Austin slaps Tim hard across the face after Tim tells him what all had happened.

Tim grabs his cheek and looks at his friend with a shocked expression on his face.

"SNAP OUT OF IT!" Austin yells. "Can't you see, Timmy? You ARE in love with Avi. Why in the hell don't you just tell him?"

"Cause I just .. just don't know for sure." Tim says softly.

"BULLSH*T!!" Austin yells.

"Honey, calm down." Adam says.

"Adam, this doofus standing here is so in love with Avi. It's so obvious. It's just so d*mn irritating that he can't see it." Austin says as he shakes his head.

"He will." Adam says.

Tim closes his eyes and drops his head. He could feel the tears burning his eyes.

"If you would just break down that f*cking wall that you've built around your heart, Timmy." Austin says as he pokes Tim hard in the chest with his finger. "If you don't, you're going to mess around and lose him."

The room goes quiet, the only sound was Tim sniffing as he tries hard not to break down. Austin sighs as his heart breaks for the man that has been his best friend and even lover for years.

"Timmy, Sweetie." Austin rubs Tim on the swollen cheek that he had slapped. "It breaks my heart to see you like this. And I'm so sorry for hitting you."

"That's okay." Tim says softly and nods, quickly wiping his nose. "I deserve it. I'm, uh, I'm going to my room."

Tim goes into his bedroom and sits down on the bed with a heavy sigh.

"What the hell have I done." Tim mumbles as he falls back onto the bed. He reaches for Avi's pillow and hugs it tight to his chest as he stares at the ceiling.

~~

Two days had gone by since Avi had left. Tim texted and called him several times but never received an answer.

He had barely eaten or slept these two days. He would lie on his bed and thumb through the pictures that he had taken of his lover.

Did Avi hate him? He had ever right to. Tim was so consumed on how he was feeling that he never thought about Avi's feeling. 

"God, you're such a f*cking screw-up, Foust." Tim tells himself as he wipes the tears that were rolling down his face.

He suddenly throws his phone down and reaches under the bed and pulls out his suitcases. He stumbles over to the closet and starts to grab armloads of his clothes.

"Timmy? What's going on? What are you doing?" Austin asks as he steps into the room.

"I .. I gotta .. I gotta see A..Avi." Tim says through his sobs. He staggers to the dresser and starts to grab boxers and socks.

"Whoa. Hold up. If you think I'm going to let you drive as exhausted as you are, you're nuts." Austin says, grabbing the clothes from Tim's arms. "Sweetie, you haven't slept or eaten in days."

"Austin, you don't understand." Tim sobs heavily, placing his hands over his face.

"No, Timmy, you're wrong. I do understand." Austin says softly as he pulls Tim's hands down from his face. "You've finally realized that you love that green-eyed man. And he's gone."

"He's gone because of me. Austin, I have to go and tell him how I feel. I have to tell him that I love him." Tim's voice was hoarse from his crying.

"We'll take you." Adam speaks up from the doorway.

"I can't ask you to do that, Adam." Tim says, shaking his head. "You have to work."

"As a matter of fact, I just got off the phone with my uncle. I overheard part of you guys' conversation and knew that you are in no shape to drive all the way to California. Business is kinda slow right now so my uncle is giving me a vacation week, kind of a wedding present." Adam explains. "So Austin and I will carry you to Avi."

Soon they were headed out to California. Adam and Austin decided to have Tim sit in the back seat. Hoping the car ride would help put him to sleep.

Austin would glance back at him from time to time, checking on him. After four hours on the road, Austin glances around again to see Tim's head hanging down in a very uncomfortable position. 

"He's finally asleep." Austin says quietly. "But he's going to hurt his neck the way he's sleeping."

"There's a rest stop up here. I have to use the bathroom and then we'll see if we can't lay him down without waking him up." Adam says.

"So how do you think this is going to turn out?" Austin asks quietly to keep from waking Tim, once they were back on the road.

"I hope for the good." Adam shrugs. "But we really don't know how hurt and angry Avi is."

"That's true." Austin nods sadly. "I know I would be hurt. But Tim did have to make sure. I mean, he didn't want to lead Avi on, you know?"

"Oh, I totally understand his side too." Adam nods. "Do you have the address to Avi's parents?"

"Yeah, Tim found this letter in some of Avi's things. It has the address on it." Austin answers.

Tim groans as he sits up.

"Tim? Honey, you've only been to sleep for about an hour." Austin says.

"I feel nauseous." Tim says as brushes back his hair.

"Probably because you haven't eaten anything. I, myself, am getting pretty hungry. Think you can eat a burger?" Adam asks, glancing at the man in the back seat.

"Probably." Tim nods. "But can we make it quick?"

"Sure." Adam nods.

Tim ate his burger and fries in record time. He then waited impatiently for Austin and Adam to finish. 

"How much further?" He asks as they walk back to the car.

"About twenty more miles to Visalia, then we have to find this address." Adam answers as he gets into the driver's seat.

"What if he doesn't want to see me? He probably hates me now." Tim says, his nervousness had kicked in.

"He doesn't hate you, Timmy. Avi loves you." Austin replies.

"Then why hasn't he returned my calls and text messages?" Tim asks with a shaky voice.

"I didn't say he wasn't mad at you." Austin says, bluntly.

After arriving in Visalia, Adam decided to stop and ask for directions instead of driving all over the unfamiliar town looking for one street.

"We're in luck." He says getting back into the car. "Third light down then take a right."

"This is a beautiful town." Austin comments. "Tim? You alright back there?"

"No." Tim answers quietly. "I feel like I'm fixing to have a panic attack."

"Just take a deep breath." Austin says as he reaches back and rubs Tim's leg, comfortingly.

"This road looks like it may be leaving town. Watch for the house number." Adam says.

They travel a couple miles out of town when Austin finally spots the house. 

"Wow, this is nice." Adam says as he pulls into the drive.

Tim slowly gets out of the car staring at the beautiful brick home surrounded by woods. Apparently, Avi's family was pretty well off.

"This is it." Tim says as he swallows hard.

"Good luck, Sweetie." Austin says.

Tim nods and walks slowly up to the large front porch. His heart was racing as he rang the doorbell.

The door opens and Tim finds himself looking at an older man, probably in his sixties but is well built.

"Uh, Hi. Is .. Is Avi here?" Tim asks nervously with a weak voice.

"And you are?" The man asks.

"Tim." Tim almost whispers. He felt as if his voice was failing him.

"So you're Tim." The man nods as he eyes the nervous visitor. Red bloodshot, puffy brown eyes, the brown eyes that Avi had told them about. Bags under his eyes from lack of sleep and a fading bruise on his cheek.

Apparently, Avi had told them about him. But what was said? Was Tim considered a villain? Arm and dangerous? A threat to the family?

"Yes. Yes, Sir." Tim manages a nod.

"Tim, my son came home a few days ago. Devastated. Heartbroken. And it was because of you." The man says, crossing his muscular arms.

"Yes, Sir. I know." Tim nods.

"Let me speak." Mr. Kaplan says, holding up his hand. "Avi loves you very much, Tim. And before I allow you into this house to talk to him, I want to know just how you feel about him."

"Mr. Kaplan, I .. I love Avi." Tim says as his eyes fill with tears. "I was just too stupid to realize it."

*****

VOTE & COMMENT PLEASE!!