Through the Screen novel Chapter 69

it's half past twelve when chris feels his phone buzz in his pocket, and he slides out the device to see pj's name flashing on the screen. his eyebrows furrow in confusion for a while, wondering why pj is calling him this late, and he excuses himself from the group of people he was previously standing with to answer the call.

the rotary event went better than he had expected, and he was slightly relieved to find that abel isn't sulking around anymore but talking to a few people, a pink blush coating his soft cheeks as he tipsily blabbers thank you's to people who congratulate him, a wide smile on his face.

chris smiles at abel 's demeanour, before quickly sliding out of the hall and answering the call, pressing the phone against his ear.

"oh my god chris," is the first thing that slips from pj's mouth, his voice hushed and chris furrows his eyebrows slightly before responding.

"pj? are you okay? what's wrong?" his voice holds an undertone of concern, and he hears pj sigh loudly on the line.

"you won't believe what happened," pj sounds more nervous that bothered, and chris allows the creases in his forehead smooth out, breathing out of relief that it isn't something serious.

"what?"

"noah asked me to hook up with him," as soon as the statement leaves pj's mouth, chris can physically feel his face fall, his lips pursing as pj continues to speak. "and he's just so fucking pretty, i don't even know if i deserve this,"

"i don't know if i like him but, i don't know, he's just really fucking hot and-" he pauses.

"shit, i've been in here too long i'll talk to you tomorrow," pj doesn't even wait for chris' reply before he ends the call, and as soon as the line goes dead, chris' hands are winding into his hair, pulling harshly at the sprayed strands as if it would relieve some of the pain in his chest.

it doesn't work, obviously, and so he just sinks down to the floor, completely defeated before burying his face in his hands and leaning back against the cold wall, trying to figure out what the hell to do.

he will have to tell abel.