A/N -
Trigger warning - this may talk about depression and suicide. If you can't handle that then please find something else to read and if you ever want to talk just DM me.
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Rollan's PoV -

It was currently lunch time at school but I didn't want to stay cooped up in the cafeteria with all the other students. I wanted to run and explore the woods surrounding my school. So I snuck outside when the lunch bell rung, I had 30 minutes to do whatever I wanted. I ran down to the edge of the forest, I jumped a fence that separated the school from the wilderness. I felt free!

I found a path and started walking down it. It felt good to be by myself, even if I was a pretty outgoing guy at school, it was nice to have some alone time. Or so I thought I was alone. I heard a rustling in the nearby bushes, I walked a little faster as images of scary beast ran through my mind. Rumor had it that these woods were full of scary and magical creatures, I always doubted these rumors but they still struck a little curious fear into me. The rusting continued as it followed me, I walked a little faster till I was almost at a run. "You don't need to run, you know that right?" A voice from the bushes informed me.

I might have let out a girlish scream, "Who are you?" I asked as I prepared to run if need be.

A boy stepped out of the bushes, only he sported a cat tail and ears, "You can call me Devin," the boy smirked.

"I'm R-rollan," I stated, cursing the fear that sounded in my voice.

"You act like you've never seen a cat hybrid before," Devin commented as he stepped closer to me, he didn't seem menacing, "though I must say... I haven't seen too many humans around here either."

     "I've n-never seen a-any magical c-creature before..." I replied, my voice still shaky.

     "Well technically I'm not magical, I'm just part cat, but I'm guessing that's what you humans call anyone who isn't 100% like yourself," Devin growled a little.

     "S-sorry," was all I could think to say.

     "Why? You haven't done anything wrong, at least your not threatening to shoot me, besides... I doubt you'd have it in you anyway," Devin smiled.

     "What's that supposed to mean?" I was slowly getting over my fears.

     "It means your not like other humans that I've encountered," Devin smirked and my phone buzzed meaning I was already late for my next class, I decided to skip the rest of school, maybe I could talk with Devin for a while longer.

     It was dark outside by the time I got done visiting with Devin, well more like we were talking and Devin noticed it was dark. "You should probably go home," Devin sighed, seemingly sad to leave me, "this forest isn't the safest after dark but maybe you'd like to visit me again sometime," through the dark I could just make out Devin's hopeful smile.

     "Yeah, I'd love to talk with you again, maybe tomorrow about noon?" I suggested.

     "Sounds fun, my schedule is always open, I'll be waiting for you," Devin actually hugged me, I felt my heart speed up a little at the contact, he let go and stood up from where we sat next to a large tree, "I'll walk you to the edge of the forest."

     With that we made our way back down the trail, I left Devin with a warm smile and a promise to see him tomorrow. I walked the rest of the way home by myself, I kinda missed having Devin next to me.

     I was glade to get home, I was starving since I never ate my lunch. I quickly made a sandwich and devoured it. I was about to start on some homework when I got a text from my best friend, Conor.

Hey, could u possibly come over now?

     I sighed as I closed my math book knowing I wouldn't get my homework done tonight.

Sure, I'll b right over.

     I quickly typed out. I hoped Conor was okay, I started to worry about him. Conor had some depression issues, which led to some irrational behavior. He was a really nice guy and a great friend he just had trouble coping with life some days. I had to talk him out of one or two irreversibly bad ideas, recently though I thought he had been getting better.

I grabbed my jacket and threw it on as I hurried out the door. I needed to get to Conor's house fast, his depression could take a turn for the worse very quickly. His parents and brothers were always so busy they didn't have much time for him, they all loved each other, but they were simply too busy.

Once I got there I knocked on the door. It had taken Conor a long time to finally invite me over to his house, his family was one of the poorest in town and he didn't want me seeing his overly small house. Conor's mom opened the door, though she didn't seem to be in near as good a spirit as she usually was, this worried me, she seemed almost angry, "Oh, hey Rollan, Conor's in his room..." I smiled and said a polite thanks as I rushed inside.

As I walked past the living room, Conor's dad shot me an awful look. What the Hell was going on here. His father promptly resumed arguing with Conor's brothers, I didn't have time to eavesdrop.

