I pried my eyes open and rolled over in bed, my chest pressed against the soft mattress. I ran my hand over my face that was warm to the touch, no doubt from the golden rays shining through the window.

Wait. Where am I? Vic's. I'm still at Vic's. But where was he? I tried to remember the night before. I remembered laying on his bed for almost an hour, waiting for him to come out of the bathroom.

He never did. Or at least, I wasn't awake to see that he did. I must've fallen asleep and he must've left before I could wake up.

I climbed off the bed and checked my phone. No messages. I grabbed my backpack that was sitting on Vic's desk chair and left the room. I felt weird being in Vic's house without him. I hurried down the stairs and was headed towards the door when Mike appeared around the corner.

"Hey Kellin! Breakfast? Well I guess technically lunch." Mike smiled, gesturing towards the stack of cereal boxes on the kitchen counter.

"Uh, sure. Thanks." I answered, sliding into a chair. Mike started pouring me a bowl, pushing it towards me once he added the milk.

"Do you know where Vic is?" I asked, swirling my spoon around.

Mike nodded, "Yeah, my Dad needed his help unloading an early delivery."

"Oh okay. I fell asleep pretty early last night and don't remember him even coming back into the room." I brought the spoon to my mouth and munched on the sugary cereal.

Mike laughed, "Typical Vic. He always takes the longest showers. It was always so annoying, I'd have to wait for him every morning before school since he was my ride."

Normally, I'd probably believe the innocence and simplicity of this personality trait. But after our conversation, and Vic's obvious distaste in the subject, part of me wasn't entirely convinced. Did he even come back into the room at all?

Maybe he left and slept somewhere else. He probably didn't want to be around me now. He was avoiding me. I don't blame him.

I bit my tongue, knowing I shouldn't be saying this. But clearly letting my stupidity take over as I looked up at Mike.

"Do you know who this guy named Tyler is? He went to your school."

Mike looked confused, "Tyler Joseph? Yeah he's a grade under me. He's just a quiet kid, why're you asking about him?"

"It's just something Oli Sykes said to me yesterday."

Mike stood up from his seat across from me abruptly. He walked over to the counter and let his empty bowl drop into the sink with a loud clatter.

"Oli Skyes is a disgusting excuse for a human being." Mike seethed.

I had never seen Mike so angry. The entire time I've known him he's been a happy ball of energy. I've never seen him speak with such distaste. I've never seen this look of pure rage on his face.

"What did he do?" I spoke quietly, not wanting to make him even more upset.

Mike looked down at the ground, staring at it like he was deciding how to answer my question. He finally looked up at me and took off his hat so he could run his hand through his hair.

"He made Vic his best friend during the first half of his senior year. I don't know how he did it." Mike added quickly at the end.

This left me utterly confused, "But Vic hates him now. Why would they ever be friends?"

"Yeah, exactly. I don't know what Oli did to him, but Vic followed him around like a goddamn puppy dog while Oli terrorized everyone." Mike didn't meet my eyes this time as he spoke.

Terrorized everyone? So Oli was an asshole, probably a bully. I shouldn't be surprised that Vic at one point, hung out with guys like him. He was a jerk to me for a while when I first moved here. But I had chalked that up to him just being a dick, not necessarily hurting other people. Or being friends with those who do hurt other people.

I felt sick to my stomach. I had mentioned to Vic many times that I was bullied in high school for being gay. I didn't like people who enjoyed picking on others. I stared up at Mike, trying to think of what to say next. 

This was his brother we were talking about and Mike had always been nice to me. I would feel terrible if I tried to accuse or ask him if Vic had hurt other people. It wasn't my place, and I didn't want to offend Mike, or put him in that position to answer my question about his own brother.

"Well what made them stop being friends?"

Mike blinked a few times and shrugged as he started walking to the front door, "Don't know. One day after Christmas break, Vic and Oli just no longer spoke to each other."

"But then what does this Tyler person have to do with all of this? Why would Oli exclude the part about him and Vic being friends?"

Mike turned to look at me, his hand hovering over the doorknob, "I honestly have no clue. I have to go, my shift starts soon."

I nodded in response and quickly put my empty bowl in the sink next to Mikes'. I followed him out of the air conditioned house and into the hot and humid day. I suddenly felt dizzy from the sudden change of temperature. My feet clamored down the front steps but my brain didn't process it happening.

Mike turned to look at me as he shielded his face from the bright light, "I'll text you later?"

I nodded in response and watched him walk towards the pier. I was so confused by that entire conversation. Why would Vic be friends with Oli at some point?

They both seemed like they couldn't stand each other now. Something obviously happened that caused them to despise one another, and I needed to find out what that was.

I still couldn't shake the feeling in my stomach now that I know Vic was friends with bullies. Was he a bully himself? I know people were capable of change. Even if Vic did bad things in his past, besides the rude attitude he showed me when I first moved here, he never bullied me. He never hurt me.

It was totally possible that Vic had changed his ways. I honestly hadn't known him long enough to be able to recognize his true character. There were things I felt like I needed to know before I could make up my mind about him. And it didn't seem like Vic was ready to tell me any time soon.

