Shout out to of the readers who's comments are sometimes funny and i wanna thank for your continuous votes. 1800fuckyou I heart you. 💔 and I know you're probably still at the chapter 'sexual tension' or so but I appreciate you. 😂❤
And all you ghost readers, I sight you too.

Thank you all for your well wishes concerning my depressed fucking mind. I love y'all.

BAD CUPID

Created By; Snow Marisvega

Chapter 61

Dylan's P.O.V

I was having breakfast in the kitchen with Jaxton while mom kept telling us about her new boss thinking of putting her in charge with a grin.

Yesterday was definitely a day to forever remember, I mean I made out with Tony, a complete stranger. Johnathan threatened Raven, dinner at the Frosts was something else and then Jaxton's mother and let's not even forget that I made out with Tony.

I dropped my plate in the sink with a sigh once I was done. "I have one more day to finish this stupid project, a lot of people have finished theirs, even Jon. And I'm still lazying around." I rolled my eyes as I leaned on the sink.

"Is that a word?" Mom asked.

I shrugged. "Don't even know."

Jaxton chuckled as he dropped his own plate in the sink. "You ready?"

I nodded.

"Alri..wait! My phone. Be right back." He said and went up the stairs, I watched him as he left and looked at mom.

"Mom."

"Hmm?" She turned to me, a cup of coffee in her hands.

"I'm worried about Jaxton."

Her brows knitted. "What's wrong?"

"So yesterday, we saw his mother."

"What? Where?"

"The coffee shop close to Seth's enterprise."

She blinked. "Seth's enterprise? Wait, why were you even at that road?"

Shit.

"Mom. This isn't about me, its Jaxton."

She nodded. "Go ahead."

Thank God.

"So, we saw his mother and she decided she wanted to speak to him. Of course I said no," she nodded. "But Jaxton insisted and I tried eavesdropping but she switched languages and Jaxton was moody through out the day, then I asked him and he said she said she wanted him home. That she was, if I may quote 'changed'. " I made air quotes with my fingers.

She rolled her eyes and dropped the cup of coffee on the counter. "No, it's gonna take more than the normal 'sorry' to fix what she did"

"EXACTLY WHAT I-" she shushed me. "Sorry, exactly what I said." I whispered.

She shook her head at me. "She has to prove to him that she's changed and I'm not letting her take him away if she's just gonna be an evil bitch. She almost-" she looked behind her to make sure Jaxton wasn't there and then looked at me, whispering. "-almost made me lose my baby. That woman doesn't deserve mercy. Look, I get she's his mother but I'm his guardian and she wasn't there during that rapist thing and was never there for him when he needed her and suddenly she decided to be in his life? You don't change just by saying it. Jaxton is a cute little kid, he's smart but he's also innocent and he's easy to manipulate and I think she's already getting into his head."

"She already is." I nodded. "You would think after the time he spent here, he'd be like me a little."

"Oh, Jaxton has learned sarcasm. You're spoiling the kid."

"No. I'm building him up." I corrected.

She snorted. "Sure you are."

"Sorry, sorry, sorry." Jaxton repeated as he ran down the stairs. "I couldn't find it." He said with a sigh once he landed and came to the kitchen, picking up his bag. "Well, shall we?"

I nodded and looked at mom, I walked past her and she whispered to me. "I'll speak to him." I didn't reply and picked up my backpack.

"Bye mom!"

"Bye, Bonnie." Jax smiled at her as we walked.

"Boys."

We both turned.

"You're forgetting lunch."

"You would think as seniors we don't need to bring lunch to school." I said as we made our way back to her.

"We're still juniors since we have one more year, dumbhead." Jax said and I snorted.

"We're practically seniors and that's what we'll call ourselves from now on."

"Well, don't be in a haste to grow up." Mom said as she handed us our lunch.

We both smiled at her, said our farewells again as we made our way out and began walking to school.

***

"Good morning, Eastwood." I said with a sigh as we walked into those doors, a smile on my face.

"So..."

"Hmm?" I looked at him, he was smiling which meant he had some news. "Tell me what you're holding back."

He giggled. "Why would you think I'm.....okay fine. So, Dom called."

"Oh, so it is about him." I smiled teasingly.

"Yeah, he's like this very special friend."

My smile quickly fell at what he said. "Oh God."

"What?"

"Nothing, go on." I said as we walked.

"He said he has a surprise for me, today and I can't help but get excited."

"I hate surprises." I said in a bored tone. "But I'm excited for you."

He chuckled and halted. "Oh look, your love triangle."

I frowned in confusion and looked ahead.

"There's Christian on your left and Henry at the right, I wonder who you'd go to." He said with a smirk.

Henry had a scary frown on his face as he did whatever he did at his locker.

"Oh shit! Henry." I quickly jogged to him and patted his back, he looked behind his shoulder with a scowl and after seeing me with my charming smile, he ignored me and went back to doing whatever he was doing.

I frowned and patted his back again, he slammed his locker shut and finally turned to me.

"What?" He asked, coldly.

I was taken aback by his tone and my brows knitted the more. "Good morning to you too."

"Can I help you with something?"

I placed a smile on my face. "Well, I just wanted to talk to you ab-"

"I'm busy." He said and walked away.

I stood there in shock, my lips still parted a little while the words went back into my stomach. I really did hope no one heard or I'd be haunted for life, this was embarrassing but then I realized I wasn't mad like I would be.

"So much for that choice." Jaxton said as he walked past me with a smirk.

I scowled at him. "Shut the fuck up or I'll slit your wrists, no jokes." I said and walked faster, passing him.

••

We had gym now and we were all at the locker room, apparently all the boys were expected to run ten laps around the field. I looked down at my P.E outfit, fixing it properly when Jaxton appeared at my side.

"Ten laps. Ten fucking laps."

He was complaining.

"I think coach's having a bad day, what? You can't run ten laps?" I asked as we walked to the field.

"No, I can't." He sighed.

We didn't speak till we got to the field and joined the rest of the boys. Most of them, especially those who played whatever sports looked like werewolves with their body, I mean look at those legs. Jesus.

