Chapter Seven - Kiss And Tell

Jonathan wished there was a magic trick to stop the hammering of his heart that didn’t care to slow down even once he was inside the small suite he shared with Ray. He pressed his back against the door and tried to control his breathing. He had gone and kissed Maddox Kingsley! Of all the students on campus, he just had to go for the guy who was the worst choice he could make.

He pressed a hand on his chest and breathed out. At the time, he had been so cool, in control, thinking that he would just pay Maddox back for the sudden attack on his person with a small surprise of his own. One that didn’t involve punching the guy in the nose, he thought and winced at the reminder.

What kind of kick-ass fighter was Maddox if he couldn’t block a slow hit like that? Jonathan was pretty sure that he was no boxer or MMA aficionado, so landing that punch had taken him completely by surprise. It had been a knee-jerk reaction, too, as he had been so tense the moment Maddox had walked through the door. That, especially, had to worry him since he had never known himself as an aggressive individual. Apparently, Maddox had a remarkable ability to bring out the worst in him. At the moment, he had thought the guy would call it a prank and laugh at him, and --

But the kiss... The kiss had been amazing. Jonathan banged his head against the door and groaned. Maddox’s full lips felt as good as they looked, sweet marshmallow pillows that one could indulge in for hours while slowly going mad. And when Jonathan, too sure of himself, had dared to sneak his tongue inside and have a taste... That should have been the moment when he should have realized that he had gone utterly, hopelessly insane.

How was he supposed to forget about Maddox now? How was he supposed to kiss another boy and not compare the way their lips would touch to that mind-blowing kiss?

Maddox was such a tough act to follow that Jonathan had no idea what to do but stay there, pinned to the door like an old coat, and ponder over the miserable fate that he had tailored for himself with his own two hands and through no one else’s fault.

“Ah, you’re home?”

Ray’s voice woke him up from his imagined self-flagellation. His roommate’s hair was a mess, and he looked like he had just woken up.

“Were you already asleep? So early?”

Ray stretched and yawned. “What can I say? Certain study materials are the best sleeping pills. Just for the record, I wanted to surprise you and have dinner ready, but I forgot to order takeout.”

That was as far as Ray’s abilities to handle dinner went, and Jonathan was thankful for his forgetting to order. As much as Ray insisted that he needed to repay Jonathan for always cooking for two, eating garbage, no matter how tasty, wasn’t high on his list. Plus, it was cheaper to have something made at home, as he had come to learn during the months spent alone and away from his family. Anyone from his ‘before’ life would barely recognize him in an apron and reading the nutritional facts of each ingredient that went into the pot, especially since he came from a family that considered cooking something reserved for the help.

“It’s all right. I’ll throw something together in no time.”

Ray followed him as he took off his bag. “I stocked the fridge and the cupboard.”

“God help us then,” Jonathan joked. “How do you like your cereals, Ray? Poached or deep fried?”

Ray giggled. “Come on, it’s not that bad. And I’m starting to learn a thing or two from you. Like how to hold a fork.”

“Give me a minute to change. And I have no idea what you mean by that.”

“You know.” Ray made a vague gesture. “Like with elegance.”

Jonathan just shook his head and disappeared into his room.

***

“So, have you gone on a date with Connor already?” Ray watched Jonathan like a hawk as he stuffed his mouth like he hadn’t eaten in a month. Seeing how skinny he was, Jonathan wondered where all that food could go. Ray had a metabolism that could make supermodels on all continents go green with envy. As expected, he wasn’t appreciative of his so-called gift.

Jonathan hesitated. He hadn’t had the heart to tell Ray that he didn’t find Connor attractive. “No, not yet.”

“Hmm, have you at least bumped into him tonight?”

Jonathan frowned in thought. “No, why would you say that?”

Ray gestured at him with a dangerously full spoon. “I don’t know, but your eyes are all shiny, and you look happy.”

Jonathan could feel his cheeks getting slightly warm. Was he that transparent? The little game he was playing with Maddox was getting out of hand if people could easily tell something was going on.

“I just rushed here from the library. The fresh air must have made my eyes water.”

Ray examined him with narrow eyes. “Right. So, you’re not the kind to kiss and tell. I can respect that, man.”

Jonathan let out a small breath.

“But I’m your roommate and bestie,” Ray continued. “One of these days, you need to fill me in, because boy, this thing you have going with Connor, must be pretty intense.”

Jonathan stared at Ray nonplussed. “What do you mean?”

“You know, one day you’re blue, another tickled pink.”

Jonathan didn’t repress a small laugh. “I have no idea what you mean.”

Ray sighed and then placed his chin into his palm with a dreamy look on his face. “I wish I were with a girl who’d make me feel like this. But I suppose things like this don’t happen to people like me.”

“Do you mean, having a small cold the other day, aka your definition of blue, and allergies acting up, aka my shiny eyes?” Jonathan asked, hoping that Ray would let it go, at least this time.

No chance of that. Ray grinned and then winked at him. “One day, JJ, you’re going to kiss and tell. And I’ll be here for you, as your bestie.”

“A very nosy bestie,” Jonathan pointed out.

“Hey, if I don’t have a love life, at least I can live vicariously through yours,” Ray said matter-of-factly.

“You’d practically live a gay man’s love life,” Jonathan said and grabbed the plates.

“So? Love is love,” Ray replied and beat Jonathan to the sink, where he took the dirty plates from him and began washing them like he was serving time in Satan’s kitchen.

Jonathan didn’t mind Ray’s enthusiastic nature most of the time, but there was no way in hell he could admit to him, or anyone for that matter, that he was falling for the resident bad boy like a complete naive.

Wait, he stopped, was that what he was doing?

***