Walking into school the next day was very, very nerve wracking.

However, Darren couldn't quite tell if it was the knowledge of what he, his boyfriend and his boyfriend's friend had done the night before, or if it was the fact that everyone in the whole school seemed to be watching him, pointing and staring and laughing behind their phones whenever he walked past, whispering to their friends.

This was answered during lunch in the form of a stuttering and very apologetic Joey Richter.

"Joey," Darren laughed, "Calm down, man. I can't understand a word you're saying."

"I'm so sorry." Joey exhaled, after breathing in deeply.

"Yeah, I got that much. What're you sorry for?"

"You haven't seen yet?" Joey asked, a whole new level of fright washing over his face, "Man, I'm so, so sorr-"

"Yes, I know you're sorry. But I clearly don't know why you're sorry, so care to enlighten me?" Darren frowned.

"Well, uh, y'know the" Joey leaned forward to whisper, "the thing we did last night?"

Darren sighed, nodding, "Of course I know."

"Well, umm, there may be a picture of you doing that-that thing circling around school and there's a high chance the only people who don't know are the computer geeks who never speak to anyone." Joey rushed out, wringing his hands together and avoiding Darren's gaze.

"You- wh- what?" Darren stammered, swallowing thickly and glancing around, meeting the gazes of a group of people who were each staring at him, "How- how did that happen?"

"Well, when you were- when we were- well, Chris took a picture of you when he was taking a break and I guess- I guess he shared it?" Joey muttered, glaring at the group of people until they eventually walked away.

"No, Chris wouldn't- he wouldn't do something like that."

"That's what I tried to tell you at the park the first day we met; Chris isn't who you think he is."

Darren's eyes narrowed, "How would you know that?"

Eyes widening and his mouth opening and shutting a couple times, Joey seemed at a loss for words until he met Darren's piercing gaze and blurted out, "Chris told me what he was planning. This was his plan all along."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"I tried to-"

"There were so many chances you could've told me after that!" Darren yelled, biting his tongue and lowering his voice when a few students looked over at them.

"I know but I- you've gotta understand, Chris was threatening me." Joey cried, "There was nothing I could do."

"You said we were friends! Friends don't lie to each other and keep secrets. Especially not this big of a secret. I just- god, Joey."

"He- he threatened to- to tell my family that I was studying theatre. You don't understand, Darren, my family would disown me if they-" Joey shook his head, "Chris is crazy, man."

"You seem just as crazy, man. If you willingly obliged to what Chris suggested, knowing what his objectives were but still failed to tell me? What kind of friend- no, what kind of person does that?" Darren spoke angrily, his eyebrows furrowed as he leaned forward.

"I-"

"No, Joey, it's fine. I'm done, okay? Now, if you'll excuse me; I have a mess to try clean up before my whole life and reputation is over." Darren sighed turning around and walking away, pulling out his phone and looking through his contacts.

He found Chris' number in his 'favourites' section and immediately pressed on it, clicking message and watching as his phone directed him to messages.

He caught a brief glimpse of the talk he and Chris had had the night before and tried in vain to prevent the two small tears that escaped his eyelashes and created 2 paths down his cheek.

To Chris:
What kind of sick person are you?

From Chris:
What's wrong, baby?

To Chris:
You know

From Chris:
No, I don't

From Chris:
Just tell me

To Chris:
We're done

From Chris:
What?

From Chris:
Darren?

From Chris:
Hello?

Darren pocketed his phone, ignoring the number that appeared on his screen, informing him Chris was calling him.

"Darren!" He turned around at the sound of his name being called, finding Joey jogging to catch up to him.

"Let me help you." Joey said, staring pleadingly at Darren, "I want to make up for not telling you, let me help you."

"Help me with what?"

"With cleaning up this mess!"

"I don't know if I- hang on." Darren sighed, pulling his phone out and pressing decline.

To Chris:
Stop calling me

From Chris:
Stop ignoring me then

From Chris:
What've I done?

To Chris:
You know. Just admit it, you've won. What else do you need?

From Chris:
I have no clue what you're on about Darren.

"What's he saying?" Joey asked when Darren let out a frustrated groan.

"He's refusing to admit to doing it."

"Call him."

Darren looked up to meet Joey's gaze before nodding once firmly.

"Hello?" Chris' voice was almost painful to listen to now.

"Just admit it."

"Admit what?"

"Stop playing stupid!" Darren yelled.

"Fine, I did it." Chris laughed, "It was too easy."

"Why?" Darren asked, his voice breaking.

"Because you were still so new to the whole idea of maybe not being as straight as you thought you were. Plus, you were convinced you were so hopelessly in love with me." Darren could basically hear Chris rolling his eyes, "You made it far too easy."

"Why didn't you admit this before?" Darren asked, feeling his tears prickling at his eyelids.

"Because then you'd have proof. You'd have my text message. A phone call, however..." Chris trailed off.

"You're a monster." Joey growled into Darren's phone.

"Oh! Joey, you're there too! How nice."

"Just end it, Darren." Joey ordered, Darren looking up at him and shaking his head, "Do it, or I will."

Darren nodded, whispering a very quiet, "goodbye, Chris." before he took his phone away from his ear and pressed the red button, ending the call.

"Block him." Joey nodded supportively, watching Darren do just that, "Now, come here."

Joey reached out, grabbing the both of Darren's arms and pulling the man into his embrace, wrapping two arms over Darren's shoulders whilst the other boy hooked his arms under Joey's arms and up to his shoulders, where he gripped them tightly.

Their height difference enabled Darren to fit his nose right under Joey's shoulder, the raven-haired man's body shuddering as he finally let out the heart-wrenching sobs he'd been holding back.

To others, it may seem like a scene of two friends, one comforting the other after a traumatic experience that would forever alter his outlook on life. But to the both of them, it was two acquaintances becoming friends, swearing to get each other through whatever came their way and to stand stronger, side-by-side.

For the first time in his life, Darren had lost his home.

Wow

That was very cheesey