Lies On the lips

Chapter Seven

Brett

My phone buzzes over and over again. I know it’s Dad. He’s probably freaking the hell out right now. But he can wait. I’ll deal with him later. For now, I’m going to give into something I’ve been denied for two years. Copeland. Having him suddenly in my life is shocking, but not an opportunity I’m going to pass up. It’s all I wanted for so long. It sucks having to look at his perfect lips and know I’ll never be able to kiss them, but it’s better when those lips speak to me rather than sneer from afar. We can fix this. I can have my best friend back. I just need to be careful. I may not want to lead Leah on, but maybe I should do like Copeland says. Date a guy. See if I can’t channel some of those emotions and have an outlet for them. I’m not ready to tell the school about my sexual preference, but I think he’s onto something.

"Is Dante seeing anyone?" I ask as we all pile out of Cope’s car. Cope snaps his head my way, his posture stiff.

Leah simply gapes at me. "Dante Phillips?"

Her eyes are round behind her glasses. "Yeah," I grunt, not making eye contact with Cope. "He’s your friend, right?"

"He is my friend," she said slowly. "Why? You know someone who wants to go out with him?"

"Maybe," I mumble, unable to commit to coming out even to Leah.

"Who?" she probes, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Who wants to know?"

"Me," I admit, frowning. "I think. Well, I’m not sure. I don’t know what I want, but I figure I should explore a little." Copeland lets out a grunt and his blue eyes flare.

"Call Dante and invite him," he instructs Leah, his gaze challenging mine. I give him a defeated smile. I’ll try. I’m not sure that my feelings for Cope will dissipate, but it’s torture to pine after someone I’ll never be able to have.

After she makes a call, we head inside the theater. The movie doesn’t start for a half hour, so we feed coins into the arcade machines to pass the time. When Dante arrives, I panic. Sure, Dante looks good. He’s tall and lanky with a mop of brown hair. It’s his lazy smile that makes him so attractive, though. But what if I change my mind? Will he tell everyone? A cold sweat breaks out over my skin and I start pacing near a machine. Cope grips my shoulder, stopping me, but doesn’t let go. His glare is icy as he regards Dante. Dante flinches under his stare and hangs his head.

"Brett doesn’t know what he wants," Cope says to both Leah and Dante. "He just wants to hang out. See what happens. If any of this makes it back to school, there’ll be hell to pay. Feel me, Phillips?"

Dante jolts at Cope addressing him and nods. "I’m not Liam," he grumbles. A pang of sympathy washes over me. Liam and Dante dated for a little while, but it ended before it’d really gotten started. I know Dante was upset about it because he moped around for a week.

"Come on,” Cope says, "The movie will start soon."

We grab some snacks from the concession stand and then find our theater. Cope sits next to Leah and nods his head at me to sit on the other side of him. Dante plops down on my other side. The conversation is light and before we know it, the theater has darkened as the movie starts. Cope slouched in his seat, his legs spread apart, I try not to acknowledge the thrill that runs through me when our knees touch. I don’t pull away, because like the sad sap I am, I crave the connection. Dante leans in to tell me a factoid about the film and I find myself chuckling. This seems to encourage him because he spends the movie whispering tidbits of information about the superheroes we’re watching. Apparently he’s a big comic book buff. Knows all the inside information. I’m grinning about the last thing he mentioned when his hand rests on my thigh. Heat burns on my leg at his touch. I shoot him a questioning look, but he’s smirking at the screen.

"Good film," I whispered. I lied, I'm not interested in the film, not a single bit. I'm trying to get my head straight. Sitting between two guys. Cope and Dante.

Dante leans into my ear, his breath is hot and adds to the already hot sensation burning through me. "You wanna get out of here?" He asked, I froze. Do I want to leave Leah and Cope and find out if Dante does it for me.

"Alright, lets go." I gave into temptation and he grabbed my hand.

"Where are you going?" Cope looked almost mortified. "You're leaving?"

I nod and grip Dante's hand tighter. It's now or forever be stuck pinning for Cope. "Yeah, we're going." Leah smiles then waves, Cope on the other hand had the look of death and he went to move, but Leah grabbed his arm and leaned up to him to whisper something. "See ya." And me and Dante left. He didn't let go of my hand and strangely enough I didn't want him to. "Where's your car?"

"Over there," he said pointing to a silver merc. "Back to mine?"

"Sure." Okay, so panic finally settled in my stomach. Yet I needed this, I had to have this.

"Are you staying the night?" He asked, opening the car door for me. "I can drop you off home early in the morning."

