Rowan & Justin [boyxboy]

Chapter Eleven

A/N: SO sorry about the delay everyone! As I said, Wattpad wouldn't let me upload when I wanted to, and then my internet cut out for two days, so, finally, here is the chapter I promised haha :p

‘No I don’t,’ I blurted, before I could stop myself.

                Tyson smiled a weird smile. ‘Yes, you do,’ he said patiently, like there was some complicated concept I wasn’t grasping.

                I glanced at Nate nervously, but he just shrugged. ‘He can’t force you to do anything,’ he said reasonably, like Tyson and Parker weren’t standing there listening to us. ‘I’m late for class. See you later.’

                And just like that I was left alone to deal with this unimaginable shit storm all by myself.

                ‘Tyson,’ I muttered, trying to keep my frustration under wraps. ‘What are you talking about? You know I’m with someone.’

                Parker scowled at this, but it didn’t seem to be news to him.

                Tyson rolled his eyes. ‘You’re so childish, Justin,’ he lamented, seemingly unfazed by the crowds milling around trying to get to class and the fact that we were creating a roadblock with our bodies. ‘I swear it’s like you do these things just to upset people. Do you know how annoyed everyone is going to be when they find out you’re messing around with a Monta-loser? Much less their idiotic leader. If you’re really so desperate for attention, just go on a date with Parker. He’s been nuts about you for ages. You’ll get all the attention your damn ego needs.’

                I was so shocked by this casual assault on my character that I merely stood, gaping at my cousin, unable to defend myself right away. Eventually, after some interminable seconds of them both looking at me expectantly, I managed to splutter, ‘I’m not just “messing around” with Row-’

                ‘Shh,’ Tyson hissed, glancing around anxiously. Right. Nobody could know.

                ‘I’m not just “messing around” with him,’ I amended, rolling my eyes. I had enough arguing ahead of me than to fight for naming Rowan in the process. ‘It’s actually really serious.’ I knew I sounded like some dumb kid, trying harder to convince myself than anyone else, but I couldn’t wrap my head around the situation nearly well enough to fight my corner.

                Maybe Rowan was wrong. Perhaps I wouldn’t make such a good lawyer after all.

                Tyson made a sound of frustration and his eyes darted around the slowly-emptying hallways, like he had better things to be doing and cooler people to be talking to. He wasn’t far wrong.

                ‘Look,’ he said, trying to sound reasonable. ‘We’ll talk about this later. I’ll come over.’ He turned to Parker. ‘Don’t worry,’ he continued, like I had already left. ‘He’ll be there.’

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Laying flat on my bed later that day, I reached for my phone and quickly tapped out a message to a still-unresponsive Rowan before I could change my mind.