As I followed Torin towards baggage claim, I had an excuse to just stare at the back of his head. Of course, his head wasn't the only thing I was staring at. I've never really tried to look at Torin this way, but I thought back to what Allen and I talked about a week ago. Am I turned on by Torin? Of course I had that dream, but I'm guessing that wasn't really an accurate depiction of Torin's body. 

I couldn't really get a good look at his backside from what he was wearing, but it didn't look bad. He actually looked really nice when he cleaned up a little, instead of wearing his normal sweater and baggy pants. Honestly, the loose clothing he was wearing only gave me more reason to stare, wondering what he would look like in a pair of skinny jeans or shorts.

"Tor-Bear!" I was broken out of my trance as a feminine voice rang over the hustle and bustle of the airport at 7 PM. I looked up to see the girl that I had seen in the photos. An average girl, about 5' 6", with long black hair made her way towards us, coffee cup in hand and attacked Torin with a hug which he, surprisingly, returned. "Hey Janny. How was the flight?" he asked. 

"Great as usual. Harry is honestly the best pilot that we've ever hired." she said. Excuse me... what?

"Oh! You must be Alban! It's nice to put a face to the name." she said, holding out her hand towards me. I grabbed her hand and shook it, surprised at her grip. "The pleasure's all mine." I said, keeping it short. If anything I say comes off as flirting, Torin is going to kill me. "Come on. We'll talk more in the car." Torin said, turning back towards the elevator. Janette quickly caught up and linked her arm with Torin's, this action making me more jealous than I would like. Just a friend. Just a friend. He's gay. She knows that. We stayed mostly silent as the three of us made our way back to the car, Janette sticking close to Torin as I trailed behind. I'm normally not this anti social, but these two have probably known each other for a lot longer than I've known either of them.

We all hopped in the car, Janette hopping in the back before I even got to the car. I awkwardly sat in the front, feeling like the third wheel that was suddenly placed front and center. Torin started the car and we made our way out of the parking garage. "So, Alban. How do you know Torin?" Janette asked from the back. I glanced back and noticed she had strapped herself in the center, probably so she could better talk to the both of us. "We go to school together. I'm also roommates with Allen." I said. She crossed her legs and arms, raising her eyebrow at me. Why do I feel like I'm going to be interrogated. 

"Please don't try and scare him, Janette. I'm just driving him home." Torin interjected. I sighed in relief, glad that he had taken the focus off of me. Apparently, this statement backfired. "Why? What were you two doing before this?" she asked, a suggestive tone lying underneath her words. I blushed deep red, keeping my head turned. The situation wasn't even close to what she was probably suggesting, but the thought got a rise out of me nonetheless. "We ran into each other while I was at work. He Ubered there so I told him not to waste his money." Torin answered, a slight pink tint on his cheeks that he tried to hide as well. I couldn't help the smile that creeped onto my face at this.

"Okay. Then can you explain why Alban was staring at your ass earlier?" 

I froze. She noticed? How? Well, I guess I wasn't being discreet. Oh God, how will Torin react? What is he going to say about me now? What will he-

"You're so funny, Janette." he said, sarcasm dripping from each word. I mentally sighed in relief. He didn't believe her. I would be in trouble if not for Torin's sarcasm. 

"Maybe I should redirect the question. Why were you staring at Torin's ass, Alban? Don't answer for him, Torin." She's not giving up, is she?

"I don't know what you're talking about." I said, staring out of the window. Avoiding eye contact probably isn't a good idea, but my face is about as red as a tomato. 

"Ignore her. She's just messing with you. She has convinced herself that you're my boyfriend, even though you're straight." he said, emphasizing the last part for Janette. Part of me wanted her to believe him, but another part wanted to correct him on the spot. Even if I do have a chance with Torin, he'll never like me if he thinks I'm straight. But I guess it won't hurt to go along with it for now. I've been doing a lot of lying lately. "Uh-huh. Sure." she said, leaning back into her seat. I t to calm my face down and turned back to her. "So, how long have you two been friends?" I asked, trying to ease the tension. 

"Ever since sixth grade, so a little over ten years now." she said, finally smiling again.

"Wow! That's a long time. You guys must be good at keeping in touch." I said.

"Yep! Besties before the resties, am I right?" Janette said. 

