I woke up and realized that I'd rolled away from Kaz during the night. He was facing the other way, still asleep. I was sprawled over the bed, taking up most of it and forcing Kaz to back up against the wall. How romantic Killian, you little charmer.

Leo was up and digging through his closet for his uniform. He noticed me and gave a little wave.

I rubbed my eyes and shook Kaz. "Kaz, get up and get out."

He rolled over and slowly got up, his hair falling into his face messily. "It would suck to be your one night stand, O'Malley."

"The most action you're getting is my foot up your ass if you don't get out of my bed," I said.

He crawled out of my bed and grabbed his shirt, pulling it on before leaving the room. I collapsed back against my pillows and sighed. Okay, okay, so I would totally be up for ass and something other than my foot. But I would not make myself sound desperate out loud.

I got out of bed and grabbed my things, heading down to the bathroom and showering. When I got out of the shower, Kaz was at the sink brushing his teeth, a towel wrapped around his waist.

His hair was wet and falling in a way that almost his undercut if you looked at him right. Oh shit Killian, remember your vow not to be desperate out loud.

"I'd do you in one of these showers right now." Good job, totally not desperate or anything, 10/10 performance.

Kaz smirked and spit his toothpaste into the sink. "Well, at least I'd have minty fresh breath during the whole thing. Sorry to break your heart O'Malley, but I'm not going to fuck you in a cramped shower stall in a dorm building."

"Fair enough." I pulled out my own toothbrush and started cleaning my teeth.

Kaz pushed his hair out of his face. I glared at him and shoved his hands away, reaching out and messing his hair up so that it was back in his face. I carefully fixed it to hide his undercut.

"You hate my hair so much," he said, shaking his head.

"I have a thing against undercuts," I said, eyeing him. "There, now you almost pass as attractive enough to bang in a public bathroom."

Okay, so with his hair like that, I would totally let him do me right on the sinks. But he had a big ego and I'd be damned if I fed it anymore.

"O'Malley, are you worried about people finding out?" Kaz asked.

I shrugged. "Honestly? Yes. I'm a totally baby when it comes to pain. But I finally have a boyfriend and goddammit am I going to brag until this school comes for me."

Kaz grinned a little. "Fair enough. I'll see you in a little."

He left the bathroom and I finished brushing my teeth before heading to the room. I changed into my uniform and waited for Leo to finish getting ready.

We left the room together and met up with Kaz and Mikayla in the hallway. I looked around, but saw no sign of Pete.

"Where's Pete?" I asked, stepping up next to Kaz.

"In the health center, still. He'll be back by tonight," Kaz said. "They're probably making sure he'll stay on his medication."

"Something tells me you'll end up in the health center after Sudlow sees what you did," I said. "This was a great relationship, really. I'll tell stories of you to my children. I'll say kind words at funeral."

"I'll be fine," he said dismissively.

I grabbed him, stopping him so suddenly that Leo and Mikayla nearly ran into us. Kaz looked at me in curious surprise.

"Why?" I demanded. "Why do you care so little about what happens to you?"

"I'm a very selfish person. I tend to care a little too much about what happens to me," he said in amusement.

I shook my head, glaring at him in frustration. "No, you never care, Kaz. You take the fall for everyone. You protect as many of us as you can. You make sure that you always end up with the worst of the punishment so that we don't. Why?"

He shrugged, but I already had a guess. Damn Kaz to hell for making me care about him this much this fast.

"Aaron," I said. "It's because of Aaron, isn't it? He made you take the fall. You're just so used to taking the fall now."

"He didn't make me take the fall," Kaz said, pulling my hand off. "I always willingly did."

"Well stop doing it. Playing hero is only getting you hurt," I said.

Kaz started walking again and we all followed him. He shoved his hands in his pockets, looking thoughtful. God, I hated whatever Aaron had done to him.

We made it to class and took our seats. I got up after a minute and went over to Kaz's desk, sitting on it, spinning to face him and placing my feet on his legs.

Kaz sighed and folded his arms over my legs, resting his chin on them and looking up at me. "Really O'Malley, you're getting too into this. This isn't about Aaron. It's about the way I was raised. To protect people I care about."

