Chereads / Coconut Blue / Chapter 12 - Applebumbles

Chapter 12 - Applebumbles

Coconut mentally beat himself up for several minutes until he decided to try and call Blue again to apologize. He dialed his number and waited.

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Blue was standing outside of the gas station with his mom who was yelling at him, but at the moment he couldn't think of anything except Coconut so he wasn't hearing anything she was saying. "Mom, slow down. What are you talking about?" 

"I'm talking about the phone call I got from your roommates! You haven't been responding to any of our texts or phone calls, Blue. So when I called your roommates, they told me you're staying with a cousin? You don't have any cousins, Blue! What have you been-"

Blue felt his phone ringing in his pocket and he immediately grabbed it. "Hang on, mom." He turned away from her and answered the phone call. 

"Excuse me?!" (that's where blue gets the excuse me line from)

----

"Blue? I'm so sorry I snapped at you. I told you to look at it from my point of view but I didn't do the same for you. I get why you were worried."

---

"Yuno-" 

Blue's phone was ripped from his hands and his mother ended the call. "Get in the car, right now." She pointed, her face straining in anger. 

----

Coconut looked at his phone in concern. What happened? He was suddenly cut off. Maybe he's somewhere with a bad connection. That was the best-case scenario. Coconut started his car again and drove off to his dorm.

---

In the car, his mother was headed back to Blue's dorms while Blue was trying to explain things to her. 

"What did my roommates tell you?" 

"Where have you been and what have you been doing Blue?" Her voice was stern.

"First, tell me what my roommates-"

"No, I am not going to tell you what your roommates told me because that will tell you what I do and do not know and you'll use that to know how to lie to me." 

"Lie to you?" Blue looked at her like she was crazy. "You think I'm going to lie to you?" You're darn right. 

"Where have you been, Blue?"

"I- Mom, I-" He stuttered and ran his hands through his hair, feeling like his seatbelt was suffocating him. "Probably exactly where my roommates told you I was. Except they must have heard me wrong. I was staying with Char and her cousin for a while- which actually, you'll be excited to hear is...I'm dating her." 

"Char? You're dating Char?" 

"No, Char's cousin." 

"Oh," His mom relaxed but it was apparent she was still stressed and angry. "That's...good for you." 

"So what did my roommates say?" 

"Pretty much the same thing you said except they told me you got into a nice car with someone so I was worried."

"Someone? They didn't say-" 

"What?" She looked at him and Blue thought she must not have known about the brother of Char's pretend cousin. 

"Nevermind, I just thought they would have elaborated more. Where are we going?" 

"Back to your dorm." 

There was a moment of silence and his mom cursed at the hard rain blocking her view of the road, the wipers were a little slow. "You drove all the way out here to find me because- why were you so worried about me?" 

She was quiet for a while too, looking like she was trying to configure something to say that wouldn't anger Blue. Like she was forming a lie, or just was trying to clear out the parts she didn't want him to know about.

"I was worried about you, yes. So I went looking." 

It seemed reasonable enough of an answer. His mother was an uptight lady who always did her best to impress people and dress nicely. She smiled a lot but Blue felt like it never meant anything. She did worry about him, he knew she did, but sometimes he got the feeling she worried about him because if she didn't, her husband would worry about Blue. And neither of them wanted that to happen. 

"Well...thanks." 

When they arrived at his dorm, his mother came in with him and chatted pleasantly with his roommates as Blue got dressed out of his soaking clothes. Luckily, he still had a week's worth of clothing in his drawers. 

---

Coconut walked back into his dorm and dried himself off before looking for Blue. After a while of searching and no sign of his boyfriend, Coconut went into the main room and saw all his dorm mates surrounding the TV and watching a movie together. "Hey, guys?"

Alex looked over at him and paused the movie. "Yeah, bro? What's up?"

"Have you guys seen Blue at all?"

Crypt was sitting suspiciously close to Winx with his arm around the top of the couch. He rolled his eyes, thinking Blue had skipped out on Coconut. "About time." He murmured.

Ignoring Crypt, Coconut asked the rest of them. "None of you know where Blue is?"

----

Char had been in the bathroom but ran out, overhearing Coconut. "What did you just say? You can't find Blue?" Immediately worried.

---

Coconut shook his head. "I don't know where he is, I was just asking if anyone had seen him."

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"What? Why wouldn't he be with you?" 

Crypt groaned and threw his head back against the couch. "Because he must have found the perfect chance to escape and took it. He was pretending to be Yuno's boyfriend until he was trusted enough to be alone so he could run away from us." 

---

Coconut frowned at him. "No, we just had an argument. I called him to apologize but he was cut off by the call ending. I haven't tried calling again but I figured I'd check if he was here."

---

Char pulled out her phone and called the first contact on her list, which she had starred as important. She waited. The phone picked up, "Blue! Where-" Then she stopped and as she listened, her face fell and then she apologized and hung up.

