“What did you say to Noah?” It was the first thing Cameron asked when Eli approached him after the final bell.

Eli jolted and made a U-turn. “I’ll be back in five minutes”

He left to the sound of Cameron snickering.

Noah was still at his locker, so Eli didn’t even have to chase him down in the parking lot. “Hey, you can head home without me.”

“Are you sure?” Noah glanced at his sling, “the painkillers will be wearing off pretty soon.”

Eli nodded as if he’d actually taken them, “I’ll be okay for a few hours. See you later.”

“Will you get back with Sinclair, or should I come pick you up later? I have training until seven.”

“I’ll get a lift back,” Eli walked backwards away from him, “And I’m hanging out with Cameron, not Sinclair.”

Noah’s shoulders tightened “What?” His voice came out sharp.

Eli froze. He studied Noah with a quick glance, but the ease he’d been speaking with a moment ago was completely gone. His lips were drawn into a tight line and the whites of his knuckles showed as he clenched the door of his locker.

“Is something wrong with that?” Eli spoke lightly, keeping any bite out of his words.

Noah opened his mouth, but then closed it again. He turned his head sharply to his locker and closed it with a bang. Eli jumped at the sound. “I think it’s better if you come home”

“Why?”

“You need rest, it was hardly even a day ago and the doctors said—“

“You didn’t mind five seconds ago” Eli cut him off. Noah’s jaw clenched. It may have been the pounding in his head, but Eli didn’t immediately regret irritating Noah like he usually did. He was too annoyed to be sorry. Being spoken to like a child was annoying. Being snapped at was annoying. Walking on eggshells was annoying. Eli fought to remind himself that he had to get along with Noah. “I’ll see you later”

It came out short, but there wasn’t much attitude. He didn’t think so anyway.

Cameron was still sitting on the bench next to his locker. His head was tilted back, with his eyes closed, but he inclined his head towards Eli as he walked closer. “Ready?”

“Are you?” Eli sat down next to him.

“I could do with a nap,” Cameron sighed.

“You can head home if you want.”

Cameron opened his eyes, looking at Eli with a ‘yeah right’. “Still trying to avoid me?”

“I haven’t been avoiding you.”

“Uh-huh” Cameron shook himself, then abruptly hopped off the bench. “Let’s go.”

They hardly spoke in the car. Possibly because Eli immediately put the radio onto full blast, and Cameron only gave him an amused look without turning it down. Eli recognised the route he took as the same Sinclair had used the other night. Eventually they pulled into a deserted, dirt parking lot. Eli looked around at the scrapped cars, and overgrown pavements before turning to Cameron.

Cameron shut off the car, and silenced the radio. “The food here is great”

“Liquid dinner is always fantastic,” Eli agreed.

Cameron snorted as he hopped out of the car, “They do food too.” he came around to Eli’s side and opened the door. “Out.”

Eli didn’t move, gazing at the paint peeling off the door of the building in front of them.

Cameron leaned in, and unbuckled his seatbelt. “I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you inside, if you take any longer.”

“I’m coming,” Eli pushed Cameron’s upper half out of the car.

“Take your time.”

Eli swatted at him, but Cameron easily dodged. “I’m injured, I need more time to do things.”

Cameron flashed him a smile, one that let Eli knew he was being humoured.

The pub was practically empty. There were two or three older men by the counter, a couple tucked away in the corner and then a server polishing glasses behind the counter. The server was a familiar face. Laura. The girl who’d been handing out drinks at the party. Eli had a moment of panic, but then glanced at Cameron and it disappeared. He didn’t think Cameron was likely to go squealing on him, not after keeping his mouth shut about what happened with Jackson.

“What?” Cameron noticed him staring.

“Nothing,” Eli looked away. “So, what’s on the menu?”

Laura looked at them. Immediately her face brightened. She tossed the glass she was polishing somewhere behind her. Somehow it landed on the shelf and didn’t smash. Cameron put his arm over Eli’s shoulder, without putting any weight on it, and guided him away from the counter. “We’ll be in the back,” He called over his shoulder.

Cameron grabbed a menu from a stack on a table as they passed by it, and led them into another room. This one had a pool-table, a dart board, and a few tables. Cameron let Eli go, and he slid into the booth opposite him. Eli stared down at the menus.

Cameron leaned on the table, watching as Eli studied the menu.

Eli could only take five seconds of being stared at before putting it down. “What?”

“They believed the stairs story?”

He knew this was what Cameron wanted to talk about, but even though he’d had time to prepare himself for it, no answer left his lips. He couldn’t speak past his tightly wound nerves.

“I know you said they did, last night,” Cameron continued speaking, “But you weren’t exactly coherent.”

“Last night?” Eli remembered the phone call, and sank into the booth with a groan. “Don’t talk about that.” The empty void in his memory was distressing, since he had no idea if he’d said anything weird to his dad or Noah. At the very least he seemed to keep his mouth shut about Jackson. “Actually, on second thought – what exactly did we talk about?”

“You don’t remember?” Cameron let out a small breath of amusement. “Well, in that case I’ll be keeping it to myself.”

“Hey” Eli knocked his leg under, “Don’t be like that”

“Like what?” Cameron caught his ankle, and lifted it up so Eli couldn’t use it as a weapon anymore. Eli glared at him when he couldn’t pull it free. “A twat?” Cameron smiled, “Who even uses that word anymore?”

“Me. Apparently.” Eli muttered.

“Hi there,” Laura appeared out of nowhere, “What can I get you two strapping gentlemen?”

Cameron sent a wry look in her direction, “You’re not the only one who talks queer.”

“Hey.”

“Poor choice of word? My bad.” Cameron flashed him an unapologetic smile.

Eli got the feeling he’d that poor choice of word had been entirely deliberate. He bristled at the remark, and leaned forwards, despite the awkward angle Cameron was holding his leg at. “I’m not the only one that applies too.”

Cameron’s nose crinkled. “Right.”

Eli let out a breathy laugh as he sat back. “Really now, you’re going to deny it? You were behaving pretty gay the other day.”

“Not into guys,” Cameron said definitely.

Okay. Eli wasn’t sure what to make of a denial that strong. His confusion must have been showing on his face, because Cameron’s demeanour relaxed, alongside the hold on his leg. His fingers slid smoothly around his ankle, gently caressing him. The movement was suggestive, but it was the way Cameron kept eye contact and gazed at him with a teasing desire that sent Eli’s heart skyrocketing.

Laura cleared her throat.