Re: In person: Dietre / Hugh
The phone was tucked back into Dietre’s pocket as he shook his head to himself. He thought Hugh would have made an attempt at guessing what he’d just called him, but alas. “Yes, darling, only good things. I promise.”
“He will like you,” he said firmly, not allowing Hugh any doubt on that. Dietre had no parents for Hugh to meet, it was almost touching that Daniel had stepped in to approve his relationship, even though he wasn’t really meaning to do it in their stead. It felt good to have someone want the best for him. Between Hugh and Daniel, Dietre’s self esteem was higher than it ever had been, though it still had a ways to go. The foundation being built was still fragile, one bad storm away from falling apart and leaving him at square one.
So Zee was not the rival Dietre had imagined her to be. Knowing this, he felt a bit guilty for not making more of an effort to make friends with her. He would have to remedy that. As for the other things Hugh was talking about; “I tried not to get feelings for you.” His smile was a little crooked as he shrugged. “Obviously I failed.”
“...I’ve never been good at controlling my emotions. They overwhelm me, so for a very long time I did what I could to avoid everything that made me feel anything.” He had settled for a deep, but steady line of depression, isolating himself to keep that line from jumping in any direction, good or bad. He was miserable, but his moods were predictable, and that made him feel safe.
“But… What I’ve been feeling lately,” he smiled at Hugh, “I’m glad to be feeling it.”