The Apprehensive and The Optimistic

Chapter 13

AN:: Fun fact! I hate the number 13. :) Thanks for being understanding guys, you're the best. Sorry I haven't been replying to reviews, with work and finals coming up, and applying for early college...UGH ITS HARD ON A SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD

"How long does he normally take to get ready?" Josh complained, turning down the music and glancing at Anthony, "I mean really, the more I hang out with him the more I realize how big of a girl he's becoming."

Anthony laughed, leaning back comfortably in his seat, "I waited for a while when we all got to the movies, so don't worry about it. Normal Ian stuff."

"Weird to think you've been around a month and you already know Ian's norm." Josh said and Anthony shrugged, replying to a text. Josh sighed, and glanced at Anthony again, "So, uh, you guys talked about what happened to him?"

Anthony looked at Josh, and nodded slowly, "Yeah... we did. He was..."

"I've never seen him that upset." Josh cut him off, and looked down, "He was just so...hurt, I felt awful."

"Why?" Anthony asked. He always assumed Josh and Ian were kinda of close, but why would Josh feel awful about David and Ian breaking up? Anthony wouldn't say he felt bad for Ian, it was a shame what happened, but there was a look of guilt on Josh's face. And guilt was never a good expression to have.

"Well... I can never seem to cheer him up. And before you came along, well, we were best friends." Anthony opened his mouth to apologize, or just say something but Josh cut him off, "I don't mind how close you two are." He smiled reassuringly, "You two are great together, I just...I feel it was my fault."

"What? That they broke up?" Anthony asked, his throat dry. At Josh's nod Anthony replied, "Why would you even think that?"

Josh groaned and slouched in his seat, he shifted, expression confused. Anthony waited patiently, hoping Ian would just take a few minutes longer, Josh sighed and looked back at Anthony, "Well...I started it indirectly. I-I have a tendency to talk, a lot, and I don't know when to stop. It's a ho-horrible trait really. I need to find some way to over—"

"Get to the point." Anthony said, not meaning to sound rude, he was just at the edge of his seat in anticipation.

Josh itched his cheek nervously, "W-Well...I like talking. Plain and simple. So, when David and I would hang out, I talked a lot about you. It's not weird," He confirmed, pulling at his collar, "You're news. Hell, you're new. So, David and I would talk about you. I would...talk about what Ian says about you, just, yeah you get the point. I-I guess I gave David the wrong impression..."

Anthony only half listened, his heart racing, "Wh-What does Ian say about me?"

"Long story short," Joshua ignored him and continued, "David...broke up with him, I tried to explain that there was nothing like that going on, but he wouldn't listen to me." Josh looked angry for a minute, "I...just can't believe he went this far."

Anthony sighed, and shifted in his seat, "Well, I don't know David too well..." He started, "But, I can't blame him for being suspicious. I didn't want this to happen, I was...a little jealous of David, I'll admit it. But him and Ian seemed happy. I understand why he did it, but yourself in his shoes." It felt weird defending David, but it wasn't like Anthony hated him. Sure, they didn't exactly see eye to eye, they didn't like each other, but Anthony knew that David meant a lot to Ian, and vice versa. So he knew it was just as painful for David as it was for Ian.

Josh nodded, then frowned, "You were jealous of him? Why?"

Anthony blushed, and opened his mouth to reply, "W-Well..."

Suddenly there was a tapping on his window and Anthony jumped, and turned in shock. Ian stood on the other side, laughing. Josh unlocked the doors and Ian jumped into the back seat, still snickering, "Geez, Anthony, you're a loser."

"Yeah? Well you're an ass." Anthony turned in his seat to face in and blinked. Ian's cologne smelled amazing. He had on a fitting, suiting sweater, and jeans. The jeans, for some reason, were really flattering. Anthony blinked as he gave Ian another long look and whistled, "Well...no wonder you took so long."

"Shut up." He said, smiling, his cheeks pink, "But I'll take that as a compliment."

Josh chuckled, "All right. We're running late, buckle up kiddies, we're heading out!"

The whole drive to the ice skating rink was full of light jokes, and high spirits. Anthony was somehow still excited, despite Ian's attire. He knew the reason Ian looked so damn good was because David would be there. Surprisingly, Anthony wasn't as hurt by this as he thought he would be. After they got there, and Anthony got a pair of skates they met up with the group, who had been waiting.

"It's about damn time! Jesus, what were you guys doing?" Mari complained, hand on her hip.

Josh winked at her, "You're not old enough to know that."

Flitz barked out a laugh, smirking, "Bull shit, Joven, you wish."

Anthony lifted an eyebrow at the nickname, but somehow it worked for the other. He put on his skates, sitting beside Ian, David a few feet away from them. He could feel the tension and awkwardness, and it just made him feel awkward. After he finished, Ian laughed, "Anthony, you idiot, they need to be tighter then that." He leaned down and adjusted his skates. Anthony took the chance and glanced at David. The man had his hands in his pockets, watching Ian. He noticed Anthony staring and looked at him. Anthony immediately looked away, listening to the others conversation.