The question was, could I wait around for him to be ready? Or do I not trust him enough to hurt me, now that I know he could've hurt me in the past.

I decided to walk to the beach. I didn't have work today and thought sitting by the water would help me clear my head. My mind instantly wandered to something Vic said about the ocean. About how it always made him feel comfortable, at home.

There I go, thinking about him again. It was the most cliche feeling in the world. My heart wanted to forget everything about that stupid conversation with Oli. But my head told me that I needed to be careful and protect myself. I had already endured too much in high school. I entered this summer a different person. I wouldn't let toxic people meander their way into my life anymore.

I heard the seagulls call overhead as the smell of salty seaweed filled my nose. My feet padded down the steps as they sunk into the warm sand. I saw the waves crashing in sync in front of me like they were playing a melody.

I walked closer to the water, plopping myself down just close enough for the waves to touch my toes. I pushed my feet under the wet sand and wriggled them back and forth, enjoying the cool squishy texture against my skin.

My fingers drummed on top of the sand restlessly. I tried to watch the waves, counting the time it took for them to reach me and crash against the shoreline. I couldn't relax. I needed to do something with my hands.

Glancing next to me I saw a couple of sea shells. I pulled them through the sand and kept them next to me. Next, I grabbed some of the hot sand and started packing it into a shape. I leaned forward and scooped up the wetter sand, adding it to the dry mixture. That's better. Now my sandcastle will stay up and not fall to pieces.

I continued adding parts to my castle, pressing a few of the shells into the sides as decoration.

"Oh fuck!" A voice suddenly yelled out loudly, even over the sound of the children playing and the crashing of the waves.

I glanced up just in time to see Vic fall off his surfboard, hitting the water really hard. I stood up immediately, walking into the water a bit as I waited a few moments for him to pop back up.

He didn't.

Panic set in as I started running into the water, the waves splashing up aggressively as I quickened my pace. The water was up to my stomach now and I dove underneath the waves. I started swimming forward, deeper into the ocean towards where Vic had been.

As his surfboard came into view, I whipped my head around, trying to see that familiar head of brown waves.

I was about to have a full blown panic attack when suddenly, Vic came up from under the water. He was coughing and choking on water as I swam over to him.

"Vic! Oh my fucking god! Are you alright?!" I reached under the water and grabbed his torso, trying to help him stand up.

Vic's eyes widened at the sight of me as he continued to choke on some water, "K-kells? What're you doing here?" He asked through a confused smile.

"Saving your dumbass." I mumbled as I tugged on his arm a bit, trying to turn us back towards the shore. My head was still all over the place and I wasn't okay with how Vic chose to leave the situation last night. I wasn't going to let one smile from him cause me to forget all the concern I had.

"Feisty this afternoon aren't we?" Vic smirked as he stood up and followed me out of the water. He grabbed his surfboard as it bobbed past us.

I huffed in annoyance as it became clear he was alright, "Feisty? You can't be serious. You just gave me a heart attack! I thought you had drowned!"

I stomped past him through the shallow water until I reached my sandcastle. I spun around to face him, almost falling backwards when I realized how close behind me he was. I was fuming but Vic was smirking.

"I'm sorry I scared you Kells, I really am. But I was fine. Yeah I wiped out pretty bad, but once I hit the water I just swam around a bit. I do that sometimes to clear my head."

"I don't understand. You were under there for a long time." I shook my head, trying not to look into Vic's eyes. If I looked into his eye's all bets of me standing my ground were off.

I could see Vic shrug out of the corners of my eyes, "I've lived here all my life, I've developed a pretty strong lung capacity."

"But how does staying under the water help you clear your head?"

"I like to lay on my back under the water, and look up at the sky under it." Vic spoke softly, steadying his breath as it slowed back to normal.

"Why?" I questioned again, my heart still pounding in my chest at the thought of Vic drowning.

"Because the reflection from the light against the water? It makes the world above seem like it's shimmering. Like it's a mirage. Like I'm just this tiny thing under the waves. It makes bad things, or problems in my life seem smaller than my brain tells me they are." He whispered even quieter.

I finally pulled my gaze from the sand so I could look at Vic. His brown eyes stared back at me. I couldn't tell what he was thinking at all because his eyes held so many different emotions. It was honestly overwhelming me to look at them.

"Kellin..." Vic started but I interrupted him.

"Why did you leave this morning without waking me? I wanted to talk...about everything..." I trailed off as I looked down at my sandcastle.

Vic's face fell as he kicked at the sand nervously. I could see the veins on his neck start to protrude as his hands balled into fists for a moment, "I...I just...I couldn't face you. I was afraid to hear your questions. I am afraid to answer your questions..."

Vic's voice surprised me. Based on looking at him, I was about to brace myself for him to yell at me. I was certain he was going to be short and dismiss the conversation again. I didn't expect him to respond this way. He looked absolutely terrified. All the color had drained from his skin.

"Why can't you face me? I...I like you Vic...I would understand. I will try to understand."

Vic shook his head violently, his hands starting to tremble, "No! You'd hate me."