"You need to stop it, though. We all choose to help you," I said. "I'm not saying I want my face busted open by a ruler, but I am saying that it's not fair when we all do things and you're the only one who catches shit for them. Why can't you just be the selfish asshole I originally thought you were?"

"I like to surprise people." He smirked, eyes sliding away to the door. "Speaking of surprise..."

My face paled and I turned. Sure enough, Mr. Sternberg was staring at the two of us with a mixture of disbelief and anger. Oh shit. Great, I love getting caught with my boyfriend by homophobic teachers.

Kaz didn't move off of my legs. "This is where it starts, O'Malley. He'll probably report back to Constance before the lesson starts."

Sure enough, Mr. Sternberg set his things down at his desk and left the room. I groaned and reached for my phone, wondering if I should text my will to someone.

"Where's my...Kaz!" I glared at him, hitting my empty pockets.

Kaz set my phone in my lap. "A relationship with me means things are going to go missing fairly often."

"Thanks for the warning," I grumbled, snatching my phone away from him. I shoved him off of my legs and turned, jumping off of his desk. "Feel free to steal my homework and do it for me."

"I'll help you with your homework, but I won't do it for you," Kaz said, leaning back in his chair. "I'm a mom friend, really."

"Please do not ever say that again now that we're dating," I said, dropping back into my seat.

Mr. Sternberg came back into the room and the class quieted down. He went about teaching his lesson and Kaz didn't bother him. He didn't bother Mr. Miller, either, as we moved into his room.

By the time we reached Mr. Sudlow's class, I was a nervous wreck. Mr. Sudlow was going to murder Kaz and I'd make some awkward pun like "He's a killer teacher!"

We took our seats and I tried not to look guilty or stare at the board cover. Mr. Sudlow came into the room after about two minutes and snapped at everyone to shut up so he could start his lesson.

"Now, today we'll be talking about-" He froze as he snapped up the board cover. He stared at the pictures, eyes raking over the descriptions.

Kids began to whisper excitedly as they read the board. Kaz smirked, crossing his arms as he watched Mr. Sudlow.

"Casimir," Mr. Sudlow hissed, spinning around. "You think you're funny?" He tore the picture of his gay nephew and stormed over to Kaz's desk, slapping it down. "Take a good long look because you and him are both faggots." He spun and pointed at me. "And you too, Killian, you're a faggot. The worst kind if you're willing to degrade yourself further with a worthless thief."

I couldn't help but wince. Look, okay, call me sensitive, but calling me a faggot was equivalent to stabbing me in the stomach with a rusty blade. "But it just means a bundle of sticks, Kil!" No, it was a word that had been twisted into an insult for the gay community. Words carried power, and that one was like a wrecking ball to my self-esteem.

"You know the difference between us, Sudlow?" Kaz said, sitting up a little straighter. "You're over here using your own nephew to insult us. Me? I grew up in a loving, supportive family. And overall, I think my morals are something you should aspire to have. Faggot? Really? Why are you teaching if all you plan to do is emotionally harm kids?" He stood up, a little shorter than Mr. Sudlow but far more intimidating. "You know what I think? I think you're just an insecure, bitter man."

Mr. Sudlow grabbed the front of Kaz's shirt and yanked him close. "I will break you."

"I agree with Kaz," Rogan said. "You're an insecure, bitter man. But your daughter is pretty hot. Think she'll fuck me in a park, too?"

"She seems like the kind of girl who would be down for a threesome because she has daddy issues," Leo said.

"You're making it weird, Leo," Mikayla said. "Besides, no self-respecting girl would fuck you or Rogan."

"She's not self-respecting. She fucked a guy in the middle of a park," Rogan said.

"All of you shut up!" Mr. Sudlow boomed, face bright red and body trembling with rage. He shoved Kaz against the desk before storming up to the front of the room. He grabbed his phone, dialed, and held it to his ear. "This is James Sudlow. Yes. Yes, send those two. I'm aware. Just do it."

