Chapter Ten- My Stalker’s Invitation

“Hello, stranger,” I greeted cheerfully as I strode up to my locker, recognising the figure leant on it from a mile off. “Haven’t seen you in a while. I take this to mean the relationship’s going well and you no longer feel such an urge to follow me around?”

Matt bit his lip softly, “Yeah, but I think I forgot how hot you are.”

I laughed, “What’s up?”

“It’s my birthday party next week.” He blushed as I looked up with a frown, “I know it was actually in May, but this was the only date I could have the house to myself.”

“House party?” I asked with a grin.

“Kind of. Not the whole school, though. People I invite, and their guests. The house isn’t that big.”

“Wise,” I agreed.

“You wanna come?” he asked hopefully. “Harry can come as well.”

I smiled, “I’m there. Just give me the finer details once you have them. What can I give you?”

He choked on his tongue, “Excuse me?!”

“Mind out of the gutter,” I commanded, feeling an amused glint come to my eyes, though I tried to look serious. “I meant as a present, not as a sexual favour.”

“Can’t I have both?”

I gave him a playful wink, “Not yet, gorgeous.” I ran an eye over him thoughtfully, “Never mind. I have an idea for a present for you.”

“Present for who?” Dougie laid a hand on my upper back as he stopped beside me.

I noticed that Matt tensed up noticeably on his arrival, but I didn’t say anything. “For me,” he told Dougie.

“Oh. Birthday?”

You could cut the tension with a knife, and I didn’t understand it. “Yup,” was Matt’s flat reply.

“Having a party?”

“Yup,” he affirmed in the same tone.

“So Tom’s finally going to meet the boyfriend?”

Matt shrugged, “Guess so.”

“Unless he can’t make it for some bizarre reason,” Dougie purred. I stared at him. Was he suggesting what I thought he was? That Matt was making up his boyfriend? Matt was honest if nothing else. He wouldn’t make this up.

“If James couldn’t make it, Matt would alter the date so he could,” I said coldly. I smiled at Matt, who looked grateful for my defence. “Tell me when it is, okay?” I shut my locker with a meaningful snap and walked off.

I was halfway down the staircase when Dougie caught up, “Tom,-”

“What did he ever do to you?” I asked monotonously, not slowing down.

“I’m sorry!”

“No, you’re not,” I snapped. “And don’t insult me by saying otherwise.” As we stepped off the staircase onto the first floor, I turned to face him, “You had no right to talk to him like that! To accuse him of lying to me.”

“Did it never occur to you?” he snapped. “Invent a guy to make you jealous. To either make you miss what was no longer around or to lull you into a false sense of security before he pounced again?!”

“No. It didn’t occur to me. You know why?” I leaned towards him, “Because I’m not sick enough to think like that, and neither is he.” Throwing him a look of distinct disgust, I turned and walked off. I may be overreacting, but I had known Matt far longer than I had known Dougie, and I knew I knew him better than that.

*****

“I have to talk to you,” Dougie said briskly, striding into my room for the tutor sessions and throwing his bag to the side violently.

“If one bad word about him comes out of your mouth, you can kiss goodbye to the tutoring sessions.”

“I-” Dougie clamped his mouth shut. It was clear he wanted to explain and defend himself, but he needed the tutoring sessions I could provide.

“What is your problem with him?” I asked softly. He moved towards where I was sat on the bed. “How can you possibly hate him so much?”

“It’s none of your business.”

I stared at him, “But I think it is. Are you jealous or something? Are you jealous of him?”

His eyes narrowed dangerously, “What do you think?”

I didn’t think it was possible. Dougie had Harry. Why would he want anyone else? “What do you mean?” I asked blankly.

With a noise of frustration, he crossed the room to me, and pulled me towards him, catching my mouth in a firm kiss. I was too shocked to pull away, too shocked to respond, so I just let the kiss linger.