"I think we're trying too hard." Renjun sighed and leaned against his faded blue locker.

"I don't think so, I think it's just too big." Chenle shrugged.

"Mm, I don't think so."

"Mm, I'm the one that has to deal with it most so I think so." Chenle argued.

"Jaemin and Jeno wouldn't think so."

"Those two don't count! They're just crazy and gay."

"I think that sums up most of our friends. Anyway, should we try again tonight?"

"Not tonight, I'm going to Jisung's."

"Oh come on! You missed the last three study sessions to go to Jisung's."

"I'm tired Junnie leave me alone!"

"Whatever," Renjun scoffed, "when do you think we should tell them about it?"

"I'm not sure if we should yet? I mean we're not even sure about it."

"What do you mean we're not sure? We've already started it! I thought we talked about this."

"Well excuse me for being nervous Jun! This whole thing is actually really important to me, you know?"

"Of course I know Lele," Renjun sighed and wrapped a comforting arm around Chenle's shoulders, "We're in this together, remember?"

Jaemin's eyes were squinting so hard it was a surprise he could see at all. He was standing down the hall from the pair, holding Jeno's hand as he waited for him to get his stuff out of his locker.

"They're definitely hiding something, those little rats." Jaemin mumbled as he peered holes into the two boy's heads.

"Who?" Jeno asked as he shut his locker and turned around.

"Chenle and Junnie. Those two are up to something and keeping it from us."

"Is this another one of your gut feelings?" Jeno asked with a roll of his eyes.

Jaemin slapped Jeno's peck with the back of his hand. "Shut up! When have my gut feelings ever been wrong?"

"I have a list, babe."

"Fight me," Jaemin huffed and stuck his tongue out at his boyfriend. "Lets go sniff them out."

Jaemin pulled a very unwanting Jeno behind him, practically dragging his reluctant ass.

"Hey boys!" Jaemin smiled and waved.

Chenle and Renjun instantly stopped chatting about whatever and went silent, nodding awkward hellos.

Oh, they were soo hiding something.
Jaemin was totally going to figure this out.

They began chatting as they usually did in the mornings. When Jisung arrived Chenle and Jaemin got hype with him over some boy group comeback, jumping around like idiots.

"Where's Hyuck by the way?" Jisung asked, peaking around the halls.

"Yeah it's weird, he usually gets here before you." Renjun added, but shrugged.

In all honesty he was still a little shaken with the phone call he got from Donghyuck yesterday. The boy was mumbling and sounded incredibly panicked. He was saying a bunch about a Mark and everything, which was even weirder.
Renjun didn't know a Mark.

He only grew more concerned when the call suddenly cut.

Oh well, surely Donghyuck would show up later and explain everything.
Right?

First period was just ending.
No Hyuck.

Renjun swore to god if Donghyuck died and he was the last one to hear from him he'd throw himself off a bridge. He'd revive Hyuck and then kill him for doing that to him.

Mr. Boo kept rambling on about stuff Renjun was most certainly not interested in. Tenfold when he was staring at his best friend's empty desk like he'd magically appear if he hoped hard enough.

When school was over Renjun didn't even wait for Chenle, sure the boy would bail on him for Jisung anyway. They would talk about that later.

Donghyuck's house stood as it always had, sitting on the same lot on the same nameless street. The cracks in the fading white door that dearly needed to be replaced stood out even more as Renjun peered over it from across the street.

He willed his slender legs to carry him across the street and up to the door.

One knock, two knock, three knock-

Silence, pause.

One knock, two knock-

Renjun's rhythm was interrupted by Jaehyun swinging the door open, almost running Renjun over.

"Oh, hey Junnie! What's up?"

"Jaehyun, you're still here?"

"Good to see you too."

"Sorry, is Donghyuck here?"

"Who?"

"What?"

"What?"

Renjun furrowed his brows at Jaehyun, who looked just as confused back at him.

"Jaehyun-"

"Jaehyunnie!" Renjun was interrupted by someone yelling over him. He spun on his heel to see fluffy blonde hair.

