plot twist: teenagers are bad at feelings

[prethief]

[So. He said a lot of things he'd never planned to say at all ever. That's fine. Eames can live with that. He's said a lot of dumb shit in his life so far and he hasn't died yet.]

[Of course, previous instances of 'dumb shit' weren't an incomplete baring of his surprisingly complicated feelings surrounding anal sex. Which, well. He's never thought about it at any great length, so it leaves him feeling deeply embarrassed and angry about being embarrassed in the first place. Eames elects to spend the weekend with some other friends to blow off steam, any texts from Arthur getting a quick "sorry, busy" in response so he doesn't have to think about what a fucking moron he is.]

[It's harder to ignore him come Monday, but Eames thinks the fact that he's turned up hungover as fuck and mainlining energy drinks to get through the day does a lot to stop anyone from talking to him. And the one class he has with Arthur that day, he spends the time sleeping in his car instead. And the one after that. And basically the rest of the school day. Still there once people start filtering out for the end of the day.]

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[interpunct]

[Arthur feels pretty embarrassed himself, having revealed that he's thought about being fucked, specifically by Eames, so he's almost a bit relieved when Eames isn't in class on Monday. He has tried texting him to try and somehow get them into a situation where they can talk, but he's been blown off so much that he's almost given up.]

[But he sees Eames' car outside after school, and he knows he has to deal with this. Eames skipped school which is not unprecedented but it could be indicative of Eames trying to avoid him which is not good. He wrestles with himself a little bit before he goes up to Eames' car, peers in to see he's sleeping in there, and then he knocks on the window loudly to try and wake him up.]

[prethief]

[Eames wakes up with a start, sitting up and glancing around to see what the source of the noise was until he spots Arthur at the window and for a blessed moment his reaction isn't "oh no now I have to deal with this" but "ugh what a jerk."]

[It's only a moment before he remembers why he decided to sleep in his car in the first place though, (other than the hangover that is,) and it's standing outside. Eames sighs and pushes his hair out of his face, messing it up when he scratches his head, and he winds down the window to squint at Arthur.]

Got any aspirin?

[interpunct]

No.

[Arthur thinks he should carry some aspirin around, but he always forgets to get some from the store whenever he goes.]

Did you go out last night?

[prethief]

Yeah.

[He rolls the window down the rest of the way (it's quite a task, but Eames manages) and sticks his head out to watch everyone going on their way. Guess today's over then.]

Oh shit. [Ugh and he did his assignment and everything.] I sleep through the whole day?

[interpunct]

[Arthur looks up at all the people pouring out of the school walking to their cars.]

Yeah. Are you okay?

[prethief]

Of course. [He's always okay didn't you get the memo] Just drank way too much last night.

[interpunct]

Okay.

[He has the sneaking suspicion that this has something to do with him.]

Can I get in?

[prethief]

[He wants to say no, but that would give away that he's still kinda freaked out after Saturday, so he doesn't. Instead he leans forward to pop the lock on the passenger side and clambers into the driver's seat. He suspects Arthur wants to talk, and like fuck is Eames doing it here.]

[interpunct]

[Arthur gets in and sits down, letting out a long sigh when he's settled.]

You're being weird.

[prethief]

Probably because I'm hungover as fuck.

[He starts the car and glances at Arthur.]

You want me to drop you home, or..?

[interpunct]

I want to talk to you.

[Arthur says this very frankly and honestly. He's had a lot of time to think about all this stuff.]

[prethief]

Uh.

[It's not like he didn't see it coming, but Eames' brain still kind of stalls when he hears Arthur say it. Frowning at the windshield as he pulls out of the car park to start driving.]

So yours or mine?

[interpunct]

Yours.

[Arthur feels like both of them are more comfortable on average at Eames' house. He knows they need to talk about this and maybe make out a bit (they've gone entire weekends without making out before but this one felt significant) so Eames' house seems more appropriate.]

If that's okay.

[prethief]

Mm, sure.

[He's forcing it, obviously. Trying to seem cool and collected because he doesn't have an exit strategy other than "move back to England and never see Arthur again," which would be difficult to say the least. So maybe if he can pretend he's totally fine then it'll all be over quick and painless.]

[He's quiet the whole drive though, unable to think of much to say unprompted right now.]

[interpunct]

[Arthur's quiet too, unsure of when exactly he can start talking or even how to start this conversation. He waits until they get there and they're getting out of the car before he talks at all.]

Eames...

[prethief]

Yeah?

[He glances up at Arthur as he locks the car, curious for a moment before he goes to let them in the house. Cool as a cucumber. Everything is totally fine.]

[interpunct]

[Arthur sighs and braces himself for a negative reaction just in case.]

You're acting weird.

[prethief]

[Eames raises an eyebrow as he opens the door, briefly contemplates the living room but he doesn't want his mum to get back and they're still doing... Whatever this is.]

[His room it is then.]

I don't think I am.

[interpunct]

[Arthur follows, looking concerned.]

You didn't text me back all weekend and then you showed up to school today hungover. The hungover part is whatever but you just quit talking to me after Saturday morning.

[prethief]

I was busy.

[He shrugs and sits down on his bed, scratching his head with a sigh.]

Sorry, but it happens.

[interpunct]

[Arthur doesn't know what to say to that. Eames is doing a fine job of avoiding the subject entirely, so maybe it's time to change tack. He sighs and sits down next to Eames, giving him a bit of space, staring down at his hands.]

It was really embarrassing for me to say all that stuff and then you just gave me radio silence all weekend.

[prethief]

What have you got to be embarrassed about?

[Here he is, totally missing the issue.]

[interpunct]

Well, not embarrassed, but...

[He rubs the back of his neck.]

You know it's hard for me to talk about that stuff. I told you I wanted that and then you just let me freak out for two days about it.

[prethief]

I'm sorry, I am, I just...

[He sighs, looking down at his hands in his lap.]

I needed some space.

[interpunct]

[Arthur stops himself from immediately asking why, furrowing his brows and looking up at Eames.]

Well, I kinda needed someone to keep me from feeling crazy over all this, and it's not like I was going to talk to anyone else about it.