Henry though, did look like an alpha. The alpha. He seemed to have that feeling that someone was looking and turned back, I smiled at him but he just looked away.

What the fuck?

That smile died down.

"What crawled up your husband's ass?" Jaxton asked in a tone only I could hear.

I looked at him with a creepy smile. "You know how we're so close, like the best of friends that if you died right now. No one would suspect that I had anything to do with it cause we're practically brothers?"

He blinked. "Where are you heading with this?"

I grinned. "Don't worry about it."

"You're the creepiest of them all."

"That's not what the mirror said." I said with a sigh and a smile as I looked at coach.

"Ten laps! Nothing less. Nothing more. Well, if you wanna go more be my guest."

"How long has he been talking?" I asked Jaxton in a whisper.

He shook his head. "Since we got here?"

"Oh," I decided to pay attention to him.

"You are not going home until you finish that ten laps and I mean it! If you rest at any point for a minute, you get five extra laps. You're welcome."

A noise began around us and I was one of them because knowing who I was, I'd rest for a minute.

"Shut the hell up, you're men! Act like one." He yelled.

I crossed my arms. "Wow, he's not married, is he?"

Jax folded his own arms. "Well he is. Was."

"Was? She die of shock or what?"

"Divorce."

"Ooooh! That's why he's such a mess."

"It made him worse, he'd take his anger on all during that period. I heard she took everything he had."

I snorted. "What did he have?"

"Two cats and two thousand dollars."

"Wow, poor man lost it all."

Jax giggled.

I looked further to my right and there stood Johnathan, that bandage did suit him well. He smirked once he saw me looking and winked, I grimaced and looked away.

New.

"Okay! Run! Run! You peasants!" Coach yelled.

I rolled my eyes and started to jog, some of the showoffs began to run real fast and I knew it wouldn't take them three laps before they slow down so I'm gonna start with the jog and then run.

"So, any guy in your life that you like?" I asked Jax as we ran.

He sighed. "Dylan, you know I'm not into dating right now. After everything that happened, i-"

Groaned. I groaned loud.

"Jaxton, you need to stop living in the past. Whatever happened, happened a long time ago. If you keep letting it haunt you and terrify you and even pull you back, away from having a healthy relationship, from feeling that love that would help you forget all the bad things and replace all those memories with something better then you're gonna be alone forever. No kids. No happy family. Just you and nine cats while you masturbate continuously cause there's no guy to fill up your hole."

"Dylan! Christ!" Jaxton exclaimed. "Did you really have to put that last line?"

"The truth hurts as they say."

"More like that was disgusting."

"Some truths are disgusting as well." I shrugged.

He chuckled. "Don't you think you should talk to Henry?"

I frowned. "I don't think he wants to talk to me."

"You guys are so weird, honestly. Today, you're smiling and being all lovey dovey."

"Ew."

"And then the next day you both become supernatural enemies, vampire and werewolf. You're the vampire by the way."

I smiled. "I know. Vampires are very sexy an-"

"As I was saying before your pride came back to life. I still don't like Henry and you know that, I'm sure you do but...somehow seeing you both together is kinda cute and funny with all these rollercoaster rides. I do not like Ashcroft but better fix whatever is happening cause I have a feeling its your fucking fault."

"Woah, Mr. Guardian counsellor. Since when did you start going against me? I'm pretty sure its not my fault, this is how our friendship is. One minute, we're good and smiley." I fake grinned. "And then the next we wanna tear each other apart." I scowled. "Maybe he's having a mood swing."

"You're something else." He said with a sigh and ran ahead.

"Jaxton!" I called out and increased my speed, now running beside him. "Fine. I'll speak to Henry as long as you agree to finally give love a chance. Wait, that sounded disgusting in my mouth."

"The love part right?"

I nodded.

"I heard it too." He grimaced.

"Ugh. Well, as long as you give relationships a chance. There might just be someone around the corner who likes you so let go of the past and think about the present. Kay? And if you do I'll talk to Henry first."

He seemed to be giving my words some thought and then nodded. "Fine."

I grinned. "Promise?"

He spat in his hand and thrust it out for me to shake. I gave him a disgusted look and then his hand and back at him.

"No." I shook my head.

"But its-"

"Jaxton, no."

"Dylan, that's the only way we-"

"I'm not doing that shit with you."

He sighed and rubbed his palm on his shorts, cleaning it.

"That was fucking disgusting, Jaxton!"

"No, its not." He pouted "My sis and I do this."

"Oh God." I sped up and turned to him as I ran. "I'll just go talk to Henry while you keep being disgusting."

He gave me the finger.

I ignored him and kept running, I spotted him far away and sighed. "Are you fucking kidding me?" I increased my speed, passing all the stupid jocks and getting to Henry, I was starting to breathe real hard.

"Oh Jesus!" I exclaimed once I was close to him.

He gave me a weird look and glared before running ahead.

The fuck.

I increased mine, trying to reach him. He had such long legs.

"Henry!!" I called out.

He didn't want to wait.

"Fuck!" I ran faster, calling out to him and then he reduced his speed as I caught up.

"Thank you." I breathed out.

"What do you want?"

"Can we t-talk?"

"I don't have anything to say to you."

"Why are you being a dick?" I asked angrily, he just chuckled but not in a good way. "You're just....I don't know...I thought we were....starting to get on good terms you know and then you're back to ignoring me."

"Good terms." He scoffed.

"Hey!" I grabbed his arm and twirled him to look at me as I stopped running. "What's going on with you? Did I do something?"

"You did everything! I told you to wait for me at the parking lot yesterday and you didn't!" He roared.

Oh!

I sighed. "Henry, I-"

"I had to wait for close to an hour for you! And then I called your cell phone severally and texted you multiple times and you weren't replying to any and hours later you tell me you were caught up In something."

I felt really bad about it.

"Listen, Henry I'm-"

"Do you even have any idea how worried I was when you weren't answering your goddamn phone or replying to my texts? No. You didn't!"

"I ca-" I paused and looked straight at him. "You were worried?" Something inside of me felt stupidly happy when I heard those words.

He seemed to just realized what he said. "You know what? Forget it." He said and resumed his race.