Not Mark, sadly, as he had first thought. This boy was absolutely gorgeous though. Good lord the more Renjun looked at him the more he realized how much he must have been sculpted by gods.

He hadn't realized his jaw was hanging open until Jaehyun started laughing at him.

"Hey, did you manage to get the bananas?" Jaehyun asked as said boy scurried past Renjun.

"No." The beauty grumbled and pushed back Jaehyun to head upstairs.

"He's scared of bananas." Jaehyun sighed as he turned back to Renjun.

"Great? Don't really care. Who is that?"

"Oh you know, someone." Jaehyun hummed vaguely.

Renjun squinted at Jaehyun, his mouth flattened into a line, but he didn't push. If Jaehyun didn't want to say anything then Renjun probably didn't want to know anyway.

"By the way, what are you here for Junnie?" Renjun opened his mouth to say something, but it instantly shut again as he became confused. What did he come here for?

"I can't remember," Renjun mumbled slowly.

"Weird kid," Jaehyun chuckled and ruffled Renjun's hair. "Come back if you remember."

Jaehyun watched Renjun walk away confused and dazed with a smile on his face. The second Renjun was down the street Jaehyun's face dropped, his eyes growing serious. He shut the door slowly and locked it before making his way up the stairs.

"Tae?" Jaehyun called down the hall.

Donghyuck buried his nose further into the casing of his pillows. They were surprisingly plain compared to the rest of his bedding and room in general.

He wasn't sure how long he had been lying there, a few hours, a few days? From the sound of Renjun's voice he could tell he at least missed a full day of school. That was definitely going on his squeaky record.

Jaehyun's footsteps stopped outside his bedroom, he could tell. "I'm sorry Hyuck."

"No, thanks Hyunnie." His voice was unbelievably soft, but he could tell Jaehyun had heard him when he let out a soft sigh and continued down towards his room.

It must have been a little while later, because the sky had exploded into spilled oranges and jellyfish purples. He felt the tenderness of arms wrapping around his waist, warmth in the form of smells washing over him from behind.

"Why did you leave?" His voice was so quiet even he didn't hear it, almost certain it was only in his head. Somehow though, Mark heard his nearly unsaid words.

"I'm sorry," He hummed lowly, the vibrations of his words making Donghyuck's ears ring and travel down his spine.

Maybe Mark really was in his head, hearing his every thought and word before it slipped his lips. That was a scary concept.

Maybe Mark was always in his head.

"Don't leave." Donghyuck whispered, and Mark's arms tightened around him.

"Can you turn around, please?" Mark asked softly. His hold on Donghyuck loosened, his front disconnecting from Donghyuck's back so said boy could face him.

Donghyuck reluctantly shuffled around, peeking just his face out of the covers and looking up at Mark. Mark smiled filled with giddiness, wrapping his arms back around Donghyuck and letting their legs intertwine.

Donghyuck let his fingertips trace the crack now lining the side of Mark's face. He kept doing so until Mark shivered, placing his hand upon Donghyuck's.

"I really owe Jaehyun big time."

"We really owe him big time."

"What would I do without that big loser?" Donghyuck sighed.

"What would I do without you, you little loser." Mark chuckled, earning himself a slap on the chest.

"You'll come back tomorrow, right?"

"I need some time to recover, but I promise I'll be back as soon as I'm well. I'll still snuggle with you every night."

"Ew, who said they wanted that?" Donghyuck's nose scrunched up.

"Your rapidly beating heart said so." Mark whispered, and Donghyuck was sure said heart was palpitating at unsafe levels. Mark's breath against his ear didn't help in the slightest.

"Shut up and go to sleep." Donghyuck groaned and shut his eyes tight.

"But I wanna talk to you." Mark whined and Donghyuck began to fake snore.

After a few minutes of silence Donghyuck whispered, "just hold me,"

and so Mark did.

***

Your comments make me so happy you don't even know :') AND THANK YOU FOR 2K BOIS! I'm so unbelievably glad that people enjoy what I write.

Also might I point out that this story is nowhere near finished so buckle up! I hope you stay with us through this journey <3