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"What happened?" Coconut asked, concerned.

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"Someone said he wasn't available at the moment. It's been a while but...I think it was his mom?" 

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"His mom? Fuck." He pulled at his hair and groaned. "She's going to ask questions and find out I'm dating Blue. She won't be pleased about that."

---

Char was quiet as she thought. "Ok, let's think about this. So if- where did Blue go after your argument? He just ran off?" 

----

"Yeah. I was kind of… having a breakdown?"

"Do you know what way he went?" Winx asked. 

"I think he headed into town…"

---

"So if his mom was looking for him because she was worried then she might have found him. But why would she go looking for him?" 

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"Ah… well, we said that Blue was staying with your cousin, me and he's dating my sister. I guess there was a mix-up about where he was and she was worried or something."

---

"Well, I know Blue and I'm guessing he kept up your lie. So his mom might not know anything about you yet. She might even think Luna is his girlfriend."

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"What are we going to do?"

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"Um...probably wait until his mom calms down or leaves. When he has his phone back I'm sure he'll call us."

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"Alright…" Coconut sighed and sat on the couch, running a hand through his hair. "What movie are you guys watching?"

---

Blue left his room and sat down with his mom at the table and his roommates left as soon as he came. It seemed like they caught her strict catholic mom controlling vibes and fled the scene they were worried would probably unfurl into something scary. 

His mom was pleasant. "So, you received your Uncle Jerry's invitation to his wedding? That was a surprise for you I'm sure." 

Blue spoke pleasantly back to her agreeing with everything she said. "You're lucky it's over fall break, which I've been meaning to tell you. Your father and I are missing you. We thought it would be a nice idea for you to come home for fall break and go to the wedding with us." 

Blue wanted to moan in annoyance but instead, he nodded. "Yeah ok, but I've got some tests to prepare for that week so I'll probably only be able to spend half of it with you." 

"Of course. we understand. Your father especially wants you to be spending all your time on schoolwork." 

His mom soon wrapped up their conversation and then thankfully, left. He checked his pocket for his phone and his heart jumped. It was gone. He ran out the door and caught his mom just stepping into her car. He ran to her and she rolled down the window for him. 

"Mom, do you have my phone?" 

"What? Oh, silly me." She pretended as if she had accidentally taken it, but Blue knew what she had been up to. "Here you are, Blue. I'm getting crazier each year I age." 

Blue took back his phone thankfully, seeing one missed call. Then he waved his mom goodbye as she left. 

---

Char hollered from Jackie's room, "Yuno, Blue is calling me back! Hello?" She answered it. 

Blue immediately said, "Char, don't tell Yuno I'm calling you."

"Oh...I kind of just did."

Blue facepalmed and closed the door of his room and sat on the bed. "Can you do me a favor?" 

"Sure, anything." 

"Can you get my clothes and take them back to our dorm?"

"What? Why? I thought you were going to be staying with your boyfriend now?" 

"He's not my boyfriend. So can you? Tonight please?" 

"Blue, what's wrong?" 

"Just answer me." 

"Okay." She hung up.

---

"What was that about?" Coconut asked curiously.

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Char held the phone to her chest, she stared at the floor. "Um...his...mom is being super...jerky. Blue wants me to bring his clothes back to his dorm." She walked past Coconut without looking at him and toward his room.

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"Actually his clothes are still in the trunk of my car." Coconut saw through the partial lie and assumed Blue just didn't want to stay with him anymore. "Does Blue not like me anymore?"

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"What? No! I mean yes! Of course, he still likes you, he's just...freaking out I think." Honestly, she didn't know anymore. "I'm going to talk to him." She followed Coconut to his car.

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"How about I just drive you? It'd be easier."

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"That's a good idea." In the car, Char made an impressed look and then raised her eyebrows when she saw the sweatshirt and belt lying on the floor. She only rolled her eyes and closed the door. "So, what were you two arguing about?"

---

Coconut pulled on his sweatshirt and then started the car, driving towards Blue's dorm. "We ran into my first boyfriend I guess. There's a lot of history I don't feel comfortable talking about but long story short, I accidentally made it sound like I didn't love Blue and that I was just using him. Which isn't true."

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"Ok, so...it's no wonder he wants to live in his own dorm again. You two haven't made up, I'm guessing?" 

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"We were actually in the middle of talking and he was about to accept or refuse my apology when the call ended. Probably when his mom found him or something."

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Char was quiet for a little bit. "Sounds like he refused." 

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Coconut visibly saddened. "You think so?"

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"I think-" Char hesitated. "I thought Blue really liked you. I remember how he was around Blaize, it was nothing like how he behaves around you. So maybe not. Maybe...maybe he was just cut off?" 

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"I think he was cut off. He said my name and then the call just ended there... like someone else ended it… his mom."

