A/N: Hello everyone! Told you guys I'd be back for more ;) So this idea came to me after the first promo for next week's Can't Stop This Thing We Started ep premiered. It sparked a conversation between me and the lovely EvilValenStrife in which I brought up the clip in the Something To Talk About season 14 promo where Tristan tells someone to "Back off his bf". It got me thinking that what if it's not Maya like everyone is assuming it is - what if it's Winston? I can almost guarantee it will be Maya but regardless, that conversation build and my mind wandered and created this little thing here. I'm hoping to have it done before we find out what really goes down in the episode but no promises. Like always, enjoy and be sure to let me know what you guys think!
Chapter One: Just A Game
"What's he doing here?", Winston groaned throwing an exasperated hand in the air.
His dark eyes rolled sharply from under his glasses as he flinched back towards the TV screen, just missing Miles linking arms with his new blonde obsession. His spindly fingers tightened around the sides of the game controller. All he wanted was a few hours of unfiltered language and gruesome animated carnage with his best friend before Frankie got home. Not to say he didn't like spending time with his girlfriend. He did, of course - but he still wasn't used to all the talk about Power Cheer and hair appointments; and was nearly prepared to drop to his knees and pray for some guy time if it hadn't been offered to him so soon. There was always something about battling n00bs side-by-side with his best friend spewing out foul slurs along with him that cleared his head like nothing else. It brought him into his own element where everything was content. No girls, no parents, no school, no problems.
But then he walked in - or rather, waltzed in - throwing his obnoxious orange man-purse to the floor and plopping down next to Miles as if he fucking owned the place. It wasn't that Winston had anything against Tristan. Or at least, he didn't used to. There was just something about him over the last couple weeks that drove Chewy completely fucking insane. It had certainly taken him by surprise when he caught his best friend lip-locking with Tristan the night of that big storm. He knew they had that awkward one-sided kiss in Paris but that night was something totally different. It showed in the way Miles had Tristan pressed up against the wall, his hands resting delicately on the other boy's hips while they made out as if he was some girl Miles had been lusting over for months. It wasn't as if Miles hadn't just sworn to him minutes before that he and Tristan were just friends. Winston had known Miles since they were 5 and could say pretty confidently that Miles was not that friendly. It made him wonder what other shit Miles had kept from him - and why he couldn't just fucking tell him instead of sending everyone off into the dark for some fake game so he could suck face with Tristan.
Winston had stuck by Miles for every dumb thing he did their entire life - every campaign ruining stunt, every unsupervised party, every reckless escapade, even that god awful dance class he took when they were in elementary school. If this whole liking boys thing wasn't some dickish ruse, why hadn't he told him about it? And if it was - why the hell was he dragging it so far? Winston barely even saw Miles anymore outside of class other than the occasional brief passing through the Hollingsworth house. When he did, Tristan suddenly was the hot topic. If he wasn't attached to Miles like a tick then the name was just about all that left the brunette's mouth. If Winston had a dollar for every time he heard Miles mention Tristan on the way home the Hollingsworths would be broke.
And now he was there - with no more explanation than a casual mumble of an apology from Miles as he worriedly glanced from Tristan to Chewy - ruining their game night with his obvious disapproval. He listened to Miles and Tristan banter behind him and could hear the crack of the metaphorical whip in Miles' voice. The dude was putty in Tristan's hand. Miles had never acted like this with girls he dated in the past. Sure, he brought them around but never this much and he certainly would have never let them interrupt game time. Maya would have just sat there and watched - maybe making the occasional comment that Miles would briefly chuckle at but ultimately ignore. He never would have let her talk him into ending their intense battle to play Just Dance. He tried to fight back at Tristan's suggestion but Miles was already half way off the couch before he could even finish his sentence.
