Colin was acting weird. Ever since the phone sex thing, Peter found his actions plain odd and strange.

The random check-ins. The constant texts. The never-ending calls. All those gestures were sweet, and Peter had no doubt that he enjoyed the attention and concern, the only problem was the nagging thought that something was definitely up with Colin.

Luckily, Peter could dive into that issue now that he was almost done with his finals. He had only one more paper to go and he'd finally be free from the sunken place of depression and agony that was advertised behind the shiny banner called 'College.' The great part was, he had the Music paper after a week.

As the Asian stepped out of the examination room, shoving his pen into his pocket and going for his bag.

Sure enough, he found that Colin had sent him a text a couple of minutes ago. His text was at the top of the screen, next to his contact name which Peter had saved with some inappropriate emojis.

Colin: Hey babe. How did the paper go?

Peter: With the lecturer...

In a matter of seconds, text bubbles popped up on the screen and made Peter wheeze out a heavy breath as his heart did cartwheels.

Colin: sass me, will you?

Peter slipped his phone into the pocket of his jeans as he slung his bag over one shoulder, stepping to the side to allow the student zombies to pass-- they were the ones who were too fed up to even shove him or yell at him to get out of the way when he stood there texting. Hopefully, they would get back their groove with the holiday season approaching.

Since he had a week before his last paper, Peter decided to take a small break away from campus and all within it. The Asian headed straight for his dorm, where he changed, packed up a bag, and set out to the closest bus stop outside campus, the thought of Colin's face when he appeared out of the blue playing over and over in his head.

It had been twenty minutes now and no still no sign of a bus. His feet hurt from standing and pacing but he still couldn't take a seat anywhere. There was gum all over the benches, not to mention how cold the metal was. He didn't want to ask Colin to pick him up-- that was the concept of surprises, the person you were planning it for had to be at least in a little bit of awe when you arrived. That was the whole point.

He dared not call an uber since traffic was heavy this time of year and it would cost an awful lot for a journey the took over three hours. But maybe, Dakota would be free and willing to sacrifice her time for a long session of bonding with him.

Peter walked over to one end of the shed and leaned against it as he dug for his phone. His body immediately retracted from the metallic surface when his bare arms came into contact with the cold metal. Shivering slightly, he shifted to the side as he called her number, placing the phone against his ear as he walked back and forth to keep his body heat stable.

"Hey Dakota, can you come pick my up? I'm at that stop some minutes away from the school."

"I don't know who Dakota is, but I can certainly do that."

He understood that it was certainly not Dakota. Dakota didn't have a deep voice, she didn't even talk that way. With a shaking hand, Peter lowered the phone just enough so he could peek at the screen. M. Hall, it said. Shit. That's what he got for unconventionally saving his contacts with the emojis coming before the letters.

Peter's first insist was to tap the end call icon but that would be weird. He had to at least say something first. Right?

"Oh Marcus. I, uh, I didn't mean to call you." Peter bit on his tongue as he felt heat rise up in his cheeks. "Don't worry about it," he blurted, right before he hung up.

In his haste, Peter had a hard time putting his phone back. It got even harder when he saw a bus approach. He rushed to the vehicle without properly putting his phone back. It fell out of his pocket and hit the ground with a very audible crash.

Peter scrambled for the device, checking the screen to see three thin lines running across it in ugly scratches. Even the side of the phone inwardly bent a bit from the impact. He could only imagine what would have happened to the device if it had no case on it.

The bus had boarded and was driving away by the time he was done checking if his phone still worked. It did, which was a good thing. But he would have to wait for an extended period of time. Not so good.

Just as the he thought of giving up the entire idea of going to see Colin---accidentally calling Marcus instead of Dakota was a sure sign that he was meant to stay in school---a sleek audi pulled up. Peter didn't know what model it was---he didn't particularly care about cars---but he could tell it was expensive. Gigi Hadid had a similar car.

The windows rolled down, revealing a smiling Marcus Hall. "You asked for a ride?"

Peter shook his head immediately. "I don't want to worry you with that. I can catch a cab when I get to the intersection over there," he said pointing.

