Your Hoodie still smells like me - You Don't Get a Say

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Episode 16 — Your Hoodie Still Smells Like Me

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“You Don't Get a Say”

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Kai was having a terrible week.

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First, Eli was upset with him.

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Then Eli refused to explain why.

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And now?

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Now Eli was spending even more time with Asher.

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Which definitely shouldn't bother him.

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Except it did.

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A lot.

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—

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The media building was almost empty that evening.

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Most students had already gone home.

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Kai only stopped by because Rowan forgot his laptop charger.

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A mistake.

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A huge mistake.

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Because while walking past one of the editing rooms, Kai glanced through the small window in the door.

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And froze.

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Inside the room—

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Eli was there.

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So was Asher.

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Both laughing about something.

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The room looked warm compared to the cold hallway outside.

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And then Kai noticed something else.

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Eli wasn't wearing a shirt.

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His T-shirt was hanging over a chair nearby.

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Kai's stomach dropped instantly.

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What?

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Before his brain could catch up, he saw Asher step closer and lightly touch Eli's shoulder while saying something.

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Eli laughed.

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The kind of laugh Kai hadn't heard all week.

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And suddenly every insecure thought in his head became much louder.

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He didn't knock.

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He didn't think.

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He just opened the door.

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The laughter inside immediately stopped.

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Eli looked up.

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Then frowned.

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"Kai?"

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The room became painfully quiet.

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Asher glanced between them.

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Already suspicious.

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Kai's gaze moved from Eli to the discarded shirt.

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Then back again.

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His jaw tightened.

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"What are you doing?"

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The question came out colder than intended.

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Eli blinked.

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"...Changing?"

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"With him?"

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Asher immediately looked annoyed.

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"Excuse me?"

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Eli stared at Kai in disbelief.

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Then something in his expression hardened.

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Slowly.

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Dangerously.

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Because after everything—

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after the breakup, after the confusion, after the kiss they still hadn't talked about—

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Kai was really doing this?

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"Kai," Eli said quietly.

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"What?"

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"What exactly are you implying?"

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Kai opened his mouth.

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Then stopped.

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Because honestly?

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He wasn't sure.

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He just knew seeing Eli with Asher made him feel awful.

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Asher crossed his arms.

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"Oh, I know this look."

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Eli sighed.

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"So do I."

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Kai hated that.

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The shared understanding.

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The familiarity.

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The fact that Asher seemed to understand Eli right now better than he did.

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Finally Kai spoke.

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"You've been avoiding me all week."

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Eli laughed once.

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Not happily.

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"You think this is about that?"

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"I think—"

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"No."

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Eli grabbed his shirt from the chair.

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Frustrated now.

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"You know what your problem is?"

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Kai frowned.

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"What?"

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"You keep acting like you have a claim on me."

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Silence.

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The words hit hard.

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Because part of Kai knew they were true.

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Eli pulled the shirt over his head quickly.

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Then stepped closer.

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"You're jealous every time someone talks to me."

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Kai looked away.

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Bad sign.

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Eli continued anyway.

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"You tell me who I should avoid."

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"Eli—"

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"No."

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For once, Eli didn't let him interrupt.

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His voice wasn't loud.

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That somehow made it worse.

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"You don't get to walk into a room and question me like we're together."

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Kai froze.

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Asher wisely stayed silent.

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Very silent.

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Because this was no longer his fight.

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Eli looked directly at Kai.

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Eyes hurt.

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Angry.

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Tired.

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"We're not boyfriends."

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The sentence landed heavily between them.

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"We're exes."

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Kai's chest tightened painfully.

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Eli's voice softened slightly after that.

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Not gentler.

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Just sadder.

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"You don't get a say."

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The hallway outside suddenly felt miles away.

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Kai stared at him.

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Because there it was.

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The real reason Eli had been distant.

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Not Asher.

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Not Damien.

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Not jealousy.

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Hurt.

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Deep hurt.

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The kind that builds when someone keeps pulling you close—

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then refusing to define what you are.

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Kai swallowed slowly.

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For the first time all week, he finally understood.

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And somehow that felt worse than not knowing.

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Because Eli was right.

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Kai wanted all the rights of a boyfriend.

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The jealousy. The concern. The possessiveness.

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But he still hadn't asked Eli to be his again.

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And until he did—

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he had no right to any of it.

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The silence stretched.

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Then Kai looked at Eli and quietly said:

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"...You're right."

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That answer surprised everyone.

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Including Eli.

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Kai took a step back toward the door.

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Expression tired.

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Regretful.

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"I'm sorry."

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And for the first time since they broke up—

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Kai walked away first because he knew he was wrong.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F0FUHUfUJ

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