I didn't sleep at all that night. The sight of my best friend's corpse plague my mind. I wondered how Mark was feeling.

I know its the damned butler. He wasn't in that room and he's been acting extremely shady the entire time.

I roll over on my side and close my eyes, forcing myself to go to sleep.

***

I open my eyes and thank the dark curtains for shielding the sunlight. I stand and see that a dark green robe, lying on a maroon chair. I chuckle.

I put it on and walk into the hallway, seeing Mark at the bottom of the stairs.

I clear my throat, making him turn around. "Oh, hey." He smiles, but his voice is tinted with sadness.

"How's everybody doing?" I ask, running my fingers over the railing.

"Wade left in the middle of the night. He left a note, explaining that he couldn't take it." I walk down the stairs and take him in a hug.

"Did you take care of the body?" I ask.

He nods. "We're not going to get the cops into this."

I raise an eyebrow. "But... Why? They could help-"

"We don't want cops running all over my house. Its..." He sighs. "Its retarded, I know."

I put a hand on his shoulder. "Mark, its okay. I understand."

He nods. "Yeah... Do you want breakfast?" He asks.

I shrug. "I guess."

We eat breakfast in silence, the only sound are forks scraping against plates.

***

The butler soon comes and grabs my plate hastily. He tosses me a cold look and I sigh, following him to the kitchen.

"Look, Philip." I start. He doesn't look at me, only places the plate into the dishwasher. "I'm sorry for last night, I was in shock and mad that Felix is dead." He nods.

"I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have reacted that way." Philip reaches out his hand and I take it. "Truce?"

"Truce."

I walk out of the room and see that everybody is gone. I look around and notice that Mark is sitting in a chair in the library. I walk in and clear my throat to announce my presence. He looks up from the book he was reading and smiles.

"Heya, Jack."

I give him a small smile and sit down in the chair across from him.

"This library is magnificent." I goggle at the millions of books that stocked his giant book shelves.

He smiles admiringly at me. "Feel free to visit it any time you like." He fixes his posture so he's looking directly at me. "Jack... There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about. Its one of the main reasons I invited you here."

I catch on, fidgeting nervously. "Oh... Kay?"

"Jack, about that last time we talked- and I'm sorry its been so long- I just wanted to apologize." Mark explains.

Ah, the memories. The horrible, horrible memories.

It was the last day of high school and I had finally built up the courage to talk to him about my feelings, right before he was supposed to get on his plane. Thinking about it the night before, I thought it'd be a cute idea. I thought it'd be a wonderful idea to stop the love of my life, right as he was about to leave for college.

So, as he's about to give up his ticket, I stop him, begging him to stay in California.

"But, why?" He asked.

I had become extremely nervous and was suddenly unable to make complete sentences. Mark raised an eyebrow and I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves.

"Look... Mark, I love you..." I watched as the look on his face changed dramatically, but I kept going. "We both know that I don't mean as a brother. And I know, this is a bad time to come clean, but... Look, I know you don't feel the same by that stupid look on you're face." I sigh. "I'm sorry."

"No, Jack. Don't be sorry. I just-" Mark had gotten cut off by the ticket lady.

"Sir, are you getting on the flight?" She asked nasally.

"Just, give me a second." He said, not even looking at her. She rolls her eyes. "Jack, don't be sorry for falling in love. Its not your fault." I remember how my throat clenched up and my eyes started to burn, but I kept myself from crying. "Jack... I'm so sorry... But I don't love you that way. And I have to go..." He handed his ticket to the woman.

"Hopefully, I'll see you again." He said, and the plane door shut behind him.

I sigh and nod. "Yeah, I remember."

"Look..." Marks starts.

"I'm so sorry." We say in unison.

I chuckle and rub the back of my neck. "You go first."

Mark nods. "Look, Jack. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have, just, left. I should've rescheduled the flight and talked to you about it. Or not even left, at all. But I did the worst thing I could have possibly done. I left. And I shouldn't have. I was so stupid. It was an extremely dick move and..." He sighs. "I apologize."

"No, Mark. I'm sorry. I didn't-" Mark cuts me off by connecting our lips. I go to give in to the kiss, but I stop myself, pushing him off of me.

"Mark, what are you doing?!" I screech.

"Jack, I shouldn't have ran away. I was a coward! I should've just come clean and said that I loved you, too. Just like I do now. I love you."

I widen my eyes. "No, no, no. You don't. You're just in shock because of all that's been happening. You don't... I... Mark, I think I should go." I rush out of the library and up the stairs, grabbing my suitcase. I stuff all of my belongings in it and quickly zip it up.

"Jack, please." I hear Mark coming up the stairs.

"No, Mark. I can't be here. You can't focus on me, right now." I rush to my door and go to close and lock it, but Mark shoves it open. "You need to focus on Felix."

"Jack, I don't want to focus on Felix. I'm not in love with him. I'm in love with you, Sean!" I freeze when I hear my real name. "Look, if it takes me using your real name to get you to stay, then I'll do it. I can't do this without you. So what, if I'm in shock? I know what love feels like, I'm not a child!" Mark yells.

I sigh and hang my head. "Mark... I... I can't deal with this pressure, right now. First Felix and now you. And, who knows, the killer is probably still in here! But... After we sort everything out... We'll talk about this, okay?" Mark nods and I start taking everything back out of my suitcase.

"Jack... I'm so sorry. I just... I'll leave you alone." He turns and walks out, thumping down the steps.

I sigh and put my face in my hands. I sit on my bed and bring my hands down, slumping.

My best friend is dead and my college crush is in love with me.

I just hope, I survive.