Vivaldi in the Dark Box Set by Matthew J. Metzger

Author:Matthew J. Metzger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay
Publisher: JMS Books LLC [email protected]

Chapter 16

Jayden was worried.

Well, not freaking-out-worried, not yet, but…still worried, a bit. Kind of.

Darren had been quiet. Well, quiet quiet, proper quiet, really quiet. Silent, really. He hadn’t been replying to texts very quickly, and when he had it had been short and almost rude, but there hadn’t been the angry vibe to it, exactly. Jayden didn’t think he was pissed off, really, but if he wasn’t, then…

Jayden had taken to trying to make up for his absence. He just couldn’t afford to Skype much, or even squeeze in proper phone calls. The exams were looming, and he hadn’t got through nearly the amount of coursework he needed to, but…still. He took to texting during lectures and seminars, between study groups and meals. In meals, a lot of the time, because Darren was most likely to reply (if he did at all) during breakfast and a late-taken dinner, maybe because of his work patterns.

They were just little texts, little love yous and miss yous between the rest of Jayden’s university life, and occasionally the odd you’re quiet, are you okay? in the hopes of prompting Darren into talking to him. Even a little bit, because he’d gone so quiet, and Jayden couldn’t help feeling a little bit like he was being…being shut out, almost. His latest had been a bit desperate-sounding, but honestly, if Darren didn’t shake it off soon, Jayden would be desperate, because this was all wrong, and the distance warranted a little call me later? I miss you xxx.

“Is there a good reason for him to be quiet?” Leah asked on one of the joint efforts she and Tim had of accosting Jayden after lectures and putting pints of lager in front of him. Things were a little tense since their argument, but Jayden didn’t have the heart to pursue it, and Tim was a calming, mediating force between the pair of them. “You said he’s in training. Does he have exams or something coming up, like us?”

“I don’t know,” Jayden admitted. “He doesn’t really talk to me much about his job.”

Leah hummed, mouth twisting to the side. “Well, is everything okay with his family?”

“He doesn’t really talk to them much.”

“You mentioned his folks are getting divorced, though,” Tim said.

“Yeah, but he doesn’t like them,” Jayden insisted. “I mean, you know, he thought it was funny and everything.”

“Huh,” Leah said and smirked. “Takes all sorts.”

“Yeah, well, his half-brother is only like four years older than him, so, yeah,” Jayden mumbled, flicking through his phone inbox. Darren hadn’t texted him back in three days. His Facebook account was active, though, he’d left a status last night, so maybe he was just distracted by work. Maybe.

“Nice,” Tim said and grinned.

“Back on track,” Leah said, punching Tim in the arm. “Why are you worried? You obviously are.”

Jayden sighed. “He has depression.” The words sounded hideous and stark, and he wanted to take them back and use one of their euphemisms, but…but it was depression, and he hated it. He hated it.

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