Witty banter and teasing ensues immediately while the two of us try to see who is the best climber. It’s pretty obvious that it’s Jace but I give it my best shot.

“I’m surprised you can pull yourself up with those chicken arms,” Jace comments when we’re back on the ground. I’m too busy chugging water to respond until he slaps said chicken arms.

I give him a glare then whack him over the head with my water bottle. “These chicken arms will fight you.”

“I’m terrified, truly.”

Just because his shoulders expand over the horizon doesn’t mean he’s all tough! I can take him on...in bed anyways.

I’m about to comment that and Jace must know me too well at this point because he quickly starts ushering me to the last course of our day. We’re both hungry at this point and ready to get a late lunch or early dinner depending on how you wish to phrase it.

“First to the top wins!” I announce like Jace doesn’t know that already. Still, he nods and on the count of three, we begin the climb.

I’m way more determined this time around than the others and it shows. Even Jace seems shocked to find me moving up the wall with a speed that is managing to keep up with his own. From the corner of my eye I catch his smirk that never leaves his face the higher we move up—

Until I slip and fall right off, the bungeecord catching me before I swing towards the wall and barely stop myself from ramming into it with my feet.

“You ok?” Jace calls, looking at me with wide eyes.

“Fine,” I sigh, noticing that Jace is basically at the top. Even if I try to start back up all he has to do is take two more steps to win. “Looks like you won.”

Jace nods but doesn’t bother taking the last few steps. Am I annoyed with the outcome? Definitely, because now I’m not going to get a kiss and that irks me. I could always just jump him and see how it goes? But the idea of doing something that would possibly annoy or hurt his feelings makes my chest ache in ways that I rather not think about; let alone feel.

With a heavy sigh, I accept that this day won’t end the way I want it to but...it’s not like I didn’t have fun. The last few dates I have been on always ended early since it was clear neither of us were interested in the actual date. It’s nice to go out for a day with someone you generally enjoy talking to and just have a good time.

When Jace is at my side he asks again, “You sure you’re ok?”

I flush a bit when he presses his hand to my cheek. Gently, he pushes my head from side to side while inspecting for any possible damage. Physically, there is none. Mentally, I am beaten beyond belief. Something is broken, pretty sure it’s my heart since it can’t remember how to beat properly.

“Yeah, I’m fine...you know I wasn’t even close to hitting my head?” I tease, smirking at the pursed his lips he gives me in return.

“Am I not allowed to worry?”

“Hakuna Matata.”

Jace ruffles my hair, the action sends a jolt down my spine that has my toes curling. When he’s done, I’m too busy mentally panicking to notice him walking away. My whole body is breaking out with goosebumps because he ruffled my hair? Seriously? Can you not body? I’d rather get a boner, thanks, that’s actually easier to deal with.

“Mylo, are you coming?” Jace calls, patiently waiting for me at the counter to check us both out. With a quick nod, I take off all the shit they had to put on us and follow after him while trying to stop the blush. Doesn’t seem to be working though.

Next on the agenda is to grab some food and I decide to pay since I haven’t really been paying. Jace is shocked when I offer so I reach across the booth to slap him for it. While the day remains a good one, I still feel a little down with the outcome of our “race.” At some point we’re going to have to move forward or else I’m going to be stuck dating a guy that I’m not even sure is bisexual or not.

Even if I ask and he says “yeah” then why haven’t we done anything? Come on, we’re both hormonal teenage boys. We’re curious, we’re young, got all that vigor going on y’know, sex tends to happen quickly. Not to say that it always should but some type of move should have been made by this point and it worries me that it hasn’t.

I want to be “the nice guy” who doesn’t ask too many personal questions. Sure, I can be blunt but I don’t always want to be, get it? I know how it feels to be in the closet. I know how scary it can be to take that step to come out. If there’s one thing I don’t want to push someone to do, it’s to come out. Sometimes it’s hard for me not to just blurt shit out of my wit like I usually do and it’s making this all the more difficult.

To make this situation worse, the ever so mysterious caller returns to further slam the issue into my face.

Jace’s phone goes off, the screen lighting up across the table. I’m a bit peeved that I can’t make out more than a “M” in their name before Jace excuses himself. I give him a nod, watching the boy step out of the booth to head towards the exit. He’s chattering away before he disappears out the door, leaving me pissed off at our booth.

Who is it? What does she want? And why does Jace look so lovestruck everytime she calls? Hey, she could be a he or they, maybe that explains why Jace isn’t dating them? I shake my head, trying desperately to drop it. Obviously no such thing happens and Jace returns about fifteen minutes later, hesitantly taking his seat because he must sense my displeasure.

“Sorry about that,” Jace says quietly, taking a sip of his drink while keeping his eyes off me.

“Uh huh...who was that?” I ask, leaning on the table while smiling but I promise it isn’t a pleasant sight. “They call a lot.”

Jace sits his drink aside, our food arriving just in time to give him a moment to breathe. However, once our waitress is gone I’m looking back at Jace, expecting an answer.

“It was my abuela.”

He’s lying. Even with my “cut the bullshit” expression, Jace doesn’t falter. He remains placid, looking at me with eyes that are refusing to show me the truth. Not that I expected them to so, with a heavy sigh, I lean back and huff, “Whatever.”

Our dinner is mostly silent thanks to me. While Jace tries to make small talk I blow him off with one word answers or acts of avoidance. I can see his brow furrowing like he wishes to say something but never does. Dare I say it, he actually looks a little annoyed with me, which is odd. I’ve never seen Jace annoyed and while the sight is unpleasant it also makes me a bit happy to see. Now he knows how it feels.

I know I’m a jerk but if the shit head is lying to me then he can’t expect me to be all smiles and sunshine. If he has something to say then he better speak up and say it...I should take my own advice and just force the truth out of him.

Dinner ends, or lunch, whatever it is, and the two of us make our way back to his car. It’s not late enough to head home but after that awkward exchange I can’t imagine we’d stay out. However, I’m proven wrong when Jace doesn’t turn in the direction to take me home but rather the opposite.

“Uh, I live that way,” I point out, gesturing behind us since maybe he doesn’t remember where I live?

When Jace shakes his head I realize that he remembers and is intentionally taking the wrong direction. Glancing at me out of the corner of his eye before returning his vision the road, Jace says, “I’m not taking you home when you’re mad.”

“Oh?” I hum, leaning back into the seat with my arms crossed. “Hoping to spend some money on me so I’ll forgive you?”

“Not really.”

“Sex?”

“No.”

“I’m going to remain angry then.”

Jace rolls his eyes, silence following afterwards that remains until the two of us arrive at the park. I raise a curious brow then look over to Jace in confusion only to find him stepping out of the car. Still confused, I get out as well, finding the trunk open and Jace rummaging through it.