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Parker stayed on the couch, idly picking at the frayed bits of denim sticking up on the knees of his jeans. They seemed to get more frayed with each passing day he didn't talk to Dani. And these were his favorites. Damn.

Tate seemed off too, in much the same way. "Isn't Howl Wickham gay?" The teal-haired boy was not the typical kind of manly Parker was used to, not that Parker was the conventional kind of manly either. They went to school together and had spoken a few times. When Tate told him about her earlier encounter with Wickham, she mentioned something about calling him a "unicorn" and being embarrassed. But Parker hadn't really been sure what a "unicorn" was when used that way. He assumed it was some kind of name for a gay guy. "If you were embarrassed about talking to him ever again, then why did you go... talk to him again?" Logically, it didn't follow. "Look, if Zachary is weirded out by you talking to Wickham than he should chill. I wouldn't say he's your type. At all. That's just Zachary's insecurity talking." Parker wasn't big on talking about relationships, but he kind of felt like he owed Tate after their awkward pre-Valentine's Day conversation.

When Tate moved to her bed, Parker turned slightly to face her, sliding the box of video games off his lap. He didn't want her to blame him for damaging them. He always thought about Dani, but actually talking about her out loud made his frown deepen. "Dani and I..." His words fell short. What did he want? He wasn't sure. But Parker knew what he didn't want. "We aren't done." Parker paused. "We aren't." They couldn't be. Parker had to talk to her, he knew that. Even if they didn't date again -- the thought made his stomach drop -- he couldn't cut her out of his life. Aside from Tate, she was the closest person to him. For a teenager with few friends, Dani was among a precious commodity of people-who-don't-suck-and-don't-hate-me. But... maybe she did hate him?

The thoughts were overwhelming. "She needs to come to me. I didn't go through her purse looking for trouble," he said.

Wait. Howl wasn't gay? That was news to Parker. What with the pretty boy, ultra polite physique and everything, Parker just assumed. For a moment, his face read in utter confusion, but Tate seemed concerned about her own situation and Parker made himself focus. He wouldn't want Tate distracted if he was being open about Dani, which he kind of was.

But if it wasn't Zach who said this to her, then Parker had no idea who it could be. She hadn't mentioned anyone to him, not that they usually talked about that kind of thing, but it was still strange. Usually she'd say something if she was seeing someone, even if offhandedly. "Who is it?" Parker was a little afraid of the answer. He and Tate went to different schools, and though they knew a few of the same people, their social circles were largely separate. Parker liked it that way. He thought Tate did too. But the more they talked about their relationships, the more the lines blurred. It was a strange closeness that grew more and more apparent with each passing day.

The conversation moved back to Dani, unfortunately for Parker. "Dani is important." There was no denying that. "But she is also invasive and forceful and meddling. If I go to her first now, then I will always be the one expected to do it. It would set a precedent of me having to always make the exception." He reclined his head against the couch and stared up at the ceiling. "I don't want that, even if I want her." Saying the words made his chest hurt and he rubbed at the spot.

Looked like Tate didn't want to say who it was. Weird. Parker cared for all of two seconds and then blissfully welcomed the subject change. He was done talking about Dani too. They both had a thing for younger, mouthy people. Apparently. Maybe if they were more open which each other they could actually commiserate over it.

Oh well.

"You won't quit," he said, rolling his eyes. "You always say you'll quit, and you never do it." Parker yanked up a pillow and tossed it to the other side of the couch to lay down. He hung his shoes over the arm of the couch.

"So what is it this time?"

Subject change officially successful.

Parker stared at Tate like she had just claimed to be the second coming of Christ. No, really. "Okay, okay, you'll quit," he said, rolling his eyes. She could tattoo it on her forehead, and he still wouldn't believe her. "If you end up magically sticking to your guns on this, I would come visit you at Thaiday's. That place is delicious." True story. It was a chain, sure, but it still served up some damn good Thai food.

Parker did not play backgammon and thus did not get the joke, or understand that she told it wrong. "You brought up backgammon," he said, and sat up. "I think that is my signal to go." He stood up and threw one of his notebooks back into his messenger bag.

It was getting late-ish, and Parker had a curfew at Hillworth. He used to break it all the time for Dani, but without the promise of some making out, Parker didn't feel compelled to make the same risk for Tate. "I'll see you tomorrow?" They saw each other most days, especially now that Dani was sopping up all of his time. "That is, unless you are working at Teasvatta." Parker smirked and headed for the door, keeping an eye on Tate in case she decided to throw something at him.