"I want to stay in the room. You can go." Caleb plopped down on the bed with his legs and arms crossed. He looked so much like the old Caleb that Dyson almost called him pretty boy like he used to but he stopped himself. It was much too soon for that.

"We did that all day yesterday. It's time to go at least for a bit. Plus, we have a place to be in 30 minutes." Dyson said with a quick glance at his phone.

"I don't want to." Caleb shook his head like a stubborn child. Dyson knew that he was just scared but Dyson also knew that they needed to make their appointment.

"Caleb, I have ways of making you do things." Dyson cocked an eyebrow at him and Caleb almost, almost cracked a smile.

Caleb, I have ways of making you do things." Dyson cocked an eyebrow and Caleb blushed but still kept the costume tightly behind his back.

"I've grown up with Ruth as a sister; I know how to get my way. I'm not wearing something with that much glitter." Caleb smiled from ear to ear as he backed up and bumped into the wall. "Shit."

Caleb peered up at Dyson through his hair that was in his eyes. "Don't you dare," Caleb squinted his eyes.

"But, don't I?" Dyson wiggled his eyebrows and stepped slowly towards Caleb. He made sure to not go any faster than a glacier afraid that if he moved too quickly that Caleb would bolt. Dyson leisurely put one hand on the wall to the left of Caleb's head and then his right hand went to Caleb's side and he pinched lightly.

Caleb squealed and shifted trying to getaway. "Stop it! Dyson!" Caleb yelped when Dyson continued to tickle his side. Then as if realizing that it wasn't exactly normal guy friend behavior they both froze. Dyson didn't back up though and Caleb didn't push him away. They just stared into each other's eyes as if hoping their eyes could tell everything that they were feeling; hoping that the other one would admit the truth first.

"Caleb, we need to go." Dyson grabbed Caleb's hand and pulled him up.

Caleb shook his head forcing the memory away. "I told you I don't want to go."

"And I told you that you have to. Now get up or I'll carry you." Dyson smirked.

"We both know you would drop me." Caleb smiled back. Maybe it was the shadow of emotions from that memory, but Caleb felt like smiling and going out or the sort of high he had been feeling since telling Adrian about the kiss.

"Says the clumsiest person the world has ever known," Dyson rolled his eyes.

"Where are we going?" Caleb asked as he got up and pulled on his shoes.

"It's a surprise," Dyson said and moved to put his hand at Caleb's back out of the old habit that he thought he had lost. He wasn't hurt, much, when Caleb stepped out of reach. He at least didn't yell at him or vomit which was progress.

"As long as it's nothing crazy, I'm in." Caleb smiled again and for the first time in months, Dyson saw happiness reach Caleb's eyes. It made him want to shout for joy and at the same time cry. Finally, Caleb was allowing himself to feel again.

"You're beautiful," Dyson whispered with the reverence that was usually reserved for only the holiest of places.

Caleb blushed then frowned when he looked down at his arms. When he looked up with sorrow filled eyes Dyson still saw the beauty because he was at least letting himself feel and sadness came hand in hand with joy. Caleb had taught him that. If Caleb could admit that he was broken he could be fixed.

"We both know that's not true." Caleb finally said and opened the door.

"No, Caleb, I actually know that it is one of the truest things I've ever said," Dyson said to the empty room because he knew Caleb wasn't ready to hear that. It would probably hurt him more than help. Caleb wasn't in the position to believe in compliments, but soon he would be. Or at least Dyson would get him used to hearing them again. It had always been a big part of their friendship.

"Caleb, the elevator is this way." Dyson chuckled as he saw Caleb walking to the right instead of left.

Caleb looked between them. "Right, I wanted to take the stairs. You know, get my heart rate up."

"The stairs are down the hall, that way." Dyson pointed to the hallway between them that went straight ahead.

"Well," Caleb smiled. "Fuck."

"Glad to see some things never change." Dyson chuckled.

"Yeah, you're still a smartass." Caleb shook his head and joined Dyson by the elevator.

Dyson laughed. "I seem to remember you liked that part of me."

And as easy as that, the humor was gone and they were back to two broken individuals. Would they ever get past this or would they have to continue walking on eggshells for the rest of their lives?

