"I won't be coming home tonight."

Of course not, Dirk thought to himself. He looked up from his homework, finding Dave standing at his bedroom door, a dark silhouette in the grey hall. "I thought you had the month off, dude."

Dave shrugged. "That's why I'll be gone all night. Got a date and a hotel room."

Just a tiny bit of Dirk died, his heart hitting his stomach with a sickening feeling of need welling up. "Alright. Have fun."

"Yep."

His brother didn't shut the door behind him, he let the empty hall speak for itself. Dirk was alone most of the time, but it hurt most when his brother was actually in state and still left him in the apartment to only build upon his insecurities.

Sighing, Dirk pulled himself off of his bed, arms falling limp at his sides. He looked like a complete mess, his hair oily and sticking up wherever it wanted to, as well a two day old shirt hanging loosely off his frame. It had oil stains all over the front. He looked in the mirror and grimaced at his stubble. He was going to have to shave. How did he go to Jake's lacrosse game and make the stubble look good? How did his hair get so messy?

"God…"

The bathroom welcomed Dirk with warm air and, for once, suffecient light. He immediately stripped himself of his shirt and tore a brush through his hair, which would have made most people tear up, and cussed at it all the while. However, he rushed through showering and shaving, though he made sure to do a good job of it all.

When he returned to his room, shivering in the cold of it, his phone was glowing on his dresser.

Jake

We still on for nine thirty dirk?

Such a simple message, such a silly question, brought a smile to Dirk's face and it held there; like a picture it never faltered.

While his brother was away, Dirk had turned sixteen. He'd gotten a love life, though it wasn't really a love life right now. He wanted it to be, he hoped it would be, but, with his luck, it would wither away before his eyes. It was worth a shot. Jake always made a bad day better, and one more let down wouldn't be that bad.

Of course we are.

Send

Dirk looked at himself in the mirror one last time before throwing on a jacket. He looked better than usual and he took that as a good thing.

It didn't take long to get there, it was just a little diner down the road. It had been open since the early fifties, but the atmosphere was great and their malted milkshakes were even better.

"Strider!"

Jake sat near the back in the corner, arm waving in the air for Dirk. He had on his jacket. Lacrosse. God, he was amazing . . . and he always showed up way too early.

"What was that sigh for?" Jake asked as Dirk took a seat at the booth.

That startled him a bit and he looked up, adjusting himself in the red, sparkly seat. "What sigh?"

"Oh, you know, the one you let out when you saw me. Anxiety eating at you, chum?" Jake grinned a bit, though he did look generally concerned.

It wasn't anxiety, surely not. It was late and nobody was there, not really. "Yeah yeah. I'm fine, though." It was just your dorky face, he thought. Your perfect, dorky face.

Jake laughed and reached across the table to punch Dirk in the arm, which didn't really hurt, but Dirk rubbed at it anyways, smiling back. "You're really a loser, Dirk!" A group of girls across the diner looked over at the two, curious.

Dirk pretended not to see them.

"Shut it," he joked a little harshly. "You did well at the game today," Dirk observed, resting an elbow on the table. His eyes watched Jake's face, the way his eyes lit up and his grin widened. He reminded Dirk of a puppy in some ways: he had the naivety and the obliviousness as well as all the cuteness.

"Well thank you! I trained my butt off!" Dirk watched Jake take a sip of his milkshake and listened to him hum with satisfaction. "I'm so glad you showed me this place! It's absolutely wonderful!"

Dirk let a smug grin tug at his lips. Yes, he was terribly proud of himself. He made Jake happy. What was not to be proud of? It put him in good placement for later on this date that Jake didn't know was a date. It was unfair to him, but Dirk wasn't concerned about that. He was only focused on his words and Jake for now, though that could cause some issues later on. Dirk wasn't thinking that far ahead for once.

"No problem, I'm glad you like it." He wasn't surprised that Jake liked it, but it was pleasing all the same. Then again, nothing ever really surprised Dirk when it came to Jake. The boy was predictable to say the least. His reactions were systematic and patterned accordingly. "I'm going to go get a milkshake, I'll be right back."

"Alright!" There was that mesmerizing grin again.

As Dirk stood up and turned away, his stomach only knotted further. He still hadn't worked out a plan for this and he needed some time somewhere where he wasn't being glanced at every few seconds by those blasted gi- Jake's speech was slipping into his sentences. He needed a place of privacy, but he didn't want to scare Jake. He didn't want to seem like he got his interest alone only to take advantage of him.

