The Blue House of 1478 (23) (Patreon)

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"Long story short, I'm thinking of staging a casual run-in with Levi."

I cross my arms when Hunter looks less than impressed by my plan.

"... What?

"... Nothing."

"It doesn't look like nothing."

Hunter sighs loudly,

"... It's just,"

"There it is."

"Theo.  Come on.  So, what you're telling me," He drapes his arms over the cart in front of him, full of the groceries he's buying for Mr. Zapatero. Mr. Zapatero likes vegan-friendly foods and takes outstanding care of his nails — judging by the six-pack of nail files and bottle of cuticle oil. "That the first thing that comes to mind when you reencounter that smarmy fucking asshole that treated you like shit - is to go live with another smarmy asshole? To prove... What exactly?"

"God, you're mean." I laugh, pushing Hunter's shoulder, "Did you not eat breakfast this morning? You should've let me buy you coffee." I take a sip of the one in my hands. "Or, like, a donut or something."

"I'm serious."

"Two donuts?"

"I'm serious."

"Oh, wow, serious," I frown, suddenly feeling awkward. Hunter has never been known to sugar-coat his disapproval, "Okay. Well. I just thought I'd talk to you about it first since Kia will tell you anyway. Then you'd be super mad."

"So, you're going to do it."

"Hm," I consider the question, "Well. This is where my impulsive train of thought has led me. Which isn't great. However, I have a good gut feeling. My gut never fails."

"Your gut feelings always suck."

"Kia's gut feeling coincides this time," I wave towards my stomach, "which means that this is going to be a blessing in disguise, okay?"

I nod enthusiastically toward Hunter, hoping he'll do the same, even though he is now in a state of everlasting grump.

He rolls his eyes.

"That's just it. Kia is living through you. Don't romanticize those two just because Kia is. She's a bad influence." He rolls his eyes harder, muttering something about her being the oldest, about how she should be the most responsible. He glares at the bolded milk ingredient on the back of a pack of coffee cookie thins. "She's read one too many shitty romance web novels."

"I'm not romanticizing them. But that goes without being said. You know me. When do I ever romanticize anything?"

"I do know you. You forget that I know you better than my sister does, okay? You come to me when you're upset — not Kia." He blinks, hesitating, lost in a thought that might coincide with his ignorance towards the bridge. "Anyway. It doesn't matter. You've got to know I speak my piece because I care about your heart."

"I know."

"Then you know that Kia can't help. She can't make an informed decision when she doesn't know about Adrian. You keep too much from us. It's not fair."

"Dude, I - that's not what I..." I snort and look at the ground, awkward with the shift of tone. "I didn't mean to keep things from either of you."

"... But you do. You'll do it again. I know you will. I don't support the dynamic duo just because you say they're hot and they supposedly happen to be gay,"

"Levi is the only confirmed gay, unfortunately. I never said he was hot, either."

"Okay, well — on that spectrum — or whatever.  This isn't funny," Hunter has a list in his hand that he manages to read as he simultaneously lectures me. Finally, he stops the cart and quiets, "I supported Adrian for those two reasons — and because of Kia's stupid pushing, and look at where that got you. You didn't even ask for help until the end.  Until he left you.”

"That was my decision." I frown, "You keep bringing it up, and I told you it was my decision. Everyone does stupid things."

"You didn't do anything.  You drunk — crying on me like that? Because, wow, a loser who says whatever he wants in real life thinks he can do whatever he wants—big surprise. You lived with him — I'm responsible for that. That wasn't just a stupid decision, that was — that's-"

I sigh loudly, eyes warm with the threat of tears as I stare down my friend. Hunter's firm look softens a bit. He quiets again.

"You're not responsible for what I do in life,"

"You didn't do anything."

"— and I'm not trying to prove anything," I shrug against my jacket, tugging at the button in the center of my chest, "the lease is ending, and I can't afford to live by myself here. Both you and Kia are live-in caretakers; you can come and go as you please."

"I don't want you to live with Levi."

"It's Matthias too, and he —"

"No. I've never even met this guy."

I huff,

"Okay, Dad."

"You should study for a certification; it's really..." Hunter checks the ingredient label on a pack of toothpaste before sighing and tossing it into the cart, "It's not a bad job. I hang out with cool people. They tell cool stories. The worst part is helping them use the bathroom — more for them than for me, and if they're ever in pain. The rest is a breeze. The worst part of Mr. Zapatero is his grocery lists."

"I don't like the idea of living with someone who can't take care of themselves — and not because I don't want to take care of someone, it's just, some of them are sick... And like you said, in pain, and they're..."

"They're what?"

I swallow when Hunter's gaze shifts from the aisle in front of us to meet mine. He smiles sympathetically, bops my forehead with his palm,

"They're dying. I know. We're all headed there one day," Hunter frowns, but his palm lingers on my forehead for a second, "you've got to stop being so scared of that."

"I'm not scared of anything."

"Obviously, not the right parts if you're so attracted to the idea of this living situation." Hunter is harsher than he means to be, and I blink, "You run from things that are — well. You run towards the wrong things at the same time, so it doesn't matter."

"Hunter. That's not fair."

"You've got to stay away from people who talk to you like your dad talks to you guys."

"Wow, Okay, Dr. Phyll."

"Guys like Adrian. Guys like Levi. Feeding your inferiority complex is not some form of sex pollen to healthy-minded individuals."

"Okay, this is deep for grocery store talk," I laugh airily, push away from Hunter's touch and step away from him, "You make it sound like I have a father complex. Gross. What self-help, feel-good shows have you been watching with your clients? What's next on your list?"

"Not a father complex," He reaches for a bottle of spray deodorant, "just a complex for impressing people who treat you like shit. Kia told me the whole Levi and Matthias ordeal, and I'm sorry, but I think Levi sounds like Adrian 2.0."

"Where am I supposed to live then?" I don't mean to come across as defensive, "And for your information, I haven't tried to impress Levi at all. Adrian wasn't — I thought he was cool. So it wasn't my fault that he turned out to be not so cool. I also am not dating Levi, okay? I can step away at any time."

"No. You're only right about one thing," Hunter interrupts, glares, dark eyes lit with something hateful. "Adrian wasn't your fault. He was my fault. I helped you move in. I let everything go.  And you didn't feel like you could come to me until the very end."

"That's not true."

"Well." Hunter looks down at his feet.  "He felt like my fault — because I was too scared to hurt your feelings and say that he was a piece of shit when I had the gut feeling that he was a piece of shit." He sighs.  Then he shoves away with his cart of goods, "So I'm not going to sugar-coat it this time.  Levi is only going to fuck up all your progress.  So stay away from him."

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