A/N: I said you could expect the next few chapters to come quickly, and then I disappeared for a month. I'm so sorry, guys! But I promise I have been working on this fic-I've got nearly 9k words written for it so far, and a whole lot more to come. It's just scattered all over the place and I've been having trouble turning it into full, coherent chapters (even very short ones like this). I'm making this my Camp NaNo project, though, so I'm hoping that will help motivate me to work on filling in all the gaps.

It's Saturday night (or, more accurately, Sunday morning), and Larry is huddled shoulder-to-shoulder with Sal while they watch his favorite show, the one about the vampire hunter. If there's one thing Larry's learned from seeing that fuckwad Travis every day and hearing all the bullshit he spews, it's that the lack of personal space in their friendship apparently isn't "normal" for guys. If Travis was feeling particularly kind, he'd probably call it gay.

Larry's not sure that's quite right, but it's close enough. If that was all Travis had to say about them, maybe he wouldn't want to punch him in the face so often.

Sal is staring at the screen with his chin resting on his tucked-up knees, but he's obviously not paying any attention to the show. Ever since that first incident, he's started wearing his mask less and less often when they're alone, and Larry's particularly happy to be able to see the dopey grin on his face tonight.

"What's on your mind, Sally Face?"

Sal jolts, glancing at Larry before turning back to the TV. Mouth now hidden behind his knees, he says dazedly, "Ash is just… amazing, isn't she?"

"…Yeah, she really is," Larry agrees after a moment. He likes Ash well enough, and she's helped him a lot in becoming a better artist, but he's never given much thought to her beyond that. Anyone who can make Sal smile like that must be pretty damn incredible, though. A strange feeling wells up; there's jealousy there, Larry knows that, an ugly feeling in the pit of his stomach at the thought of anyone taking Sal away from him. But at the same time, he's genuinely happy that Sal's finally making some more friends, and he's obviously smitten with Ash. Larry simultaneously wants to pull them far apart and push them together lips-first, and it really doesn't make any sense. Then again, he's come to realize that most of his feelings revolving around Sal don't make much sense. It's easier to stick to the simple ones than to risking fucking up their friendship.

"Todd said she's in the same grade as us."

"Yep."

"Do you think… Never mind," Sal cuts himself off, suddenly pretending to be deeply engrossed in what's happening on-screen.

"Do I think what?" Larry gives him a teasing grin even while dreading the answer to his question.

"Nothing," he insists, shaking his head.

"Alright," Larry agrees, turning back to the TV. They fall into silence for a few minutes, watching B kill what must be her thousandth vampire, but eventually he can't hold the words in anymore. He huffs and shuffles around to face his friend. "I'm sure she'll love you once she gets to know you, Sally Face."

Sal chuckles but doesn't look at him when he says, "You have to say that, you're my best friend."

"I don't have to say anything, it's true. And if she doesn't, then she's an idiot and it's her loss."

"Why do I feel like there's a 'but' hanging behind this little speech?"

Larry sighs and drawls out "…But… You just met her. Like, two days ago, for a couple of minutes. Maybe you should try just talking to her first? Hang out with her a little before you try asking her out?"

Sal laughs and finally turns to meet his gaze, resting his cheek on his knees. "Obviously."

Larry blinks stupidly for a minute and repeats slowly, "'…Obviously?'"

"Well, yeah. It was just a dumb thought; I wasn't gonna act on it. That's why I said 'never mind.'"

"…Oh. Okay," Larry says, and it feels like a weight's been lifted from his chest.

He feels petty for being so relieved.

He doesn't say a word about it.

He still doesn't say a word when "Sal and Larry" suddenly becomes "Sal and Larry and Ash and Todd" and the stupid war between jealousy and joy becomes an everyday occurrence. Eventually, he just gets used to it and lets it fade into the back of his mind, only to be dug up on particularly dark days when he's left alone with his thoughts.