f o r e w a r d ; 01.24.14 →

"Hey, this is Brice. Happy New Year! I'm currently not available right now. This is my voicemail, and since you probably had a purpose for calling, please leave a message. Take as long as you want. Thanks!"

f o r w a r d ; 02.27.14 →

"Hey there, this is Brice. I'm currently not available right now, as you can see. Or hear, whatever floats your boat. Please leave a message, thank you!"

f o r w a r d ; 03.13.14 →

"Hi, this is Brice. I don't have anything to say to you since this is a voicemail. Well, all except for this: please leave a message. Thanks!"

f o r w a r d ; 04.02.14 →

"Hello, this is Brice from the Solace residence. I'm currently not here right now, so please leave a message in my voicemail. I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!"

f o r w a r d ; 05.28.14 →

"Hello. 848-565-×××× is currently unavailable at this time. Please leave your message after the beep."

f o r w a r d ; 05.29.15 →

"Hey Seto, I just called to check up on you. I know things are hard, but you can always call me. My number is 848-219-××××. If you call and I don't pick up, just ask for Ty. Feel better!"

f o r w a r d ; 06.28.15 →

Seto grunted, making his eighth stroll down the same sidewalk. The clock would strike midnight soon, and if he didn't hasten his pace, he would get caught in another storm. Wandering far from his apartment complex was quite the horrid idea on his part, considering that he didn't know where he was going in the first place. His breath hitched; he was exhausted from walking. His body didn't let him go any further, so he was forced to take a break at the nearest bench.

He buried his head into his hands; his heart was throbbing and the painkillers dulled out his senses. He couldn't remember why he left the house in the first place, it was all just a hopeless blur. He couldn't recall his address as well, nor could he remember the events leading up to this moment. Where did he take a turn, fifth or sixth avenue? Was it maple street or oak street? Not like it would make a difference anyway, maple and oak were both trees.

His breath hitched again while his body relaxed. Attempting to calm down was his only solution and having an anxiety attack seemed to be the polar opposite of a solution in the first place. He pulled out his phone from his back pocket, quickly dialing the only number he could evoke from his depleted memory.

"Seto?"

"Hey Ty, could you pick me up? I'm lost."

"Alright, sure thing. Attach your location and text it to me. I'll be there in a bit."

"Thanks, Ty."

The line went silent.

← b a c k w a r d ; 01.24.13

Seto met him under a cork tree on a frigid Tuesday evening.

The snow was piling, and the blizzard didn't appear like it was going to stop anytime soon. The brunet could only stand there, shaking as he pulled his winter coat closer towards his body in an attempt to keep warmth. The road was slippery-his car had crashed. Now, he was stranded until the authorities he had called could find him. If only their cars could go faster in this winter fret.

No, unfortunately he wasn't injured. He would have been glad if he was, however. Escaping the world in which no one wants you in is quite the pleasurable outcome. Additionally, being dead and feeling nothing is beneficial to freezing in this type of weather. Moreover, slowly suffering the repercussions of your idiotic actions was not on his bucket list.

Should he take shelter in his car? Actually, he couldn't take refuge in his car for warmth since it was bound to implode at any given moment. Suffocation or "flattening" wasn't on his bucket list, either.

"Hey, are you alright there?" Seto glanced up to see a pair of bright headlights aiming at his direction. A figure was sluggishly limping his direction through the deep snow. Seto squinted again, barely making out who, or what, was speaking to him.

"No," he replied, drawled and blunt. The figure eventually could be seen-it was a blond in a brown trench coat that went past his knees.

"Car crash, I see," he murmured, "did you already call the police? Or help specifically."

"Yes."

"You're not injured, are you?"

"No."

"Come with me, my car is warmer than out here."

"I'd hate to pry, but are you sure you want me in your car?"

"It's no bother to me. I would feel bad if you had to wait out the authorities in this type of weather."

Seto gave a light hearted chuckle, "Thank you, but don't you have someplace to be?"

"My family can wait."

⇔

Seto sat in the blond's car, still shivering and red faced although the heater was on full blast. It was quiet, a bit too quiet for two strangers that are in close proximity to each other. The blond was the talker, Seto wasn't. "Where were you going?"

Seto bit his lip, "Nowhere."

"Huh? Nowhere?" The blond was awe-struck by the response.

The brunet nodded his head, frowning a bit, "Ah, forget I said anything."

The blond had frowned as well, unsatisfactory with Seto's answer, "Maybe you'd trust me a bit more if I had told you my name. I'm Brice Solace."

"I'm Seto," was all that came out from his pale lips.

The blizzard had picked up, practically slamming against the glass window of the stranger's car (actually, he wasn't so strange anymore, his name was Brice Solace). Seto winced, edging away from the window to his right.

"Just Seto? No last name?" Brice continued to pry.

"Nope," the brunet forced a smile. "No last name. No connections. No ties. I'm just Seto."

"After this fiasco is concluded, would you like me to drive you home?" Brice offered, gazing into the brunet's eyes.

"I have no home."

"Then-how do you have a car? You look awfully too young to be homeless, as well as a theft. That jacket of yours appears to be pretty fancy as well, Cole Haan I'm assuming? Expensive brand."

"You're quite the investigator. I don't know you well enough to spare you the details. This is just a one time interaction, nothing more, nothing less. You are a kindhearted stranger, indeed, but I'm just a shallow person you shouldn't read into. That's all."

f o r w a r d ; 06.28.15 →

Ty's car pulled up. It was a black Honda Civic, an old model most likely from 1997. The window was drawn down, revealing the stereo blaring Fall Out Boy and a tired insomniac behind the wheel. Seto sighed with relief, traversing around the car and plopping into the front seat. He buckled in his seatbelt.

"It wouldn't kill you to turn down the volume, there are some people sleeping after all," Seto murmured incoherently.

"Can't believe you wandered out this far, Set. You just moved to Oregon, you shouldn't be on the move when you don't even know the area," Ty chuckled, starting up the engine once more. He begun to steer down the road, ignoring the speed limit as usual. "Luckily you have a loving boyfriend who will save your ass anytime soon."

Seto held his head, clearly trapped in his own mind as he recalled the first time he had met him. It's been a year, and he knows he should be over him by now. But it still pained him on the inside. He wanted to bang his head against the window, break it perhaps so the shards of glass could damage him, but this wasn't his car. He had no car, after all.

"You doing okay, babe?" Ty broke the ice.

