Chapter Thirteen

Bryce opened up the mini fridge and grabbed a beer. He brought it back to the table and popped it open. Owen glanced over at Texty's laptop, before staring at it.

"Texty?"

"yeh?"

"How are you doing?"

"pretty good, liam and i have been talking more"

"That's nice! What's he been talking about?"

"mostly music, but sometimes... yk..."

"Oh."

Bryce frowned. He swirled the can of beer around in his hand. Owen glanced over at him.

"i saw bryce crying earlier"

"Texty-"

"you saw him crying too right"

"I don't think we should be-"

"he was also scrolling thru u and liam's conversations"

"Texty, we shouldn't-"

"tbh idrc that he was crying, hes being kind of an ass recently"

"Texty-" Owen raised his voice.

"like liam is definitely still sobbing"

"Texty, he's right next to me!" Owen yelled at her. Bryce was taken aback and shrunk down in his seat.

"yeah well i couldnt care less anymore"

"Texty, please set aside your bias for a second and put yourself in Bryce's shoes."

"okay"

"What would you do if you were Bryce, and you were approached by someone you had to keep up appearances with and asked if you missed them?"

"i would say i missed them"

"Never mind, this would never work, uh.." Owen scratched his head.

"How 'bout- just hear me out here -we sleep on it."

"thanks a lot bryce, you forgot that i cant sleep"

you're talking to bryce?

yeah

Owen turns the computer towards himself, in case Texty started insulting Bryce again. Owen had honestly felt the way Bryce did, sometimes. That is, that he had to uphold a reputation with someone, but that wasn't really with any of his friends, maybe a lot of higher-ups at the company or a girl he liked or something.

Owen simply watched Liam and Texty talk.

what're you two talking about?

why are you interested? i thought you were mad at him lol

no i am

why are you interested then

im just curious ok

Texty hesitated before typing.

we were talking abt art n shit

why were you talking about sleep when i woke up

he said something like "when i dont have motivation i just sleep longer"

oh

somethin' bothering you?

he didn't say anything about me?

why are you interested

fine i'll drop it here

"owen its impolite to stare"

"O-oh uh-" Owen stuttered before looking away and positioning the laptop so Bryce could read it. Just then, Owen got a ring on his phone.

"Hello?"

Bryce could hear muffled words come from the person on the other end.

"Yes, this is Owen."

Bryce raised an eyebrow.

Owen jumped back in his chair. He got up with shaky legs and spoke again. "Alright. We'll be there as soon as we can."