Julian didn't call back. He didn't pick up the phone either. Wynter was going crazy. The guilt swallowed him up. He couldn't breath. Julian hung up on him. And he deserved it. He had known that Julian liked him. But he let jealousy of all things control his decisions. He shouldn't have kissed Serena, knowing that Julian would leave the room to search for him. Wynter had wanted Julian to watch. He wanted Julian to feel what he had felt when he saw him with Caleb. And now he had messed up and he was alone again.

Wynter didn't mind being lonely. He had been lonely for pretty much all his life. Even when his mother was alive, he was always like this. He wasn't interested in making friends....he had never liked anyone. He preferred blending into the walls. He preferred being the person who no one would even spare a glance at. People's eyes would pass over him as if he was invisible and he liked it that way. But he wanted Julian to look at him. For Julian to pay attention to him.

Wynter wanted to be Julian's everything even though he knew he couldn't be. Julian would leave. Sooner or later he'd get bored of Wynter's problems and he'd leave. And he wouldn't return. But he didn't care. What mattered was now. He wanted to be with Julian. He wanted to be held and kissed by him. And even if the sparks faded away, the warmth they had brought would be safe in his memories forever.

As a last desperate attempt Wynter dialled in Ren's number.

" Wynter....hey..." Ren greeted, pretending to be cheerful. Wynter could tell Ren was pissed at him.

" Hey! Uh—Ren...do you know where Julian is?"

" I'm his cousin. Not his GPS" Ren drawled sarcastically. Yeah, Wynter thought, he's definitely pissed.

" Ren are you pissed at me? I mean I get it—"

" I'm disappointed in you. I thought you were better than this. I thought you understood him....Listen he's had a shitty life since the past few years. Who am I kidding? It was always shitty. He'd tell himself that his problems were not important. That he was irrelevant. And this shit is sappy as hell but you and I both know it's true.....He broke himself trying to piece you together. I can't believe I gave you this speech. He's at the diner. The first one he took you to. Bye"

Wynter stared at the phone screen for a second. Ren had hung up on him. Julian and Ren were so much like each other that it was almost funny.

Julian was halfway into his fourth chocolate milkshake, when he looked out of the wall-sized window randomly. Wynter had his hands stuffed into his jeans and the hood of his sweatshirt pulled over his voluminous brown locks. He had his head bent low as he ducked past people, hoping that no one's attention was on him.

Julian smiled involuntarily as he watched the dark-haired boy thanking someone awkwardly when they told him that his shoelaces were untied. Julian knew that Wynter probably wouldn't tie them until he tripped once. Oh and it was most definitely Ren who told him where he was.

When Wynter walked in, Julian didn't wave him over like he usually did. The dark-haired boy ignored the obvious look of anger the other boy was directing at him and pulled out a chair, sitting opposite to him. He stared at the four empty milkshake cups for a second before deducing that Julian was the one who had drunk up all of them. That was the moment he realised how much Julian was pissed.

" Julian—"

" Marina! You've got a customer! I'm leaving! See you later!" Julian yelled out to the waitress, while leaving a tip on the table.

She did a two fingered salute and waved at him with a flirty smile. Marina was nice. When he came to the diner alone for some time away from his overwhelming life, she'd sit with him and tell him about a new movie she had just watched or a book she read, often about books that had been made into a movie. But she had a massive crush on Julian and even unobservant people like Ren had noticed. In fact he was the one who told Wynter.

Wynter was tempted to stick out his tongue at her and then shout, He's gay and he likes me!

But since he wanted to be nice he just smiled at her and rushed after the green eyed boy.

" Julian! Stop!" Wynter pushed at the glass door and sprinted down the pathway towards Julian.

Julian stopped walking suddenly, as if he remembered something important. He turned around " Wynter, tie your sh—"

Wynter stepped on his shoelace and went flying forward and then downwards to embrace the rough ground. His elbow scratched against the gravel and his knees felt like they had been victims to a hammer. He heard an exhausted sigh and then Julian was at his side, helping him up by him arm. The green eyed boy looked into his eyes " Are you hurt?"

" This is what it takes to make you talk to me?" Wynter demanded, tugging away and stepping back.

Julian stepped forward and started to dust off the dirt on his shirt, ignoring how Wynter's hands had found their way to his hips. Julian tilted his head a little when the other boy scowled " What?"

" I just realised something. I mean I already knew it but there's just something about a realisation that sets things in perspective"

Julian didn't ask him about his realisation, choosing to inspect Wynter's bleeding elbow " It's just a couple of scratches. You'll be okay"

" I know that. I've had worse. About my realisation...."

" What about it?" Julian asked, kneeling down in front of him.

Wynter didn't reply. He watched Julian's thin fingers work on his shoelaces and he saw the golden blond roots of his hair growing out. He saw the curve of his back and the dig of his vertebrae into the thin fabric of his shirt. And when Julian looked up, Wynter also saw the little scar on his cheekbone.