"Peachy," Seto bit his lip, holding back the tears that had stung his eyes. His nose and ears were burning, but his body was numb and shaking.

"Breathe. It's okay, it'll be over soon," Ty cooed, lowering the stereo's volume. "You want me to change the station?"

Seto didn't reply.

Ty changed it anyway.

← b a c k w a r d ; 01.25.13

Seto was still sitting in this stranger's car, except now it was about one in the morning and he was being dragged to some family event he didn't want to partake in. Brice had insisted, considering the brunet's situation, and there wasn't anything that he could do to decline. After all, he couldn't just walk back home. He had no home, after all.

"So, you grew up here in New Jersey?" Brice asked, stopping at a barely visible red light.

Seto nodded his head, "Yeah, Belleville."

"And how did you end up in this town?"

"Drove here, simple. You're really slow on things." Seto was quite the compulsive liar.

"Hey, that's a pretty rude insult to your savior. How old are you, anyway? Can you be driving on your own?"

"Nineteen. I'm nineteen, Brice. I'm turning twenty on May 28."

"Oh, I'm twenty two years old, I'm turning twenty three on August 30," he took a short pause, seeming to be recollecting, "y'know, you don't look nineteen. You look more like..."

"Fourteen? Fifteen? Heard it all before."

"I was going to say sixteen or seventeen, but that works too," Brice chuckled. "Feisty, aren't you?"

"When it comes to strangers who drag me to family events because they pity me, I can be quite feisty," Seto argued back.

"I don't pity you, I just feel bad for you."

"That's the exact definition of pity."

"No it's not. Pull out your phone and Google the definition, I bet it's not feeling bad for someone."

Seto rolled his eyes, pulled out his phone, and Googled the word pity. Low and behold, he said the definition out loud, "Pity, noun. The feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the sufferings and misfortunes of others."

Brice went silent, dumbfounded, "Well, uh..."

"Exactly."

f o r w a r d ; 06.29.15 →

"Breathe, Seto."

"I'm trying to, god dammit, but everything just reminds me of...!" Seto gasped for air, the tears streaming down his face. He panted, vision blurring and senses erasing from his body. Ty parked the car on the side, unbuckled his seatbelt, and grasped the brunet into a tight hug. Seto stiffened, resting his head on his shoulder.

"I'm here, I'm real," Ty murmured like he always did. "Don't you forget that, I'm not going anywhere."

He opened his mouth to retort something doubtful, but all that could come out was, "Thank you, Ty."

His heart was still racing, his breathing was still shallow, his vision was still blurry, and tears were still streaming down his face. Ty eventually had to let go, it took a while but the two needed to go home. Or, anywhere besides the street. The storm would start soon, and being trapped in one means certain trouble.

"I'm just going to drive to my house since it's the closest," Ty said, starting the engine back up, "is that okay with you?"

Seto breathed in, trying to calm himself down, "Yeah, that's fine."

A small smile appeared on his lips, "Good, because I've got some snacks that you like. They're your favorites."

← b a c k w a r d ; 02.27.13

"Oh seriously, Brice," Seto huffed while rolling his eyes, "I am not moving in with you."

"Isn't that the couple shit people do? Move in with each other?" Brice questioned, passing Seto an Oreo.

Brice had miscalculated the throw, and it ended up whacking the brunet in the face. Seto winced, the cookie breaking and crumbling onto his lap, "Could have aimed a bit better, Solace?"

The blond ignored that remark, "Oh come on, it's not like you don't live here already. You come over literally everyday! We hang out, eat some stuff, and sometimes you sleep over. Where do you even go when you leave my house?"

"I have my own place downtown, it's in a walking distance from here," Seto retorted, rolling his eyes. "Moving in and bringing my stuff is a lot of work."

Brice whined, inching closing towards the other male. Seto crossed his arms, "Even if you make that face, Brice, I'm not changing my mind."

"Can you change it for me?" Brice pleaded, burying his face into his neck. Seto grunted, face burning hot.

"No, Brice."

"But you're my boyfriend!"

"So? I'm not obliged to move in with you."

"Please!"

"No, Brice."

"Don't make me kiss you, cause I will," Brice smiled, leaning back. Seto took the opportunity to shift aside, as well as to eat the Oreo crumbs on his lap. Brice watched, snickering.

"Oh shut up," Seto said, quite defensively. "If you had the chance to eat your favorite food you would."

"Yeah, but my favorite food isn't Oreos," Brice's smile grew wider, "my favorite food is you."

Seto felt his face ignite a thousand times hotter, "Oh, fuck off, Brice."

"You're blushing," the blond teased.

"You know what?" Seto questioned. "If I move in with you, will you shut up?"

"Yeah!" Brice cheered, moving closer to hug the brunet.

"Can't breathe...!"

f o r w a r d ; 06.29.15 →

"Alright, we're here," Ty commented, parking the car at his garage. He stepped out and Seto was quick to follow. Ty grasped hold of the brunet's hand, causing him to stiffen once more. Of course, he didn't notice. "Isn't it great?"

Seto didn't reply. Ty's gaze softened as he swung his arm around Seto's shoulder and led him to the front door. He opened it, causing the door to creak. His house was warm and smelled of vanilla. Seto took off his shoes before stepping inside. Ty found it quite odd that he did, but he decided to take of his shoes as well.

Ty shut the door and continued to lead the brunet down the hall and towards his bedroom. "I don't have a guest bedroom, so it is okay if you sleep with me?"

The storm was starting. Thunder roared outside and the rain begun to pour. The lights in the house flickered. Seto inched closer towards Ty, body shaking and clearly afraid.

"Taking that as a yes," Ty replied to his silence. Seto nodded his head. His throat was dry and his lips were still chapped. Fear and grief; that's all his mind was focused on.

They entered the bedroom together. Seto took the left side that was closest to the wall while Ty took the right. Laying down on the bed, Seto shifts his body away from Ty, but the other had his arms around him in a tough grasp. Ty rested his chin on Seto's head, hugging him.

"Goodnight, Seto," he murmured. Seto sighed, nodding his head weakly as he shut his eyes.

He was uncomfortable.

He couldn't remember the last time he had a good night.

← b a c k w a r d ; 03.13.13

"Seto! It's raining outside again!" Brice shouted, flailing his arms. "Get into the pillow fort!"

Seto took no hesitation to rush into the blond's arms. The two laughed, almost like children, and settled down. Thunder roared outside while the lights flickered. The two didn't flinch; they had liked these types of storms.

