Summary: Thorne finally makes it back to his dorm, only to converse with the one person he didn't want to see.
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A/N: bless my kaiswell heart. oh, and if you love thorne, i'm sorry. he will be going through it for the majority of this miniseries.
By the time Thorne got back to his dorm, he felt like he just finished a marathon. He spent the last two days at his fraternity, more time than he’d spent there the entire month, got drunk both times, was forced to watch over new pledges, narrowly avoided missing the due date for his paper, then proceeded to screw things up with the best person in his life.
Honestly, he felt like ripping open his shirt and screaming if he had the energy. Instead, he folded over his bed, groaning into his pillow. That’s when he noticed the silence. Where was his roommate?
Because the universe just loved tormenting him today, Kai opened the door. Wearing nothing but a towel around his waist, he looked like he’d just stepped out of an advertisement. Aces, when did his abs get so refined? Thorne had to keep up.
The kid’s eyes widened with excitement when he spotted Thorne. “You’re back!”
“What’s up, bro?” Thorne attempted nonchalance, trying not to think about how Cinder had shivered in his arms. Worst Roommate Ever award goes to Carswell Thorne for making out with the girl Kai had been obsessed with for the past three years. Though, of course, it was him who got with Cinder before Kai.
He eagerly set his shower caddy down and practically ran to Thorne’s side. “I need your help.”
“I don’t think you’ve ever said that to me. Let me relish this moment.” Thorne joked, but it felt off. Maybe because he just kissed his best friend! Maybe because he was already thinking of ways to get her to his room without Kai knowing! The same guy who begged for his help whenever she was single! Kai should not want his help.
“Put some clothes on first, Calvin Klein.”
Kai ignored his request. “I drank way too much last night and I said something to Cinder and I think I freaked her out.”
“I could tell. You slept until it was practically dark out. What did you say?”
He already knew. Cinder had told him. Then he kissed her. And she kissed him back. What does that mean? Usually A + B = C, but in this case, it equaled glaring and hatred. He may have instigated it, but she returned it.
“I don’t remember. Not really. Something about Jade.” He frowned. “But she’s been ignoring my texts.” He groaned.
“Are you and Jade dating, by the way?” Please say yes. Aces, Kai, for the love of everything good in this world, please say yes.
Another deliberating glare. Maybe Cinder and Kai really do belong together. Maybe Thorne should kiss Kai to make it even.
“You of all people should know how much I want to get out of this. I trust you the most.” He paused, as if debating whether to add to his statement. “You’re like my best friend, actually.”
On the outside, Thorne was merely looking at Kai, maybe even smiling. On the inside, Thorne was smashing his head against the wall, trying (and failing) to remove all feelings of guilt, shame, and regret. So he’d managed to screw over two of his best friends today, and he was lying to one of their faces. What a day! He used to consider himself lucky; now he was convinced he was out of stars to wish upon.
“I love you too, bro. No need to get all emotional.” He managed to speak. Then his tongue ran faster than his brain (which kept happening in all sorts of different ways). “Is that why you have no clothes on? Are you trying to seduce me?”
Another Cinder-like scowl. “Sorry, but I don’t swing that way.”
“I could kiss you right now and I think you’d like that.”
“No, I’d gag–”
“You sure would.” Thorne erupted into a grin.
Kai gaped for a second, then recomposed himself. “I actually don’t think I could, given that I’ve seen your ‘friend,’ and it’s nothing to look at. Actually, it was hard to tell what it even was, given how small it was.”
“Aw, you think about me that much? I’m touched.” He cocked his head. “Just like how I’m going to–”
“Ok, I’ve had enough.” Kai turned and walked away. Thorne chuckled and watched him leave.
“Turn around, pervert.”
“Nah, I like the view.”
Glare number three.
“If you wish, but only because I’m your best friend.”
“Shut up. I take it back.”
“No takebacks.”
“This isn’t kindergarten.”
“I don’t care.”
Once Kai changed, he returned to Thorne’s side of the room. “I think I might like Cinder again.”
Aces and Spades, sometimes Kai acted like they were in middle school. “What, do you like-like her?”
Glare number four. “Actually, I don’t need your help.”
Thorne grabbed his shoulder before he could leave. “I’m sorry, dude. Continue?”
Kai sighed, running his hand through wet hair. “I mean, I don’t even think I ever not liked her.”
“You mean love.”
He remained silent, which was all the confirmation Thorne was going to get.
“Well, you’re an asshole.” Thorne blurted. Perfect example of the ‘freudian slip.’ He knew that from when he’d quizzed Jacin in psychology.
Kai whipped his head towards him. “In what way?!”
Thorne shut his eyes. He remembered how distraught Cinder looked over Kai still being with Jade. The very reason she came to Thorne was because of this kid. Did Kai not know how much pain he was causing her?
“Imagine how Jade’s gonna feel if you got with Cinder. She might actually kill both of you.”
His roommate nodded. “I’ve accepted that fact, but something tells me that’s not all you meant to say.”
Thorne sighed. Kai was always good at reading people. He always had to be on guard whenever he had to hide something from the kid.
“Well, you’d make Cinder upset too.” He tried to act cool about it, but he couldn’t forget his desire to cheer the girl up while she subconsciously bit her lip.
Kai’s eyes narrowed. “You saw her today.”
How did he know that? “Uh, what?”
“You did. She told you what I said, did she?”
“I saw her, but she only seemed down. She didn't talk much.” No, but their bodies were. Oh, shut up Thorne!
Kai stared at him for a few more seconds before dropping the subject. “I think I’m gonna sleep now.”
The kid, disheartened, sluggishly made his way across the room. He climbed the cheap wooden ladder to tuck himself into his lofted bed. Thorne finally collapsed on his own with a deep sigh and finally began to unpack his bad decisions.
Sure, Thorne has found himself attracted to Cinder, but he never considered a relationship with her. No–he had. He never thought about it seriously enough to expect a good outcome, however. Plus, he couldn’t tell if Cinder actually thought he was hot or not.
The answer was yes, apparently.
Thorne shut his eyes, remembering the feeling of her lips against his. The way her fingers tugged recklessly at the ends of his hair. How she quieted his grunts with her mouth and–
“Thorne?” Kai suddenly asked.
He reluctantly opened his eyes. “Yeah?”
“You’ll help me? Get with Cinder, I mean?” Kai’s voice was small and vulnerable. He could feel the hope behind it.
He gulped. “Yeah, dude.”
“Also, can you turn off your lamp?”
Thorne chuckled but it sounded hollow against the guilt in his chest. “Sorry, yeah. Good night.”
“Night.”
He might be a bad friend tonight, but he’d make up for his sins tomorrow. Now, all he had to do was to get Cinder out of his head.
A/N: fyi, this is how allegedly straight male guys in college act with each other.
Tagging: @just2bubbly @cinderswrench @cindersassasin @the-wee-woo-royal @deprivedmusicaljunkie @crescentchat @wheresmymom-imlost @salt-warrior @rapunzelfromthemoon @briggycat @impossiblesuitcase @kaider-is-my-otp @definitelynotisabel @therealkaidertrash21 @cinderswirecutters @cyborgcourt @alsedoesart @asters-28 @sarabankesley @fuck-is-going-on @chronicles-rampion @gaiabythesea (i'm going to be tagging each new ch so let me know if you'd like to be added or removed <3)