He was worried.

Henry Ashcroft was worried about me.

He was worried.

I stopped smiling and began to run as well, trying to meet up with him again.

"Henry!" I called out. "Henry! Henry, wait!"

He didn't answer and sped up and I tried, I really did but I started seeing jocks pass me and I knew I was slowing down. I was tired. How many laps did I run, already?

Finally, it was over. I couldn't thank God enough for saving us. I actually thought I'd pass out at some point, most of the boys had taken a shower and gone. Henry was no where to be found, I had been searching around for him but I only saw mortals. Everyone started to leave, some took their bath while some didn't and left with the smell of a stunk.

So you know, our school doesn't only have a football team. There's hockey, there's dodgeball, there's the soccer team too but no one really recognizes those, you know why? Cause the panthers exists and they're the baddest and greatest of them all and even when you see the panthers and the soccer team jocks together, you won't be able to tell and just assume they are all in the football team cause they are more popular and have the hottest boys and bullies in Eastwood.

"Hey, You ready?" Jax asked as I changed my shirt.

I nodded. "Yeah, I am. I uh..." I looked around and couldn't find him still. "You know what? How about you go ahead without me, I um..I'll catch up with you guys later."

His brows knitted. "Are you sure?"

I nodded.

"Alright, we'll wait at the same place, okay?"

I gave him a smile. "Yeah, bye."

He nodded and walked away.

I waited in the locker room for some time, he had to come in here soon. I looked around the locker room, you would think the jocks from different teams were neat, not all of them. Definitely not all of them. I assume the underwear I just saw hanging on a locker belonged to one of the jocks who didn't take a shower, I cringed once I saw it and quickly walked past it.

Our locker room is really huge, it's pretty nice and I never come in here most of the times cause...why do I need to? As much as I'd love to stay around and watch them undress while I rate who has the biggest dick and hottest body, they're all jerks...well most of them and they're annoying and I don't think there are skinny people like me that goes in there. They either stick with art or music and stuff like Jaxton who only comes in here at times like this after the boys of Eastwood go through this kind of punishment.

At that moment i saw one of Henry's friends from the football team, I don't know if he's his friend but he was one I had seen him talk to. I called him (not by his name, obviously. Since I didn't even know what his name was or cared.) I walked to him quickly. "Um, sorry but have you seen Henry around?"

"Uh...he's still running extra laps."

I frowned. "What? Why?"

"Coach gave him extra laps, he was seen talking to a certain somebody for over a minute and has to run an extra ten laps."

My eyes widen. "T-Ten? W-What? I thought coach said five laps? Why ten?"

"Did you forget the certain someone he was talking to was you?" His brows rose. "Well coach asked to call you back so you'd both run your five laps since you both paused for a little while, but he decided to run the whole ten considering the fact that you are sick."

My brows knitted in confusion.

Sick? I'm not- ooooh.

I coughed. "Yeah I um...got a little fever and...cold." I coughed again.

"Get it treated, bro. Gotta go."

I smiled at him and nodded. "Yeah, bye." Cough.

He walked out the door and I stopped my act. Shit. Henry ran my laps for me? He ran twenty laps? My eyes widen. He had to be lying. There's no way Henry's still running after all these time. I ran to the field as fast as my legs could carry me.

Once I got there, I saw him still running the laps, coach wasn't watching to keep tabs on him but he kept running, he was sweating like crazy and I knew he was tired already. I felt bad. If I knew coach wanted me to run extra five miles I would have done it, I made him run extra miles. This is definitely my fault, if I had just waited till after the whole race thing.

I bit my bottom lip as I watched him, praying he wouldn't fall or something and he didn't. He was tried, he looked it. I decided to wait for him in the locker room since I couldn't watch him anymore considering the fact that something inside of me didn't like it.

I waited at a far corner in the locker room, sitting on a bench, I had gotten a bottle of water for him and hoped he'd take it. It wasn't long before the door opened and I stiffened where I was, the door closed and I heard heavy breathing, like...really heavy tired ones. I was nervous at this moment, like really nervous and then have no idea why I would. I let out a silent sigh of courage and made my way towards him, I opened my mouth to say something but just seeing him against the locker, resting his head on it as he kept breathing hard made my heart arch a little, okay maybe more than a little. I felt sad for him, I couldn't even move and I didn't know what to say anymore.

I approached him silently, staring at his back. I patted his back, he turned sharply and once he saw me, he scowled.

I offered him the water.

He looked at it and turned back to his locker, he opened it and took out a towel. I patted his back again and he didn't answer me, he was ignoring me but I didn't care. I kept patting his back, I wouldn't stop. I was like some naive child asking for candy right or asking to be noticed.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT??" He snapped and turned to me, his eyes filled with rage for me that it hurt a little.

I showed him the bottle of water again. "Here."

"I'm not thirsty." He said and slammed the locker shut and began walking, I followed him.

He stopped walking, he exhaled deeply, he looked frustrated once he turned.

"Will you stop fucking following me?"

I shook my head and thrust my hand out again with the bottle of water.

"Leave me alone." He was about to go when I spoke.

"Why did you run my laps for me? I could have done it myself."

He scoffed and turned. "That how your mom taught you to say thank you?"

I would get offended on a normal day but something wasn't normal about today. I just shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not." I thrust my hand the more with the bottle of water in it but he didn't take it and kept walking towards the shower, I followed.

"Stop! Fucking! Following me!" He yelled angrily, he looked like he was ready to strangle me. He was really mad at me.

I looked at him with an expressionless face even when all I felt was sadness.

"Leave me alone! I don't want to see you right now." He said and resumed walking.

"I'm sorry."

He scoffed.

"I'm sorry." I said again, looking right at his back since he didn't turn and just stopped walking. "I'm sorry I made you wait at the parking lot for me for an hour. I'm sorry I didn't answer your calls, I would have if I heard it ring. I'm sorry I didn't call back. I'm sorry I didn't reply to your texts. I'm sorry I made you worry. I'm sorry for being selfish and not even thinking about you yesterday. I'm sorry that you had to run extra ten laps because of me. I'm sorry." I said the last part softly, something inside me was eating me up.

