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 Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 4:23 pm
In the time it took for Caleb and Benji to walk the short distance between the balloon ride and the buffet area, Caleb had realized a few things.
First, and perhaps the most important thing was the fact that he was hungry. Like, suddenly he felt as though he hadn’t eaten in a few days and no amount of food would ever be enough to stop this raging pit which had taken over his stomach, the second was the fact that Benji’s hand felt very warm in his own, and he wondered if he should continue to hold it…or if it was inching from ‘friendly’ to ‘weird’…but he also knew that he didn’t want to let the hand go.
As long as he held on…Benji couldn’t just wonder off.
And…he was pretty sure that the moment he let go…this white haired boy would just float away, disappearing into the quickly spreading darkness just like the hot air balloon. The hand holding was the rope that tethered him to the ground…so he couldn’t just…
…let go.
With a sigh, Caleb squeezed the hand unconsciously and gave a long sniff. “Holy crap…that food smells so good…I am starving.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:41 pm
This... Wasn't weird, right?
Sure, Benji was walking through a loved themed fair like thing, hand in hand with some boy who was far more attractive than he'd ever be, and he could feel eyes look at them every now and then, giving almost knowing smiles, but that wasn't weird, right? They were just two friends hanging out. One who was in a weird place with his boyfriend and one who was just going to be perpetually single for his whole life and had accepted that.
Nope, nothing weird at all.
But damn did it feel nice to just walk around this and not have to worry about a Negaverser immediately attacking, or feeling like he owed something to someone. Hell, if anything, Caleb owed HIM for hanging out, but just being with him seemed like plenty.
Ugh.... He didn't want to think about it.
Instead he focused on the food that they were surely going to enjoy soon. He could smell it here, all the amazing pastas and baked goods and that fountain of chocolate... it was all calling his name...
"Alright, how about we do this. I find us a table, you go get your food, then you can find me and I'll go back up and get mine. That work for you? I think it's starting to get crowded so best save a spot sooner rather than later."
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Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:57 pm
A moment of panic set upon Caleb even as his stomach gave a mighty growl from the smells coming from the buffet. Benji wanted to split up? But…no.
Not yet.
Slowly the brunette shrugged. “The crowd is pretty large…we could find a spot together and then…you can go up for your food and I’ll watch the table, or I could get the food for the both of us or…”
His hand tightened on Benji’s for another moment and finally he just shrugged. “Or we could just get our food now, and worry about where we’ll eat it later…there’s plenty of space around…we don’t really have to split up just to make sure…we get a table, right? That’s what napkins and knees are for, don’t you think?”
Caleb was trying not to let any panic enter his voice, but again there was that feeling that if he let go of Benji’s hand…if he lost sight of the white haired boy…that would be it. Something would happen…and he didn’t want to find out what. “I really…don’t mind just finding a corner and eating our food there…honest…”
God he sounded pathetic, and he was trying so hard not to…but.
“Or whatever…if you want to go find a seat…I can find you again, I’m sure…”
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Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 9:06 pm
"Hehe, you're not foolin' me. You just don't want to let me go yet, huh?" Benji couldn't have known that was his real thoughts, but it seemed right to tease about, especially after his grip tightened on him. That look though, maybe it wasn't just a joke.
Whatever it was that Caleb feeling, he wanted to make sure that he was alright, that it was a good feeling. "Let's get our food now, okay? Together."
Elbows ready, Benji pulled Caleb towards the line of people, nudging through some of those who didn't seem quite ready to get their own first and getting a nice place. As nice as Caleb's hand was, there was no way he was going to be able to serve himself holding his hand. Maybe being so close, squished between Caleb and the person behind him, would be enough to satisfy whatever weird thoughts were going on in his head.
With a squeeze, he let go, but assured that he was still there by having his elbow pressing against the pretty eyed boy's.
"I'm going to pile my plate up so high... Geesh, I'm starving.. Anything you don't lie? Oh, make sure you get your veggies too!"
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 6:58 am
Caleb didn’t say anything to Benji’s accusation, but walked quietly with him towards the buffet, relieved that they weren’t going to separate quite yet. Though…the moment he lost his grip of the white haired male’s hand, he felt a sudden, overwhelming sense of panic and even though it passed when he reassured himself that Benji was still there, he felt more than a little confused and moved a small bit closer, grabbing his plate and making sure to keep some contact with Benji.
“There’s not much I don’t like, no…but honestly, Benji…who eats vegetables at a buffet? This is the perfect opportunity to load up on carbs and other feel good food. Like sugar. All of the sugar…” He attempted a small smile and it slid easily into a more relaxed half grin as he took in the shorter boy.
