..

Ego. Yeah. Just my ego.

"I'm just saying that if you were into her.. You have my blessing."

I frowned and squeezed the sleeping bag. I was getting so upset. I honestly felt like I had to punch something or I'd start crying. Fucking pathetic.

I slid deeper into the bag.

✪

The next few days were hellish because T spent most of his time with fucking Blade and Allie, and I had to spend time with my friends or it'd seem weird.

Rumors had spread that Allie and I were secretly dating or that we were in love. There was even a dumb ass rumor that I'd gotten her pregnant and we were about to elope. It was getting too out of hand.

The rumors were annoying enough but what hurt me most was that T didn't seem to care. At all.