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"That has to be what happened then," Char reassured him.

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"Thanks." Coconut pulled up to the dorm and parked the car. "What did Blue say when he called you? There was something he didn't want me to hear, right?"

---

Char didn't say anything and instead stepped out of the car. She opened up the trunk of the car, hoping Coconut wouldn't follow her out and then carried the hamper of clothing to the dorm step. She rang the doorbell and texted Blue.

Blue was in the kitchen making a sandwich when he heard an engine above the light patter of the rain. He looked out the open window and cursed when he saw Coconut's car. He did not want to see him right now. Then he relaxed when he saw Char step out and carrying his clothes too. 

"Hey," he opened the door and gave a small smile then took the basket and closed the door. "Thanks." 

"Uh, no." Char pushed the door open, giving him a stern look. "Let me in, Blue. It's my dorm too. I want to know what happened." 

Blue looked at her, his fake smile fading, then past her and at Coconut's car. He knew he wouldn't be able to see him through the tinted windows but he looked at them anyway, imagining him in the driver's seat. Knowing he was watching. "Ok." He stepped aside for her to come in.

They sat down on Blue's bed. Char crossing her legs and facing him, Blue sitting with his legs dangling off the edge, he wasn't looking at her.

"So?" She asked. 

Blue looked at her. "What?" 

"Oh come on. I know what this is. Your mom scared you didn't she?" 

"Scared me? She's my mom."

"Exactly!" 

"How did Coconut react? I know he drove you here." 

"When you called me, I told him what you told me. That you wanted your clothes back. So he offered to drive me here because your clothes were still in his trunk."

"He wasn't upset?" Blue felt numb.

"Um, a little. Of course, he was." 

"How? He didn't freak out, did he?" 

"No, but he looked sad in the car." 

"Ok." Blue sighed.

"He told me you were in an argument and that he was just apologizing but then you hung up on him." 

"He hung up on me." Blue snapped. "But then he called me back and my mom took my phone." 

"That's what we thought happened. So what's wrong, Blue? Are you still mad at him? How come you aren't going to be staying at his dorm anymore? I'm staying there. Don't think I'm joining you just because you broke up with your boyfriend." 

"It's just better for both of us." Blue picked up his legs and leaned his back against the wall, clutching his knees to his chest. He sounded defeated. 

"What?" 

"My mom found me. What if she had found me with Coconut?" 

"I knew that's what this was about." 

"Also, she wants me home for fall break. Not only for my Uncle's wedding but for...family stuff. They want to spend time with me." 

---

Coconut sat defeated in his car, waiting for Char to come back. He had seen Blue look at him but couldn't tell what he was feeling. The fact that he had closed the door made him feel neglected, but he told himself he deserved it.

---

Char scooted closer to him, leaning against the wall as well. "You're going to drive yourself into a depressing hole just because your parents want to visit with you at the end of the week? Dude. You can totally still be Coconut's boyfriend without them finding out." 

Blue didn't respond. 

"I'm going to tell him everything." 

"No." Blue lazily responded. "There's something else." 

"Was it the argument? Were you going to accept his apology?" 

"I was, but...I just feel sad. I'm sad for him. That he is so hurt over a person who never even liked him in the first place. I sort of...I'm sort of tempted to pretend to break up with him so he'll know that me leaving him would be worse than the other- what am I saying? That's awful." Blue buried his face in his knees. "I suck." He didn't cry, only wallowed in shame. 

"I understand Blue." 

"You do?" 

Char stood up and left the room. "Wait, Char!" He leaped off the bed and followed her. "Don't tell him! Don't!" 

She was already out the door.

---

Coconut looked up when he saw the door open and waited so that he could leave and go mope in his bed.

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Blue froze at the door which Char had left open- he knew- on purpose. Char didn't look back. Opening and closing the car door which she climbed into. She smiled at Coconut. "He totally still wants to be in a relationship with you." 

---

Immediately, Coconut perked up. "Really?"

---

Char nodded. "He was scared off by his mom at first. He's afraid of her finding out he's in a relationship with a boy because his father will disown him. Also, he's jealous that you're so upset over someone that he thinks was a total jerk to you so he selfishly wants you to realize that he would be way harder of a break up for you if he left. He's really just throwing a mini tantrum right now because he wants your attention." 

Blue was still at the doorway.

---

Coconut looked past Char and saw Blue. "Do you think he would want me to go talk to him?"

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Char looked back and laughed. "I don't know. He would probably be extremely upset if you didn't, but then he would also be upset if you did. I think he would be less upset and more embarrassed if you talked to him now. Oh, also his roommates are there so it might not be a good idea." 

---

Coconut nodded and thought for a moment. "Can you wait here for a few minutes?"

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"I can wait here forever if you're making up with Blue." 

