A/N:
READ!!! Seriously actually read this please. It's important. Thank you.
so wp is being horrible again and has made chapter 26 private again bc they hate me. For no actual reason. Liek there is NO SEX in it whatsoever. Like it's basically a whole chapter of friendship and bonding and fluff so idk.

Anyway.The link is on my profile and you'll need to be following me to view it. Sorry folks. 

You are in no way obliged to continue to follow me after you've read it. If you want to unfollow me that is cool, I won't hold it against you. If you stay, that's awesome. I love you all for reading either way. (though, staying would be nice. Js.)
Okay, sorry. Proceed.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Casper was jolted from him half-asleep state the next morning to his phone blaring out the lyrics to Oopsie Daisy by freaking Chipmunk because his best friend was majorly pretentious and secretly worked as a hacker or something because she had somehow gotten onto his phone yet again and set a bloody personalised ring tone just because it had her name in it. Again.

He groaned into his pillow and let his arm fall onto the floor at the side of his bed and searched blindly for his stupid phone. He still hadn't found it when it rung out and he sighed into his pillow once again, slacking his whole body in defeat when the abomination that had the cheek to be called music started up again.

Casper gave a cry of frustration and got up from the sanctuary that was his mattresses and flung himself out of bed and snatched up his phone from the floor.

"Yes?" he hissed down the line.

"Well someone is grumpy this morning." Daisy answered defensively.

"Daisy it's," Casper pulled his phone back from his ear to check the time," almost eleven o'clock in the morning."

"And?"

"On a Saturday."

"Uh huh."

"After my birthday."

"Ugh, whatever."

It wasn't like him and his parents had gotten crazy, staying up to early hours in morning having a rave or playing an extreme game of Monopoly - God knows how they chucked that game out a day after Christmas after a night of betrayal and cries of anger over it. Casper arrived home the night before to even more balloons and signs everywhere.

When he closed the door he heard a clamber of feet and then his mother appeared in the hall with a wide smile. He had a phone call from his grandparents living in England to wish him his annual birthday wishes and tenderly pester him about his life before he could finally get rid of them with promises of phoning more often, which he fully intended to keep. The rest of the evening had been the usual quite, content birthday's he had every year, ending with him, his mum and his dad sitting in front of the TV, watching a movie of Casper choice, after a dinner of Casper's favourite foods and cake. It wasn't much but it was everything Casper wanted. He felt the most happiest when it was just them, it always had been that way.

Sure, he liked parties but he felt uncomfortable thinking about one as rowdy as the ones he went to in his own home plus his parents looked forward to family events like this. He didn't want to see the hurt look of his mother realising he was growing up, he saw it often enough. It was the one day he got to be her little boy again and he didn't mind in the slightest.

There was one part of the night however, when he realised both his parents knew he was hiding something. They kept bringing up that it was the age they had their first love and all that jazz. They kept giving him knowing looks and Casper was terrified. He pointedly stayed oblivious, hoping they got the message that he wasn't going to talk about it, not yet. Because it was then he realised it had to come out sooner or later. James and Casper were good now, so good. But there was always something at the back of their minds, like a daunting shadow hanging over them telling them it couldn't last long being all sunshine and rainbows. They had to face the music sooner or later if it was serious and going to last long.

And God did Casper want it to last forever.

He couldn't actually think that his parents would react positively to the news that he and James had been basically dating the whole time they knew him personally. Of course they knew that he had hated James before and had even asked why the sudden big change, Casper had shrugged it off as being more mature and they had left it but now it was all going to be I knew something was up with James' sudden, suspicious appearance in our house after or Casper Irwin Faye how dare you obviously use our house for your gay escapades with your ex-mortal enemy for life now turned lover, for shame.

Okay, so maybe Casper had to work on his imaginative scenarios but the point still stood; every one of them had turned out bad in the end.

There was the safe route though; a loophole. Casper had realised right before he went to bed: he didn't actually have to mention James at all. Casper could say he was swinging for the other team and nothing else.

And no, it totally wasn't cowardice... but even that was making his heart freeze over and beat rapidly at the same time. There was no way of predicting of how his parents were going to react. He liked to think they were civilised, unbiased people - well he at least thought they were. He hadn't heard anything homophobic spoken directly from them but he couldn't be sure.

