The entire place was packed with reckless teenagers; all of them either drinking, dancing on tables, gathered in groups, making out or playing stupid party games.

Austin had not expected there to be so many people. He had hoped for thirty kids, tops, but this was more like a circus.

These people did not look like the normal students he saw at school almost daily either. It was like someone had slipped something into the water system and turned the party into a nineteen-seventies disco party orgy. Half the population was half naked, making out and doing other unspeakable things on every available surface.

It was getting nauseating real fast.

The music blasted over the speakers deafeningly. It was a wonder that the police hadn't come to shut down the party.

Austin watched from the top of the stairs as people danced and grinded on the dance floor. Actually, it was more like dry humping. No one in their right mind could ever call that dancing.

Noah and Claire had left a while ago to fetch some more alcohol since there was not enough for everybody, it had been running out so fast. They had left Austin behind to be in charge, in the fear that these horny, drunken idiots might accidentally set the house on fire. It would be very hard to explain if his mother came back to find a puddle of smoky ashes where her house should have been.

As nauseating as watching the couples kiss was, Austin still longed for a certain pair of lips to kiss. He was almost sure Noah's lips were dusted with crack -he just could never get enough of them. He was feeling lonely.

His mild O.C.D. was starting to act up a little bit. The entire configuration of the house was amiss, not the way he was always used to it. But it wasn't strong enough to have his brain and nerves going cattywampus. He managed to fight it.

He raced down the stairs when he saw some drunken girl pick up one of his mother's favorite vases and start to play with it.

"Hey, can you please put that down!" He shouted as he approached her. She had her back towards him and he could not see who it was.

"Whyyy.." She slurred, "It's so round ...and shiny..and ..and really pretty. I want it." She said as she tried to hold it closer to her body but her hands were too wobbly and it started to slip.

"No!" Austin screamed as he leaped to catch it but he was a second too late and it crashed to the ground, breaking into a million little pieces.

He heard the girl gasp while he simply stared at the pieces that were once the beautiful, antique vase which had been his father's tenth anniversary gift to his mother.

"I am dead!." Austin finally spoke, but his eyes remained wide and fixated on the mess on the floor.

"Oops!" The girl said as she knelt down by the broken vase, "D-do you.. like ...have glue? We can totally fix this." she looked up at a gaping Austin. All he could manage to do was opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water.

"Max?!" He recognized her, "What the hell!" he yelled angrily at last.

"Oh...Austin! ..Sorry about that." She was obviously too drunk to sound or look remorseful.

"My mom is going to kill me!" Austin tried to explain the situation very loudly, "Do you understand what you have just done!"

"Actually..no." She slurred and sat completely on the floor, "Did..did I do something wrong?"

"Wow, ok. You're obviously too drunk to grasp the real gravity of the situation." Austin wanted to get mad at her but he did not see the point. He would have to chew her head off later when she was at least able to keep her eyes open for five seconds without fluttering, "Come on, get off the floor! Let's take you somewhere else." He said as he went over and grabbed her by her underarms.

When her ridiculously long hair moved as he lifted her up, that was when he noticed that she was no longer wearing a top. Only her shorts and a bra that left almost nothing to the imagination. Her make up was smudged all over her face. She must have taken the top off or.. what the hell, that thing had been so slutty, it probably ran away to hook up with other people.

He finally managed to get her on her feet, good thing she was as thin as a stick and weighed as much as a pencil. Well, not really -but you get the point.

"Will you...take..will you take me to Randy?" She asked.

"Who's Randy?" Austin knitted his brows in confusion as he asked.

"He must like me..right?" It was like she was just speaking randomly, "I ...I mean, he never lets me pay for ..for the milkshakes and he checks me out every time I go there..he-he likes me, right?"

"Why don't I take you to bed and then you can tell me all about Randy tomorrow?" He was not understanding what she was talking about.

"He is so cute with his blonde hair and -"

"What happened here, Austin?" A familiar voice came from behind them. He turned around and saw Noah motioning toward the pieces on the floor.

"When did you guys get back?" Austin asked, relieved and happy to see Noah.

"Just now, what happened?" Noah asked with a worried look.

"She happened." Austin responded, "I'm taking her upstairs to my bed. She's totally wasted."

"Ok, let me clean this up. Don't worry about it." Noah said.

Austin loved how considerate Noah was. It was the little things he always did; like hold his hand when they walked through the halls of school, or smiled just because Austin had smiled or, right now, picking up a broom and sweeping up debris -that never failed to make Austin's heart flutter.

He was beginning to think that he may have been in love with Noah. That his feelings might have been stronger than he realized.

"Hey, come here for a second," Austin said and gestured with one finger for Noah to come nearer. Noah obliged without question.