Dylan Dexwell would never apologize to anyone this way, but I felt it was the right thing to do now. I don't why I was apologizing this way but here I was doing it.

The fact that Henry was trying to push me away again hurt more than it did the first time and I guess its because we are on good terms now, I don't know. I can't explain exactly what I'm feeling right now but I don't want him getting mad at me since it was obviously my fault.

"I am really. Really sorry." I could also hear and feel the sincerity in my voice.

Who the fuck am I now?

He didn't move or say anything and it was silent in here, we were the only ones here and the silence was starting to get to me. He had to forgive me, he had to know that I was being sincere.

He continued walking and went towards his left where the showers were, my brows knitted. What? I followed fast, he had to answer me. "Henry!" I couldn't find him in this line and kept walking trying to catch up or wonder where he went. I yelped once a hand pulled me into one of the showers, it came on and it started pouring on me.

I tried to open my eyes and felt hands around my waist which startled me. I looked up and those pair of green eyes were staring right at me.

Speechless again.

I swallowed.

"Henry, I a-already took a-" should I even be complaining?

He wasn't saying anything and just stared at me, a smirk appeared on his face slowly.

"S-Say something."

My heart's gonna beat out of my chest, I don't like this position I'm in. Okay I do, I mean hands against his chest, his hands around my waist. Of course I do.

"I am really trying to hate you." He said.

I blinked twice. "How's that coming along?"

"You're making it hard."

"Good then. Look, I really am-"

"I think you've apologized enough, don't you think?" He chuckled and I swear some lightening bolt went through my body, I think he felt the spark in my body cause at that moment his smile slowly dropped.

"So....I just-" I couldn't finish my sentence because Henry's lips were on mine and my mind went totally blank.

I pulled away, but was still close enough to clearly see all the beautiful features on his face.

"Henry-"

"I'm sorry," he spoke quickly. "I uh...I wasn't thinking."

We should have move away, right? But we didn't, he didn't move and I didn't move. He always got me paralyzed, always seemed to at moments like this. We didn't even say a word to each other and just stared like two main characters in an intense movie. What could we even say to each other? Despite the short kiss, it felt like we had been making out for hours since we were both breathing heavily. There were barely four inches between us right now.

Then three inches.

Two inches.

One.

Zero.

I felt hot, the kiss started out slow and there was something I felt in my tummy, the kiss didn't feel wrong at all. It felt right. It was mutual. Undenying. Perfect. He deepened the kiss and pulled me closer, he took off his shirt and I thanked the spirits since I could feel his bare chest and I started feeling really hot even with the shower on. I wanted him badly. The kiss became needy, wanting. The fact that I hadn't had sex for a while was really getting to me, has it really been that long? I didn't care where we were, I wanted to warn him and tell him to stop since we were in the school premises. I wanted him to stop because I felt he had this power over me but I didn't even do any of them, I kept kissing him. He bit my lower lip hard and I knew I'd be bleeding already but he licked it up and that sent a fire over me. It was starting to get hard, I could feel it twitch on my jeans. I guess little me did like Henry. He pulled me up and my legs wrapped themselves around him while my hands cupped his cheeks. He moved forward and soon my back slammed against the wall, I didn't want to. I really tried to keep it in but I couldn't and moaned in between his lips. He smirked and now he knew I really was enjoying this, I was hungry for him and he was hungry for me to. Wasn't he supposed to be straight?

His mouth found its way to my neck like it always did, he licked, sucked and then bit. His rhythm. I dived my fingers into his back once I felt his teeth on my neck. Talk about humans that acted like vampires. It drove me really crazy once he kept sucking and biting that spot, a moan escaped my lips again. It wasn't supposed to but it did.

My heart was racing and I didn't mind, feeling his body against mine felt like it was the best thing that could ever happen. What were these feelings?

And then I heard something and he did too.

He quickly let go off me and I rapidly jumped off him, my hands were still against his chest as we both looked ahead, standing still and holding our breath.

"You heard that right?" I asked in a whisper.

"Shh." He said as he just looked ahead. "Hello?" He called out, we waited. No answer. "Zach?"

It couldn't be Zach. He was with Jon and Jaxton.

"Bruce? Guys?" Henry called again but no answer. "I guess its nothing."

It didn't sound like nothing.

"But-"

"Something probably fell."

I nodded. "Yeah." I replied even though I wasn't convinced. "I um," I cleared my throat. "I should um.... I should go."

"Yeah!" He cleared his throat as well. "I'll um..see you later?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'll uh, come over later." I said as I walked backwards.

"Sure. Yeah."

I nodded.

This is damn awkward. Shit.

"Water." I said and placed it on a bench. "Bye." I said and scurried out of the locker room with my backpack.

My clothes were wet and I knew I was gonna get stares but I didn't care, I just had a big smile on my face as I walked out of the almost empty school.

I didn't care about my wet outfit and made my way to the coffee with a smile, a lot of people were staring at me but I didn't give a flying fuck. I walked into the coffee shop and looked around for the agent of shield. Okay that name was starting to stick in my head and I don't like it.

I found them all at a table, I waved at them and they all looked at me in awe as I made my way towards them and sat at the empty chair beside Jax and Zach.

"What happened to you?" Zach laughed.

"Who did that to you?" Jax asked in a more concerned tone.

"Give me a name and I'll help you get his legs broken. Was it Johnathan?" Jon asked with all seriousness.

I chuckled. "Guys, chill. Nothing happened. I just got wet by mistake." I smiled.

They all exchanged looks.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Jon asked.

"Like what?"

"That." Jax said.

I didn't know I was still smiling, I stopped and cleared my throat. "Sorry. Um, okay so new update. Raven wants to know the people who are helping her and yes she knows some people are, someone let that slip out."

"Gee, I wonder who." Zach said and rolled his eyes.

"As I was saying before Mr. Smartass interrupted me." I looked away from him and at my boys. "I feel she shouldn't know that you both are trying to help." I pointed at Jon and Zach. "She doesn't like the two of you if it answers your question. I just think after this then she can finally accept you." I smiled at Jon and looked at Zach with a straight face. "And you can go back to you normal life." Even hough I know you're hiding something from me.

