There was something rather different the next morning, when Jake woke up; he felt a strange fluttering in his chest. It wasn't something he was used to, and wasn't sure if getting accustomed to it would be the best thing.

It was certainly the first time he felt something so unusual and thought to make an appointment with his physician. The sudden ringing of his phone startled him.

Butterflies swarmed through him, while the tiny people built away an entire city in his heart, as his mind absentmindedly flew towards Caiden.

Though he always slept with just boxers, last night he kept his t-shirt on, knowing Tay, or Landon, or any one of his friends would somehow surprise him that morning.

"I'm thinking ice cream..." a very happy Taylor sounded at the end of the line, with voices in the background.

"Tay it's like nine in the morning. I haven't even gotten up, yet," Jake rasped, tiredly.

Jake let out a deep groan, stretching his arms out, once finally getting up. His thoughts immediately went to the boy who marked him, using him as the blank canvas.

He couldn't help but wonder where Caiden was, or if he even wanted to continue this new friendship, or whatever it was, between the two.

"Ice cream is a fine breakfast; plus I had a lab at six so for me this is lunch, or a snack," she laughed, and before Jake could reply, a turning of the lock sounded.

"I could have been naked," Jake hung up, eyeing the brunette.

"That's cool; it's not like we didn't shower together as kids. Is it still that small?"

"Do you still have a gnome down there?"

"Nah, he left; he got bored with me."

Jake simply nodded, as the two laughed.

Jake could tell the happiness in Taylor's voice and face were masks worn so others wouldn't pity or constantly ask her if she was okay. Generally, Tay was content with her life, but something always felt off to her, and she never had to word it.

Jake knew Taylor Key better than she knew herself; he recognized every tone change and the simplest of curves within her smile gave away how she truly was feeling. Landon had finally begun seeing the difference within the past year, but the others were pretty oblivious.

"I met your clone last night," Jake took a seat on his desk chair, while the brunette laid comfortably on his bed.

"No one can be this pretty, J," Taylor shook her head in confidence, looking at the curly haired lad.

"Not looks wise; personality wise. She's sassy as hell and thinks she knows best," he explained, stretching out his arms, once again.

"I do know best, Jakey," the confidence Taylor had was almost unmatchable, even at her lowest.

"Whatever you say, T," Jake stuck his tongue out, childishly at his friend, earning him a mimicked reaction.

Taylor turned on her stomach, using her hands to hold up her face. She felt at home in his room, no matter where the two lived.

"So how do you know her?" she questioned.

"She's friends with Caiden; on our way back we got some milkshakes and he called his friends to meet up with us," he immediately regretted bringing up the raven haired lad's name, knowing she would bring up the weekend.

"Speaking of which..." she sat up, a mischievous look in her eyes, "How was the sex?"

"Who says I slept with him?" Jake raised a brow in utter confusion.

"You didn't? Dude I don't even like men and I would have climbed him like a tree," the brunette spoke, unapologetically.

"It's hard to climb something your height, though. I get you wouldn't understand you being like three feet and all," he teased, earning him the middle finger and a playful glare.

"Point is, why the hell didn't you just have some fun this weekend? I saw y'all flirting; don't think you're that slick," Taylor pointed her index finger at her friend.

"Flirting is one thing, but one night stands aren't my thing, anymore. You know that, T," Jake got up, making his way towards the bathrooms to brush his teeth.

Taylor looked around, deciding the place needed a spruce, as it hasn't changed in quite a while. Jake wasn't opposed to alterations, he just didn't know where to start and wasn't sure if he would have the time for it.

The shower water felt great on his golden skin; he felt at ease and relaxed remembering the night prior and how Caiden had come over after the milkshakes to just talk.

The two spoke about everything and anything, but nothing too personal. Caiden was quite guarded by the invisible secret service surrounding him, while Jake was a tad more open, yet still secure.

Once he had brushed his teeth and showered, he made his way back to his room. He slipped on a grey muscle t and some jeans he had lying around, before making his way back to where his friend was.

"Ice cream?" Taylor's smile lit up, but slowly faded when Jake grabbed his biochemistry class.

Sure, on any other day Jake would have gladly turned his friend down for a nine in the morning ice cream, but as it was Taylor, and she was acting a bit off, Jake nodded.

