12. Dylan
twelve
Dylan
“Oh, come on!” I scoff, shooting Ash a disbelieving look as we move through the crowded hall toward the cafeteria. “No way would a velociraptor actually beat a tyrannosaurus rex one-on-one.”
Ash cocks an eyebrow, shuffling around a gaggle of lost-looking Freshmen. “I never said the fight would be one-on-one. I said it would be fair. Velociraptors are too smart to attack a T-rex on their own. Obviously, they’d fight as a pack.”
I roll my eyes. “Obviously. But fine, for the sake of argument, let’s say it’s three versus one like in the movie.
Even in this hypothetical scenario, the raptors would be way outmatched.
Stealth doesn’t matter when your opponent has you that outclassed, and those claws of theirs might be terrifying to a human, but not against something so massive. ”
We turn the corner, each of us slowing our steps to buy a few extra seconds before we reach the cafeteria at the end of the corridor. A group of kids from our year glare at us for blocking the hall as they shove past.
I ignore them, but Ash glares right back. “Watch it assholes!”
He waits for them to continue on before returning his attention to me, his scowl vanishing.
“Stealth might not matter, but brains definitely do, and the raptors have the T-rex handily beat in that department. A couple of them could easily keep the tyrannosaur distracted long enough for the rest of the pack to strike from the sides, catching it off-guard. With hit-and-run tactics, they could use their environment to their advantage and gradually wear it down, no matter how much bigger it is.”
“Hang on.” I jerk to a halt. “Exactly how many raptors are we talking here?”
Ash shrugs, the barest hint of a smile playing over his stubbled lips. “However many it takes to make it fair.”
I narrow my eyes. “That’s not—”
“Fine,” he says, resuming his long strides with a wave of his hand. “Let’s say a dozen.”
“A dozen?” I protest. “There were only three in Jurassic Park!”
“And?” he counters. “I never said we were going off the movie.”
I huff out a breath, torn between annoyance and laughter at how obviously Ash is pushing my buttons. This playful side of his is a new development, one that gives me hope that my efforts to break down his walls are paying off.
Of course, that doesn’t make his argument any less asinine.
“If we’re not using Jurassic Park as our basis, then you should know that velociraptors weren’t actually anything like their depiction in the movies.
” I pause just outside the cafeteria doors, triumphantly planting my hands on my hips.
“They were only about the size of modern turkeys. The movie versions are actually closer to deinonychus, which—”
“And on that fascinating note,” Ash interrupts, making a show of yawning widely as he turns toward the exit outside, “I think I’m going to go eat. You coming with?”
Before I can respond, another voice chimes in. “Yeah, Dylan. Are you going with?”
A heady mix of alarm and guilt curdles my stomach as I turn to find Cat standing there with a fierce smile. Alexis and Robbie are a step behind. Robbie wears his usual stoic expression while Alexis shoots me an apologetic look.
I swallow, attempting my own smile back at Cat. “I was actually just about to grab some food from the cafeteria, but I might swing by the lab after.”
Cat’s gaze fastens pointedly on Ash before returning to me. She cocks her head, batting her eyelashes. “Oh, really? Because I seem to recall you saying the same thing on Tuesday. Or was it Monday? Funny—all the days without you are starting to blur together.”
I blush, at a loss for words. She’s right. Ever since Ash invited me over last week, I’ve spent every lunch period out at the picnic table with him, chatting while he sketches. And had my friends not shown up when they did, I probably would have again.
Cat and the others are usually in Mr. Simon’s room by now. They’d probably been waiting here for me. The thought of my friends having to stalk me like that amplifies my guilt even more.
Some friend I’ve been…
I sneak a glance at Ash. He hasn’t said a word since my friends arrived. Whatever openness had been on his face before has vanished, leaving his expression a disinterested mask.
I know I should go with my friends, but the thought of missing out on any amount of quality time with Ash tears at me. As he’s so fond of pointing out, in a handful of months he’ll be gone.
And if I delay college, I’ll still be right here.
Alexis steps up beside Cat, smiling tentatively at Ash. “Hi, Ash. You’re welcome to join us too if you want.”
A long beat of silence. Alexis’ smile slowly fades.
“I like your shirt,” Robbie suddenly says, nodding his head at Ash. I glance at the shirt in question—a plain black t-shirt. What Robbie could possibly see in it, I haven’t a clue. Though admittedly, I have to work not to let my eyes linger on the lithe frame underneath.
“Thanks,” Ash mutters. I let out a whoosh of breath, relieved he’d spoken before the tension killed me. His eyes flick to Alexis. “And thanks for the invite. But I’ll pass.” Finally, he looks up at me, his features briefly softening as our eyes lock. “Later, Dylan.”
With a curt nod to the others, he vanishes down the hall in a few quick strides. I don’t realize I’m staring after him until Cat nudges my shoulder. “Well? You coming or not?”
I tear my gaze away. “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming. Just give me a minute to grab my food, and I’ll meet you there.”
Cat seems reluctant to leave me there, as if she’s afraid I’ll vanish into thin air the moment I leave her sight—or, more likely, that I’ll end up outside at a certain picnic table. She needn’t have worried. I feel appropriately guilty for ditching my friends all week.
By this point, most of the other students have already gone through the lunch line, so it’s easy enough for me to grab a meal, wincing at the wasted money. My fault for running out of time this morning to make a sandwich.
My friends fall silent as I walk into the Chem lab and slide into my usual seat at our table. They’d probably been talking about me before I arrived. I stare at my unappetizing cafeteria food for a beat, then take a deep breath and look up to find all of them watching me expectantly.
“Sorry for disappearing like that. I’ve just been a bit distracted lately.”
Cat snorts. “Cut the bullshit, Dylan. Does this mean your crush has evolved into a full-on love affair?”
