to the end and back

"Don't you think that went rather well," Cory looked over at Roger as they strolled down the mall. He wanted to say this was their first date if he could, and he'd intended to tell his Mom this, but somehow it just didn't feel right. Not yet. Maybe soon. Really soon. Cory had to keep thinking that.

"I'm not sure just how well you had in mind," Roger shrugged still a bit stand offish as if this was no big deal.

"Well, at least you're here," Cory started. "With me." He looked at him, thinking Roger had been a recluse far too long and Cory knew it was all his fault.

"Yeah." Roger was still a bit indifferent. Cory didn't know how he'd make it up to him. Of course, going on about Dylan was no help. That had been frustrating. He couldn't say they'd argued about it, but there were times Cory felt he'd been begging Roger to take him back. And... And well, he just didn't think it would be quite a mountain to climb again. "You didn't say anything to Kyle, did you?" Roger was looking as if he were talking about a Christmas present or something, not the two of them.

"He figures stuff out." Cory winced.

"Well, if you'd never told Ellie," Roger was still in a huff about that. "She's a gossip girl."

"No, she's not."

"Well, I know she told Eric."

"So."

Roger stopped still in the middle of the mall. As if he could go no further. Sort of like he'd been with Cory early on after the kiss.

"What?" Cory looked back at him.

"Are you sure?" He licked his lips then.

"What was all the makeup stuff for, then, huh?" Cory winced more. They'd spent most of the afternoon in Cory's room. They couldn't have done what they'd done if he'd announced all this to his Mom. That was why he hadn't. As long as she thought he was just one of his buds...it was good to keep things on the sly. "Come on, just stop talking about it, will you. I don't want to talk about it, anymore. Lets just find my mother a Christmas present. All right."

Roger let out a sigh, meekly followed. Looking around as if everyone was looking at them, but no one was. Everyone had their own thing going on. Cory grabbed his hand. Roger almost froze. "We need to find us a hobby," Cory then said.

"Like what, making modeled airplanes," Roger shrugged.

"No, break dancing." Cory nudged Roger's shoulder. "I want to dance with you."

Roger just chuckled.