He hung up the phone and got to work tearing down the pictures and captions on the board, shoving them all in a folder. He grabbed the picture of his nephew off of Kaz's desk and put it in the folder as well, shooting Kaz a dirty look. He scribbled a note, stuck it in the folder, and tapped his fingers against it as he waited.

There was a knock on the door and then Cam stepped in, followed by Siggy. Siggy had his usual emotionless expression, but surprise hit him as he noticed Rogan.

"Cameron, Joseph, take Rogan, Leopold, and Killian down to Headmaster Constance. And give him this." Mr. Sudlow handed them the folder with the pictures and the note.

My face paled horribly. Hold on, hold on, hold on. Clearly I just had something stuck in my ears. He said "Kaz" not "Killian", right?

But when I looked over at Kaz, I realized how surprised he looked, too. He forced his usual calm expression onto his face.

"Slip of the tongue, Sudlow? I'm the one who put your sins on display, not O'Malley," Kaz said.

"Oh no, Casimir. Clearly punishing you doesn't work. But maybe Killian can keep you in line," Mr. Sudlow said, a cruel grin on his face. "Now, you three hurry the hell up and get out of my sight."

"I'm not allowed to take Rogan there," Siggy said, trying hard not to look at his brother. "You know that."

"You're going to take him there because I told you too. I promise the Headmaster and your parents will understand," Mr. Sudlow said.

"So Rogan, Leo, and O'Malley get all the credit for my hard work? I'm calling bullshit," Kaz said. "I'll head on down and have a chat with the Headmaster. I think we got off to a great start last time."

"Shut up," Mr. Sudlow said flatly. "Rogan, Leopold, Killian. Go."

Rogan, Leo, and I stood up and slowly made our way towards Cam and Siggy. Mikayla placed an arm on Kaz's arm to keep him from jumping up as we left the room, the door shutting behind us.

Okay. Okay, really, how bad could it be? Constance didn't know I had done anything. Maybe he'd just...

Yea, no, I was totally fucked.

"Rogan, what did you do?" Siggy demanded as we started walking.

"Sig, you're not allowed to talk to him," Cam reminded.

"Shut up. Rogan?" Siggy said, glaring at Rogan.

"I told Sudlow I wanted to fuck his daughter. It was a little joke," Rogan said, turning his head away from Siggy.

"You're disgusting," Cam said, pulling his arm back to hit Rogan.

Siggy caught Cam's wrist. "If you hit my brother, I will snap your damn wrist."

"Siggy!" Cam said, turning his anger on Siggy. "He's a waste. You're going places in life. He's just going to jail."

"You got one warning and that's all," Siggy said, releasing Cam's wrist. Cam glared, but didn't try to hit Rogan again.

"Shit Sig, you're savage," Leo said. "Not as savage as Constance. Fuck, I should've just kept my mouth shut."

"I'm only caught up in this because of the guy I'm tonguing," I said miserably.

I knew everything was going to go south, but it didn't know it would get this bad this fast. Goddammit Kaz.

We walked across campus and to a building I'd never been in before. Cam and Siggy led us inside and upstairs. There was an office at the end with closed double doors. A nameplate read out "George S. Constance". I never thought I'd be so terrified of a man named George.

"Take Leo in there first," Siggy said.

Cam grabbed Leo's arm and yanked him through the double doors. Siggy grabbed the front of Rogan's shirt and glared at him.

"I told you to stay out of trouble!" he said.

"I'm not good at that, Seph!" Rogan said.

Siggy released Rogan and looked at Constance's office. "Shit, Rogan. I'll do what I can to keep you from going in there."

"He's going to make sure you two stay separated," I said, realizing what Sudlow's plan was. Cam had gone in there with the folder, but I'd bet my life that the note inside had punishment suggestions.

"No." Siggy and Rogan spoke at the same time, voices fierce.

"Then you need to stand up to them," my hypocritical self said.

"Because I guarantee that's what they're going to do as punishment. They'll keep one or both of you monitored at all times. Even Kaz won't be able to help anymore."

Siggy reached out and gripped Rogan's shoulder, as if he could keep Rogan next to him as long as he held on tight enough. He looked frustrated, and I felt bad for him.

