Cain had felt the rush of confidence climb his spine while he stood there, head down and hands by his side. It was some great feat, wasn't it, to be uncomfortable in order to gain something. He'd not planned it like this. He meant to give her more, so she'd know the breadth of it feelings. How hard it was to sit close when they watched movies, and how conflicted he felt when they talked about their immediate futures. Friends always do. But he'd always seen her in his plans. He tried to picture him in hers. Sometimes, on days when they didn't meet, it was by his design, so she wouldn't feel stifled. While he was confident that no one should dislike him if he put his best foot forward and did nothing to offend, Cain was also insecure around the girl he loved.<br/><br/>That was why her extended silence clawed at his sense of worth. He was sweating but he was cold, too. Eventually he had to look up, which might seem rather submissive from his bent over state. But she didn't worry him long after he asked her about it. Cute Haley, with her face all wound up in blush. He wrapped his arms around her when she filled him with affirmation, and he almost cried when he sighed with relief. As they were about to tighten the embrace, the taller body tried to curl again. He'd thought there'd be a kiss. He'd gone for it. But the anatomy of their hug shrunk too quickly, and he ended up keeping her against his chest instead, in the end. He should not complain. He didn't know that all her kisses had been taken already, and she'd given them willingly for a start.<br/><br/>Cain reveled in getting to be with Haley. Not that wretched Keida. A dark sense of victory, over someone who wasn't even invited. But there it was, in both their minds, the looming presence that had in a way given rise to this lovers collision.<br/><br/>-<br/><br/>Keida had filed Haley's announcement with the video. He was mostly nocturnal these days, and summer was becoming cool, like world needed to be reminded fall was near. He thrived in the cooler climate. The nights weren't so oppressive and the days were getting easier to sleep through. He still kept her underwear in his room, and the girls he brought never really asked. The image he peddled and the experience he promised wasn't really in conflict with juggling many hearts at the same time. He still drew some pleasure out of heading out in the evening, and passing the happy couple on his street without even so much as a nod. Haley's expressions were still the best. In the mornings when he'd usher out his playmates, she'd sometimes see him too. Hard to say hello with a cigarette in his mouth, so he'd usually just throw her a fleeting glance through a cloud of smoke. Like two glowing suns through a foggy dawn.<br/><br/>Today she'd broken her silence, and he was laying down on the kitchen floor where he'd been with her, reading the message over and over. It was hostile, and that made him grin. He reached out to his far right to retrieve the vodka. He had a kiss from the stinging liquid as he held his phone at arms height. He'd alternated between the text and her video a few times already. Hah.<br/><br/>-<br/><br/>Cain was nervous lately, but it was the giddy kind of anticipation. While he was rinsing vegetables in the cold stream, he was still feeling heated. He hadn't pestered Haley about it, not him, but he'd tried to get close to her while they kissed sometimes, and now they were talking about doing more. It was strange. Almost anything could put a blush on her face, but in these matters she seemed rather collected. He supposed that was a good thing. They hadn't really agreed on something on the subject, but now he felt like every time they hung out could be their first.<br/><br/>The last months had been the best of his life. He got to hold her hand while they were out, and he didn't need an excuse to be with her every day. Cain was increasingly happy with the girl he'd always wanted. He had seen her applications, and they ended up applying for two of the same places. It was a bit like a dream, going through education close to your significant other.<br/><br/>"Here. I got these." he said and was eager to show her, taking out a tray of strawberries he'd rinsed before she got here. His parents were out for the weekend, and he'd immediately invited her over. With so much excitement in his body, his hand was unsure around the porcelain, and twitched when he shouldn't. One of the red berries fell. He realized too late and crushed it under his slipper. "Oh." he muttered and put the plate on the counter. He bent down with a paper towel.