"AMIR WAS WHAT?" MATEO exclaimed.

"Hush!" Jay said, placing a hand on Mateo's mouth as he looked around," I don't want everyone to hear my loving father hired someone to spy on me."

In response Mateo bit at him and Jay quickly pulled his hand back, frowning offendedly at his friend.

"Jesus Christ," Mateo mumbled to himself, before looking at Jay," and you didn't even hit him?"

"It may be surprising," Jay said," but violence isn't my answer to everything."

"That's a lie and we both know it."

"Shut up."

"Wait," Mateo said then," not to dismiss the extremely toxic way your father treats you and your consequent trust issues, but you can go shoot your shot at Sahar now without anyone disturbing you."

"I already could," Jay said.

"I love the confident you," Mateo grinned," yes king, you can do anything you want."

"No, I'm still insecure, I just mean Amir is gay."

Mateo blinked, before frowning. "And he was out here flirting with Gabriela instead of me? Why? I'm stunning."

"This is the reason," Jay said.

"Your negativity won't hurt me," Mateo said with a shake of his head," Clarkson told me I'm a wonderful, kind guy too many times already."

"Speaking about our principal," Jay said, scraping his throat before continuing," he said he's going to adopt me."

Though Mateo's initial emotion was surprise, that quickly changed into happiness, the warm kind which made him feel like he swallowed the sun.

"I'm so glad for you, Jay," he smiled.

"Thank you," Jay said awkwardly, a blush coloring his cheeks as he looked away," I'm not really sure if he'll succeed though. My father is horrible, but he's rich and in the end that's all that matters in this world."

"He can pay a one way ticket to hell with that," Mateo scoffed, before adding," but it'll be fine, you know the principal is dependable. Besides, you're almost eighteen anyway."

"That too," Jay nodded," so I think I'll just live at the principal's house until then. He said he has an empty room for me."

The principal's tattoos flashed in front of Mateo's eyes, the words a haunting reminder, but he knew Jay had already thought of the same thing. For a moment he wondered if they would have been so close had his son lived, but that didn't matter either way. If not, he would have been glad for the time the principal would have with his son, his own selfish complaints paled in comparison to that.

"I'm just hoping my father won't lash out," Jay said, interrupting Mateo's thoughts.

"No worries," Mateo drawled, cracking his knuckles as he grinned wolfishly," if he does, I can always pay him a visit."

"I look forward to seeing you tackle all eight of his bodyguards."

"So do I."

They were staring at each other then, both their lips tugging upwards in barely suppressed smiles. It was only when someone else spoke that they both practically jumped.

"Who has bodyguards?"

Mateo turned around, only to be facing Milo and Gabriela. Once Jay had arrived he had pulled him aside for a chat at the edge of the clearing, the others putting the finishing touches on the tent or standing around it. Apparently they were done now. Last Mateo had noticed Gabriela had been telling Luca off for whacking the hammer in frustration at a tree when things weren't going right and he still felt the faint amusement and adoration tangled around his heart.

Milo had been speaking, though he didn't seem that interested in the answer. His eyes were far off, still glittering with that boredom which was painted on him.

"Where is Luca?" Mateo said, hoping he wouldn't notice the unsubtle change of subject.

"He died," Milo said. Immediately after Mateo noticed Luca shouting a couple hundred feet behind them, angrily pacing up and down as he was on the phone. Mateo let his gaze go back slowly to Milo and in response the new kid raised a hand to his heart. "Sometimes I can still hear his voice."

"Abou -" Mateo started to ask, but Luca's voice carried to them then, silencing him with it's sharpness.

"Why are you going to a party with so many guys?" he yelled, slamming his hand against a passing tree," you know they all will stare at you, Fleur!"

"Oh no," Milo said without emotion," how dare Fleur be in the company of guys with eyes. She has to leave the party then."

"Yeah, Nena," Mateo frowned at Gabriela," why aren't all your male friends blind? You are really out here letting them see you. What's next? Talk to you?"

Milo blinked at his fast response, a smile starting to form on his face and widening. He chuckled, a flash of something friendly in his eyes. Jay just looked as mildly displeased as ever, though Gabriela's lip was twitching as she shook her head.

