Farren woke up in a tangle of limbs and sheets. The memories from last night came flooding back to him, as he looked at Kaden's sleeping form cuddled up next to him.

He couldn't stop grinning at the memories, both of his and Kaden's date and their own personal.. after-party.

But all good things must come to an end, and it was with a groan that Farren realised it was Kaden's alarm that had woken them, and that they had school in half an hour.

Monday. Meaning that they had approximately twelve days left until the championship game. Twelve days left as roommates.

Farren didn't know what would happen or them after these two weeks, but one thing was for certain: he would not be giving up their relationship.

Sneaking around was never really his thing, but at times like this, did he have much other choice?

A voice at the back of his head told him that he did in fact have another choice, to come out publicly as Kaden's boyfriend.

But yet again, he pushed that voice aside. Saving those thoughts for a time he would be ready to think them.

Speaking of coming out, he decided that he should probably let Grace and Jenny know as soon as possible. He would swing by today to get everything out in the open.

But obviously they would be cool with it. They weren't exactly homophobic, what with they themselves being gay and all.

"Hey Kaden you need to get up." Farren spoke quietly, shaking Kaden softly.

Kaden groaned in reply, pulling the deep purple covers around himself and digging his face into the pillow further.

"Seriously Kade, we have school." He said louder this time, smiling at how cute Kaden looked, all pouts and whinges.

Kaden made no effort to move, and a mischievous smile made it's way into Farren's face.

"Fine, have it your way." Farren said in a singsong voice, grabbing the glass of water from the bedside table and tipping its contents over an unsuspecting Kaden.

Kaden let out a yelp as he leaped up from the bed, his expression turning murderous when he turned to face Farren.

They stared at each other for a minute, until Kaden broke the silence. "I'm going to fucking kill you." He growled, his hair plastered to his face and drops of water running down his bare chest.

Farren barely had time to comprehend what was happening when Kaden lurched at him, tackling him to the floor.

Kaden rubbed his wet hair all over Farren's face and Farren made the mistake of opening his mouth, preceding to choke on a mouthful of Kaden's blond hair.

Kaden pulled back with small laugh, still lying on top of Farren. He leaned down, connecting their lips in a slow, deep kiss. Their tongues clashed together and Farren was in a daze at the feeling of Kaden's warm lips against his own.

"Time to get ready for school!" Kaden said brightly, pulling back from Farren as if nothing had happened, leaving Farren in a daze.

He snapped out a minute later, cursing Kaden and his kissing skills under his breath.

***

"It can't be that bad Farren, just spit it out." Jenny said, looking at him with concern. Grace mirrored her look, and Farren felt stupid for worrying them.

He was currently sat opposite Grace and Jenny at the kitchen table, an untouched bowl of pasta going cold on the plate before him.

He was stupid for being so nervous, of course they wouldn't care. But he couldn't help his stomach from clenching slightly as he finally spoke.

"It's about Kaden."

"Is everything okay with you two?" Grace asked with concern, and Farren almost chuckled. If only she knew. Then again, she was about to.

"Everything's good. Really good actually. Thing is guys," Farren took a deep breath, looking up at the two women who raised him before continuing.

"Thing is, Kaden's my boyfriend."

"Your boyfriend? Seriously?" Jenny asked in surprise. She clearly wasn't expecting him to say that.

"Yup." He said, letting out a shaky breath.

He looked between the two of them, waiting on further reaction. The silence was broken by Grace a couple of seconds later.

"Get out of my house." Grace ordered, pointing towards the door. And Farren, in his state of shock, didn't notice her trying to suppress a smile

"What?" He asked in shock.

"You heard her. Get out." Sneered Jenny, catching on.

Farren looked between the two of them in bewilderment, not totally sure of what was going on.

"No nephew of mine will be gay." Grace said with a hardened expression on her face.

Farren looked at the two of them in confusion and disbelief, barely managing to speak.

"But.. but." He said, unable to speak. He was however, cut across by Grace and Jenny letting out a loud spurt of laughter.

"Oh Farren dear, so gullible." Grace said, tears of laughter looking in her eyes.

Jenny was in a similar state of humour, clutching onto her wife's hand, her face contorted with a laugh. "Really Farren? You think we of all people would have a problem with you being gay?" She said when she managed to calm down, slinging an arm around Grace's shoulders to illustrate her point.

Farren rolled his eyes, his face red with embarrassment at his own stupidity. "You guys are the worst." He grumbled, shaking his head slightly.

"Whatever." Grace replied, sticking out her tongue childishly.

Farren rolled his eyes in reply. "But for real though. What do you think. Of me and Kaden?"

"Well I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised." Graves said after a moment of consideration. "But I'm happy for you two, as long as your happy." She finished with a warm smile, which Farren reciprocated.

