Straight Until You

Chapter 8 — Jealous

Nathaniel Anderson had never considered himself a jealous person.

Competitive?

Absolutely.

Possessive sometimes?

Probably.

But jealous?

No.

At least—

not until Monday morning when he walked into the student center and saw another guy touching Asher Reyes.

Then suddenly murder felt reasonable.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Nathaniel stopped walking immediately.

Across the crowded student center, Asher leaned casually against the café counter while talking to a tall blond guy from the soccer team.

Nathaniel recognized him vaguely.

Evan Carter.

Too confident.

Too comfortable.

Currently standing much too close to Asher.

Nathaniel disliked him instantly.

A serious problem.

Beside him, Jordan followed his stare.

Then immediately sighed.

Jordan: “Oh no.”

Dylan looked up from his phone.

Then froze dramatically.

Dylan: “WAIT.”

Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly while watching Evan laugh at something Asher said.

Then—

Asher smiled faintly back.

Nathaniel’s mood worsened instantly.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because apparently seeing Asher smile at somebody else physically irritated him.

That felt unhealthy.

Probably.

Jordan noticed immediately.

Unfortunately.

Jordan: “Nathaniel.”

Nathaniel didn’t answer.

Couldn’t actually.

Because Evan had just touched Asher’s shoulder while leaning closer.

Absolutely not.

⸻

Across the café, Asher was becoming aware of another issue.

Evan talked too much.

A lot too much.

The guy had spent the last ten minutes flirting aggressively while pretending not to flirt aggressively.

Exhausting behavior honestly.

Very exhausting.

Evan: “So you seriously never date anyone?”

Asher sipped his iced coffee calmly.

Asher: “That sounds like a dangerous question.”

Evan grinned wider.

A mistake.

Definitely a mistake.

Evan: “That wasn’t a no.”

Asher rolled his eyes slightly.

Then suddenly—

he felt it.

A stare.

Heavy.

Sharp.

Dangerously familiar.

Asher turned automatically.

And immediately spotted Nathaniel across the student center.

Standing completely still.

Watching them.

Oh.

Oh, that expression looked dangerous.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because Nathaniel looked calm on the surface.

But Asher recognized him better now.

Enough to notice the tension in his jaw.

The sharpness in his eyes.

The way his shoulders squared automatically.

Nathaniel was upset.

And somehow—

that realization sent warmth straight through Asher’s chest.

A disaster honestly.

An actual disaster.

⸻

Nathaniel genuinely did not understand what was happening to him.

Because logically—

this should not bother him.

Asher wasn’t his.

They weren’t dating.

Hell, they hadn’t even kissed.

Yet somehow Nathaniel still felt irrationally irritated watching someone else flirt with him.

Jordan looked deeply concerned beside him.

Jordan: “You look insane.”

Nathaniel finally blinked once.

Nathaniel: “I’m fine.”

Dylan stared at him blankly.

The disbelief was painful.

Dylan: “Nathaniel.”

Jordan: “You literally stopped walking.”

Nathaniel ignored both of them completely.

Mostly because Evan was still smiling at Asher like he had a death wish.

A terrible decision honestly.

⸻

Asher watched Nathaniel start walking toward them.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Because Nathaniel moved differently when emotional.

Usually he looked relaxed.

Effortlessly confident.

Now?

Now he looked focused.

Sharp.

Possessive in a way Asher definitely should not notice immediately.

Unfortunately—

he did.

And somehow that made things worse.

Because for the first time since meeting Nathaniel, Asher realized something terrifying.

He liked being wanted by him.

Not attention from random people.

Not flirting.

Nathaniel specifically.

A serious issue.

⸻

Nathaniel stopped beside the café counter close enough that Asher could smell his cologne immediately.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Nathaniel: “Morning.”

Asher looked up at him calmly.

Too calmly.

Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly.

Because Asher definitely looked amused.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Asher: “You look emotional.”

