it's open season.

[asphalts]

a. text/call b. action c. picture d. other

Comments

[asphalts]

[ yeah. totally smooth. ]

so you'd turn me away if i were sober?

[know]

[ he tries. ]

Only if you were acting like a dick.

[asphalts]

[ try harder. ]

i can't help the way i am.

[know]

[ never gonna happen. he's leaving shit open for ronan to take and run with!!! ]

I know that. Not asking you to be any different.

[asphalts]

[ well he should just come out and say what he means then!!! ]

unless i don't want a door slammed in my face.

[know]

[ SO SHOULD RONAN. ]

We both know I'd still let you in.
Eventually.

[asphalts]

[ WHATEVER. he's already said it in every way short of actually saying it. ]

we both know i'm not the begging type.

[know]

[ be more clear!!! ]

Who said anything about begging?

[asphalts]

[ what could be clearer than hand lotion and a mixed tape? ]

well i'm sure as hell not going to sit outside your door in silence while i wait for you to let me in.

hate phone tagging so much omg

[know]

[ the words. ]

Just lay on the stairs, right?

and it hates you apparently

[asphalts]

[ words aren't his strong suit. ]

look. i probably wouldn't do that if i were sober.

cries about it

[know]

[ then action!!! ]

Probably??

there there

[asphalts]

[ see: the hand lotion and mixed tape!!! ]

did i fucking stutter?

[know]

[ mouth on mouth action. ]

Maybe. Hard to tell that kind of thing through text.

[asphalts]

[ he doesn't want to get slapped.

instead of a text response, adam's phone will light up with an incoming call from ronan lynch. and, if adam picks up, the first thing he'll hear from ronan is: ]

You should know I don't stutter.

[know]

[ he won't get slapped. probably.

nah he doesn't pick up. bye felicia. ]

[know]

[ jk. he does after like the fourth ring. he ain't desperate. ]

Maybe you developed one from the last time I saw you.

[asphalts]

[ and he wonders why ronan doesn't tell him how he really feels. god. ]

What do you think?

[know]

[ whatever. he's trying to play it cool, okay. ]

I think you're getting close to being pointlessly aggressive and I'm trying to not have that happen.

[asphalts]

[ well it does things to a guy's confidence. ]

Then don't be a dumbass. [ said with no actual heat. ] Are you working today?

[know]

[ he's confused and doesn't know what to do. shut up. ]

I'll try. [ said with the utmost of dry sarcasm. ] And no, not working.

[asphalts]

[ that makes two of them. a recipe for disaster. ]

Good. Let's go somewhere. Gansey's being weird and Noah pulled his disappearing act, and I'm already getting bored.

[ it's not the whole truth, but it is part of it. ]

[know]

[ maybe it'll work out! ]

So I'm just the back up plan.

[ talk about confidence issues. ]

Okay.

[asphalts]

[ silence reigns on ronan's end for a second too long — as he tries to figure out how not to say that adam's never the back-up plan, he's the first thing (or one of the first things) ronan thinks about when he wakes up, usually because adam was probably featured in his dreams at some point, and the things he said about gansey and noah, while technically true, were just excuses to hang out with adam without seeming weird — before he says, ]

What did I say about not being a dumbass, Parrish?

[ he blows out a breath. ]

I'll pick you up in twenty.

[know]

[ it's not his fault! what else is he supposed to think? he may suspect all he wants but that doesn't make it true. that ronan doesn't act on it is a big indicator to adam that it's probably just some phase. he's never gonna be the one, he's starting to accept that now. ]

Okay. I'll meet you outside.