Robert's POV:

We finally arrive at Ross' house, he pulls his house keys out of his pocket and unlocks the door. The whole walk he looked a little off, his eyes were glued to the ground and everytime I said something he would respond with an "Oh", "Mhm", or "Cool". I'm guessing it's because we cried together under a streetlight where people could've seen us? That has to be it. I mean, what else could it be?

We both walk inside and are greeted by Ross' mom, Jaune.

"Hi boys!" she says as she walks over to us.

"Hey mom." Ross responds.

I wave at her and she smiles.

"We're gonna put his stuff upstairs,"

Ross looks at me then gestures towards his mom. He probably wants to know if I'm ready to talk about my dad with her. I nod at him then he turns back to his mom.

"And then we're gonna come back down to talk about something."

Jaune raises her eyebrows. "Oh, okay. I'll be at the table."

Ross nods and we both make our way to his room. I place my bag on the floor and turn to look at Ross. He looks out of it again.

"Are you um- sure you're ready to talk about it?" he asks.

I smile at him for being concerned. "I'm sure Ross. I need to get it over with." I answer reassuringly.

He looks down at the floor but I can see him subtly smiling too. "Alright, let's go."

We make our way downstairs to the dining room table and see Jaune was already sitting down. She looked kind of nervous. Me and Ross sit down next to each other.

"So, what's this about?" she asks.

"Um, so...it's about my house.."

I start explaining everything to Jaune, I didn't realize how hard it would be. Every now and then I would squeeze Ross' hand from under the table for support, which I don't think he minded. As I spoke, Jaune's expression changed from calm to worried. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth in shock. It made me feel bad but I know I have to tell her. After a while of explaining everything Jaune walks over and gives me a quick hug.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that Robert," she says as she kneels down to speak to me at my level. "Listen, I'll try my best to help your mom and siblings get away from your dad. And I know you don't want me to tell anyone, but eventually I'm going to have to, but I'll make sure it's when you and your family are somewhere safe. If you really have nowhere else to go then yes, you can stay here. I know this is really hard for you and again, I'm sorry. You're safe here though and I'll make sure that while you stay here you're happy and cared for. Okay?"

I smile at her and lean in for another hug. She's so understanding and nice. I really hope she's able to help my mom and siblings out of there. Me and Jaune break our hug and smile at each other.

"I'm going to cook dinner now, any requests?" she asks me and Ross.

"Whatever Rob wants." Ross answers, looking down again.

"Make whatever you want!" I also answer.

She gets up off her knees and stretches. "All right! I'll call you boys down when I'm done." she tells us.

"Okay!" I respond.

I start to make my way upstairs, expecting Ross to follow. But he stayed sat at the table, still looking down. He looks like he's lost in thought.

"Ross?" I call, worried.

No response. Jaune notices and puts her hands on Ross' shoulders, making him flinch.

"Give us a second, alright?" Jaune says to me.

I nod in response and make my way to Ross' room. I sit down on his bed and scroll through my phone.

Ross' POV:

Robert makes his way upstairs, leaving me and my mom alone. She puts her hand on the table and leans on it with a knowing look on her face.

"So, what's up with you?" she asks.

I let out a sigh, I can't stop thinking about yesterday and today. I can't like Robert, he's my best friend. He's straight. Wait, what does this make me? Am I gay? No, no, no, no, you don't like Robert, you're straight, I don't like my best friend, straight. I just have to stop thinking about him so much. Yeah, that's it! That's probably why I thought I liked him. Thought. Just push these thoughts away.

"Nothing!" I answer.

She raises an eyebrow. "You sure?"

"Mhm, I'm gonna go upstairs and help Robert get settled in now, see you!" I quickly say as I get up from the table.

I start to make my way upstairs but hear my mom say something. "Ross, I know you're very stubborn and don't like opening up about certain things. But if something is on your mind you know you can talk to me, right?"

I sigh to myself. I know I could talk to her but it's just so hard to open up, I don't even know how Robert was able to tell my mom all that. I would've passed out or something!

"I know mom." I say to her.

She smiles then shoos me off as she turns around to walk to the kitchen.

I make my way up to my room and see Robert laying on my bed while looking at his phone. When he notices my presence he jumps up and puts his phone down.

"Hey, you okay?" he asks.

"Yeah, sorry I've been acting... off." I answer.

"It's fine. Anyways, where should I unpack my things?"

Oh crap, there's nowhere to put his stuff. Maybe mom and me could buy him one of those little dressers tomorrow.

"Uhh, for now it's gonna have to stay in your bag because there's nowhere for you to store your stuff, sorry."

