Chapter Eight: Conversations

Carlos was just gearing up to take Dude for a walk when he saw Evie come storming down the sidewalk and up the walkway to her house. She seemed oblivious to the fact that she was being watched, but Carlos became concerned at how distraught she looked. Even from standing on his doorstep, he could tell she was crying, the sound of her sniffles and held in sobs also were a good clue in. "Evie, what's wrong?" He meant well in asking, but he bit his tongue afterwards, wondering if he should involve himself in her situation since, technically, they weren't friends anymore. But that didn't mean that he couldn't still be nice to her. Especially when she was hurting; Carlos hated seeing people cry. Sad individuals tended to radiate an energy that could be picked up on by other people, at least Carlos picked up on it, he didn't know about other people.

She stopped in her tracks, her attention to turn and focus on him. They stared at one another for several moments before Evie came marching over to his porch. She seated herself on the top step and Carlos took a seat next to her so their shoulders rubbed up against one another. Dude rested his head on Evie's feet, his big brown eyes glancing up in sympathy.
"Gil broke up with me," she said. Despite the steadily drying tears on her face, her voice sounded like she was simmering with anger. Carlos didn't really see the big problem; he'd never really understood why the two of them had started dating to begin with. And from what he had seen with the two of them around school, Gil always looked uncomfortable with Evie. So maybe it was a good thing that Gil decided to part ways; perhaps it was one step closer to having his old friend back.

"I'm sure there's someone else out there for you." he said. "I mean you know the saying 'There's many fish in the sea', apply that to the people you date. Gil was a fish you caught and threw back. So go catch another one." At this, he managed to get a small chuckle from Evie.
"Thanks, Carlos," she said. She wiped the tears from her eyes, a grateful smile climbing onto her face. She pinched his cheek affectionately. "You're always so nice, Jane's lucky to have you."
She stood up and dusted off the seat of her skirt, intent on returning to her house.

"Do you ever plan on making things better with Mal," he asked. It was an honest question; he hated seeing how their separation was affecting Mal; she needed her best friend back. And not the cheerleader version of her either-the real Evie.
"I really want to, but I don't think now's the right time." As Evie returned to her house, leaving Carlos standing on his porch, he wondered what she had meant. Why was now not the right time? When would the right time be?

Mal couldn't recall the last time the three of them had hung out together at her house in a casual manner. When she thought back on it, the last time Jay and Carlos were at her place was early on in summer break before any of them had started their summer jobs. Most of her summer, when she hadn't been working in the hardware store, was spent wandering around town or at Carlos' or Jay's summer jobs, neither places which she enjoyed to be in too long.

Once all of them were seated comfortably in her room, on various cushions and beanbags, Mal closed the bedroom door and turned her undivided attention to her friends.
"So, what was it you wanted to tell me?" she asked. "Sounded pretty important when you mentioned it this morning before class."

The explanation wasn't long but Carlos sounded winded by the speed rate that his words came out. There was a small break of silence as the boys gave her time to process the situation. She flicked both of them in their foreheads.
"Are you two stupid?" she demanded. "Why don't you show the police?"
"We want everyone who has a picture on here to know about it before we go to the police," Jay said, rubbing his forehead absent mindedly. "How would you feel if the cops suddenly show up at your door asking to question you and you have no idea why," Carlos asked.

"We're giving them a heads up before going to the police." Mal put her hands on her hips and stared at Carlos, her eyebrows raised. She'd known him long enough to know that his words were a partial lie.
"And you want to play detective, don't you?" Carlos's eyes slowly moved to the floor. He hummed in indecision before sighing and making eye contact with Mal again.
"Maybe," he said. "But you have to admit that Jay and I would probably do a more thorough job than the police. All you have to do is just inform Ben, that's all."
"Fine, but what do you expect me to do? Skype Ben and say 'Hi, Ben, guess what I found out this week: you're on a porn site! Pretty sexy, right?'"

"No," Carlos exclaimed. "We just need you to tell him about the pictures and that there are others on the site too. It's meant as a warning, in case the police want to ask him something."
"He's way over in bloody England," Mal said. "Does it really concern him right now? He doesn't view gay porn."
"How do you know?" Jay asked, intervening between the two. Their conversation was beginning to take an inappropriate turn, but Mal had brought it onto herself. All she had to do was tell Ben; how hard could that possibly be?

"I'm not having this conversation with you Jay." Mal turned her attention back to Carlos, a tired smile on her face. "Thanks for telling me I guess." She sighed heavily. She wish that she could sway them to go to the police and leave the issue with them instead of trying to solve it themselves; they were just asking for trouble otherwise. But Carlos and Jay could be stubborn when they wanted to be; it took a stubborn mule to know one. "Just be careful you two, especially if you plan on playing Scooby Doo. Okay?"

Uma had just come up the stairs and was headed towards the bathroom to brush her teeth, intent on retiring to bed soon. As she passed by her room, she nearly jumped out of her skin as she saw someone sliding the window open and crawling inside. She switched on the lights and grabbed the nearest item off her dresser, which happened to be her math textbook. She poised, ready to throw the book at the intruder, until she recognized who it was.

