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Kari leaned against the railing, smirking to herself.
The echoes of raised voices floated up to the bridge from the riverside below. Sora paused to listen.
Upon recognizing the voices, she scoffed. “Are they fighting again ?”
“Is it even a question at this point?” Kari grinned.
“Oh, my God. When are they going to learn to communicate like adults?”
“Probably never.”
Sora paused. “So… What are you doing here?”
“Oh, if you stand in this spot, you can hear everything they’re saying.”
“What is your problem, man?!”
“My problem is that you’re a fucking jerk ! You keep blowing me off and I’m sick of it!”
“I told you I had a game ! What do you want from me? A written apology?”
“An apology would be nice!”
“Well, I’m sorry ! Okay?!”
Matt turned away sharply, glowering at the wall.
“What, not good enough for you?” Tai snapped. “What else do you want? Financial compensation? You want to ground me?”
“You just don’t get it!”
“Don’t get what? !”
“How do you just not know ? Are you fucking blind ?”
“I can’t read your damn mind, Matt! If you got a problem, just spit it out!”
Matt seized Tai by the shirt—Tai grabbed Matt’s shirt in response, trying to push him off.
“What the hell is going on with you?!”
Matt kept his hold of Tai. “Do I really have to spell it out for you?” he said. His voice was strange.
“What are you doing , Matt?! Let me go!”
Matt pushed close all of a sudden, right in Tai’s face, and before Tai could react Matt was—Matt was kissing him ?!
For just a moment Tai was too shocked to react but then violently he shoved Matt away, with enough force to make Matt stumble a couple paces back.
“ What the fuck was that?! ” Tai roared. He wiped his mouth.
“What do you think it was?” Matt shouted back.
“You can’t just fucking kiss people like that! The hell is wrong with you?”
“Well maybe if you had listened to me—”
“Listened to what?! Your fucking cryptic angsty bullshit? What the hell are you trying to do? Is Sora okay with you just kissing people?!”
“ The hell does that matter?! ”
“Are you kidding me?!” Tai raged. “She’s your goddamn girlfriend !”
“No, she’s not!”
At this Tai was thrown. “What?” He said, momentarily forgetting his fury.
“ Why would you think that?!”
“But she’s—she’s always going to your concerts, and bringing you presents and stuff—”
“She’s my friend , dumbass!” Matt snarled. “Like she’s your friend!”
Come to think of it, Sora did come to Tai’s soccer games. And she got him a present when they won the season.
“Oh,” Tai said, deflated.
“Are you satisfied?!” Matt said.
“ No ,” Tai retorted. He’d almost forgotten what they were fighting about. “You—You still can’t just kiss people like that! It’s messed up !”
“ Fine! ” Matt turned away again, and began walking. “ Whatever! Forget it! ”
“ Hey —”
Tai jumped after him and grabbed his shoulder.
“You owe me an apology,” Tai said.
Matt growled. “Alright, sorry! Now leave me alone!”
“No. Try again.”
Matt stood there stiffly for a few moments. Then he sighed, and his shoulders sagged. “I’m sorry,” he said, softly. “I got carried away. I’ve been so frustrated lately—I got fed up holding back. But I shouldn’t have pushed myself on you.”
“Thank you,” Tai said.
He kept his hand on Matt’s shoulder.
“So… Does this mean you like me?” Tai said.
Matt’s shoulders stiffened again. “Yes,” he muttered. “I—I should have just told you. But I really thought you would notice .”
“Well, I thought you were with Sora!” Tai laughed.
Then he slid his hands forward, circling his arms around Matt.
“But I’m glad,” he said, “’cause I like you too.”
For a breath, Matt didn’t move. Then he spun around, shoving Tai away. “You asshole ! You let me think you didn’t!”
He wanted to be furious, but he couldn’t stifle the grin spreading across his face.
“Yeah, well…” Tai shrugged, smiling. “I couldn’t just let you do that. On principle.”
“Oh, of course,” Matt scoffed.
They both laughed, giddy, breathless.
“C’m’ere,” Tai said, reaching out. He took hold of Matt’s hips, pulling him close. Matt slid his arms over Tai’s shoulders. They grinned roguishly at one another, eyes sparking with challenge; even now there was an air of smug defiance between them, each ready and eager to provoke the other—or goad each other on.
“You gonna kiss me?” Matt taunted.
“Yeah, but I’m gonna get permission first, like you’re supposed to,” Tai retorted.
“ Okay , asshole, I get it . What do you want?”
Tai lifted Matt’s chin, brushing his thumb over Matt’s cheek. His eyes did not waver from Matt’s. In a low voice he said, “Can I kiss you?”
Shit. When did rowdy, hotheaded Tai learn to be seductive?
“Yes,” Matt murmured.
Tai kissed him.
The words “can’t just fucking kiss people like that” echoed over the bridge and Sora reeled like she’d been punched in the face.
“Ooookay,” said Sora, her voice about half an octave higher than usual. She grabbed Kari’s elbow and wheeled around to walk away. “We should not be listening to this. Let’s go shopping.”
“What? But you don’t like shopping,” Kari said.
“We’re going, Kari.”
“Okay,” Kari chuckled, letting Sora pull her along. The sounds of enraged shouting faded behind them. “I guess we’ll find out later if they’ve murdered each other.”