TeenDad2: He’s always got a witty comeback on hand. I feel like he could be a fantastic lawyer if he went back to school, because he’s always so quick with his responses, and he can see through anybullshit.
TeenDad2: Gwynn? Are you stillthere?
TeenDad2: Itisthe same Alex, isn’t it? I can’t believe we’ve lived in the same city this whole time and never figured it out. The world is so tiny. I’m freakingout
TeenDad2: But that means you’re datingAlex
TeenDad2: You went to the studio tonight, right? He was staying at my house up until he left for the studio, helping with Bo, and he told me that he was going to see you… only I didn’t know it was you. Omg, and that means that when you got walked in on, and when he got walked in on… wow. WOW! I figured it was just a weird coincidence. This is SOWEIRD.
TeenDad2: I’m only going to say this because we’re in private chat, but… I can’t remember the last time he went on a second date with someone, and tonight was your third date, wasn’t it? That’s… wow. He’s been all glowy lately, and now I know why. You must be as good a guy irl as you are online. Alex dumps most guys before the first date is evenover.
TeenDad2: I should probably stop scaring you off, shouldn’tI?
TeenDad2: Ugh. I didn’t mean to sound all weird about it. It’s just… I really care about Alex, and I want him to be happy. I think that you make him happy, and I want you to be together. Just hang in there,okay?
Laurence didn’t know what to say. His heart stood on a precipice, the edges crumbling and the void beneath dark and seemingly bottomless. All it would take was one more piece of unsavory information to break that ledge free and send itplummeting.
He knew that Alex wasn’t a virgin. He’d broadcast that fact in just about every way he could, from the words he spoke, to the hunger in his eyes, to the way he moved. Laurence didn’t mind that he was experienced—it wasn’t like he was a virgin, either. But there was something chilling about knowing that Alex was a serial dater who broke hearts wherever hewent.
Laurencecaredfor him, and after what they’d shared at the studio, he’d thought Alex felt the same way. But now, how was he supposed toknow?
Gwynning: I’m here. Sorry. You didn’t scare me off. It was just a lot toprocess.
TeenDad2: So itisthe same Alex, isn’t it? I’m just in awe. How weird is it that we know someone in commonirl?
Gwynning: Can you tell me something,TD?
TeenDad2: Yeah, sure. I’m an open book. What’sup?
Gwynning: Has he said anything aboutme?
TeenDad2 started and stopped typing several times. Laurence watched the back and forth at the bottom of the screen. At last, hereplied.
TeenDad2: I don’t really know if I should be telling you this, but… I want you guys to be together, so I’m going to go against Bro Code and say itanyway.
TeenDad2: After your date that Friday night where Matthew walked in on you, he told me that he felt guilty and sad because he wanted to see you again. He’s never felt that way about a guy before. He’s always the one who ends relationships and leaves his hookups wanting more, but he’s different with you. He’s different, and it makes me hopeful that maybe he’s realized that he’s found someone who’s not going to hurthim.
TeenDad2: You’re not going to hurt him, right? Because I like you, Gwynn. I don’t want to have to hate you for hurting my bestfriend.
All of it was too much to take at once. Laurence’s thoughts werebacklogged.
Gwynning: I’m not going to hurt him. I would never hurthim.
TeenDad2: You’re making me actually cry. I want this for both of you. I want you two to behappy
TeenDad2: You need to be with him. All of this… this crazy coincidence thing we have going on? It has to be a sign. He’s crazy about you, Gwynn, but he’s scared, and he’s been hurt before. But if you can get through to him, then his heart belongs to you. I know it does. I can see it in his eyesalready.
Life, to Laurence, followed a logical sequence of events—for every action, there was an equal and opposite reaction, and by predicting what those reactions were, he guided himself through even the toughest times. Having Matthew, his career with Synecta, chasing this year’s raise… he’d followed his head and seen theresults.
But matters of the heart were different. They followed no path, no rules, and no logic. They flared up and quieted down unpredictably, and managed to injure the heart they inhabited in incalculableways.
The process of falling in love was beautiful, but the journey was harrowing, and tonight, Laurence was learning that firsthand. The marriage of science and art made more sense to him than ever. Love was definable. It could be reproduced through chemical means, and it was bound by terms that dictated what it was, and what it was not. But the art of falling in love was a uniquely human experience, and it made its mark in different, stunningways.
TeenDad2: And if you think it’s too late, trust me, it’s not. He hasn’t been same since the Friday when everything went down. Just, please please please, no matter what the other guys say, make sure he knows how you feel. I don’t want you to be hurt, and I want him to behappy.
Gwynning: I’m going to talk to him. Not tonight, but soon. Ipromise.
TeenDad2: I’m so frickin excited foryou!