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Coconut smiled and stepped out of the car. "Thanks, princess." He shut the door and jogged up to the dorm.

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Blue's blush flared, he was not expecting Coconut to come out. Upon instinct, he stepped backward into the dorm and closed the door. 

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Coconut slammed his hand onto the door and forced it to stay open. "Blue, wait. I just want to talk."

---

Blue's heart was pumping fast which he hated. He felt like he was staying at Char's house again and he was trying to keep her brother out while he was dressing. "Coco- Yuno! What are you doing here?" He gave in and opened the door, scowling at him with pink cheeks, but secretly, he was relieved and overjoyed he was here.  

---

Coconut stepped into the dorm and looked at Blue. "Where's your room? I want to talk to you without anyone overhearing."

----

Blue glared at him while a fuzzy feeling crawled up his throat. He whipped his head toward his car where Char's head was sticking out the window, smiling and waving. He glared at her. "This. Isn't. The place." He turned back to look at Coconut. He sighed. "But fine." He grabbed Coconut's arm and led him through the kitchen and into his room, where he locked the door behind him. He turned around. "What? And keep your voice down." He whispered, butterflies filling his stomach being alone with Coconut in his room.

---

Coconut grabbed Blue and slammed him onto the bed, kissing him roughly and suddenly.

---

Blue's heart pounded against his chest and in his ears. He couldn't help kissing Coconut back. He had missed Coconut's familiar lips and that hot feeling in his crotch was back but he forced it away. Blue pushed against Coconut, trying to pull away but trapped beneath him.

---

Coconut kissed him until he was sure Blue would be too breathless to speak. He looked down at a panting Blue seriously. He breathed, "Look. I'm really sorry, Blue. And I know I apologize a lot but I just want you to know I regret our entire argument. I hate not being with you, please, forgive me." Coconut put his forehead against Blue's and waited for him to answer.

---

Blue stared at him as he panted, with at first a longing look in his eyes, but then that quickly changed to anger and he wiped away the start of a smile he had. He pushed hard against Coconut. "Get off, you fucking...horny...wolf." 

----

"I'm not horny. I want you to be my boyfriend again."

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"You can't kiss me here at my dorm." He pushed harder on him again as he whispered aggressively. "If someone hears us, it'll end my life." 

--- 

"That's why I took you to your room."

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Blue growled, angry at himself for being turned on. "I'm still mad at you. Get off." 

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"No. Please, Blue. I only want you to forgive me."

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Blue gave him a look that resembled one of a queen's when deciding something. He enjoyed every second of Coconut hovering over him. "Then get off and maybe I will." 

---

"No. I need your answer, please." Coconut looked at him like a kicked puppy.

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Blue couldn't resist that expression so he broke character and kissed him, but he still didn't answer him.

---

Coconut broke the kiss shortly. "I don't need kisses, Blue. I need an answer. You're breaking my heart, Angel."

---

Blue whined. "Yes. For god's sake. I thought Char already told you." He was angry he was the one who had to admit it.

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"I want you to say it. That way I know for sure." Coconut gave him a sweet smile.

----

"But I don't want to stay at the dorm anymore. My roommates and my parents are already suspicious enough." 

---

"Can I still come with you to your classes tomorrow?"

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Blue squinted at him as he slowly moved his arms up Coconut's back. "As long as you don't act like we're a couple. Also, I don't think the 'lawyer kids'-that's what you call us- would appreciate you being there." 

---

"I'll donate to your school," Coconut deadpanned.

---

"What?" 

---

"I'll donate to your school so your classmates tolerate me."

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Blue blushed at the sweet gesture. "Well...we could use it but you shouldn't do that just for me…" 

---

"Please. A few hundred thousand lost will be fine if I get to spend time with you."

---

Blue kissed him, forgiving him for everything he ever was upset at him for. 

---

Coconut tilted his head and deepened the kiss.

---

KNOCK KNOCK

"Hey, Blue?" 

Blue shoved Coconut off and gasped. "Ye-yeah?" He clearly sounded disheveled. 

"We're all going out to eat, do you want to come?" 

"Umm. Sure!" 

"What are you doing?" 

"Uh...working out." 

Then they left. 

Blue punched Coconut in the arm lightly and whispered harshly. "You're already making me look suspicious!"

----

"Why'd you agree to go out with them?"

---

Blue's face flushed. "I don't know, I was on the spot."

---

"Tell them you changed your mind. I want to have cuddle time to make everything up to you," Coconut said with a cute pouty face.

---

Blue's skeptic look dissipated. An idea flickering in his eyes. "Fine." He smiled and then slid off the bed and opened his door. "Hey, Mason? Is it cool if I bring my workout buddy?" 

"Sure we don't care." came from somewhere within the dorm.

Blue turned around and smiled at Coconut with mischievous eyes, feeling like a little kid.

