Bonnie's heart was racing as she found herself wrapped in Zack's embrace and kisses being trailed down her neck. Bonnie didn't necessarily hate it, but it was weird. Like kissing a best friend or somebody off-limits. They didn't kiss like this often, which Bonnie thought was definitely a good thing. The main reason they didn't was that Bonnie hated having people over at her house because it was uncomfortable for her moms, and Zack's mother was very strict when it came to her kid's relationships.

Zack captured Bonnie's lips in a slow and warm kiss and she didn't hesitate to kiss back. Of course, she was freaking out... She always felt a little guilty for leading Zack on the way she did. For not being interested in him or loving him the way he loved her. She had also always dreaded the day true intimacy approached. Zack and Bonnie had never talked about it... They always assumed it would happen when it happened or that Bonnie would bring it up when she was ready. She just hoped Zack wouldn't care that she wasn't ready... Not yet or maybe ever.

Bonnie pulled away and Zack froze for a moment as a look of discomfort washed over Bonnie.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah... Wanna just watch a movie?" Bonnie offered instead. The dark-haired boy just smiled and pulled away to go retrieve his collection of CDs. For the first time ever, his mother had trusted Bonnie and Zack enough to let them have the house to themselves. Bonnie was just relieved that Zack wasn't expecting much. He set down a stack of disks before climbing into bed next to Bonnie and flipping through them.

"The Corpse Bride is always a good option" Zack offered. Bonnie nodded and he quickly set up the movie before awkwardly laying beside Bonnie. He didn't even bother to put an arm over her shoulders due to how tense she was. "Look... About earlier... We don't have to any time soon. I honestly don't mind" Zack shrugged.

"Thanks..." Bonnie's shoulders relaxed slightly and a bright smile erupted onto Zack's face. He put an arm around her and pressed a quick kiss to the side of her head.

Bonnie's mind was preoccupied though. She couldn't stop replaying what Arcadia had told her about the mansion in her head... She knew Arcadia would be there now. Maybe she was dancing or playing a game of some sort. Maybe she was having fun and living her best life as someone free... Maybe she was with another girl and having the best night of her life. Bonnie couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy because she knew deep down, that that could never be her.

In the Burrows Mansion, the smell of weed was almost overwhelming. Scooter awkwardly glanced over at a group of people smoking just a few feet from them and quickly rushed away. Where was Arcadia? Or better yet, Zara? They had promised them that they'd be there and Scooter couldn't help feeling a little overwhelmed. They didn't know anyone well enough to start talking to them. And they just couldn't relax when everything was so loud...

Scooter swallowed the lump in their throat and debated just leaving. It was refreshing to be around other members of their community, sure. But the smells, the noise, and the number of people they didn't know were quickly becoming too much to bear. And that was when they spotted Bay...

They hesitantly made their way across the room knowing very well that they wouldn't be good at holding a conversation with him. But it was better than going home and being alone. They took a seat on an old desk next to where Bay was standing with a drink in his hand and gave him the shyest of smiles.

"Um... Hi," Scooter hummed. Bay glanced down at the freckled-faced teen and a bright smile reached his lips.

"Hey" Scooter twirled a rubber band around their rest to calm their nerves.

"So... I can't find Arcadia or Zara so is it alright if I just... I don't... You know..." Scooter let out a long groan and threw their head back against the wall. Bay couldn't help laughing a little at that. "I can't talk"

"Yeah, it's alright" Bay chuckled. "Arcadia always runs a little late and Zara probably had practice after school" Bay briefly explained. "She's a fun person... Not surprised you befriended her"

"We're neighbors so it just kinda happened" Scooter shrugged. "As for befriending Arcadia, that was an accident"

"I don't think anybody purposely befriends Arcadia" He chuckled.

"Yeah... I was over at Zara's a few days ago and I recognized one of your paintings" Scooter hesitated as they began to question if that was a weird thing to say. Was it normal to recognize somebody's art style? Maybe they could lie and say that Zara had told them it was from Bay. It seemed to be a little too late for that...