He was just too damn scared.

"I'm coming over just now -" another small voice came in the background, whining," no go away Daryle, I'm on the phone. Go find Bethany to play with, shoo!" There was another high pitched whine and crackling of the phone being jostled and a squeal before Daisy came back."I'm going to kill my little brother. He's been having issues since Gabriel was born."

"How is Gabriel?" Daisy's mum had fallen into labour a month back and the baby had run into some problems and was kept in the hospital for some time before he was released and apparently was the healthiest little guy on the planet.

"He cries a lot and keeps not only my mum up but the whole house which makes Daryle cry and Bethany real cranky." Daisy answered but Casper could feel the happiness radiating through the phone. He hadn't seen Gabriel yet in person but Daisy always managed to bring him up and show them photos on him on her phone.

" Anyway... I called to say that I'm coming over so you better be ready, okay? Okay. Bye."

"Daisy no, I am not-" he tried to protest but she hung up and Casper collapsed back onto his pillow with a pained sigh and slung his arm over his eyes, his phone still clutched in his fist and he stayed there for a while before he kicked off his covers in defeat and made his way to the bathroom before Daisy got here and chopped off his balls for not even moving his arse when she told him too. Daisy may look defenceless and sweet but she held grudges like no other and her death glares could make Satan piss himself.

It wasn't like she woke him up or anything, he's been awake for a while now and had just been lazing about doing nothing and had planned to do so for the rest of the day, maybe not even move unless he needed to pee or couldn't ignore his hunger and went downstairs for food and then go back up again. His plans of doing nothing were ruined.

Casper got ready in jig time - well what he considered to be jig time, which really wasn't all that fast - not really making an effort and leaving his eyeliner off for once, some of it from the night before still ringed around them anyway that hadn't really left from the shower either. He knew that he'd gussy up for Logan's tonight instead, go all out but for now he was going for comfort than fabulous, which is why he also dressed in cotton grey shirt and the black skinny jeans that his auntie Trisha had sent over from Australia that were too big for him - or didn't cling onto his legs like a second skin for once.

Much like James, his mother was worried about his winter attire and the welfare of his health and so bought him a new jacket for his birthday along with many other things - his only jacket, really. He wore that too.

He texted James asking what he was doing that day, wondering if they could meet each other before he jogged downstairs to find Daisy already in his living room, drinking from one of his mother's finest pink tea cups that she only brought out for special guest - which they rarely even got at all.

"Took you long enough." She commented, her voice slightly higher and dripping with sweetness like honey.

"Honestly, Casper," his mother scolded softly from the other sofa with an identical cup."Daisy here, has been waiting for you, I thought you'd hurry it up a little."

"I don't mind at all. It just means I get to spend time with you, Mrs Faye." Daisy cocked her head and smiled warmly. Casper looked at her in disgust.

"Oh," his mother blushed."Call me Wendy."

The two females were suddenly surrounded by a warm, flowery atmosphere that just utterly confused Casper. It wasn't like they hadn't seen each other before, although Daisy was always feigning complete innocence and pleasantry that had parents fawning over her in seconds and Casper's mum had always

"Oh Casper," Daisy suddenly regarded him again, her smile just the same as it had been facing his mother but her eyes shining with micheif. Casper narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously."You're mum was just telling me the cutest stories," that didn't sound good, "about your first day of school and a certain Capri-su-"

Casper gasped, cutting her off."Mum!" he complained."I told you never to tell anyone about that."

His mother gave him an amused look and huffed."Oh why not, it's not doing any harm is it? I'm just sharing memories with your friend Daisy." The way she said friend was purposely emphasised but Casper missed it entirely.

"I don't mind, really." Daisy said, sipping her tea and fluttering her eyes innocently as she looked at him.

"You would, wouldn't you?" Casper mumbled. It was hard enough Casper and James keeping that utterly embarrassing story under wraps with Logan, who had also been there to witness it at the time. Logan had a surprisingly good memory for one failing most of his classes. But now Daisy knew and she was a manipulative little minx.