"Hey, Seph, seriously, we've gotten through worse," Rogan said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "This guy won't be our downfall."

Man, I wished there was a place I go sit away from them. I felt like I was interrupting a moment. I'd almost rather be in Constance's office.

Rogan slung an arm around Siggy's shoulders and we all stood in silence. After a while, Rogan let his arm drop from Siggy as the office door opened.

Leo came out looking like he'd just watched a puppy get shot in the face. Cam followed him out with a satisfied expression on his face that made me want to kick him.

"Killian, you're next," Cam said, gesturing to the door.

I gulped and slowly made my way into the office. Cam shut the door behind me but didn't follow me in. Oh dear god.

"Killian, was it?" Constance said, gesturing to a chair across from his desk. "Have a seat."

I sat down, looking around the office. It was plain and clean, nothing overly threatening about it. The folder was closed up neatly in front of Constance.

"Mr. Sudlow wrote me a little note about what happened today. Were you involved in what Casimir did to his room?" he asked.

"No," I lied.

"I don't appreciate lying, Mr. O'Malley."

"I...yes. I was with Kaz," I mumbled, dropping my gaze. Sweet lord I just wanted this to be over with already.

"Now, I heard that you and Casimir started a relationship with each other," Constance said, frowning. "I checked your files, and you're here because of your sexuality. Your parents were hoping that sending you here would fix you."

"My tongue was down a male thief's throat for a solid ten minutes yesterday, their plan really didn't work out all that well," I said. My eyes widened and I begged myself to surgically remove my mouth by the end of the day.

"How unfortunate. I'll be sad to report this back to them," he said, shaking his head.

"Report it back to them?" Uh-oh.

"Certainly. See, we ask parents to specify any specific reasons for sending their children to the Maroons. And your parents wanted us to fix that shameful sexuality of yours. I like to be honest with parents and let them know when something happens to hinder the process of fixing students here," he said, folding his hands together on his desk. "They'll be so disappointed to hear about this. I'm sure they'll want us to do something. We can move you to another dorm building, maybe switch your classes around and assign you an escort."

"That's bullshit," I said angrily. "You can't keep me from everyone. I could end up getting hot and heavy with any guy. Moving me to a different building doesn't change anything."

"I'm just trying to help you and your family. Your parents are broken-hearted by your choices," Constance said.

"It is not a choice. I did not choose to like men, just like I didn't choose to get feelings for an asshole with an undercut." I clenched my fists, trying not to think about my parents.

But...

If he called them, I knew they would be angry and disappointed and ashamed of me. This was their hope for me and if this school failed to change me like they hoped, then what? Then they'd be stuck with a gay son they couldn't bring themselves to accept.

Losing their acceptance was almost worse than losing their love.

I quieted down and stared at my feet. They wouldn't meet my eyes anymore. They wouldn't hug me. They'd stop saying they loved me. They'd stop bragging about me to their friends. My mom would stop obsessively taking pictures of everything I did so she could compile photo albums of me. My dad would stop inviting me to watch movies with him in the living room. Things would change and I would lose my home even as I continued to live in it.

If Constance did call them, everything would fall apart. They barely called me as it was, but once they found out I was dating Kaz, they wouldn't want to hear my voice anymore. They wouldn't want to see me. They wouldn't want to admit I was their son.

"I'm very preoccupied today, but tomorrow I'll be making the phone calls to Leo's family, Rogan's family, and your family. I'll be sure to stop and check on you first, though. I'll talk to you and find out what exactly I'll be telling them. If you had a momentary lapse in judgement, or if this is looking like a permanent condition," he said. "Until then, you're dismissed, Killian. I'll be in touch with you tomorrow. I hope you make the correct decision. I'd hate to deliver such a heartbreaking blow to your parents. They had such high hopes when they sent you here."

I got up and left his office. I walked away from Cam, Siggy, and Rogan. Leo was gone, probably off to get himself under control before he met with the others.

Something told me Constance had taken it lightly on me since I hadn't been in there for nearly as long as Leo had been. But his words were screaming through my mind.

My family or Kaz. Constance's warning was very clear. By tomorrow, I had to pick one of them and learn to live without the other.