I knocked on Conor's door. "Listen... I'm s-sorry, I'm packing n-now, give m-me a minute!" Conor shouted through tears, I think he mistook me for his family.

"Conor, it's Rollan, what's up?" I replied.

"Rollan!" he sounded happy to see me, he quickly opened the door.

     I could immediately tell he had been and probably still was crying. He promptly hugged me, "Rollan, I'm so glad to see you," he mumbled into my shoulder before letting go.

     "I'm glad to see you too, what's going on here?" I pried for information.

     "It's a long story, come inside, I'll tell you," Conor replied as he dried his tears.

   I followed him back inside his room. His room was a disaster, his clothes lay everywhere, all the dresser doors were opened, hangers lay on the ground, it looked like he was packing. "Where are you going?" I asked.

Conor turned to look at me from where he was folding a shirt, "I'm leaving, mom and dad don't want me here anymore," Conor had lauded the shirt down and sat down on his bed next to me, he was crying again, "I told my parents the truth today, I told them I'm gay, they yelled and told me to go pack because I'm not welcome here anymore."

I pulled Conor into a hug, "I'm so sorry, that's horrible, you can spend the night at my house if you want."

"That would be great, thank you," Conor sobbed into my shoulder.

     With that Conor finished packing and I awkwardly helped him with his bags. His family just starred at us as we carried his bags outside. Their judging eyes made me feel horrible but I knew I was helping a friend out. We walked back to my house. It was well after 12 by the time we got back. "I'm exhausted," I stated through a yawn.

"Same here," Conor stated rather sadly, "thanks for letting me spend the night here, I'll figure something out long term on where to stay, maybe my aunt will take me in."

"Yeah, I'm really sorry about your situation... that was uncalled for, what your parents did..." I had no idea what to say, I had always thought his parents were a lot nicer than that, I never thought they would throw their own son out just for liking other guys.

"Yeah..." Conor replied as he made a bed for himself out of blankets on the ground, "good night, Rollan."

I mumbled night before crawling into my own bed and falling asleep moments later.

My alarm sounded all too soon, I stretched and yawned before turning it off. I squinted to see Conor, groggily rubbing sleep from his eyes. "Morning," I said as I went to get ready for the day, he mumbled something in reply.

Once I was dressed I went to make Conor and myself some breakfast. We ate a quick breakfast of toast and cereal with some coffee before rushing out the door for school. I walked to school everyday since I didn't live too far away. Once at school Conor and I parted ways to go to class but before I could step inside my first hour class, Conor, called out to me, "Hey, can we talk at lunch, I need your help figuring out this... situation?"

I started to reply but then I remembered, I promised Devin I would meet up with him again. "Today?" I asked Conor.

"Well, yeah, if that's okay with you," Conor's smile faltered a little.

"Well... I... have a project to work on during lunch, maybe tomorrow?" I asked.

Conor's smiled failed him but he quickly plastered on a fake one, "yeah... tomorrow will be great," as he walked away I heard a small sob and I frowned, I had just betrayed my friend at the time he needed me most.

My classes dragged by slowly, when lunch came I sprinted out the door, eager to see Devin again. I ran down to the forest, being extra careful to make sure no one was around, I jumped the fence. I walked a little ways down the same path I had walked only a day before. Where was Devin? He said he would meet me here.

I kept walking to I thought I had gone to far, I must have missed him somehow. I walked back down the trail I had just came from. Then I head a painful grunt, I immediately began to worry. "Devin?" I timidly questioned.

     Everything was silent for a moment and then a small sob followed by a meak, "Rollan?"

     It was Devin's voice! I bounded over to the brush where I heard Devin's voice, I pushed the briars aside. Devin's body lay bloodied and crumpled on the ground, his claws pawed at the ground, it looked like he had been on the losing side of a fierce battle. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes but a gleam of hope showed through all his pain. "What happened?" I asked as I took the poor boy gently in my arms.

     I held him close, "It w-was just s-some m-monster, he attacked me w-while I was waiting on y-you," Devin sobbed, "These w-woods are d-dangerous."

     I gently picked him and myself up off the ground, "I'll take you back to my place and fix you up there," I risked it and gently kissed the top of his head, he smiled up at me.

     "T-thanks, Rollan, but it's n-not safe, it's daylight and p-people might see m-me," Devin warned but I just wrapped my jacket around him and covered his cat ears with it's hood, I tucked his tail into his jeans.

