Something poked Travis' cheek persistently to wake him. He tried to shove it away but it only came back a moment later. Finally he cracked an eye open, his gaze meeting Jared, freshly showered and dressed in his suit already.

"What time is it?" Travis mumbled.

"Seven thirty," Jared answered. "You should get up and get ready."

Travis groaned, dropping his head back onto the pillow. A moment later, he heard the door click shut and lifted his head, realizing that he was alone. Shit. Was Jared in one of his moods?

Desperately hoping he was wrong, Travis climbed out of bed.

In the years they'd been friends, Jared had developed a sporadic habit where he got overly quiet and avoided eye contact with Travis. Until he was forced to deal with him again, of course, not that Travis was ever the one forcing him but they were neighbours and they went to the same school. If Jared had better things to do then be friends with him, then Travis didn't care. Jared was a moody fucker. Why would Travis want him around all the time anyway?

He shoved the familiar irritation away and climbed out of bed stretching, his joints cracking back into place. It didn't take him long to shower and get dressed, thoughts drawn to Jared and his moody ways, despite himself.

Last year, Jared had gotten so angry at Travis for blowing him off that he'd avoided him for a whole week, somehow managing to do it even though they sat next to each other in history. Eventually, they were paired together for a project so he'd finally had to suck it up and get over it, thank god. Travis had long gotten over the angry, flustered glances and the way Jared would turn on his heel and head the other way whenever he saw him.

Thinking of that "fight" annoyed Travis all over again. Coming up to the day, Jared had bitched and moaned about going to the movies so much that Travis honestly thought he'd been doing him a favor by canceling.

He gelled his hair quickly and decided that he actually looked pretty good despite not shaving for three days. The light scruff sort of suited him. Made him look a bit older, which he liked.

By the time Travis got down to the resort's Italian restaurant for their reservation, the other four were there already. His mom, Jared and Jared's parents, Margaret and Henry, were seated around around table with only one spot free—next to Jared.

His mom waved as he drew near and Margaret catcalled rudely. Travis grinned and exaggerated a confident swagger as he walked the last steps to the table. They all laughed. Except Jared, who smiled politely and continued to stare at his menu.

Travis tried not to grimace as he slid into the seat next to him.

"You're looking good," Margaret said.

"You too," Travis said winking at her.

Margaret laughed and Henry kicked him under the table with mock anger.

"Careful there Travis, don't wanna have to fight you for her."

Travis laughed, but before he could retort, a menu slapped into his chest.

"We all chose already, hurry up."

This time Travis did grimace, taking the menu from Jared's hand, unable to stop the glare that narrowed his eyes.

"Relax," he said bitterly. "No need to get jealous, you totally got your moms looks."

Jared flushed and looked down at his menu intently. Even though he clearly had no reason to keep reading it.

Travis turned away from Jared, catching the other three watching the scene with raised brows.

'What's wrong with him?' his mother mouthed silently. He shrugged and shook his head. That would probably take too much explaining. Not to mention the fact that he wasn't totally sure.

He didn't get why watching someone get off was enough to turn Jared into a cold bastard-unless it was something else, but that was the only thing he could think of that might be bothering Jared. He was probably just on his rag, Travis thought bitterly.

Pushing the thought away, he glanced around the table, only just now registering Rebecca and Tony's absence.

"Where's Becca?" he asked.

"She's a newly wed now," Travis' mother said. "Where do you think she is?"

"That's enough Hannah," Henry said at once. The others snickered.

It had only been two days since the wedding. A beautiful ceremony on the beach, and in Cuba, no less. Only fifteen guests had managed to come, which was exactly what the bride and groom had wanted.

Travis was thrilled that he and his mom were close enough to the Burns family to get an invite, and even more thrilled that somehow his mom had managed to swing it.

Travis was ecstatic to be here in general. He had never gone on a vacation anywhere and from what he had seen of the resort, Cuba was basically heaven.

For a week now they'd been tanning, swimming, dancing, watching shows and drinking. The glow in his mother's cheeks was something he didn't remember ever seeing before and the banter between them all and the happy mood made Travis buzz with energy. The other guests had left already but for another week, Travis got to stay here in paradise.

The only downside of course was Jared.

"I'm gonna go to bed early," Jared said. "I have a headache."

He'd managed to last about forty minutes and half of a meal.

"Are you sure?" Margaret asked, worry tinting her words.

Jared nodded but didn't say a word or look at anyone as he got up and left the restaurant.

The second he was out of sight, the three turned on Travis like school kids.

"What happened?" Margaret asked at once.

"What did you do?" his mother demanded. "He hasn't been like this since you stood him up at that movie to go out with that girl."

Travis rolled his eyes.

"I didn't do anything," he defended. Or anyone, which was why Jared was blowing this way out of proportion. He was kind of acting like they had broken the rule, you know, that no friends should sleep with each other or it got weird. Only they hadn't slept together-or done anything at all actually-which was why this made no sense.