"Hell yeah!" Torin responded enthusiastically before they both started laughing. I chuckled along with them, not wanting to be left out. 

"By the way, who was the guy you were thinking about last night, Tori?" Janette asked, a smirk spreading across her face. Wait, what? Allen was right? They were actually talking about a guy? "Oh my God, will you drop it? You made that assumption all on your own."

"Yeah, because you were so obvious! Hey Alban. Is there anyone that Torin didn't like before that he's been talking to more recently?" she asked. My eyes widened and I looked at Torin, his eyes focused on the road but his cheeks flushed, biting down on his bottom lip. His lips. Don't stare at his lips. Don't you do it, Alban. Why do they have to look so soft and pink? 

"Alban? Do you know?" Janette asked, pulling me out of my trance. I looked up at her and she was smirking, sending me a wink. What the hell did Allen talk to her about? "I don't know. We're not really that close. I could probably ask Allen, though." I said. Janette covered her mouth as she held back laughter. Was she actually teasing me? She lowered her hand and pointed at Torin, mouthing the word "look". I glanced over and Torin was now gripping the steering wheel, his knuckles white and his entire face covered in a reddish hue. Whether this was due to anger or embarrassment, I wasn't sure. Probably both. I covered my mouth as I tried to hold back laughter myself. He was so cute when he was mad! 

"Both of you can go to hell." he said, suddenly breaking at a stoplight, sending both of us into our seat belts. Mental note: Don't make Torin mad unless you are far away from him. Even though he was cute with that red face of his, this probably meant that Allen was right. Torin had a crush on someone. And there is a probability that person might be me. All we need is a push from Janette. 

The rest of the car ride was mostly Janette teasing Torin and me trying not to laugh, but we eventually pulled into the dormitory parking lot. "This is your stop, Alban." Torin said. I opened the door and stepped out of the car. "Thanks for the ride, Torin. And it was nice to meet you, Janette. I'll see you later." I ended my sentence with a wink at Torin and I closed the door, I glanced through the windshield to see an obvious blush on Torin's face before he shook his head, putting the car in reverse. I guess he might have a crush on me after all.

I walked into the building and made my way to the dorm. I had so much to talk about with Allen! When I made it past the door, Allen was already in the doorway, clutching his phone excitedly. "Janette's been filling me in on the whole thing, but I need to hear it from you!" Allen said as he pulled me into the room. I plopped onto my bed and filled him in on my side of the story from when I found Torin at work to when I stepped out of the car, leaving out Torin's workplace. When I make a promise, I make a promise.

"By the way, what the hell did you tell Janette?" I asked after I was done. Allen smirked.

"I told her that my roommate is head over heels for Torin and that you two belong together. I sent her a picture of you and told her a couple things you had said about Torin and she agreed with me, saying that she would see what she could do from the other side." Allen stated as if he was commenting on the nice weather. How could he be so casual about this?

"So you outed me?"

"Trust me. She doesn't give a flying flip. She wants the best for Torin and she said that she wanted to meet you and see for herself. And she updated me on everything and she likes you. And there was something about you staring at Torin's backside?" he finished. I blushed like crazy. 

"It was one time! I didn't think that anyone would catch me! It wasn't like I was staring, it was more of a long glance." I said, trying to defend myself. Allen doubled over laughing. He was having fun with this, the bastard. "Oh my god, you were totally checking him out! What was he even wearing? Normally he wears sweaters or t shirts that go down to his thighs."

"Well, he was in his work uniform, so it was just slacks and a collared shirt with a sweater. It wasn't especially eye catching, but he definitely didn't look bad." I said, recalling the moment. The slacks weren't exactly made for making his butt look good, but it looked good anyway. A couple snorts and a giggle made it's way from Allen's side of the room. "God, you're so in love." he said. I rubbed the back of my neck, sporting a nervous smile as I avoided eye contact and chuckled. I knew that already. There was no denying it at this point. I was trying my best not to flirt the socks off of Torin, knowing that he would probably sock me in the face.

Instead, I would wink at Torin every now and then. Ones that only he could see so that he knew they were meant for him. Years and years of different people telling me how to flirt with girls are now thrown out a window. Nobody told me how to flirt with a guy. Especially not a guy that wouldn't hesitate to run me over twice if I piss him off. "Hey Allen?"

"Yeah?"