"You did?" Bay seemed somewhat impressed as he glanced down at Scooter with his eyebrows arched.

"Well... I guess... Kinda? At least I think it was yours? It kinda looked like your other paintings... I think?" Scooter mentally facepalmed and suddenly wished Arcadia was there to pinch them when they started rambling. It had worked fine last time.

"It was" Bay chuckled. He gave Scooter the smallest of smiled before moving away from the wall. Scooter's heart dropped as they thought Bay was about to leave them alone when the curly-haired boy turned to face them. "Are you coming?"

Scooter's face lit up and they practically leaped off of the desk and quickly followed Bay over to a cooler. Bay grabbed two cans of beer before offering one to Scooter who accepted. Scooter didn't drink often, but when they did they tried not to drink much... They were a bit of a lightweight and got way too confident. They had fuzzy memories of stripping for Andy and a few of their friends in the middle of the sidewalk because "fuck the patriarchy". It probably made more sense at the time...

"Where are we going?" Scooter hummed as they followed Bay down one of the long hallways. They reached an ancient staircase that must have been priceless in its time and Bay wasted no time heading up it.

"Somewhere quiet" Bay shrugged. Scooter nodded and rushed to keep up with him. Their eye was caught by every old painting, every dusty bookcase, every worn wooden door with a golden handle, and the designs in the red and gold carpeting. There was an old clock that was frozen at 3:18 hanging on the wall and the place never seemed to end.

"You own this?" Scooter asked in disbelief.

"Kind of... I'm one of six possible heirs to it" Bay shrugged. "My grandmother likes to pick favorites. She does this thing where if you piss her off, she takes your name off of the list for the mansion, and just to be petty, lists you to inherit the most inconvenient place possible" he chuckled. "My uncle is set to inherit her vacation home in Venezuela when he's banned from the country"

"Sounds like a wonderful woman" Scooter snorted.

"You have no idea" Bay chuckled before pushing open one of the rooms. It was a simple office of some sort. A large wooden desk with dust coating it. Two large bookshelves with books that had been left untouched for decades, maybe even centuries. The window was tinted green and the white curtains were left tattered by moths. The desk was still set up as if its owner would return to it at any minute. As if it had been left behind in a rush... Scooter couldn't even begin to comprehend the stories and history of the house. "Dr. Alexander from a university in France stayed in the room next door. I assume it was his office since the handwriting in his journal matches the handwriting in the notebook" Bay briefly explained.

"I love it" Scooter announced. "There's so much... Everywhere... It's just... Wow," Scooter found themself lost for words as they tried to picture each and every room with a story connected to it. Had Dr. Alexander left in a rush? Did he ever make it home to France? Maybe he had a wife or a husband waiting for him somewhere... The possibilities were endless. And the idea that Scooter may never know was simply thrilling.

"I know" Bay grinned. "I've read every journal or letter I could find in the mansion at least twice. And there are some rooms I can't get into, some drawers I can't open... The master bedroom has a safe that hasn't been opened since my great-grandmother was a kid"

Bay hummed before pulling open one of the drawers and pulling out a small thing of paint that looked too bright to belong in the room. Too new, too colorful... It was almost as out of place as Bay and Scooter looked. But Scooter knew deep down that they were in love with the mansion. Everything about it drew them in and a part of them never wanted to leave.

"Come here" Bay nodded to the desk and Scooter hesitantly headed over. They took a seat in an open space, being sure not to disturb the notebook and pen that was left mid-sentence. It felt wrong to disturb anything in the mansion... Almost as if they could somehow destroy or alter the past with just the nudge of a pen. As if they were invading a living and breathing man's private office.

"Is this where I say paint me like one of your French girls?" Scooter snorted and silently prayed Bay would get the reference. Relief washed over them as a smile broke out onto Bay's face and a small laugh escaped his lips.

"If you'd like" Bay hummed before pulling out a small wooden paintbrush from the drawer.

"Do you just keep paint everywhere?" Scooter chuckled.