"Ice cream and then I have biochem with the oh so nice Mr. Morgan," a fake smile plastered itself on his face, as the two headed out the door.

Sparks of every electric wire within the building shot through him, falling backward onto the hard concrete. Taylor, being herself, bursted into a fit of laughter, before helping her friend.

It was only after Tay calmed down that she noticed the boy on top was Caiden.

"Jake," Caiden's voice was sultry and raspy; his hair was a mess and he looked like he had just woken up.

"Caiden," Jake spoke, feeling a tad hurt by the look in the random girl's eye standing beside where Caiden would be, had he not fallen.

It took several seconds for the two to get up, still standing not even an inch apart. Taylor heard someone call her over, and told Jake she would be right back.

"I gotta go," Jake walked away before Caiden could say a thing; but what Jake underestimated was how fast the raven haired boy was. Caiden's hand pulled the curly haired lad's, stopping him in his tracks.

"You look upset, Jake," he sounded genuinely concerned, not a hint of teasing in his voice.

"I'm fine, Caiden. I have no right to be upset," Jake replied, trying to sound honest, though it wasn't a complete lie.

"Right," the raven haired lad responded, understanding what he meant. A part of him wanted to tell him that the girl was someone he ran into just at that moment, but the larger part wouldn't allow him.

He watched as the boy pulled himself away, walking to his friend, while leaving Caiden behind in his own mind, over thinking what could be running through Jake's head.

****

"So why didn't you sleep with him?" Caiden had his back on Ava's bed with Eli beside him, as her roommate was in classes all day.

"You think I can't be friends with someone without sleeping with them?" Caiden could feel butterflies flying through his veins, as he spoke about Jake Hart.

"I just think you don't know how to treat a friend, Cai; we're a different case. We've been here through every little thing that happened," Eli retorted, honestly.

Caiden knew they were right, but something had him think back to falling on top of the curly haired lad. He couldn't help but wonder if Jake had really been hurt or jealous over the random girl he had been seen with, or was it just annoyance that he saw him in school, and the weekend was more than enough.

"Caiden, you alive?" Ava waved her hand at him, bringing him back to their conversation.

"Yeah, Va, I'm just thinking," he nodded, brushing his hair back with his hand, nervously. "When I figure it out, because as of now, I'm confused."

Ava and Eli nodded, before suggesting some breakfast.

****

Maybe, it was the way he stood by the door at eleven pm; his hair tousled and darting every which way, while his t-shirt was worn out, with his shorts highlighting specific areas. Maybe, it was the way his chocolate brown eyes were dark and aggressive; Jake wasn't sure what it was, but Caiden was at his door, a look of mischief on his face.

As exhausted as Jake had been, working on the project he had due and just getting off work, his unlistening heart rebelled, letting the boy into his room. Jake's shift was fairly easy, but just the constant human interactions tired him.

Caiden didn't utter a single word; Jake was mute. The two stood about a foot apart, looking at one another. Caiden was there just to see the boy, but Jake's devilish core took charge, leaving his mind to speak by itself.

Jake took a step forward, nearing himself to the raven haired lad; The pair stood centimeters apart, their noses touching and their slightly parted lips breathless.

This was unfamiliar territory for the curly haired lad, taking charge in a situation he would usually run away from. Caiden could feel the apprehension settled in the boy's eyes, quickly taking over.

"I came over just to see you, but you're a temptation I can't seem to resist," Caiden spoke out his thoughts, his breath hitching, aware of the desire in the hazel eyes before him.

"You make me want to beg, but I don't know what for," Jake's voice was just above a whisper, muttering mostly to himself.

He was ready to break the one rule he had for a boy who probably won't talk to him the next day.

Caiden felt his pants stiffen, listening to Jake's voice, pushing him backwards towards the bed. Their lips found one another, dancing rhythmically to an unknown song the two had created. Jake laid back, while Caiden made his way on top of him.

Something poked out of the raven haired boy's pant pocket, and though usually Jake wasn't one to steal, he noticed it was a new little gadget he had around, and decided to take it before the boy would realize.

"You sure about this?" Caiden's voice was low, dark, and utterly seductive.

"Paint the rest of me," Jake spoke, stripping off his t-shirt.

"With every part of me," Caiden smirked, slipping off the worn out t he had been wearing.