"What did you come over here for the first place?" he asked, making way to the coffee table and snatching up a tea biscuit from a tray of a variety of sorts. He hadn't even known there were biscuits in the house. He slumped onto the sofa beside his mum who was glaring at him, so he added for measure."Not that I am not absolutely ecstatic to see you, Dais." He gave a false smiled which Daisy returned instantly.

"I thought we'd go down to George's square for the day."

George's square around Christmas time, usually starting right after Halloween, was a Christmas fairground leading up to the anniversary of the birth of Jesus. Every year they brought in a skating rink, Santa's grotto, fairground swings, a carrousel, and many other attractions along with a stage where bands would occasionally perform. A huge Christmas tree stood in the middle, hovering over the ice rink bright and shining. There was even a nativity scene, purely made of glass, tucked into the corner surrounded by furs making it near impossible to find unless you were looking.

For the people of Glasgow it was almost compulsory to spend a night there for the ultimate Christmas experience. It was always crowded and filled with life and laughter. It was bright and happy, music tinkered endlessly and spiritually. Christmas was always in the air.

Before Casper could respond his mother jumped in with a squeal, clapping her hands together."That sounds like a great idea! You should both leave right now before it gets busy."

Casper whipped his head round at her incredulously before going to the clock that sat above a small table holding a vase of pink roses and the house phone. It read that it was only quarter to one.

Usually George's square came to life at night. It was when the lights surrounded the square and swept through the city and when the laughter, the giddy hoots and cheers were at their highest in the cold, bitter air that was blown with it from the warmth of the busy crowd and the hot food stands that cost an arm and a leg but still managed to be surrounded by eager mouths to feed. The rides themselves were even extortionate.

"That sounds great, Wendy," Daisy beamed at her and then she looked at Casper."We have to go to Logan's later anyway so we might as well go now."

"Logan's?" Casper's mother squeaked.

Casper cursed silently. "Yeah mum, we're all," he gestured to him and Daisy, "going up to Logan's for a movie night. Just the usual."

His mum made an unconvinced noise at the back of her throat, looking wary. She still didn't like Logan and was very wary around his name whenever it was mentioned. Of course, Daisy, sensing her discomfort, intervenes.

"I bought lots of stuff for tonight," she clapped excitedly."I can't wait. I even got that new movie, you know the one with Zac Efron?" She turned to Casper mother nodded as if she even knew who Zac Efron was, but to Casper's delight she seemed more at ease.

"You are a conniving little shit," Casper said as they walked down the drive, waving at Casper's mum at the door.

Daisy shrugged in a nonchalant way but Casper could see the smug smile tugging at her lips.

"Are we really going to George Square?" Casper asked, eyeing her in suspicion.

"Yeah, I've wanted to go for ages but Hedgehog hates ice skating, it freaks her out being even near it." She shook her head as if disappointed but there was a fond smile there as if her girlfriend's fears were cute in a way. Casper nodded, just now realising that Hedgehog had always opted out of going to George Square at Christmas time or even that time he, Darla, Logan and James had went two years back, before they met Daisy, at Braehead skating rink. He also remembered how James, being the dick he was before Casper miraculously developed feelings apart from hate and disgust, was actually good on the ice and had glided in circles around him to rile him up and they had ended up getting chucked of the ice when Casper tackled him.

Good times.

"I like the scarf," Daisy said, a teasing tone to her voice," it matches your eyes." She exaggerated the last part, as if latching onto some hidden joke that Casper wasn't aware of.

Casper rolled his eyes. "Cut the crap Dais, James told me you picked it out."

Daisy laughed," oh no. I helped him with the colour. No, James picked it out all by himself. In fact I didn't even pick the colour, I wanted the black one. Not that he listened to me when he saw the one currently around your neck, kept going on about how it was the same colour of your eyes, the cheese fest. All I did was basically accompanied him into town." She beamed at Casper, a spark in her light brown eyes that told him just how cuddly she found Casper and James 'relationship

Casper blushed at this. James could be so serious sometimes and full on that Casper didn't know whether to be incredibly embarrassed or grateful. It was funny in a way to find James was a complete romantic and Casper - although in the past had laughed at just how cheesy some of these guys were - found himself liking this side to James and, right now, he only brought out and would mostly only see. He had mentioned it before, James was selfish with Casper but then so was Casper. Finding these new feelings for James brought out a vulnerable possessiveness he hadn't known he had in the few traits he had. Maybe it was the situation at hand; the whole straight now gay thing and how Casper sometimes waited for James to realise that he was with a guy and run off with some chick, it still hadn't dispersed even with how intimate they were getting with each other that brought them closer and closer each time that before. It also didn't help his worries that James was particularly stunning to look at and almost too good for Casper.