"No" Bay couldn't resist a smile as he dipped the brush into a calming blue before bringing it to Scooter's cherry-colored cheek. "Dr. Alexander was my favorite resident to read about... There was a sort of tragedy to his story" Bay shrugged. "So I keep some of my paint in here to just mess around with on my hands or jeans in case I get bored of reading"

"Tell me the story" Scooter hummed. They needed a distraction. Bay was too close and the feeling of his fingers brushing their cheek, his deep and soothing voice, and his hot breath occasionally hitting their skin was driving Scooter's heart crazy. The stroke of the paint-covered brush on Scooter's cheek was icy cold yet somehow relieving. Scooter only hoped it would cool down their burning cheeks.

"Dr. Alexander was from France. He taught at a university and traveled to America to study Native American's medicine practices" Bay began. "He left behind his companion, Leonardo Dupont, behind since he only thought he'd be gone for a year or two before Leonardo would join him. He received a letter saying that Leonardo had fallen ill and rushed to get on the nearest ship so he could have a chance to say goodbye before it was too late. Dr. Alexander's ship went down in a storm and Leonardo died of the bubonic plague less than a month after"

"That's not tragic, that's devastating" Scooter groaned receiving a light chuckle from Bay.

"A lot of the letters and journals have some sort of tragedy in one way or another. But most of it is just mindless drama like when Madame Lyudmila was suspected of having an affair with the gardener" Bay laughed. Scooter couldn't resist a smile at that. So they two went back and forth, passing around stories and theories of the people in the past.

Of women in graceful dresses that passed around gossip and posed for some of the most elegant paintings that still hung in the mansion. Of men that smoked cigars and provided the money to build the small town of Asper Hollows in hopes that it would one day become great. Of course, behind closed doors, everything was completely different. Those women were the same women who ran off with their handmaid the moment they had the chance. Those men were the same men who kissed one another behind closed doors. Those people were the same people that held what would be considered an outrageous party.

At the end of it all, Bay pulled away with a smile as he admired his work before cleaning off his brushes and tucking them back into the drawer. He gripped Scooter's chin and for a moment, Scooter thought he was going to kiss them and their heart did a flutter. Instead, their face was turned slightly to the right so that Bay could better inspect his work. Bay smiled before pressing a cool kiss to Scooter's forehead and stepping back completely.

"What is it?" Scooter asked, trying to refrain from jumping around like a child. Bay looked around for a mirror he knew he'd never find before taking out his phone and taking a quick photo before handing it to Scooter. Their heart melted as they recognized the character from their favorite show growing up. Boober from Fraggle Rock... They couldn't believe Bay remembered. "I love it"

"I know" Bay hummed. "Come on, Arcadia should he back by now" Scooter's heart swelled as Bay's hands lightly gripped Scooter's waist, helping them off of the desk. And then it dropped when they realized that their time with Bay was over...

_________________________________________

Emrys stared at the wall of his bedroom, collapsing in on himself. He didn't want to believe Christian... But Arran had been so cold and awkward around him at school. Even when they were in the same friend group, Arran only spoke to Tj or Zack... Sometimes he even went off with Ryder and his friends. Emrys had wanted to break out screaming and crying like a toddler in a grocery store. He had wanted to wave his hands in Arran's face and beg him to just acknowledge him.

But he didn't... He just stood there frozen like an idiot. He had remained wrapped in his hoodie all day, hidden from the world. Everyone asked if Emrys was alright and he only lied and said he was hungover. What hurt most of all was that Arran didn't seem affected by any of it... They had spent nearly every day of their lives together since they were old enough to know what a best friend was... How could Arran move on so easily? How could he just shove Emrys aside and pretend he didn't exist?

Maybe if he had kept his mouth shut everything would be okay. If he just let Arran do Arran and suffer through the guilt. At least that way he'd still have him...

Little did Emrys know, that down the road Arran was losing it a bit more than him. That Arran had lost all signs of his usual cautious and reliant traits. That he had become someone reckless and stupid that was trying to get himself killed at this point.

