TYLER'S POV

And in that moment, when President Kay is pulling me by my wrists, it felt like everything was in slow motion. I steal a broken glance towards Troye. I see him lost in his own thoughts to realize that I looked in his direction.

Then, darkness. The door shuts. The lights flicker on and I see a room with a chair in it. And a cart full of different colored liquids. Simulation time.

President Kay picks up a syringe with purple-pink liquid in it.

"Take this. It'll be a little worse this time"

I stab my arm with it and inject myself......

.....

.....

I'm awake in a funeral home. Zoe is crying beside me.

"What's happened?" I ask.

She looks at me incredulously. "Troye's gone. He was killed. He started hanging out with the wrong group?" I'm still confused. "He did drugs?" I don't believe it! "What's wrong with you, Ty?"

"I- I guess I'm just feeling a little.. off today." I lie, running a hand through my hair.

"I know it hasn't been easy on you" she says, her tone changing to a more sympathetic one. She laces her fingers with mine.

He's not dead. No. He's still in the lobby. The lobby! I understand! He cheated on me with David! I hate him! But oh God do I love him!

No no no no.

I scream and scream as I continue to remember more and more of reality. I snap out of the simulation.

President Kay is still in the room, thoughts plaguing his mind. When I jolt awake, he seems surprised and shocked.

"TEN MINUTES?!" He yells.

I couldn't think straight. The only thing I could even think about saying is 'Im gay'. I tried so hard to collect my thoughts but I couldn't. What should I be thinking right now?

"Well what happened?!" He asks expectantly.

No you can't say those words. ... what do I say?

"Im gay!" I blurt. I slap a hand to my mouth, never feeling more stupid in my entire life.

President Kay's eyes go wide. He glares at me and looks disgusted.

"Back to the lobby."

I step back into the lobby, my hands shaky, my mind racing.

At this very moment, he could be planning my death. I wonder what my last words will be?

I sit down at the picnic style table. I'm all alone this time. I see Alfie's door open but no Alfie inside. He must be with Zoe. They probably hate my guts. I'm sure Hunter does too, now. We weren't really friends anyways, but I need allies, not enemies. I know one person who doesn't hate me. He couldn't even if he tried.

  TROYE'S POV

It's approximately ten pm, and although my body is achingly tired and fatigued, I can't sleep. Why did I cheat on Tyler?

David walks in.

"I have something to tell you." He says. Doubt and worry flood me. Like I need any "news". No matter what it was, news seemed to always be bad.

"Go on" I say. He doesn't come sit next to me as usual. Instead, he stands in front of the closed door.

"I don't have to leave anymore. I'll be staying. Also, I know I should've backed off. Tyler is a great guy and I'm sorry beyond belief that I fucked that up for you two."

I nod. Hearing Tyler's name gives me a pang of guilt and sadness in my chest. I'm about to cry. I wish David would exit.

He must see that because he awkwardly steps out, not sure if he should stay to comfort me or leave.

I don't let the tears fall, though. I make myself hold everything in. I need to be strong.

An hour passes, of me collecting my emotions and throwing them into an imaginary recycling bin.

I know tonight will most likely be an insomniac night. I just wish I had a book so I could put myself in the life of a fictional character and forget about my reality.

A knock on my cell door startles me.

"Come in?" I say, a little reluctant because I didn't know who it was. I really hope it isn't David.

Tyler walks in. His lips are pressed into a thin, flat, line and he looks at me like we're something formal. Nothing but co-workers in a normal situation, and haven't ever spoken much. But he's lying to himself. In fact, I'm lying to myself, thinking about what we were when I was the one who ruined it.

"I'm not ready to forgive you." He starts, "but I have a plan. You're the only one who doesn't hate me." He chews on his lip and I feel guilt taking over my body.

"What happened?" I barely manage audible.

"Well, um.. the president sort of knows I'm still gay."

I'm shocked.

"Yeah" he says, "we need to escape."

I brighten up at the thought.

"So tomorrow night, David is coming with us along with Zalfie. But you're job is to convince David to unlock the doors for us. Zalfie and I will be playing cards at the picnic table and when the coast is clear, you'll come back and tell us. We'll run out and hide out somewhere."

"Okay" I say. It sounded pretty simple but I imagined what would happen if we got caught.

Tyler stands up and walks out, leaving anxious energy in the air. At least now I have a reason not to sleep. I must've passed out or something because I wake up and see that it's 10:08 am.

I stretch and yawn before making my way out to the lobby.

Zoe gives me a big hug, whispering to me, "I forgive you. I know the plan."

I wink at her as she pulls away. I'm not sure why, though. Alfie looks at me a little more softly.

I sit next to Tyler.

We eat a breakfast of blueberry waffles and milk. We chatter about the most random things, almost like things were normal.

At about noon, President Kay calls Tyler to another room.

Oh no. I think, we won't be able to go through with the plan.. Tyler is going to die.

We wait anxiously for him to come back. Minutes feel like hours, none of them bringing Tyler back.

Then, after twenty minutes of patiently waiting, Tyler walks back in, looking as relieved as the rest of us felt.

"What happened?" We all asked in sync.

"He just asked questions, thank the Lord! Uh he asked how long I've known I was still gay, if the simulations worked, all that stuff."

"The plan's still on!" Alfie says.

Zoe and Alfie high five, but lace their fingers together right after, and then briefly kiss.

We continue our card playing, after turning down lunch, all of us in anxious anticipation for tonight.

The hours rolled by until our card games were getting dreary to the point of insanity.

Finally, six pm came. I asked for David. We all agreed this must go down at 6:45. So until then, we'd resign to our cells for forty five minutes. Butterflies flew around in my stomach. David approached me in my cell.

I embrace him, whispering in his ear, "we're escaping tonight. Zalfie, Tyler, me and you. Get the keys to the doors at 6:45."

Before breaking away from the tight hug, he whispers, "okay."

We untangle ourselves from the embrace. His eyes show determination, which makes me feel like I put my trust in the right place. I mean, obviously, he's not my lover but I'd consider us friends. I can't afford to lose him from my life completely.

I pace my cell nervously.

6:15

6:20

6:25

I'm ready to scream. Time must be going slower than usual.

I pace some more. I begin to feel dizzy so I sit down on my mattress on the floor.

6:30

I fiddle with my fingers, sweat collecting in my palms.

6:35

How can five minutes feel like two hours? The knot in my stomach won't go away, and I'm really shaky. I try to shake it off but I can't.

6:37

Come on, time. You've gone faster. Please.

6:38

I start pacing the cell again.

6:40

It occurs to me that I could greet death today. There's not 1 ounce of doubt in my mind that president Kay would kill us all on the spot if he caught us attempting to escape.

6:41

David walks in.

"God, I'm nervous, Troye." He says, his hazel eyes full of anxiety.

"It's gonna be okay. Calm down." I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans before placing my hands on both of his shoulders.

6:42

"I'll go ask the security guard for the keys to make sure everything is "locked up"" he says, using air quotes. He walks out. I pace. I'm losing my mind.

6:43

I walk into the lobby and see Zalfie at the picnic table. I smile as best as I can manage. They're holding hands.

6:44

"What if we don't make it?" Zoe asks nervously.

"We will." I say. Tyler walks in and sits across from me.

"We can do this" Tyler says. I can feel the nervousness on him.

6:45

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A/N

I love all of you so so much. I really do love this book. Thanks a billion for reading this loves! That's all. K thanks bye. :)