Chapter 128: Stop Kissing Me!

Vance

Another week passed, and classes had to resume. Everything had to return back to normal, no matter how hard it might be.

Theo and Vance were at the indoor swimming pool area. They were bored as hell, having no idea what to do with themselves. Theo stood near the edge of the pool, throwing rocks into the clear water, while Vance stood leaning his back against the wall, tapping his foot rhythmically.

Vance didn’t want to think about his moment with Travis of how he had broken down and cried on the boy’s shoulder like a child, but he couldn’t help it. That was all he could think about. There was something he couldn’t put his finger on when it came to Travis, something that had been off ever since Travis gave him mouth-to-mouth back at the tournament.

Ever since that breath of air, something hasn’t been right. Vance had this strange feeling in his gut that he just couldn’t explain.

Finally, the doors to the pool room opened, and Max walked in. Max looked around the humid room, stopping when he saw the two princes. "You called for me?"

Theo didn’t look up from the water. "I did not call for you."

"I did," Vance said, pushing off the wall.

Max blinked, looking confused. "Is there anything you want me to do?"

"Yes," Vance said, stepping forward. "Come here." Max looked cautious, but he slowly walked up to Vance. "Oh, okay."

Vance looked at him dead in the eye. "What I’m about to do, do not take it the wrong way. I just have to check a theory of mine, and I cannot use my brother for it."

Before Max could even comprehend what was happening, Vance leaned in and placed a quick peck straight on his lips. Max instantly gasped, slapping both hands over his mouth as he stumbled backward. "What did you do?!"

Vance just stood there, smacking his lips together thoughtfully. "Nothing. I don’t feel anything."

Theo stopped throwing rocks, staring up at his brother in utter shock. "What was that?!"

"I was testing a theory," Vance replied, crossing his arms. "You know when Travis kissed me... I had this feeling in my stomach, like my entire body had been lit aflame. When I coughed up all that water, I wanted to go again. I wanted to kiss him again. Something’s not right with Travis."

Theo raised an eyebrow. "And that’s why you kissed Max?"

"No," Vance explained, shaking his head. "I kissed Max because I wanted to find out whether I was gay. I’m not."

"If you’re saying you feel things for Travis, you are," Theo said bluntly.

"That’s the thing!" Vance insisted, his chest heaving as he paced. "It’s different with Travis. I can’t... I can’t explain it. I’ll be back."

Theo frowned. "Where are you going?"

"I’ll be back," Vance repeated, already walking toward the exit. He slammed the door behind him, leaving Max still clutching his lips in pure horror.

Theo looked over at Max and let out a sigh. "It was just a peck, Max. Get over it."

Vance made his way quickly down the school halls, his boots loud against the floorboards. He turned down a corridor, checking inside classrooms one by one. By the third classroom he peeked into, he finally spotted Travis sitting near the back row, staring blankly at a textbook.

Vance pushed the door wide open, stepping inside.

The professor paused his lecture, looking over his glasses. "Oh, Vance. What are you doing here?"

Vance ignored the professor completely, his eyes locked straight on the back row. "Travis. Come with me."

Travis blinked, startled as he looked up from his desk. What is his problem now?

"What?"

"Come with me," Vance barked, waving his hand impatiently.

The professor looked up at Travis and cleared his throat. "You heard him. Go with him."

Aina

Unbelievable, Aina thought, groaning internally as she grabbed her bag. She quickly got up from her chair and hurried down the steps. The second she reached the doorway, Vance grabbed her arm in a firm grip and dragged her out into the hallway.

The entire classroom erupted into whispers as the door shut behind them. "Do you mind telling me what is going on?" Aina asked, trying to pull her wrist back as he marched her down the quiet corridor.

"There’s something I just want to confirm," Vance said, his eyes fixed ahead.

Aina frowned. "And that would be?"

Vance stopped abruptly in the middle of the empty hallway. "This."

Before she could react, Vance reached out, his hand covering her eyes, blocking her vision. He leaned down and planted his lips directly onto hers.

What the hell?! Aina’s mind screamed.

Before he could even deepen the kiss, Aina shoved his chest hard, pushing him back a full two feet. She furiously wiped her mouth with the back of her sleeve, her heart hammering against her ribs.

"What is wrong with you?!" Aina yelled, glaring at him with pure shock. Vance stood there, his lips slightly parted as he stared at her, a strange look in his eyes. "Exactly as I suspected. There’s something about you."

Aina looked at him like he had lost his mind. "What are you talking about?!"

"You know, this may sound odd," Vance said, stepping a inch closer, "but I like kissing you. I really do. It’s... it’s calming."

Aina’s jaw dropped. Is he insane? Has grief completely fried his brain?

"Why are you acting like this?!" Aina demanded, taking a defensive step back. "Don’t tell me it’s because of... you know, what happened that day in your room!"

Vance rubbed the back of his neck, looking slightly flustered. "No, that’s not... well, it’s also because of that, but... you know what? This is awkward, and I am going to leave."

Aina crossed her arms, still breathing heavily. "Yeah, it is awkward!"

Vance turned as if to walk away, but then he suddenly spun right back around and lunged toward her.

"Just one more!" Vance said quickly. Before she could duck, he pressed a fast peck onto her lips, immediately followed by a warm kiss right on her cheek.

"OH! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, VANCE?!" Aina screamed, her face burning red as she threw her hands up to hit him.

Vance dodged her swing and took off running down the hallway, a stupid, breathless grin spreading across his face as he sprinted away.

Vance

Vance rushed back into the indoor pool area, slamming the heavy doors shut behind him and leaning against them, huffing for air. Theo was still sitting by the edge, lazily tossing another rock into the water. He didn’t even turn his head. "What happened?"

Vance ran a hand through his hair, his pulse racing in his chest. "I think I have a crush on Travis Whitlock."

Theo stopped mid-throw, his head snapping around to stare at his brother. "What? Vance, you do not have a crush on Travis. You cried on the man’s shoulder once. You do not have a crush on him."

"I feel a pull to him!" Vance insisted, stepping closer to the pool, his voice dropping into a desperate whisper. "You know, it’s insane! I’ve been feeling this pull ever since the tournament, ever since he kissed me! And you know... after I cried on his shoulder..."

Vance leaned in closer so Max, who was still sulking on a lounge chair, couldn’t hear. "...I feel this ridiculously strong pull to him. Like... when I’m around him, my heart beats so fast. And right now, when I’m not near him, I feel like I’m losing my mind!"

Theo stared at him flatly, tossing the rock into the deep end with a heavy splash.

"You are losing your mind," Theo said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Chill out, bro. You do not like Travis Whitlock."