"Let's say that I was thinking about trying to... I don't know... flirt with Torin. How would I-"

"Don't even try."

His sudden statement took a second to sink in.

"W-what do you mean?" I asked, hoping that he didn't mean that I didn't have a single chance with him.

"Torin is as dense as a rock. Flirting won't work. He'll just punch you in the shoulder and laugh it off. He sees regular flirting as cliche and will automatically assume that it's a joke. If you want to tell Torin you like him, you have to be direct and honest. I'm not saying that you should immediately tell him you like him, but complimenting him honestly is a good start. Saying at least an eighth of the things you tell me about him would make him start acting like a lovesick idiot. Trust me." 

I wanted to shove my face in a pillow and scream at the mental image of me complimenting Torin and him biting his lip and blushing, but I didn't. I've already come out as gay, admitted that I was a stalker and had a wet dream where I suddenly started talking in my sleep. I need to keep some of my dignity (If there's any left). "Okay. So no cheesy lines. Just compliments."

"Torin will laugh at a cheesy line. If you give him an honest compliment, he won't have any excuses to just ignore you." he explained further. Okay. I can do that.

...

I don't think I can.

Two days later and I was scolded for skipping out on Physical Training Saturday. After everything that happened that day, I had just forgotten about the 2 hour class every Saturday evening. I apologized to my coach and he simply told me to not let it happen again. After Criminology 2 (which I shared with Torin and Allen) at 7:15 AM, I headed over to the park to see Torin sitting on his regular bench. Even though I was getting to know Torin better, I was still content with just watching him from afar. But this time was different. This time, Janette was with him.

"I'm just saying that I can help Allen watch Sammy tonight while you're at work. I haven't seen Allen in ages." Janette said.

"And I'm saying that I don't want Sammy to be the third wheel to your flirting. If you don't think I see your ulterior motive, you're dead wrong." Torin answered.

"Flirting? Ha! I wouldn't flirt with Allen! When have I ever flirted with Allen?" Janette asked, her tone slightly panicked. 

"Janette, you've had a crush on Allen since high school. The second he hit puberty, you wanted him so bad." Torin pointed out. Hmm. Interesting. I kept peering at them from behind my usual tree when Janette suddenly made eye contact with me. I panicked and dived behind the tree, leaning against it as I sat on the grass. Please tell me she just thought it was her imagination. "I'm gonna take a walk. You know, take in the scenery. You fine if I go?" Janette asked. Shit. I would have run if I wasn't frozen to my spot. Allen seeing me stalk Torin was one thing. Janette? She was a whole different animal.

"So Alban..."

I looked up and there she was, her piercing grey eyes peering down at my curled up form as I tried to make myself invisible. It didn't work.

"Whatcha doin'?" she asked in an innocent tone, tilting her head as she smiled down at me. I shot up, wiping off the stray blades of grass that stuck to my jeans. "Nothing! Not watching you and Torin! Definitely not! Just passing by on my way to get... something!" I said, my voice almost quivering as I tried to cover my tracks. She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at me. She was taller than Torin was but much shorter than me yet, nevertheless, I was at her mercy as I waited for her response to my terrible lie. "Wow. When Allen said you were head over heels for him, I didn't know you had it that bad." she said. 

I didn't know what to say. I can't get a read on Janette. First she's happy and cheerful and suddenly she's looking down her nose at me. I don't understand girls... "Pick your chin up off the ground. I really don't mind it. As long as you're not planning on killing him, which I doubt. Aren't you training to be a cop?" she asked. I nodded in confirmation, not exactly feeling like talking in case Torin can hear me. 

"Perfect! So you're crazy about our boy over there and he obviously likes you. What's the problem?" she asked.

"He hates me. Or, at least, he thinks he hates me but he doesn't really know me yet? And there's the fact that he thinks I'm straight. And the fact that my friend is an asshole." I whispered, trying to summarize. Torin's gonna get suspicious if Janette doesn't come back soon. "Alright, we'll talk more tonight. I'm hanging out with Allen while he babysits Sammy. You should come along. From what I've heard, Sammy likes you." she said, patting my shoulder and winking before leaving to go sit back with Torin. 

I left after that, not wanting to get caught again. But maybe I will come over and help. From what I just heard, it doesn't sound like Allen and Janette will be doing much babysitting.