The cafeteria was packed with kids from grade 9 to 11 since the grades had irregular lunch pattern. First graders to fifth graders had theirs a little earlier while the rest had theirs a lot later.

     The glee club that sat just two rolls from Faun's table were being super gleeful like they always were on a Friday. Faun hummed to their copy of Please Tell Rosie as he played with his salad.

     Beside him, Ace sat, furiously typing into his phone, probably chatting with Noah since he seemed to blush after every text he got. Going over to Noah's place had become a normal for Faun, he could easily take the bus to their apartment anytime. With his goal in play, he had managed to get close to Evan and even though this kid was nothing like the Evan he knew from his orphanage, they both had the same obsession over Anime. His room was filled with posters of this anime character to that anime character, it would probably look like heaven to the Evan he had left back in the place he used to call home.

"What are you moping about?" Peach bumped her shoulder to his and Faun raised a brow at her.

"Moping? Do I look like I was moping?"

She shrugged. "Then what's on your mind? You looked really deep in thought."

Faun stared at her. Peach was cute in a way and the effect definitely had to do with her nice honey blond bob. Her eyes were a nice shade of emerald and she had such big cheeks that when she smiled, he had the urge to touch it. It was safe to say, she was adorable when she wasn't mad.

"I'm thinking on what my next move on Evan should be."

"Evan?"

"Yeah, the boy newbie likes." Ace dropped his phone then leaned to look past Faun at Peach who was the other side of him. "You know the twins in Noah's apartment right?"

"Wait, him?" She pulled a face of disgust and Faun pinched her cheeks, having been holding the urge to do that since he saw her first period. She smacked his hand away then frowned. "Eww, he's so anti-social. When I came over, he mostly just locked himself in his room. And he watched those cartoons."

Faun frowned at her. "Yeah, well I like him."

"Why?"

"Because he's hot without his shirt on."

Ace and Peached gasped out loud and Peach held a dramatic hand to her chest. "You're lying."

"That means you've been in his room. Where was I?" Ace held his hand to his chin and scowled as he dove into his thoughts.

Faun just shrugged then turned back to Peach. He took a sip from his coke then said, "This was on Wednesday. Since he's a major otaku, he doesn't like it when people tease him for his likes. I'm sure that's why he doesn't let you in his room. It's filled with those stuffs. I had to say I watch them when I knew I wouldn't even know anything about anime if I hadn't had a friend who was also an otaku."

"Your life must be crawling with those creatures." Peach's dislike of otaku came from one of her ex-boyfriends. He had asked her out and Peach hesitantly gave him a chance. Things went well for a month before the boy starting being his true self, talking about 3D girls and 2D girls and clinging to this comic club the school created. It had pissed Peach off when he would miss their dates and whatnot for his club. They broke up a month later and her hate only grew when the boy would try to talk to her like they hadn't been dating and she was just one of his regular friends.

Peach hummed then patted his back with a smile. "I must give it to you. You move fast. Two weeks ago was when you met them, wasn't it?"

Faun smiled and nodded then started for her cheeks again but Peach slapped it away before standing up and leaving the table to toss her left overs in the trash.

Without looking at Ace, he said as he picked up his tray that still had his uneaten salad and an empty chocolate drink, "Are you still thinking of when that happened?"

"Mm-mm."

"It was when you and Noah when shopping. Chris went out with Jackie so I was left with Evan. I hope you can sleep at night now." He got out of table and took his food to the trash.

     Moving through the hallway to get to his locker, he tried not to bump into anyone because he didn't want people being unnecessarily rude to him for no reason. Stuffs like that always made his mood sour and it pissed him off to no end. Being kinda smallish for his age, only made the situation worst. He could remember a time when he was in a hurry to get to the teacher's room because Stuart had been an ass and confiscated his phone, some damn 11 graders just blocked his path and of course he bumped into them because he wasn't looking at where he was going.

The kid with the caramel skin quickly frowned at him and decided to pick on him until the bell rang signaling the end of his free period. Suffice to say, he didn't get his phone back until Stuart gave it to him at the end of the day.

It had really pissed him off because if he was taller, about their five foot ten, he would have been able to stare them down to make him pass. He probably got his height from his ridiculous mother. If he didn't at least reach a five foot nine by the time he stopped growing, he was going to go after her.

But then there was Evan, one of the twins. Evan was taller than he was, with a body so slim and firm- when he had taken off his shirt in front of him, Faun didn't know how to react. He had only just blushed and looked away. Tall people like Evan made him want to stay short so he could lean down, take Faun's face in his hands and kiss him. His tongue caressing his and Faun's hand sliding up his body, pressing against his hot skin.

