nine

                                    

                                          
Cheater ((9))
                          
A week later, Tristan and Bradley sit in James' basement, as always. The three of them, plus Connor, had been hanging out all day, but then James had gotten a call from his mum, who had let him know that he'd be home alone for the rest of today and tomorrow morning. James had left to pick up a pizza for the band, and Connor had tagged along. 
                          
Tristan had tried his best to push away whatever he had felt that day when he and Bradley had gone on their little outing to that small restaurant and huge field. When he had gotten home, though, he had scrambled for his pen and songbook, immediately jotting down lyrics. Jules was right. He just needed inspiration. He found inspiration. But even though, in his opinion, the song was amazing, he's not ready to share it with anyone. He's not ready to accept what the lyrics could mean. Not ready yet. Hopefully, he will be soon.
                          
"So," Tristan says with a smile and tilt of his head. "What are you up to tonight?"
                          
Bradley scrunches his nose up cutely before answering. "Markus and I are going out tonight. Seeing a movie."
                          
Oh. Yeah. Markus. Tristan had forgotten about Markus. Bradley's boyfriend of two weeks. Tristan doesn't like Markus.
                          
"Ah," is all he replies with. What more could he say? 
                          
"Do you have any plans?" Bradley asks sweetly, leaning in his chair to poke Tristan's shoulder.
                          
"Not really," Tristan pauses. The first thought in his mind is that if Brad can go out with his boyfriend, Tristan can do something with his girlfriend too, right? But that's not how he really should be thinking about it. He should want to spend time with Jules. She's his girlfriend, for goodness sake. He loves –or loved, he's not quite sure– her. "I might finally see Jules. Work some stuff out."
                          
"Well," Bradley nods. "Best of luck, with that, man."
                          
"I'll definitely need it."
                          
Before Bradley can answer, there's a few shouts and a door flies open. Loud stomps of footsteps rush down the steps and into the garage. James and Connor appear at the bottom of the stairs and as they walk over to their friends, they playfully punch each other, laughing.
                          
"Hey!" Connor shouts, pushing James with his shoulder. "If you make me drop the pizza, I'm not coming with you to get another one."
                          
"Fine, fine," James calls, holding his arms up in surrender. He sees the other half of the band and grins. He shouts out, "Trist! Bradders!" 
                          
Both of the boys pull chairs over so they're sitting in a circle around the small table, and Connor places the pizza box down. There's no mercy as all four of them pry open the cardboard and grab their own pieces.
                          
After each of them silently finish two slices of pizza, they get into talking, sipping on the Coca Cola's that Tristan had grabbed five minutes earlier. Connor had ran upstairs, saying something about a phone call, and left the other three as they sat there, being unproductive, when they really should be practicing.
                          
"So," James says, mouth full. Tristan averts his gaze with a laugh, kind of disgusted.
                          
"Don't talk with your mouth full," Brad says, as if reading Tris' mind. "That's gross."
                          
James makes a big deal of rolling his eyes and swallowing the pizza before smacking his lips. "There, happy?" No one answers, little laughs going around. James shakes his head. "Anyways, Brad. Do you think company would totally ruin your totally romantic night at the club with Markus?"
                          
"Club?" Tristan questions without meaning to, raising his eyebrows, before Bradley can even answer himself.
                          
"Did I not tell you?" Brad asks sheepishly. He seems a little amused, and just slightly guilty that he hadn't mentioned it. "Uh, after the movie, Markus and I are going out for the new clubs opening. It's, like, thirty minutes away."