All around Arran, furniture was being thrown aside, broken, or even thrown in his general direction if it was light enough. Shouting from either side, tears streaming down his cheeks, some out of fear and others out from physical and emotional pain. A vase shattered just inches from his head and the world was literally crumbling before him. He was going to die... And he was okay with that.

"Leave me the hell alone" Arran shouted back. "Go fall into a ditch like the drunken pig you are"

"Do you not see what you're making me do?" Winston shouted back. "If you weren't such a cocksucker our lives would be great. Your mother wouldn't have died to get away from your sorry ass... I would be able to take pride in my sons and we wouldn't be in this mess"

"You'll blame everyone but yourself" Arran scoffed. "Fuck" he hissed as glass dug into the bottom of his foot when he stepped back to avoid getting hit with a screwdriver his dad had thrown. Lucky for Arran, when he was drunk his aim was absolute shit.

"I shoulda just killed you a long time ago" Winston slurred. He took a few steps toward Arran before roughly slamming him against the wall, sending a wave of pain through his back. Arran's heart sank as he heard the familiar click of the gun's safety before the cool metal was pressed against his head. "Shot you in the fucking head the moment I realized what a pussy you were. As far as I'm concerned, you are not my son"

"Do it" Arran challenged despite his racing heart and aching body. He was terrified... But what if it could just all end? What if he didn't have to feel that hurt anymore?

"Wow, wow, wow" Christian's frantic voice cut in. "Dad... Just put the gun down" He attempted to reason. A bit of relief washed over Arran as he heard his brother's voice... Not because he wanted to live or because he had a moment of clarity. But in those few moments that he was ready to die people always told him he'd see his life flash before his eyes. He'd see all of his regrets and the people he loved... But only one thing came to mind, Emrys.

Even if Emrys was mad at him... Even if Emrys hated him, all he could picture was his smiling boy. He saw him on his skateboard, he saw him glance around before stealing a kiss, he saw him dancing in his bedroom to Whitney Houston at three in the morning... He saw him lying across Arran's lap as he listed off his top ten Pokemon...

In those moments all he wanted was Emrys. He wanted to hold him and tell him how sorry he was a million times over. He wanted to kiss him, he wanted to laugh with him, to talk to him. He wanted to be woken up in the middle of the might to hear his midnight thoughts. He wanted to hear all of his stories on repeat and to savor the sound of his voice. To savor the feeling of his arms wrapped around him and his kisses. He just wanted Emrys.

_________________________________________

Emrys was startled awake by an almost banging on his window. He groaned and climbed out of bed wearing nothing but his boxers and an oversized hoodie. His mind was foggy and confused from exhaustion and only one thought made it through his mind; Arran was here.

Arran... Was here?

His eyes snapped to the window and he wasted no time in pulling it open and helping Arran inside despite his confusion. He barely got a good look at Arran, before he was engulfed in a hug. Arran's arms wrapping tightly around his waist and his head buried in the crook of Emrys' neck. He didn't get a good look at Arran... But it was a good enough look to see his bruised cheek and a bandage wrapped around his arm.

Emrys froze up under the boy's touch still too confused and shocked to comprehend much of what was happening. But the feeling of Arran's fingers tangled in his hair and running through his curls, which were untamed for the first time in a while, was enough to relax him into the boy's embrace. So he hugged him back, wrapping his arms tight around his neck and burying his face into Arran's chest.

"Look... I- I know you're mad at me right now" Arran hesitantly began, his voice muffled by Emrys' hoodie. "But I'm sorry" he whispered. "I am so sorry, Em"

Emrys let out a shaky breath and somehow managed to hold Arran a little tighter. Arran's fingers traced through his hair and he occasionally felt a kiss being placed on his forehead. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to fall into Arran's touch. Allowing himself to be held and to feel loved for a few short moments...

"It's okay" Emrys mumbled back. Arran let out a long sigh of relief and Emrys found his mind wandering away from the moment and toward Arran's well-being. Something must have happened to shake him up this badly... And Emrys was determined to find out exactly what had happened. Because at that moment, all he wanted was to make everything better for Arran. Because he loved him... He loved Arran...

Question of the chapter: What time period do you belong in?