"The nearest intersection is a twenty-minutes walk away."

"I know. I can--"

"Come on, it's fine. I'll take you wherever you wanna go. It's even getting colder and you don't have a jacket on."

"Thanks." Peter got in the passenger seat, buckling up before setting his bag on his lap. The new-car-smell filled his nostrils as he leaned back, eyes checking out the interior of the car. It was definitely new.

Marcus gave him a big smile before turning his attention to the road, curls bouncing with the action. "Don't mention it."

Soon, they were speeding down a nearly deserted road that Marcus said was a shortcut he normally used to bypass traffic.

"So, where to?" The blond asked, eyes flitting over Peter's form.

Peter answered him as he unlocked his phone, cringing at the visible cracks he could feel when he ran his thumbs over the screen. "Regal Heights."

"That's where you live?"

"Yeah."

"That's a great neighbourhood, a little expensive though." Marcus commented, making Peter unsure whether he was complimenting him or implying that he couldn't afford his home.

Says the one driving a supercar. "I figured that out. But it's why I don't stay there alone."

"Mm?"

Before he could think better of it, Peter decided to say something he had never said before. It was easier to tell Marcus, he didn't know him too well. To him, telling someone who would be flying off to a different country in a matter of days was comparably easier than coming out to someone whose face he would be seeing every single day. Besides, this could be used as practice.

Words he had never uttered before were said to this guy who was barely more than an acquaintance. Peter breathed deeply, rubbing a hand over his face as he prepared himself. "I have-- my boyfriend and I live together."

Marcus received the information well. A little too well. "He's the one you're texting?"

It was an unexpected question but Peter nodded in reply. He wasn't particularly texting Colin, just going through their previous conversations. Still, he said, "Uh huh."

"It's cute how you smile when you look at your screen."

Peter didn't know what would be an appropriate reply. "Thank you."

They rode in silence the rest of the journey, the sound of traffic and honking drowned out by the mellow music that pulsed out of the cars speakers.

Peter was deep in sleep when Marcus pulled up at the apartment blocks. He had to shake him for a while before the dark-haired boys eyes finally opened a crack.

"Brought you home safe and sound," Marcus said in a low, almost soothing voice.

"Right. Thanks for doing this." Peter opened his door, giving Marcus a nod of appreciation before he stepped out.

"I'll be throwing a party tomorrow night. In honour of the contract I landed with Givenchy," the blond called out with a raised eyebrow and a self-pleased smirk. "You're invited. I was supposed to tell all of you guys during our last shoot but I was a bit... preoccupied with stuff that happened the day before." Marcus winced, jaw tensing as his teeth clenched. "I'll text you the details, Peter. It would be great if you could come."

"Sure."

Once the car was out of the main gate, Peter turned and walked on, bound for his apartment a couple of floors up.

When he got to the front door of the shared apartment, he hesitated before his knuckles rapped on the door a couple of times. Peter's heart was beating at a ridiculous pace as he waited for the door to fall open. His hands pressed against his chest as he shifted from one foot to the other, waiting for Colin to open it.

His stomach twisted when the brunet's face appeared, hair a nest of chaos and scruffy stubble an even better mess. He looked rugged, like he hadn't quite slept well in a couple of days. Especially now that his seemingly tired eyes stayed trained on Peter for a long time.

Colin didn't say a word. Once he got over the initial shock that Peter was indeed there, standing in front of him looking impossibly beautiful-- even with that stupid scowl he made when he asked "Are you okay?"-- the brunet couldn't stop himself.

His hands were around Peter's shoulders in a fraction of a second, pulling the perplexed guy inside before kicking the door closed with his feet.

Their lips were pressed together soon enough, and they kissed like they had been deprived of each other-- which they had.

Peter narrowed his eyes at Colin, grabbing his head and kissing him again. And again. And again. There was something awfully sweet with kissing him now.

"You taste sweet. What were you eating?" Peter kissed him again, this time allowing Colin's tongue into his mouth. They went at it for a while, long enough for Colin to forget he was asked a question for a few minutes.