"Crazy." He muttered.

"What y'all should know is, we should be careful and alarmed right now."

"Why?" Jon asked.

"Cause Johnathan is up to something, something bad."

They all looked confused and so I explained yesterday's event to them, starting from the texts but didn't mention Henry being among and about his phrase.

"Who do you think the titans are?" Zach asked curiously.

I shrugged. "I wish I knew." I sighed. "The fact that he said 'the storm is coming' is enough to get me worried. Like, really worried."

"What if he's just trying to scare you?" Jax asked.

I chuckled. "That's not something he would do." I shook my head. "When he says that word, he means it. That's like his evil signature or phrase, something like that."

Jon sighed. "How about the Raven plan?"

I nodded. "About that," I smiled at him. "It's your turn to take a step."

"What do I have to do?"

"It's actually quite simple." I said with a smile. Jon's left brow slowly rose as he stared at me, waiting for me to spill the plan that he didn't think was as simple as I said.

****

I walked into the Ashcroft's house with a smile after Zoila opened the door for me, giving me a smile I'd label as creepy.

"Um, where's Henry?"

"Upstairs." She replied, still smiling.

"Uh...okay. I'll go...meet up with him." I had gone home to change my clothes and texted Henry earlier that I was on my way to his house. Apparently when I got home, Jax pulled me aside and asked me about the hickey on my neck that Henry seemed to have left. He demanded answers but I gave him none, I wasn't gonna start telling the Henry story today. We were gonna finish this today and submit tomorrow, finally. I feel like we're the last set of people to finish this.

"Mmhmm, keep your pants on." She giggled.

I didn't know the reaction to give so I just fake smiled in an obvious way and made my way up the stairs and towards his room. I didn't knock and just walked in, he was laying on his bed and making use of laptop like he always did.

"Hey." I smiled as I played with my fingers.

He looked up and arched his brows at me. "Hey, you know they knock on doors, right?"

I shrugged. "I didn't think it mattered."

He huffed and went back to typing.

"Whatcha doing?"

"Studying."

I nodded. "Ah! So that's what they call watching porn now, hmm?"

He frowned and glanced at me. "What?" He chuckled.

I smiled and sat on that bed of his that I was in love with. "We have to finish this today. Gotta submit tomorrow and start preparing for our stupid exams next week." I sighed.

He let out a slight chuckle. "Yeah, I know. I was working on it for a while."

I moved to the edge of the bed and stayed beside him, pulling out my own laptop. "Without me? Wow. So much for partners."

"I was bored."

"Mmhmm." I rolled my eyes. Sitting close to him was doing a lot of things to me right now, it was something new. Had it been really there years since I actually had sex? Let me think.

I'm seventeen. It can't be three years cause then I was fourteen and I'm pretty sure I had sex during that era. Hm? I've only had sex like four times, twice with my neighbor who didn't move out even after an eternity of our breakup. So, technically it's been a year and....nine months. Why the fuck did it feel like three fucking years? What the fuck? Its been almost two years without sex and I added an additional one year because it felt like it was actually that long. I thought I celebrated Christmas two times while being a virgin once again?

"Down to earth, Mario." Henry snapped his fingers in front of me.

"Sorry."

He didn't reply.

"So, let's just...start our..." I cleared my throat and soon we began to work. I wasn't concentrating, I was feeling a little awkward and when you and someone go through something hot like what almost happened few hours ago at the locker room.

Oh. My. God.

Two boys have a hot make out section at the locker room.

A new pornhub title.

I grinned.

I have never done that before, in a locker room. Not even caring about being caught or about anything, just going with the flow.

I looked at him.

What are you doing to me Ashcroft.

I would never let a guy kiss me without my permission or just hold me like I'm his when I'm not, as if I'm his possession without getting slapped into unconsciousness but here I was. I was letting Henry do all those stuffs to me and I wasn't complaining, because I actually liked it. I liked everything he was doing to me. It's crazy I know but I do and I hate that I'm admitting it. He's an arrogant, annoying jock who only thinks of himself so why do I let him kiss me?

"Stop staring at me, it's creepy." Henry said as he typed.

I blinked. "Sorry." Stop apologizing. Goddamn it. "Um, I just...we need to talk."

He frowned as he kept on doing his research. "About?"

"What happened today, I uh think we need to talk about th-"

"Look," he finally looked away from his laptop and at me. "I understand. You don't need to explain anything, I am not mad anymore and you don't need to apologize." He shrugged and kept typing.

I frowned.

Apologize?

Does he think I'm talking about the laps and the whole not picking his calls thing.

"Oh no, I'm not talking about those ones. I'm talking about....the other thing at the...l-locker room."

His brows knitted. "What are you talking about?"

"The...you know? The kiss."

He looked at me with a confused expression. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He shrugged. "What happened at the locker room? You gave me water and that was it? Right?"

Was he kidding? Is he just...he's gonna act like it never happened.

That hurt.

I swallowed after staring at him in awe for some while as he went back to what he was doing.

"Right." It came out as a whisper as I looked at my laptop and did my work.

I didn't know what I was supposed to feel but I was sad, I was hurt and something inside of my body felt like it cracked.

He just...said that like it never existed.

Wow.

***

We were finally done with our stupid project, it was past eight. I quickly packed my things into my backpack, I was pissed off. I was really mad and I know I shouldn't be but I was.

"Well, thank God it's over. I don't get to see your annoying ass no more." He said with a sigh.

He was probably expecting me to give a salty comeback like I always do and then we'll go for a long time but I didn't even pay attention to him as I zipped my backpack and threw it over my shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

I looked at him with a fixed smile. "Why do you care? You don't get to see my annoying ass and I guess this is where we say goodbye." I said, his brows knitted at my harsh tone. I ignored him as I put on my shoes and made my way out the door, I heard shuffling as I left but didn't care and went down the stairs.

"Hey, you wanna stay for dinner?" I heard him ask from the stairs while I landed.

"Not hungry!" I quickly replied as I walked past Zoila without even saying a word.