"Thanks you guys, really." Farren said, silently thanking them for everything they had done for him, not just for being supportive of him and Kaden.

They seemed to get what he was saying as Jenny squeezed his arm in understanding.

"So, are you gay? Or bisexual? Or something else?" Grace asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

"I don't really know, to be honest." Farren admitted, shrugging in reply. "I guess bi, but I'm not really into the whole labelling thing. I like who I like, that's all that matters really."

"Good for you, doing what you want." Grace said proudly, and Jenny nodded in agreement.

"And what about your friends?" Jenny asked. "Do they know?"

"Jesse does. And Kaden's friend Luke. That's it really," Farren answered.

"So you're not a public couple." Grace stated, and Farren nodded in confirmation.

"Will you ever be?"

Farren stayed silent for a moment, looking down at his hands. "I think so, eventually." He said quietly, not too sure of the answer himself.

"Afraid of negative reactions?" Jenny guessed accurately.

"I guess you could say that," Farren answered.

"And what about Kaden?" Grace asked, cocking her head to the side curiously.

"What about him?" Farren asked.

"Is he out of the closet?" She clarified.

"Yup. Openly gay as of last week." Farren confirmed, nodding his head as he spoke.

"And how's that working out for him?" Jenny asked.

"Good. Really good, actually." Farren said, smiling at the memory of Kaden excitedly telling him that everyone was really cool with it.

"And your still worried about what people will say about you, even with all the love Kaden's getting after coming out of the closet." Grace asked, but it came out as more of a statement than a question.

Farren thought about that for a minute. She did have a point. "I get what your saying, but it's different for Kaden. Even though people are treating him good, it's still different for him. Everyone's talking about how shocking it is that 'football captain Kaden Rivers' is gay. He doesn't care about the attention, but I don't want it."

"I get it Farren, you don't want people to know you as your sexual orientation," Jenny said understandingly.

"Exactly," Farren said. "I don't want me being bisexual or whatever the first thing people think of when they hear my name. I just want to be Farren Milton, not 'Farren Milton the gay quarterback'."

"I understand how you feel honey," Grace said sympathetically. "But if you think that what you and Kaden have is long term, you're going to have to come out eventually."

"I know, and I really like him. I'm serious about Kaden, I've never felt like this about anyone else." Farren said, admitting for the first time to himself that his feelings for Kaden ran deep.

"Well, you don't have to publicly come out as bi. When you're ready, just come out as Kaden Rivers' boyfriend. If straight people don't have to come out, why should you?" Jenny said, and Farren saw the logic in what she was saying.

"But don't put it off for too long, for Kaden's sake. Luckily, you're in an environment that it's safe for you to come out. But I guarantee you that it's hard for him being your 'secret,' and eventually sneaking around might become too much for him. You need to think of yourself first, but you also need to think of Kaden." Grace added, and Farren knew she had a point.

Farren nodded, agreeing with what she said. Kaden wasn't going to stay in the shadows forever, and sooner or later he would get sick of having to hide their relationship.

"You should be proud, dear. Think of all the scared closeted kids in your school, think of what that would do for them. Seeing two popular boys like yourselves in love, without hatred or judgement," Grace said with a smile.

Farren nodded once again, before fully registering what Grace had said. Love? Did she think he was in love with Kaden?

"Love?" He managed to sputter out, earning him a grin from both Grace and Jenny.

"How haven't you realised it already? Farren, I've never seen you in love with anyone before, but I'll be damned if Kaden isn't the first."

Farren was too shocked to reply, head turning between the two of them as he attempted to find the words to deny it.

But he couldn't.

He couldn't deny it, because it was true. Maybe he was only realising now, or maybe he had known deep down but was scared to let his mind even think it.

He was in love with Kaden, and the realisation made him both want to scream with happiness and vomit with nervousness. Because he was scared. Scared of being hurt, scared of his feelings not being reciprocated.

Scared of having his heart broken. Because it was out of his hands now. He had given Kaden Rivers his heart, and there was nothing he could do to get it back.

XXXXX

OH MY GOD, 3k reads??!! What ?!!!!? Thank you all so fcking much omg!!

Another chapter done, nearing the end guys! No Kaden in this chapter, but next chapter is all him!

Vote and comment if you enjoyed pleaseee :)

Qotc: Have you seen the trailer for the upcoming LGBT movie 'Call Me By Your Name' ?

Aotc: Saw a clip months ago, back when there wasn't even a proper trailer. Preceded to become obsessed, reading the book and watching the official trailer a couple of times every day since it came out in August haha!! (I even have it downloaded so I can watch it when I don't have internet) It's out this week and I am COUNTING down the minutes oh my god!!!

Love you all, and thanks again for 3k!!

Xx

-A