The darkness quickly took over and the millions of stars, with the moon's help, illuminated the area where the group of nine had been. Sounds of crickets and owls surrounded the forest, while deers and horses roamed free.

This is what Jake Hart always called paradise.

Caiden was, for the millionth time, in awe and amazement of how indescribably beautiful the scene had been. His head darted every which way, watching as the fireflies were flying in packs, while the fish in the lake were splashing away at one another.

It was something not to be believed, yet you wouldn't and couldn't make it up.

The lot of friends were sitting where Jake had taken Caiden the day before, on logs and tree stumps they had always hidden away. Kai and Landon, as usual, began firing up the campfire wood, while Mike, Jenna, and Taylor started a small fire right outside the circle of logs, for the barbeque.

Though the original tradition was to use the main fire for both the food and the bonding, Kailey had burned herself one too many times, and Kai decided on the small one, as well.

"Try and keep your hand away from all things fire related, this time," Bailey called to Kailey, following Jake with food in hand.

He had been helping the twins bring everything required for the bonfire to the forest, while the others were a step ahead.

"It was one time, Bai!" Kailey defended, pushing away a tree branch with one hand. Helping her sister and Jake, she carried a tray of hot dogs and some condiments.

Leading the way through the trees, Jake began humming along to a random song on his mind; sadness washed over him, reminiscing through the many memories as a child he had shared and experienced in that very place.

A misstep had Jake almost trip over his own two feet, snapping him out of his thoughts. Jake could feel the tray of steaks threatening to fall from his grasp, as he continued through the greenery.

Jake could easily hear Bailey laughing at her sister; she knew it had been at least four times that Kailey had ended up in some sort of bandage, or worse, because of her negligence towards safety.

"I got it, Jake," he was steadied and up right, without movement; Caiden's arms were around Jake's waist, their eyes locking into another infamous staring contest.

It would have been one of those things everyone would question, had it been visible to anyone around them, but the twins had already gotten past them, and the others were out of view.

Jake wanted to thank the breath stealer, but he was employee of the year, going above and beyond to leave him utterly dry.

The way the moon and stars amplified Caiden's features had Jake gulp whatever he had left in his throat.

He smelled like vanilla and lavender, and Jake couldn't get enough of it; he wanted to bathe in his scent.

"If you keep looking at me like that, I might not be patient enough to keep our deal," Caiden's voice was low and dark, his arms bringing the curly haired lad closer.

Jake could have easily ignored what was said and strayed off to another topic, or rebutted back with a smartass comment, but instead, he got a bit bold, biting Caiden's bottom lip, while grinding his tightened pants against the raven haired boy.

"Do your worst," Jake finally spoke, his lips centimeters away from Caiden's.

Shuffling sounds of bushes and trees startled the two, causing them to pull apart. Though it most likely was some sort of harmless animal, the two believed it could have been one of the others by the bonfire.

"Jake, you got your guitar, right?" Taylor's voice called through the woods, her voice sounding closer than Jake had hoped.

"Yeah, Tay, it's on my back," Jake shouted, walking forward with Caiden beside him.

Jake was never one to hide anything from Taylor, but he didn't even know what to tell her; he wasn't sure how to word the lack of relationship happening.

"Secrets are always fun," Caiden whispered, reading the apprehension Jake wore on his face.

***

Smiling faces, matching laughter, and overall connections were echoing through the woods. The flames reached the skies; reds, yellows, oranges lighting up the world the group of friends were a part of. The bluest flame was quiet, but as loud as can be.

"You remind me of the hottest part of the fire, Jake," Caiden had a moment of courage to voice his hidden thoughts that were roaming aimlessly in his head.

"I know I'm hot, Caiden, but damn..." Jake laughed, a beer in hand and leaning closer to the boy beside him.

"I mean, you have so much more to you than what others see; you're quiet, but your mind is loud." Caiden replied, taking a swing of his drink.

"I could say the same about you, but you're more like the moon, to me," Jake found himself betrayed by both his mind and mouth, as he had no intention of wording any of that.

He could read the fear in Jake's eyes; Caiden wanted to question his resemblance to what was lighting up the night sky, but decided another time would be best.

"Yo, steaks are ready, if y'all want," Jenna and Landon called at the same time, earning a laugh from the crowd.

Getting up, the two headed towards the others and got themselves one of everything; steaks, burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, some chicken wings, and fries. According to the twins, the only way to eat a fry is by grilling it.