"I think Zeus is mad at you," Seto giggled, laying his head on the blond's chest. Brice hummed, stroking the other's head.

"Why is that?"

"You stole my cereal again."

Brice's smile grew wider as he tried to hold in laugh, "What? Those Coco Puffs I ate this morning?"

"Yeah! Those are my favorites!" Seto huffed, crossing his arms.

"Yesterday you said Frosted Flakes are your favorites!" Brice shook his head. "Honestly, any sugary cereal is your favorite. Sheesh, you're going to die before you reach twenty!"

"I am not!" Seto argued. "My birthday is in two months, Brice, and I think I can survive that long."

"Ah, your birthday," Brice made attempt to adjust his position, but ended up bringing down the whole fort. The thunder roared outside again; a white flash followed by silence, then that stereotypical booming noise.

"See? You got Zeus more angry! You ruined this perfectly fine fort!" Seto yelled, poking his head out from the pillows and blankets he had been buried under.

"Let's just sleep on the bed and not on the floor, I'm tired anyway," Brice yawned, picking up the squirming brunet.

Seto whined, "Brice! Put me down!"

"As you wish," Brice smirked as he dropped the brunet onto their bed. Seto squealed, nearly bashing his head against the wall and falling off the bed. He huffed once more, hugging his knees quite defensively. Brice snickered, plopping down next to him and laying down. Seto gazed at the blond, then rested his head on his chest again in an attempt to get comfortable.

"The blanket's on the floor," Seto groaned, "can you pick it up?"

"Sorry, can't reach it," he replied, "I'll keep you warm, though."

Seto rolled his eyes as Brice pulled him into a hug. The brunet relaxed, smiling as he shut his eyes, "You smell like vanilla."

"And you smell like cinnamon," Brice murmured.

"I love you, Brice."

"I love you too, Seto."

f o r w a r d ; 06.29.15 →

Cuddling with Ty was uncomfortable.

Nothing could possibly replace Brice; no one could.

Seto felt his face heating up again and the tears rolling down his cheeks. He listened to the thunder clap that was rolling over the hills and sighed. It was tradition to make stupid little forts and hide in them; he was doing it ever since he was young, whether it would be with his parents or with Brice. He use to love thunderstorms and pillow forts, but now thunder was terrifying, and pillow forts were stupid and tedious.

I miss him.

I miss him.

I miss him so damn much.

"Still awake?" Ty spoke. Seto flinched, not expecting him to be awake as well. He nodded, not bothering to reply. Once more, he was rarely a talker around people he was uncomfortable with.

"Y-Yeah," he stuttered, mind still unclear.

"What are you thinking about? Usually my thoughts keep me awake, so I figured..."

"Completely nothing."

Ty silenced, but then figured out something to say, "You know you can tell me anything, right? I'm here for you. Is this about..."

"Don't say his name, please."

"Look, I know you miss him, but he's been gone for over a year now, Seto. You just have to let go. I'm here for you now, okay? Don't think about him anymore, just think about us."

Seto just breathed in, "Let's just talk about this in the morning, okay?"

"Alright, fine. But promise me you'll talk."

"I promise," Seto lied.

Promises were meant to be broken, anyway.

← b a c k w a r d ; 04.02.13

"Can't sleep?" Brice cooed, sitting up in bed.

Seto sighed, "Yeah."

"Well, let's talk about that," Brice suggested. "Your sleeping patterns have been irregular lately."

"How do you know?" Seto froze, holding his breath.

"Don't know, it's just simple to tell I guess. You're not really...yourself. What's on your mind? I mean, you don't have to tell me, but it might make you feel a bit better."

"Am I a bad person, Brice?" Seto bit his lip, sitting up as well and hugging his knees.

Brice went silent for a moment like he'd normally would, "Why would you think you're a bad person? In my opinion, you're wonderful."

"It's just..." Seto trailed off, "...you know why I crashed my car on that day? I was reckless. I honestly can't stop thinking about it."

"It was an accident; you didn't want it to happen. Besides, if you didn't crash your car, I wouldn't have seen you and we would have never met."

"I'm not saying that I regret us meeting," Seto shook his head, "I'm just saying that I regret my past decisions. I should have been dead, Brice. Out of all those odds, here I am, blabbering onto you about this stupid existential crisis."

"I know you like to keep your personal problems to yourself, and literally I blabber onto you about all my problems and my past. I'd just like to ask: why were you out driving in the blizzard? I told you why I was doing it, and I'd like to hear your reasoning."

Seto shook his head, "It's a long story."

"We've got time to spare, I'm not going anywhere."

← b a c k w a r d ; 01.24.13

"Fuck!" Seto grunted, sitting up in his bed. His head was pounding while his face was flushed bright red. "What happened last night?"

The brunet sighed, rolling out of bed and falling onto the floor with a loud plop. He was in his room, he knew that for a fact, and he also knew that he was fully clothed in ripped jeans and a nice looking polo shirt that was stained with, what he was assuming to be, red wine. Thank god, he didn't have drunk sex with anyone.

Lazily, he stood up while using his nightstand as support. His eyes latched on to the sight of the plethora of empty beer bottles, as well as an empty bottle of red wine. He shook his head, managing to topple out of his room and down the hall.

It all came flooding back into his mind.

The car crash, the hospital, the funeral, the aftermath. He held his head, the thumping progressively getting worse and the ringing in his ears muting out any sound.

His mother and father didn't leave any wills and barely anyone [that Seto knew] had showed up to the funeral. It was expensive, of course, and was headlined throughout the country. The faces were all blurred out in his memory; stupid apologies and sympathizers trying to make him feel better. He banged his fist against the wall, grunting.

Within this past month he had been drinking; it was just a cycle of pain that was inescapable. With no wills meant that this particular nineteen year old drop out would inherit multiple large companies in different industries. Sure, there were managers that managed those companies for him, but he still had to manage those managers (what a tongue twister).

Orphaned, successful, and a multi-millionaire just at age nineteen.

How peachy.

Now he lived alone in a large penthouse in upstate New York that he had originally lived in with his parents once he dropped out of college. He was suppose to be serving as an intern to gain experience for management, but now it was too late for that. The penthouse was now just a reminder of what he lost, a painful one indeed.

With any teenager comes irrational decisions. Add a couple deaths and a hangover and these decisions can be deadly. Seto thought for a moment, and decided he'd just sell the penthouse and settle in New Jersey. He'll figure it all out like he always did, he just needed a break.