" Stop zoning out....I'm going home" Julian said, glancing one last time at Wynter's face before stepping away and turning the other way.

"Julian I like you!" Wynter blurted out.

Julian turned around, his expression indifferent " Get in the car. I'll take you home"

There was silence in the car as they drove. Not the awkward kind. The tense kind. The kind of silence that people struggle to maintain because they know that if they talk, they'll be all over each other and the car will crash and they'll die.

Julian's heart was alive. Alive and kicking him in the chest. Literally. He could feel the blood in his veins and hear the blood rushing up to his brains. He watched the dark haired boy from the corner of his eyes, as he stared out of the window. Wynter's cheeks were flushed. He was slouched in his seat and fidgeting with the threads of his jeans. Julian wanted nothing more than pulling up on the side of the road and leaning over the console to hold Wynter's face between his palms. To hold him and kiss him until he couldn't breath anymore.

When Julian pulled up into Wynter's driveway, he turned off the engine and sat still " Do you mean it?"

" Yes...yeah" Wynter nodded.

" Okay" Julian muttered and stepped out of the car, walking towards the front door.

" I thought you said you didn't want to come over?" Wynter asked, unlocking the door and holding it open to the other boy. Julian just walked in without a reply and pulled off his shoes before racing into the living room and throwing himself onto the couch.

" I swear to god you like that couch so much! It's like a—"

" I like the owner of the couch more" Julian mumbled sitting up and reaching out to pick up Wynter's laptop. The dark-haired boy shook his head at Julian and walked into the kitchen to bring the red licorice he had bought this morning.

When he reached for the top shelf, his shirt rose up revealing a strip of his tanned skin.

Julian leaned against the doorway, watching Wynter rise on his tip toes. Before he knew it, he was walking forward and his arms went around the dark-haired boy's waist. Wynter's back pressed up against his front. Julian tightened his arms and brushed his nose against the dark haired boy's collarbone.

Wynter was frozen. His eyes fell shut and his breath faltered. Julian let out a breath against his skin and trailed his lips up his neck slowly, taking his time with each kiss. Enjoying himself with every shudder that went through Wynter's body. Every silent gasp and exhale. " Julian....stop"

Julian obeyed. He stepped back and leaned against the kitchen island, watching Wynter curse and press his face into his hands. Wynter's entire body was coursing with electricity. He wanted to be close to Julian and it scared him. It scared him because he was afraid that he wouldn't feel this way again if Julian left. Wynter turned around abruptly " Kiss me"

" No" Julian answered simply and walked back into the living room.

" Yeah! Don't sugarcoat it Julian!" Wynter yelled after him sarcastically.

" Why'd you make out with Serena if you want me so much?" Julian asked, the fire in his eyes showing his pain.

Guilt swelled up inside Wynter again. He bit his lip and sat next to Julian, his eyes on the floor " I thought you still liked Caleb. It's stupid I know. I get jealous easily."

Julian crossed his legs on the couch and shifted to face Wynter. He leaned forward and threw an arm over the other boy's shoulder with a comforting smile on his face " Wynter, I'm not gonna lie. I used to like him, I think? I'm not sure. It was more of a silly middle-school crush. We're good friends though."

" Was that supposed to make me feel better?" Wynter demanded, leaning his head on Julian's shoulder hesitantly.

The green eyed boy shook his head with a smile, " No. It was supposed to assure you that I like you, you stupid idiot!"

" Why won't you kiss me?" Wynter asked. He smiled a little when the other boy grabbed a packet of licorice and tore it open.

Julian paused his actions. He looked at Wynter through his lashes and shrugged " I guess I'm taking revenge"

" Julian...just kiss me" Wynter practically pleaded. He was tempted to crawl into Julian's lap and straddle him but he held back. He was also tempted to strangle him but he held back again because he felt too much for him.

" Did you sleep with her?" Julian asked, nibbling on the long twizzlers with relish.

" What?! No! Why would you think that? Plus she knew that I....."

" You what? You were crazy about me?" Julian teased, shuffling closer to the dark haired boy. Julian felt like he was flying. Wynter Black liked him back. It was all he could ever wish for.

" Shut up" Wynter grumbled, switching on the TV. Before he could blink he was flat on the couch. Julian was hovering over him, a piece of licorice hanging from between his lips, " Wait until I'm done with this. Then I'll kiss you till you can't breathe" he mumbled, making Wynter roll his eyes.

Julian let a hand brush against the other boy's jaw, thumb stroking the space beneath his eyes " It hurts...you know? When I want to kiss you but I don't. It hurts"

" You're the one who's still eating licorice. Spit it out. Go!" Wynter shoved at his shoulders with a smile, as much as he liked the position they were in.

Julian made an offended face " Spit out licorice? Are you stupid?"

Before Wynter could reply, he saw Julian swallow. They could finally kiss now. The dark haired boy rose up on his elbows, before collapsing back down again when he felt a sting. He lifted his scratched elbow upto his eyes. It had somehow opened up more when he had balanced himself on it. " Julian get off for a second."

