M y l e s

I cannot believe I almost said that, what is wrong with me?

'I think I like—'

Had Cole's phone not gone off, I would have outed myself with no turning back. I'm such an idiot...he has a boyfriend for crying out loud!

'A boyfriend that doesn't seem to be around much...' the devil on my shoulder was quick to counter and I ignored it as I took Cole's clothes out of the dryer.

The warmth from them reminded me of just before he left, his hand reaching out to pat my head before leaving. He'd never done anything like that before and it honestly scared me a bit at first, the sudden affectionate touch throwing me all the way off my game.

His smile didn't help my poor heart at all. Cole's smiles were always genuine, he rarely did them at all so when he did, it always made me extremely flustered.

Cole was a man of few words but that somehow intrigued me all the more, especially since his actions seemed to speak volumes louder than his very few words.

What was I supposed to think after that?

Sighing, I folded the clothes before placing them on top of my dresser. Staring at the clothes, my thoughts wounded back to earlier when I was drying his phone and the screen lit up.

They looked...happy.

His boyfriend looked leagues better than me, how could I possibly even hope to compete with that?

Stupid, you shouldn't even be trying to vie for the affection of a taken man.

I don't even know what these feelings are. At first I thought it was just pure awe or admiration, I could remember in detail the first time we met and how I just kept thinking to myself how cool Cole looked.

I was starstruck.

Becoming friends was my only goal really, I never thought these kind of feelings for Cole would grow let alone at the rate they did. I honestly believed I was crazy because we've only known each other for a month at most, but when my heart begins to pound painfully whenever he's too close or even when he touches me in the slightest, it just makes me think otherwise.

What the hell am I doing?

~*~

C o l e

The next morning while Eros and I were getting ready, I had taken the clothes Myles lent me and put it in a bag, intent on returning the items to him since we had class together today.

"What's that?" Eros asked, hearing the rustling and I answered vaguely.

"Clothes" I said and Eros raised a brow.

"Are those the ones I bought you recently? Do they not fit? I'm sure I have all of your sizes memorized..." he muttered and I shook my head.

"No, last night I got caught in the rain. My friend lent me his clothes" I explained and when a frown formed on Eros face, I knew what he was thinking instantly.

"Burn them" Eros said immediately and I could only shake my head.

"I'm not burning his clothes" I said, holding back from letting my scolding tone slip. Eros seemed to always come up with the most insane ways to deal with the things he doesn't like so there are times when he needs to be told that it's a bad idea.

I don't think anyone has ever done that to him before, other than Mikhail but we know he doesn't really listen to that man lest he's being threatened.

"Well you certainly can't give it back. What if this friend of yours is some kind of weirdo?" Eros protested.

"Eros, you're being ridiculous. You don't even know him" I said and Eros countered back quickly.

"Do you?" he quipped.

"..."

I stayed silent because although I didn't want to give Eros leverage in this petty squabble, I knew he was right. A month isn't a long time to really know someone but it's not as if this is a life or death situation, it's just clothes.

"Here, I'll dispose of them for you" Eros said as he reached to grab the bag but I just pulled it away before he could.

"Eros" I warned and the man backed down but not before throwing out a last ditch effort.

"Then at least let me disinfect you" he said and at that, I backed away.

"I don't even want to think of what that means. I'm leaving" I said as I made a move to leave.

"Can't believe this is what I get for being a worried husband" Eros grumbled and I stopped in my tracks.

"You're still on that husband stuff?" I asked with a surprised tone and the ever serious Eros just nodded.

"Mhm. No take backs, the proposal was already done and you already have my last name" he said.

"If you say so" I said with a less than believing look on my face and Eros tilted his head.

"You can say it too you know? I already tell everyone we're married anyways" he said and I raised a brow.

"So you just go around lying?" I said and Eros chuckled a bit.

"It's not lying. It's true, I just don't have the ring to prove it" he said with a wave of his hand, the ring finger clearly empty.

"So you don't want to call me your husband?" Eros followed up.

"No, it's weird" I said and Eros gained an offended look.

"Weird? What's so weird about it?" He said and I shook my head, understanding that my words came out a bit wrong.

"No, that's not what I mean. It's just...weird to suddenly say something so intimate" I said and Eros looked at me as if I'd said something bizarre.

"You had no problems asking me to touch you, like, two years ago" he said and I turned away in hopes of hiding my embarrassment.

