Summers & Starbucks - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Kaiden
I invited everyone for a sleepover immediately after I got home from the Lacrosse game. Except Daniel, who has a family function, everyone shows up.
With all the things that happened in the past week with Sam, Sasha, Vanessa and Nathan, I feel like I haven't spoken to my closest friends.
"So you didn't have sex? What a shame, Sam is hot!" Bella chuckles.
"He is and he's also very straight."
"What crap?" Ryan snorts in disbelief.
"Well, he said he was just horny and to not breathe a word of what happens to anyone. He was more embarrassed than I was. I mean, he was drunk and so was I."
"It's probably a ruse to avoid coming out. I mean, I wouldn't kiss a drunk guy even if you paid me a million dollars," Ryan says.
"I would! It's a million dollars man, we could use Listerine after!" Alex says, completely serious. Everyone laughs but Ryan looks a tad bit disgusted.
"Does this mean you like dudes now?" he asks me, stretching on the bean bag.
"I didn't hate what we did so yeah, I guess? I'm certainly not attracted to any of you guys though, so you don't have to be weird around me!"
"Really gives us an ego boost, huh Kaiden?" Alex laughs.
"I'm happy you called us. We haven't had a good hangout in a while now!" Bella voices my thoughts.
"I know right? It felt like you had gotten tired of being friends with us. Especially since you didn't even mention anything about the concert!"
"You were right there when Vanessa asked me, Ryan!"
"I didn't think you would accept! Tell me you only went to annoy Adrian?"
"Since when did you turn so observant?" I laugh and he flips me off.
The movie is playing in the background, long forgotten. I turn off the flatscreen, grabbing a slice of pizza.
"Did any of you tell Daniel about me?"
"No, he doesn't know anything," Raven says.
"Good. I don't want him to completely shun me so it's better he doesn't know much of the details. But, I appreciate you guys being so chill about this," I sigh.
"I can't imagine being hated by even one of you. It would have crushed me."
"Kaiden, don't you ever, think that you have to hide things from us okay?" Bella says, holding both my hands.
"Yes. We're not going to judge you no matter what you tell us!" Raven says, nodding.
I feel tears well up. She hugs me and kisses the top of my head.
"I'm sorry. I just.... I love you guys!"
"We love you more, Kai!" Bella smiles. "You'll always have us okay? It's a promise!"
"I had thought your coming out would be dramatic and ceremonial, not a pity party!" Aaron says.
I grin, wiping my eyes.
"Well, he was technically outed by Sasha and Daniel. She stupidly sent the pic to Dan and he sent it on the group so the ceremonial part was lost," Ryan laughs.
"You can still make it dramatic though! Kiss someone in front of the whole school!" Alex says, eyes shining.
I throw a pillow at his face.
"So we can still make dick jokes around you right? Or is it going to make you get an automatic boner?" He continues.
"Ew Alex, fuck off!" Bella laughs.
"Okay, enough about me. Who are your homecoming dates guys?" I ask, laughing.
How the fuck did I get so lucky in the friend department?
"I asked Tamara yesterday. She accepted!" Ryan says.
"That's awesome Ryan, she's really pretty! Bells, what about you?"
"I'm going with Max," she blushes.
"Aha, I knew it! Are you dating now?" I ask happily.
"Yeah. He's a great guy, you know? Takes care of me. We talk a lot too," she smiles shyly.
"Good for you! You have all of my blessings! Anyway, I'm getting coffee, anyone want some?" I ask and they all chorus in agreement.
Raven joins me downstairs. I tell Nora to make six cups and Mom, sitting at the dining table in a conference call, signals me to make one more for her too. Raven helps me carry the tray and cookies upstairs.
"I was thinking, Calum is having a party after the game, right?" I ask, handing everyone their mugs.
Ryan nods.
"And since the dance is the next evening on a Sunday, why don't you guys drop by to my place after the party? Get your outfits here after the game. Then we could attend the party together, spend the night here and then get ready here for the dance and go together? It's a weekend so my parents are visiting relatives."
"Sounds like a plan. That means we can get as drunk as we want to!" Raven chuckles.
"Not that it stops us anyway," I shrug. "Is it okay if I invite Nathan too?"
Everyone agrees, Raven looking excited. Ryan frowns but doesn't object.
"About Nathan, I have a request to make to you guys."
They look at me curiously.
"Well, he told me he wants to make a mural on his bedroom wall. And I kinda sorta agreed, for all of us, to do the thing, like a group activity."
"Me? I can't even hold a brush right!" Alex laughs.
"Um, it's just graffiti I planned, it won't take much skill. Actually I'm hoping to get it done with really quickly, that's why I asked you guys. I am not on good terms with him right now."
"Not on good terms? Why?! Everyone thinks you are practically best friends!" Bella gasps.
"Best friends?" I ask, gobsmacked.
Nathan refuses to act like we're even acquaintances, let alone besties.
"Yeah man, you both are almost always together and he's in like five of your classes. I've seen you whispering and laughing together. You don't even wait for me or Dan to go to classes anymore! You just go with Nathan!" Ryan says, sipping on the coffee.
"And he's always catching a ride with you!" Raven adds.
"It was literally twice! He refuses my offer half the times," I mutter, remembering the awful things he said to me today. I'm still annoyed.
"Also, I've heard some girls discussing about you. As we know, Nathan is very mysterious, barely says anything," Bella says. "But with you, you always seem to be talking! There's rumours that you both are a thing!"
"That's bullshit!"