Jake joined him at the bar not a moment later as Dirk sat, waiting.

The clap on the back nearly made Dirk jump out of his skin. "I know you're usually stone-faced, chum, but you look more down than usual."

Dirk's eyes followed Jake as he sank into a stool.

"I'm alright, it's just typical emotional teenage years." I think.

Jake sipped on his milkshake, his cheeks sucked in, making him look like a fish and Dirk snickered. Why was he so worried? This guy wouldn't hate him so easily.

"Okay then, if you say so, Strider," Jake said, rolling his eyes. "Thanks for coming to the game today, by the way."

"I had nothing else to do." Way to charm him, champ.

Jake laughed a bit. "So, I was talking to Roxy. . ." Dirk's gut twisted sickeningly as his own shake was set before him. He almost gagged at the idea of drinking it. His mind went through millions of scenarios. Did she rat him out? "And she admitted she liked you!"

Oh.

"I think it's splendid!"

No. You aren't supposed to think that's splendid.

Dirk shrugged. "I've known for a while. I have my reasons for wanting to remain her friend and not take it any further than that." Trying to play it off and let that be the final answer, he reached for his milkshake and pretended to take a big sip. He had to hold back a gag.

"Like what?" Jake leaned in, raising his eyebrows.

Dirk let out a small breath and remained facing the counter. "I can't reciprocate her feelings, and it's not because of her, but I'm attracted to. . . I'm just not sexually attracted to girls. Roxy is, no offense, the closest person to me though. I don't want to lose her as a friend and she knows that." He actually took a sip this time, swallowing heavily. Plus she kind of likes you too. She just took a step back for me and Jane.

"Oh." Jake sounded a little surprised but more breathless than anything.

Dirk shrugged again. "Sorry, Jake. I do feel bad, I actually feel horrible about it, but she deserves someone with his shit together. Or at least someone just as strong as she is."

A warm hand was placed on his shoulder. "It's alright, sorry for bringing it up. I should have known she had told you." Jake scratched his head with his free hand, chewing on his lip.

Dirk gave Jake a reassuring smile which disappeared almost immediately.

"So, I notice you've shaved?" Jake jostled Dirk, and he appreciated the change of subject.

"Yeah, I don't think my brother appreciated the mess I was when he left." Dirk said this jokingly, but he wasn't so sure it was a joke and it kind of made him feel sad all over again.

"Oh yes! He's back in town isn't he?" Bless him and his innocence.

Dirk gulped down what he could. "Yeah, but he's been a little busy, so I haven't seen him much." Just a little more to drink and it won't be a waste of money.

Jake played up his frown, scrunching his nose and puffing his chest. "I'm sorry. That's not fair."

Dirk set down his empty glass, smiling over at him. "It's cool. He's not that fun to be around anyways." That was true.

Dirk watched Jake for a while, listening to his voice more than his words, but he understood. He was able to give clear responses and not seem blank. It was just his voice… It was like a warm blanket. Actually, it was like the windows music player that made pretty designs with the music. It danced and changed and gave of different feelings, and it was so very calming to Dirk.

"So, Strider, what are your plans for tonight?" Dirk shrugged, stifling a small yawn as he watched Jake check his watch. "It's nearly eleven, then. You should let me drive you home."

Such a gentlemen. "It's only a block away," he dismissed.

"But it's dark! Danger, Dirk! I'm driving you home."

Dirk watched Jake stand up, smiling at how his chest puffed out. He didn't fight with him, he hadn't the energy. Instead, Dirk just forced Jake to let him pay for it all and then shoved the fussing boy out the door and into the darkness.

"So, you busy tonight Dirk?"

Dirk closed the passenger's door as the humming of the engine began. Heat suddenly enveloped him, relaxing the tense muscles in his shoulders. He was faintly aware of Jake's hinted pleading to ask him over through the repeated question. God, Jake, you are only spinning yourself an even more elaborate web.

"Not at all, Bro's gonna be out until tomorrow. You can come over and watch a movie if you want?" Dirk looked over at Jake and gave him a playful smirk. It spoke for itself. Caught you, Jake.

To his delight, his friend turned bright pink and cleared his throat. "Well that sure sounds nicer than driving across town late."

"We can watch Indiana Jones."

"I-"

"We are not watching Avatar."

"Fine," Jake huffed.

Dirk's smirk only widened as he turned to his window and looked out into the street. He could feel the puppy pouting radiating off of Jake as he pulled out of the parking space. His smirk was victorious.