justprompts What makes you jealous?
A/N: Pogue is lieutenantwitch. This is dated shortly after Pogue starts dating Kate, during their sophomore year at Spenser.
Caleb Danvers is not the jealous type.
He really isn't. Any of his significant others could tell you that. No matter how short - or long - the relationship was, he wasn't jealous. He'd make sure that his partner wasn't feeling neglected, or disowned; when his attention is on somebody, there is rarely any doubt about it. But he just doesn't get jealous.
Which was why nobody could suppose that the sophomore's irritability with his best friend would be anything of the kind. Including himself.
And it didn't occur to him, either.
But there was something about how Pogue was acting lately which made him feel bad, and he didn't get it. It wasn't like Pogue hadn't hooked up with girls before; hell, all of them had. Or guys, though that was less frequent. (Like once. That he was aware of.) Only, this was different. There was something in his eyes when he looked at the dark-skinned girl which really hadn't been there before, not like that, not anywhere near it, except for when it was about them four, and...
Also, there was the way Pogue got possessive of Kate. Jealous. She usually managed to playfully wave that aside; that is, if she was there when he did it. If she wasn't, Pogue might snap at whoever was near. And more and more, Caleb found himself snapping back. It seemed to confuse Tyler; it definitely alienated Reid, who'd take the other blond's side, more often than not.
It boiled down to the time when Caleb accused his friend that he was putting Kate before them.
He knew it was wrong the moment the words were out of his mouth; he knew he was wrong. And he also knew that he had hurt Pogue. Actually hurt him.
And he knew why (because Pogue always took care of them. No matter what). And he also knew that Pogue's pain hurt him, too. Even if he'd been the one dealing the blow. The realization fell into place as his friend's reaction shifted to anger. Still... Pogue anger. Not ever trying to lash back, at any of them.
"Dammit, Caleb! Stop it! What... what is this? Why are you ... being like that?"
The bile was gone from Caleb's voice, from his thoughts. Completely. He took a breath, and tried to answer. "Because I--" love you. No, he couldn't say this, now. Quieter. "... because if we're ever both single again, I'm not going take anywhere near this long to move from kisses and such to something more." Breathless, even with admitting to just that bit, and he nodded to Pogue and turned to go, not really daring to look at him quite yet, with the guilt of what he'd said - not right now, earlier. "I'm sorry. I've been stupid, I'll do better in the future. And I was wrong in what I said about Kate. 'm glad you two do fit well together."
And he was out.
Caleb Danvers is not the jealous type.
He really isn't. Any of his significant others could tell you that. No matter how short - or long - the relationship was, he wasn't jealous. He'd make sure that his partner wasn't feeling neglected, or disowned; when his attention is on somebody, there is rarely any doubt about it. But he just doesn't get jealous.
Which was why nobody could suppose that the sophomore's irritability with his best friend would be anything of the kind. Including himself.
And it didn't occur to him, either.
But there was something about how Pogue was acting lately which made him feel bad, and he didn't get it. It wasn't like Pogue hadn't hooked up with girls before; hell, all of them had. Or guys, though that was less frequent. (Like once. That he was aware of.) Only, this was different. There was something in his eyes when he looked at the dark-skinned girl which really hadn't been there before, not like that, not anywhere near it, except for when it was about them four, and...
Also, there was the way Pogue got possessive of Kate. Jealous. She usually managed to playfully wave that aside; that is, if she was there when he did it. If she wasn't, Pogue might snap at whoever was near. And more and more, Caleb found himself snapping back. It seemed to confuse Tyler; it definitely alienated Reid, who'd take the other blond's side, more often than not.
It boiled down to the time when Caleb accused his friend that he was putting Kate before them.
He knew it was wrong the moment the words were out of his mouth; he knew he was wrong. And he also knew that he had hurt Pogue. Actually hurt him.
And he knew why (because Pogue always took care of them. No matter what). And he also knew that Pogue's pain hurt him, too. Even if he'd been the one dealing the blow. The realization fell into place as his friend's reaction shifted to anger. Still... Pogue anger. Not ever trying to lash back, at any of them.
"Dammit, Caleb! Stop it! What... what is this? Why are you ... being like that?"
The bile was gone from Caleb's voice, from his thoughts. Completely. He took a breath, and tried to answer. "Because I--" love you. No, he couldn't say this, now. Quieter. "... because if we're ever both single again, I'm not going take anywhere near this long to move from kisses and such to something more." Breathless, even with admitting to just that bit, and he nodded to Pogue and turned to go, not really daring to look at him quite yet, with the guilt of what he'd said - not right now, earlier. "I'm sorry. I've been stupid, I'll do better in the future. And I was wrong in what I said about Kate. 'm glad you two do fit well together."
And he was out.