Chapter 1.3

Guava moves on with her career, but not Tangelo.

The secret night meetings don’t help.

———-

“Can’t sleep again?”

“I wouldn’t have texted you to meet me if I could.”

“You know it’s no problem; I like being able to enjoy a summer night with a friend.”

“Friend…right.”

“So Mel told me your last gig was yet another success.”

“It would’ve been nicer if you could’ve been there.”

“Sorry about that; Raspberry’s parents were in town and we had dinner with them.”

“Wow, meeting her parents, going out almost every single night for a month; you two are certainly getting serious.”

“You could say that.”

“And yet she still won’t let you get a dog?”

“We all know I’d be horrible at taking care of it.”

“No, Tan, she says you would be. I know you would make a wonderful dog owner.”

“I appreciate the lie.”

“Think what you will. So tell me what’s been going on with your life since our last meeting.”

“Well, there’s actually something I need to say.”

“Oh, go ahead.”

“I should probably stand up for this.”

“Look, Guava…this needs to stop.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know…this. The late-night phone calls, the cute texts, the secret meetings.”

“I-I don’t understand. Why? You’ve never complained before. I thought -”

“I have a girlfriend, Guava, and I don’t want to keep any secrets with her. Not like you do with me. And don’t pretend you don’t, please, because I can tell. The past three weeks we’ve been meeting up and talking, I’ve told my life story, and all I’ve managed to get out of you is your favorite song. Besides, I don’t think she would appreciate all this attention directed towards you. We aren’t even doing anything inappropriate, but it feels like I’m cheating with all this sneaking around.”

“I see.”

“Good, I’m glad you -”

“I’m not finished.”

“Maybe I would actually tell you something about myself if you let me fudging finish for once.  Look, I’m sorry if you feel the need to keep all of this a secret from Raspberry. Be my guest, tell her everything; I know I’m doing nothing wrong. You know why? Because I know you’re a good guy, Tan, and I trust you. But apparently, that feeling isn’t mutual. I am so sorry that the only way I can spend any time with you without your obsessive girlfriend around is at night and that makes you feel unfaithful, but I am not in the wrong here.”

“Don’t you dare bring Raspberry into this, or tell me I’m some sort of berryhole because you refuse to ever take responsibility.”

“What -”

“No, Guava. You want to talk? Fine, let’s talk. I am sick and tired of you pretending you don’t have some secret agenda. You don’t like Raspberry, you’re always trying to get me alone; I’m a little oblivious, yes, but I’m not stupid.”

“So what? I’ve never been your friend? You don’t think that you mean anything to me? I’m not some master seductress who takes pride in stealing men from nice girls. And yes, fine, I’ll admit that I have feelings for you, but if you honestly think that our friendship is just me trying to get into your pants, then you need to step back and think a little less highly of yourself. I know you don’t love me, and I’ve accepted that, so you can stop thinking that I’m trying to play you like a violin.”

“You don’t understand at all. You’re so dramatic, Guava. I’m not accusing you of anything.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

“Yeah? Well I don’t see why it should be such a big deal to just stop meeting like this, then. If you’re so fudging accepting and mature, then just agree with me.”

“Okay, well what if I don’t want to because I was under the impression that maybe you felt something for me, too?”

“What the berry are you talking about?”

“I was never making you come here. No one was forcing you to answer all my calls and meet me alone. So yes, maybe I was starting to think that you were falling for me, when really you were just leading me on.”

“See? You really were trying to -”

“Would you fudging let that go already? As if you have any right to condescend me when you’ve been playing along. You’re such a -”

~I should’ve known better than to call you out~

~On a night like this, a night like this~

“Wh-what just happened?”

“Oh sugar, I shouldn’t have done that. Just, forget – well, no, I guess you can’t really. Look, Guava, I’ve liked you. For a while now. But with Raspberry – But with you – …It’s complicated.”

“You’ve actually…? For how long?”

“Honestly, since we first talked, but…well, you were always talking about your plan to make it big, and I knew you weren’t going to slow down for me. And then I met Raspberry and she was this great escape from remembering I could never really have you, but then I started falling in love with her again, but…but every time I see you, these feelings keep coming back and making me more and more confused, and the only thought that’s ever clear to me is how much I want you. And I know I just gave you a whole speech about how we should stop seeing each other, and then I go and kiss you, and – …can you please forgive me?”

~If not for you I know I’d tear this place to the ground~

~But I’m all right like this, all right like this~

“Did that answer your question?”

~I’m gonna roll the dice~

~Before you sober up and get gone~

“Guava, no. I can’t do this to you. I’m in love with Raspberry, tomorrow -”

“I know. We’ll wake up, and pretend none of this ever happened, and we’ll be back to square one. You’ll be hers and I’ll be lonely. But tonight, I just want to pretend we’re two idiots hopelessly in love and happy ever after exists.”

~I’m always in over my head~

A/N: Title and lyrics are Six Feet Under the Stars by All Time Low. I didn’t mean for this to be serious/angsty/dramatic/anything but it’s one in the morning and there’s now a romantic interaction called “Heat of the Moment Kiss” and I do as I wish. And from here on out, the story only gets more complicated.