(Brendon)

"Where were you all week?" Sarah asked with a grimace.

It was Friday and I'd been late everyday this week. It wasn't exactly my fault though. I just wanted to spend more time with Ryan. Maybe if my mother hadn't grounded me, I wouldn't have a reason to be late.

And Ryan said wasn't a big problem anyway because my first class was music. And no prestigious college would give a crap about me being late to a music class a couple of times. But apparently, Sarah did care.

"What do you mean?" I opened my locker and stuffed the books in my hand inside.

Sarah leaned against the locker beside mine. "You've been late everyday. I rarely see you after lunch. And you've been dressing differently, Brendon. Is everything okay at home?"

I laughed. "Oh course everything is okay at home." I slammed the locker. "Don't you know who my parents are?"

"You're right." She nodded. "Is everything okay with you?"

"Sarah." I put my hand on her shoulder and she jumped. Her eyes darted to where my hand was resting. Oh yeah, she didn't like physical contact. Stick in the mud. I pulled my hand away. "I'm great."

"Nate, Spencer and I are very worried. I don't mean to be forward, but if you need to talk, you can always speak to me privately."

"That's . . . really nice of you."

She smiled proudly. "Are you ready for lunch?"

"Actually, I have to go to the office."

"Sorry to be to inquisitive, but why?"

"I'm not feeling well."

"I could wait with you until your parents show-"

"No. Go to lunch. I wouldn't want to keep you from getting your allotted nutrients for this time."

She smiled. "That's the Brendon I know. I'll see you Sunday I suppose." She turned to walk away but then stopped. She turned back to me. "Are you- Are you busy tomorrow?"

Shut up! Sarah was asking me out? I would have died for this not too long ago. The most perfect girl in the school wanted to hang out with me on a Saturday. Just us. But I was busy with Ryan now. I didn't have time to court Sarah. I also didn't have the heart to tell her that.

"I have to help my mother with something on Saturday. But it sure was swell of you to ask. Maybe some other time?"

She blushed. "I-um, yes. Okay. I'll see you Sunday." She walked off in the direction of the cafeteria.

I headed the opposite way. I passed Pete in the hallway, heading to one of our teacher's classes. Probably Mr. Stump. That's the only class Pete liked. He was even one point ahead of me in the class. Which was surprisingly understandable because he spent so much time studying with the teacher. Pete smiled and waved me away. I waved back. I don't know why he hadn't told my mother yet, but I was grateful.

Ryan was waiting outside of the school as he always was. As soon as I got into the car, he leaned over and kissed me. Which was completely normal. Because, although I haven't known him quite as long as I would have liked to before becoming this physically comfortable, I enjoyed it.

Ryan was an extremely physical person. He explained to me that touching was the only way he could show his affection. He wasn't the best with words. And I appreciated Ryan's displays of affection. Even if this was the only way I was going to get them. Because I loved Ryan and I would do anything to keep him happy. To keep his from straying back to the way he was when I found him.

See, Ryan was like a stray dog. Unloved, hurt, broken, frightened and confused. I was like the man who found the dog after it was hit by a car. I took it to get medical attention. And then I took him into my home to care for him. Now I was nursing him back to health. To do that I had to make sure he was happy, loved, and understood. I had to make him comfortable. And it seemed Ryan was most comfortable when he was touching me.

I'm not faking being a patron saint here. I liked the way Ryan showed affection. I'd spent sixteen years of my life avoiding any physical contact of this caliber. Because my mother and father always told me how bad it was. And how the devil would celebrate my induction into my sexuality. But what they didn't tell me was how much I could celebrate it. One of the best feelings I ever felt in my life was Ryan's mouth on my-

"You okay?"

I jumped at the sound of his voice intruding on my thoughts. Blushing slightly before glancing over at him and smiling.

"I'm great."

"You're unusually quiet."

"Are you saying I'm usually loud." I mocked offense.

He smirked. My eyes snapped to his mouth. Remembering what those curved lips were capable of doing. I shook my head to clear the thought. Sometimes it was all I could think about. And it frightened me. I should probably seek help if it weren't so embarrassing.

"I'm saying you're usually... Talkative. Like I can't get you to shut up."

"Maybe I have a lot on my mind."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"It's nothing."

He parked in his usual spot at the empty park. "Everything about you is something to me, Brendon."

"Sarah asked me out."

"Who?"

"Sarah? I told you about her around the time we first met. The perfect girl from school and church."

"The girl with the pole up her ass attitude? Why would she ask you out?"

"I don't know." I shrugged thoughtfully. "Maybe she's finally opening up to me."

"Don't seem so happy about it."

"Why not? It's kind of a good thing. She's been so closed off since we were younger-"

"Why are you so interested in her opening up?" He pushed me roughly. My shoulder hit the window with a slight thud. "Am I not enough?"

"Ryan-"

"No. Fuck you, Brendon."

He opened the car door and got out. I exhaled loudly. Sometimes I don't remember how fragile he really is. It's easy to forget when he puts on the tough, not a care in the world attitude. I slipped out of the car and chased behind him.

"Ryan, stop."

"Leave me alone."

"Why are you upset?" It was hard to walk as fast as Ryan.

"How dare you? How dare you call her perfect? And then go on and on about her to me!"

"Well, technically she is perfect." I grabbed the sleeve of his sweater to stop him. "Beautiful, smart, ambitious, wealthy, religious-" I should probably shut up. I'd been lying so much lately. Why did this have to be the time I decided to be honest?

"Then what am I?!" Ryan nearly yelled the question. "Just a sack of shit?"

"No." I tugged on his sweater playfully and he snatched away. "I love you, Ryan."

His face softened but his stance remained the same. "Then why would you go out with that girl?"

"I'm not going out with her." I walked to stand in front of him since he wouldn't move. "I told her no."

"Y-You did?"

"Duh!" I said in my best derp voice. Ryan laughed lightly. "Besides, I'm grounded for a whole other week."

"Parents only ground you to test how creative you're willing to get in order to sneak out."

"That's a load of bull. You're such a bad influence."

"I'm only here to destroy your innocence."

I laughed again as his mouth descended onto mine. This was Ryan apologizing for getting mad and jumping to conclusions. I didn't expect to hear him say the words. This was just as good. Better.