     He looked like a normal human boy now, it would be safe to take him out of the woods. I carried Devin passed the school, carefully not to meet Conor. Finally, I made it home. Mom wasn't home yet so I carried Devin to the bathroom where all the first aid supplies were. I cleaned off his bloody wounds with a damp rag and I gently dried them. I doctored him up with creams and a pill for the massive amount of pain he was in. I wrapped bandages over the wounds. I think this should due him, Devin was already starting to gain some strength back, thank Tellun.

After his wounds were treated, I gave him some proper clothes to keep him warm. It was almost time for school to get out so I took Devin to my room, I looked around for a place to hide him. I couldn't have mom finding him when she came home from work and more importantly, Conor was spending the night here again and I knew I couldn't have Conor finding out about Devin. That would give everything away and ruin my chance with both of them.

I looked around... under my bed, no... behind the sofa, no... in the closet, heck yeah... I kissed Devin's forehead again, "Will you stay quiet tonight and rest up, I can't have anyone finding out about you, they'd ask both of us tons of uncomfortable questions, so can you stay in the closet for tonight?" I hoped Devin could stay quiet all night.

"Yeah, I'm really good at keeping quiet but before you put me in the closet I have to tell you something," Devin leaned forward like he was going to tell me a secret but a moment later he change directions and slammed his lips into mine.

We stayed like that for awhile, enjoying each other's sweet taste. Then I sadly had to take him to the closet where I made a makeshift bed. He curled up in it and before I shut the door I heard him whisper, "I love you, Rollan."

I smiled and whispered back, "I love you too, Devin," with that I shut the door and I hurried off to school again.

I couldn't let Conor know that I had skipped classes, he would think I was avoiding him. I walked quickly down the sidewalks till I made it to the school doors, I snuck inside just as the last bell rung. A flood of kids pushed their way out the door. I managed to get out of their way so I could better look for Conor. He found me, "Where have you been, Rollan," he asked a little angrily.

     "What do you mean?" I tried to play dumb, "I've been at school."

     Conor just rolled his eyes, obviously not believing me. We both started walking home in a heavy silence.

     Hours later Conor was reading a book and I was scrolling through Instagram on my IPad. "Rollan... are you ever ashamed to have me as a friend because I'm gay?" Conor randomly asked.

     This was one of those replies you couldn't hate heartedly say, I put down my IPad, "Conor, not at all, you're my best friend... besides... I think I might be gay too," I added the last part a little shyly.

     Conor smiled at me, "Thanks, Rollan, that means a lot."

     His smile and the look he gave me with his beautiful blue eyes made my heart flutter. I walked over to him and sat down next to him. I rubbed his back, he looked incredibly sad again. "Can I tell you a secret... without you freaking out?" Conor asked.

     "Of course," I smiled trustingly.

     "I've had a crush on you since fifth grade," Conor sobbed.

     "Conor, shhhh, it's okay," I tried to comfort him as I held him to my chest.

     I wanted to say it, I felt like I loved him too but I also loved Devin. How could both be true? Seeing Conor like this, so upset made me say it though, "Conor, I think I have a crush on you too," I kissed his forehead.

He lifted his head so he could see me, he was still sobbing, "I wish you could."

"What do you mean, I do love you, Conor!" I kissed him but he didn't kiss back, he was busy staring behind me.

I turned around quickly, Devin stood there, arms crossed and tail angrily waving. He still looked sick but he had a feral like strength to him. "Those words sound familiar, don't they Rollan," Devin growled.

Conor and I both stood up. Conor too was starting at me with a anger in his blue eyes. "Rollan... you have some explaining," Conor choked the words out through tears.

So I told them both, about when I meet Devin, to how I've always known Conor, and about how I hid them from each other. I felt horrible, I had hurt the two people I care most about. When I finished my story I couldn't help but cry as I repeatedly apologized to them both. They both looked like they wanted to hug me... then they did. "I can't help but still care about you," Conor said as he gave me a half hug.

"Maybe we can work something out," Devin suggested.

     "Can we all just be friends for now... I need time to find myself," I sighed, "I love you both and I care about you guys but this past few days have been too confusing."

    Devin and Conor were silent for a moment, "that's fine," they both said as they each held my hands.

     They were both more than I deserved but I was so glad to have them.