Yeah, a break was all he needed.

He grabbed his car keys, along with a nice Cole Haan trench coat and his wallet. He took he elevator downstairs, said his goodbyes to the bellboy, and left for the garages. He eventually had found his car, started the engine, and just drove off. Anywhere but New York; anywhere but the place he grew up in. He wanted to be anywhere but here.

It took a while to get out of the state since New York always had some sort of traffic going on. He eventually got to pay the tolls and was now in New Jersey. He found himself driving for hours on end. Before, there was no snow, but now the sky was literally pouring it. He was going down some empty road when he just lost it.

"Everyone I love is fucking dead. No more mother, no more father. No more family. It's just me against the world. No more guidance. No more of mother's cooking and no more of father's hugs or mother's kisses. No more family events and no more stupid dad jokes. No more...!" Seto's thoughts were screaming at him. He banged his head against the wheel, utterly loosing control as he pressed harder against the gas. His car spun, he screamed, and swerved off the road.

His car sped down a hill, eventually crashing into a tree. The glass from his windows had broken, and he was left with no injuries (unfortunately). He exited the car, shivering and face red. The snowstorm picked up and the wind was howling. Just his luck; he survived.

f o r w a r d ; 04.02.13 →

Seto was on the verge of tears, "It was just my stupid mind. All my stuff is gone. I sold everything after I had met you. I wanted to live a simpler life, and then it just spiraled down to doubt and just...!"

"It's okay, you don't need to tell me all the details," Brice rubbed Seto's back.

He hiccuped, "I want to tell you, Brice. I'm sorry I've been lying to you. It's just hard to tell things; I'm not use to talking to other people and interacting like this. Interacting like us."

"What happened to your businesses?"

"I ended up figuring it out, and when your asleep I usually check in on my managers using Skype, or I just email them."

"So all this time you've been a multi-millionaire?"

"Yup."

"And every time I've struggled with rent and buying food, ever since I've met you, are you the one putting practically thousands of dollars in my bank account and my wallet?"

"Yeah."

"This is bizarre, but I'm glad you opened up to the truth. Now, let's go to sleep, I'm honestly tired."

Seto paused, "You, you won't look at me differently, right?"

"Is this is what you were afraid of? Me taking advantage of you or something?" Brice shook his head, laughing. "Seto, I don't care whether you're in poverty or you're rich. I love you, no matter what. I'm here to support you and your decisions, wrong or right, and just be there for you. Don't think that."

He felt the weight from his chest lift off, "Thank you, Brice."

f o r w a r d ; 06.29.15 →

Seto just spent the night contemplating while listening to the storm. Night turned into dawn, and dawn into morning. The sun was shining through the curtains and the brunet had witnessed it all.

Who needed sleep, anyway?

Ty eventually had woken up and Seto impulsively shut his eyes. He got out of bed, probably assuming Seto was still asleep, and scurried out the bedroom and down the hall. A loud crash of pots and pans could be heard from the kitchen, followed by a sizzle from, what Seto assumed to be, some sort of food on a pan. He felt guilty for letting Ty cook for the two of them.

Seto wasn't too big on eating anymore, and Ty usually was his motivation. He constantly shoved food down his throat, literally. He recalled a time where the two shared some pasta at some inexpensive diner, and the brunet, being as stubborn as he was, refused to eat. Ty didn't allow this, knowing his eating habits, and ended up force feeding him.

Long story short, Seto spent a long time at that diner's public restroom, vomiting.

The memory did make him chuckle. He knew Ty was a good guy, morals and all, but he exactly didn't love him back. Seto would never dare to say that to his face, though. He didn't want to break his heart. Ty knew barely anything about him, and they had known each other for over a year. Only took a couple months for Seto to spill everything about him to Brice.

Eventually, he found some sort of strength to get (more like roll) out of bed and drag himself to the kitchen. He pretended to act surprised, mumbling, "You're cooking?"

Ty jumped, nearly pressing his hand on what looked like to be a griddle, "Ah shit! I thought you were still asleep! This was suppose to be a surprise."

Seto shook his head, "I heard noise, so I went to go investigate."

"You ruined the surprise," Ty playfully poured, turning back around to flip the pancakes.

"Oh, uh sorry...?" Seto apologized, but it had sounded more like a question. "You want me to go back to bed, then come back and pretend to be surprised once you've finished cooking?"

Ty rolled his eyes, "Just grab a plate, the food's almost ready."

Seto did as so. He opened the cabinet, reached for a plate (nearly dropping it in the process), and set it down next to the griddle. Ty carefully placed some scrambled eggs, a couple strips of bacon, and two pancakes. It smelled good and looked very appealing. There wasn't that much oil or grease either, which seemed conventional. Except, Seto couldn't eat that much.

"You realize I can't finish all this food, right?" Seto reminded Ty.

"You're underweight, you gotta eat it," Ty rolled his eyes again, a rude habit, "orange juice, water, or milk?"

"Orange juice," Seto went to go sit down at the dining room table. Ty set down his own plate, as well as his own drink, then Seto's cup. He poured him some orange juice.

The two sat down, eating in silence. The only eminent noise was when a fork or a knife had accidentally scratched against the plate. Seto hated that sound; it made him cringe. He knew that the silence between them wouldn't last long, however. Again, Ty was quite the talker.

"So..." his voice trailed off, "about last night..."

"What about it?" Seto tried his best not to sound snappy.

"You told me you'd open up a bit more," Ty shrugged in attempt to keep thing civil, "I practically know nothing about you."

Seto shook his head, "There's nothing really to talk about. What do you want to know?"

"It's just..." Ty wanted to put things lightly, and the brunet knew what would he asked next, "...I know someone must have hurt you so much to the point where you'd be like this. Was it your friend who died?"

← b a c k w a r d ; 05.28.13

"Hey Seto," Brice whispered, shaking the brunet lightly. "Hey Seto wake up."

He groaned, shifting in bed and hiding himself under the comforter, "Can't a guy have some sleep for once?"

"They're having a sale at Hot Topic."

Seto immediately sprang up, wide eyed, "Really?"

"No. I can't believe you fell for that, holy shit!" Brice wheezed, face bright red and bursting with emotion and laughter. He held onto his sides and a couple tears were streaming down his face.

"Very funny," Seto rolled his eyes, "you got me awake for a reason. What is it?"

"Are you forgetting what day it is today?" Brice pouted.