Jordan nearly collapsed laughing somewhere behind Nathaniel.

Traitorous behavior honestly.

Nathaniel ignored him completely.

Nathaniel: “I’m not emotional.”

Asher raised one eyebrow slowly.

The disbelief was painful.

Then Evan finally looked toward Nathaniel properly.

Nathaniel disliked him more immediately.

Impressive honestly.

Evan: “Nathaniel Anderson, right?”

Nathaniel looked toward him slowly.

Calm.

Polite.

Dangerous.

Nathaniel: “Unfortunately.”

Asher almost laughed.

A mistake.

Definitely a mistake.

Because Nathaniel visibly relaxed hearing it.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

⸻

Evan leaned casually against the counter.

Still smiling.

Nathaniel hated that smile spiritually.

Evan: “I didn’t know you and Asher were friends.”

Silence.

Real silence.

Asher glanced sideways toward Nathaniel automatically.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because suddenly—

they were both waiting for the answer.

Nathaniel became hyperaware of everything at once.

Asher standing beside him.

Jordan and Dylan listening nearby.

The entire student center pretending not to watch them.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Then finally—

Nathaniel smiled slowly.

Confident.

Possessive.

Terrifyingly sincere.

Nathaniel: “Yeah.”

Nathaniel looked directly at Asher while speaking.

Nathaniel: “We’re close.”

Asher’s breath caught slightly.

Barely noticeable.

Nathaniel noticed anyway.

Of course he did.

⸻

Jordan immediately grabbed Dylan’s arm dramatically.

Jordan: “OH MY GOD.”

Dylan looked equally horrified.

Dylan: “HE SAID CLOSE.”

Nathaniel considered ending both friendships.

Briefly.

⸻

Evan looked less comfortable now.

Good.

Very good.

Unfortunately—

he still didn’t leave.

Psychotic behavior honestly.

Evan: “Right.”

A pause.

Then—

Evan: “Well, I was actually asking Asher if he wanted to come to a party Friday.”

Nathaniel froze slightly.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because suddenly his mood worsened instantly.

Asher noticed immediately.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Nathaniel shoved his hands into the pockets of his hoodie while staring at Evan calmly.

Too calmly.

Asher recognized that look now.

That was Nathaniel trying to act normal while emotional.

Which somehow felt weirdly intimate to recognize.

⸻

Before Asher could answer, Nathaniel spoke first.

A mistake.

Definitely a mistake.

Nathaniel: “He won’t go.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

Evan blinked once.

Asher stared directly at Nathaniel.

Jordan physically covered his mouth nearby.

Dylan looked seconds away from death.

Nathaniel realized what he said approximately three seconds too late.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because he genuinely hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

⸻

Evan frowned slightly.

Evan: “I think Asher can answer himself.”

Nathaniel smiled immediately.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Nathaniel: “Probably.”

The tension between them sharpened instantly.

Asher noticed all of it.

The possessiveness.

The irritation.

The jealousy.

And somehow—

instead of feeling uncomfortable—

he felt warm.

A disaster.

An actual disaster.

Because nobody had ever looked jealous over him before in a way that felt genuine.

Most people only wanted attention.

Nathaniel looked like he genuinely hated the idea of someone else getting close to him.

And somehow—

Asher liked that way too much.

⸻

Finally, Asher sighed softly before standing properly.

Both men looked at him immediately.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because Nathaniel’s attention locked onto him automatically.

Like instinct.

Like breathing.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Asher: “I’m not going to the party.”

Nathaniel visibly relaxed.

Immediately.

Evan looked annoyed.

Reasonable honestly.

Evan: “Why not?”

Asher glanced sideways toward Nathaniel briefly.

Then back toward Evan.

And suddenly—

a tiny smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Small.

Quick.

Dangerous.

Asher: “I already have plans.”

Nathaniel froze instantly.

Jordan made a choking noise nearby.

Dylan looked emotionally unwell.

Evan finally left after that.

