As Matt sat back on the back porch, the fake mustache hanging off the side of his face and a cigarette dangling from his lips, he watched Trey talk up Toddy. He didn't know why it sparked something inside of him. He didn't know why he was upset, it was Toddy for god's sake, they'd make an amazing couple.
"Matt! You...alright, man?" Dian approached.
"Fine," Matt said, ashing his cigarette into the wood of the deck. "Just fine."
Dian motioned for a cigarette, and Matt hestitanly forked over one of his last Newports. Matt took a long sip from his styrofoam cup, although it was getting down to just ice.
"Man, Trey and Toddy are really talking it up," Dian chuckled dryly.
Matt clenched his fist. He watched as Toddy threw her head back from laughing so hard and Trey was beaming. God damn it. It was the cute beaming too.
"Agh, DUDE! You broke your cup on my leg!" Dian cried.
Matt zoned back in, and looked down. His styrofoam cup was now in two pieces. "At least you're not wearing pants."
"DUDE! It's still fucking cold outside!" Dian barked.
Matt threw a wad of paper towels at Dian and got up to throw away his cup. Right as he was about to discard the two styrofoam pieces, Robyn jumped in front of him.
"Heyyy Matt!" She giggled.
"Uh. Hi, Robyn," Matt coughed. "You look a lot different when you're not in costume."
Somehow, it was like she'd switched wardrobes with Toddy, except these were her everyday clothes. A ripped tank top and cut off shorts seemed to grab her in all the wrong ways. It made Matt gag, almost. He liked women, just not these types of women.
Matt began to walk away, but Robyn grabbed onto his shoulder. "Hey, you should talk Trey up for me."
It seemed to be too much.
"Fuck you! I'm not his assistant! He doesn't even like you, he likes Toddy you blind asshole!"
Matt didn't even remember what he said, it just seemed to slip out. All he remembered was Robyn starting to tear up and her running away.
When he turned around, the entire crew was staring at him. Most importantly, Trey was staring right at him.
Matt went and grabbed his keys from the back buffet table, and started his car. He sunk down in the driver's seat, and before he could pull out of the driveway, Trey was buckling up too.
"Dude," was all Trey could say to him. "Do you really-"
Matt sighed. "Not really, I just, know how you find Robyn unattractive and I'm tired of her acting like I'm you're gay best friend or something."
"I'm sorry, dude. I should've asked her to fuck off earlier," Trey said. "Do you really think I like Toddy?"
"I mean, you seem to like her a lot. You two would be cute together."
They sat in silence for awhile, and drove from red light to red light.
"I kinda like someone else right now," Trey finally said. "-and it's weird. Because I know I shouldn't like them. I know it won't last. I don't wanna ruin a friendship."
Trey didn't breathe after he said that. He didn't make eye contact. Matt knew this was serious.
"Who is it, dude?" Matt coughed.
"No one you would know," Trey said quietly.
Matt just nodded his head and pulled into a parking spot at their motel. When they got in the room, Matt went directly into the bathroom and took a shower, to get all the remaining Spirit gum, makeup and hair gel out. When he came out to get his clothes, he caught Trey staring at him.
"What? Did I miss a spot on my face?" Matt asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"No, no. Just your jewfro looks so different when it's wet." Trey teased.
Trey went to go get in the shower, and Matt put on his clothes. He turned on the grainy motel TV, which was still in black and white, and watched the news. Most of it was just dumb celebrity stuff and a murder. That was mostly all they saw here.
When Trey came out, He was in an old cast shirt from high school and a pair of athletic shorts. Matt giggled at how a six foot man could look like a child being swallowed, as the shirt was stretched out and the shorts were too long. Somehow, Trey always managed to look adorable. Or hot. Or both.
Trey jumped down onto their full sized bed, and Matt stretched over to turn off the lamp. The TV screen was the only light in the room.
"Although she's in her twenties, that weather girl is just not attractive," Trey scoffed.
Matt took notice of the weather girl, her long blonde hair but fake, orange skin seemed to be the only thing about her.
"She's just another fake Californian, dude." Matt assured.
"Eh, I don't really like blondes all that much anyways." Trey said, burping.
"Is that why you like me so much?"
Trey bumped him, "you know what I hate more than blondes?" Trey whispered, he was right up against Matt's ear.
"RED HEADS!" Trey shouted, tackling Matt. Trey was nose to nose with him.
Matt had to fight himself. He had to fight that gut feeling he had, the one that was pushing his forward into Trey's lips. Or was Trey pushing into him? He couldn't tell. All he COULD tell was that Trey's lips were getting increasingly closer to his and this was gonna happen -
"Well, good night!" Trey rolled off of him and onto his side. He grabbed the TV remote and turned off the TV and rolled over onto his side.
So you're playing that game, Matt thought. You pig fucker.
Matt's eyes opened to see the room was still dark, but the bed was empty, so he looked over at the alarm clock. It was only 5:52, where could Trey be?
Matt's got up and peaked into the bathroom and the little kitchenette. Trey was nowhere to be found.
Matt looked down and examined his boxers. He sighed and pulled on the musky motel robe, that probably had a billion STD's and incurable illnesses on it. The germaphobe part of his brain made a mental note to take three showers later.
Even before he could get out of the doorway of their room, Matt bumped into Trey. He was sitting on the porch of their little room, but he was sitting on the ground, hunched over.
"Oh, hey. What are you doing up, it's only 6; We don't have to film today, do we?" Matt asked.
"No," Trey muttered. "I needed some space."
"I understand, it hasn't been all that it's cracked up to be living on couches and in motels."
They sat in silence, watching the sun go over the California horizon they'd started to resent. Trey rested his head onto Matt's shoulder.
"Matt?"
"Hm?"
"Thanks for sticking with me. Through Liane and all that shit." Trey huffed.
"Dude, I'm your best friend. That's what I'm here for," Matt assured.
"...Matt, I don't know what it is. I think I'm starting to like you."
Matt raised an eyebrow. "Wow, we've been friends for three years now and you're just now realizing you like me? Dude-"
"Not like that, genius." Trey rolled his eyes. "I think I'm starting to fall for you, I mean."
Oh.
Oh.
Matt's stomach was doing flips. Did-
Did Matt like Trey? Is that why watching him kiss other people and watching him talk to Toddy was so hard for him? Is that why when he pecked him on the cheek, it seemed to mean more than it should've?
Matt pulled the pack of Newports and lit one carefully. Trey watched him as he did so, and knew Matt was thinking a lot. Matt always smoked when he was thinking about something important.
"-I think I like you too." Matt blurted.
Trey could feel his face heat up. Soon the sun was starting to rise, and the motel regulars were making their way out of their rooms into the morning sun. Matt led Trey back inside, as the couple in the room next to them was starting to yell and scream at each other.
Matt sat back on the bed, and Trey laid closer to him than usual.
"Is that why you pulled away last night?" Matt laughed.
Trey playfully hit Matt, but then surprised him by straddling him. Trey put their foreheads together. "Bet you I won't pull away now."
"Y'know...I don't wanna sound like a queer or nothin', but I would like to make love to you tonight."
"...never mind I hate you again."