"Dude, you outdid yourself this time; this, man, is fucking awesome," Mike's mouth was full, which sounded more like gibberish, as he spoke, which earned him a slap on the back of his head by Taylor.

"Mike, we spoke about this! Humans swallow first, and then talk. Don't be a Jake," Taylor chuckled, trying to keep a straight face.

"What the fuck did I do?" Jake looked up, his brows furrowed in utter confusion.

"I don't know, but something tells me you're a talker," Tay shrugged, digging into her burger.

"He's not even like a regular talker; like, he wouldn't be sweet talking you, or telling you what he wants to do. He would be the type to start doing mathematical equations during sex," Landon practically choked from laughter, listening to Bailey.

Her face was completely and utterly expressionless as she said, but it was the fits of laughter that had her break into cackles, as well.

"Like E=MC squared, but if the rotation of the area is at ninety degrees, and the body is at this angle of altitude..." Caiden couldn't help but join the conversation, animatedly moving his hands with every word he spoke.

"Don't forget to add the one, though, because you know, that can throw the whole thing off," Jenna added, doubled over in laughter with the others.

Red heat elected to show on Jake's face, as the others mocked him. He wasn't shocked by this by any means, as this was something utterly standard within their friendship. Taylor had always said, 'if I make fun of you, I love you'.

It wasn't always Jake the others poked fun at, and once in a while, he actually joined in on the fun. It had been a while since Jake felt annoyed, yet completely joyful. This was something he had missed, as he had his head usually glued to his books.

"When I get that perfect angle that hits that one spot every single time using math, don't come asking for help," Jake laughed, practically spitting out his beer, as he countered.

The others burst into fits of laughter, mostly because of what was said, but partly due to him pouring out his drink. Caiden watched as the boy began choking and immediately patted his back, pulling up his arms.

"Thank you, Caiden," Jake nodded, once his breathing was back to normal.

"There's something sexy about your mind," Caiden voiced his thoughts, his right hand placed on Caiden's left thigh.

"Hell, if equations and formulas turn you on, stay away from me at school," Jake chuckled, absentmindedly feeling his hand on Caiden's.

Maybe that was the perfect time for a real kiss, not a stolen one. But, just like life's little joke, the universe pulled the two apart. Kai called for Jake to help him out with something, leaving Caiden missing his touch.

Caiden's eyes locked on the curly haired lad, as he got up walking to where Kai had been standing.

Though Kai said he had wanted his assistance, the truth was he felt awkward alone with Landon not too far away.

Kai and Landon have been playing this cat and mouse game since senior year of high school, and were still telling others that the other didn't like him.

Landon had met Kai at first at some party he got invited to, which he of course attended with Taylor and Jake by his side. Kai was the life of the party, greeting everyone with that infamous million watt smile.

On the other hand, Landon had suddenly become shy, when the other boy had introduced himself; they spent most of the party dancing and talking, while Jake and Taylor were on the other side of that house.

Kai was from Easton Prep, which was the oddest thing to learn, as he was so down to earth and fun to be around; Most of the students at Easton Prep were judgmental and cliquey. By the end of the night, Landon had a new friend, a new crush, and someone he could party with when Tay and Jake were busy.

Fast forwarding three years, and the two fought like a married couple, got jealous when the other brought up dates or crushes, shared kisses randomly, cuddled, yet had the audacity to believe the part of their brain stating one didn't like the other.

"When are you going to tell him, Kai? This has been happening longer than I've known you," Jake chuckled, recalling the time when Tay and himself were doubting the existence of Kai, as they never saw them at the party, and every time a get together was suggested, something came up.

"What's to tell? He's crazy over Mike," Kai's voice was strong and affirmative, truly trusting what he had just said.

"Huh?!" The confused expression dressing Jake's face had Mike walk by, curiously, "Are you sure your brain cells are working, today?"

"What have I missed?" Mike raised a brow, wanting to know what the two were gossiping about.

"Please tell Mr. Ahn here that Landon doesn't like you," Jake shook his head, unsure what else he could do to help the helpless.

"You... Think... LANDON LIKES ME?!" Mike attempted to hold the laughter in, pausing between words, before erupting like a volcano full of emotions.

"Me? Like you?" A horrid expression of playfulness dressed Landon's face, hearing Mike shout hysterically. "I don't do aliens."

