It was Friday, the day after their stunning defeat of Neoliberal High School's debate team. The debate team members were feeling much more relaxed after their first major competition, especially after a victory. Leon, however, had other matters on his mind.

"What's up with Joseph lately?"

Malcolm and Leon were sitting at the lunch table, waiting for the rest of their friends to arrive. Malcolm was furiously working on his math homework. "What do you mean," he said, distracted.

Leon sighed. "Like, he's all weird with me. It makes me nervous as hell."

Malcolm put his pencil down abruptly and looked directly into his eyes. With a sharp intake of air, he said, "Trots, you got the hots."

"DUDE." Leon felt his face grow warm. There was no way he was in love with Joseph. It was true that he made him feel anxious when he was nearby and Leon's palms would sweat furiously whenever he put his hands on his shoulder. But that was because Joseph was so imposing. Wasn't everyone afraid of him?

Malcolm continued, "Like, Joseph has always done this kind of thing. He just never messed with you before because you hated him. Also I think he likes provoking you. Then again, provoking you IS pretty fun," he added, amused.

Frida Kahlo and Angela spotted the two in the corner of the cafeteria and sat down at the table while Malcolm was in midsentence. "Who likes provoking who? Has Leon realized he's in love with Joseph yet?" said Frida in a tone so casual, it was as if she was asking for the time.

Leon reflexively tensed up around her. He and Frida had a somewhat complicated history. They dated briefly when Angela was studying abroad in France. As soon as she came back, Frida broke it off with Leon and returned to her. Since then, it's almost as if those six months never happened and neither of them commented about it ever again with Leon.

"Why the sudden interest in my supposed love life?" said Leon through gritted teeth before he could stop himself. He realized how bitter he must have sounded.

Frida ignored his outburst entirely. She was stubborn, even with her emotions, and she knew the best way to shut him down was to simply carry on as if nothing had happened. "You're so obviously crazy about Joseph and it's sickening. Aren't you almost an adult? Just like. Kiss him already." Leon desperately looked at Malcolm and Angela but the two of them shrugged and nodded in agreement.

"We don't even have that many classes together, and you aren't even in the debate club! What do you know?" growled Leon. Frida and Angela exchanged looks and giggled.

"Sorry dude, I had to," said Angela, trying to hide her smile. "But everyone knows! It's so obvious!"

"Plus, you'll probably get your chance on Friday," Frida continued. "Who knows what'll happen when the liquor starts to flow…"

Leon was so wrapped up in his embarrassment that he failed to notice Joseph and Vladimir arriving at the lunch table. "Sorry we're late. We were having a secret meeting," said Joseph. Then he added, winking at Leon, "But Vlad took forever to finish as always…he's surprisingly energetic."

"That was stupid even by your standards," said Vlad, rolling his eyes. Still, he couldn't help but smile when he noticed Leon's distraught expression. By now he had grown used to Joseph's bravado but it appeared Leon, who also knew him since kindergarten, still had a hard time with those kinds of provocative jokes. Besides, even if he didn't know his friends like the back of his hand, Vlad was good at reading people. Leon's infatuation was fairly obvious to him and anyone with eyes.

"Wait, so you two had a meeting without me?" said Leon, flustered, in an attempt to change the subject somewhat.

They shrugged. "Don't worry about it." Joseph was unusually serious all of a sudden and Vlad's expression remained cryptic as always.

"Uh, you also had a meeting without me as well," said Angela. "Next time call us, won't you?"

Vlad looked annoyed briefly but his expression softened. "Yeah. Sorry. We had to meet with Mr. Smith and Mr. Marx. The anime club made a complaint against us."

The table groaned. The anime club was trying to get rid of them because Vlad had once again told them to stop screaming while they were practicing. "It's not a big deal guys. Let's talk about the party tonight!" said Joseph.

The conversation turned to the topic of who was bringing what and who was going to wear what outfit. Che's parents were gone for the weekend so they could party all night undisturbed.

"Yo Trots, make sure you look good tonight," said Frida with a knowing smile. Leon turned pink and avoided eye contact for possibly the fifth time in half an hour.

-x-

Leon spent the rest of the day painfully conscious of Joseph's presence. He was going to pick him up around seven so they could head to the supermarket for supplies. His stomach was boiling over with anxiety just thinking about spending time alone with him.

Joseph showed up at Leon's house in shorts and a shirt that smelled vaguely of sweat. "Sorry, I just got out of track practice. I smell awful," he said sheepishly.

Leon shook his head. "No it's fine. I'm more concerned about you wearing shorts in fifty degree weather."

They drove off to the supermarket while Leon's palms continued to sweat. After ten minutes of arguing about what kind of soda to buy, they left with several bags of junk food before stopping at Burger King for a snack. Even during their argument Leon couldn't help but smile. Joseph had a way of making people feel special.

"I don't want anything," mumbled Leon after checking his empty wallet. "I spent everything on shitty soda."