"Oh, okay! Well I'm going to take a shower. Be back."

He pulls his pajamas out of his bag then walks to the bathroom.

I walk to my desk and notice that when he was grabbing his pajamas some other clothes fell out of the bag. I kneel down and start picking up his clothes. It all smelt like laundry detergent and cigars though which made me feel bad. I don't think he'd mind if I washed his clothes so I grab his bag and go downstairs to the washing machine to clean them.

Robert's POV:

I finished my shower and walked back to Ross' room, he was sitting at his desk doing homework. When he heard me walk into the room he spun his chair around to look at me.

"Hey, I put your clothes in the washing machine, hope you don't mind." he says.

Oh, that was really thoughtful of him. "Oh, thanks!" I respond with a smile.

"Hah.. No problem. Uh, do you wanna do homework together?" he asks awkwardly.

"Sure!" I answer.

I pull out my homework from my bag and lay on Ross' bed, which made me realize something.

"Uh Ross? Where am I sleeping?" I ask.

Ross froze for a minute and thought to himself. "Um, I'll ask my mom if we have a spare mattress. If not, you could sleep on my bed and I'll sleep on the couch." he answers as he gets up from his chair and makes his way downstairs.

I don't want him to sleep on the couch, this is his bed after all. He wouldn't mind if I slept on the bed with him would he? Like on the edge or something so we're not next to each other. I mean we're friends so it should be fine. Right?

Ross came back about 5 minutes later with two plates of food. "There's no spare mattress so you can sleep here," he says as he hands me a plate and fork. "It's a spicy pasta my mom likes to make with chicken."

Wow, this smells really good. I take a few noodles with the fork and eat some.

I look up at Ross in shock. "I think I just exploded internally because of how good this is." I say stunned.

He smiles and sits down at his desk to eat.

"Ross, why don't we just share the bed?" I ask suddenly.

He coughs on his food then turns around to look at me in shock. "Huh?!"

"I mean, I don't want you to sleep on the couch. I'll sleep on the edge so we're next to each other." I explain to him.

He continues to look at me in shock then clears his throat and turns his chair back around to his desk quickly. "I mean, if you're really okay with it then I guess it's fine." he mumbles.

"Ya-!"

I cut myself off quickly when I realize what I was about to say. Yay? To sleeping in the same bed with Ross? Jeez, now I'm starting to act weird.

"Uh, I meant thanks. Hah.." I muster up quickly.

Ross lets out a little chuckle and we both continue to eat our food.

-

"Alright, here's your pillow and blanket." Ross says as he hands me the stuff I'd need for bed.

I thank him and place everything on the edge of his bed. Then me and him both get on the bed and lay down on our pillows.

"Hey, you're not gonna take off your hat?" I ask Ross when I notice he still had it on.

"No, I sleep with it on. It's comfy." he answers, now re-adjusting his hat.

"That's kinda.. unhygienic, no?" I question, kinda weirded out. I know he said he washes it but now I'm kinda concerned about how often he does.

"Since when do you care about stuff like that?" he asks back as he gets under his blanket.

"Since now. When's the last time you washed it? Or took it off?"

"..."

"Ross..?"

"..." he looks down.

"Ross! You need to wash it! Ew, it's probably full of germs and you sleep in it!"

"It's not full of germs-"

"That's the same beanie you wore to school, it's definitely full of germs. At least take it off and wash it tomorrow."

"Ugh fine mom."

"Mom?! I'm just looking out for your hygiene like a good friend should do!"

"Okay mom!"

I watch as he takes off his beanie and throws it to the side of his bed. I've never seen him without it so I took the chance to take note on how his hair looks. It was super messy and he had one strand of hair rest on his face. It was also full of lots of dandruff on the top, his hair is black so it's easy to see.

Ross catches me staring and quickly turns off the lamp. I let out a chuckle and lay my head back on the pillow, pulling my blanket over me.

"Had a good look?" he asks.

"Yeah, though it's kinda dirty. You should wash it." I answer jokingly.

"Shut up." he snaps back.

I hear him pull his blanket over his body and sigh.

"Good night." I say to him.

"Good night, love y-"

I hear him smack his hand over his mouth as I laugh at his mistake.

"Oh my god- I'm sorry! I'm just so used to-"

"Ross it's fine, I know it was a mistake."

We both lay in awkwardness until Ross says, "Good night, sleep good."

I smile. "You sleep good too Ross."

After I said that I drifted off to sleep, snoring loudly. Probably should've told him I'm a snore-er