"The horror," she said," I could never disrespect you like that."

"Stop making fun of him," Jay said," I want to hear what he's saying. Make jokes after."

"Stop talking French, Fleur," Luca frowned, halting spontaneously," you know I don't understand a word." His expression softened somewhat then and he nodded slowly. "Please, I know you always mix your words when you get upset. I just don't want anything to happen to you."

Chase and Sahar were sitting by the tent a mere distance away from him, both looking confused, before simultaneously deciding to mind their own business and continue on their conversation. Jay's eyes were fixated on her, a smile appearing on his face when she pointed at the clouds and talked, like she was the only thing grounding him.

At that moment someone grabbed his arm and he turned around to find Gabriela by his side, her dark hair pulled up in a messy bun on her head. His eyes went to her exposed neck and immediately up again, but before he could even flirt, she spoke

"Is everything alright, Mateo?" Gabriela said.

He didn't need to ask if she meant with Jay or him, because he knew she meant both. So he nodded, sliding an arm around her waist and puling her closer.

"Yeah, of course," he said," especially now you're here."

She looked him searchingly in the eyes, before nodding and pecking him on the lips. The movement alone made the storm hiding inside his skin explode, the ease of it all more than he had ever dreamed of.

"Luca kept on talking about his girlfriend," she said as she looked at him pacing," and how lovely she was. Honestly, with how easily he explodes I think she might be too sweet for him."

"Unless they balance each other out healthily," Mateo said.

Gabriela blinked in surprise at him, her eyes following his and only widening when they settled on Jay, who was still looking at Sahar. She ruffled a hand through his hair then and he leaned in to her to touch, glad to have her close.

"Don't make any weird plans to get them together," she said.

"Who says I'm making weird plans?" Mateo said offendedly.

In response she stared at him, until his serious expression cracked into a big grin and he looked away.

"Okay, perhaps I was," he said, fixing his hair as he gave her a cheeky smile," but there's nothing wrong with a little push."

"Meddling never goes well, Teo," she said.

His eyes lit up and he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, gaze only focused on her.

"The last time you called me Teo was ages ago," he said.

"You're not the only one who can use nicknames, baby girl," she said, a hint of a smile tugging on her lips.

"Call me baby girl one more time," he drawled, voice low as he leaned over, the only thing between them air now.

"Baby gi -" she began, but he kissed her before she could finish the word.

His grin was wide as he pulled back, high on her proximity and the strawberry taste of her lips. She raised her eyebrows at him, but there was warmth in her eyes as she shook her head.

"Whatever will I do with you, Teo?" she said.

"Let me steal another kiss, Nena," he said, his thumb trailing across her bottom lip," and you can do whatever you want."

"Mateo, get off Gabriela, I have a plan. Chase and Milo said they'll help."

Jay was crouched down very closely beside them, causing Mateo to almost jump back. He hadn't even heard his friend arrive, but Jay seemed to be filled with a whole new determination. Gabriela glanced at him and he shrugged apologetically to her.

"You are too close with the subject in question," he said matter-of-factly.

"Just say you're going to confess to Sahar and go," she said amusedly.

Jay blinked in shock at her and she left, his gaze still following her as she walked towards Sahar. He looked back at Mateo, lips parting.

"How does she not make you cry?" he said.

"She can make me cry and I'd thank her," Mateo said adoringly.

Jay snapped his fingers in front of Mateo's eyes then, taking him back to reality. "Let her make you cry another time, I'm ready to get my heart broken again."

"What are you going to do?" Mateo said," either way, I'll be whispering encouragements a few feet behind you."

"Don't do that," Jay said immediately, before adding," apparently they're doing some sort of test of courage tonight, where some students will have to draw lots and play ghosts. I'll get myself paired with Sahar and will confess to her while bravely walking through the forest, showing my manly side all the way."

"You're terrified of horror movies."

"I told you that in secret."

Mateo chuckled as he looked around his group then, all of them just doing whatever, and he shook his head.

"It'll be a fun test of courage, I can see that already."