"I...well…" I stuttered. Then his lips were hot on mine. Soft, warm. I opened my mouth to let him in as his hands snake up inside my hoodie. I was turned on, no doubt about that. Guess I am completely gay.

"Mmmm, you're so hot." He hushed. "I get you in my arms. I thought Leah was joking."

"She wasn't, I'm here and you kissed me, I didn't kick your ass."

"I'd be happy even if you did kick my ass." He moved in again. One last kiss, then I'll be at his. At Dante's, having Dante.

"Stop!" I closed my eyes briefly hearing Cope's voice. Why? What the fuck now? "You can't go!" Dante looked at me then at Cope.

"What's his deal?" He whispers, pulling me in.

"He's not going with you, he's coming with me."

"Cope! Leave them!" Leah was barrelling towards us. I was stuck between a night with Dante, my first sexual experience with a guy and I had Cope glaring at me, face red, hands in fists.

"You can't go Brett, you said you were staying at mine." I felt my brewing anger burst from me and I rushed towards him, grabbing his top in my hands. "Brett…"

I lean in. "Who the fuck do you think you are? You wanted this, wanted me with Dante and now your telling me no," I took a deep breath. "Your a real piece of work you selfish asshole, why don't you do us both a favor and just fuck off."

"Brett, I don't want you going and being some easy lay."

"I don't give a fucking shit what you think." I needed to calm my shit. "I will do whatever I want, you won't stop me, Cope. So go back to playing the bad boy you are and ignore me, your good at that."

"Stop, I won't. I've only just got you back in my life, I won't lose you again." He gasped at his own words and flushed red.

"Fucking Idiot," I whispered. "You want to fuck me now? Is that it?"

He shook his head and his eyes glazed over. "No, I...I don't want you to go."

"Why?"

"I don't know." I sigh and let go of him. I can't do this, not anymore.

I turned to Dante, he looked confused. "Dante can you drop me home?"

He nods and I move away from Cope, move from his questioning stare. "Sure, get in."

"Don't talk me Cope, go fuck yourself." And I jumped in Dante's car and we left. I watched Copes face slowly disappear and the tears started. I couldn't hold them back anymore. He's fucking me up. Before it hurt so much, but I could deal with it, deal with nasty words and death stares, now I'm falling apart. He's killing me.

"What's going on?" Asked Dante. "You two okay?"

"No, we're not okay. He's fucking with me Dante, I'm losing my shit."

"He likes you, right?" I shot a look at him. "I can see it clear as day, that guy is confused as hell, but he likes you, there's no doubt about that."

"No, you're wrong. He just wants to hurt me, he has done for two years."

"Maybe he did, but not now," I frown and tear my eyes from Dante. There's no way in hell that guy wants me for anything but to make fun of. "Listen Brett," he said, slowing down. "Maybe he doesn't fully realize himself, but he's jealous, he wants you. His brain just needs to catch up with his heart.

"If...if I told you something, don't laugh.'

"Not at all."

"I killed our friendship two years ago after I kissed him."

"I see." I heard the hurt in Dante's voice. It's awful, I'm awful. "Then make him want you more."

"What?"

"Go out with me," I looked at him again. He had a serious face. "I won't make you do anything you don't want to do, but it might make him realize what he wants."

"I'm not sure if I really want that, now," I mumbled. "Plus it's not fair on you."

"I'm good man. Yeah, you're freaking hot, even with those black eyes and a broken nose, but I'm actually seeing someone."

"Wait," I said holding out my hand. "You're already seeing someone?"

"Yeah, we're seeing other people, so it's all good. So, what do you say?"

"It feels wrong."

"It's up to you Brett. That guy needs some kind of kick start and maybe this will work, so let me know," We sat in silence for the rest of the drive and he pulled up into my driveway. "Gimme a text." He leaned in and kissed me again, quick, sweet, tender. My heart fluttered, then dropped the moment I saw Cope speed up his driveway and jump from the car.

"I'm sorry," Dante nodded and I jumped out. He left, leaving me face to face with a red hot Copeland. So red hot he couldn't keep his eyes on one place. "What?"

"Nothing," he hissed moving towards me. "Come to mine."

"Not a chance in hell."

"I'm not asking, I'm telling you."

I gave him a smile and stepped back. "No Cope, I'm going in and going to bed. Deal with your own bullshit and leave me out of it."

"Dante, what's going on with him?" He was practically seething.

"We've decided to give things a go." He gasped and held his hand to his chest. "You got what you wanted, Cope. Your friend back and me with a guy," I turned from him and made my way to my front door. "Goodnight." And I walked in, leaving him standing on my front lawn. I slipped down my front door and held my face. It hurts, it hurts so much. My heart really hurts.