"Pretty sure it's Sunday."

"Okay, it's Tuesday first of all. Second of all, happy birthday!" Brice cheered, tackling the brunet in bed. Seto squirmed under him.

"Off!" He shouted. Brice rubbed the back of his neck, getting off the birthday boy. There was a brief recoil (Seto basically trying to catch his breath) before Brice had smirked, bending down and picking him up from the bed. "Let go of me!"

"Today's your special day and I made you breakfast!" Brice cheered.

"Last time you made me something that you called edible I got food poisoning."

Brice frowned, "Cheer up you grump. You're no longer a teenager-you're twenty years old now! The big two oh! The..."

"I know, I know. Don't remind me, Jesus Christ."

Brice carried the brunet down the hall and into the dining room. He set him down in one of the chairs, then dashed into the kitchen to grab a plate. It was simple; scrambled eggs, bacon, and waffles that looked to be drowned in honey. Seto scrunched his nose, hesitant.

"Is this your gift to me? Food poisoning?"

Brice shook his head, "Just eat it you nerd."

Seto sighed, basically giving up arguing. He hesitantly took a bite from the waffle. Surprisingly, it was flavorful and tasted good. He continued to eat the food until there was nothing left on his plate. Brice stood there the whole time, grinning like an idiot.

"Told you it's good," Brice took away Seto's plate, cup, and utensils. He washed them, then strolled back to the brunet. "I was going to take you some place nice, but the weather calls for thunderstorms later today, so I figured we can just spend the day doing stupid shit in the house."

Seto shook his head, smiling, "Whatever works with me. You don't have to make this day special, because everyday with you is already amazing enough."

"Happy birthday, Seto," Brice repeated again, hugging him. "You deserve the best and only the best."

"You are the best, Brice."

"Oh, stop it, you!"

f o r w a r d ; 06.29.15 →

"No one has hurt me," Seto lied, face flushing red.

"You're lying, now tell me the truth," Ty pressed, shaking his head. "You just can't keep this all to yourself."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Seto, it's written all over your face. Keeping it inside and bubbling it up won't..."

"You know what?" Seto interrupted, pushing out of his chair. He didn't eat anything that was on the plate, "I'm going home. See you, Tyler."

He scurried towards the door, tears brimming and ready to release once more. He muted out any noise and proceeded to open the front door, then slam it shut. He rushed off, running as fast as he could away from that house.

← b a c k w a r d ; 01.24.14

"Happy one year anniversary!" Brice cheered, opening the curtains so wide for the world to see a sleeping brunet in bed.

Seto sat up, rubbing the back of his neck. It felt as if there was a crick in it, "Huh?"

"Seto!" Brice cheered, excited as a puppy. "It's been one year since we've met each other! Isn't hat great?"

"One year already? That fast?"

Brice nodded, "It's sunny outside! C'mon, let's go to the park."

"But the park is so far. Can't we just stay in?" Seto groaned, hiding underneath the comforter. Brice rolled his eyes, tossing the comforter aside.

"C'mon, please?" The blond continued to beg.

Seto couldn't resist, "Fine. If it starts to rain or snow, I swear..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Brice raced off cheering. Seto rolled his eyes, chuckling as he managed to gather the strength of getting out of bed. He figured he didn't need to take a shower, after all he took one last night. He stepped towards the dresser.

He figured he could just wear something a bit nice, but casual. He found a pair of purposely ripped black jeans which was, quite frankly, not the best choice of attire since it was literally winter, and winter in New Jersey is fucking brutal. He wore them anyway. After a couple minutes of digging, he also found himself a black long sleeved shirt. He wore that too.

He stepped into his closet and had put on pair of black combat boots, along with a black leather jacket. The jacket was originally his father's, but he thought it would be a nice keepsake. He put it on, exhaling and feeling the warmth. Though it didn't look warm enough for winter, on the inside of the jacket was multiple layers of fabric which can make anyone sweat. He came out of the closet and looked at himself in the mirror.

"Looks like I'm dressing for a funeral," Seto muttered to himself, "god, is black literally all the colored clothes that I have?"

He shook his head and looked back towards his dresser. He grabbed his black beanie, as well as the purple scarf Brice had given him for his birthday. He slouched the beanie on his head and wrapped the scarf around his neck. It was still warm, fuzzy, and smelling pleasant. He smiled to himself and exited the room.

He found Brice sitting on the couch tying his shoes quite intently. He looked up for a brief moment, whistling, "Well, aren't you hot?"

"Yeah, we're inside after all. Let's hurry up, I'm sweating," Seto replied, completely oblivious.

"That's not what I meant but alright," Brice kept his face solemn in an attempt to not burst into laughter. He stood up and strolled towards the brunet, grasping his hand and pulling him towards and out the front door. The two were greeted with a cold breeze.

Brice shut the door and begun strolling down the sidewalk, still grasping onto Seto's hand. There weren't any people outside with only the occasional car speeding past. In Seto's opinion, holding Brice's hand was a dream. They fit perfectly together, almost like two puzzle pieces. His hand was always warm, and it always brought butterflies to his stomach.

The two arrived at the park a couple minutes later; it was a rundown since it was winter. Everything was covered in snow. Seto couldn't see why Brice would want to come here. The blond smiled, heading off the sidewalk and trudged along the snow. Seto followed behind trying his best to not get wet since the snow went up to his knees (Brice didn't have to worry about himself; the height difference between the two was insane).

"Brice," Seto sighed, eventually catching up to him. "Why're we here?"

"It's peaceful," Brice smiled to himself, "and there's something I want to show you."

"Oh?" Seto blinked. Brice nodded, trudging past the park and towards the woods. The brunet gulped, feeling uneasy as he trailed behind him (like he normally would).

"Yeah," Brice nodded.

The forest was eerily silent. Only the eminent noise of the snow being forcefully kicked aside could be heard (it was like a crunchy sound). Seto never liked forest settings due to the fact that it reminded him of a crackling red fire. It was stupid, really, but the despondent setting sent shivers down his spine.

They eventually reached a large clearing. There was a single rock in the center sprinkled with some snow. Brice paused, gazing around while biting his upper lip. He looked as if he was worried, or quite concerned, about something.

"Hey Brice," Seto said cautiously, "we're not lost, are we?"

"Lost?" Brice chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. It was a bad habit both of them had. "No, we're not lost. I just, well, lost track of where we are! No worries, no worries."