"Caleb, we need to hurry." Dyson made sure to not touch him as he moved his hand behind Caleb to usher him to the car. They hopped in and Dyson followed the directions from his phone. Caleb watched people rushing around, laughing, talking, eating, and looking all around happy. He wanted to be one of them.

"Dys," Caleb said and Dyson missed everything else he said. It was the first time Caleb had called him that since that night and he hadn't realized how much he needed it. It was just half of his name and yet, it was so much more.

"If you don't want to that's fine," Caleb said as Dyson tried to figure out what he had said.

Of course, Dyson didn't want to go wander around the city. Dyson probably wanted to go home. Hell, they needed to leave. It was Monday and they had already missed enough school, but for some reason, Caleb hated the idea of ever going back.

"Caleb, sorry, I zoned out. What did you want to do? I'm sure the answer is yes." Dyson smiled.

"I was thinking, well you know, um. No, it's fine." Caleb stuttered. Maybe Dyson was just being nice. Wait, Dyson would never do that. Dyson was rude if nothing else. He was never nice just to be nice and that was something Caleb had always liked about him.

"Caleb," Dyson cocked his eyebrow at him, the eyebrow with the piercing.

"Do you maybe want to go walk around the city after whatever we're doing?" Caleb asked him with a blush on his cheeks. "It's fine if you don't want to. We probably need to leave anyway."

"Caleb, stop. Of course, I'd love to. In fact, I insist that we do it. And don't worry about going back. We're staying at least until tomorrow. I've already made the arrangements. I would be happy staying here forever."

"Okay." Caleb smiled and looked back out the window.

"What else are friends for?" Dyson asked wishing that they weren't just that, but grateful to at least have that back, kind of.

"Hey, Dys?" Caleb looked at him then looked back out the window because his eyes started watering at just the thought of what he was going to say let alone if he looked at him.

"Yeah?"

"I don't think I've said this yet but, um," Caleb swallowed the lump in his throat and watched as two men walked hand in hand into a coffee shop. His jaw dropped open. Could they be like them?

"Caleb?" Dyson asked and saw the couple that Caleb was staring at. Dyson wondered if Caleb was disgusted or happy with what he saw. He couldn't tell except that Caleb was deep in thought from what he saw.

Dyson pulled back after kissing Caleb and the costume that he had been trying to get dropped to the ground but neither of them reacted. Dyson had just lost his mind and kissed him. That was definitely not something friends did. Was Caleb going to run away? Dyson finally took a step back so Caleb could leave but instead Caleb used his then free hands to cup Dyson's face. His lighter skin perfectly framed Dyson's darker skin.

"Can I?" Caleb searched Dyson's eyes for an answer and all he saw was the rich brown that reminded him of his favorite type of chocolate. Caleb took the silence as the only answer he needed.

Caleb stepped forward and kissed Dyson. It was a soft peck and almost a lazy kiss. It was their way of testing the waters. They both pulled back and then looked into each other's eyes before Dyson pushed Caleb against the wall and kissed him again, but this time harder and faster.

"You have reached your destination!" Dyson's phone chirped loudly making them both jump.

"Right." Dyson turned off the navigation and parked. "We can talk after this. Okay?"

"What are we doing here?" Caleb asked, looking up at the building.

"Do you trust me?" Dyson asked him almost afraid to hear the answer.

Caleb took a deep breath. Did he? After that night Dyson had pushed Caleb away, but Dyson was also the only reason Caleb was still alive. He had saved him that night and he was still saving him now.

"Yes." Caleb finally said with a sigh because it felt like a huge weight was lifted from his shoulders. He half expected to start floating.

Dyson didn't say anything he just let his heart race and he grabbed Caleb's hand. He didn't care if Caleb was uncomfortable with it. They both needed it. Dyson pushed the door open and lead Caleb to the desk.

"Welcome. Do you have an appointment?" A girl with blue and pink hair asked.

"Yes, with Bentley." Dyson offered.

"Awesome. What's your name?" She asked.

"Dyson and Caleb."

"Perfect. He's up there." She pointed upstairs.

"Are you getting another tattoo?" Caleb asked him confused.

"No. You are." Dyson tugged on his arm and pulled him up the stairs to the man the girl had pointed to.