No, it didn't help at all.

Even though he knew James was fond of him, maybe just as much as Casper was infatuated with him, he was still terrified, scared shitless of his feelings and fears that this was all going to shit. These feelings didn't follow him everywhere, sometimes just so whelmed with James and just being happy let him break away but it always seemed to creep up on him again, mostly when he was alone with his own thoughts.

He didn't know what he was without James. He had always just been there, filling the gaps, even when he didn't want him too. Sometimes he felt like he was clutching onto a lost cause of a relationship and he hated that he did. He hated that everything good between James - every touch, every secret smile and every kiss - was clouded in this swarm of Casper's doubts and petty insecurities that didn't seem to be going any time soon.

Thinking of James he took out his phone, looking for a reply from his text from this morning. There was nothing. Casper shrugged it off, he was probably still sleeping or hadn't looked at his phone yet.

For the early afternoon the town station was surprisingly busy, but then again it was a Saturday - the one free day from a long week meaning a town mostly full of teenagers eager to shop, or watch a movie. It was also heavily populated with the Bowl crowd too, all decked out in black, skinny jeans and some sort of Vans product. So it was more or less packed on the train, Casper was even stuck in a corner squashed up against Daisy who didn't appreciate it one bit.

She was oddly quiet the whole ride down and was uncharacteristically fidgeting, the way she did when she was trying her hardest not to blurt out with something, when she was hiding something. Especially so when she avoided Casper's eyes completely.

"Is everything all right?" he asked her when they arrived at the station, following the herd of people out of the platforms and out of the building. She whipped her head up at him, wide eyed and panicked.

"Yeah - no. I'm fine." She lied through her teeth and blushed a little. Casper pursed his lips but didn't press her, she obviously didn't want to talk about it and if anything it was probably something to do with Hedgehog again and he did not want to talk about that. Advice and girl talk was a no.

They emerged out of Queen Street station, already stuck in the hustle and bustle of the city centre and the people in it, the sound of George Square was already eminent, the sound of laughter and fairground rides and holiday songs along with the noise of the city; the traffic and the claps of millions of feet on the pavements. Even in the say time the Christmas lights that surrounded the square were on and just as bright.

"I want to go on the swings!" Daisy exclaimed as they approached, the lights dancing in her eyes as she walked transfixed at the first ride they could see. Casper felt the same excitement bubble inside of him as he watched the people that were on it, mostly children, squeal in delight high up in the air, their legs dangling.

After the swings they ran to the carrousel and then the tea cups after that. Casper felt freaking fantastic, like he was walking on air and the world was his oyster, he and Daisy hadn't stopped laughing and smiling.

They made their way to the food stalls, the smell of hamburgers and toffee apples was practically humming thick through the air and while it should of made Casper want to gag he took in a deep breath and was near drooling, his stomach rumbled and he made his way over to the hot dog stand. Daisy bought cotton candy as he waited and they both stood in front of the massive tree in the middle of the square, overlooking the rink full of amateur skaters and laughing whenever someone toppled over onto their butt when something caught Casper's eye.

"Is that Darla?" He said mostly to himself, turning his head round to see and then the other way. Sure enough it was, the provocative state and the millions of heads turned in her direction was of no doubt her. "Darla!" he called. Sure enough she turned, blue eyes scanned the around them. Casper waved his arms to catch her attention and when she saw him she smiled brightly and made her way over to them, her hips swaying sensually.

"Oh great." He heard Daisy mumble bitterly beside him.

"Fancy meeting you here," Darla grinned as she got near, she was wearing not nearly enough layers to keep her warm in autumn never mind mid-December but as usual Casper could see no signs that the cool, crisp air bothered her, not even one goose bump. Typical.

