#honestly i do not have an excuse KDSJFSDKFLJ

[delicatlueur]

                     joey   sets   the   helmet   down   on   the   welcome   mat   ,   mindful   to   larissa’s   floor   .       “   i   could’ve   ,   but   then   i’d   fuckin’   miss   out   on   seeing   you   .   ”       he’s   always   been   the   type   to   shoot   straight   ,   even   if   in   fewer   words   .       never   one   to   sugarcoat   feelings   or   intentions   .       if   he   feels   it   ,   he   says   it   ,   and   it’s   this   very   trait   that   finds   him   in   this   particular   situation   .       he’s   there   because   he   needs   clarity   ;       a   sense   of   where   they   stand   ,   the   significance   of   their   recent   kiss   .        demanding   has   never   been   his   style   ,   no   ,   not   even   when   larissa’s   ‘  i   love   you  ’   remained   frustratingly   unsaid   for   months   .       he   simply   wants   transparency   .        understand   their   intentions   ,   respect   their   boundaries   .       (   precisely   why   a   conversation   is   necessary   .       even   though   they   kissed   him   back   ,   he   may   have   unintentionally   crossed   a   line   they’d   painstakingly   set   )   .

                       with   a   grateful   smile   ,   he   reaches   for   the   towel   ,   its   fabric   coarse   against   his   face   and   neck   as   he   proceeds   to   dry   himself   off   .        the   damp   shirt   clings   to   his   skin   ,   serving   as   a   reminder   that   he   should   change   into   dry   clothes   ,   or   at   least   remove   his   shirt   ,   before   risking   a   cold   .        but   ,   with   the   undeniable   tension   in   the   air   ,   he   hesitates   .       she’s   been   actively   avoiding   him   .       the   thought   of   removing   his   shirt   in   front   of   her   feels   like   a   scene   out   of   a   cringe - worthy   teenage   drama   .        “   do   you   still   have   that   bottle   of   cachaça   up   in   the   kitchen   cabinet   above   the   sink   ?        i   could   really   go   for   a   shot   of   it   right   now   .   ”       //       @lcrissas

         when  lari  swings  her  front  door  open  ,  the  last  person  she  expects  to  see  is  joey  .  rain-soaked  ,  slightly  out  of  breath  and  just  overall  . . .  looking  like  that  (  complimentary  )  .  it’s  like  the  universe  wants  to  see  them  suffer  .  they  stand  ,  frozen  on  the  spot  .  it’s  joey’s  voice  that  pulls  her  back  in  .  “  hi  .  ”  their  greeting  comes  out  breathier  than  expected  .  she  steps  aside  ,  opening  the  door  wider  .  a  silent  invitation  to  enter  .  

“  i’m  pretty  sure  you  could’ve  stopped  at  the  cafe  downstairs  ,  ”  they’ll  tease  ,  shutting  the  door  .  lari  disappears  momentarily  before  returning  to  hand  a  towel  to  joey  .  had  they  not  known  any  better  ,  they  would’ve  been  quick  to  assume  that  his  sudden  appearance  was  a  coincidence  .  “  or  waited  it  out  in  the  lobby  .  ”  had  they  been  avoiding  him  since  their  kiss  ?  not  intentionally  .  work  did  most  of  the  job  so  that  she  didn’t  have  to  think  too  hard  about  it  .  were  they  about  to  have  the  dreaded  conversation  about  the  kiss  ?  part  of  her  hopes  so  .  the  other  ?  not  so  much  .  “  so  ,  ”  she  clears  her  throat  .  “  want  anything  to  drink  ?  tea  ?  coffee  ?  something  stronger  ?  ”  //  @delicatlueur