Dan was never the type of person who went out of his way to make friends. He never really had a reason to, and the only reason he ever really talked to people was if they approached him first. As it was, his only real friend so far had been Phil.

  But with Jace, he curiously found himself reaching out.

  Admittedly, Jace was the type of guy who was friends with everyone. He was naturally charming, with his constant smile and wide, shining eyes, he was just approachable. And that, with Dan's own amiability, was how they became such close friends over the next few days.

  It was funny, because Dan had at first questioned why Jace wanted anything to do with him. He had thought he was suspicious of some sort of mischief. But now they were basically inseparable. They actually had some things in common, ranging from favorite kinds of music and books, to just general likes and dislikes. They could spend countless minutes, sometimes hours, talking and laughing about anything and everything.

  Dan wondered why he had ever found the boy suspicious of anything but being nice. He felt kind of guilty for thinking he was up to something no good, because he was completely wrong.

  But even with the excitement of making this new friend, Dan couldn't help but notice that him and Phil were growing slightly distant from each other. It was only small things, like awkward silences that were never usually there, or unanswered texts and calls, but it was still there. And Dan wasn't surprised that Phil eventually called him out on it. Not long after, the arguing was back, and Dan was actually surprised that they were usually centered around Jace.

  According to Phil, Dan was spending just a bit too much time with Jace, and that he was getting in the way of...them. The first time he had brought it up, Dan scoffed at him, because it was just completely ridiculous. Him and Jace were close, yeah, but that didn't mean he was gonna start ditching his boyfriend just to hang out with him.

 After a few more times, Dan had come to conclusion that Phil was only jealous. It was a bit selfish, thinking so, but it was really the only thing that made sense.

  It was most likely the simple fact that...Jace was attractive. It was an undeniable observation, and it was probably that fact that made Phil worry. But he should know that Dan would never be so much of a hussy as to just leave him for the the next, brand new pretty boy that came along. He wasn't like that.

  Strangely, whenever he and Phil got into one of these skirmishes, Dan always found that hanging out with Jace was sort of a way to make all the anger go away. He, of course, never told Jace that he was the center of some very heated discussions between him and Phil, but it didn't really matter.

  At the moment, him and Jace were sitting at their usual spot under one of the large trees outside. It was their lunch period, and Dan was also still getting over another yelling match with Phil. And if that wasn't enough, Jace started asking about him.

  "So that guy you always hang out with, with the blue eyes? Are you guys, like....a thing?" Jace asked, and even though Dan was still irritated slightly, he couldn't help but smile at the curious look Jace was giving him.

  "You could say that." He replied. "But I don't really know at the moment."

  "Oh. Trouble in paradise or something?"

  "Pretty much, yeah." Dan said, laughing slightly. It was quiet between them again, but it wasn't weird, or awkward. Dan drifted off into his own thoughts, about how he could possibly try and make up with Phil, and he jumped slightly when Jace spoke again.

  "I really don't mean to pry or anything, but can I ask what's wrong? Between you two, I mean." When Dan didn't say anything right away, Jace looked away shyly and smiled. "You don't.... you don't have to answer, if you don't want to. I'm always too curious for my own good."

  "No, it's alright." Dan reassured him. "I'm just, trying to think of a way to say it."

  Jace brightened again at that, and he looked like such a little kid that Dan couldn't help but laugh at him. He thought about exactly what to say, because it wasn't as if he could tell Jace that he was the problem between him and Phil.

  "He's a bit... over protective, I guess you could say." Dan started. "He doesn't really like when I spend too much time with other people, cause he feels as if I don't have enough time for him. I don't really agree with him, though, and it always causes all kinds of unnecessary fighting." He stared down at his hands, as he twisted his fingers together, and sighed. "I kinda wish he would trust me, just a little bit. It's not as if I'm just gonna run off with every guy or girl I see. He's weird like that, but I still.... really like him." He smiled, as thoughts of Phil, with his pretty blue eyes and breath taking kisses, ran through his mind. And just like that, he couldn't even remember why they were fighting. Because of Jace? Jace didn't stand a chance, not against what he already had.

  "You guys seem very in love." Jace said, and Dan squirmed slightly at the use of the 'L' word. Jace noticed. "What's up?" He asked, his brow furrowing at Dan's reaction.

  "It's... it's very complicated. Don't worry about it." Dan said offhandedly. He didn't really feel like explaining the whole issue right now, but it seemed as if Jace wouldn't give up until he knew.

  "Aw, c'mon, don't leave me out. We're friends, we're supposed to tell each other everything. Now tell me, I promise I won't judge or anything."

  Dan grinned as Jace started pouting, shaking Dan insistently and begging 'please please please'. "Alright, I'll tell you!" Dan said, shoving him away playfully. "Now calm down."

  Jace moved, so that now he was sitting right in front of Dan with their knees touching, and he leaned back onto his hands, waiting for Dan to go on.

  "Okay, well. See, I have this thing about me, and I don't really know how to explain too well, but... basically, I don't really believe in love. The idea of it or anything." Dan explained. He was tearing up the grass below him, so his hands had something to do and so he didn't have to look at Jace.

  "You're not serious."

  Dan said nothing.

  "You are serious." Jace said, sounding a bit awed. "Christ, how do you even go about that? Love is supposed to be all the rage these days, especially in the hearts of us easily influenced teenagers."

  "You said you weren't going to judge me." Dan smirked.

  "I'm not, I swear. But all the times I've ever seen you with your boyfriend, and the way you talk about him? Just seems kind of ironic."

  Dan nodded in agreement. Him and Phil probably came off as one of the most 'in love' couples, and with the way Dan was, it did seem very paradoxical. 

  "What about you?" Dan asked, laying back on the grass and folding his hands behind his head. "Have you ever been in love?"

  Jace laughed, and Dan couldn't help but notice that it sounded just the tiniest bit strained. "I thought I was, a few times. It was never really reciprocated though."

  "Girl trouble?" Dan asked.

  "Boys." Jace muttered. Oh, Dan thought. "I don't really have the best taste in guys, I guess. They were all pretty much grade A assholes." 

  Dan didn't respond. He thought that Jace didn't really want to elaborate, and so he left alone in his own thoughts. He continued to stare up at the sky, and thought about how Phil's eyes were so much more blue. Jace was quiet as well, which was something that Dan never expected from him. He was always talking, laughing, something; what in the world could make him so silent?

  The bell rang then, and they both gathered there things and headed back to the school.

  "Dan?" Jace said, barely above a whisper, when they had reached the front doors.

  "Yeah?"

  "I just...I wanted to say thanks. For listening to me and all that. Most people don't really care. And thanks for not prying, even though I'm always nosing in on your business." He looked so different than usual, with his head down, and he looked smaller, as if he was curling into himself. Dan smiled at him.

  "Don't worry about it. We're friends, it's what they do."

  Jace smiled brightly at him, and then he left, off to his next class. And Dan smiled after him, glad that they had become such good friends after all.

                                                     ***************************************************

  a/n: There is just all kinds of hate on Jace. He's not that bad is he? I guess we'll have to see...

Hope you guys liked this chapter. Peace :3