Sebastian slapped his hands down on the sheet. His face was right above mine. He gave me an easy smirk.

                “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to knock you down and fall on you,” Sebastian said, pushing himself off of me.

                “Uh…I…” My eyes were locked on his.

                What had Rory said earlier? Something about making sure to keep eye contact no matter what happened?

                “Are you alright?” Sebastian asked, standing up and offering his hand to me.

                “I…don’t know,” I said in confusion. I stared at his hand as if it were a foreign object.

                Sebastian looked at me in amusement before leaning down and gripping my hand in his. He pulled me to my feet and caught me as I nearly fell over. Huh. How did I control my legs again?

                “Oh! I remember!” I cried in excitement.

                “Remember what?” Sebastian asked.

                “How to stand,” I said in a “duh” voice before realizing how dumb I sounded. Ohgodwhy. Just kill me now.

                “Well, I’m very happy for you Evan,” he said, biting his lip to hide an amused smirk.

                “Wait, how do you know my name?” I asked, my heart stopping. He…He had heard about me and my charm. My dashing good looks and my charisma. I was famous!

                “Because we’ve hung out before,” Sebastian said, rolling his eyes and chuckling a little. “We hang out here all the time.”

                “Well, sorry Sebastian. I don’t remember your name,” I said, trying to play it cool.

                “Oh, you don’t?” he asked, raising an amused eyebrow at me. “Well, I’ll let you figure it out. I have faith in you Evan.”

                HOLY SHIT SEBASTIAN AMSEL HAS FAITH IN ME.

                Okay, okay. Hold back your girlish fan-girl squeals Evan. Don’t want to freak Sebastian out. Just keep playing it cool. Yea, that’s what I would do.

                “Yea, I’m sure I’ll remember your name eventually,” I said with a shrug.

                I turned to head over to the couch, but I tripped over my own feet and nearly face planted. Sebastian reached out and caught me easily before I could descend very far, though.

                “Easy there Evan,” he said, laughing again as he righted me. “Jeez, are you drunk?”

                “No. Sadly, this is how he always is,” Rory said, coming over and grabbing my arm. He led me over to the couch and shoved me into a sitting position, tossing the spinner at me.

                “Uh…I think we’re done with Twister. Before someone breaks their neck,” Murphy said, grinning at me. He came over and took the spinner, tossing it into the box. He and Sebastian rolled up the sheet together and placed it in the box.

                Murphy handed the box to Liam and ruffled Liam’s hair. “Go put that away. We can play again tomorrow,” he promised.

                Liam pouted. “Fine,” he grumbled and disappeared up the stairs.

                “Anyone up for some Mario Kart?” Murphy offered.

                We nodded and he set up the Nintendo 64, handing us each a controller. We began to play Mario Kart, racing against each other.

                “I’m gonna win! I’m gonna w- DAMMIT SEBASTIAN I HATE YOUR RED SHELLS!” I whined.

                “I thought you forgot my name?” Sebastian asked with a smirk.

                “I spontaneously remembered it,” I said, rolling my eyes at his stupidity.

                “Oh Evan,” Rory said hopelessly, shaking his head at me. “You’re an idiot.”

                “I am no such thing. You are so hurtful sometimes Rory,” I said with a pout.

                “Says the guy who called me ugly today,” Rory grumbled.

                “Well, yea. I was just speaking the truth!” I said.

                “Listening to you guys is interesting. I think that’s why I always invite you over,” Murphy said with a laugh.

                He shifted and laid down, resting his head in Sebastian’s lap as he set up another game of Mario Kart for us. Sebastian didn’t punch his face into next year or anything. He just let Murphy put his head in his lap.

                WHOA MURPHY. THAT WAS MY TERRITORY. BACK THE FUCK OFF BITCH.

                I resisted the urge to growl at Murphy and forced my attention back to the TV. Why wasn’t Sebastian freaking out on Murphy right now?! I mean, the guy had his head in Sebastian’s lap!

                “Hey, Seb, are you hungry?” Murphy asked, glancing up at Sebastian’s face.

                Sebastian shrugged and nodded. “Yea. Are you two?”

                It took me a minute to realize he was talking to us. I glanced at Rory and we both nodded. I could go for some snacks.

                “Yep, I’m starving! So, Murph, you better get off of Sebastian’s lap and go get us some food and drinks,” I said, smooth as always. Ah yea. I deserved an award for how sneaky and smooth I was.

                Murphy jumped up and paused the game before disappearing upstairs to grab us food. I leaned back, triumphant. Yea, that’s right Murph. You better get me food like the bitch you are. Trying to seduce my man.

                “Can’t you stop being an idiot for 5 seconds?” Rory grumbled.

                I blinked at him. “Ain’t nobody got time for that.”

                Sebastian stretched and cracked his knuckles. He glanced at us. “So, you guys argue a lot. Are you sure you’re best friends?”

                “Sadly,” Rory said with a hopeless sigh.

                “I grace Rory with the gift of being my best friend,” I said, patting Rory on the head. He smacked my hand away and I pouted at him. “Rude!”

                “You seem like an amusing kind of guy Evan,” Sebastian said.

                “Trust me, he doesn’t mean to be,” Rory said.

                I shot him a glare. Was he trying to ruin my relationship with Sebastian? He totally wanted Sebastian all for himself. It was official. He was working with Liam to steal Sebastian away from me.