Austin grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him closer for a sweet peck on the lips. Noah smiled with his lips still in contact with Austin's, "What was that for?" He asked as he rested his forehead against Austin's.

"Nothing... I just really missed you." Austin blushed a little.

"I missed you too." Noah said as he pulled back.

Max started snoring beside Austin. His arms were around her tightly so she couldn't fall. "Well, I better take this one upstairs." Austin excused himself and walked away with Max. She wasn't really doing much walking -she seemed to have forgotten the basic rules of walking, so he had to carry her bridal style up the stairs.

He got to his bedroom door and had to put her feet down for a second so that he could unlock it. He had locked all bedrooms for fear of people using his home as a whorehouse.

He was unlocking the door when Max, whom he was still holding extremely closely, suddenly started hurling projectile vomit all over him. It caught him by surprise, so much so that he stood frozen where he was with his eyes closed.

His clothes were soaked and covered in a mixture of digested food and all kinds of alcohol. He wanted to scream. He could handle a little dirt, but not this. The pungent smell that engulfed him alone made his entire body shiver violently. He closed his eyes so tight, tears started surfacing.

"Oh my god!" Max expressed, sounding more sober, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to -" but she wasn't done. She let out some more on to Austin's shoes. For such a little girl, she sure could let out a lot!

"Please, stop!" Austin cried as he stood there, unable to move.

His whole body shook like a leaf. His O.C.D. kicked in so hard, it was basically on steroids. He opened his eyes but did not look down. Instead choosing to stare straight ahead.

He looked like he had just seen a ghost, or something else that was equally as terrifying. Although, Austin couldn't think of anything nearly as terrifying as being covered in stinky vomit at that moment.

He wanted to rip off his skin but he didn't know how. He tried to run to the nearest source of water or even, if he was lucky, kerosene, but his bodily muscles refused to work. He simply remained there, in a puddle of puke, with his eyes wide open and unblinking.

"Austin, I'm really sorry. Come with me so I can clean you up." Max spoke. He could hear her, but he couldn't understand her. She only sounded like she was mumbling over the ringing in his ear, "Austin, can you hear me?" She shook him but he was motionless.

She tried waving her hands in his vision but it did not work. It was really scary. That fright and shock had helped sober her up a little more so that she knew what she was doing. "I'm going to get Noah, I'll be right back." She said worriedly and left quickly.

Tears flowed out of Austin's eyes. He was completely helpless and his brain was not functioning properly. He was still trembling as if someone had dumped him in the north pole and left him there in only his underwear.

"Austin!" Someone came running, "what happened?" The voice asked in a panicky tone, "Say something." Austin still didn't say anything, "Who the hell did this to you, babe? ..come on, let me clean you up."

Austin's body finally moved as Sam took him into his bathroom. He was not fully recovered from the shock, he was still quite shaken. He stood there as Sam took off his clothes, one article at a time.

At this time, he could not care less if he was mad at Sam or not. He just needed to get out of this nightmare quickly before he suffered a stroke.

Sam kept whispering sweet words to him as he pulled off his clothes, "It's ok Austin, I'm here now. You're gonna be ok.. I won't let anything happen to you." Apart from Nicky, Sam was one of the other few people who knew about his condition. He started undoing Austin's belt, "You know I love you, right? Which means I will do everything to make sure you are ok. Don't worry, I know you love me too. It's ok if you weren't able to say it before, but I can see it in your eyes even when you are mad at me... I miss you so much. I know it's not your fault, it's that other -"

"What the hell are you doing!" Noah came in hard, "Get the fuck away from him!"

"Oh, get your head out of your ass! I'm only helping him. Something you were not around to do!" Sam retorted and refused to step away from Austin.

"What are you even doing here, nobody invited you!" Noah told him.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?!"

"The guy who is about to pull your intestines up through your nose and then feed them to you." Noah seethed.

"You might not know this, but I practically grew up in this house." Sam said cockily and walked towards Noah, holding his head high -which did nothing to slow Noah's resolve.

"Yea, until you stabbed your best friend in the back and broke apart his family!"

"You think -" Sam started but he was cut short when Austin started panting and making disgusted noises as he yanked painfully on the remaining clothes on his body.

"Out!" Noah said to Sam then ran towards Austin. Sam gave in and walked out. The look on Austin's face broke him. It was not the radiant smile he was used to, the one he wore when he gave his witty remarks.

This was a different face; one which was frightened and helpless. Those tears staining Austin's face broke him further, "Max, lock the door and don't let anyone in!" He said to Max, who was still feeling guilty about everything. She complied.

He helped Austin quickly out of all his clothes and tossed them in the litter bin, tying the bag before helping him step into the tub, then opened the shower. Austin was completely naked before him and Noah's mind was starting to trail from the whole purpose of this process.

