Free Sweaters & Cigarettes by Mika Fox Page B

slightly subdued, and Riley nods. Theo doesn't have to
explain why, because Riley is smart, and he knows exactly why. He knows how
most people would react to Theo and Max being together, especially their
parents, considering how Max isn't exactly conventional, and he knows that Theo
really doesn't need that.
    Theo appreciates it. But he doesn't tell
Riley the other reason for his hesitation, that he simply doesn't really know
what, exactly, he and Max are. Because they're not just friends, not at this
point, not even the benefits-kind.
    But he's too scared to think that they
just might be something more.
     
    ♦
     
    It has been two days since Theo last saw Max. He hasn't seen him since
the tattoo session, and it's Tuesday by the time he actually runs into him
again.
    They've kept in touch, though, since then.
They've texted a lot, more than Theo has probably ever texted anyone, just
talking about random crap that serves no other purpose than to make him smile.
He can't help but think that he must have made Max smile, too, with all those
stupid texts they've been sending back and forth.
    It's at school that Theo sees him.
    Theo is standing by his locker, none of
his friends in sight. There are students milling about in the hallway, but
Michael, Hannah and Ben have already gone to class, and Theo is just getting
some last minute stuff.
    He tugs at his t-shirt uncomfortably; it's
a black one with the Batman logo on the front (in dark grey, rather than
yellow, though), with a dark green hoodie over it. He feels oddly restless,
like he can't focus properly, like he's in withdrawal, or something.
    Theo is tense and restless, but when he
suddenly feels the slightest hint of a familiar scent right behind him, he
relaxes his shoulders a little.
    "Hey, babe."
    Theo can't help but smile stupidly; he
knows that scent, and he knows that voice. He'd know it anywhere.
    "Hey," he says, as he turns
around. He doesn't even flinch at the use of the word babe , this time.
    Max is standing rather close to him, he
notices. He's close enough for Theo to really look at and take in the features
of that gorgeous face, but not close enough for it to look weird to anyone
else, and when he catches Theo's eye, his entire expression actually seems to
light up a little bit. It's an odd sight; Theo isn't used to seeing Max like
that, all dark and brooding as he generally is.
    Not that he minds. His heart is kind of
doing a backflip, right now, anyway.
    It's after the first few moments of just
general joy at seeing Max, though, that Theo realizes something else. This is
the first time Max has approached him like this, in plain sight of everyone
else, here at school. It's the first time, because, as far as Theo is
concerned, sneaking around and making out behind the school, talking in a
corner of the library, and occasionally looking at each other in the halls,
doesn't really count.
    And Max actually seems to agree. At least,
judging from the way he seems just the tiniest bit hesitant about it, in a way
that most other people probably wouldn't even notice. He looks just the
slightest bit uncomfortable, and Theo is pretty sure he can tell simply because
he has spent so very much time looking at Max's face, by now.
    "Batman?" Max eventually says,
even going so far as tugging lightly at the hem of Theo's shirt.
"Really?"
    Theo can't help but smile a little bit, as
he glances down.
    "What, you mind?" he retorts,
with just enough blatant confidence for Max to raise his eyebrows a bit,
impressed.
    "Well, now you're just being
provocative," he says, but when Theo's small smile widens a little bit,
there's an obvious softness in those dark blue eyes, as though making Theo
smile actually makes him happy.
    Theo sighs.
    "I gotta go," he says, after a
few seconds of silent, mutual staring. This is just terrible timing, really. He
doesn't want to go, but he has class, and Max knows that.
    Max nods and takes a step back.
    "Yeah," he says. Theo may be
imagining it, but Max