Seto shook his head, unconvinced, "We're lost."

"...Yeah," Brice finally agreed, murmuring.

"What were you trying to show me?" Seto asked while strolling up towards the rock and sitting down. It was cold, obviously, and his pants would be a little wet, but it'll do.

Brice released an exasperated sigh, "There's this little spot from under a cork tree where you can see the whole city. I thought you'd like it since it's pretty and remote and god I just ruined the whole thing and..."

"Brice," Seto said, sternly, "I don't care where ever you take me. I just care about you, okay? That's all I could ever ask for: just to be with you and be happy."

The blond perked up, "Really?"

"Really," Seto smiled. "Now, c'mon, let's find our way back home."

⇔

The couple, in fact, could not find their way home. The sun was setting faster than they could anticipate and they wandered around the forest like confused deer. The tension between them was growing, yet they did not dare to utter one word.

"Have you ever thought that we'd get married someday?" Bride perked up, stopping in front of a large rock. They've past this rock a grand total of three times, and Seto wasn't really in the mood for having a friendly conversation.

"Now isn't the time," Seto spat, looking up at the sky. The colors melted together perfectly, but now a gray gradient was beginning to settle in. Seto inferred it was a quarter to six.

"It's not like we're going to get out of here anytime soon, so might as well talk," Brice shrugged as he sat down on the rock.

Seto frowned, "Are you serious right now? We can't just sit here like ducks. Who knows what's in that forest? Also, we don't have anything to eat, and we could freeze out here! Yet, you're here asking if we're going to get married in the future?"

"I'm just trying to make light of the situation!" Brice argued while standing up profoundly.

"If you want to make light of the situation, why not light something on fire so we can see when it gets dark later!" Seto shouted while rubbing his temples. "You can stay out here in the dark. I'm going to find a way out of this fucking forest!"

The brunet ran off. His feet pounded against the snow, leaving behind deep tracks. Brice followed behind him sluggishly, quiet and a frown plastered on his lips. His hands were tucked into his pockets in an attempt to keep his fingers from going numb.

Seto didn't last long with running. After five or ten minutes, he was exhausted. The sun was fully set now and he could barely see anything. He leaned against, what he assumed to be, a tree trunk, praying to some god in hopes that nothing would attack him.

"Hey Jesus. I know that you know I don't believe in you, but I'd just like you to, well, save me from this nightmare. Please don't let anything attack me, I promise I'll be good from now on. Thanks."

"Seto?" Brice's voice echoed out.

"Over here," Seto spoke softly. Brice cane running in the direction of his quiet peep.

"Looks like we're lost..."

"Save it," Seto snapped.

Even though he couldn't see it, Brice was upset. He radiated anger, but didn't want to yell at the brunet. Not now, at least.

"I tried to do something nice for us..."

"And look where that got us," Seto interrupted. Brice huffed.

"...and I'd like to see what you'd do for the both of us on our anniversary. At least I'm trying, Seto. It's like you don't even care!"

"Maybe I would care if we weren't stuck in the middle of a fucking forest!" Seto snapped back. His fists were shaking and his eyebrows were furrowed. He honestly had enough of this.

"Hell, maybe you've never cared in the first place!"

"Maybe I didn't, Brice! Maybe all your fucking assumptions were correct in the first place! Maybe I'm done with you! Actually, for a fact, I am done with you. Right here, right now! I'm done, happy?"

With that Seto bolted off.

This time, Brice didn't follow.

f o r w a r d ; 06.29.15 →

Seto was never the type to argue with people.

In the moment, it feels like an upmost glorifying relief. Afterwards, however, it's a tidal wave of emotion. The repressed emotions would release as tears that would stain his shirt. The tightening feeling of regret would never stop bothering him.

He made a mistake running away from Ty's house. He's lost again and somehow ends up in an abandoned park. Everything is rusted and gives off a haunted vibe. It sends shivers down his spine.

Near the park was a closed off bridge that went into the next city. He noticed how the middle of it seemed to be torn off. It was probably because of the faulty construction, combined with the constant heavy traffic. It was alluring. Seto began walking towards it.

The signs are the regular shade of orange with the words "CONSTRUCTION" and "DO NOT ENTER." There are some traffic cones blocking off the bridge as well, but those weren't going to stop him. He strolls right past them and there isn't much to see. He stands at the ledge, looking at the harsh flowing stream.

He closes his eyes and thinks about what brought him to this point.

← b a c k w a r d ; 02.27.14

It's been a little over a month since he had left Brice in that forest. Seto had moved far away from New Jersey and settled back in his parent's penthouse in New York. He didn't exactly sell it, he actually kept it. No part of him wanted to let go of his childhood home.

As much as he didn't like to admit it, he missed everything about Brice. He's wasn't afraid to call him either.

Maybe like once or twice a month.

"Hey there, this is Brice. I'm currently not available right now, as you can see. Or hear, whatever floats your boat. Please leave a message, thank you!"

It's the same stupid voicemail again. He doesn't leave a message, he just hangs up.

His stupid voice sounds as cheery as ever. Seto had assumed he had gotten over him. Hell, maybe even found a replacement for the brunet. Whatever, it doesn't matter now.

Seto doesn't need Brice.

f o r w a r d ; 03.13.14 →

This time Seto finds himself in one of his self-destructive habits: drinking. His drunken self makes stupid mistakes, and here he was, dialing Brice's number like the idiot he is. Surprisingly, the blond picks up the phone.

"Seto?" It sounded like he was crying. Seto was speechless. It had been two months since he had last heard the blond's voice, and it was more heavenly than he had last remembered.

"H-Hey!" He slurred, extending out the e.

Even though he couldn't see it, he knew Brice was frowning, "Are you drunk?"

"Of course not silly!" Seto exclaimed, rather ecstatic.

"Where are you right now?" Brice groaned. "Do you want me to pick you up? It's not safe if you're out in a bar and going to drive home."

"New York!" Seto hiccups. "I'm home!"

"You live in New York?" Brice replied, shocked. "And you're drinking at home?"

"Mom and dad are dead so it doesn't matter!" He cheered, still slurring. He giggles and abruptly hangs up on the confused blond, then continues burying himself in alcohol. His phone vibrates for the next couple minutes, but Seto doesn't care. He's too busy.

⇔

Seto woke up that next morning with a splitting headache. The lights aren't easy on his eyes and he's ready to vomit. He checks his phones to see 20 missed calls from...Brice? He's quick to make a call back.