Why'd he have to bring that up?

"That's different and you know it" was all I could say and before Eros could trick me into further conversation, I grabbed my bag and the bag with Myles' clothes.

"I have to go" I said before making a b-line for the door.

As I left I could hear Eros' laughter which made my cheeks burn even more.

Telling Harvey to meet me out front, I waited a bit for my new 'classmate'. Harvey had expressed his regrets of agreeing and even though the whole deal of 'school in replacement of a girlfriend' thing is over, he still stuck by his word.

His exact words being 'I can't leave my best friend hanging'.

Dread filled my blood when seeing Harvey pull up on his motorcycle and I glared at the deathcycle.

"I know, I know. Jamie has the car today, so just deal with it for now please" Harvey said upon seeing the look on my face.

"Come on, Cole. I'd never drive recklessly with you in the back" he said.

"So you'd do it if I weren't?" I asked and Harvey gave me a 'yikes' look.

"Uh...no?" He said and flashed a shaky grin and I just sighed before begrudgingly getting on the back and putting the helmet on.

"Just get us to school" I said.

"You got it boss" Harvey said before kicking off and we were flying down the streets before I knew it.

I don't think I could trust anyone else as much as I did Harvey with getting me place to place, safely, on this death contraption. He's never given me reason to doubt him but I would always have that fear tucked away in the little corners of my heart.

I really hate vehicles.

Once we were on campus, Harvey parked the bike and I got off of it promptly. I didn't want to stay on it for a moment longer if I didn't have to.

"So what classes do we have today?" Harvey said as we walked, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and I just raised a brow.

"You're not gonna like them" I said and Harvey nodded.

"Cool, cool. Understandable" He said and I let out a smile. At least he tried to pretend that he's excited.

As we walked, a familiar figure came into my line of sight and I noticed it to be just the person I was looking for. At least I won't have to wait until class to give it to him.

Seeing us as well, Myles approached us as well.

"Who...?" Myles didn't have to finish his question, his face doing it for him as he looked between me and Harvey, or should I say Harvey's arm on my shoulders.

Nudging him a little, Harvey removed it with a confused look before looking back to Myles.

"My cousin. He just transferred here" I said simply and Harvey just nodded.

"Yup, his older cousin" Harvey said and I resisted the urge to shoot him a look.

"I...see. I'm Myles, nice to meet you" Myles said a shallow smile coming to his features before turning to me.

"Here" I said as I held out the bag of clothes he'd lent me.

"You could have gave them back when you came to get your clothes" Myles said, a surprised look on his face as he took the bag.

Shaking my head, I waved off his words.

"I figured it'd be best to give them back quickly" I said and I could feel the impending doom of Harvey's stare.

He was going to ask so many questions...

"Thanks, uh, I guess I'll see you in class later" he said and I nodded, waving him off as he turned on his heel and headed in the opposite direction.

It was a bit strange that he was gone so fast but I didn't put too much thought on it and just boiled it down to him having a class to get to.

"Clothes?" Harvey asked and I put a hand up.

"Please don't. Eros already chewed my ear off about it" I said and Harvey shrugged.

"I don't know man, be careful. You tend to forget that you're like, super hot" he said and I shook my head.

"It's fine" I said and Harvey thankfully let the topic drop.

As we made it to our first class, Jean was already sitting in our usual spot waiting for class to begin. Once spotting me, he waved but grew a curious look when seeing Harvey accompanying me.

"Who is this?" He asked.

"This is Harvey, we're cousins" I said.

"Older cousin" Harvey said as he fake coughed.

"Oh, that's so cool! We've never even heard of Cole's family. Are you guys close? How was he when he was a kid? I could just imagine he was the cutest little baby" Jean's questions were like rapid fire and to my surprise, Harvey answered them.

"Yeah, this guy used to follow me everywhere. He was like my little sidekick! Still is honestly. I'm so proud of the man he's becoming though, I've raised him well"

Oh brother...

The two continued to talk nonsense and I've only come to realize, that they're kinda similar people so it's no wonder they get along so well.

At the end of class, the two exchanged numbers and with that we were on our way to our next class and so on and so forth. As we continued throughout the day, Harvey's energy seemed to deplaning bit by bit with every class we sat through.

I was glad I managed to give Myles back the clothes earlier because for some reason, he didn't show up to class so I would have missed the opportunity.