Leave it to Cat to be brutally direct. My cheeks redden. “It’s not like that. We’re just friends.”
“Uh huh.” Cat leans back, her hard expression turning mischievous. “And the fact that he’s a hot, brooding artist has absolutely nothing to do with your pursuit of said friendship?”
If my cheeks weren’t red enough before, they definitely are now.
Cat and Robbie laugh at my reaction, and even Alexis cracks a smile before she can smother it beneath a stern look directed at Cat. “Stop teasing him.” Her lips twitch. “You’ll make him run away from us again.”
“I wasn’t running away!” I play with the mushy green pile on my tray that I think is supposed to be peas.
“If you like it, then you should’ve put a ring on it,” Robbie announces.
My fork skitters on my tray, splashing green mush as I look up at him sharply. “What?”
Robbie shrugs. “The early bird gets the worm.”
Cat grins wickedly, nudging Robbie with her shoulder. “Hey, some of us are trying to eat here. Let’s not start talking about Dylan’s worm.”
“Cat!” Alexis shakes her head. “You have a dirty mind.”
Cat pops a grape from an open baggie into her mouth. “Fair. But that doesn’t make what Robbie said any less true.” She eyes me. “Have you asked him out yet? Bad enough you’ve been avoiding us at lunch. I swear, if you actually have a secret boyfriend, I’ll—”
“I already told you, it’s not like that!” I stab my meatloaf surprise a bit too aggressively, fighting not to gag as I choke the mystery meat down. “Ash is my friend, nothing more.”
Cat scrutinizes me before shrugging and eating another grape. “Good. If you ask me, the guy’s a grade-A asshole. He pretty much refused to talk to us, let alone consider eating with us lesser mortals. You deserve better.”
“He’s not an asshole. He’s just had a rough life.” Even if I still don’t know how or why. “It left him a very private person. But once you get past his outer shell and all the walls he puts up, he’s incredible!”
Cat smirks at me “Incredible, huh? That’s a pretty ringing endorsement for your friend.”
“Lay off him, Cat,” Alexis sighs. “If he doesn’t want to talk about it, he doesn’t have to.” She gives me a warm smile. “Just know that we’re here whenever you do.”
“Like flies feasting on a rotting carcass,” Robbie agrees, straight-faced.
Alexis blanches. “Ugh, thanks for that lovely image.” She glances down at her half-eaten turkey sandwich and shudders, setting it aside.
Glancing between the three of them, I grin fondly. “I missed you guys. And I really am sorry for being so distant lately. I promise I’ll do better. Even if I’m still…distracted.”
An image of that distraction’s face, with his long bangs, stern eyes, and narrow jaw flits before my eyes, and my stomach somersaults. No matter how much I don’t want to admit it, Cat’s right—I’ve got it bad.
“Let’s say, hypothetically, I was…” I swallow. “Interested in being more than friends with Ash. What should I do?”
Cat leans forward. “Hypothetically? Stop chickening out and tell him how you feel.”
I blanch. “You’ve met the guy. He’s not exactly open with his emotions.” I glance down, unease rippling through me. “Besides, we’ve only just started getting close. I don’t want to scare him off. I have no idea if he’s interested. Hell, I don’t even know if he’s into guys!”
Cat cocks her brow. “Well, here’s a crazy thought—you could ask.”
“Cat’s right,” Alexis chimes in. “Honesty is always the best policy. Open communication is the cornerstone of any healthy relationship.”
“Like Jenga,” Robbie says with a nod.
Alexis’ expression falters. “Er, um…right.”
I bury my face in my hands. “That’s all great in theory. But I mean, if he was, um, interested too, wouldn’t he have said something by now?”
“Setting aside the blatant hypocrisy of placing all the burden of speaking up on his shoulders,” Cat says, rolling her eyes, “have you given him any reason to?”
I blink. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, does he know you’re gay?” Cat presses.
I take a moment to consider our past conversations.
“Yes. No. Maybe?” The topic hasn’t explicitly come up, at least not that I can remember.
And while it’s not exactly a state secret, I don’t go around advertising it either.
It’s possible Ash has picked up on my sexuality or heard others mention it.
But given how little time he spends interacting with anyone but me…
“Death and taxes,” Robbie offers.
Cat snorts. “Yeah, definitely doesn’t sound like he’s that certain.
” Her chuckle fades as she fixes me with a stern look.
“If you want to move past the pining phase, then come out to Ash and see how he reacts. Maybe he’ll turn out to be some huge homophobic jerk like your brother, in which case, good riddance.
” She cups her hands together and makes goo-goo eyes at me.
“Or maybe he’ll think you’re incredible, too. ”
“And if he doesn’t, we definitely do.” Alexis glances at the others. “Right?”
Robbie and Cat both nod, and I’m embarrassed to feel wetness at the corners of my eyes as my gratitude swells. Alexis, Robbie, even Cat—in their own way, I know each one of them would have my back no matter what.
We spend the rest of lunch discussing the latest Marvel release, which we’d all gone to the theater to see last weekend.
Debating the film’s merits quickly turns into bickering about our favorite Marvel movies (Infinity War, obviously), which in turn devolves into ranking the hottest Marvel characters.
Chris Evans’ Captain America wins by a landslide despite Robbie’s surprisingly compelling—and somewhat disturbing—case for the Hulk.
As lunch draws to a close and we gather up our things, tossing our trash in the bin, my thoughts return once more to Ash.
Just the thought of him mocking my sexuality the way Tommy does curdles my gut.
But Cat’s right—if that’s how he’d react, better to find out sooner rather than later so I can move on. And if not, well…
I take a deep breath as I shrug on my backpack and head toward the door. If not, then we’ll see where things go from there.