"Dylan," Mary called and I had to stop, I smiled at her. "You're not gonna stay for dinner? Just once?"

I shook my head. "I'm sorry but my mom would be expecting me now." I would never say no to Mary but today, I had to. "Maybe some other time."

"Would there be some other time?" Zoila asked.

I looked at her and then at Henry who was at the bottom of the stairs staring back at me, I looked back at her with a fake smile. "No." I shook my head. "Goodbye, take care." I said and made my way to the door, I opened it and there stood Daniel smiling.

"Oh hey, Dylan."

"Hi." It came out cold and uninterested as I made my way past him and just kept walking.

"Hey! Hey!" I heard Henry call but I didn't reply and then a hand grabbed my arm and twirled me. "Hey! What's wrong with you?"

I pulled my arm back. "Nothing, I'm fine. I just wanna be far away from you as possible cause I don't like you and you're annoying."

"You're kidding right?"

I chuckled. "No. No I'm not. Can we just go back to our old lives?"

He scoffed. "Are you seriously mad over something I said? I don't know what fantasy world you're living in, Dyl but nothing happened in that locker room. Not to me. You shouldn't make a big deal out of everything."

I laughed. "I shouldn't make a big deal out of it? In case you don't remember, WE FUCKING KISSED! MADE OUT! I have a fresh hickey on my neck that proves it." I pulled my shirt collar aside for him to see his mark. "And if you're just gonna end up saying nothing happened when we obviously have to talk about it, tell me what I'm supposed to do. I'm supposed to be furious with you!"

"There's nothing. To talk about. Nothing! You should just grow up, Dylan. Nothing. Happened. Do you understand me?" He glared.

I clenched my fists angrily. "Fine!" I said and quickly pulled out my ringing phone, not checking the caller ID I answered with a yell. "WHAT?"

"Wow, easy tiger."

"Who is this?"

"Isn't it too early to forget who this is?"

The male voice sounded familiar but I couldn't tell where I'd heard this.

"Look, if you're not gonna say who you are and tell me why you called then go fuck yourself!"

"Don't you even dare hangup. Do people really forget about those they've done bad too? I don't forget the people who have done that to me. I'll give you a clue," I could feel him smile. "In the football team, you got me kicked out of the team and suspended."

I frowned. "Eric?"

"Eric?" Henry asked from behind me. "What does he want? Why is he calling?"

I glared at him.

"Ah! I see you're with the great Henry."

"Why are you calling, Eric? How did you even get my number? Stalker much? You know after everything that has happened to you, I'd expect you to have a little sense by now but no...you can't."

He chuckled. "That exact tone." I rolled my eyes.

"What do you want?"

"Payback."

I huffed. "And here I thought you called for something better, you've been screaming payback since the nineties. I have important things to do, Eric. Don't call me ever." I was about to hang up when he spoke.

"If you dare hang up, I'll ruin your life. Anyways, I have a surprise for you. It's sending to your phone...annnnnnndddddd its sent. Check it. I'm sure you'll like my gift."

"It netter be worth my time." I said and pulled the phone away from my ear, I checked the new message and it was a photo.

A photo that made my legs weak and me go pale.

A photo of the locker room.

A photo of a certain someone and I.

Kissing.

The secret was no longer a secret.

I quickly put the phone back to my ear, my hands slightly shaking. "How did you get this?"

"Tell me, did you like it?"

"ANSWER MY FUCKING QUESTION!"

"Don't yell at me, Dylan. I don't like your tone. Now, put that phone on loudspeaker, i want Henry to hear it all."

I tried to steady my breathing and looked at him, he noticed how scared I looked and frowned.

"What?"

I put the phone on loudspeaker and showed him the photo, his eyes widen as he grabbed the phone and looked at it. The photo clearly showed us kissing. Our faces.

"No." He breathed.

"Oh hi, Henry.". Eric spoke.

"I will snap your neck!"

He laughed. "I know you can but then you won't. I will of course, answer Dylan's question." He was eating something, i could hear the sound of him chewing loudly. "You see, I was at the locker room today when I saw two boys making out. A certain white haired that I despise and the guy who kicked my ass. Who would have thought that the quarterback of the football team was a fag." He laughed.

Henry face was red, he looked panicked as he ran his hand through his hair. I quickly took my phone from him before he'd throw it on the ground with anger.

"Eric, y-you got it all wrong. We weren't-"

He laughed. "I know what I saw, Henry. I know what I saw and you can't tell me otherwise."

"You're sick." I spat.

"I'm perfectly alright, you both are the fags. Such disgusting beings that like dicks, why would men want to be fucked by the same sex? Isn't that just gross and dirty? It's filthy and I don't like gay people at all. The bible did condemn this."

I wanted to bash his head against the wall right now. "You have no right to judge. Who do you think you are? A sinner judging sinners for sinning differently? We are all sinners here, Eric. If the bible condemned this, that same bible condemned a lot of things that you do and so you're in no position to judge what I do."

He was silent for a while. "Tell me something, Dylan. Does your mom and dad know that you like dicks? That you're a fag?"

I didn't reply. He wouldn't!

"They don't, do they?" He laughed.

"You wouldn't." I muttered.

"As a matter of fact, I will." He snickered. I looked at Henry who was panicking,

"What do you want?"

"The exams starts next week and you see, I wanna write them. I don't wanna do summer school and so you will bring me back to Eastwood high."

I frowned. "W-What? I-I don't have the power to, how am I supposed to do that?"

"You kicked me out, you and Henry both. You had me suspended and kicked out of the team and so you will bring me back Dylan. Or else, the whole school will find out about this. Your parents would be the first I'd tell and then, Henry?" He chuckled. "I'll make you pay for every punch you gave me, you'll receive a thousand back. The whole school will know that the mysterious hot quarterback and the dark angel are both fags and love to make out."

I couldn't afford my parents finding out, they'd hate me. I can't have my parents not talk to me. My mom. I felt pain. I couldn't let them know that their only son didn't like women. I didn't care about the school knowing but if they did then my parents would and they'd face humiliation cause of me.

"Eric, please. Don't do this." My voice came out lower than I expected, seeing I was at the edge of crying.