When the last class finally ended, Harvey shifted a bit in his seat.

"I forgot how draining it is to actually learn" Harvey muttered against my shoulder.

He had fallen asleep on it and only woke up when I shook him a bit.

"Told you, you weren't gonna like them" I said and Harvey sighed.

"It's finally over though, right?" He asked and I nodded.

"Yes, we can go whenever you finish drooling on my shoulder" I said and Harvey sprung up.

"I wasn't drooling..." he said sourly and I chuckled at the pout on his face.

Once we left campus, Harvey dropped me off at the 'back up house' as Eros called it. I thanked him and headed inside, the only people occupying the space being Raul and Zach.

"Mr. Cole, welcome home" Zach said.

"I told you guys it's fine to drop the honorifics" I said but Zach just smiled, showing he had no intentions of doing so.

"It's good that you're finally here. Maybe you can find out what's bothering the boss" Raul said.

"Bothering him?" I asked.

"Yes, he came in about an hour ago seemingly very upset. We figured it'd be best if you spoke to him rather than us prying into his business" Zach said and I nodded.

"Thanks..." I trailed off before heading up the stairs to our room.

When walking into the room, I saw Eros sitting by the bed and approached him.

"Hey" I said to grab his attention and Eros looked to me.

"Hey..." he said and I frowned.

"What's wrong?" I asked as I sat next to him but Eros didn't make much movement.

"It's...nothing" he said.

"Eros, nothing is ever 'nothing'. Something is clearly bothering you" I said and Eros shook his head stubbornly.

"It's fine" he said and I stayed silent for a moment.

"It's something you can't even share with me?" I asked quietly and Eros kept his words curt, something that was so unlike him. At least when he was with me, it was.

"There's nothing to share" he said.

"Okay" was all I said before getting up and grabbing my school bag, something that made Eros turn his head to me.

"Cole, where are you going?" He asked.

"I'm leaving" I said.

"What? Wait" Eros said as he followed me to the door and I turned to him.

"You know good and well that I don't like liars. Don't tell me you're fine when it's obvious to anyone with decent vision that you're not" I said as I stared those azure eyes down with a grounded look.

Eros seemed surprised that I would even take it as far as to leaving but I was serious. I've had my fill of being lied to throughout my life and I certainly didn't need it from the last person I'd ever expect it from.

Eros is blunt and honest, those are his trademarks so the fact he's even willing to stare me in the face and say he's fine bothered me to no end.

Approaching him, I rested my head on his chest, looking directly at where his heart should be as I spoke.

"Talk to me. I'm supposed to be the one person you can tell your problems to, don't put me out of a job" I said and when I felt the light rumble in Eros' chest from his laughter, I knew I'd won him over.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be that way, I just...don't know what to do" Eros admitted and I waited for him to continue.

"Remember Silver's situation?" He said and I nodded.

"They've advanced. To other groups that is and this time, they've left what was basically a hit list of names" he explained before taking something from his pocket.

"I got one too" he finished.

It was quiet for a moment, my thoughts slowing down in order to process his words as I looked at the folded paper in his hand.

"Every person's name that was written on one of those lists, has died. I've been sitting here for the past hour thinking of how I can prevent it from happening again but when we don't have an inkling of who is out there, it makes it very difficult" Eros' words were striking through my heart like pins on a cushion. He sounded tired and defeated, two things that were very rare for him.

"Whose names are on that list?" I asked.

Eros shook his head at my question.

"I don't think I could bring myself to say it out loud. I'd rather not jinx it" he said and I nodded.

"So let's not wait around" I said and Eros pulled me to arms length to look at me.

"What?" He asked.

"You said they're actively seeking, so use me as bait" I said, despite knowing how bizarre it sounded it would honestly get us a step closer from wherever they are right now.

"No" Eros said and I was about to protest but Eros glared down at me as if saying 'not another word'.

"You wanted to leave this life, how can you offer to throw yourself back into it?" He asked.

"Well, when you think about it, I already am back in it with the whole Noel's family being after my head thing" I stated and Eros sighed.

"Let's think about this rationally. Do what we can with safety before doing something dangerous" Eros reasoned and I nodded.

"Fine"

I still think my idea was slightly better than waiting around for these guys to kill their next target but I figured it didn't hurt to sit tight for a moment. Hopefully we could figure this out soon before the next person dies...