Within the Lines

8.

"I just thought I caught a hostile vibe there. I mean, Atticus towards Jonah. But I guess Atticus just has a hostile vibe with nearly everyone. In general. Even with his... friends?" 

I tried to play it off. I hope it worked, because Mandy's expression betrayed little of her thoughts. Her eyes were still lit up like Christmas trees. That  wasn't a good sign, was it?

"Right," Mandy said, nodding. "He does have a hostile vibe, kinda." 

"Yeah, but I guess that's got nothin' to do with Jonah," I emphasised again. 

Thankfully, the band finally arrived and I had an excuse to walk away from Mandy and focus on helping them set up on stage. Becky had issues letting go of her anger for making her wait; I still heard her mutter curses under her breath and mumble about bad reviews when she passed me, but at least the party wasn't ruined. 

While Becky got on stage first after we were done setting up, I spotted Jonah in the crowd with a group of people I presumed were his theatre friends. He spotted me too, and smiled. 

He wasn't the only one smiling at me. Mandy slipped into Jonah's circle of friends. She said something to him in his ear while looking at me. Her expression was now somewhere between 'lit up Christmas tree' and 'birthday came early.' Jonah's grin widened, too, and my cheeks burned.

This was the last time I'd ever ask or tell Mandy something, unless it was okay the entire school knew. Also, was it just me or had the room heated up in general? Whew. I quickly averted my gaze from Jonah and his friends and focused on Becky who was about to make her speech. 

"Hello everyone!" Becky said into the microphone. "Welcome to the opening of the academic year party 2018! Our theme this year is 'Safari' and all money spent on drinks, food, and other fun stuff will go to local animal protection services! I'd like to thank everyone who helped make the party possible, especially our last minute addition: decorator and designer Kade."

Becky briefly pointed at me, and I kind of shrunk into the crowd while keeping a smile plastered on my face. Usually, I wouldn't mind being pointed out. But right now my face had to resemble that baboon's red ass I'd painted on the wall canvas for this party. 

Becky thanked some more students and teachers, including Atticus who tried to shrink into the crowd even harder than I did but was way too tall to do it, and then raised her glass. She honestly was not a party girl. Her raising an stiff arm and yelling 'whoohoo let the party begin!' was so hilariously out of place, akin to an out of touch teacher trying to use memes, a chuckle escaped my mouth. 

I should've known better than to laugh.

I just never got away with stuff like that without the universe immediately punishing me for it. 

Jonah had untangled himself from his group of friends, and he was heading right for me while said friends were watching him. So much for 'I'll be with friends, hope to see you later.' 

"Uh, hey," I greeted Jonah, going for a casual tone, but landing somewhere between self-conscious and pre-pubescent voice crack. 

"You know..." Jonah grinned.  "If you're that curious about my dating life, you can just ask me directly. You don't have to go through public service announcement system Mandy." 

I laughed nervously. "Shoot, busted," I joked, hoping that was cute enough to gain me some goodwill with Jonah. 

Not that he seemed mad at me or anything. He put his hands behind his head and  spread his elbows, stretching out. "Honestly, I thought you would've figured out she was a huge gossip when she told everyone you were gay. Well, granted, that wasn't her doing alone. There are a lot of gossips on the Student Council. Becky hates that part." 

"Me being gay wasn't a secret, though," I pointed out. 

Jonah arched an eyebrow. "And you think my dating life is?"

I opened and closed my mouth. "Well, uh..." I raised my shoulders in a shrug. He did tell me I could ask him directly. "Did you and Atticus used to date?" 

"That's a secret," Jonah replied without missing a beat. 

He smirked at me and geez, this guy. He'd baited me on purpose didn't he? 

"Okay, am I being trolled?" 

Jonah laughed. "Yeah kinda. Sorry."  

Fair enough that he didn't answer. I'd learned my gossiping lesson, too: don't do it with someone who others nickname a public service announcement system. Wait a second though, had Jonah just indirectly confirmed there was a secret between him and Atticus to tell? I think he had. 

Jonah's shoulder brushed against mine as he leaned in. "I'm not intending on facing Atty's wrath," he said quietly. "Catch you later, Kade."

I watched Jonah walk back to his friends, before feeling someone's eyes on me. 

The universe was really, really out to punish me for gossiping, and I had to object at this point. I was a first time offender. This was too much punishment. 

I didn't deserve Atticus staring me from across the auditorium and smiling at me upside down, meaning: the corners of his mouth tugged down so far it nearly looked like an inverse smile. 

Even from a distance, his face looked red. I couldn't tell whether it was anger or embarrassment or both. He took one step in my direction and for a moment I thought he was coming up to me to talk. But then at the last moment he seemingly changed his mind. He abruptly turned and walked out of the school auditorium.