Nate's P.O.V.
Something weird is going on here. Not only would Tess normally catch on to the fact that Jason is being a space cadet, but she'd noticeably roll her eyes at his oblivion.
The two of them let the door fall shut as they leave the room and I seem back at Shane. He looks up at me and flashes a sheepish smile my way. "Do you know why Tess is acting so odd?" I ask him. He's been hanging out with her a lot lately, so I assume he'd know about any recent shifts in her reasoning.
"I don't," he says back to my question. "I mean, I do," he stutters. "Uh, maybe she's… just…" He struggles to explain, leaving me confused in his terms.
"Shane…?" I say slowly and he looks back at me with the obvious embarrassment stretched across his face. We've almost never been alone, just the two of us, and there's evidently something strange about it considering I've never seen my band mate of several years act like this before. "Is there something you need to tell me?"
His face almost looks guilty after he processes the subject matter I've brought up. I watch his eyes reallocate to the floor and he answers more of my first question rather than the second; "There's something Tess wanted me to tell you."
Maybe he's acting like himself but because his confidence has turned into this fidgety, awkward kid; he seems like a completely different person to me. "Well, what is it?" I say. "What does Tess want you to tell me?"
Ill at ease, I hear him let out a sigh. "Look," he starts, "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable or anything but," now he turns his head back up and locks his gaze with mine. "I think I may have feelings for you. As more than a friend," he hesitates to speak the last part.
I'm completely puzzled by what he has just told me. At first, my brain won't believe it but as I stare back at my old comrade, I can see that he is beyond serious in his statement.
Yes, I have always considered myself straight but, being perfectly honest with myself, I've always wondered in secret what it would be like to be with another guy. It's clear that my best friend wouldn't be the person I'd want to… 'Try' per say; but it's not like I could choose just anyone. Perhaps this was just a chance for me.
But as I'm still in shock from what I just heard, I'm not thinking straight (no pun intended). Millions of things pop into my head in a manner of seconds, and I'm too anxious to trust my own instincts. I don't think about what I'm doing and find myself in the position of picking something that would usually be lower on the list of things to do in order. Like, after replying to what he's just told me.
My common since doesn't stop myself from trying. I think it's too late anyway, he knows what I'm about to do. Our faces get closer as I lean in slowly. Nervous about what he's thinking right now, I attempt to ignore his facial expression. My lips touch his and they're held there for just a couple of seconds. It's like nothing and I don't know what I'm supposed to be feeling right now. I pull my head back with nothing to say and he jumps up from his seat.
"I'm sorry," he tells me.
"No," I immediately counter. I look for the words to say and falter, "I need to be somewhere." Maybe I don't need to be somewhere but I need to not be here. I turn around and swiftly walk out the door without looking back, leaving Shane alone.