“Are you implying that I have brain damage, kid?” Miguel said with a laugh while trying to be serious.

“I think the fact you have to ask is an answer enough!” Eric said trying to be serious too, but being betrayed by the sparkle in his eyes.

“Tsk tsk tsk,” Miguel said with a smile that didn’t match his sounds. In an oddly nervous voice, Miguel asked, “So, want to hang out today during lunch?”

“Oh, is it my day with you? Have I acquired one in the custody battle?” Eric said with a dark laugh.

“Well the judge did agree on joint custody for me, so today and tomorrow is your day, the others get Wednesday, and Thursday, Friday is a study day,” Miguel replied, with a much more joyful laugh.

“Wow, that almost makes it sound like you enjoy hanging out with us. Almost,” Eric said through a clenched jaw, with a serious tone hiding behind the joke.

“I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean it like that, I really enjoy spending time with you, and them. I am choosing to hang out with you, is that okay with you, if we eat lunch together today?” Miguel said dropping all hints of joking.

“It’s okay. I would like that, sure.” Eric said, a small, sweet, smile creeping back onto his face. “I’m sorry for snapping, can we sort of forget about that whole thing?”

“You bet your ass we can,” Miguel said, then realized the personal implications of that popular saying. His caramel/pink blush spread over his face again, and he turned away to try and hide it.

Eric either did not notice, did not know how to react, or simply granted Miguel the kindness of not mentioning it.

They went to the library, and Miguel re-sparked their past discussion of the merits of each Dicney princess. “No! Moolan doesn’t count as a princess! She is a common person, who is in a relationship with a general. She is not a damn princess! Seriously dude!”

“I still believed Rupenzyl is inferior to Moolan, because of Moolan’s independent nature!”

“That is like saying that chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting are the best cookies, they may be dessert, but they are not the same type. Moolan is Dicney but not a princess!”

“But, Moolan is a badass!”

“I mean she is! Yes! But that doesn’t mean she is a better Dicney princess! She is better, just not a better princess!”

“Okay fine, I will concede the point that Moolan is not technically a princess… and therefore my point is mute.” Eric conceded.

“Valid point though,” Miguel replied, trying to not rub in Eric’s face Miguel’s victory.

“Hey, you want to play truth or dare?” Eric asked, with an evil spark in his eye.

“Oh, you’re going to regret that. Let go kid.” Miguel said, raising his eyebrow and the corner of his mouth. “Truth or dare?”

“Um after that whole threaten thing, obviously truth,” Eric said as if he had avoided any bad punishment.

Miguel’s smile began to scare Eric as it actually grew bigger. “Hmm… I think will go easy on you at first, last time you thought about kissing someone or did kiss someone?”