Caught in the Crossfire

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Rule number one of dorm life: Never turn your back on your roommates.

Especially when one of them has just kissed you until your lips are numb, and the other is glaring like a predator, plotting how to steal you away.

Joey licked the corner of his mouth, his smile deceptively innocent. He smells like me now, Aiden. Do you still want him?

Across from him, Aiden gripped a basketball, the veins on his arm popping. He let out a cold laugh. "Doesn't matter. I'll just have to wash your scent right off him."

And me? All I wanted to say was:

If you two keep shouting, the RA is going to come up here and write us all up.

I was in my bunk watching a certain kind of video when my dickwad of a roommate, Leo, suddenly ripped open my privacy curtain.

He shot me a look of pure disgust, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"So, you're into guys."

"Don't tell me you've got a crush on me."

"God, that's fucking disgusting."

I scoffed, firing back, "Please. We gays have standards, you know."

"If I were going to like anyone, it'd be someone like Joey. Who the hell are you?"

The words had barely left my mouth when I saw him standing in the doorway of our dorm room, a faint blush on his cheeks.

Joey.

And right behind him, his face as dark as a thundercloud, was Aiden.

My stomach plummeted. It was bad enough that my crush had overheard me running my mouth.

It was a million times worse that his number one admirer had heard it, too.

Only Leo, the idiot, was oblivious. "You? You think you have a shot with Joey? The best you could ever be is his simp."

I went quiet for a second.

The word "simp" might have been aimed at me, but it hit someone else just as hard.

It was obvious Aiden was into Joey. I'd clocked it on the first day of the semester. They weren't even in the same major, yet Aiden was constantly orbiting Joey, hiding behind the flimsy excuse of being "just friends." He was practically Joey's shadow, always there but never truly in the picture.

Sure enough, Aiden's expression soured. "If you're going to fight, take it outside."

Just then, the alarm Id set for my part-time job went off. I scrambled to change, eager for an escape.

As I was leaving, I heard Leo eagerly spilling the tea to Aiden.

"Hey, Aiden, did you know? Milo's a gay. He likes men. So gross, right?"

Aiden kicked a chair in frustration. "Get lost," he growled.

It was true. I had a thing for Joey.

He was gentle and considerate, with a face that was both beautiful and sweet. The whole campus seemed to have a crush on him. If it weren't for Aiden guarding him like a mother hen, hed be drowning in admirers.

Yesterday, I walked in on him changing. He was practically glowing, with a narrow waist, long legs, and a set of abs so defined they looked carved from marble. His face was already my kryptonite, but his body? It was on another level.

He was basically the Holy Grail for guys like me.

I'd been hot and bothered all night, and today, I just needed an outlet. Id finally found a video with a pale-skinned bottom who looked a little like Joey. Id just hit play when Leo yanked my curtain open.

I took out my frustration on the lemon slices in my water bottle, stabbing them violently with my straw.

As I was murdering the poor fruit, a horrifying thought struck me.

My laptop it was still open on my bed.

Then again, my sexuality was already out of the bag. What was a little porn on top of that? Besides, my headphones were plugged in. As long as no one opened my curtain, theyd never know.

The clock ticked toward ten p.m.

I handed a taro milk tea to the girl in front of me.

She took the drink, blushing slightly. "Hey, uhm can I get your number?"

On the outside, I was cool as a cucumber. On the inside, I was preening. See? I still had it. Leo should be here to witness this.

Too bad I was gay.

Just as I was figuring out how to let her down easy, a grim voice cut in from behind her. "He's gay."

And just like that, I was outed to the entire bubble tea shop.

Strangely, the girl whod asked for my number didn't look disappointed at all. In fact, she looked thrilled. She exchanged a knowing glance with her friend, and they walked away, sipping their tea with blissful smiles.

I stared at Aiden, completely baffled. What the hell was his problem?

He ordered a pearl milk tea and then just stood there, watching me with a dark, brooding intensity.

My coworker leaned over, a smirk on her face. "Your boyfriend's a little possessive, isn't he?"

Oh, great. Now everyone had the wrong idea.

