before last weekend, clay had never been so confused about where he stood with someone. to anyone outside his own head it’d be pretty fucking obvious: hannah liked him, and he liked her. that be the end of it -- but not for clay. your favorite textbook overthinker was back where he had started, but this time, with less reason to be that way. with all the bullshit hannah had gone through this semester, clay still couldn’t get it through his head that she wouldn’t have done what she had with him unless she liked him – but it still just seemed too good to be true. anxiety was calling, and three outfit changes and a skipped breakfast later, clay was ready to try and ignore his own head and the possibility that what happened two days ago may never happen again. luckily for him, a ten-minute chauffeured ride to school with tony proved to be the perfect distraction. perfectly selected 8-tracks thumped as they discussed throwing a party for clay’s favorite holiday ever – halloween. and to make the night even better, tony was more than willing to throw the gig at his place. as they walked into liberty side by side, tony couldn’t drop the joke about how clay’s dad couldn’t cockblock him from across town. clay mall-walked to his locker in hopes of seeing hannah at hers, too eager to wait to tell her about their plan. he’d stop at his locker to act busy, buying him a few seconds to gather his cool before striding over her way. “ hey, happy monday, ” fucking lame, jensen. that’s the best you got? clearing his throat, he adjusted the strap of his backpack that seemed to be gaining weight the longer he stood in place, “ tony and i are having a halloween party this weekend – would you uh, like to come? ” quickly realizing where that could sound plain, he quickly catches himself, “ with me. like, as my date.”