Page 20 of Unfix Me

“You good?”

I looked up and saw Sen standing a few feet away. He looked just as freaked out as he always did around me. I swiped the back of my hand over my cheek and nodded.

“Yeah, I’m gonna get out of here. Tell West for me, yeah?”

“Sure. Is there… something wrong?”

“Nah. Nothing fixable, at least. You can catch a ride with Max. West will go with him too.”

He hesitated. After looking over his shoulder, he pulled his lip between his teeth. I watched him roll it back and forth a few times.

Not having the patience to sit around, I slung my backpack over my shoulder and gave him a nod. I kept my head down as I made my way to the front. When I was outside, I took a big breath of the fresh air.

Suddenly, someone came up beside me. I stared in confusion.

“Did I forget something?” I asked.

“Don’t think so,” Sen replied. “I thought I’d catch a ride back with you if that’s okay.”

“You should stay. Mingle or whatever.” I continued walking and he followed. After popping the trunk, I tossed my bag and skates in, then turned to him. He didn’t look scared now, just uncertain.

“Get in,” I sighed.

When he smiled, I was a little taken aback by how it transformed his face.

Don’t look at the straight guy like that, I chided myself. It was rude and I hated when people thought I checked out every man just because I was gay. I could recognize that he had nice features, though. At least, when he wasn’t scowling and acting like I was the devil.

“What kind of music do you like?” I asked as I started the car.

“Uh…”

“If you say ‘anything,’ I’ll make you walk home.”

Running a hand through his light hair, he laughed. “What if that’s the real answer?”

With a groan, I tapped the back of my head against the headrest. “Have you heard of The Plot In You?”

“Nope. Sounds weird.”

I shot him a look, barely concealing my amusement. “You seem weird. And something tells me there’s some shit buried deep in your soul, so I think you’ll like it.”

After starting the music, I pulled out of the spot. Instead of staring out his window like he did on the way here, he was angled slightly in my direction. His head bobbed softly to the song and when it reached the second chorus, he was tapping his fingers along to it. I resisted the urge to gloat.

By the time we reached the freeway, a new song was playing. I turned it down a little and glanced at Sen.

“What’s your deal, Sen?”

“I don’t have one. I’m just me.”

“How original.”

“Okay, fine. I’m from Colorado, an only child, I’m twenty, and I’m a business major, but I have no idea what I actually want to do with my life.”

“That was deep.”

His eyes widened before he saw my smile. He huffed and clasped his fingers in his lap.

“I’m also an only child,” I said. “I was born and raised in Maine and I’m a business major, but I do know what I want to do with my life.”

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