"Hi, this is Brice. I don't have anything to say to you since this is a voicemail. Well, all except for this: please leave a message. Thanks!"

This time, Seto leaves a message. It's a groggy and non-sensible one, but hey, it's still a message, "Um, it's Seto. I was drunk last night because of my own personal reasons. But if I called you, sorry, it didn't mean anything."

With that, he hung up.

f o r w a r d ; 04.02.14 →

Seto would like to say he's completely over Brice at this point. He's made new friends, his businesses is booming, and hell, he's even got a small crush on a guy named Ty who lives in Oregon. It's a wonderful feeling.

Unfortunately for Seto, he finds himself in New Jersey, Newark specifically, opening up a new business. Being in the state gave him bad vibes, but part of him wanted to visit Brice. It would give him a sort of "compensation" for all of these months. His own relative happy ending. He pulled out his cellphone and dialed Brice's number.

"Hello, this is Brice from the Solace residence. I'm currently not here right now, so please leave a message in my voicemail. I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!"

Of course, voicemail. Seto clears his throat, "Hey Brice. I'm in Jersey for the next two days since I'm opening up a new business. Wanna catch up, sometime? Anyway, call me when you get the chance. Bye!"

With that, he hung up the phone.

f o r w a r d ; 05.28.14 →

He's sitting in front of his computer, giggling profoundly at the faces that Ty's making. They're stupid, but he loves them.

The two had met online when Seto had accidentally mistyped one of his client's numbers. Of course, the two hit it off and begun to text everyday. Texts became calls, and calls eventually progressed into video chats, which in this case was Skype.

"I bought you something for your birthday," Ty grinned. "Did you get it yet?"

Seto frowned, "You didn't need to get me something for my birthday, especially since postage costs money and you live across the country."

"Too late, already sent it," Ty rolled his eyes. He had recently cut his fringe, and now both of his eyes were visible. "So, I'm assuming you didn't get it."

"Nope, I ha..." Seto was cut off by his cellphone ringing. "Who the hell calls at 3 in the morning?"

"Maybe it's Herobrine," Ty teased, wiggling his fingers and snickering.

"Shut up, Minecraft sucks," Seto groaned as he got out of bed and went to go answer his phone. He could hear Ty yelling something about ghosts in the background as he attempted to listen to the speaker on the other side of the phone.

"Is this Seto Source?" A woman asked.

Seto winced at hearing his last name, "Yeah. Who is this?"

"We need you to come to the hospital right away," the woman replied, "Brice Solace is here."

Seto felt his whole world crashing down. "Excuse me?"

"Brice Solace is in the hospital," the woman repeated, this time more firmly. "He had you down as his emergency contact number. Would you like me to give you the address?"

"S-Sure," Seto stuttered. He hastily fetched a pen and a piece of paper.

"804 Jackson St. Belleville, NJ 07109." With that, the woman hung up the phone.

Seto couldn't believe it. Why would Brice be in Belleville in the first place? Their old apartment was farther south from the township. His shaky hands subconsciously had begun to dial Brice's number.

"Hello. 848-565-×××× is currently unavailable at this time. Please leave your message after the beep."

The voicemail is electrifying, causing his skin to pulsate and his body to jolt awake. He doesn't bother changing out of his pajamas, or hanging up the Skype call. He grabs his leather jacket, keys, and the purple scarf Brice had given to him a year ago. He proceeds to rush out the door, disregarding the fact that he's not wearing shoes and only wearing socks.

⇔

He breaks a couple laws that night. Racing down the highway, not bothering to stop at the red lights, ignoring stop signs. Belleville was a township that wasn't too far from New York in the first place, so he got to the hospital in twenty minutes. Thank god there wasn't any traffic or police cars.

He parks his car and gets out as quickly as possible. Rushing into the hospital's entrance, he anxiously approaches the front desk. The nurse gives him an odd look.

"Do you know where Brice Solace is?" Seto huffed.

"We don't take visitors at this hour, sir."

"Please," Seto croaked. "A woman called me in and..."

She began typing on the DELL computer in front of her. "He's in the Northwest Wing, room 37."

Seto nods his head as a thanks and rushes off. Northwest Wing? Where the hell was that? It takes him at least ten minutes of wandering around mindlessly before actually finding the place she was talking about.

Seto never really liked hospitals. His worst memories were stored away in them. He recalls the doctors explaining his parent's conditions after the car crash and how slim the chances of them were of surviving. He also recalls the doctor telling him how "lucky" he was to survive without any permanent damages (asides from his mental health that practically no one takes in account for).

There's a doctor waiting outside room 37 and Seto stops in front of him. There's a glass window that allows him to peak inside of Brice's hospital room, but there were lavender curtains covering it. The doctor scans the brunet up and down, probably judging his odd fashion choice, and speaks.

"You're Seto Source, right?" He asks.

Seto nods again, worry practically flooding through him. He can feel his heart beating out of his chest, and he muted out any sound besides the doctor's voice. "Your friend had an overdosage on multiple prescribed medical pills. We're currently pumping out his stomach to try to get rid of the drugs. We've also inserted some tubes in his lungs to assist with his breathing."

He continues, "We've also drawn blood from him to see what type of drugs he had taken. We can't give him any medications to get his blood pH back to his normal state as of now, but later we plan on doing so once we've confirmed that the drugs are out of his stomach."

"Can I see him?" Seto pleads. The doctor nods his head and proceeds to open the door. Seto cautiously strolls in there to see a horrific sight.

Brice.

He wants to scream and shout at him; he wants to tell him how stupid he was for overdosing on pills, but he can't. His eyes are closed, his breathing is shallow, and there are tubes all over the place on his body. The heart monitor was uncannily beginning to slow, and he looked as if he was barely gripping onto life as it is.

"What are the chances of him surviving this?" Seto absentmindedly spoke.

"Slim," the doctor exhaled. "He might die in the next couple hours from an unexpected seizure or heart failure. However, we're doing the best that we can to ensure his survival."

Seto didn't say a word.

⇔

He's shaking vigorously and he isn't sure when his tears are going to stop. There are voices screaming in his head and nurses trying to calm him down. Nothing will calm him down, however.

Brice is dead.

He's wiping his snot and tears on the stupid purple scarf the blond had given him a year ago on his birthday.

"Happy birthday," Seto thinks to himself, "what a happy birthday indeed."

He doesn't even want to look at the blond's dead body, or his other family members who had came to visit. He's just standing outside of the room, shaken up and wondering why Brice had to die.

