back next"Um... Thank you for.. agreeing to meet up," Dirt mumbled awkwardly, staring at his hands that rested on the coffee shop table, unable to get himself to make eye contact with Brian, who sat across from him. "I just need to talk to you like, not over text..."
"Yeah, dude, I get you, man. What's up?" Brian sat up perfectly straight, his hands in his lap, noticeably keeping his distance from Dirt.
"So like... Right now? Where do you and I stand? Like.. I dunno, you never really exactly made it clear whether or not you're still mad at me, or what..." said Dirt, breathy and anxious.
Brian sighed. "Look, man, I don't know. I'm still kinda on edge." Dirt nodded sadly.
"Um... So.... Hah, man, this is.. harder than I thought it was gonna be!" Dirt laughed nervously, and Brian cracked a pity smile. "I know you said that you can't be friends with me anymore, but... Like, hypothetically, would you get back together with me? Like, romantically? Again?" he asked, looking to the side, his face bright red.
Brian did a big sigh, and scrunched his mouth up to the side while he considered. Dirt's heart was pounding in his chest. God, what is he thinking? This is fucking agony..
"Man... Why you askin' me somethin' like that?" he asked sadly.
"Because, I still..."--he sighed in embarrassment--"I still love you, bro. Of course I do, you know that..."
"But what about Salem?"
"Salem's chill! He kinda has another boyfriend, too! I-I was never worried about all that, I just... Was hesitant, because like. You know, I've never really dated anyone before you, and my relationship with Salem is still kinda new and I was worried that if I dated two people at once it would be too much for me, but the thing is that I love both of you, a LOT," Dirt rambled anxiously, taking gasping breaths when he ran out of air between words.
Brian took a deep breath, and scratched the back of his head. "Shit, bro.. I dunno how I feel about that..." He sighed. "...I don't even know if it's a good idea for us to get back together."
Dirt's heart ached at those words. He sighed, and looked down at his lap. "Look.... I don't wanna argue about it anymore, I really don't, but... I just... I'm still having a hard time understanding the whole situation. Like, I know it was fucked up of me to lie about having a mental illness that I don't have and all, but to my knowledge, no one was really hurt by it, right? Unless Patrick told you otherwise? I guess I haven't really talked to them... Shit..."
"Nah.. I don't know. I think he was just, like, confused n' shit. He actually was worried he was bein' the asshole for assuming you had somethin' wrong with you."
"Teh!" Dirt laughed dryly. That was literally exactly what he'd been trying to say this whole time! That it wasn't his fault that Patrick assumed psychosis over reality. "Well.. I don't mean to sound like an asshole, but I kinda do think that! I told you, I was just going along with what he assumed to protect Salem. Which, by the way, I don't know if you've seen, but fucking Daisy of all people is trying to expose him on fucking TikTok!"
"Wh... What?"
"Nevermind, it's not important right now," Dirt waved his hands as if he were trying to swat away whatever thought bubble had just appeared over Brian's head about that whole situation. "So... Anyway. I still love you. You.. told me you still love me. And I miss you like crazy, man. Every time I think about you, my heart just fuckin' aches like it's... like it's missing a piece..."
Brian sighed again, looking away bashfully. "Maaaan don't be sayin' romantic-ass shit like that...." he morosely mumbled.
Dirt laughed sadly, "It's how I feel, man!" he exclaimed, putting a hand over his heart.
Brian sat quietly for a moment, looking down at the table in front of them, deep in thought. "I don't know. I need more time to think about all of this..."
"Of course! Take as much time as you need. Do you.. want me to get outta here?"
"Yeah I'mma go, too. I need to sleep on this, I think," Brian said, nodding.
"For sure, for sure! O-okay then..." He and Dirt both stood up, Dirt being VERY awkward about it. He was all like, "Oh--should I g-- th-this way? Are you--? Okay...."
"Well I talked to him," Dirt sighed as he fell into his bed next to Salem, who was laying down with a couple of pillows wedged under his back, Dirt's laptop on his stomach. Dirt caught a glimpse of what was on the screen: a video editing program with a paused image of Salem doing... well why don't you use your imagination.
"And?!" Salem perked up, excited for new developments.
"He said he needed to sleep on it..." Dirt sighed.
"Aw, man :/"
"To be honest, I'm not feelin' very optimistic... He seemed pretty uncomfortable with the polyam situation," Dirt bemoaned.
"Maaaaan what the hell! Being polyamorous is the best thing in the world!" Salem insisted.
"Tch.. It's not for everyone, bro... I'd understand if he doesn't want his boyfriend to have another boyfriend, dude..."
"So what happens if he doesn't, are you gonna break up with me?" Salem asked, seeming to be half-serious.
"....I'm pretty sure you're joking, but just in case you're not, fuck no."
"Hehe!! I was joking. Mostly."
"Hmh," Dirt smiled, and reached over to Salem, rubbing his forearm up and down before taking his hand. He pulled it over to his lips and planted a soft little kiss on Salem's knuckles. "I love you, buddy."
Salem giggled all flustered. "Waaaah!! I love you too!" He took his hand away from Dirt as he flipped over and crawled up to them, taking their face in his hands and giving him a big wet smooch right on the lips. They looked into each other's eyes, both smiling, as they examined each other's faces, taking in every detail.
"You're so pretty," Dirt said, soft and low. Salem squealed, and pressed his forehead against Dirt's. He wrapped his arms around their neck and squeezed him into a hug, which Dirt reciprocated, pulling Salem's body to his. "I don't wanna distract you if you're tryin' to work..." he said bashfully.
"No, no, no," Salem shook his head, "I needed to take a break, anyway!" He kissed Dirt again, for longer this time, softer, and sweeter. It felt right, kissing Salem. He was always so warm, and his skin was so soft, and when he held Dirt's face in his hands like that, it made them feel like they were all wrapped up in a cozy blanky by the fireplace on a rainy day. Safe, content, happy.