                Sebastian shrugged. “Amusing is amusing, whether he means to be or not,” he said, folding his hands behind his head and leaning back against the couch.

                “So…Sebastian, right?” I asked, deciding to play it cool again. Awww yea. I was impressive.

                “Yes Evan. We’ve already established this,” Sebastian said, fighting a grin. “My name is Sebastian. Sebastian Amsel.”

                “Sebastian makes me think of the crab from The Little Mermaid. Not that I ever watched that girly movie. Oh! And not that you remind me of crabs. Nope. Nu-uh. Just a connection,” I said with an unconcerned shrug.

                I cleared my throat nervously. “So, uh, yea. Amsel? That’s a pretty cool last name, I guess. Clearly it’s Italian,” I said.

                “Actually, it’s German.”

                “That’s what I said. Clearly it’s German.”

                Woo, that was a close one. He almost caught me there. Good thing I had cleverly recovered myself!

                “And how old are you Sebastian? 16?” I asked.

                “I’m 17,” Sebastian said. “We’ve been in the same class since the 5th grade, Evan.”

                “Oh, yea. I forgot, I guess,” I said. Playing dumb like that was a turn-on. Sebastian would be making out with me in private in a matter of seconds. I was positive of it.

                “Hey guys, I got food!”

                DAMN YOU MURPHY. I ALMOST HAD SEBASTIAN.

                Murphy came down the stairs, carrying a tray loaded with chips, popcorn, soda, fruit snacks, and water bottles. He set the tray down on the couch and pointed at it.

                “Take whatever you want,” he said, dropping next to Sebastian and grabbing a chip. Sebastian grabbed a soda and looked over at Rory and I, who were just out of reach of the tray.

                “What do you guys want to drink?” he asked. Awww, he was such a gentleman! So thoughtful and considerate of others. And Rory wondered why I liked him!

                “I’ll have a Dr. Pepper,” I said, Rory nodding in agreement.

                Sebastian tossed the Dr. Peppers to us and tossed some popcorn up, catching it in his mouth. I think I nearly creamed my pants as I watched. Damn. That boy had skills with his mouth. I could only imagine what else he did with his mouth…

                “Stop thinking dirty Evan,” Rory said so that only I could hear him. He opened his soda and began to drink it.

                “Stop reading my mind,” I grumbled in annoyance, opening my own soda and beginning to drink it.

                “Murphy! Murphy!” Liam said, running down the stairs. He was dressed in Toy Story pajamas, and was the picture of innocence as he stopped in front of us, his eyes wide and eager. “Mom said I could play Nintendo with you guys for a little before I go to bed!”

                “Sorry Liam, but there’s only four controllers,” Murphy said, pointing at the game console.

                Liam glared, anger rising in his features and wiping away the innocent look. Ah shit. Here comes the friggin’ brat.

                “You can use my controller,” Sebastian said, quickly resolving the situation.

                “Yay! Thanks Sebastian!” Liam said cheerfully, skipping over and sitting down in Sebastian’s lap. He took the controller from Sebastian and nodded at Murphy to start a new game.

                Oh that friggin’ brat was moving in on my man again! He was only 7 years old! He wasn’t supposed to be attempting to seduce anybody, least of all a guy!

                Murphy began a new game. We drove, all trying to win. I smirked as I found myself in first place. Hey! Maybe I could impress Sebastian with my talented Mario Kart skills! Yea, I bet a gamer as amazing as me would definitely turn him on!

                Until I drove my character into a wall and lost.

                “Jeez, who was just in first place? They really sucked,” Liam said as he won the game, setting the controller in his lap.

                “Uh…Rory!” I said, pointing at him. Rory rolled his eyes at me and smacked my hand.

                “Liam! Time for bed,” Murphy’s mom, Mrs. O’Doherty, said, coming downstairs.

                “No! I’m having fun!” Liam whined, wrapping his arms around Sebastian’s neck and snuggling against him.

                WHOA. BACK THE FUCK OFF YOU 3-FOOT MAN STEALING, TOY STORY PAJAMA WEARING BRAT.

                “Liam! Now!” Mrs. O’Doherty said sternly. Yea, you tell him Mrs. Murphy’s mom! Get that brat away from Sebastian!

                “Come on Liam,” Sebastian said, standing up with the kid in his arms. “I’ll even carry you up there, okay?”

                “No! I don’t want to go to bed!” Liam said, his eyes pleading with Sebastian. “I want to hang out with you and Murphy!”

                “You can hang out with us tomorrow. We’ll even play more Twister. Now please do as your mom says, and go to bed?” Sebastian asked with a smile.

                Liam contemplated it before nodding and resting his head on Sebastian’s shoulder. “Carry me Sebastian,” he said, tightening his arms around Sebastian’s neck.

                Sebastian nodded and disappeared up the stairs with Liam in his arms and Mrs. O’Doherty following them. I stared after him.

                Well, if all it took was my mom telling me I had to go to bed, than fine! Whatever it took to end up in Sebastian’s arms!

                Still, tonight was going well. And now that the little man-stealer would be asleep, I could relax. If I could just get closer to Sebastian, I would be happy. Hell, I would be beyond happy.

                I didn’t want to come out as gay. It would ruin my reputation and, quite frankly, my life. But if I had a strong chance at a relationship with Sebastian, then I would come out. I would do anything to be with Sebastian. And I was determined to get with him.