Julian pressed a haste kiss to his cheek and sat up, letting Wynter roll off the couch. The dark-haired boy walked into the kitchen and held his elbow under cold water. He just wanted to be done with it and go back to kiss Julian.

" Does it hurt?" Julian asked, coming up behind him with a small frown on his face.

" No. It's just bleeding. I'll be fine" Wynter answered absent-mindedly, knelt down before a drawer hoping to find a band-aid. When he found one, he stood up and handed it to the green eyed boy.

Julian carefully pasted the bandaid over the bright pink and red coloured cut on his skin, gazing at Wynter's face for a second to determine if it actually hurt.

Wynter didn't even flinch. He had always had high pain tolerance. A small cut wasn't a big deal. He breathed out through his lips when he realised he and Julian were staring at each other like creeps, except neither of them felt creeped out by the looks they were receiving from each other.

Julian scowled at the dark-haired boy as if he had just come across the single most stupid person in the entire universe. And he had every reason to do so " Kiss me idiot! Are you waiting for the fireworks or something? Cuz I hate to break it to you but—"

He didn't get to finish his sentence.

Wynter leaned forward and all but crashed their lips together. Julian's hands flew up to hold Wynter's face in place as he kissed back. It was slow and patient and beautiful, almost as if saying...There's no rush. We're here. We're here and we'll be here forever. Forever in this moment. Wynter felt his heart flutter in his chest. He hesitantly lifted his arms and placed them on Julian's shoulders. It felt like everything. Kissing Julian felt like finding something that you've been searching for your whole life. That emptiness in you that you aren't aware of until it's not empty anymore. Kissing Julian felt like discovering the world you never knew existed.

Julian hooked an arm around Wynter's waist, pulling him forward until they were flush against each other. He traced Wynter's lips with his own and when he felt sparks of electricity race up his nerves, he put a hand to Wynter's cheek, his thumb stroking the soft skin. Their heads tilted to the side, lips moulding and sliding together, trying to memorise every detail and curve and fold. Wynter left a soft peck on Julian's bottom lip before pulling back.

They looked at each other for a few seconds. Eyes flicking over each other's flushed cheeks, reddened lips and dazed faces. In that second, all hell broke loose.

The boys leaped at eachother. A kind of feverish need dominated their senses. Their mouths collided with urgency. Julian hooked his fingers through Wynter's hair, one hand clutching at his shirt as he kissed him with everything he had. Wynter was burning, atleast it felt like that while kissing Julian. Every inch of his skin felt ignited. He pushed Julian against the edge of the kitchen island, his hands trailing up the other boy's chest and into his hair. Julian let out a surprised moan when Wynter tugged at his hair and pressed his lips deeper into the embrace of Julian's.

Julian's hands clutched at the the front of Wynter's shirt. He let Wynter's hands lift him up by the back of his thighs to place him on the island. When they pulled back for a second to breathe, Julian smiled," I told you I'd kiss you until you can't breathe"

And their lips were together again. Julian crossed his legs loosely around Wynter's hips, pulling him forward to finish their kiss with a sweet and gentle nibble on his bottom lip. He wrapped his arms around the dark-haired boy's neck, pulling back a little and letting him press gentle kisses to the inside of his wrists.

" Julian...they can't have you" Wynter said suddenly, his voice shaking.

Julian frowned slightly. Wynter's tone was full of fear and embarrassment as if he was ashamed of the statement he was going to make. As if it would destroy everything Julian had ever felt for him and it made Julian feel worried. " Who?"

" Caleb....Adam...Marina—You're mine...They can't- "

" They can't have me," Julian interrupted, "You're mine and I'm yours and everything is okay" Julian whispered, peppering kisses on the other boy's face. He was amazed by how much this boy meant to him. Wynter Black had him wrapped around his finger and Julian Sanders didn't mind it one bit.

Julian smiled at him and leaned forward to place a kiss on his cheek. Wynter didn't say anything, he just tightened Julian's legs that were still hanging around his hips. And when he lifted Julian off the kitchen island and started to carry him to the living room, Julian pressed his face into Wynter's chest and tightened his arms around his neck " Can we watch that anime—"

" No—"
" But—"
" No—"
" Please?" Julian pouted up at the dark haired boy. He smirked in satisfaction when Wynter's eyes lingered on his lips before flicking away.

" Fine" Wynter muttered, sitting Julian down on the couch and dropping down beside him.

An hour later Julian was explaining to Wynter why he believed the main character was amazing while the other boy listened attentively even though he didn't understand one word. When he finally understood he shook his head in an unimpressed manner and looked down at the boy who had his head laid on his lap " The stupid things I watch for you....."

" Hey! It's not stupid!" Julian protested annoyedly.

" Whatever helps you sleep at night" Wynter laughed a little.

"You do" The green-eyed boy smiled.

A/N:

I know. I know you love me. I love you too.

Also! I'm veryyyy sorry for the delay! I was busy with stuff in my life. Hope you understand <3

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