Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

CARTER

The immense relief I felt after telling Brendon that I'm bi was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I was wound so tight, and I really didn't have any reason to be. Brendon reacted exactly how I would have expected him to if I wasn't so caught up in my head.

With the confession off my chest, we were able to move forward without any more awkward tension, which I was beyond grateful for. I know it was only one day of weirdness, but it was enough to make me feel like I was in a parallel universe. So, to be back to normal is everything I could have wanted and more.

And thankfully, I slept like a baby last night, which probably wouldn't have been possible had I still been trying to keep my secret.

Brendon and I are sitting at the table eating our breakfast when the front door flies open. Our other best friend and roommate comes hobbling in on a pair of crutches.

"What's up, losers?" Artie asks with a big grin.

He's followed by his parents who are carrying his stuff. His Dad nods at us then darts down the hall to drop the stuff he's carrying off in Artie's room, while his mom makes her way to the kitchen to put away the groceries she's carrying.

"Yo, A!" Brendon cheers and throws a plushie basketball in his direction. "I thought you were going to be missing the whole first week of school?"

Artie can't get his hands up in time, so he takes the soft ball to the face and laughs as it bounces off and lands on the floor.

"Way to hit a guy when he's down," Artie teases, inching his way into the place. "And yeah, I was supposed to have the week off but one of my professors this semester is a dickwad."

"Language, Arthur," Artie's mom scolds him as she rejoins him by the door. Both Brendon and I press our lips together to stop ourselves from snickering.

"Sorry," Artie mutters before continuing his story. "Anyway, he said he didn't think I deserved special treatment, and if I wasn't in his class to receive the entire course load, then I'd automatically flunk."

"Fu-," I'm about to curse but Artie's mom shoots me a glare and I stop myself, mouthing an apology to her. "You broke your leg three days ago and he won't give you a break?"

"One class isn't going to kill him," Artie's dad says while walking over to his wife and son. "He has to take it easy, but he's completely capable of being at school. He's lucky he got the majority of his classes off this week."

"Do make sure he takes it easy, though," his mom adds. "No crazy activities and absolutely no drinking."

Brendon and I look at each other, sharing a silent conversation with our eyes that basically says, I won't tell if you don't tell.

"We'll make sure he behaves, Mrs. Miller," Brendon assures her, even though I know he means no such thing.

Brendon is all for going hard and pushing every limit. He doesn't know the definition of behave. The fact that he hasn't gotten into more trouble with the school surprises the shit out of me. He's always been the instigator of our little A, B, C group.

Artie's mom knows all about Brendon's shenanigans and shakes her head sighing. "Maybe I should get a hotel room for the week so I can keep an eye on you."

"Mooommm," Artie groans. "I already told you I'll be fine. You have to stop treating me like a baby."

"Heather," Artie's dad says in a calming tone while wrapping an arm around his wife's shoulder. "He's a big boy and can take care of himself. I'm sure he won't do anything stupid."

"I'd believe you if he didn't just jump off a cliff and break his leg," Arite's mom grumbles at her husband.

"Everyone was doing it, and I was the only one that got hurt," Artie says as if that helps his case.

"And Izzy was watching so he couldn't chicken out," Brendon adds with a shit eating smirk.

"Not helping," Artie growls out at him.

I press my lips together and keep my mouth shut, not needing to get involved. But that doesn't mean I'm going to disappear into my room either. I'm all for some good drama as long as I'm not in the middle of it.

Artie's mom sighs again and presses her fingers to her forehead. "Okay, we need to leave before I regret allowing Artie to come back on his own."

"I promise I'll be on my best behavior, Mom," Artie assures her as she pulls him in for a tight hug.

"I highly doubt that, but I guess at some point I have to let you make mistakes and learn from them. Just please don't kill yourself," she pleads with her son, and he snickers but nods.

"That's an easy promise," he tells her then kisses her cheek.

"Don't be an idiot," his dad tells him, then adds, "again."

"I'll be taking it easy for at least a couple of weeks," Artie replies with a grin.

"The lord really did want to test me with you," Artie's mom mumbles before allowing her husband to pull her out of the apartment.

"Gosh, my mom can be overbearing sometimes," Artie grumbles as he hobbles into the living room.

"All moms are like that," I remind him.

"I know, but it can be exhausting sometimes. Especially when you're a dumbass and injure yourself, resulting in so much babying it could drive even the biggest Momma's Boy crazy."

I chuckle. "Well, if you would have let go of the rope swing when you should have, you wouldn't be in this situation."

I wasn't there when Artie got injured, but I heard all about it.

"I was distracted," Artie whines.

"By Izzy's big tits?" Brendon checks with a smirk.

"Fuck off," Artie grumbles grabbing another basketball stuffie from the couch beside him and hurling it at Brendon who catches it easily, cackling the entire time.

"You're so easy to rile up man," Brendon teases. "But in all seriousness, I'm sorry you got hurt."

Artie nods. "Thanks, I appreciate that. But you're not wrong. Izzy is the reason I was distracted. I was trying to show off. Now she probably thinks I'm a loser."

Artie has been crushing on Izzy since he met her freshman year. She's a cute cheerleader and exactly his type. However, she had a boyfriend then, so Artie didn't have a chance. But Izzy and her boyfriend broke up at the end of last school year and Artie planned to woo her over the summer. Obviously, things didn't end on a high note for him, but that doesn't mean she's written him off just yet.

"Did she call you a loser to your face?" Brendon asks with a lifted brow.

Artie rolls his eyes then slowly shakes his head. "She's not a bitch so she would never say it to my face. But who wouldn't think I was a loser for breaking my fucking leg like that?"

Artie's phone pings at that moment and his brows shoot up when he unlocks the screen. "Well, shit," he whispers before looking up. "Apparently, Izzy doesn't think I'm a loser and wants to hang out this weekend."

I can't help but laugh. "See, you were all worried for nothing."

"You can't hang out with her this weekend. I got premium weed from my cousin. We were supposed to smoke," Brendon tells him, looking like a kicked puppy.

"Dude, you know I love you like a brother, but I would much rather hang out with a hottie than smoke weed with you two idiots."

Brendon huffs out a breath then nods. "I guess when you put it that way it makes more sense. And that just means it's more weed for me and C."

"You know I'm a lightweight and I'm only going to take a couple puffs," I remind him.

"We'll see about that," he retorts, and I sigh.

I've never really been able to tell Brendon no before. Something tells me this weekend might end up being crazier than I thought it was going to be.