“I am not going to eat a single veggie. I mean, I wasn’t going to before, but now I think I’ll avoid them just to annoy you, Pookie.”
Reaching to the buffet table, Caleb began to slowly fill his plate with bread and meat…avoiding anything that was remotely vegetable like…even if some of the dishes looked and smelled really good…
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 11:07 am
"People who still desire to grow an inch or two eat veggies whenever they can, duh. Sorry, not everyone is gifted with height, you know." There were plenty of other reasons why he liked veggies, but that one seemed the most obvious to say, and probably was likely to earn another smile. "And Sugar's great and all, but diabetes is a thing dude. Gotta flush it all out with some roughage. You don't want to get constipated, right?"
Maaaayyybe poop jokes weren't the best thing to say at a buffet, as it earned him a funny look from some older lady across the way, but he didn't really care.
"I guess that means you are gonna be a little s**t. Fine. I'll just have to get extra for you." To emphasize, when he got to a particularly tasty looking mixed veggie plate, all seasoned up with Asian spices in some sort of stir fry, he made sure to get a huge scoop of it, plopping it onto his plate with a satisfying sound.
"Ugh... Because of you there's no room for sweets on my plate.. That's fine, we'll just have to come back for some more." That was all fine too. He didn't really like his sweet and savories mixing on his plate, so that meant a brand new plate to pile high with way too many sweets. Benji could just feel the eminent stomach ache. Sounded like a fatastic time.
Once they were all set, Benji balanced everything he had in one hand, shoving his silverware between his fingers to make sure he didn't drop anything, then took Caleb's hand again, leading him over to a luckily still empty table.
Okay, yeah, it was weird, but if it made his new friend smile, then that was okay. Benji was just fine with being weird for now.
"I don't care if you protest, you're going to eat some of these veggies. I'll feed them to you myself if I have to. "
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 8:21 am
The words did cause a grin to form on Caleb’s face and he laughed a little too. “Yeah, but if you grow more, you won’t be so fun sized anymore. I think you’re cute, Pookie. Like, I bet I could fit you in my pocket if I tried hard enough.”
The grin remained on his face the entire time that they were at the buffet, it was amusing how far Benji was willing to go just to be a contrary jerk, but…it was endearing as well, and when the white haired male’s hand found his again, there was something there.
Some sort of…spark?
Something that caused his heart to begin beating wildly. Though, perhaps it was just in anticipation of the plate full of unhealthy food that he held in his hand.
Maybe it was just a practice heart attack.
Anything to make it not be the fact he was developing a crush on a guy he just met. Because…that was dumb. That was not how real life worked, and he knew damn well this was no Disney movie. There was no such thing as love at first sight, and he wasn’t stupid enough to believe there was.
…Besides.
He had a boyfriend already.
And if that wasn’t the most mood killing thought, he didn’t know what was. By the time they got to the table, Caleb’s grin was gone and he seemed off in another world completely, though when Benji said…something he glanced over. “Oh? What? Yeah sure. That’s fine.”
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2018 8:24 am
"... Stop calling me Pookie." Of course Benji's mind went to dirty thoughts, leaving him in blushing and muttering obscenities as they found the table. It wasn't too bad, all things told, but this was a dude with a boyfriend. And while sure, things sounded rocky, he wasn't about to push anything, even if it felt natural to go around with Caleb already.
Something he said must have triggered Caleb, because by the time they reached the table, the other was just... Off. He wasn't even smiling any more, causing Benji's own scowl from earlier teasing to ease to something more worried.
"Hey, are you alright?" Needing his hand free to move the chair, he let his hand fall away from Caleb's opting instead to sit at the table without another thought.
"You know, I was kidding, right? I won't really force feed you vegetables if you really don't want to eat them.. C'mon, where'd your smile go?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2018 8:37 am
It was so strange when people noticed things. Benji seemed to notice a lot…he acted like Caleb’s feelings were real and that was…something strange to think about. To have something as simple as a dropped smile…
Caleb swallowed and attempted to put another on his face, arching his brows and trying to seem amused, though the real emotion of the gesture fell flat. “I don’t know. It just got sad from the thought you’re not going to force feed me your veggies…You…you realized that my smile disappeared…why, Benji? Why is that something that’s important to you?”
He turned his eyes to the white haired male and seemed confused now, his expression serious. Everything seemed to be going quiet. The noise from the buffet, the hustle and bustle from all of the happy couples around him…suddenly it was just himself and Benji, and Caleb waited for an answer.
“It doesn’t make sense…you’re watching me that closely…?”
His hand inched for Benji’s again, and without a second thought he had laced fingers with the male once again, squeezing gently.
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2018 8:56 am
The struggle on Caleb's face was real. Whatever he was trying to pass as a smile just didn't seem to work, and if anything it only worried Benji more.