"I'm going to push you on the ground while we're out there for that, douche." Matt threatened.

Josh laughed, rubbing the neck of his neck, "Y-You wouldn't do that, would you?" Matt's gaze remained serious and Josh raised in his hands in a defensive position, "Wh-What! It was a simple your mom joke, guys? Flitz?"

"It was an offensive, your mom joke." He snickered, adjusting his hat.

Josh looked at Mari, who frowned, "Don't even look at me."

Anthony could see the panic on his face as he turned to Wes, "Wes! Buddy, pal, my dearest friend! Y-You understand, right? You're not mad."

Wes blinked for a second, he pushed the bangs from his face and looked at Sohinki, "Can I help you push him to the ground? Or...Ice in this case?"

"That sounds like fun." Flitz and Mari said in unison, and then high fived at the great timing.

Josh groaned and looked at Anthony, "OH ANTHONY! You're a great, caring guy. Please tell me you're with me on this."

Anthony laughed and Ian spoke on both their behalves, "Kiss someone else's ass, Joven."

Josh finally turned his eyes on his last hope, he puckered out his bottom lip, and fell to his knees at David's feet. Staring up at him with puppy dog eyes, hands together in a beg. David's cheeks warmed, "Fuck off, dude."

Josh slumped to the side in defeat, making tiny whining noises. Anthony laughed and Ian stood up, "You're set. Wanna hit the ice?"

Josh shot up, "Wait! Can I teach him to ice skate?" Anthony couldn't help but to compare him to a energetic puppy.

Wes coughed awkwardly into his fist, "I...don't think that's a very good idea."

Flitz snickered, "Nah, let him, go ahead Anthony."

Anthony blinked, looking at Josh's excited expression, then at the group. He stood up, shifting awkwardly, Ian rested a firm hand on his shoulder to keep him steady, "It was nice knowing you, friend."

Anthony sighed loudly and walked over to Josh, as he did someone started humming a sad tune. "Knock it off." Wes mumbled, "You'll scare him." Anthony heard David snicker.

Josh stepped down on the ice and slid forward some. Anthony was glad the rink was fairly empty. Josh turned, grinning, "You can call me sensei!"

Anthony raised an eyebrow, "I could also call you something other things, too, remember that."

"Like what?" Josh laughed.

"Call him buttercup!" Mari yelled from behind them and the group erupted in laughter. Anthony blushed, covering his face in his hands.

"Buttercup works." He heard Josh say with a laugh, "Now, first step: Trust." Anthony removed his hands to see Josh with an outstretched hand. Anthony groaned, the snickers behind causing way too much shame. He stepped on the ice, not prepared and slipped forward, right as he thought he was going to crash Josh caught him in his arms.

"Aww!" The group cheered.

David cooed, "Best couple ever."

"Cutest too." Ian added.

"OTP." Mari said.

The fact Anthony knew what that last one was made him try to separate himself from the other. Josh laughed, grabbing his wrists, "Ignore them."

"I hate you." Anthony mumbled miserably.

Josh slid backwards, Anthony awkwardly following him. He couldn't help but wonder how big of an idiot he must have looked like. He stood up straight, Josh giving him instructions. It wasn't that hard, Anthony came to realize. It was like roller skating, just a little harder. He caught on quickly and they did a loop, when they got back everyone was on the ice, Mari and Matt in front of everyone else, laughing and joking. Wes and Ian were talking, while Flitz and David were messing around, shoving each other. It didn't look like David and Ian were really talking, which worried him a little.

"Anthony is now an official ice skater." Josh announced.

David snorted, "You gonna join the Olympics?"

"Thinking about it." Anthony nodded, causing the group to chuckle.

Wes grinned, "Sounds like fun. You going to wear on of those sparkly, skin tight, unitard, dress, skirt things?"

"Aren't those for girls?" Flitz blinked at the brown haired man.

Wes paused, staring at the dark skinned man, "Uh...yeah." He glanced at David, then Ian, then Josh and Anthony, "That's the point. I was comparing him to a girl." Flitz barked out laughter and the others joined in.

David patted Flitz on the head. In the midst of joking, and playful name calling, someone rode up to them, coming to an abrupt stop in front of them.

"Excuse me." The boy said, large glasses, playful smile. His hair was blonde, with a tint of purple, "I just had to say, that sweater looks so good on you." He looked at Ian, "Where did you get it?"

Ian blinked in shock, and Anthony narrowed his eyes at the boy, "Th-This? Oh—I—"

"I got it for him." David said, frowning, jealousy and anger apparent in his voice and on his face.

The other boy blinked, sincere smile on his face, "Oh. Sorry, I didn't realize. I'll just—"

"There's nothing to realize." Ian scoffed, sliding forward and smiling at the boy, arm looping around his, "I like your hair." He laughed.

The blonde scoffed, "Don't tease me." And the two rode slid a good few feet in front of them.

