For Joshua, life in Ethan's house was going great, almost too great, that he feared there was something really bad about to happen, but until then, life was great.

He woke up early every day and showered before Ethan's parents woke up. Ethan and Alice sneak up lots of food for him, to the point that Mrs. Wilson is concerned her kids have some sort of eating disorder and Mr. Wilson is sure there is a ghost in the house. 

They leave for school together, Joshua is even teaching both of them basketball. They would go to bed together, talking for hours on end then they would have to sleep in class.

"Why are you and Joshua so close?" David asked him one day as he was packing his bag hurriedly to join Joshua and Alice to play basketball.

"He is just teaching me and Alice basketball. You know Alice got into the team, she can even get a sports scholarship now." Ethan said, grinning wide.

"Then why are you so happy these days?" David asked, raising his brow in suspicion.

"I am happy for my sister, idiot." Ethan said, lightly smacking his head with a book.

"You don't tell me anything these days." David whined.

"I will, eventually, you are my best friend after all." Ethan said patting him where he hit him two seconds ago. "Gotta go, but I'll see you later."

After a match with Ethan and Alice on one side and Joshua on another, the siblings finally won for the first time against Joshua.

"You both did great," Joshua praised, opening a water bottle for Ethan.

"Yeah, winning against your coach does feel good." Alice said, opening her own water bottle.

"Yeah, I think you are ready for the real world, Ethan needs a little more but I can teach him later." Joshua said, opening his own water bottle.

"Yeah, yeah, you would want to spend alone time with him, won't you?" Alice teased, making the other two freeze.

"Haha," Ethan laughed awkwardly. "Why would you say that."

"Are we really doing this? I thought you knew that I know." Alice nonchalantly said.

"Know what?" Ethan asked, scared.

"That you and Joshua are a thing, I heard rumors about Joshua and I already knew you like guys. I put two and two together myself." 

Ethan's breathing labored, and Joshua started turning pale. 

"Please relax both of you, don't you guys trust me? I was rooting for you from the start." Alice said, trying to calm the two boys down.

"Please don't talk about such big matters like that, you almost gave me a heart attack," Ethan complained. "It's a sensitive topic." 

"What are people gossiping about?" Joshua asked.

"They say your parents disowned you 'cause you are gay," Alice answered, calmly.

"So they know the truth, who could have even told them the truth?" Joshua wondered aloud.

"Andy said he has a relative from your city and he told him about you." 

"Why is it always Andy, why does that guy hate you so much?" Ethan asked, annoyed at Andy's name.

"In case you haven't noticed, most people neither like poor nor gay people. And just my luck, I am both of them." Joshua said, packing up everything.

"But we have to do something about it." Ethan said, stopping Joshua by his wrist.

"I don't like to lie and the term is about to end, let's just stay as we are. Love it or hate it, they don't matter to me." Joshua said, gently prying Ethan's fingers off his wrist.

-------------------------------------------------

"So, what is even going on with Joshua and you?" Alice asked as they cycled back slowly to their house.

"I like him and he said he finds me lovely." Ethan answered truthfully, no point hiding it now.

"What? Just that? Aren't you guys dating or anything?" Alice asked baffled.

"Joshua has traumatic memories with dating."

"So what, everyone does. I am still not over the guy who cheated on me in kindergarten." 

"You don't understand Alice, really bad memories, even his parents kicked him out." Ethan tried to explain.

"Look, I understand but still, you both like each other. And have you both even looked in the mirror? You look so cute together, like a match made in heaven." Alice raved.

"I am not going to pressure Joshua into a relationship, heck, even I am not sure if I wanna be in one." 

"Yes you do, you want to be in a relationship the second you saw that guy in fifth grade who helped you with your homework. You can deny all you want but I know it's a crush when I see one." Alice said, closing any discussion on the crush topic.

"Fine, even if I want to doesn't mean I can. You know right what will happen if this gets out? Even our parents will disown me." 

"Don't worry, I'll help you even if they kick you out. I'll steal their money and deliver it to you." Alice said, like it's the most natural thing to do if your brother is kicked out of the house.

"Forget it." Ethan said, rolling his eyes.

"You guys can at least kiss." Alice said, thankfully, keeping her voice down. But the statement was still enough to make Ethan blush to his toes. He just paddled faster, ignoring her for the sake of his mental health.

As Ethan reached for the doorknob of his room, after washing up and retiring for the night, he hesitated. Joshua might be in there, adjusting the mattress to sleep, just like every day.

But Ethan calmed his nerves and entered, he was shocked to find his room empty. Since Joshua started to live with them, it has never happened before, Joshua was always there first. This was making Ethan worried.

He tried calling on his cell, but there was no answer.

He waited on his bed, worried sick. Was it because of the argument they had? Was Joshua angry? Was he safe? What will happen if something happens to him? The thoughts were driving Ethan insane.

But finally, after an hour, there was a knock on Ethan's window, and he jumped to open it. Thankfully it was Joshua on the other side, looking tired like he just ran from somewhere.

"What happened? Are you alright?" Ethan asked, helping him with his shoes.

"Just ran into my old city bullied, they tried to beat me up but I ran away." Joshua answered as Ethan made him sit on the bed, handing him a bottle of water from his nightstand.

"How did they find you?" Ethan asked, but Joshua just shrugged.

"Knew they were gonna find me one day, didn't expect it to be now, just before the finals." 

"Did they hurt you somewhere," Ethan asked, worried.

"No, I saw them first so I easily evaded them. But they will come to my school to find me soon. They are nasty, I'll have to be careful. In my previous school, they jumped me and I had to be in the hospital for a week, I ran away from the hospital cause I didn't even had any money to pay them." Joshua said, wincing at the memory.

"I won't let that happen this time." Ethan said, his eyes teary as he cupped Joshua's face in his hand.

Joshua just smiled, his dimples lighting up his face. "It's alright, physical pain lasts for just some time, it's the way that you heel me, that makes me strong." he said, taking Ethan's hands in his.

"Never in my life had someone taken care of me like you do. Never had they looked at me like they admired me, the way you looked at me the first time our eyes met, my heart has been falling for you ever since." he said, making Ethan sit down beside him, holding the soft eye contact.

"If I were to go away with just one thing with me, I would choose you. But we both know it's not possible, so just let me fight alone, for now, I'll come back for you even if you don't need me anymore." 

Ethan's tears dropped as he looked into Joshua's deep dragon eyes. "I won't, I can't." he sobbed. "Please where ever you wanna go, take me with you." he pleaded.

Joshua just wiped his tears away, holding his jaw softly. He pulled him in to leave a soft kiss on his forehead. Ethan shook his head, not ready to say goodbye, as he pulled Joshua closer, their breaths mingling, breathing each other. 

The distance between them charged with unknown electricity, pulling them closer. Finally, their lips touched, and it was as if with a huge bang everything was destroyed, but softly, slowly, like it was destined to be destroyed, like it was necessary.

It was just them locked in a silent agreement of loving the other, of cherishing them. Promise of holding their love which was too loud, too different, peacefully, lovingly, close to their hearts

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Hello lovely readers!! 

I posted like five chapters today, hope you all enjoy them. Please do comment on what you think of the story so far and which other part of their lives would you like to read.

Thank you!!!!