Cedric will just ignore that. "I will. And if I don't, I'm sure you'll hear it and be out to yell at me."
He watches Howard go, then flops back on the couch when he's safely around the corner. There's so much to think about here. How this will go is the main issue.
In Cedric's mind, the most likely outcome is that Howard got over his crush long ago. If that's true, he'll be rejected, and it's just a matter of degree of reaction. Hopefully...if he asks in the right way, Howard will extend him the same courtesy that Cedric did for him back then. It'll be weird, but maybe someday they can laugh about how silly they both were.
That's too optimistic, though, isn't it? Howard could also be angry. Think he was joking at first, then scoff at the way Cedric missed his chance. How cruel that is, finally liking him a year later when it's too late. There could be walls built up that he'd thump against. Worst case scenario, he gets thrown out. He'd have little trouble finding somewhere else to live with his credits, but it would definitely hurt.
That leaves the third alternative, lying. That will probably lead to the 'getting thrown out'. He's always been taught to be honest, and this awkward tension will tear at him. And if he can't be as brave as Howard was, then what good is he?
Argh. It's interesting to him that 'hoping feeling goes away' is no longer rising up as an option. The whole time Howard was in the room, Cedric's idle daydreams had tickled the back of his mind. He's pictured friendlier conversations, curling up, really bonding. Those things won't happen. But he can't keep lying either, it's not him.
Dinner's a good opportunity, he thinks. If he doesn't have anything to say, he can just stuff his face because it's rude to talk while you're chewing. If he does, he can go slowly because they need time to digest. And they'll be face to face again, where Cedric can weigh his options.
He's running over a fourth scenario when the bell rings, startling him out of the room-pacing he'd started. "Food!" he yelps, snatching the money from the table and practically shoving it at the delivery person. "Thank you, good night."
And there's the fresh hot pizza, unaware of the night it's about to witness.
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He watches Howard go, then flops back on the couch when he's safely around the corner. There's so much to think about here. How this will go is the main issue.
In Cedric's mind, the most likely outcome is that Howard got over his crush long ago. If that's true, he'll be rejected, and it's just a matter of degree of reaction. Hopefully...if he asks in the right way, Howard will extend him the same courtesy that Cedric did for him back then. It'll be weird, but maybe someday they can laugh about how silly they both were.
That's too optimistic, though, isn't it? Howard could also be angry. Think he was joking at first, then scoff at the way Cedric missed his chance. How cruel that is, finally liking him a year later when it's too late. There could be walls built up that he'd thump against. Worst case scenario, he gets thrown out. He'd have little trouble finding somewhere else to live with his credits, but it would definitely hurt.
That leaves the third alternative, lying. That will probably lead to the 'getting thrown out'. He's always been taught to be honest, and this awkward tension will tear at him. And if he can't be as brave as Howard was, then what good is he?
Argh. It's interesting to him that 'hoping feeling goes away' is no longer rising up as an option. The whole time Howard was in the room, Cedric's idle daydreams had tickled the back of his mind. He's pictured friendlier conversations, curling up, really bonding. Those things won't happen. But he can't keep lying either, it's not him.
Dinner's a good opportunity, he thinks. If he doesn't have anything to say, he can just stuff his face because it's rude to talk while you're chewing. If he does, he can go slowly because they need time to digest. And they'll be face to face again, where Cedric can weigh his options.
He's running over a fourth scenario when the bell rings, startling him out of the room-pacing he'd started. "Food!" he yelps, snatching the money from the table and practically shoving it at the delivery person. "Thank you, good night."
And there's the fresh hot pizza, unaware of the night it's about to witness.