Anthony awkwardly rubbed his arm, him, Josh, Flitz, Wes, and David sliding slowly across the ice. David's face shocked, but still having jealousy and anger, "Are you kidding me?" He mumbled bitterly, "We just broke up and he's already..." David sighed.

"He's not doing anything." Josh pointed out, "You're the dick that had to interrupt rudely. And you broke up with him, so why do you even care?" David opened his mouth to argue, but Josh continued, "You're an idiot sometimes David, honestly. Everyone makes me out to be, but it's bull. He's wearing the sweater you gave him, he never wore it before, and he's still wearing the necklace too. He's nervous around you, all because he still wants to be with you." Josh scoffed, "But you're too stuck on rumors to see the truth." He slid away, Flitz awkwardly going after him.

Wes stared at David, sympathy on his face, "David...Josh doesn't mean—" He placed a hand on his shoulder and David shrugged it off, sliding away, and going into the bleachers, sitting miserably. Wes looked shocked, hand awkwardly falling to the side.

Anthony chewed on his bottom lip, "H-He's hurt, you can't blame him either."

Wes frowned, "He doesn't have to take it out on me. Or any of us." He moved away from Anthony.

With Ian skating around with mystery boy, Mari and Matt awkwardly flirting, and the others no doubt raging over the previous scene, Anthony opted to stop skating. It wasn't working out well. He stepped on the concrete steps and made his way to David. He sat beside him and carefully removed the skates, David frowning at him the whole time. Anthony offered a smile.

"I'm guessing you're not here to make some snide remark?" David asked.

"No," Anthony said, shifting on the bench, "We're in the same boat, and I have a feeling you're not the bad guy."

"Of course I'm not the bad guy." David sighed, his walls breaking almost automatically, head falling into his hands. Anthony was shocked at how easy it was, "I didn't want to leave him. It was for the best, man. I-I had too. He may have agreed to date me for real, and he may have seemed happy but he wasn't." David rubbed his face, and sat up, looking at Anthony, "There was that bit of hesitation, and tension that wasn't there before, and I just couldn't handle it. I had to end it before it got worse."

Anthony nodded, "You do know...he didn't cheat on you with me. It's not like that at all." He felt like he had to say it, like he needed to confirm it to David, maybe it would help. Although Anthony felt there was no fixing it. "Ian has no feelings for me."

David stared at Anthony for what felt like a century before he spoke, "But you like him." Anthony opened his mouth but David raised a hand, small smile on his face, "Don't argue, I can tell. I like Ian too." He chuckled, "What's not to like?"

Anthony smiled shyly, nodding, "That's what I say."

David laughed softly, Anthony liked this, he knew David was human. He knew David wasn't a horrible person, just another teen with his own list of problems, "Yeah, I knew you had feelings for him the second I met you. The way looked at him, the look you gave me. I was the same way." He set his hands on his lap, "I bet I knew before you realized," He laughed fondly at Anthony's pink cheeks, "Another reason I broke up with him, is because of the look you gave him. I knew how you felt, and...I didn't want you to feel the pain I was scared of."

Anthony blinked, "David...you shouldn't...that's," He sighed.

"Haha, now, I'm not saying I broke up with Ian so you could be with him, I broke up with him because I knew you liked him, and his feelings toward you aren't all friendship."

Anthony looked at the skating rink, searching for Ian, "You think so?"

"I do. Is it certain? Eh, no," David said, and Anthony's eyes landed on him, he was between Mari and Matt, "Although...Ian isn't as clingy and happy as he may seem. You'll come to realize that."

Anthony looked away from Ian and back to David, "I've heard some stuff..."

"Like?"

"Ryan stuff." Anthony clarified.

David frowned, "I never liked him." He looked out at the rink, "I don't care if he apologized. You weren't there when Ian found out about that bastard, and they 'broke up'. He was so...heart broken."

Anthony debated his next words, but he found himself saying them, "I was there when you broke his heart."

David looked at Anthony, sad smile on his lips, before he looked at his shoes, "Ian...he..." David covered his face, and Anthony blinked awkwardly, he wasn't sure if David was crying or not. He awkwardly shifted and place a hand on David's back, rubbing small circles.

He never felt so weird in his whole entire life. Comforting his crushes ex boyfriend? He needed a show on MTV, or ABC, or something. Because, Jesus, it was never ending. David recovered quickly, thankfully. He sighed and when Anthony saw his face, he didn't look like he was crying, but he did look a little worse for wear. Anthony removed his hand. David nodded, thanking him quietly. Anthony stood up, "Um, first of all, you should apologize to Wes. And maybe Josh," David sighed, but nodded in agreement, "Second," Anthony smiled, "I think you and I need to go grab some greasy, fattening food."

"Pizza good?" David smirked, standing up with him.

"Pizza is perfect."

AN:: Isn't this story supposed to be Ianthony? Haha. This chapter had like zero Ianthony and Im sorry! But the Ianthony is coming. (haha...Game of Thrones, it's like 'Winter is coming' hehe) Yes, um, well. Ianthony is coming. So prepare yourselves.