"You're the asshole who wanted grape instead of orange so deal with your decisions," said Joseph. He pulled into the drive thru anyway. "Anyway, don't worry about it. I don't mind buying you things."

Leon turned bright red, his heart pounding so loud that he was sure Joseph could hear it. Why does he have to say those kinds of things? Instead of just saying "I'll spot you" or "Pay me back later," he has to go and say something like that? The worst part, thought Leon, is that he doesn't even sound like he's hitting on me. He's just...saying things. I'm looking too much into it.

He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. "Yeah, well. I don't like it when people buy things for me like that," he muttered.

Joseph rolled his eyes. "You're honestly so weird all the time. Suck it up and order something."

They sat in the car after receiving their order, eating silently. Leon got mayo all over his chin somehow. "These burgers are put together so badly," he complained.

"Don't blame them for your sheer incompetence at eating. You're like a child," Joseph said through a mouthful of fries. "It's almost adorable how bad you are at everything."

Nearly choking on his burger, Leon finished eating as quickly as possible. "Let's just get to Che's. Can you drive without constantly hitting on me?"

Joseph laughed. "Who says I'm hitting on you? I can't help it if you're like some kind of...adorable man toddler."

"I feel like I should be insulted."

"You should be." He wiped his greasy hands on his shorts and took his shirt off.

Leon wondered if he was doing this on purpose. Not that he exactly minded. "This is like a bad porno you know. Taking your shirt off suddenly in the middle of a sentence is weird, even for you."

Joseph grabbed a clean but slightly wrinkled shirt out of his bag and before putting it on wriggled his eyebrows at Leon. "If this were a porno I wouldn't bother wining and dining you first." So this is what he called "wining and dining," Leon noted. Then he slid out of his shorts before wriggling into a pair of jeans. "There's not a lot of room to change in a car you know."

"Why didn't you just wait till we got there!"

"Because I can't show up looking like I just got out of bed! It's bad enough I'm showing up with you. Besides," added Joseph, fixing his gorgeous hair in the rearview mirror, "when will I have the opportunity to show you my beautifully sculpted abs?" Leon groaned, grateful it was already dark out so Joseph wouldn't see him smiling.

They bantered all the way to Che's house where the party was just beginning.

Mao greeted them at the door, carefully hiding his red solo cup in case the neighbors were watching. "Just in time, guys. Vlad just showed up with the alcohol," he said, handing them their own cups.

The group had already started drinking fairly hard. Mao himself was on his second beer. They headed towards the kitchen where nearly the entire group was holding a red cup or a can of beer. Even Vlad seemed slightly less rigid then usual with the alcohol in his veins. "You guys are gonna be puking by ten," said Joseph as he helped himself to a generous cupful of vodka. He turned and poured even more into Leon's cup despite his protests.

"Dude, I don't even drink!" he shouted, nearly spilling the cup all over the kitchen.

"Yeah well. There's a first time for everything. Grape soda or coke?"

"Fucking grape soda with vodka? Are you kidding?"

Mao intervened, "I feel like you two have had this argument already today and you literally just got here. Leon, shut the hell up. Joseph, stop teasing him!"

"It's a lover's quarrel, Mao! Don't get between them!" shouted Frida from the living room.

Already burning up with embarrassment once again, Leon grabbed the grape soda and topped off his cup. "Cheers, you assholes."

-x-

After three hours or so, everyone was sufficiently drunk to start wobbling with every step. None of them were particularly heavy drinkers or knew their limits.

Joseph was even louder and hands-on than usual. He had already sloppily hugged and kissed everyone in the room (with a notable exception of Leon) and was filling up his cup yet again. Leon watched his quietly. He was also rather drunk but less so than everyone else because he didn't want to make an ass out of himself.

He went outside for a breath of fresh air and for some peace and quiet. Leon liked his friends but he wasn't very comfortable at large get togethers.

The door opened behind him. Joseph stumbled out, grinning. "Why'd you run away?" he asked, nudging him with his shoulder. "I was looking for you!"

Leon shrugged, shivering. He was drunk but not enough to ignore the chilly night air. "It got too hot in there. But now it's too cold," he said, laughing.

"Is it cold? I didn't notice."

"That's because you're a freak. And also drunk."

Joseph laughed, almost giggling. "Let me warm you up before going inside!" he said, grabbing Leon's hands in his and lacing their fingers together. Leon's hands were cold but they were sweating like it was the middle of summer. This is normal, he thought to himself. Joseph does this with everyone. He's just messing with me. Right?

They stood there quietly. Joseph put his head on Leon's shoulder and sighed.

He moved in slowly and Leon could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"Can I kiss you?"

Leon closed his eyes as their lips met.

They kissed, slow and messy like drunk teenagers. Leon couldn't help but shudder when Joseph pulled him in closer, his hands settling on his lower back. Joseph pulled away from him, grinning. "You're a better kisser than I thought," he murmured.

Leon was too flustered to even get annoyed. His head was swimming, either from the alcohol or from Joseph's kisses. "You're...much better than I thought," he said shyly.

Joseph laughed softly. "Kiss me again."