InsaneJournal

They’d gotten a lot of mileage from the worn, leather couch in Sid’s basement within the last month. She didn’t care much for sports, so the Celtics game on the television didn’t do much for her besides getting to make fun of Sidney each and every time he got too pumped.

She couldn’t help but smile when he smiled that big. “Babe, you’re so fucking cute,” she laughed when the Celtics scored again.

Sid whooped at the last play. "Did you see that baby?" He asked, leaning over for a kiss.

She met him halfway for the kiss, and then scootched herself closer to his side. “Yeah, it was our dude.”

He laughed, putting his arm around her as he settled again. "They're going all the way this year. I can feel it."

Capri rolled her eyes, smiling. “If you say so.” She rested her head against his chest.

"Woww—" Sid started, cutting himself off when he heard the door open and his brother's footsteps bound down the stairs.

"Are we fucking sledding or …" Spencer stopped at the bottom of the stairs, surveying the scene in front of him. "Sidney, are you going to introduce us?"

Sid rolled his eyes, although he had to remind himself to relax. "This is Cap, she's dope," he said, maintaining his usual casual demeanour as he gestured between them. "This is Spence, he's a dumbass."

“Hey!” Capri raised one hand to wave at Spencer, not moving from her position under Sid’s arm. “I’ve heard a lot of things,” she smiled.

"All good shit I bet," Spencer replied with a grin.

“TBD,” Capri joked. “Depends on how good this ramp is.”

"Yeah we should like … do that right ba—Cap?" Sid asked, turning off the game. It would probably be easier if they were doing something. He could watch highlights later.

“Uhh,” Capri started. Her eyes flicked from the blank TV screen to Sid’s face with confusion. Did he not want to call her babe in front of Spencer? “Sure, sounds good,” she nodded, getting to her feet.

Spencer looked between the two of them, his gaze settling on his brother. He opened his mouth just as Sidney cut him off.

"Let's get a helmet for that fragile human head of yours."

***

Sidney flopped down on his bed, holding his arms out for Capri. It was still strange to him to spend the afternoon sledding and not feel tired or sore after. It was even more strange that he kind of missed the feeling.

"What are we watching?" He asked.

“Um, I don’t know,” Capri said, dropping down on the bed beside Sid. She rolled over so that she was half on top of him. “Did you have fun?”

"Yeah, it was sick," he replied, wrapping his arms around her. "You?"

“Yeah, I like your bro a lot.”

Sid nodded, playing with Capri's hair gently. "He was on best behaviour today." In that he hadn't hit on her or gotten himself injured.

Capri was quiet while she debated whether or not to ask her next question. She closed her eyes to focus on Sidney playing with her hair.

“Were you, like, embarrassed when Spencer came downstairs?” She asked eventually.

Sid froze for a second, his fingers pausing their movement through her hair. He bit down the denial he wanted to give immediately, remembering their promise to be honest.

It wasn't that he was embarrassed of her. Despite the shit he said about Spencer, he cared about his brother's opinion. Sid didn't know what Spencer would say, and he didn't know if he could handle it being something unsupportive. The feelings he had for Capri were feelings Sid never had before, and he wasn't ready to share them with Spencer just yet.

Unfortunately, Sid wasn't able to articulate all this, so he shrugged. "Not like. Of you."

“Oh,” Capri started, both surprised and relieved. She turned so that she could look at him. “What do you mean though?”

"I don't know like Spence says stupid shit sometimes," Sid explained, without explaining anything. He looked down, adjusting his position.

“He’d think it’s dumb?” Capri frowned as she watched his discomfort.

"Like us?" Sid asked.

“Yeah.”

Sid ran his hand over her back. "I don't know."

Capri leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Baby, we can take it slow. I don’t have to, like, chill with the two of you if you’re not ready to say anything to him yet.”

"You don't want to?" He asked, finally looking at her face.

“I like getting to know your fam. But like I don’t wanna make things weird for you and your bro.”

Sidney studied her expression. He felt like that wasn't the whole story, but didn't know how to ask. He was fine with Spencer. They had fun. Did she think it was weird?

"Okay."

Capri looked away from him. Even though she’d offered to lay low, when he accepted there was still a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t help but take it as a confirmation that he might not have been ready for a relationship.

She didn’t know what to say in return, so she kissed his shoulder before laying her head down on his chest.

Sid waited for a response, an explanation, anything. When it became clear he wasn't going to get that, he furrowed his brow in confusion. That was it?

Rather than ask that aloud, he took his phone from his pocket, pulling up an old cartoon for them to fall asleep to.