Someone slammed the locker beside him and he jumped, startled. The girl quickly apologized then ran off leaving Faun with an interrupted daydream. Sighing, he got the note and textbook he needed for his assignment then started for the library.

Suddenly his phone rang and he cursed, taking it from his short's pocket. He stared at the familiar name on caller id and smiled. He answered it saying, "Be quick, I've got to head to the library."

"Hmm, so you're about to go learn big words huh? Damn, I miss teasing you."

Evan, the only friend he had even gotten close to in his orphanage chuckled into the phone. It got his tummy dancing and he leaned against the wall, crouching as he set the books aside.

"Hey, Albert."

Albert was the name Evan wanted to change his name to. He had had a rough time growing up and he said the name Evan made him cringe. He planned on changing it when he got to the right age. He was still in the orphanage, last Faun knew of him, and it made him sad to think he had been the first to leave.

"Wow, you sound so sad. I feel weird. Right, anyways, I got big news," He said, excitement laced his words and Faun perked up.

"Yeah."

"I'm leaving Rosemary's orphanage tomorrow. I'm going to be with my new parents, Faun."

     Faun stiffened, not sure if he felt happy or sad. Happy that he was finally going to leave and get a family like him or sad that he was really leaving him to be part of some else's family. Albert was more than just his best friend, Albert was more like a brother and a close one at that. He had been devastated when the gay project came to them and asked for his help, telling him he was going to have to leave Albert. Faun didn't want that, hell, he'd rather not have taken their offer but Albert talked to them and they told him he'd have to play his boyfriend or the boy he liked.

     Albert had immediately agreed but Faun didn't see him like that even when they had to kiss countless times in front of the 'parents'. Albert was still his best friend. And as he started to get close to his supposed parents, his heart cried at the fact that he'd have to choose between them. Leon and Stuart or Albert-Evan, the boy he had called family over the years. If Albert hadn't smacked him with reality, he probably would have been at the orphanage, but alone because Albert would be going.

"I'm glad." Faun choked on a sob as he pressed his palm to his eyes. "I'm so glad."

"Yo, Faun, are you crying? Shit now I wish I was there to take a picture. Would add it to my collection 'Faun, the crybaby'." His attempt to make him feel better only made him cry more, remembering the pictures Albert had taken with him.

"I miss you."

The tears falling now was nothing compared to when Faun was leaving him. He could still remember the sad look on Albert's face as he watched him leave from the back range rover. Gosh, Faun missed him so much.

"I miss you too, Faun."

A smile crept on his face and Faun leaned his head back on the wall, glad the hallway was empty. He let the tears fall free as he listened to Albert do the same.

His voice came back shaky and Faun could just imagine him cradling his pillow as he leaned against the wardrobe. "I have to go. Can I call you later? I want to ask you so many things like how I should behave around my new family and what I should do and not around them." A small laugh left his lips and he added, "I don't want them kicking me out before I could ask why."

"No one's going to kick you out. You'll be a great kid. You were my best friend and brother."

"And boyfriend... before you broke up with me and tossed my poor little heart into the trash."

Faun smiled. "I'm pretty sure I cleaned it up for you and gave you back. It was just dandy when I left."

"It broke a little at that."

"Mine too."

There was a comfortable silence between the both of them and Albert said, "I love you."

"Love you too."

     Faun heard the beep and a fresh set of tears poured down his face and he cuddled closer to himself, raising his knees to his chest. He didn't know how long he sat there crying until he someone blocked his path and he didn't dare look up, knowing he probably looked like a mess. Faun didn't want more reasons for people to bully him.

"Faun?"

Stuart's normally cold, teasing voice was a lot warmer and he sensed him squat in front of him. "Faun? Are you okay?"

Faun sniffed then looked up at his dad. Stuart's eyes widened and he could clearly see the concern swarming in those green eyes, his forehead furrowing. Stuart touched his arm gently as if scared that if he held him tightly, Faun could break and it brought a smile to Faun's face. At that moment, he prayed Albert had a family that loved him the way his did.

"What's wrong? Third period is almost over. Is something wrong? Did someone hurt you? Was it because I didn't let you watch TV last night?"

Faun laughed lightly and wiped the tears from his face. "No, that's not it."

Stuart exhaled and gave him a little smile. "Then why are you crying?"

"Evan's found a family."

Stuart looked hesitant then rose a brow at him. "Is it the Evan I haven't heard the end of or your pretend boyfriend?"

Stuart and Leon later found out about the fake relationship from Mariam when they asked about her it. Leon had looked awfully relieved for some reason but Stuart had shrugged it off like he knew which couldn't be possible but Faun never bothered to ask.

