***Trav’s POV***

                “Wal-Mart! Wal-Mart!” Gav sang cheerfully as we walked around the store.

                I rolled my eyes. “Let’s just get some pasta for dinner, and then we can grab some chips and soda,” I said.

                Gav and Gage were going to spend the night at my house tomorrow, so we were picking up some stuff today. I was planning on inviting Alex, too.

                “Hey Trav, your best friend is here,” Gage said, nodding.

                I peeked into the next aisle and paled. Collin and Alex were there together, Collin smiling and talking.

                I pulled my head back before they noticed me. “Collin scares the hell out of me,” I groaned miserably.

                Gav peeked over curiously before raising an eyebrow. “I swear they have some incest thing going on there. Look at them!” he said, keeping his voice down.

                I peeked back over. Collin was holding Alex’s hand and gesturing at a shelf of food. Alex scanned the shelf.

                “You can pick out whatever you want Al. I’ll make it for dinner when we get home,” Collin said, giving Alex a bright smile.

                Alex nodded shyly, reaching out and grabbing something, handing it to Collin. Collin took it and ruffled Alex’s hair affectionately.

                “Hey, cheer up! What’s on your mind?” he asked curiously.

                Alex blushed and shook his head. He began to twirl his hair around his finger, his gaze dropping down to his feet.

                “Come on buddy. We’ll get the rest of the stuff that we need and then we can go home. I’ll make us dinner and we can play catch in the yard, or watch The Boondock Saints,” Collin said.

                Alex smiled a little and nodded. Collin ruffled his hair again, laughing a little.

                “Come on. I know that’s your favorite movie,” Collin said, surprising me a little. Alex didn’t seem like the type of person who would like such a violent movie. Then again, he probably just liked it for the humor.

                Alex nodded again. Collin tugged on his hand and led him out of the aisle and out of my sight. I turned back to my friends and sighed.

                “He’s so different around Alex. I don’t think it’s incest. I think he just really cares about his little brother,” I said honestly.

                “Does anyone ever listen to Gage?” Gage asked in annoyance. “How many times do I have to tell you that their dad has bad lung cancer and their mom spends most of her time at work? Collin pretty much raised Alex. Duh they’re disgustingly close. About as close as brothers can get without crossing over into incest. Collin loves Alex. He’s not in love with him.”

                “Aw Gagey, you’re just jealous that Trav gets Alex and you don’t!” Gav said joyfully.

                “That has nothing to do with the conversation. Although it is slightly true. Alex is still the hottest guy I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing. I would hit it so hard,” Gage said thoughtfully.

                “He’s my date!” I reminded Gage, narrowing my eyes at him. “MINE!”

                “Bite me,” Gage said with a smirk.

                I jumped behind Gav. “Ew. No. You probably taste bad,” I whined, wrapping my arms around Gav’s neck and jumping onto his back.

                Gav steadied me and laughed at Gage’s annoyed expression. We began to walk around in search of food for tomorrow night.

                “I’m so glad we have Monday off. I just want to watch The Walking Dead and stay up all night with you guys!” Gav said.

                I rested my chin on his shoulder and nodded in agreement, smiling at the thought. If Alex came and hung out with us, it would be great. He could get to know my friends. Maybe I could help him become more social. I felt bad that his only friends were Collin and Josh.

                “Trav?”

                I jumped, nearly hitting my head on Gav’s. “Jeez Alex!” I whined, turning my head so that I could look at him. “Stop scaring me!”

                “Sorry,” he said, blushing. Collin stood next to him, glaring at me.

                “Come on Alex. We’re leaving,” he growled. Jeez, it was hard to believe he could be so happy and kind to Alex when he was such a dick to everyone else.

                “Wait! Alex, I have to ask you something,” I said, deciding to invite him now.

                “Yea?” Alex asked shyly.

                “Gage and Gav are spending the night at my house tomorrow. Do you want to come too?” I asked, giving him a friendly smile.

                Alex blushed and nodded. “Yea, that sounds like a lot of fun,” he said, his voice quite but happy. He turned to Collin. “Can you drop me off at Trav’s tomorrow, big brother?”

                Collin stared at Alex in surprise. “Are you serious?” he asked in disbelief. “You really want to spend the night at Travis’s house?”

                Alex nodded, his eyes pleading with Collin. Collin shot me a look of hatred before nodding at Alex reluctantly.

                “Yea. I’ll bring you,” he growled, the words sounding like they caused him pain. “Now let’s go. I’m hungry.” He grabbed Alex’s hand and began to drag him away.

                “Bye Trav! See you tomorrow!” Alex said, giving me an apologetic glance and waving.

                I waved back to him before resting my chin on Gav’s shoulder again. “Well, now that Collin Radke wants to kill me, let’s go get some Doritos.”

                We grabbed some soda, chips, and other food before checking out. We piled into my car and I drove Gav and Gage home before going back to my own house.