"Oh no, he's begging. He's actually begging." He laughed. "Wow. Wow. Wow. Who would have thought. You have till Sunday, Dylan. If I don't get a call to come to school on Monday for the exams, I'll come personally to your home to show them the photos. Your countdown begins. May you and your lover to figure this out. Goodnight, boys."

"Eric, wai-". He hanged up.

I let out heavy breaths as I looked at Henry who had a hand on his hip and one in his hair as he paced around.

"I guess the locker room secret ain't no secret no more."

"This." He made his way towards me angrily. "This is all your fault!!"

My brows knitted. "My fault?"

"IF YOU HAD JUST LET ME BE AND LEFT, THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED!" He yelled angrily, he sounded like an angry lion.

"Oh, excuse me for trying to be nice and do I need to remind you that I wasn't the one who dragged you into the showers? You did. You pulled me in and started kissing me and giving me hickeys! You did! I'm not the one here who keeps lying to himself that he's straight when he keeps kissing me at every chance he gets."

"Enough!"

"No! You do not get to blame me for your own stupidity. It's not my fault! I didn't bring Eric there. You don't get to blame me, Henry. I will not let you!"

"I am straight!"

"If you're straight then why do you always kiss me?"

"Jesus!"

"What kind of fucking straight person kisses a boy for months?? Pulling him in corners to kiss him! By all means, tell me!"

"IT DOESN'T FUCKING MATTER! YOU ARE A FAG! YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO SPREAD YOUR DISEASE TO ME AND NOW YOU'VE GOT ME IN THIS MESS AND SOON THE WHOLE SCHOOL WILL KNOW! THE ENTIRE SCHOOL WILL THINK THAT I'M A FAG LIKE YOU BUT MIND YOU," he pointed at me, his forehead had veins to show how angry he was. "I'M NOT A FAG LIKE YOU! NEVER WAS AND NEVER WILL BE! I LIKE GIRLS! NEVER LIKED YOU. YOU WERE JUST A FUCKING EXPERIMENT ALL THESE TIME! What'd you think? That I was gay? That you had a chance?" He scoffed. I wanted him to stop. "I want you to stay the fuck away from me! I'm not a fag like you! I DON'T LIKE BOYS! YOU ARE A DISGRACE AND A DISEASE AND NOT WORTH ANY OF MY TIME! SO FUCKING FIX THIS!" He roared.

Every word he said hurt, I stood still, I was thunderstruck. I didn't know what to say, I couldn't believe he was saying those words. Every time he called me a fag, it felt like I was being stabbed. What he said hurt. A lot. His words had cut through me like a knife and left me defenseless. I just stared at him, breathing hard as I tried to hold it back down, I couldn't and soon the tears fell. I was crying in front of him. His face seemed to softened once he saw those tears that I quickly wiped away to not show any weakness but it was too late. He saw. I couldn't stop looking at him, I felt like my heart had been ripped out.

"Dy-"

I slapped him.

"I d-don't like that word." I tried to keep my voice steady but it failed. He didn't look at me for some seconds as he just looked at the direction his face had gone after the slap, when he looked back at me I was trying so hard not to cry. My eyes were shaking a little as they tried to fight the tears back in but it fell, I wiped them off again and turned. With my back facing him, they all fell again.

Why did it hurt so much that these words came from him?

I felt like I was choking.

I was a fucking experiment to him. Of course I was. What did I expect.

I said nothing to him and just walked away. I Just walked home.

I was tired of crying throughout my walk home, I wiped off my tears completely and opened the door. Once I closed it behind me, I was gonna go straight to my room once i heard some noises in the living room but wasn't as fast as mom as she rushed to me.

"Hey, you're back. Finally."

I turned to her and fake smiled. "Hey."

She frowned. "Are you okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah, just um...watched a stupid sad movie at Henry's." I chuckled. "I uh..I'm gonna go take a shower." I said and was about to go up when she held my hand.

"Well wait, there's someone here you have to meet."

"Mom, can it be some other time. I'm really tired right now. Please."

"Not even if it's your grandma Athena?"

I looked away from mom and towards my left where the voice came from. Grandma Athena stood there with a smile and a gown, her white gorgeous hair was let down. She never seemed to get older. She always looked like she was drinking some kinda elixir to keep her from getting old. Jaxton and Dad stood behind her with a smile. I smiled, I was excited that she was here and right now she was the only light after everything today.

"Grandma!" I ran towards her and hugged her tight, she had to keep her balance and with a little laugh wrapped her arms around me.

"Look at my baby, all grown up." She smiled and kissed my head before stroking my hair.

"Don't I get a hug?" Another familiar voice asked, I looked beside her and there stood the man I loved, my grandfather. In his hat and his style of fashion of always having to tuck-in his shirt in his office pants every time. I chuckled and went to him, hugging him.

"Oh kiddo. Look at you." He chuckled and ruffled my hair making me grin.

"I didn't know you were gonna come too, I mean...I also didn't know you both were coming today." I said as I hugged him.

"You've really grown." He said.

You should just grow up, Dylan

Henry's words came back into my head.

"I've really missed you both." I said with a smile as I pulled away.

"We have too. Heard about your new sibling coming and we decided to come over and also see you in the process," she smiled. "And I met your friend too, Jaxton. He's a really nice kid."

I chuckled. "He can be annoying but brothers are." I smiled.

She grinned and at that moment I needed to hug her again, her smile was always comforting and so I did.

"I want yo to stay the fuck away from me! I'm not a fag like you! I DON'T LIKE BOYS! YOU'RE A DISGRACE AND A DISEASE AND NOT WORTH ANY OF MY TIME! SO FUCKING FIX THIS! "

I couldn't control myself. I couldn't hold back the tears no more and so I ended up crying on her shoulders, in front of everyone.

"Oh," she muttered.

Every happy chatter died down and my sob was the only thing that could be heard, I held onto my grandma tighter as I weeped.

"Dylan, what's wrong?" Grandma Athena asked as she patted my back.

"Dylan?" Mom called softly. "Are you okay?"