"Pretend Boyfriend. He wants to be called Albert now."

"Why Albert?"

"It's his dad's name, before he died."

Stuart winced then took to his feet before stretching his hand down to Faun. "Come on, get on your feet. You can take the rest of the day off and I'll have Ace bring you the notes you missed."

"Ace hates you." He picked up his books and allowed Stuart to pull him up. "He'd rather die than do something for you."

Stuart smirked then ruffled his hair making Faun frown. "I have my ways. Besides, it's for you. Now, go get your things and take the bus. I'm going to be a little late today."

Faun nodded then glanced at Stuart who had his eyes fixed forward. Stuart's brown hair was neatly combed and his hand played with the pen in his breast pocket. Compared to the Stuart he had known on the island, this one was calmer and seemed to know what he was doing. He minded his own business except when it involved his students, then he was just a bully and he didn't care if one of them were his kid.

"About Evan-Albert, be happy for him. It's not easy to find a family. Family is what you make it, so if these people love him, he would be happy." Stuart said suddenly, surprising Faun and he smiled when Stuart ruffled his blonde hair that was in dire need of a trim and touch up. "I'll see you when I get home."

"Yeah."

...

     The smell of French fries drifted from the kitchen into the living room and caught Faun, wrapping around him and pulling him to where it came from so he was staring at Leon who was biting down into a piece of drumsticks. The man looked up and rose a brow at him.

"What are you doing home so early?"

"We're having fries for dinner?" Faun ignored his question and moved around the counter so he was standing beside Leon.

     Leon was dressed in gray slacks and he wore a red I LOVE CANADA t-shirt. Since he could do his work from home, Leon was always dressed in slacks and he lazed around way too much but Stuart never complained- mostly because when Leon had a deadline he hardly came home.  

"It's my lunch. Answer the question, Faun." Leon frowned at him and crossed his arms.

Faun popped a couple of fries into his mouth from Leon's plate then answered after he swallowed, "I wasn't feeling too good so dad sent me home. I'm fine now so I'm going over to Evan's."

He took a couple extras when Leon didn't smack him for it then started to leave but Leon stopped him when he got to the door. "Hey, now that you mentioned an Evan, I've got word from the orphanage. They said some married couple are coming to take him."

Without turning back to him, he said, "Yeah, he called."

Leon didn't say anything for a while and Faun took in a deep breath before he finally spoke, "That's a good thing, right?"

Before Faun could say anything, he noticed the tears falling and he covered his face just before Leon pulled him in for a tight hug. "Shush now. It's okay. He's going to do fine."

"You think so?"

"I know so." Leon said then gave him a little squeeze before releasing him. He took a step back then kept his hands on his hips. "Now, go to your room, take a shower. You're going to follow me to pick up Mariam."

"What? Why?" Faun questioned, wiping his eyes quickly so he could look back at Leon. "I can't go out now. I'm already going to Evan's place and plus, I look bloated."

The man gave him a bored stare. "Make that Sunday and you look like this almost everyday-"

"Dad!"

"-We're having family dinner today like usual and we are eating out. Saturday, Stuart and I are taking a day off from you guys so you get to take care of Mariam. We'll talk it more over dinner."

     Faun wanted to argue. He didn't want to stay in the house alone and look after Mariam. Not that she was as annoying as she was when they were on the island but having to take care of someone wasn't an easy job.

     But then a thought crossed his mind. If Stuart and Leon left the house, then he had it all to himself. Then he could bring the anime fanatic over.

     He bit his bottom lip, holding back the urge to sprint up the stairs as Leon turned away from him then started blabbing about the research he was working on. Taking that time as a good time to run, he tiptoed up the stairs to not distract him then dashed to his room. When he knew Leon wouldn't come yelling at him to do something, he got his phone out of his school bag then grinned from cheek to cheek when he saw a text from Evan.

Are you coming over today? I've got us a game we could play. A friend of mines burrowed me. -E.

Faun quickly replied, dropping down on the soft comfort of his bed.

I can't, my dad's keeping me in :( . Though, they'll stay away all day tomorrow. Wanna come over? I've got a little sister so she'll be hanging around in the house. -F.

Nice. How old is she? -E

Eight. -F

That's great. I've got a cousin around the same age. If she gets bored of staying alone, I can take here over. It will be fun :) . I'm sooo coming. I want to know what your room looks like anyway. :):):) See you tomorrow. -E.

     Faun couldn't help the butterflies swarming in his stomach. It was a lot different from when he had used to call Albert over during the project. Now, he just hoped he got their relationship to first base, at least.