"Hey, it's ok now... I'm here." He said as he cradled Austin's face in his big hands and kissed him gently on the lips.

"Stay with me.. Please.." Austin begged and held on to Noah's shirt. They were both standing under the jet and Noah's clothes were getting soaked. He took off his shirt and pants, remaining only in his briefs.

"I'm not going anywhere, I'm right here." He replied soothingly as he brushed Austin's hair away from his face then wrapped his hands round his back, "I love you."

Austin's body was still trembling slightly despite the hot water that was beating down on their bodies. He held on tighter to Noah and closed his eyes. Noah was his only fortress at this moment, just like every other moment there had been ever since they met.

Noah reached out and grabbed a flannel, lathered it and started gently scrubbing Austin's body. He began with his back, since Austin had his arms around him, and proceeded to rub small gentle circles all over him.

It helped relax Austin gradually, until he was almost completely calm. Austin pulled back and looked into Noah's stunning green eyes with those little flecks of yellow around them. It was like looking straight at the moon on a warm summer night. He would blissfully, and willingly drown in them.

He liked how some droplets of water got caught in Noah's lashes, parting them and defining their length.

Every inch of his body that Noah touched, either using the flannel or his bare hands, sent shots of electricity coursing all through his body. He was quickly forgetting the fright he had just experienced a few minutes ago and starting to think of how wonderful it was to stand under the same jet with Noah instead. It was like standing under the rain -except warmer and they were more naked.

The whole world and the chaos outside were forgotten. It was just the two of them in that special moment and they couldn't care less about anything else. Austin had once thought it was impossible for any human being to feel this way, but something about Noah could make him believe in anything.

Their hearts were racing wildly as their bodies remained in contact. Austin felt as if Noah got even more handsome with every time he saw him. He couldn't understand how that was possible.

"What?" Noah asked after Austin had stared at him long enough with that sheepish look on his face.

"I think... I think I'm falling for you." Austin confessed, searching Noah's eyes.

The glistening in Noah's eyes said it all. His eyes shone at those words. It was not much, but it was the greatest thing he had heard all year -heck, all his life!

"You are?" He asked.

"In fact, I don't think there was ever a time that I wasn't. I fell for you the first time I ever laid my eyes on you, Noah. You just get me and the way you look at me, it's more than one person can handle. You're amazing."

"I look at you that way because ...you're the greatest thing that has happened in my life... You're the greatest thing that ever happened to my world! I want to make you king of my heart, you already are. You are... you're just the most perfect thing in the world ..and ...even the thought of losing you, ever, I can't stand it. You stole my heart, Austin. I don't know how you do it ...but you steal it over and over again everyday and I wouldn't have it any other way... I love you. Even saying those words does not begin to cover what I really want to say..."

"I'm not perfect." Austin said lowly, then buried his face in Noah's neck.

"But..you are. You're perfectly imperfect. That's how I want it." Noah closed his eyes and kissed the top of Austin's head.

This was a moment neither of the boys wanted to come out of. If there was even a slight possibility that they could stay like this forever, they would jump at it and never let go. This, right here, was home for both of them. They felt lucky.

"I love you, Noah Byrne." Austin whispered .

"I love you too."

And right there, under the warm jet and against the white-tiled wall, with the emotions thick in the air and everything feeling right, Austin and Noah made love for the first time.

===========

They lay in bed together after their..shower.

There were no trails of puke or anything on the floor, which led them to believe that perhaps Max had cleaned up Austin's room. That was awfully considerate of her. He would have to thank her right after he was done chewing off her head and laying a very long guilt trip on her over the broken vase.

Noah had requested Gina, Max and Claire to send everyone home. None of them was ready to go downstairs and see the damage caused by the rowdy kids. They were not ready to burst their little happy bubble yet just yet.

As they lay there, Noah noticed something, "Wait, is that my shirt you're wearing?" He asked, remembering he had lent it to Austin the week before.

"I thought you had forgotten about it." Austin responded, his cheeks warming up to a faded tint of pink

"I kept waiting for you to return it, but I never saw it!"

"Ok, I have a confession to make," Austin said meekly.

"What is it?" Noah asked.

"I...kind of... sleep in it sometimes."

"Mmmmmm.." Noah growled from deep in his throat, "That's sexy as hell. Please tell me it's the only thing you're usually wearing." He said with a suggestive smile as he brought their foreheads together.

"What do you think?" Austin flirted right back and put one leg over Noah's hip.

"You are so fucking sexy!" Noah said as he leaned over and kissed him sensually then pulled back and said, "I also have a confession to make."

"Uh-ow!" Austin joked.

"You remember that stained shirt that I said you threw away?" He asked,

"Please don't tell me you went back for it."

"No... I lied." Noah said slowly, "You never threw it away....I swiped it when you weren't looking and went home with it."