Fragile Threads [boyxboy]

Chapter 7

I can still make it for an hour or something, if that’s okay? He insisted anyways.

Ethan checked the time and saw it was a little before one. He sighed and agreed before running around the house and making sure it looked presentable. Almost no one came over to their house anymore. He heard the doorbell go off not long after and wondered how this was going to work. He got to the door and unlocked it before closing his eyes.

“Hey,” He greeted, and Ethan felt a hand on his shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” Ethan repeated. “My mom made me do some chores and that’s about the extent of my day so far.”  He jumped slightly when he felt lips press over his, but quickly sunk into the kiss.

“You seem better than yesterday,” He commented after pulling away. “You still seemed a little freaked out after leaving.”

“I guess,” Ethan admitted. “I feel a bit worn down… yesterday I was more high strung than anything else.”

“If it’s with your grades and stuff, I’m sure there are some tutoring options,” He suggested hopefully. “Like the school has a tutoring lab for math, and for English.”

Ethan knew about those, but he couldn’t seem to make himself go. He was too worried over the tutors getting frustrated with constant questions as he struggled to understand. “I don’t think so,” he mumbled instead. “I mean, I can figure it out… eventually. I just need to put more effort in or something.”

“You want another hug, then?” He asked.

“Yes,” Ethan agreed quickly and let himself be led by the arm.

Ethan was tilted back onto the couch and soon felt a warm body wrap around him. He cuddled his face into His chest and tucked his arms between them as well. Ethan let out a content sigh and relaxed into the feeling. “Thanks for finding the time to come,” Ethan muttered. “But don’t fail too many classes because of me.”

“I can get away with skipping some classes,” He said and pressed himself closer to Ethan. “But you just relax for right now.”

***

“Hey Ethan, what are your weekend plans?” Brent asked, wrapping an arm over Ethan’s shoulder.

Ethan tensed slightly. “Nothing… why?” What he really wanted to do was spend some quality time on the computer, but he doubted Brent would allow such a thing.

“Ari's brother is up at college and says he can hook me and some friends up with good parties,” Brent beamed excitedly. “Can you drive?”

“Well… I have my license, but I can’t drive more than one person,” Ethan answered tentatively. He didn’t like where this was going.

“You listen to that?” Brent laughed.

“Well it’s kind of a state law…” Ethan stressed. So what if he listened to things that could prevent him from getting arrested?

“You don’t drink, right? Because we could use a designated driver… and I’m sure it’s better to have more than one person in your car as long as it means they aren’t out driving drunk, right?” Brent tried to persuade him.

Ethan pulled away from Brent’s touch. “I don’t have a car, I just have my license. And I don’t think a college party is a good idea.” He’d heard far too many horror stories about those on the internet. The internet was there to help keep him safe by making him wonder why people felt the need to party when there were computers.

“Please,” Brent pleaded. “We’re trying to stay safe here, and a college party would be awesome. Could you imagine some of the girls there?”

Ethan tried to think of something to say. How could he say no to girls without Brent asking too many questions? “I don’t think my mom would let me…”

“Your mom?” Brent echoed in disbelief. “Ethan—come on.”

“What are you hassling him about this time, Brent?” Landon snuck up behind them, holding his lunch tray expectantly.

“I’m asking him to be our DD for this weekend,” Brent said over his shoulder.

“I’ll do it,” Ari volunteered at Landon’s side, much to Ethan’s relief. “I can’t drink this weekend anyways, so I might as well drive.”

The three started to talk out plans about who’s car to take, and Ethan finally managed to duck away. Forget lunch; he didn’t want to sit next to Brent and the rest of them. He didn’t want to constantly hear about a party and girls, and how wasted they were going to get.

Ethan ended up under his staircase from earlier in the semester. A few weeks was far too long to have not been there recently. He sighed and basked in the quiet of it, away from the crowded cafeteria. Was it so wrong to not wanting to get in trouble? Why did Brent have to make is sound like that was something lame?

Ethan curled up and put his forehead against his knees. Though maybe he should be the one to drive, just to be sure they all got there and back safe, even though he’d never been to a college town before.

Then he started to imagine what the actual party would be like—full of older people, legal to drink or not. They would think he was a high school brat and probably try to encourage him to prove himself worthy of being there. He’d seen enough TV to know that could lead to so some sort of hazing.

Ethan got his mind to stop working just long enough to notice that his hands were shaking slightly. The second time that week, though not as bad as before. Was there something wrong with him?

He sighed and just stayed in his place under the stairs for the rest of lunch.