---

Coconut stared at him. "Was that wise, Angel? You know how hard it is for me to keep my hands to myself."

---

Blue blushed. "Shut up before I change my mind."

---

"You mean you'll stay here with me?" 

---

Blue didn't like the idea of fooling around with Coconut in his dorm. "No, I would kick you out." 

"Blue we're leaving now!" Ria yelled. 

"Ok, I'm bringing Char and her cousin, where are we headed?" 

"Applebumbles!" 

---

Coconut huffed. "Fine. Come in my car, Char can get a ride with someone else."

---

"What? But that's so mean."

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"Would you rather have an awkward car ride with your roommates?"

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Blue gave him a stern stare. "Co- Yuno, don't you dare make things awkward."

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"Then come with meeee," Coconut whined.

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"I was going to anyway." Blue sighed. He grabbed his hand and pulled him out the door and then immediately let go when he saw Mason, Leo, and Ria. They all were dressed nicer than he and Coconut who were both wearing sweatpants- Blue an old blue t-shirt he slept in. "um," He cleared his throat. "Let me just… you guys go ahead, I'm going to make myself look nicer." 

"Introduce us to your friend first." Leo said. 

"Oh, sorry. This is Char's cousin, Yuno. She's in the car outside by the way. We'll meet you guys at Applebumbles later. We won't keep you waiting." Blue grabbed Coconut and pulled him back into his room. "I'm going to find something nice for him to wear." He smiled and closed the door.

---

Coconut whined loudly. "I don't wanna wear something nice!"

---

"Too bad. You're going to." Then he grabbed his head and brought it to his mouth and whispered in his ear, "Trust me, it'll only improve your relationship status with me. Might even get you to third base if you know what I mean." 

---

Coconut pouted. "Your clothes won't even fit me."

---

Blue smirked. "Which will only make you look hotter." He thought about tight clothing on Coconut's rockin body. He fumbled through his drawers, trying to find something appealing. "Here," He handed him a black plaid shirt with yellow lines running through it and then some tan pants that were too big for himself. Also a thick black belt he never used. 

---

Coconut rolled his eyes and took off all his clothes, save for his boxers. He pulled the pants on then wrapped the belt around his waist. He slipped his arms through the sleeves of the shirt and curled his lip. The pants were almost his size but the shirt was hugging his muscles so tightly it was uncomfortable. "This shirt is too small."

---

Blue turned around as he threw on a purple collared shirt and smiled while gripping Coconut's bicep. "It makes you look handsome." He slid into black jeans. "Shall we go?"

---

"I mean I guess…" Coconut mumbled, pulling at the shirt a little.

---

Blue laughed and linked his arm with his, walking to the door. "You wear too many sweatshirts." 

---

Coconut stopped Blue and unlinked their arms. "Workout bros don't do that. And you can never wear too many sweatshirts."

---

Blue pouted at him. They left the dorm. In the front yard, Char was still hanging out the window. "Hey Blue, you apparently we're going to Applebumbles?" 

"Yeah. Uh, C- Yuno was going to take me." He looked at her pleadingly and scratched the back of his neck.

"Ok." 

"There's only two seats." 

"Oh," Char rolled her eyes and hopped out, then ran to Ria's car, who let her in and they drove off. 

In the car, Blue was reminded of the last time he had sat in here with Coconut, and how awful that memory was. He didn't like it when Coconut was scared or crying. Well, of course he didn't. It made him feel scared too. 

---

Coconut clapped his hands gayly. "Alright, hop in, Angel." Coconut walked over to the driver's side and got in.

---

"You're way too excited." Blue chuckled and buckled in.

---

"Nah, just happy I'm with you," Coconut said, unknowingly being charming again.

---

Blue smiled brightly at him. On the way to Applebumbles, Blue struggled to bring up something other than what they had been talking about last time they were in the car. "So I'm going to be staying with my parents over fall break. Do you have any plans?" 

---

"No, don't think so. Some company thing will probably come up though."

---

Blue was slightly disapointed he didn't ask him if he was free to do something but then Blue felt dumb of course because he had just told him he was going to be with his parents. "So I guess I should warn you, Leo and Ria can be kind of loud and Char gets into debates with Mason. Should be an interesting experience."

---

"Debates? Ew. Loud? I can handle that."

---

Blue laughed. 

---

"Blue?"

---

"What?" 

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"About earlier… I'm sorry if I scared you. I… you know how I am… freaking out over the littlest things." Coconut laughed smally.

---

"Yeah…" Blue was quiet. "Can you just promise me something?" 

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"Anything."

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"If you ever run into that guy again, don't let him get to you. Pretend he's...Blaize. Treat him how you would Blaize, you handle that jerk well." 

---

"..." Coconut didn't say anything, only wore a conflicted expression on his face as he drove silently.