                The next day, my doorbell rang and I went downstairs, letting Gage and Gav in. We went up to my living room and set up the Nintendo 64.

                “So where’s the kid?” Gage asked as I handed him a controller.

                I rolled my eyes at him. “Alex isn’t a kid, Gage. He’s only three years younger than us,” I pointed out.

                Gage waved his hand dismissively. “Details. Anyways, where is that sexy thing?”

                “He texted me a few minutes ago. He said he’s just waiting for Collin to finish showering and then he’ll come,” I said.

                I sat down in Gav’s lap and he wrapped his arms around me as we started to play Mario Kart. Gav and I began to work together to beat Gage.

                “You guys never beat me,” Gage said cheerfully as he neared the finish line.

                “Ah! But I have green shells and OH GOD THEY HIT ME INSTEAD,” Gav cried miserably.

                I laughed as Gage came in first, I came in second, and Gav somehow managed to lose. Oh Gav…He always had sucked at video games.

                The doorbell rang and I got up. I went down and opened the door, trying to keep a calm expression at the sight in front of me.

                Alex stood there with Collin next to him Collin’s dirty-blond hair was dripping wet, and he was wearing a white T-shirt that clung to his muscular body.

                He reached out and gripped the front of my shirt tightly, bringing his face close to mine and causing some of the water from his hair to splash onto my face. He eyed me carefully, a pout sliding onto his face.

                “I’m not happy about this,” he announced. “And I know that you and those other two faggots have been close friends for years. You better not leave Alex out, or make him feel unwelcome or uncomfortable. Got it?”

                I nodded rapidly. “I got it,” I squeaked out.

                “Collin! Please let him go!” Alex begged, tugging on Collin’s wet shirt.

                Collin released me and I nervously fixed my shirt. Collin looked down at Alex and placed a hand on his shoulder.

                “Have fun, and call me if you want to come home,” he said, leaning down and kissing Alex’s forehead.

                “Thanks for bringing me big brother,” Alex said gratefully, giving Collin a quick hug before waving to him.

                “Remember what I said!” Collin snapped at me before storming over to the car and getting in. He gave a short wave to Alex before pulling out of my driveway and disappearing down the street.

                “I’m sorry about him. He’s a little overprotective,” Alex said quietly, stepping into my house and taking his shoes off.

                “A little?” I asked with a terrified laugh. “Yea. Just a little overprotective.”

                Alex bit his lip and followed me up to the living room. I sighed as we watched Gage and Gav wrestle around on the floor, Gav laughing and Gage looking furious.

                “Take it back!” Gage snapped, pinning Gav’s arms behind him.

                “Never!” Gav cried joyfully, trying to squirm free.

                “Gav, stop insulting Gage’s height,” I said, yanking Gage off of Gav.

                “I can’t help it! He’s so tiny! IT’S ADORABLE! Oh my freaking god. Is Alex actually taller than Gage?!” Gav jumped up and grabbed Gage, thrusting him next to Alex and narrowing his eyes at them. He burst into laughter and I couldn’t help but join in when we saw that Alex was, indeed, taller than poor Gage.

                “Sh-Shut up!” Gage grumbled, blushing slightly and dropping onto the couch. He crossed his arms and glared at us. “I hate you!” he whined.

                Gav sat down and I dropped onto his lap, motioning at Alex to sit next to us. I glanced at Gage and raised an eyebrow at him.

                “I was threatened again by Collin. Only he was dripping wet and wearing a white T-shirt,” I said.

                “Jeez, and I missed that?!” Gage cried. “I mean, Collin Radke is a complete asshole, don’t get me wrong, but he’s not that bad looking.” He smirked, his eyes resting on Alex. “I see good looks run in the family. Your parents really knew how to work the gene pool, Alex.”

                “Uh…thanks. I think,” Alex said, looking slightly confused and slightly amused.

                “Oh that was definitely a compliment,” Gage assured with a nod.

                “Okay, okay. Lay off my date!” I whined, causing Alex to blush a bright red.

                “Your date my ass. You’re over there cuddling with Gav!” Gage argued.

                It was my turn to blush as I realized that I was comfortably curled up in Gav’s lap, my arms around his neck. I was so used to our closeness that I guess I never really thought of it as possibly hurting Alex’s feelings.

                “No, it’s okay!” Alex said quickly as I shifted to get off of Gav.

                Gav wrapped his arms around me and stuck his tongue out at Alex. “MY TRAV! ONLY I’M ALLOWED TO DO…THINGS…TO HIM!” he cried fiercely.

                “Hey, hey, hey. His virginity is mine. Unless Alex wants to share it,” Gage said, winking at us.

                I rolled my eyes. “Sorry about them Alex. They’re perverts,” I said with a hopeless sigh.

                Alex gave us a small smile. “No, it’s okay. They’re funny,” he said.