After my shift, I walked out of the shop.

Aiden fell into step behind me, casually sucking on the straw of his milk tea.

I stopped and turned to face him. "Alright, what do you want?"

The warm, yellow light of the streetlamp cast sharp shadows across his face. He had intense features and a permanent scowl that made him look fierce even when he was relaxed.

He closed the distance between us, step by step.

Suddenly, a cold, sticky liquid poured over my head. A few boba pearls slithered down my neck and into my shirt.

He stared down at me, his eyes like chips of ice. "Keep your filthy thoughts to yourself. Joey is not for you."

I wiped the sweet tea from my face, unfazed, and fished a boba pearl out of my collar. I flicked it straight at his mouth. He caught it instinctively.

"Playing the big hero, are we? You follow Joey around like a puppy dog, drooling over something you can't have. And besides," I pointed at the plastic cup hed dropped on the ground, "you're the one who's trashy. You're littering."

Aidens expression faltered, as if Id thrown him off script. But he quickly recovered, his scowl returning.

He chewed on the boba pearl. "If you dare try anything with Joey in the dorm," chew, chew, "or watch any more of that disgusting shit"

His hand shot out, and I felt a sudden, sharp pain below my waist.

Aiden finished the boba and leaned in, his voice a low threat. "I'll chop this thing right off you."

Damn. The boba I made really was perfectly chewy.

Okay, so thats what this was about. He must have seen my laptop screen. But still, it was rude as hell for him to go snooping behind my curtain without permission.

Suddenly, I heard a gasp. I glanced over and saw a figure darting away into the darkness. But that wasn't the main issue. The main issue was Aidens hand, which was still uh there.

Aiden, realizing it too, snatched his hand back awkwardly. He picked up the empty cup from the pavement, shot me one last glare, and stormed off.

Back at the dorm, Leo was lost in his game, headphones clamped over his ears.

I grabbed my shower stuff and headed for the bathroom, nearly colliding with Joey, who was just coming out, wrapped in a towel.

I felt a pang of awkwardness. Did he see the video? Does he think I'm some kind of pervert now?

Joeys brow furrowed as he looked at me, his eyes flicking down to my chest for a second. I felt too guilty to even say hello, so I just ducked my head and slipped past him into the bathroom.

The air was still warm and steamy, filled with the fresh, clean scent that clung to Joey. I couldn't help but take a deep breath before stripping off my sticky t-shirt.

I had just stepped out of my pants when the bathroom door creaked open.

I spun around to see Joey standing there.

His face was flushed. "Sorry, I forgot my clothes."

I followed his gaze to the laundry hamper, where his dirty clothes were piled. A bitter, fizzy feeling, like a shaken-up bottle of soda, filled my chest.

"Joey," I said, my voice low and heavy. "I know I'm gay, and yeah, I'm attracted to you. But I'm not a freak. I wouldn't steal your stuff. You don't have to watch me like a hawk."

He wouldn't meet my eyes, looking away as he mumbled, "I'm not watching you."

I gave a humorless laugh, a wave of exhaustion washing over me. Prejudice was a wall you just couldn't climb. He probably thought I was pathetic.

I turned on the shower, letting the hot water cascade over me. I let out a long sigh. My life was a goddamn soap opera, and I was the tragic main character.

After the shower, though, I felt refreshed. If the world was going to make me gay, then I was going to make the world my playground! I felt like I could start a whole new life except, shit.

I forgot to bring clothes.

I glanced at the hamper. It was empty.

Okay, fine. I believed him. Joey wasn't wary of me.

So why the hell did he take my dirty clothes, too?!

Normally, I would've just streaked back to my closet.

But after today, I couldn't risk it. Mostly because I was afraid that idiot Leo would think I was trying to seduce him.

There were only three of us in the room. After a moment of hesitation, I decided Joey was my best bet.

I called through the door, asking him to grab me some clothes.

Joey, ever the gentleman, agreed. He passed a set of clothes through a crack in the door.

From outside, Leos snide voice piped up again. "You gays and your little games."

I rolled my eyes so hard I think I saw my brain.