---

Blue decided not to say anything either, although he wanted to strike up a conversation, he didn't have anything on his mind though. "I just think it's better to...not share a dorm because...It's probably for the better because I'll be needing space for schoolwork anyway and my parents might find out about it." 

---

"Y-Yeah… but after all this is sorted out… can we live together?"

---

"L-Live?" They pulled into the parking lot.

---

"Stay… live… however you want to put it. I just… want to be with you more. And… to be honest… when you sleep with me…" Coconut trailed off as he pulled into the parking lot, looking for a spot to park.

---

Blue scratched the back of his neck, his ears glowing red, predicting he was going to say something about him turning him on.

---

"When you sleep with me… I don't get night terrors," Coconut continued, looking at Blue with a smile. "You don't know how long it's been since I've been able to sleep without one."

---

Blue thought back to last night, and remembered how peaceful he had slept with Coconut. He wanted to grab his shirt collar and kiss him but he restrained himself. 

---

Coconut stared at Blue expectantly.

---

Blue narrowed his eyes at him while smiling. "I can't kiss you with my roommates, possibly walking into the building about now. They'll see." 

---

"What?" Coconut asked, confused. "I want to know your answer."

---

"My ans- oh." Blue blushed brightly when he remembered. "M-My parents." Was all he was able to muster. "But otherwise, yes. I mean...we've only just started dating Coconut." 

---

"Mm, and I already want to live with you." Coconut smiled widely. 

---

Blue blushed and shook his head smiling. "You fall too hard into love, Coconut. You don't know what you're getting yourself into sometimes." 

---

"Maybe, but if I love someone, why should I care what I'm getting into? I would go through anything for someone I love."

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Blue rubbed his face while smiling, sliding his fingers beneath his glasses. "Geez, Coconut, don't make me red before we go in." 

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"You're always red, they wouldn't be able to tell the difference," Coconut teased.

---

"I'm always red because of you!" He said in frustration.

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"Oh. Well… how about we go inside now!" Coconut stepped out of the car in a hurry to avoid Blue's wrath.

---

Blue stepped out too. "I'm warning you, Yuno." Blue threatened. "You're going to make me blush in there," he said quietly as they walked toward the entrance. "Just don't make me too flustered." 

---

"Uh… I'll try?" It sounded like more of a question than anything.

---

Blue pinched his bicep as an excuse to touch him and then he walked into the restaurant, finding the circular booth his friends were sitting in and sliding into it. "Hey guys."

---

Coconut plopped down next to him, attempting to move his shoulders but being restrained by Blue's shirt. With a whine he slumped in his seat. "I hate dressing up all fancy."

---

Blue kicked Coconut lightly and smiled at everyone else, nervously wringing his hands beneath the table. "This is Yuno. I think I already introduced him earlier. We work out together." 

Mason- the kid with shaggy black hair raised one eyebrow. "Yeah you guys sounded like you were really getting at it." He said in a lazy voice while fidgeting with his fork.

Blue laughed and rubbed his neck. 

"I didn't know you worked out, Blue." Ria said curiously.

---

Coconut cut in with a smile, throwing and arm around Blue's shoulders.  "He didn't until recently. Since he's dating my sister, I figured we'd spend some time together."

---

"That's a good idea. You know I work out myself, I could join you guys sometime." Leo smiled 

"Yeah, maybe sometime." Blue said politely. 

"Well Yuno, it looks like all that working out has paid off for you." Blue couldn't tell if Ria was flirting or not.

The waitress came by just then.

"Finally, I'm starving." Char said. 

---

Coconut smiled at Ria for her compliment but in the back of his mind he was gagging.

---

The waitress asked what drinks they could get for them and then she left.

"Yuno, do you play any sports?" Leo asked.

---

Coconut nodded. "Yeah, I play soccer and do kickboxing."

---

"Kickboxing? That's cool. I do football." He smiled again. "American football." He tilted his head and joked. 

Char asked, "why did football and soccer get the same name?" And then Mason tried explaining to her something about the native Americans playing a game like soccer and they were the ones who invented it, but then Char countered that with something about Mexicans claiming they invented the game. 

As they squabbled, Leo tried talking to Yuno about different sports teams and what he thought about them. Meanwhile, Ria was looking for any excuse to casually flirt with Yuno. 

Finally, the waitress came back and they all ordered. 

"I want to meet your girlfriend, Blue." Ria stated bluntly.

--- 

"She's not in town at the moment." Coconut gave an apologetic smile.

---

Ria gave a small frown. 

"I don't recall seeing you around at school, Yuno. Do you go to ours?" Leo asked. 

---

"Haha, funny story…" Coconut rubbed the back of his neck, then sheepishly said, "I go to Cerulean Arts."

---

Mason looked up quickly. 

Leo shrugged.

Ria smirked and raised her eyebrows at Blue. "Does Luna?"