"Oh you finally upgraded to humans? When did you pass the level?" Taylor coughed, from the cackles, once hearing Kailey retort.

It was difficult for the raven haired boy to find himself at home in situations involving human interaction. Other than with Ava and Eli, of course. With the lot of friends he had been with at that very moment, he felt something wash over him; happiness.

It was a rare notion within his mind and heart, especially being away from the security blankets masked as his best friends. Ever since he had met the two, Caiden had never been without them.

He missed Ava and Eli.

"What song are we playing first?" Jake's voice interrupted Caiden's thoughts, causing him to look up.

If it weren't his voice that would have woken Caiden up from his mind, the electric currents sparking through his spine would have done the trick, as Jake took a seat beside him, once more.

"How about Bye Bye Bye, frosted tips?" Caiden whispered so only the two of them would hear, a giggle sounding from Jake in response.

"Keep playing, kitten," Jake's smirk was apparent, his hand slowly grazing the other boy's thigh, before placing it back on his guitar.

"Always, King Jake," Caiden licked his lips, watching as Jake's lips moved. "I'm counting down the minutes until you become my blank canvas."

Jake wanted to reply, but was speechless; the only thing that was heard between the two was a groan within Jake's throat, as Caiden's hand traveled a bit north on Jake's thigh for less than a second.

"So, what song did y'all decide?" Jake was brought back to reality, as Jenna questioned, her hands roaming Bailey's locks.

Several seconds later, the group chose Kiss the Boy by Keiynan Lonsdale; Jake nodded, playing along to the song. Landon began singing, then Taylor took over. Bailey hit some notes, as usual, ad libbing her way in, with her sister following.

Though some were better singers than others, they all pretty much sang along to the random songs picked; at one point Jake played four random cords on repeat and whoever thought of a song fit, they jumped in with a line or two.

The fire burned stronger than before, and with the music and laughter, this was home. This was how it always was; Taylor, Jake, and memories. Now, having more people share this with them, made it all the more special.

After singing their eighth song as a group, Jake begged for a break. Landon took over, playing around with the strings of the guitar, his eyes locking on a certain boy with parted lips and eyes at the sky.

"The stars were always my favorite; they shine without trying to be something they're not," Landon heard himself say, his eyes being met with brown ones full of emotion.

"That's what I said the first time we met, when we left the party," Kai's head lowered its gaze, turning to his side, facing an anxious Landon.

"I went home that night thinking about that, realizing that was the truest statement ever, and from that moment, they became my favorite, too," Landon's lips were inches from the boy's, speaking his feelings, "I noticed they were my favorite, because they reminded me of you."

"Damn! Took you long enough!" Taylor laughed, watching as the boys shared a kiss; every breathless moment poured every single second of emotion they had hiding for the past three years.

Cheers and applause echoed through the forest, putting the two on the spot. It wasn't abnormal within the group to make each other feel playfully uncomfortable.

"So, what's so special about Saturdays and bonfires?" Caiden randomly questioned, once the others began scattering their own ways towards the house.

Jake and Caiden had the woods to themselves, with fire igniting right before them, though it had nothing on the lightning through their own veins.

"I think it was the second or third time we had come here, and a storm broke out on Friday, leaving debris and power lines everywhere, so we were unable to leave the house. We had some food for that day, but when Saturday came, all we had were frozen meats and stuff and no oven or anything to cook in," Jake began explaining, his hand on Caiden's thigh, as if it came naturally.

"Wow, so why the vacation during a storm?" Caiden had confusion reading in his query.

"News sites and the weather never mentioned the storm, so we were just as surprised as anyone when it hit. Once things outside somewhat dried, Tay's dad went out with my dad to see if there was a way to fix or mess with the wiring, but it was useless. Ezra had the idea of a bonfire and barbeque, and from then on, it became a thing," Jake continued, recollecting every moment spent in that very spot, playing his instrument and singing along to any song he knew.

"A tragedy turned into a wonderful tradition," Caiden looked up at the moon, placing his hand on Jake's.

"You remind me of the moon, because I have this feeling you light up people's darkness, but you don't think you light your own," Jake elected to speak the thoughts he had cut off earlier.

"Please don't read me; I'm a horror story," Caiden spoke in a low voice, his eyes still facing the darkened sky.

"I think you're more of a mystery, and I'm dying to know more," Jake countered, his thoughts out in the open.