(Mark's P.O.V.)


For the past two hours I've just been hanging out at this little café down the street from the apartment, waiting for Jack to message me back. After he finally did I started walking back to the apartment and now I'm right outside the door. God, am I gonna hear a mouthful from Tom or what? I open the door to the apartment, walking in and closing the door behind me, locking it afterwards. 

"There you are!" I hear Tom say. I turn to find him sitting on the couch, which is in terrible condition mind you. It's still a couch and it works but... Terrible condition, as is most of the stuff we have. Except for our laptops and phones, that's from when we were still talking to Mom. Anyways. I smile. 

"Yeah, here I am." I say, going to my room. I drop my bag in there before turning and walking back to the living room. I stand in the doorway, leaning on the door frame. 

"So, I got your text, how you were staying over at a friends house. Can I get more information?" Tom asks, ignoring the homework he was previously working on. I nod. 

"A friend of mine invited me over to his house after work to play some video games. But we ended up playing video games till, like, two in the morning and he didn't feel like driving so I just stayed there." I say, shrugging. Tom nods, understanding. Then... 

"What friend?" He asks. I bite my lip. I don't like lying to Tom. I've done it before, but I feel guilty every time. However, I don't think he'd be to happy about me staying at Jack's house. I mean, yes he was the one that told me to give him a chance but... It's only been two weeks. He wouldn't be happy. 

"Felix. He's cool." I say, lying. Not about Felix being cool but about him being the friend I stayed with. Tom smiles, nodding. 

"Awesome. I wanna meet Felix at some point, I've never heard you talk about friends before. Okay?" He says. I nod. 

"Yeah sure." I say, smiling. He nods again and gets back to his homework as I walk to my room, sighing. I look at the clock. Three hours. I have three hours to do my homework and then it's off to work. Yippee...

(Jack's P.O.V.)

I slam my bedroom door shut, plugging in my phone and starting my music immediately. Soon Black Veil Brides is screaming out of my speakers. Again, nothing new for my parents. They're used to it. But seriously, right at the beginning of dinner and the first thing they ask is if I have a girlfriend. Like, really? Come on! I really should tell them I'm gay, I really really should but I know that it'd become an argument, I know they won't be happy. But they keep asking if I have a girlfriend or if I like someone, and it's annoying as all hell! 

I lie down, covering my face with my hands. I groan, obviously annoyed. That is, until my music stops. I take my hands away, frowning at my phone. Until more music plays, but it's different. It's my ringtone. Who the hell is calling me? I pick up my phone, looking at the ID. I roll my eyes, answering. 

"What's up?" I ask. Ken laughs on the other side of the phone. 

"Dude, where the hell are you?!" He asks. I frown. 

"What do you mean?" I ask. I hear Wade laugh in the background. 

"I mean, we made plans remember? All four of us hanging out at my house? I invited some others too! It's a full on party here!" Ken says and then do I notice the music in the background. 

"Jaaaaaaaaack! Come ooooooooooon!" I hear Wade. I close my eyes, face-palming. 

"Ken, I'm sorry okay? My parents got home, plus aren't your parents gonna flip once they realize you threw a party?" I ask. Bob laughs. 

"No, his parents are here! They're helping!" He says. I groan, closing my eyes. I shake my head. 

"I gotta go." I say and with that I hang up. Why do I hang out with them? Image. That's right. That's the only reason. Well, I mean, they're cool. And they've been there for me, you know, when I tell them a tiny, tiny, tiny sliver of what's going on. They always offer to help. They could be awesome friends. But... Reputation... 

I sigh, just staring at my ceiling. Someday. Someday I'll not care about reputation and image, someday I'll tell my parents I'm gay, someday Bob, Wade, Ken and I can be actual friends. Someday... Someday everything will work out... Even whatever's going on between Mark and I.