My ears warm at the thought of us together. I won't deny, it's a nice thought to entertain.
"Also, Vanessa said he came with you to the concert as well. It's a shame you thought of inviting him and not us," Alex grumbles.
"I heard Nathan told the Art teacher that if he doesn't give you a hundred percent on your works, he would piss in his garden! Imagine telling a faculty that?" Raven giggles.
"What the hell? Man's got some serious balls on him!" Ryan snorts.
"And you stayed over at his house when you didn't find room at any of ours. You didn't even call Sasha or Max, whom you've known for four years!" Ryan says.
"So, you're telling me, you guys are on bad terms after you've been practically inseparable the whole month?" Bella asks, wide eyed.
"Jeez, you really do pay a lot of attention to me!"
"We're your friends! It doesn't help that anytime we mention Nathan to you, you either change the topic or just clam up!"
"I don't do that?! Also, when have you asked me about Nathan?" I frown.
"See? That's the whole point. You don't even remember that!" Alex smirks.
"Never mind all that. We had a minor misunderstanding today at school, so I am a little pissed off. He says a lot of dumb shit sometimes."
"Ah, the old lover's spat!" Bella giggles. I throw a cushion at her.
"You are really fucking annoying sometimes!"
"Seriously though, this is the first time you've thought of inviting him with all of us," she says again. "Do you want to keep him all to yourself?"
She teasingly pokes my side.
"Wh-what? Nothing like that, obviously!"
"Then? We should invite him to hang out with us more often!"
"I would but he has a hard time trusting people. I thought maybe I should ease him into our circle you know? Because you guys are a loud bunch and very invasive! I mean, judging by how much you already know about mine and Nathan's friendship, you're not exactly people who respect privacy!" I chuckle.
Nobody laughs. They're looking at me like I collectively murdered their families.
"Are you embarrassed of us?"
"Has Nathan suddenly become so important to you that you care more about his feelings than you do ours?"
"Do you not want us to know stuff about you anymore?"
"Are you too cool for us because you went to Westbrook?"
"We don't care about privacy?! The only reason we haven't pestered you, regarding your affinity towards Nathan, is because we were giving you space so that you could tell us when you were ready!"
Oh God, what did I land myself into?
"Guys, guys, guys, you took me super wrong! That is not what I meant!"
"Well, you did! You're being distant since the stupid concert! We almost thought you would ditch us in favour of Vanessa and her posse! I've spoken more to Adrian than I have to you!" Ryan grumbles.
"Yeah. And us having no respect for privacy is a really insensitive thing to say, Kaiden!" Raven pouts.
"I'm sorry! You guys, I'm sorry! You know how I was when I first moved here right?"
"Oh God, don't remind me. It was like trying to feed a tortured kitten. You took a good three months to even sit with us at lunch!" Bella groans. "You were awful!"
"I guess I relate to Nathan a lot in that respect and so I don't want him to feel as strange and alone as I did," I mumble.
"Being in a new school is hard. I don't want him to try and figure everything out by himself till he finds someone he fits in with. I was lucky I found you guys!"
"Awww!" Raven gets up and hugs me. Bella follows and it turns to a big group hug.
"We love you, you complete dildo!" Alex chuckles, going back to his beanbag.
"Also, if he's not okay with us being nosy, we promise to not be that way. You don't have to worry about us scaring away your new best friend!" Bella laughs, pulling my cheek.
"We're NOT best friends!"
It's almost ten when the bell goes, in the middle of our very competitive Uno game. My parents decided to join too and its been nothing but laughter and debates on whether you're allowed to play a +2 on another +2.
I trudge downstairs and open the door, walking out on the porch.
"Nathan?! Are you alright? You're not hurt, are you? Did something happen?"
I pull him into the porch light, checking him.
"I'm fine, Kaiden! I just, I wanted to see you."
"Oh? Is it about the mural? I was just telling my friends about it, we can get around to it soon!"
There's an unreadable look on his face. I press a palm to his forehead.
"You look pale, do you want a glass of water?"
"You... you're still being nice to me? After all those stupid, horrid things I said to you?" he frowns.
I can't stay mad at you even if I tried.
"Dude, I say more dumb things to my friends before 9 am than most people say in the whole day! So chill your butt. Besides, I saw you speaking to Vanessa. I know it was her frustration you took out on me."
"You're actually defending me?!" he asks, voice small.
I shrug.
To my utter surprise, he walks to me and gives me the tightest hug. I freeze, then I hug him back.
It feels.... different to hug him. More than just a bro hug. It's probably just me. My silly brain inventing scenarios.
"Thank you," He whispers, his breath tickling my neck. He smells lovely, as usual.
"Don't mention it. Just don't ever say things like that again or I will slap you!" I chuckle.
He pulls away, not looking at me.
"I'm sorry, Kaiden. I... well - " He sighs. "I don't know how to let people, anyone, get close to me. I can't handle it when you are so generous, because I know I won't be able to return the favours."
"Favours?! It's just mundane things I do for you because they're convenient for you and almost take me no effort. You don't have to be so formal."
He bites his lip like he wants to say something else.
"What?"
"Nothing, never mind. See you at school tomorrow," He says, walking away.
"Wait Nathan, did you walk here? You could have stayed for a while?"
"My friend's waiting."
I look over but the said friend is probably way down the driveway and it's too dark to see.
"Oh, okay then. Goodnight!"
"Goodnight Kai-Pie!"
I watch him leave.
He's complicated but a genuinely good person. He just needs someone to understand and isn't that what we all want?