Chewy sulked against the back of the couch as he watched Tristan practically bounce off the walls as Miles set up the game. Lord knows if he tried to bring Frankie in with an input on their game night Miles would complain as if the fucking world was going to end. In fact, if he tried to bring up Frankie at all it was like crossing into forbidden territory. But somehow it was perfectly fair for Winston to have to listen to him ramble on about his supposed boyfriend. He was fed up with his bullshit. He just wanted things to go back to normal. Feeling the frustration building up inside him he rose to his feet with a huff and began to head towards the door.
"Where you going?", Miles questioned without looking away from his crouched position as he fumbled with the game console
"I'm just gonna go wait outside until Frankie gets back home."
Miles paused then, checking the clock before turning to look at his friend with a raised brow.
"You're gonna wait outside for two more hours?"
"Uh huh.", Winston's response was flat and dry causing Tristan to pipe up
"It's a two player game, ya know. We'll take turns. Here why don't you go first-"
"I'm not playing Just Dance.", Winston stated sharply for the second time that day, cutting him off
Tristan's eyes shot to Miles who was now staring Chewy down with an expressionless face. Winston couldn't see the look with his back turned toward the two boys, but the tension in the room still grew alarmingly.
"Dude. What's your problem?", Miles asked earning an angsty sigh from his best friend
"Uh why not?", Tristan avoided Miles' question and pushed cheerfully, talking with his hands out to over exaggerate his question, "You know you want to. And girls looove a guy who knows how to move."
He shimmied as he sauntered towards Chewy with the controller getting a breathy laugh out of Miles. But Winston wasn't having it.
"CAN IT, TRISTAN!", he snapped turning back towards the boys
Tristan's crystal eyes grew wide. He had never seen Winston angry before. Miles ditched the game and walked up behind his boyfriend.
"Umm, okay what's the issue here?", Tristan gawked as he motioned between himself and Winston, settling into his hip
"EVERYTHING WAS SO MUCH BETTER BEFORE YOU GOT HERE!", Winston continued to gripe swinging his arm in front of him to keep the distance
Tristan gasped and pursed his lips, stepping back and instantly feeling Miles' protective hand on his shoulder. Winston's pale skin began to darken as his blood boiled. It wasn't like him to get so flustered around others. But now he was like a shaken champagne bottle - one the cork is removed you can't keep it from exploding.
"Whoa, Chewy. Calm down, alright? Tristan didn't do anything.", Miles spoke to him as calmly as he could
"That's what you think."
"Maybe I should go...", Tristan started and began to wiggle his shoulder away from Miles grip
"No. Stay, Tris.", Miles ordered quietly tightening his hold, "Chewy's being ridiculous."
"I'm being ridiculous?!", Winston spat and shook his head in disbelief, "You used to have my back. We used to be bros..."
"You're talking as if we haven't spoken in years or something.", Miles grumbled cutting Winston off again
"Don't even try to act like everything's not different since he came along, Miles! Suddenly you're MIA all the time. You're blowing off our games and wearing fugly flannel shirts and obsessing over some...boy?! It's fucking stupid! You're like a completely different person!"
"Funny. I wouldn't have pegged you as a 'phobe.", Tristan shot bitterly and Winston groaned
"Oh my god...I'm not homophobic, alright?!"
"Look.", Miles butted in before that debate got any uglier, "Dude, it's just a game..."
"Just a game?! Really, Miles?! You still think this is about the fucking game? DID YOU LISTEN TO ANYTHING I JUST SAID?!", Winston's voice boomed throughout the otherwise silent house before settling back to normal, "Or is everything just a game to you, Miles? Forget it. I'm done here."
With that he turned around to leave again, rushing to the back door at a brisk walk. Tristan took a deep breath and turned to Miles with a look of concern.
"Do you wanna go talk to him?", he asked and Miles shook his head
"No. Not right now. Let's just forget about him. He's being an ass hole. Let him wait outside alone so he can pounce on my baby sister some more."
Tristan could sense Miles' anger but knew better than to pry. He planted a gentle kiss on the other boy's strong cheekbone before cracking a magnified smile and changing the subject back to the game; challenging Miles to try to beat his high score at Break Free.