Mateo shook his head and leaned against the counter in their kitchen. “I’m not saying this to be a dick, but you’re not cut out for what I do.”
“And you are? You hate it.”
“But I know how to hide that. You couldn’t, mi precioso. You just couldn’t. You’re too good. People would see you and know they could take advantage of you.”
Josiah turned away from him and grabbed his backpack. “Awesome, Teo. Thanks for the vote of confidence. People see me and know they can take advantage of me. So glad you have faith in me.”
He wasn’t surprised when he felt Mateo come up behind him. When Mateo’s arms wrapped around him. When Josiah automatically leaned into him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. You’re the strongest person I know. It’s just not you. Be glad this life isn’t you, okay? Gimme some time. I’ll figure somethin’ out. I know it’s not fair to you.”
Josiah nodded. He believed in Mateo. If he said he’d figure it out, he would. “Thanks. I’m going to spend the day with Charlie.”
Charlie worked at the secondhand store Josiah went to. He was even smaller than Josiah was, a little Asian guy who loved video games. The past few months, they’d become friends. He was the only real friend Josiah had. He was only a few years older than Josiah. His parents owned the store, but Charlie was the one who was always there. They sat around and played video games most of the day.
“Okay. It’s almost four. I shouldn’t be late tonight. You’ll only be gone a few hours?” Mateo asked.
Frustrated, even though he knew he shouldn’t be mad at Mateo, he said, “I don’t know. They close at five, but Charlie said we can hang out after they lock up. I think we’re going to get some coffee or something.”
Mateo tensed, probably worried about him again. “Okay... How about I meet you there at about seven? We can walk home together.”
“You can walk me home, you mean?”
Mateo groaned. “I have to get out of here. I don’t have the time to fight right now, Jay. I’ll be there around seven. Don’t leave without me.” Mateo stepped out, slamming the door behind him. The urge to run after him hit Josiah. He got it. He did. He was smaller and weaker than Mateo. He didn’t know how to fight like Teo did. They lived in a bad neighborhood, and Teo had seen so much more than he had. But he needed this, too. Needed to start learning how to do things himself. Needed to be able to take care of himself so it didn’t put so much stress on Mateo. So he could take care of Mateo as well as Mateo took care of him.
Ignoring the rock that landed in his stomach, Josiah left. He and Mateo hardly ever fought. He should go find him, call him and apologize, but he didn’t. Even though that rock got heavier and heavier by the second, this was important. He needed Teo to take it seriously.
Josiah weaved his way through the crowded street until he got to Charlie’s. He usually went once a week, looking for new things for their apartment. He saw Charlie there a lot.
They didn’t become friends until after Charlie asked him out. No one had ever asked him on a date. He’d only ever been with Mateo, and it wasn’t like they asked each other out on dates or anything. They’d lived together their whole relationship.
Josiah’d told Charlie he had a boyfriend, of course. MJ was what Teo told him to tell people his name was.
For weeks after Charlie asked Josiah out, Teo had gone with him every time he went to Charlie’s. He smiled at the thought, at how strongly he knew Teo loved him. It just made that rock gain a few more pounds.
It didn’t take him long to get to Charlie’s. For a second he felt guilty going inside. It wasn’t Charlie that necessarily made him come back...it was just knowing someone. Being friends with someone. He sat in the apartment every day while Teo was gone—but Teo would rather be with him. He knew that. He did what he did for them.
The door opened and Charlie stuck his head out. “Hey! You’re late. I didn’t think you were coming.”
Shaking off his discomfort, Josiah went inside. Mateo said not to tell anyone where they lived so he always came here.
They played games for a while, Charlie going off to work every time someone came in. When it was time for the shop to close, they ran next door and grabbed some coffee before going back inside to hang out a while longer.
At about five till seven, Josiah told Charlie he had to go.
“Oh, wait. I wanted to give you this new game I bought. It’s in my car in the back alley. Come check it out real quick.” Charlie stood up.
