IAN
Another week had gone by and every night I would leave snacks by Draven's door and then run away like a little bitch.

I felt like a wuss (because that's exactly what I was) but all that mattered was that he was eating. I felt horrible that he was skipping meals just to avoid me. That hurt a lot more than I'd admit.

But every night I got to see that faint smile of his when he opened his door and picked up the food. He didn't even have a wide grin like the ones I was used to seeing on most people. His was just a slight quirk of his lips but you could see a tiny bit of warmth in his usually cold eyes. I was too far away to gaze into them but just imagining it made me feel all fuzzy inside.

I was hoping he'd start to make progress— that I'd make progress. I wanted to do little things to get him to warm up to me. I had to be careful, and cautious, and so slow, but it was possible if I did everything right.

The boy who kissed me, Xavier, started hanging out with my friends and me ever since that night. He seemed to like me a lot and everyone loved him, even Nick. Miles and Jake still hardcore shipped me with Draven but they talked about it less now. Though, if anything I thought about him, even more, these days.

I felt a little bad, like I was leading Xavier on, but he had only kissed me once. He was a little touchy and flirty and he'd say sweet things to me a lot but he never said he had feelings for me. I never said I had feelings for him either. That eased my guilt a little bit.

I had been thinking nonstop about Ms. Lynn's book and everything in it. I hated that I was being so nosy but I wanted to know who to avoid. And honestly, I didn't have anything better to do.

All I did was sleep, eat, and daydream about Draven. I missed talking to him but I couldn't do much about it. I couldn't push him. I wouldn't.

I wanted to know why Xavier was in this place but it felt rude of me to ask. I didn't want to be invasive or make him uncomfortable so I just dropped it. I knew everything about everyone ever since I swiped Ms. Lynn's journal and I was getting used to not having to fear anyone's hypothetical hidden, ulterior motives. But since Xavier was new, he had a clean slate. I'd have to break down his walls myself. It was exhausting.

Not that many people even talked to me after that day Draven carried me into the cafeteria. They were probably afraid of him killing them if anyone bothered me, which, he probably would. He seemed very territorial but he wouldn't talk to me which was conflicting in itself.

Xavier was now placed in our therapy group since Chris was gone and we had an open slot. Whenever we had a session it was like a wild card whether Draven would show up or not. If he did he'd always come late, leaving me watching the door for the entire hour and holding my breath the entire time. Just waiting. I always made sure I left a spot next to me open so that I could be close to him, hoping that he might sit next to me. Xavier was on my other side.

"I'm Camden," we were doing that stupid introduction shit again. "And I'm really sad today. For no reason."

Through the book, I found out that Camden's bipolar. That's why he was so happy looking last time and depressed now. Everything made so much sense with all of the answers. Ms. Lynn had a new, shiny red journal upon her lap and seemed on edge ever since her original one disappeared. But she hadn't mentioned it to us or anyone else I'm pretty sure.

Some other people took their turns and it was extremely boring. Mike was talking about how he's angry because apparently the voices in his head won't stop insisting that he eat worms and that he doesn't like the taste so he keeps saying no.

I didn't even need the book to tell he was severely schizophrenic.

"Does that mean he's eaten them before?" Xavier whispered into my ear teasingly and I held in a laugh, halting before I could respond because the door opened.

My heart lurched Draven walked in and I forgot how to breathe. He looked at the chair next to me and contemplated sitting in it. I crossed my fingers but frowned when he took the chair but pulled it to the opposite side of the circle instead without even sparing me a glance.

Ouch.

I think Xavier could tell that I was staring at Draven and got a little jealous because soon he was tangling his fingers in mine. I blushed furiously, wanting to rip my hand away from his, run over to Draven, and then kiss the hell out of him. But I didn't.

Miles took his turn and then Xavier was next. He didn't seem shy or hesitant or embarrassed like everyone else was their first time. Or every time regardless of whether they were used to it or not.

"I'm Xavier, and I'm happier than I've been in a long time."

Draven was staring at the wall and for once I was praying he didn't look my way. I didn't want him to see Xavier and I holding hands. I wasn't sure if he'd even give a shit but I still felt like I was betraying him despite him the fact that he kept insisting I stay away from him.

Usually, I found jealous guys kind of hot, and if it were anyone but Draven I still would. But if he ended up getting angry then he'd pummel Xavier into the ground and chop his corpse into pieces. I wanted to warn him but by the time I grew the balls to speak up, he was already saying the worst thing he could've.

"Because even though I'm not thrilled with the thought of being in a mental hospital, it means I got to meet Ian." He smiled before squeezing my hand in his, bringing it up to his lips to kiss it. My face burned redder for about ten different reasons.

The biggest reason was my embarrassment. Oh, and the fact that Draven was finally looking at me.

Not necessarily me, but my hand in Xavier's and the way he kissed my own. Draven's fists clenched in fury and he was fuming in his seat. Yet he was... restraining himself?

What happened to my insane, anger issues, aggressive, bone-shattering Draven who'd kill you in an instant— with just a single punch. Who the hell was this?

He got up and stormed over to the door and a tiny, selfish, horrible part of me was disappointed.

But before Draven was out of the room and just when I thought Xavier couldn't say anything worse, he proved me wrong.

"And I'd live through it a million times as long as it meant I got to see his cute face every day."

Draven paused in his tracks, hand gripping the door handle so hard that it almost broke because of his strength. But Xavier didn't seem to notice.

"As long as I get to run my fingers through his soft hair," he did just that, "as long as I get to gaze into his beautiful, tantalizing eyes." He gazed into them, fulfilling his words.

Draven actually did rip the handle from the door. Everyone in the room excluding Xavier seemed to be staring at the hunk of muscle who was seething.

"As long as I get to feel his soft lips on mine," he leaned in and pressed a quick but intense kiss onto my lips, "then I'm happy."

Did he have a death wish? Was he oblivious to the way Draven was about to burst into flames? I guess he wasn't used to the beast-like everyone else was so he didn't know what he was in for. And fuck it would be rough. I trembled as Xavier pulled his lips from mine, terrified of what was to come. I was too afraid to even look at Draven by this point.

Then I heard the sound of a door slamming shut and I turned, blinking in bewilderment when Draven was gone.

Did he just... leave?

I couldn't tear my eyes away from where he was standing just seconds ago. He seemed like he was angry, he was a shaken-up can of soda about to explode all over the room.

But he just left.

I choked down the tears that almost formed in my eyes. He didn't give a single fuck about me. I really got my hopes up just to be let down.

I'm such an idiot.

There was no way someone like him would like someone like me. I wasn't repulsive but I looked dull and boring while Draven was the epitome of perfection. He didn't have a single flaw on any of his features that looked sculpted by an artist. And I really believed he would like some painfully average boy who wouldn't stop annoying him.

"Hey," Xavier spoke softly, tilting my chin up to look at him, "you deserve better than him. I don't even know him and I can tell he's a dick."

I wanted to say that he's right, that he was right because he didn't know Draven at all. But it turns out I was the one who didn't know him whatsoever. I nodded and tried not to cry. I didn't want to look like some pathetic, heartbroken loser.

Xavier's eyes dropped down to my lips, "I mean it. You're so beautiful." He murmured and my insides twisted. It didn't feel nearly as good as when Draven touched me, but maybe Xavier was good for me after all. "I can treat you the way you deserve to be treated. I can love you in all the ways that son of a bitch is incapable of."

I swallowed, glancing down at his lips, and initiated the kiss for the first time.

Ms. Lynn coughed awkwardly, "let's get back to the session, boys."