Desolation Row [MxM]

As much as it pained me to admit, the spot Joel lead us to was pretty incredible. It was a hill that overlooked the rest of the city, and apparently it was a pretty popular area for people our age, since a few other cars were there as well. Joel didn't seem to care though, getting out of his car and hopping up onto the hood of it as Sophie and I parked our cars on either side of his. When I came around toward him, he gave me a pointed look, patting the empty spot on the car beside him. I hesitated before awkwardly climbing up next to him, feeling his arm go around me once I got settled.

What I really didn't like was the fact that I honestly didn't mind all the touching he was doing. It was nice to just be held and not have to worry about being possibly punched or kicked by someone. Up until that point, I didn't realize how much I missed it.

Sophie, Jake, and Alex all leaned back against her car, and the silence of the moment gave me some time to wonder just what was going on.

Now, my three friends thought I was dating Joel. The same guy who for the past month had just been another factor in making my life miserable. Now this guy was pretending to be my boyfriend—for what? Just to put me on edge? What was he gaining from this? And another question, why was I just going with it? Why didn't I try harder to convince Sophie that no, we most definitely were not together. What was wrong with me? Was I really that desperate for some kind of interaction that didn't involve verbal or physical abuse?

“When did you guys get together?”

Sophie's voice pulled me out of my thoughts as I looked over to her, but Joel was faster, smiling before he replied. “Well, see, it all really started as soon as Vic moved here. I just couldn't keep my hands off him.”

What was he doing. He can't be serious. It took all I had not to glare over at Joel, but I couldn't help roughly elbowing his side. He countered that by wrapping his arm around me more securely, making sure my movement was restricted as he held me against himself tightly. “What's Lakeview like?”

“Oh, it's great. Huge school, right in the middle of town. Some of the best teachers in the state work there, and we have the highest graduation rate.” Sophie started, continuing on a long talk about everything the school had, right down to the sticky lockers. Joel, it seemed, was listening intently, but I was just trying not to either die from embarrassment or cry from frustration.

I couldn't understand why he was doing this. He'd probably never see them again, why was he telling them all this stuff about us? The only conversations we ever had involved him making fun of me for something. Now I was supposed to act like I actually liked the guy?

Sophie went on for a while, and during a lull in conversation I looked over at her. “When are you guys planning on heading back?”

“My parents booked us a hotel room for tonight, since it's Friday. So tomorrow morning, after breakfast, we'll start heading back,” she answered, then looked at Joel. “Are you coming to breakfast with us?”

“Ah, I would, but I've gotta meet a friend in the morning, so. I'm afraid you'll be without me,” he replied. Sophie, oddly enough, actually seemed upset by that, but Joel just smiled at her.

We stayed up on the hill a little longer before Sophie decided it was time for them to head over to their hotel, so we got ready to go, Joel and I sliding off the hood of his car as Sophie came over to hug me tightly again. I managed a quiet inhale that time as I hugged her back, and she smiled at me before moving away.

Alex came over after she let go of me, and he gave me an awkward side-hug and a pat on the shoulder before he nodded and walked back over to the car, both him and Jake getting in. When it was just Joel and I, I turned to give him a sharp look, and he sucked his lips into his mouth, trying not to laugh. “That was in no way necessary.” I told him irritably, stalking past him to get into my own car. I heard him laugh once, before I shut the door, but he quickly composed himself enough to enter his own vehicle, and I pulled out of the area, starting on the drive home.