"What are you doing here?" Daisy said from beside Casper, her eyes narrowed.

"Obviously I tracked you using your GPS signal," she said breezily, waving her phone it the air. Casper and Daisy froze and looked at her before she burst out laughing. "I'm kidding! Geez, why so serious guys. As if I'd waste my time getting into all that electronic crap. There are much better things to do," she licked her lips, not even smudging her red lipstick and crossed her arms under her breasts strategically and out of habit to give her boobs that little more 'oomph'. "No but really I came here with Logan. Daniel came as well. They're about here somewhere." She gave a quick glance around her, waving her hand a little in gesture to the busy square."But I saw you guys and thought I'd come over and say hi." She smiled, as if this was a blessing she had bestowed upon Casper and Daniel. Casper was used to her high and mighty attitude and just gave her a side grin which she returned with a flick of her hair but Daisy just seethed silently.

"So you were ditched?" Daisy said blatantly, a cruel smile tugged at her lips. Casper rolled his eyes.

Darla smirked."Actually, I ditched them." She laughed." There was this guy who was just fucking delicious, really. We got off with each other behind Santa's grotto then it turned out he had a girlfriend, I stomped on his foot and she slapped him, all was well. I ended up getting her number in the end." She shrugged casually, looking at her nails.

Casper burst out laughing whereas Daisy just looked sort of disgusted.

"Oh look who it is!" Darla exclaimed suddenly, looking past them.

Logan and Daniel were walking towards them, both with apparent relief on their face.

"Darla! Where the hell did you go?" Logan asked, his brow furrowed."We've been looking all around for you. We couldn't even get a signal."

"I found Casper and Daisy, I was fine." Darla replied, thumbing both of them. Casper gave Darla a look, wondering why she was avoiding her sexual gallivanting. Darla was never one for holding back her activities.

"Yeah I can see that." He breathed out, checking her over before he turned to Casper and Daisy and smiled. "Alright guys?"

"Shouldn't you be at your house, Logan?" Daisy enquired. There was something heavily implied in her tone which totally got by Casper.

"S'fine." He waved at her. "James and Hedge have got it. Who wants to go Ice Skating?"

"Oh God yes, "Daniel said, looking behind him at the rink, "I thought we'd never get to it."

"Your fascination with dangerous sportly activities concerns me, Danny," Darla said, joking.

Daniel scoffed," skateboarding, snowboarding and ice skating are not that dangerous."

"Yeah," Logan agreed, putting his hands in his pocket, "football is much more dangerous."

The whole group rolled their eyes at him, not even asking him if he was serious or not as the answer was probably yes.

"I'm going to sit this one out guys," Darla said as they approached the tent where every bought a place and got their blades.

"Aw why?" Logan pouted.

"Do I look dressed for ice skating, Logan?" She gestured to herself; short skirt, thin tights, long boots, tight top and a thin jacket. Logan looked and almost lost himself before he even got past her chest.

"Do you ever look dressed, really?" Daisy said before she could stop herself. Darla narrowed her eyes at Daisy, who in turn looked pretty shocked at what she had blurted out, her small hands covering her mouth.

Darla opened her mouth to make a comeback when Casper jumped in, "You guys go ahead! I'll stay with Darla, meet you on the rink!" He waved them quickly and grabbed Darla by the shoulders to the side of the rink where all the non-skating family members went to watch their loved ones make a fool of themselves on the ice.

"I don't know how you can hang about with that two-faced cow."Darla said to him.

"To be fair Darla, you were always flirting with Hedge and then kissed her at that party."

"Ugh, it was a game, she overreacted! Plus, I can't help myself around Hedge sometimes. She's all woman. It's not like I'd actually go for her. I don't go after the taken, I'm not that cheap. It was just... a moment of weakness."

"Yeah, I know Darla."Casper reassured."Daisy just doesn't understand you like I do- like we do and you don't understand her like we do either. Doesn't matter though, because I love you both and that ain't going to change." Casper clutched at the railing and leaned back, smiling at Darla sincerely. Casper wasn't stupid enough to try and force Darla and Daisy together just for him. They had never gotten along and he was okay with that.