"What the hell, Harry," Uma exclaimed. "What if my mother saw you creeping into my room?"
"Like she'd care. She's got her own boys creeping into the house, don't she?" Inside her own home, Uma was dressed in sweatpants and a tank top. It revealed her smooth, dark skin, along with a small row of bruises that went up her right arm, all at various stages of healing.
"Uma, my queen," he sighed. He ran his hands gently over her smooth skin, his fingers lingering on the bruises. "How'd this happen?"

"Forget it Harry," she said, pulling out of his grasp. "It's nothing to worry about." She grabbed a nearby hoodie and shrugged it on, hiding her arms from his sight, suddenly feeling self conscious. The expression on his face read as a cross between annoyed and concerned, but Uma shrugged it off, redirecting the conversation away from her personal problems.
"Can you tell me why you're here so late at night?"
"Come over to Gil's with me," Harry asked. It didn't sound like a question to Uma's ear but more of an order. And by the looks of a backpack slung over his shoulders, it seemed as though Harry intended on staying the night.

"Planning a sleepover, are we," she asked, smirking. "Aren't we a bit old for that?"
"Never, my queen." He grabbed her hand, and lead her toward the window where he had entered.
"Can't we use the door?"
Harry laughed, cocking open the window. He looked back at her as he slid himself out onto her roof. "What fun is there in that?"

(page break)

Gil's house was mostly dark, save for the living room light, which had some blue light flickering from whoever was watching television inside. Instead of ringing the doorbell, which worked just fine, Harry knocked on the door. Dressed in pajama bottoms and a baggy T-shirt, his hair down, Gil appeared at the door, confused at seeing them on his doorstep.
"Mind if we stay the night," Harry asked.
"Uh...no. But this is really sudden," Gil said. He moved away from the door to let them in. "And late. I don't want you to wake up my dads." The three of them tip-toed down the hall past Gil's fathers' room and his brothers' room to his. Harry had always enjoyed being in Gil's room when he compared it to his or Uma's; there was something unique about it. Perhaps it was because it was light and airy, whereas Harry's and Uma's had a dark nature about it that clearly screamed "troubled youth".

"So, is there a reason why you guys wanted to come to my house?" Gil asked, taking a seat on his bed. He looked half asleep, and Harry wondered if he had been the one watching late night television before going to bed.
"Sorry if we woke you," Uma asked. She pointed towards Harry. "He was the one that wanted to come over and dragged me along for the ride." Gil glanced at Harry, his eyes narrowing slightly in concentration as he analyzed his friend. He leaned back on his hands, his eyes still on Harry.

"What happened to make you want to leave home for the night?" he asked. Harry couldn't help but smile; Gil always was always so good at picking up on things like that. Perhaps it was because, out of the three of them, he was the best listener, and when it came to Harry and Uma, he listened intently.
"My Da called me Henry this morning," Harry exclaimed. He knew that it had been an honest accident, but it had ruined his morning and his entire day. His mind kept imagining the many more times to come when his father would make a slip up in his words.
"It's really bothering you that much?" Uma asked.
"I am me own person, Uma," Harry said. "It hurt to have me own father say me name wrong." Uma shook her head in exasperation, turning her attention to Gil.

"So, I heard from the grapevine that you broke up with Evie." Uma said, redirecting the attention to someone else. She punched Gil playfully on the shoulder. "Good for you. Going to find someone new for yourself?" Gil exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair.

"Well, to be honest, I don't even know if I like girls," Gil said. Harry noticed how Uma's facial expression softened into one of sympathy. She slid a little closer to Gil so their shoulders brushed up against one another.
"Why don't we fix that?" she asked. Harry watched, amused as Uma pulled Gil into for a slow, long kiss. He'd never seen Uma kiss anyone, but damn it was attractive. He shifted in his seat, partially out of awkwardness, partially out of the fact that the scene before him was making him hard.

"Does that help?" she asked. She smiled sweetly which Gil returned, a light blush running up his neck.
"I guess so..." Gil replied, even though he didn't sound so sure.
"Kiss Harry," Uma said. "See if you like boys if I didn't do it for you." It wasn't a demand, but a suggestion, one which Harry was readily open to.

"Yeah, kiss me Gilly," Harry said. He opened his arms, beckoning for his friend to sit on his lap. It might have been awkward for Gil, but Harry didn't feel uncomfortable. He'd come to know his sexuality, and among his two best friends, he had no reason to feel uncomfortable in their presence. Hesitantly, Gil sat on his lap and leaned in close. Harry wrapped one hand around the back of Gil's head, pulling him for a deeper kiss.
When they pulled apart, Harry noticed a shine in Gil's eyes that hadn't been there before; he supposed that he had made a good impression on his friend then.
"Well," he asked, smiling widely.
"Your lips are really soft."

A/N: Hey people! I'm back from my vacation, and I'm surprised I haven't lost my inspiration and ideas for this story. But I got new ideas for possible future stories. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Comments/reviews are highly appreciated as is any constructive criticism.