I took a step back from his sudden outburst and let my heart answer this time. I reached forward and took Vic's shaking hand in mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"I could never hate you." I whispered, using my other hand to tilt his head up so he was looking at me.

"You will though...a-and I need you. I shouldn't need you but I do..."

My heart pained seeing Vic going through this internal struggle. He looked completely distraught. I couldn't help myself though from feeling butterflies in my chest from his words. He needed me? I had never felt needed in my entire life.

"Vic...I need you too and -" I started to say but was cut off by an unfortunately familiar voice.

"Oh hey Vic! Hey Kellin! What a pleasure seeing you both here today."

We both turned our heads in unison towards the unpleasant voice as Oli jogged over to us. Vic dropped his hand from mine instantly. The terrified look on his face was replaced with one of pure hatred.

"Stay the fuck away from us, Oli." Vic seethed.

"No need to get territorially over your little boy toy. I was just coming over to see how you both were doing." Oli put one hand on his hip and smiled.

"We're doing fine. Bye." I spoke up, trying to grab Vic's hand again to pull him away from Oli.

"Hold on now! Are you telling me Victor, that you still haven't told sweet little Kellin here, about how you used to help me back in the day." Oli smirked.

Vic walked over to Oli so they were standing mere inches from one another. Vic was glaring at him, his hands now balled into fists.

"I'm not going to tell you again. Leave us both alone. Don't talk to me ever again and don't you dare, ever come near Kellin. Or I swear to god I will -"

"You will what? Hurt me like you hurt Tyler?" Oli laughed in Vic's face.

"I never hurt Tyler! YOU hurt Tyler! YOU pushed him too far." Vic screamed, using both his hands to shove Oli backwards.

But Oli was quick to react as he regained composure, swinging his arm back and connecting it with Vic's face. Vic's head flung to the side with a loud crack.

My legs that were previously frozen in place immediately ran over to Vic who was stumbling from the blow. I tried to help him stand up but he quickly bounced back, barreling towards Oli who was waiting for him.

Oli tried to swing again as he came towards him. But Vic expected it this time, dodging Oli's fist and delivering his own punch to Oli's jaw. Oli's head flew backwards as he fell into the sand.

Vic started to walk away from him when Oli quickly shot his leg out, tripping Vic in the process. Vic crashed into the sand face first, and when he didn't get up right away I ran over to him again.

Oli was already standing over Vic, delivering two kicks to his chest, "Nice try Fuentes. But once again, you're too weak."

Vic tried to stand up but Oli kept his foot pressed against the back of Vic's neck.

"Stop! Stop this right now you sick fuck!" I screamed in Oli's face who just started laughing at me.

"Get the hell out of my face faggot." Oli spat.

He brought his hand up immediately and smacked me hard across my cheek. My head whipped to the side as my hand cupped my stinging face. I stared back at him in disbelief, tears already starting to well up in my eyes.

"I told you not to fucking go near him." I heard Vic's voice growl.

I blinked back the tears as my vision refocused. With Oli's attention on me, he had removed his foot from Vic's neck without realizing it. Vic was able to get up and was now storming towards Oli.

Vic swung his fist back and hit Oli directly in the front of his face. The blow was too hard for anyone to remain standing after and Oli immediately crashed into the sand. Blood started pouring from Oli's nose, Vic had broken it.

Oli looked up at Vic with a mixture of anger and fear in his eyes, "You broke my fucking nose! You'll pay for this."

"You're lucky that was the only thing I broke. Don't touch him again." Vic seethed.

Vic rushed over to me and scooped me up in his arms. I let him. The anger on his face was replaced with concern. I could feel his hands trembling underneath my legs as he carried me away from the beach.

"A-are you okay? I am so sorry he did that to you. I should've protected you better." Vic stammered nervously.

"I should be asking if you're okay, Vic. You already have a black eye forming and your lip is bleeding." I reached up and let my fingers trail lightly down his cheek.

Vic was quick to shake his head, "I don't care about me. I care about you. I'm so so sorry that you had to get involved with him. I won't let him come near you ever again."

Silence fell over us after that. We didn't say another word to each other. Vic walked back to his house quickly with me in his arms. When we got inside he immediately took us up the stairs to his room. The room I just woke up in only a few hours ago. He walked us both into his adjoining bathroom, setting me down on the counter gently.

"Let me go get some ice for your cheek." Vic finally spoke. He turned to leave but I grabbed onto his hand, looking right into his eyes. We both didn't have to say anything. We both knew what was needed to be said.

Vic sighed, "I know. I'll tell you everything. Just...let me go get you ice before it swells."

I reached up to press a washcloth against Vic's lip, "And some neosporin for your lip. Please?"

I offered a small smile before Vic just simply nodded, that look of fear returning to his eyes as he ducked out of the bathroom.

_Author's Note_reminder to vote!

I'm back! Thank you for being patient and sticking with me as I took some time for myself. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. We learned a tiny bit more about Vic's past. All will be revealed very very soon though.

As always, I hope everyone is doing okay and having a good day. See u all on the next one.

-Cassidy :)