"Fruit salad," Colin mumbled against his lips.

"Let's share." Peter grabbed a fork from the kitchen as soon as they parted, heading directly for the bowl that sat on the dining table. The assorted fruit, cut onto bite-sized cube. He dug in immediately.

"Don't you want some?" Peter's cheeks were stuffed with watermelon and papaya and banana, juice dripping from the corner of his lips with how excessively full his mouth was.

The brunet kissed away the essence. "You're seriously asking me that now?"

Peter shrugged, taking Colin's answer as code for "I am full." More for him then.

As he was eating, he noticed Colin staring at him with an unreadable expression. He didn't mind, but the silence that came with it bothered him. "Dude, are you sure there's nothing wrong with you?"

"I am. I just really really missed you, baby." Colin scooted closer, burying his face in Peter's hair. "Mmm, smells nice," he whispered.

"There's something you're not telling me." He put the fork down, resting his elbows on the table as he tilted his head towards Colin.

"I don't think so..." Colin drawled, moving to kiss a trail down Peter's neck.

"Colin. What is up with you?"

"Alright," the brunet pulled back, rolling his eyes. "I have a problem with you hanging out with Marcus Hall."

"Marcus Hall? Why are you bringing him up?"

"Because you're around him these days and I don't really trust him."

"He was the one who brought me home. Drove me all the way here. I fell asleep in the car too but nothing happened." Peter rolled his eyes. "He could have done something to me but he obviously didn't, so... I think we can trust him."

Colin's jaw would have reached the floor if it could. His mouth opened and closed a couple of times. He blinked a couple of times. "Tell me you're joking."

"I'm not. What's your problem with him anyway? Is it jealousy?" Peter smiled at the thought of Colin being that tense because of someone who wasn't even in the race to begin with.

"I'm not jealous," Colin said with a frown.

"Then I guess going to the party he's hosting won't bother you. It's tomorrow." Peter kept his eyes on the bowl and his head down in order to hide the small smile on his face.

"He's hosting a par-- yeah, you're not going."

"Who says?" he asked, popping a chunk of pineapple in his mouth.

"I do. And I'm your person."

"You can call me your boyfriend now. I told Marcus you were."

"You did what? Why in blazes would you tell him that," Colin yelled. All he was hearing seemed to be getting to him as he constantly kept running an exasperated hand through his hair.

"Dude, chill. He knows I'm in a relationship with a guy, just doesn't know it's you."

"That's the absolute worst thing you could do. He's a nightmare."

"He's been nothing but nice. Sure, he's a bit full of himself but you have nothing to worry about," the dark-haired boy assured, patting Colin on the back. "He's not even attracted to me for God's sake. Stop being paranoid, man."

"Marcus Hall is gay."

"Oh." Peter's eyes widened. "Wait... how do you know that? I don't think the tabloids have ever mentioned it."

"I just do."

"Colin!"

"Fine! I knew him from middle school... and later on in high school," Colin said as he scrunched up his face.

"He doesn't seem gay."

This time, the brunet rolled his eyes so far back into his head. "And I do?"

"Yes! You reek of gay vibes. It's like your natural musk or something," Peter burst out, intending to elaborate on all the gay tendencies Colin had. "First off, you implied that you wanted to fuck me the very first day we met. Second, you had Dakota, you knew she had a thing for you and yet you never made a move. Those were enough signs."

Colin wrinkled his nose. "Marcus is still trouble."

"And I'm still your boyfriend or whatever. Chill, I'm not going anywhere." Peter nudged Colin's head before asking him to open his hand. "Except maybe that party."

The brunet ended up with a chunk of pineapple in his palm and an even more downturned frown.

~~

Thanks for reading!!

Special Mentions: foxdontcare and sexcsins for reading, voting and commenting! And Delicious_Child for adding to their reading list!

What do you think of Marcus now? Still hate him with all your being??

And what about Peter and Colin's whole relationship? Think it will be jeopardized with Marcus Hall and his party in the picture?

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