---

"No, she's an assistant biologist at a zoo out of town." Coconut smiled as he thought about it. "Actually, she goes to a college across the country, but somehow landed right by me for her field experience."

---

Blue looked at him in surprise. "Yeah she...likes animals." Was all Blue could add in. 

Mason snickered but the others didn't seem to notice. He did that a lot. 

Not long later, their food was served and Blue was extremely grateful, he had been dying to eat. 

---

"Damn, I'm starving. I forgot I haven't eaten almost all day." Coconut chuckled softly.

---

"I've hardly eaten anything too." Blue happily took a bite of his burger. 

---

As he ate, Coconut listened to the group's idle chatter. Mostly dumb arguments, but talking none the less.

---

Ria groaned in the middle of eating. "I've been lonely lately. So I was thinking...do any of you have any guys you can introduce me to?" She looked at Blue and then smirked at Coconut and looked back at Blue.

Blue suppressed an angry growl. "No...I'll let you know if I find someone though." 

She squinted at him. 

"Sorry Ria, all the guys on my football team have girlfriends and they're pretty much the only people I hang out with besides you guys." 

"Char? Mason?" Ria asked them.

"No." They both irritatedly responded, they were upset she had interrupted what they claimed to be a 'factual' argument.

Ria huffed. "What about you, Yuno? Got a girlfriend?" 

---

Coconut shook his head, holding his glass of water in his hand. "Nah, I'm gay." Not realizing what he had said, Coconut took a drink of water casually.

---

Blue flinched and then froze, setting his food down and staring at his plate with his head down, wringing his hands again. 

Ria, Leo, and Mason all looked up at him at once. Char too, but she was looking at everyone else not Coconut. 

---

Coconut felt everyone's stares on him and looked at them weirdly. "What?"

---

Mason chuckled and looked down at his plate, wiping his face with his napkin, muffling his amusement. 

Ria returned to eating her salad. "Nnnothing." She said strangely. 

Leo was still gawking but then he closed his mouth and laughed lightly. "I just remembered, Ria. There is someone I know I can pair you up with." 

Their eating continued in an awkward silence. Char kicked Mason and spoke separately with him in a quiet and murderous tone. 

Blue wasn't eating his burger. He cleared his throat. "Excuse me, I'll be back, I just need to use the-uh, restroom." He cocked his head at Coconut and pointed with his eyes toward the restrooms. "Coconut, can you scoot over please?" He needed to get out of the booth.

---

Coconut nodded and got up, still unaware of what he had revealed.

---

Blue grabbed Coconut's arm and tugged him toward the restrooms. 

Nothing but the clinking of utensils against plates was heard of their booth until Leo watched them leave and then said, thinking it was odd, "Coconut?" Ria and Char acknowledged him but no one answered.

---

"Hey, what are you doing?"

---

Blue pulled him into the bathroom, checked to make sure they were alone, and then turned around and glared at him, standing close and in his face. "What was that?!" 

---

"What do you mean?" Coconut asked, flinching backwards. "Why are you mad?"

---

Blue sighed. "You told them you're gay. They don't know anyone that would openly say something like that. They're hard-ass christians. That's why my parents love them so much, god. So this is what's going to happen, they're going to pretend like you didn't say anything. But if you do bring it up to them they're going to pretend they support you, but they don't. I know what they're probably thinking right now. They're probably putting together the puzzle...they probably know about us by now." Blue was running his hands through his hair nervously again and rubbing his neck. "They'll think it's odd I was hanging out with a guy in my room...with the door locked...I don't even own any weights! They'll know for sure…" 

----

"Wait, wait," Coconut said with wide eyes, still processing everything. "I said I was gay?"

---

Blue removed the hands rubbing his face and looked at him as if he was crazy. "You don't even remember?!" 

---

"What? No! I must have said it out of reflex," Coconut groaned and ran a hand through his hair. "Fuck!"

---

"It's ok." However, he was having inner disagreements. Blue practiced breathing slowly. "They can't confirm their suspicions. They might think you're a little strange but they can't confirm we are dating. All we have to do is continue playing it cool like we were before and hopefully this night won't end with anyone confronting us." 

---

"Okay…" Coconut muttered. "I-I'm sorry…"

---

"No, it's okay. You otherwise did a good job. Thanks for not flirting with me in plain sight. Also, were all those things you said about your sister, true?"

---

Coconut smiled. "Yep. I was really lucky when she came and found me."

---

"That's great." Blue's smile faded. "Oh, no." He facepalmed. "I'm such an idiot. I only made us look more suspicious by dragging you in here with me." 

---

"Oh… um, maybe we can say you wanted to scold me?" Coconut suggested weakly.

---

"That's technically the truth. We don't have to say anything, hopefully, they assumed I was mad at you for saying you were gay and not that we went in here to makeout or something."