I shook out the clothes and realized something was off. These looked like Joeys.

Joeys soft voice came from the other side of the door. "I didn't want to go through your closet without asking. You can just wear mine. The underwear is new."

A warmth spread through my chest. Joey really was an angel. So gentle, so considerate. It would be a damn shame if a brute like Aiden ever got his hands on him.

I quickly got dressed. Hmm. Joey looked lean, but his boxers weren't exactly small.

I opened the bathroom door, then immediately wanted to slam it shut again.

Did I get water in my brain during the shower? Why was I seeing that walking disaster Aiden again?

A hand pushed the door open, and Aidens eyes were practically shooting flames. "Why are you wearing Joeys clothes!"

I shot him a withering look. "Because he let me. What's it to you?"

I swaggered out of the bathroom and saw Joey on the balcony, hanging up laundry.

"Joey" I started to ask where my dirty clothes went, but then I saw the dripping wet pair of my own white boxer briefs in his hands.

Joey looked at me, radiating an almost wifely glow. "It was no trouble. I just washed them all together."

Behind me, I could hear the sound of Aiden grinding his teeth. "Joey, you washed his underwear?"

Joey looked perfectly innocent. "We're all guys. What's the big deal?"

Aiden looked like he was about to explode. He glared at me. "Have you no shame?"

Me? How was this my fault?

Joey finished hanging the clothes and stepped in front of me, shielding me. "Aiden, stop picking on Milo all the time."

Another wave of warmth washed over me.

I couldn't help but praise him. "See? You're so kind and reasonable. Not like some people who just act like rabid dogs."

Aiden shot me a death glare, looked at Joey, and then stormed out without another word, fuming.

I dried my hair and climbed into my bunk, only to notice that the empty bunk across from me was now piled high with stuff.

Aiden, who had just stormed out, was back, dragging a suitcase behind him.

He looked at me and smirked. "Starting today, I'm living here too."

I could feel the murderous intent behind his smile. This son of a bitch was really treating Joey like his property and moving in to stand guard.

A competitive spark ignited within me. Fine. If he wanted to play this game, Id make sure he ended up the loser.

I pictured the scene in my head: me, driving a luxury car, with Joey nestled sweetly against my shoulder. Aiden would be chasing the car, tears streaming down his face, crying, "Joey, don't leave me! Joey, what will I do without you!"

I almost burst out laughing at the thought, but a sharp crash from inside the dorm cut me off.

A glass had rolled off Joey's bed, shattering on the floor.

Aiden was the first to react. "Joey, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just spilled some water." Joey started to climb down from his bunk.

Aiden immediately stopped him, grabbing a broom. "Wait there. I'll sweep up the glass first."

Joey hummed in agreement, then pulled back his own curtain and simply swung his legs over onto my bunk.

His voice was laced with a hint of grievance. "Milo, my bed's all wet. You don't mind if I sleep with you, do you?"

The air in the room froze.

I had to physically restrain myself from laughing.

Aidens sweeping motions halted. Even Leo shot Aiden a look of pity. No exaggeration, the guy looked like he was about to shatter into a million pieces.

The broom was thrown down with force, and Aiden's face had a distinct greenish tint. "Joey, if you didn't want me to move in, you didn't have to go this far."

My eyes darted between them, and it finally clicked. So, they were having a lovers' quarrel, and I was their pawn.

Aiden stormed out of the room again, slamming the door behind him.

I looked at Joey, who was now smiling even wider.

For some reason, a chill crept up my spine.

"He's finally gone."

Joeys beautiful eyes locked onto mine. One hand gripped my chin while the other began to toy with my earlobe, rubbing it over and over.

He leaned in close, his voice a husky whisper. "You like watching those filthy videos, don't you?"

His hand slid slowly down my chest, his fingertips tracing patterns on my skin. "Well, the real thing is right here. Want a closer look?"

My brain felt like it had been scooped out by a zombie. A tingling, electric sensation shot through me, making my scalp prickle.

"So pink and you just let anyone see?"

Joey lowered his head, and the tickling sensation intensified.