Friday

Julian and Senn split ways inside, Julian heading over to some of his old friends, while Senn went to search for his friends. They weren't at the side of the pool any longer, so Senn decided to look for them inside. They possibly went to get themselves drinks while he was away, or dance with the girls after they had begged them for an hour or so already.

What he hadn't expected, was to find them in the kitchen, in the company of none other than Elio—who was downing two shots while a few girls where cheering him on. Other girls, who Senn passed on his way into the kitchen, were fawning over how good he looked.

Senn couldn't agree more.

He tried to keep the lovesick smiling to a minimum, but he couldn't stop himself from smiling at the sight of Elio no matter how hard he tried.

"Elio? I didn't know you were planning to go to this party?" Senn joined his friends, his smiling fading when he noticed both Lucas and Avan's worried frowns.

His smile dropped in total when Elio turned to face him, sending him a cold look, right before he threw another shot down his throat.

"What's wrong?" Senn asked, noticing Joyce and Samantha in the door opening, the former with her arms crossed and anger in her eyes while she looked at Elio.

"I don't know, Senn," Elio grumbled, turning away to search for a bottle of whatever he had been downing in multiple shots. "How'd you feel if you like someone and you find them kissing someone else when you head over to a fucking party you don't want to be at just to surprise them because that's just how much you like them?"

"I—wh-what?" Senn stuttered, exchanging looks with Lucas, who shrugged his shoulders in surprise to tell him he had no idea what Elio was talking about.

"Probably the same way I felt when you dumped me," Joyce snapped at him, causing both Senn and Elio to send her a cold look.

"This isn't about you," Senn snapped at her, while panic arose inside of him.

"No," Elio swirled around on his feet until he could plant a finger against Senn's chest. "This, Senn, is about you."

Senn felt his face heat up as he saw Joyce's anger turn into confusion that matched Samantha's facial expression.

"Elio..." Senn muttered, pushing Elio's finger away from his chest. "Not here," he whispered, though the sound of the music blasting through the house possibly made it impossible for Elio to hear. Whether or not he heard it, he didn't care that they were surrounded by at least a dozen students from their school that were slowly tuning in on their conversation—or argument.

"It's about you, kissing another guy outside," Elio continued his rant, pushing his finger back against Senn's chest. "And here I was, thinking you actually liked me."

"What?" Joyce asked with a high-pitched voice, while Senn heard a glass shatter to pieces, somewhere close to where she was standing. "You and Elio... just, what?"

"Senn isn't even into guys," Samantha said, her laugh filled to the brim with awkwardness. "Elio, stop the drama—"

"If he isn't into guys, then I must have taken him kissing me the wrong way. Totally interpreted it the wrong way, or didn't I, Senn?"

Senn swallowed, his body shaking, his face burning from embarrassment. His hands were balled into fists, though Senn wasn't sure why; he wasn't going to punch Elio. He couldn't.

"Elio, it's not what you think," he eventually replied. Apparently, his subconscious mind had decided he rather salvaged his friendship, or relationship, with Elio, than deny being into guys to the rest of the people present.

"Well, it seemed to be exactly what I think it is," Elio hissed, pushing him with a flat hand. "Now leave me the fuck alone. We're done."

"Elio, wait, you have to listen." Senn grabbed hold of his wrist to prevent Elio from walking away. "It didn't mean anything. I didn't even want to—"

"Save it, I'm out of here." Elio pulled his wrist from his hold and barged out of the kitchen.

Senn wanted to follow him, he really did. But his feet wouldn't move, and his mind was racing with thoughts. Mostly because over a dozen pair of eyes were focused on him; including those of Samantha and Joyce. He was practically dragged out of the closet, while he had only just managed to stay out of the rumor train for a week.

Finally, people had stopped talking about him and what had happened to him, and now they were probably all going to talk about his sexuality, and the fact he got humiliated by Elio at Elmer McCoy's party. Which were parties people would continue to talk about for weeks, until Elmer decided to throw another party and another bunch of shit happened that would push old rumors and events off everyone's interest list.

Elio had singlehandedly outed him to his friends, to fellow classmates, to strangers.

Still, the only thing Senn felt shit about in that moment, was the fact Elio didn't want to listen to him. The only thing that made him scared, was the fact Elio was probably going to avoid him. He wasn't going to hang out with him, he wasn't going to write him more notes. Senn couldn't watch him smile, hear him talk, smell his scent, kiss his lips.

Which made him feel lonely, despite the fact he was surrounded by people—friends even.

Lucas placed a hand on his shoulder, but before he could speak, Senn rushed away from them, following in Elio's footsteps. Maybe he could still catch up with Elio. Maybe he could still explain what happened, possibly even have Julian explain it to Elio. Maybe he could fix this.

But when he came outside, Elio was nowhere to be seen, and Senn sighed in defeat. It was tempting to go after him, follow him home, and talk. But he didn't think Elio would let him into his house and it was way too late at night—or early in the morning—to bother his family.

He turned around to face the house. Teens were spread over the porched, and some where even lounging on the lawn, while music filled the silent air of the night. He was about to head back inside to find Lucas and Avan, when he noticed two girls, close to the front door, talking to each other, sending him looks.

Great, the gossip had already begun, and he really didn't feel like dealing with it.

Which was why he went on to grab his bike, and left to go home and hide in the safety of his own bed.

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Love, June