---

"Yeah, but to be honest, it kind of looks like we did. Your hair's all messed up." Coconut pointed to Blue's head.

---

Blue blushed and looked in the mirror to fix his hair in embarrassment.

---

Coconut chuckled and waited until he had everything back in order, not bothering to fix his own hair since it was always messy anyway.

---

Blue sighed a stressful sigh and then turned around. "Ok, done. We can go and pretend like we're just friends." He didn't sound too happy when he said it while grabbing Coconut's arm. 

---

"Uh, okay," Coconut said, allowing himself to be dragged.

---

Back at the booth, Blue slid in with a shy smile and finished his burger quickly. He found it odd the rest of the table was quiet, Leo was avoiding eye contact with pretty much everyone it looked like and Char was glaring at Mason who was stupidly smiling back at her. Blue had never seen Ria look more surprised. 

"Did..something happen while we were gone?" Blue pretended he didn't think the conversation was about him and Coconut. 

"No." Char tore her glare away from Mason and finished eating. 

Ria and Leo gave Blue a look that meant Char was being a little scary. 

After dinner, the check came around and everyone pitched in money for themselves.

---

Coconut stopped everyone. "Hey, I'll pay for it. For letting me come along." He smiled at them gratefully.

---

"What? You really don't have to, I had it covered." Ria smiled.

---

"No, really. I want to." He gave her a stubborn look, telling her he wasn't backing off.

---

"Okay." She backed off because she wasn't complaining. 

---

Coconut filled out the check with a hum and then put it on the edge of the table.

---

As the group of friends left the building, Char slowed down to walk with Blue and Coconut. "Hey, I need to talk to you guys." 

---

Coconut looked at her, already guessing it was about his slip-up.

---

She watched Ria, Mason and Leo get in their cars. "You guys messed up. Big time." 

---

Coconut bowed his head in shame. "Y-Yeah…"

---

"No, it wasn't because of what you said...well, it added onto it, but...anyway, after you guys left, Mason and I had an argument about you two being in a relationship. Apparently he overheard you two outside Blue's door and he immediately knew what was up because Blue is 'obviously' gay." 

---

"Do you know what he heard?" Coconut asked, clearly worried.

---

"Um. He said he just heard suspicious sounds? What exactly were you two doing, anyway? I know Blue doesn't lift weights." 

Blue's face flamed with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "That doesn't matter! The point is, all of my roommates know. Great. Just great. Now my parents will find out, and I won't get to live a normal life anymore."

"Well, actually, that's the thing." 

"What? You have more horrible news?" 

"I told them that If one of them opened their giant mouth to your parents or anyone else, that I would murder them in their sleep. I don't think any of them care too much- at least not as much as Jackson cares about this kind of stuff, so hopefully they won't be spilling any secrets. Mason….It would be hard to crush his angry spirit about this. From what I know about him, he's just going to be a jerk to you, Blue. Hopefully he won't go too far."

---

Coconut twiddled his fingers nervously. "Blue, will you move back into my dorm?"

---

Blue squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. "Now would be the worst possible time to ask that." His hands were clutching his head, he sat on the curb. 

"I don't know, Blue. Maybe it isn't?" Char said. "If they already know, they could tell your mom whether you are staying with him or not." 

Blue sighed.

---

"It's not that I just want you to stay with me, Blue. If… if they really don't like that you're gay… they could get violent, possibly, and I don't want you to get hurt."

---

Char shook her head. "I can't see any of them treating Blue like that, they genuinely like him so...it might just depend on how homophobic they are." 

"No. I don't think any of them would treat me that way. They'll probably just pretend like nothing happened and keep their distance from me." Blue sighed. "Thanks for the offer, Coconut, but I think I'm going to stay where I am. Maybe I can convince them that whatever they think about us is wrong, that it was just a misunderstanding?" 

Char didn't say anything because she knew that was impossible. 

---   

Coconut nodded sadly and looked away. "I'm so sorry Blue. I fuck everything up, don't I?" he laughed forcibly.

---

"No, you don't! It's my fault that I have such a crappy life. You make it worthwhile." 

Char cleared her throat, a little jealous because that's what Blue used to tell her. Blue didn't notice. "Well um, then...I guess you'll be riding back with Ria, Blue." 

---

"What do you mean? Wouldn't he ride with me?"

---

"There's only two seats in your car and I need a ride home. It's most convenient this way." 

Blue stood up and said curtly to Coconut as he walked toward Ria's waiting car, "Goodbye, workout buddy." 

---

"Uh… see ya. I'll come pick you up from your dorm tomorrow, okay?"

---

Blue turned his head, "You don't need to. I can get a ride with someone else." and he opened Ria's door.

---

Coconut whined. "What, you don't wanna show up in my stupidly expensive car?" Coconut asked playfully.

---

Blue broke a smile and then it vanished. He didn't say anything in response and closed the car door.