I nodded but couldn't stop crying. My Grandma was the only one I couldn't hide my emotions from, I love my mother but I lived with my grandma for a long time and she understood every part of me and helped me be who I am.

Another hand was placed on my back and I didn't open my eyes to see who it was.

"Baby, you okay?" Mom asked again.

I nodded but I wasn't okay, I was more than hurt. Everything was falling apart. Everything. I couldn't handle it all by myself, all I felt was pain.

It was all too much.

Getting Raven justice.

Jaxton's mother.

Eric.

Johnathan.

Henry.

My parents.

I was worried about them, what would they think of me? All the love would be gone, I didn't want that.

I felt all choked up.

I felt weak and defenseless all over again.

****
THIRD PERSON POV

Eric got out of his car, a victorious smile on his face as he shut his car door and walked into the luxurious fashion house in front of him. It's building was black but the lights told the story of how luxurious the fashion house was. The man at the door spotted the smiling teenager and opens the door quickly before he could get to the door, giving a slight bow.

Eric pauses at the door and pulls out his wallet from his back pocket, he takes out a hundred dollar bill and hands it to the man. The doorman looks at Eric, bewildered.

"Here, take it." Eric demanded.

The doorman and slowly takes the money and bows again, expressing his gratitude.

Eric sighs heavily. "I'm in a good mood tonight." He says as he walks in. The store was huge on the inside with lots of fashion clothes hanged and arranged in a classy manner. There were two chandeliers hanging on the ceiling and the store glittered.

A brunette sales girl walks up to him, dressed in their uniform. A green coloured skirt, a green coloured jacket and a white inner shirt.

"Hello, welcome to Castle and Castle, how may I be of help?" She smiles warmly at him.

Eric gives her an irritated look. "Are you new here?"

Another blonde sales girl swiftly rushes to the brunette sales girl's side. "Mr. Phillips, apologies, she's new. Please come with me." She smiles at him.

Eric scoffs at the brunette, confused girl and follows the blonde sales girl to the entrance of the vip changing room.

"They are waiting for you." She says and waits till he walks in before leaving.

The vip changing room is a big space with two brown leather couches. There are about four mirrors in the room and a bucket of champagne, ice and glasses on the table in the centre of the room.

Sitting on one of the couches is Johnathan, and on his lap is Quinn. He has his hands around her butt as they intensely make out.

"Ugh, someone's here." Eric said, grimacing in disgust.

Quinn stops the make out session and looks at Eric with a smile. "It was about time you showed up." She says and gets off Johnathan.

Quinn is dressed in a brown leather mini skirt and a sleeveless black fitted crop-top.

Johnathan picks up the unfinished glass of champagne on the table with a smile as Eric sits on the other couch. "So? How did it go?" Johnathan inquired.

Eric grinned widely. "Just like you predicted. They panicked and I just know they are going to have a fight about this and then they'll be weak."

Johnathan chuckled. "It is painful to me that Dylan has gotten this weak, but it is what it is."

"Those faggots will never see me coming." Eric laughed.

Johnathan looks at Eric without raising his head, the smile gone. "Be careful of the words you choose to use around me, Eric." His brows flew up. "You don't want to be on my bad books."

Eric laughs. "Oh come on, it was a joke, besides that fucking dickwad, Dylan has ruined my fucking life and-"

"Careful now." Johnathan interjected. "Remember what I said about the words you use."!

Eric's smile slowly fades.

Quinn sighs, rolling her eyes. "Guys," she pauses as she lights a cigarette. "I need you both to chill before you start your power dynamics weighing shit. You can do that when I am gone." She blows the smoke out.

"Why do you like us meeting here? Not that I have a problem with it." Quinn curiously asks Johnathan.

Johnathan shrugs. "It reminds me of where it all began. The name that is." He smiles. "Castle and castle. Castle high."

"Your school with Dylan." Quinn pointed out.

Johnathan nods.

"And how do you get this place rented out for us to use?" Eric questioned.

Johnathan sighs, crossing his legs as he relaxes on the couch. "When you have money, you use it to get power, Eric. You have money, but you use it for the wrong things. You both have money, so use it for the right things. Like, gaining power, making your marks, taking your spot. Not beer pongs with teenagers looking for food." Johnathan scoffs.

"It's okay to use money to get dogs, like you did with Bruce. Keep that one around, he'll come in handy. He's loyal, isn't he?" Johnathan inquired.

Eric hesitates, but smiles. "Like a dog."

"Good."

"How did you know what would work well with Dylan?" Eric asks.

"If you want to break Dylan, you need to start from the people around him."

Quinn frowns softly. "Whatever you two wanna do, go ahead, but don't drag it out. And do not touch a hair off that boy." She warns.

"Or what?" Eric scoffs.

"I don't make a lot of noise, I just put my money where my mouth is." Quinn replies.

Eric chuckles. "I thought you didn't like Dylan?"

"It's not Dylan I hate, it's his fucking crew. That bitch and the other bitch. Dylan can do so much better without those two losers who fuck him up"

"And why do you care about him?" Johnathan asks.

Quinn takes a second before replying. "Because he is the only one who ever looked at me like a human being." She said with all seriousness.

Quinn sighs afterwards, forcing a smile. "Everybody sees me as something else. Blonde, a whore, daddy's girl, all that shit, which well they are not wrong." She chuckles softly.

"But Dylan? It's almost like he can see me more than any person can." She frowns softly. "He sees me like a human being, it don't mean he won't come at me, but it's different."

Eric snorted. "Well, I've seen you...naked."

The boys both laugh.

Quinn fake laughs. "And I have also seem you naked, it's nothing to write home about when you are built like that and have zero stamina, and you couldn't even keep your dick up."

Johnathan instantly bursts out laughing, while Eric looked embarrassed.

"I had drugs in my fucking system."

"Paracetamol isn't drugs, Eric, but okay, whatever you say." She winks, getting the last laugh.

"She got you good." Johnathan grinned.

"Anyways," Quinn turns to Johnathan. "What's the next move?"

Eric looks at Johnathan the mastermind for an answer.

Johnathan smirks. "Eric has done the first part, so now? Now we wait."