( That's probably the best he's going to get, so Jonathan accepts it, for now. Even if he has to come to terms with the hell he's going to have to endure once all of this is over and move on, then so be it. He and Steve can just go their separate ways, and Jonathan will pretend this whole mortifying conversation didn't happen.

Steve can just go back to being with Nancy, Jonathan can let her down gently, and he'll find something -- someone -- else. But first, he needs to find Will, and put all of this to rest. )

If she, you know. If she knows there's not a chance for us? His voice wavers as he speaks. ( He'd trust Nancy with that bit of information. She isn't cruel like the others at school. ) Not that it matters because, well, you're not -- ( He stops himself, forces himself to look away, feeling like a fucking idiot for even talking about this. ) I mean, all she needs to know is that all we're ever gonna be is friends, right?