                “Aw, Alex likes us!” Gav said cheerfully. “Even though we probably creep him out! Especially Gage. Don’t worry Alex! Gage pervs on every attractive guy! Oh…that makes me sound like I’m attracted to you…well, I like girls. Though if I were gay, I’m sure I’d be attracted to you!” He snapped his mouth shut, looking confused.

                I pat Gav on the head and laughed. “It’s okay Gav,” I said, speaking to him as if he were a small child. “Don’t hurt yourself now. You know you’re no good at thinking.”

                Gav looked up at me and flashed an innocent smile at me. “Sorry,” he said, sounding as innocent as he looked.

                Now, I had known Gav since we were born. I knew damn well that he was far from innocent. But in that moment, he looked so angelic, so absolutely beautiful, that time crawled to a stop and my breath caught in my throat. The old feelings for him that I thought I was getting over swelled in my heart, making it hurt.

                But the sound of the front door shutting snapped me out of it, and I turned my head as my parents came up the stairs and into the living room, talking to each other. I was secretly happy that they were home. Guilt was already starting to eat at me. I was supposed to be with Alex now. I couldn’t still have such strong feelings for Gav!

                “Hi Trav. Hi Gav. Hi Gage. Hi…uh…”

                “Alex,” I said as my mom stared at him. “Mom, dad, this is Alex. My date to the senior ball.”

                “Hello Alex!” my parents said cheerfully.

                “Hello,” Alex mumbled shyly, his gaze falling to his feet as a blush came over his face again. “Nice to meet you.”

                My parents smiled at him before disappearing down the hall and into their bedroom. I handed Alex a controller and we began to play Mario Kart again.

                “GO ALEX!” Gav and I screamed as he and Gage battled for first place.

                Gage looked concentrated as hell on the game, but Alex seemed completely at ease as he passed Gage and came in first. He glanced at us curiously as we stared at him in disbelief.

                “What?” he asked, baffled by our stares.

                “No one’s ever beaten Gage,” we said in awe.

                “I’m good at Mario Kart,” he said with an innocent shrug. “My dad and I play it together a lot.”

                “I lost,” Gage whispered. He dramatically slapped a hand over his heart. “OH GOD THE PAIN. I NEVER LOSE!”

                I pulled Alex into a hug, which was slightly awkward since I was still in Gav’s lap, and laughed. “Way to go Alex!” I said happily.

                He blushed and hugged me back. “Uh…no problem,” he said shyly. HE WAS SO DAMN ADORABLE.

                I released him and smiled at him. But then my guilt slapped me in the face again as I remembered the strong feelings I had gotten for Gav earlier. I guess I still wasn’t over him.

                We spent the next few hours playing video games, chugging soda, eating, watching movies, and playing cards. Getting tired, we finally called it quits and moved to my bedroom.

                I set up an air mattress and looked around my room, sighing. “Three of us are going to have to share the air mattress. It holds three people, and my bed only holds one,” I said.

                “I’ll take the bed!” Gage offered, hopping onto my bed and folding his hands under his head comfortably.

                “Way to be unselfish,” I grumbled sarcastically.

                We changed into shorts before dropping onto the air mattress, me in between Alex and Gav. Gage shut the lights off and I looked up at my ceiling, the only sound now coming from my fan.

                After a few minutes, I could hear everyone’s soft breathing, and it comforted me. My eyes, having adjusted to the darkness, flicked between Gav and Alex.

                Alex so peaceful asleep. Like a little angel, his brilliant golden hair standing out in the darkness of my room. He looked so young and innocent. His fist was gently gripping the pillow, the only sign that he was probably having an unpleasant dream. He shifted slightly, letting out a slight moan before settling down again.

                Gav, on the other hand, was sprawled out and in a deep, comfortable sleep. His mouth was wide open, and his arm shifted so that it was draped across my chest.

                I reached out and gently placed my hand on Gav’s arm. I bit my lip nervously, those strong feelings erupting in me again. I wasn’t over Gav, and I knew that now. Hell, I wasn’t even close to being over him.

                I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing my mind would shut up so that I could sleep. What if my feelings for Gav hurt Alex? What if he found out I still liked Gav? Alex was shy, not stupid. If I wasn’t careful, he’d be able to tell.

                I had to sort out my feelings before senior ball. I had to find some way to get over Gav so I could just move on in life already.

                My eyes cracked open and slid over to Alex. My gaze went past him and my eyes rested on Gage. He was sleeping silently, looking mean even in his sleep.

                Maybe…Maybe Gage could help me find a way to get over Gav. I wasn’t going to sleep with Gage like he wanted me to. But what if he had some useful advice for me?

                I nodded to myself in the darkness, my hand still on Gav’s arm. I was going to have to have Gage help me so that I could really get over my feelings for Gav, before Alex found out.