The waiter walked by just then and Travis stuck out a hand, stopping him.

"Can I have a rum and coke?" he asked. The waiter didn't bother to ID him.

God, he loved Cuba.

After gulping down some of the strong drink, he turned to Jared's parents.

"I actually don't get your son," he said honestly. "Could you please explain to me why I have to walk on eggshells around him?"

He swallowed down the rest of the drink. The other three exchanged a glance but didn't say anything.

***

The hotel's dance party had ended early tonight so there was nothing to do after dinner but drink at the bar. The parents were headed for the hot tub but Travis avoided that like the plague.

A few more drinks down, he walked along the beach briefly until he tripped into the cold water and realized he was too drunk for that shit.

Travis stumbled into the room at eleven thirty. Everything was dark and still and it instantly pissed him off. Maybe tonight wouldn't have been so boring if Jared wasn't being such a bitch.

Travis stuck the key card into the slot by the door and all the lights flicked on at once.

He did it to annoy Jared, but if the other boy noticed, he didn't let it show. His still form, hidden mostly under the covers didn't stir. After a moment of staring at the light brown hair peeking out of the blankets, Travis sighed and pulled the key out, plunging the room into darkness once again.

He felt his way over to the beds, finding Jared's first, since it was closer to the door and then his own.

For a minute he sat on the edge of his bed, staring into the darkness, facing Jared. He couldn't hear anything from him. Barely even his soft breathing. Eventually his eyes adjusted and he could see the back of Jared's head and the large pile of blankets atop him.

Why was it that he felt so frustrated? So anxious?

He was use to Jared ignoring him and getting annoyed by him, so why was it bothering Travis so much this time?

He stood up, the anxiety rising in him. He wanted to fuck Jared up. Either fight him or—or just mess with him somehow.

Before he knew it, he was at the side of Jared's bed, staring down at his form.

He wanted to reach down and shake him, but instead found himself pulling back the covers.

Jared stiffened at once. The bastard was awake.

Suddenly not sure what he was doing, Travis was climbing into bed next to his so called friend.

Jared made a startled noise. A sort of stuttery gasp but didn't say anything until Travis slipped his arm around him and pulled Jared's back hard against his chest.

"W—what are you doing?" Jared demanded.

"Shut up," Travis muttered.

He pulled the blankets up around them and squeezed Jared hard against him, not letting him go. He could feel Jared's stammering heart beat against his chest and shut his eyes, soaking in the feeling. Jared felt surprisingly pretty nice. His back felt so firm and warm and his ass was curved against Travis' crotch. Travis pressed against it experimentally.

After a moment, a trembling hand up wrapped around Travis' arm and Travis found himself smiling in the dark, breathing Jared in.

Wait.

Something in the back of his mind finally got Travis' attention, shouting and waving warning flags.

Wasn't he supposed to be fucking Jared up? Confusing and hurting him a little, wasn't that the plan?

Instinct taking over, he gripped Jared's hand. He definitely wasn't the hand holding type but it seemed like the right thing to do and Jared gripped him back at once, whispering his name.

So Jared was the mushy type. Go figure.

He pressed his face against Jared's neck. This was supposed to be difficult to do, Travis knew that but his friend's skin was surprisingly soft. He bit him.

Jared shuddered a little but didn't otherwise move as Travis began to suck and nip his neck. He'd always loved doing things like this, the way that he could always get a reaction and Jared was no exception. The little twitches and eventual moans running through his heated body was enough to make Travis forget everything. He left little wet kisses in a trail all the way around to his jaw, finally reaching up and turning his friend's face toward him.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Travis' lips brushed Jared's, and it felt good, so soft. And then his question registered.

Are you sure you want to do this?

Jared was worried about him. Whether he would regret doing—whatever they were doing. Whether he was really sure. Which didn't make any sense because Travis was the one doing something to Jared. He was messing him up....

Whether it was the alcohol suddenly flushing out of his system or just the shock of the question, Travis wasn't sure. All he knew was that it was suddenly clear as day that he was lying in bed with arguably his best friend, trying to fool around with him so that—what? So that Jared would be confused? That reason didn't make any sense.

He was up out of bed now and couldn't really remember how he'd gotten by the door.

Jared sat up slowly, just looking at him.

He looked like all those things that Travis had wanted him to; hurt, uncertain, confused, but Travis didn't even know why he had wanted that anymore.

"Sorry," he muttered, and left.

It was barely midnight so he walked to the other end of the resort; out past the beach and the little restaurant they'd had dinner at. He ended up sitting at the bar next to some girl.

She seemed a lot older than him but after a couple more drinks, he didn't really care. Somewhere between shot number four and her room it occurred to him that maybe he had wanted to confuse Jared so badly because he wanted to return the favor.

That damn boy acted so innocent but he was the one who had stuck around to watch on the balcony.

He was the one who confused Travis first.