Again.

Bryce broke down right then and there as he collapsed on his knees and sunk into the floor, tears streaming down his face. It was all too much for him to take. How could someone do this to him? Now everyone was a suspect and all the pressure on him was breaking him down.

"Hey hey," Ryan whispered as he sat next to his student. "Bryce please don't cry it's okay.."

"No Ryan it's not! All my money is gone! Do you understand?! Gone! That's all I had to live on.."

Ryan placed a hand on the blondes shoulder and frowned deeply as he looked around and tried to think of something. "Jesus fucking Christ man." He whispered under his breath as he pulled Bryce closer. "Bryce are you ok–" a female voice made Ryan turn to where his old friend Columbia stood with her lip busted and her green eyes widen. "Oh my god what happened?" She asked as she looked around the room.

Her green eyes traced over every inch of brokenness in the area around her and she gasp when she seen the message. "Oh god Bryce.." She whispered out as she sat beside him. "What have you done to deserve this?" Columbia's voice cracked as she stared at Bryce with worry.

"Bryce you can come stay with me okay? Look..I'll..I'll take care of you. Just please don't cry." Columbia looked at him with wide eyes as he said that and Ryan knew exactly why too. But he didn't care anymore, seeing the love of his life broken hurt him enough. "But Ryan you could get fired! Even worse! Look he can stay with me okay?"

"No!" Ryan didn't mean to shout but he was so terrified for the youngers safety that staying around here wasn't an option. "He's coming with me Columbia..he will be safer there.." Bryce didn't answer because he knew no matter how hard he fought Wrecker would wreck him at it and take the win right from him. And he really didn't want to stay around here after tonight. "Okay Ryan..just..be careful."

Ryan nodded and frowned when he felt the younger boy start to tremble in his grasp. There was no telling who could've done this and as much as Ryan hated to do this to Bryce he would be with the younger twenty four seven no matter where he was. He also hated the fact that he had to mark his old best friend as a suspect, he wasn't even letting Ritz and Smitty off the chain yet.

Ryan knew Smitty and Bryce were close friends but the fact that the male was all over him like a drunk woman made him uneasy. It made him wonder if the male had feelings towards Bryce.

<—•||

Bryce threw down his bag as he looked around the house he'd be staying in for a while. He really couldn't think Ryan enough but if you asked him it was a little too much. But then again he didn't have anywhere else to go.

"Thanks again Ryan..I appreciate this."

Ryan only smiled and shrugged. "It's the least I can do for what happened at prom.." Bryce didn't say anything as he stood there awkwardly staring at the man in front of him. "Um, anyways," Wrecker cleared his throat. "Guest bedroom is all yours. First door to the left and it is the furthest away from the bathroom unfortunately." Through the chuckle Ryan made was a small tint of unease which made Bryce grin. "I'll also be giving you a ride everyday because I don't trust you walking alone."

Suddenly Bryce's phone rang and he pulled it out to see it was Smitty meaning the boy had got his message. He looked up to Ryan who just raised a brow in confusion and he knew exactly what he was wanting. "It's Smitty gimme a sec." He clocked the answer button, "Hello?"

"Where you at?"

"Ryan's.."

"Dude I'm on my way to get you. Yo ass living with me."

"Ryan let me move in Smit.." Bryce broke the news and he heard the other male groan. "I'm sorry man..I should've told you sooner but I was too shaken up over what happened.

"It's alright man..do you need anything?"

"Um, besides a friend? No."

"I hear you..look Bryce I'm here for you okay? We're still friends asshole."

He couldn't help but smile at those words. They really did make him feel a little better, "Great. You gonna walk me to school?" Ryan glared at the back of Bryce when he heard those words. "I'm actually driving tomorrow man."

"Oh okay well I'll see you tomorrow I guess."

They ended the call and he turned around to see Ryan smirking at him slightly in a cocky way. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Bryce was nervous now and his voice told it all. Not that Ryan needed that to see it, he could read him like a book. "You know Bryce I think you should give me something in return." Bryce didn't know where this was going so he eyed the male sitting on the couch. "Like?"

"How bout a kiss on the cheek?"

Bryce knew something was up and so he gazed into those hazel traps in hopes of searching for an answer. Even a hint but before he knew it Ryan was standing in front of him leaning down with his cheek to the side. "Okay..I'm trusting you on this." He mumbled as he cautiously made his way towards Ryan's cheek. "Bryce kiss my goddamn cheek."

Bryce immediately backed away and crossed his arms. "Well I was gonna but you're too demanding Ohm." He turned his head away and silence filled the room. "Goddamn it Bryce–" the blonde kissed Ryan on the lips before he could finish his sentence and the older nearly melted. It was the first time Bryce did it and to be honest it felt pretty damn good to know Bryce was actually starting to warm up to him.