And to think he was over Brice.

He'll never be over Brice.

A girl approaches him. She's kind looking and has very prominent features. Maybe she's Brice's sister? Seto doesn't choose to speak, he just looks down at his twiddling thumbs.

"I'm assuming you're Seto?" She asks, holding out her hand. She doesn't even look too concerned about Brice's suicide. "I'm Shelby."

Seto shook her hand. She continued, "Brice's girlfriend."

That nearly made the brunet choke.

He left behind a girlfriend?

Unexpectedly, she proceeded to slap him. That made Seto bolt awake again. He looked up into her eyes, his cheek stinging red. It would probably leave a mark considering how pale he was.

"You're so stupid!" She shouted at him, tears streaming down her face. "He wanted to marry you, Seto. All he ever did was talk about how much he missed you!"

"I-I," he stuttered, eyes widening, "I didn't know..."

"That night in the forest was when he was going to propose! All he ever wanted to do was to just...!"

A hand was placed on her shoulder. Seto recognized it as Brice's mother, "Shelby, I think that's enough. Let's go."

Seto just stood there, empty, trying to on contemplate his sins.

He wants to cry, but he's too tired.

He wonders how the ring would have looked on his finger.

f o r w a r d ; 05.29.15 →

It's been exactly 366 days since Brice had died, and Seto hates every minute of it. He recalls the funeral that was held last year, and the stupid eulogies that his family members had tearfully spoke of. Seto just sat in the back, arms crossed and far away from everyone else as possible. He wants to cry, but he can't. Deep down, he knows that he's the cause of Brice's suicide.

Brice's family members still tried to keep in touch with the brunet, inviting him over for Christmas and some special family events. Seto always declines, he can't look at them without being reminded of what he had lost.

He's grown more distant from the friends he had made. He stays cooped up in his penthouse, not bothering to go out anymore. He wants to commit suicide himself, but he still has people to live for.

He still has to live for Ty.

Ty calls him practically everyday, but Seto always directs it to voicemail. They text once and a while, but that's pretty much it. They don't talk as much as they use to.

His phone rings again for a couple seconds, distracting him, but then proceeds to go straight to voicemail. It's Ty's voice.

"Hey Seto, I just called to check up on you. I know things are hard, but you can always call me. My number is 848-219-××××. If you call and I don't pick up, just ask for Ty. Feel better!"

Seto sighs, ready to chuck his phone out the window. It rings again, and this time the brunet reaches for it.

"Seto!" Ty exclaims. "Happy late birthday! How are you?"

Seto sniffles and speaks with a clogged nose, "Good."

Ty's voice goes solemn, "Since you've finally picked up, I have to run some things by you."

"Go ahead, I'm listening."

"I don't think it's safe for you to live alone. I'm worried about you, Seto. I don't want anything to happen to you."

Seto replies with a mindless, "Uh huh."

"I love you a lot, Seto. I've been meaning to say this to you for a long time, and it just pains me to know that you're suffering over there in New York. I want you to come to Oregon and live with me, or at least live nearby me."

Seto winced at the word love. He hasn't heard it in a long time.

"Y-You love me?" Seto stuttered, awestruck.

"I love you so much, Seto. You're my sun, my moon, my stars, my light. I hate it when you're upset. I want you to smile again. Give moving to Oregon a chance. Give me a chance."

Seto feels guilt pulsate through him, "Alright. I'll move there by next month. I'll give you a chance."

With that, Ty shrieks a happy hooray.

f o r w a r d ; 06.29.15 →

Ty never formally asked Seto to be his boyfriend, they both just went under the assumption that they were together.

Well, up until that small argument.

Seto is staring into the rushing waves and thinking how cold the water might be. He thinks about what might be waiting down there for him. He thinks about where his body might end up.

"Seto!" He hears Ty call out from behind him. The brunet turns around to see his distraught partner running for him. Seto takes a step back, bringing his body closer and closer to the ledge. "Don't jump!"

"I always thought it wouldn't come to this," he admits, smiling. His mind is on overdrive and everything's spinning, "that I would die a day before Brice's birthday."

Ty grabs Seto's arm, then pulls him into a hug. "Please, don't."

Seto nuzzles his head into his shoulder, then proceeds to sob. The memories of the past are overwhelming and all he could see is Brice.

Brice's stupid smile.

Brice's stupid laugh.

Brice's stupid voice.

Brice, Brice, Brice.

To think he could have been married to him if he had just waited. If he didn't walk away that night in the forest.

It's overwhelming. Nothing can replace that stupid blond, not even a guy like Ty.

When you're happy, you don't expect anything to happen. You think the world is at your hands. It's like an indescribable euphoria you never want to let go of.

Life is like a swing; it constantly manipulates itself in moments of launching upwards and spiraling downwards.

When you're launching upwards, it feels like you're at the peak of existence. Your senses heighten and you're more aware of what's going on around you. It's better than a buzz of coffee at two in the morning, or any happy pill. It's a genuine type of joy, not artificial.

When gravity begins to pull you back down in the direction you came, it causes a tightening feeling in your chest. You want to stay in that euphoric stage, otherwise known as that pleasing emotion that causes you to feel weightless. Unfortunately, you can't. Nothing lasts forever. You can't relive those happy moments no matter how hard you try. They're genuine, not artificial.

However, unlike a swing, you can't go back and fourth between ecstasy and despondency every ten seconds. That's not how life works.

Ecstasy and despondency can range from just a few minutes to over a year. Everyday could seem like a blissful dream that you wouldn't want to wake up from, or a putrid nightmare that you'd want to escape from.

It's just how life works.

You can't hop away or stop life, either. Unlike a swing, it'll keep going until you inevitably die of old age, an illness, or some accident. Hell, maybe even by your own hand. In the end, you'll be six feet underground with a gravestone signaling your previous existence to future generations who will, most likely, not care.

In summary, it's inevitable.

Seto pulls out of Ty's grasp once he feels calm enough. He smiles softly and Ty cups his cheek, "You scared me."

"I'm sorry," Seto apologizes guiltily.

"Let's go home," Ty smiles.

Something's warm and fuzzy in the brunet's heart. He laughs blissfully for the first time in years. Ty's beginning to walk off, but Seto takes a step back.

"Seto?" Ty asks, turning around.

His whole world crashes down as he's running to the ledge, screaming.

"SETO!"

the end.

| 10,457 words |