Chpt.18

"Is Damian alright?" Livy inquired and Colin looked at her a bit confused as he finished checking out a book for her.

"What do you mean?"

"I dunno. Every time I try to talk to him he gets all pissy. I thanked him for helping me with the whole Maxwell case, but he didn't seem like himself. I mean, he didn't even insult me in his big ass vocabulary." Livy sighed and Colin raised an eyebrow as he cocked his head to the side.

"Why do you care?"

"Despite constantly fighting, I still feel like we're good friends. And I usually know what's bothering him when he's mad at me, but I'm completely clueless why he's been acting so cold lately." Livy huffed as she blew her bangs out of her face. She was overdue for a cut.

"Did you ask him what was wrong?" Colin questioned.

"Yes." Livy sighed. "He told me that he was fine and that I should spend some time with my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" Colin questioned in some surprise.

"I know, right? I don't have a girlfriend! And I'm straight, so that's not even a possibility." Livy explained and Colin hummed.

"He usually stops by to make sure I'm okay around lunch. I'll talk to him about it and see what's wrong." Colin smiled and Livy ran behind the counter and jumped onto the frail red head, hugging him tightly.

"Thanks Colin!"

"Not a problem." Colin wheezed as Livy continued to hug him tightly.

Once Livy released him, she quickly ran off. She had set up several appointments to get Lancy a modeling job. Livy had also promised Meg that she'd get her some stain remover.

Colin watched the girl run off, then continued to sit around at the book store behind the register.

I'm lucky I have friends to visit me here because this place is dead. Colin thought as he waited for more customers.

~*~*~*~*~ later~*~*~*~*~

"Hey, Damian." Colin smiled with a small wave and Damian nodded in his direction as he made his way to the register. Damian didn't smile, which didn't surprise Colin because he didn't smile often, but Colin was surprised to see how tired Damian seemed.

He had dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, and his hair was mess up on the right side most likely from sleeping on it differently and not combing it out.

"Hello. Your lunch break is soon, correct?" Damian questioned in a clipped tone and Colin nodded.

"Yup. I was just about to close my register now."

"Then you will eat lunch with me at the diner down the street. I need your..." Damian hesitated for a moment. "Help. With something." He mumbled.

Colin smiled as he locked the register, however, he was extremely worried due to Damian's out of character actions. Damian never asked for help. Not to mention that he usually made sure his hair was at least combed when he left the house.

"Alright, let's go then."

Colin followed Damian down the street to the Diner in silence. Damian was looking straight ahead with his lips pursed into a thin line. He was clearly distressed, but Colin knew that he had to wait for Damian to tell him what was wrong.

Once seated at the diner, Damian's strong composure diminished.

"Is this about Livy?" Colin inquired, which earned him a glare.

"Of course not." Several moments went by and the waitress collected their order. Several more moments passed and Damian sighed.

"Alright, it is about that little nuisance." He grumbled. "I saw her..." Damian's voice lowered. "I saw her kissing a girl." Colin looked at Damian skeptically.

"Damian, are you sure-"

"I know what I saw." Damian stated sharply.

"Well, what's the big deal? I kiss boys." Colin shrugged and Damian crossed his arms, mumbling,

"It's different."

"It's not that different." Colin said with a small laugh.

There was silence between then once again. Damian's arms were still crossed and he was staring at the salt and pepper shakers on the table.

The waitress brought the two their food, and they started to eat in silence.

"It's different because I don't love you." Damian mumbled in between bites of his burger.

Colin looked at his friend perplexed.

"What?"

"It's different because I don't love you." Damian repeated. "I never had feelings for you that would result in a romantic relationship."

"But you have those feelings for Livy." Colin stated with a smile.

"She kissed a girl." Damian whispered. "Why would she want me?" he questioned sadly as he ran a hand through his hair. Aside from anger, this was the most emotion that Colin had ever seen Damian show.

"Damian, I'm pretty sure she's straight."

"How would you know that?" Damian questioned as he uncrossed his arms.

"We have little girl talks. I know this things." Colin smiled.

"Well if she's straight, why was she kissing a girl?" he inquired.

Colin shrugged.

"Did you ask her?"

"No." Damian frowned.

"Then maybe you should do that." Colin informed with a small chuckle. He never understood why people came looking for answers about one another when they hadn't even talked to each other.

Damian sighed, shaking his head.

"Are you nervous?" Colin inquired.

"Tt. I do not get nervous. I have to go, if you'll excuse me." He stated quickly as he placed money for his food on the table and left the diner.

Colin just smiled to himself.

Those lovebirds will work it out. He thought, then paid for his meal and went back to work.