Probably because continuing the conversation felt spiritually humiliating.

The second he disappeared into the crowd, Jordan walked forward dramatically.

Jordan: “I need everyone here to know that Nathaniel just experienced jealousy for the first time.”

Nathaniel looked offended immediately.

Nathaniel: “I was not jealous.”

Dylan stared at him blankly.

Dylan: “Nathaniel.”

Jordan: “You looked one inconvenience away from committing homicide.”

Nathaniel ignored both of them completely.

Mostly because Asher was still watching him strangely.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

⸻

Nathaniel’s phone buzzed suddenly.

Perfect timing honestly.

He checked it automatically.

💚 Jordan

I SAW THAT.

🧡 Dylan

Nathaniel looked ready to fight that soccer player.

💚 Jordan

Actually terrifying behavior.

💙 Nathaniel

You’re both dramatic.

🧡 Dylan

You literally claimed Asher socially.

💚 Jordan

“We’re close.”

💚 Jordan

NATHANIEL.

💙 Nathaniel

Shut up.

🧡 Dylan

Oh he’s embarrassed.

💚 Jordan

This is so beautiful to witness.

💙 Nathaniel

I hate all of you.

🧡 Dylan

No you don’t.

💚 Jordan

You’re in love.

Nathaniel locked his phone aggressively.

Too late.

Asher already looked entertained.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Asher: “Your friends are obsessed with you.”

Nathaniel sighed deeply.

Nathaniel: “Unfortunately.”

Asher smiled again.

Soft this time.

Real.

And suddenly Nathaniel realized something terrifying.

The jealousy wasn’t the dangerous part.

The dangerous part was that Asher seemed to like it too.

⸻

Later that night, Asher sat on the couch at home while Luca stretched across the opposite end dramatically scrolling through his phone.

Mateo sat nearby fixing something mechanical at the coffee table in complete silence.

The television played quietly in the background, though nobody was actually paying attention to it.

Asher tried focusing on homework.

Unfortunately—

his phone buzzed.

Nathaniel.

Again.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Asher opened the messages immediately.

A mistake honestly.

💙 Nathaniel

Quick question.

❤️ Asher

That usually means trouble.

💙 Nathaniel

Was that soccer guy flirting with you?

❤️ Asher

You looked jealous today.

💙 Nathaniel

You avoided the question.

❤️ Asher

Interesting.

💙 Nathaniel

Asher.

❤️ Asher

Maybe a little.

💙 Nathaniel

I didn’t like him.

❤️ Asher

I noticed.

💙 Nathaniel

You seemed weirdly happy about it.

❤️ Asher

Maybe I liked seeing you emotional.

💙 Nathaniel

That sounds dangerous.

❤️ Asher

Probably.

A small smile appeared on Asher’s face before he could stop it.

Immediately—

Luca looked up.

Disaster.

An actual disaster.

Luca: “OH MY GOD.”

Asher froze.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because apparently he had smiled without realizing it.

Mateo looked up too now.

Even worse.

Mateo: “What?”

Luca pointed dramatically toward Asher.

Psychotic behavior honestly.

Luca: “Rich boy texted him.”

Mateo’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Calm.

Observant.

Dangerous.

Mateo: “You smile at your phone a lot lately.”

Asher locked his phone immediately.

Too late.

Far too late.

Asher: “You’re both annoying.”

Luca grinned wider.

A nightmare honestly.

Luca: “You like him.”

Asher: “No.”

Mateo: “That answer was too fast.”

Silence.

Asher stared at both of them blankly.

Then stood abruptly.

Asher: “I’m going to bed.”

Luca gasped dramatically behind him.

Luca: “HE’S FLEEING.”

Mateo looked calmer.

Still watching Asher carefully.

Still noticing too much.

And somehow—

that scared Asher more than Luca teasing him ever could.

Because deep down—

Asher was starting to realize something dangerous.

Nathaniel Anderson wasn’t becoming temporary anymore.