... Just what sort of headcase did he manage to get tangled up with, Benji couldn't help but wonder to himself as stranger and stranger questions were asked of him.
"No, I'm not watching you that closely. It's an obvious difference between a smile and not a smile. And a frown and stress, it's nothing new. I don't need to stare at you and deep into your eyes for some soul-searching purpose to know that. It's as plain as the fact that I got no eye. Dude, what's wrong? It seems like you got some real... I dunno... Trauma or something going on. Do you need to leave?"
Taking a moment to break their gaze, he looked down to their fingers, already laced together, mind piecing together the fact that maybe this had to do with whoever his boyfriend was. If they broke up, did he expect Benji to be some sort of rebound? ********, was all this an act just for sympathy? He hated the thought that someone would mess around with him so blindly... It couldn't have been that, for sure... Caleb already showed how kind he was when they were up in the balloon, right? ... Or maybe that was an act too.
Rather than linger on that thought, he withdrew his hand, placing both of them in his own lap as he tried to sort this out.
"... Maybe we really shouldn't do this? It's obvious somethings wrong, and being here probably isn't making it any better."
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2018 6:10 pm
The spell seemed to be broken almost at once, and even the confused half smile had vanished when Benji pulled his hand away. So...so only he felt the spark. Perhaps it was just the fact that someone had noticed him being upset...it had been...nice. But.
But he was pushing too far.
Finally Caleb gave a short laugh and finally shrugged. “Sorry about that. Maybe I’m just coming down with something.” Lovesickness. Broken heart. Whatever. Regardless he drew up a roll and took a large bite. “We should at least enjoy the free food, don’t you think? How else do you expect to get any taller, right? And besides. You have your date to look forward too...I…”
There was another short, bitter laugh and Caleb looked away. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll...I’ll see myself out. Thanks for putting up with me. I suppose it was just nice to have someone who acted like they cared what I did or said...I’m not used to people noticing when something's wrong with me. It was just. It was just stupid, okay. Sorry.” His eyes roamed the room and for a moment they landed on a tall, pale dark haired someone who was with a tall, not very pale, dark haired someone and Caleb felt his heart sputter for a moment, and then suddenly it felt as though the world was crumbling.
“Say...are um...Are blind dates a part of this...this event? Is that...Is that a thing, Benji?”
Caleb’s voice sounded brittle, and it wavered for a moment, his eyes still on the form of his boyfriend with another boy.
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2018 7:22 pm
Why did this all feel so gross...? Benji's nose scrunched up at the sudden change, the laugh, all of the just... Withdrawl from the situation.
"Caleb..." Guilt set in heavy in his chest, and he watch the boy go through one one emotion, then another. "It's just a blind date thing, I don't know the person, surely they won't care if I just break it off and decided to meet up some other time. You're my friend and you really shouldn't be alone right now. You're kind scaring me a little bit, you know?"
Scaring was the wrong word, but being so worried over some stranger didn't sound any better. His hand rose again to try to comfort his new friend but then something that almost seemed like horror came over his eyes, and Benji traced his gaze to look at some dark haired boys off in the distance. From that look, one of them had to be the boyfriend that Caleb spoke of earlier. With that knowledge along, rage began to boil in Benji's chest, and he reached out to squeeze Caleb's shoulder in an almost protective manner. So Caleb hadn't been lying... He was dating some sort of cheating b*****d, and Benji just couldn't stand for it!
"... They are... ********, is that him? Which one is he? Tell me, I'll go kick his ******** a** for doing this to you. Just tell me which one." His grasp tightened on his shoulder, trying to make sure that his new friend hadn't zoned out too terribly. He wanted him to be here to witness just how badly he was going to ******** up that ******** a*****e across the way.
"Just tell me and I'll take care of it!"
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2018 8:36 pm
“It’s okay.” Caleb’s voice came out as hardly a whisper and suddenly the room seemed far too loud. Far too bright, and he felt very, very small.
“I’m okay. I’m…I’m going to just head home, I think.”
He stood and was surprised when the room didn’t tilt the way it felt like it would…he felt breathless and looked pale and for a moment he simply stood there, and then glanced at the hand on his shoulder. “Sorry, Benji. I…I’ll text you later, okay? Thanks for hanging out with me…it…meant more than you can possibly imagine.”
Caleb pulled away and drew in a deep breath before quickly hurrying away from the buffet. Away from the museum itself.
He wanted nothing more than to get home. Perhaps it hadn’t been Xi. Perhaps he was just mistaken but…
Well. If it had been him…
Tonight was going to be an interesting one. And a painful one too. But…he couldn’t just let this go.
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