Darla pursed her lips at him, looking him up and down before letting out a sigh like she was giving up, looking away from him for a moment. Casper looked down to check his phone again. He frowned.

"What's up?" Asked Darla who and turned again.

"It's nothing." Casper said, still frowning only to look up at Darla giving an unimpressed face. "It's James. He hasn't replied from my text this morning, he always answers under an hour tops."

Darla's eyes flashed for a moment before leaning over the railing, her boobs popping over the side and causing one guy's eyes to bulge out of their sockets and bang right into another skater.

"I'm sure he'll get back to you soon."

"Yeah, sure." Casper couldn't help but be a little worried though.

Logan, Daniel and Daisy came on half an hour of waiting at the sides. Daniel raced off, swerving and gliding around everyone in the rink whereas Daisy couldn't even get on the ice properly without Logan's help. Together they both stared going around, Daisy stumbling and squealing every two seconds while clinging onto Logan who hand both her hands, guiding her while laughing, as were Darla and Casper.

They watched them for an hour until they were told to get off. Daniel had showed off his skills by twirling around (not too much, mind you, he wouldn't want to actually decapitate someone) and skating backwards without a sweat. Darla and Casper cheered from the side, even earning a big kiss on the cheek from Darla as he came over to them after a mock bow. Daisy and Logan had managed to fall together, luckily Daisy came on top of Logan - if it had been Logan Daisy would have surely been crushed. Daniel had skated one big circle around them, laughing hysterically before going off again. It had took them and two other skaters to get them back up again.

They all left after that in a good mood.

"Off to mine then." Logan clapped his hands together, rubbing them to get some heat. Casper looked at him and tried to protest that he had to get changed before going but was shot down by everyone around him saying he didn't have time.

Casper's mood was damped a little after that and James still wasn't answering him but he didn't dare to text him again. He wasn't some desperate chick looking for his attention and begging for it when he didn't get it. Fuck that. Fuck James. If he wasn't going to text him then neither was Casper.

"Seriously Logan," Casper said when they came to Logan's street looking at the dark house that held no sign of being remotely occupied never mind holding a party," are you sure you even told anyone that your having a party? There's no one here, or have I gone mad?"

"Just get in the house," he answered in an annoyed tone, as if Casper was the one acting weird.

Logan unlocked the door and stepped aside.

"You go in first," he told Casper, gesturing to the white door.

Casper gave him a weird look, then to the door and back again. Why did it matter who went first? And why him? It was Logan's house. Casper didn't want to be the first one to walk into a dark house that was way too big for his liking, only being really convenient for big parties and games of hide and seek.

When Logan, or any of his friends behind him, didn't move - Daisy was even slightly leaning into him, pushing him forward - Casper gave an over exaggerated sigh of frustration and mumbled under his breath and how freaking ridiculous his friends were and they were all crazy before hastily opening the door.

As soon as he entered he was enclosed into pure darkness and for a minute he froze, terrified. The house was big, he knew that but it seemed as if the surrounding darkness went on forever and he could swear he saw a glint of movement in the shadows.

"Uh... guys?" He turned to the comfort of his own friends. He did not like Logan's house dark and empty and certainly didn't like it when he was in it alone, even if his friends were just a few feet behind him.

Except they weren't.

Casper turned to find the door still ajar were he stepped in but his friends were gone.

Bastards, he thought, about to stomp right back outside and chase after them wherever they went when there was a noise of something dropping, echoing throughout the empty, lifeless building.

Casper's breath hitched."Guys?" he called, his voice shaking."I swear to God guys if that's you I will rip your intestines out one by one."

Something moved, shifting past him in a shadowy blur and Casper screamed, unable to hold it in, and then there was a blinding moment as the house was suddenly bathed in light and-

"SURPRISE!"

Oh my God. This chapter was the death of me I swear. I am so sorry it took so long. I'll be uploading the next chapter hopefully sometime tomorrow, just incase some of y'all were a little unsatisfied. But look! Friendship is beautiful, no?

there is now 1,800+ votes and 95,000+ reads on Gay Chicken!! I can't thank you all enough. I am honestly going to be so good and upload quicker, cross my heart.

Comments and votes are sooo appreciated. Mostly comments, I love to hear from you all. Thanks again, I love you all!