It had become somewhat of a routine for the raven haired boy to show up unannounced to the curly haired lad's room. Three days have passed, and Jake's room was full of take out and unknown wrappers. Jake was feeling groggy and overtired, overworking himself through every homework and class, as sleep was a thing of Jake's past.

He had become addicted to Caiden's lips, letting them roam his body, bruising him in the most amazing ways. Jake was aware that everyone around him knew about the sexcapades he experienced with Caiden, as they would constantly tease him.

Caiden was on another level of pure pleasure when he would spend his hours with the curly haired boy. He enjoyed the biting and the pulling and how bold Jake was; he was a different person in bed. Jake was seductive and almost sexier than Caiden could have imagined, when he would bring out the remote to tease the raven haired boy.

Jake's mind was constantly working double time, hoping to catch up to where normal Jake would be in life and in his studies, but was running behind. He began writing songs when he should be studying, and focusing on how to ask Caiden if he wanted a key, without sounding like he was trying to push him into a relationship, instead of his work.

Taylor noticed a change in her friend within seconds of seeing him after the second time Caiden had stayed for those few hours, but thought nothing of it. Jake, for the first time, was putting life before books, and Tay was well aware that it was a necessity in his life.

Caiden couldn't stop himself from watching the boy he had been seeing secretly from across the room; the two were sitting in the same courtyard, on opposite sides. He could hear Eli's voice asking him something, but his mind was on nothing but how badly he wanted to rip off the shirt Jake had on.

He knew this wasn't something friends did, but he considered Jake a friend, since he got the courage to ask for his number the night before. It's not like he used it to call or text him, but he had it, which was saying a lot.

Jake could feel the boy's eyes piercing holes in his skin, but he wanted to at least try and pay attention to what Mike had been saying; he hadn't seen him in a couple of days, as he was studying, so Jake missed him.

"You know I finished speaking like ten minutes ago, J," Mike laughed, trying to get Jake back into the real world and away from his head.

"Oh... Uhh sorry," Jake apologized, honestly, his body practically screaming for the boy staring his way.

"Why don't you go talk to him?" Mike asked, knowing he had probably been thinking of the boy looking his way.

"We don't talk, really..." Jake responded, his mind, once again, over thinking itself into the ground.

"What does that even mean?" He was confused, unsure of what the curly haired lad meant.

"We're more physical than talkative," Jake replied, finally turning around, only to notice Caiden had left.

"Yeah, dude, a blind person can tell you that. Look at all the bruises on your body."

"I enjoy it."

"Do you ever want more out of him?"

"I don't know; maybe."

"Maybe what?" Taylor joined the two, wanting in on their conversation.

"Doesn't matter. Anyway, who was the girl you said you had a crush on?"

"Oh, I don't know if you know her... Her name is Ava, she has pink hair. I met her outside of my lab, she was waiting for someone," Tay responded, earning her a snort and laugh from the curly haired lad.

"Remember when I told you I met your clone? That's her; she's Caiden's best friend," Jake laughed, thinking they would make the most powerful couple.

"Well, would you look at that..." Mike laughed, before adding, "Find out if he's got a friend for me."

"He does," Jake wiggled his brows, playfully, thinking of Eli.

"Yo, I wanna meet him."

"Tay this is where you come in," Jake sighed, taking his leave towards his room to play on his guitar.

****

The ringing of his phone startled Caiden, as he checked to see who could be calling at that hour. It was three in the morning, and Caiden had finally gotten back to his room from Jake's and was in dire need of sleep. Landon was with Kai, leaving Caiden alone for the night.

It was the dreaded number which called once a month to check in; he hated those calls. They were constant and punctual, but the time zones were the problem, as they would call at the oddest of times.

Though Caiden didn't appreciate the call at three in the morning, he thanked the heavens the phone hadn't rung when he was in the other boy's bed.

Taking a deep breath, Caiden answered the phone, his voice groggy. "I'm still here."

"I received the report; I was just making sure," the person on the end of the line spoke, no expression or hint of any tone.

"Good night," Caiden hung up, relaxed that his call of the month had been done.

He dreaded every month, unsure of what kind of call he would be getting. He was glad they were only check-ins and nothing more, because he couldn't bare to know it was something else he could add to his list of tragedies.

****

It started off only at night; Caiden would show up at eleven-ish and leave a couple of hours later. But it had been several days since their adventure had begun, and Caiden elected to show up whenever he felt like it. And Jake couldn't resist.

It's not like Jake wanted to deny him, but didn't; it was more of him wanting to sleep, rest, work, study, or go to class, but would throw it all away for a few hours of utter ecstasy.

But, Jake knew missing one class or two of one subject would not be any issue, as he was way ahead of his class; he was sure he could miss the rest of the semester and he would graduate with flying colors. Though, he never would actually go through with skipping those lessons.

****

A knock on the door surprised him, seeing as it was eight in the morning, and no one ever visited him that early. Getting up, Caiden opened the door, without asking who it was, as not many people knew he lived there, and all of Landon's friends knew he slept in boxers, by now.

A very worried Ava made herself at home, taking a look at the zombie before her. He was unrecognizable; his hair was more disheveled than normal, while his body was covered in scratches. She wanted to question if he was okay and if something was wrong, but she knew better than to make him use his brain that early.

"I didn't come to fight, or argue; I know that to you talking this early is considered one of those, but I spoke to Evan," Ava took a seat beside his laying form on his bed.

"What does he want in order to end this?" Caiden knew from her tone, he was asking for something.

"Not much; he wants you to sign some papers and uhh three hundred thousand," Ava said the last of the sentence a bit too fast, hoping the boy didn't hear her.

"I hope he can accept monopoly money. I mean, I didn't pass go and didn't get my two hundred, yet, but..." Caiden's brows furrowed, puzzled at what this human wanted. "I'm not gonna-"

"Don't worry I told him that already; he countered with signing the papers and one hundred thousand."

"Dude, what papers?"

"I don't know dude, why did you get into this with him to begin with?"

"We won't be talking about that. Now leave if you wanna stay on this subject," Caiden was stern and intimidating; Ava understood why his tone suddenly changed, and decided to lay with him, hoping it would calm him down.

"Sorry, Va..." Caiden had two constant things in his life; Eli and Ava and he wouldn't dare allow himself to lose them.

"Don't worry I spoke to Eli already. We'll think of something, Cai. But, maybe call Noah?" Ava played with his hair, relaxing his mind and heart.

"I don't want to call Noah. I'll call if it's a last resort," Caiden shook his head, and Ava, once again, understood.

It didn't take long for the raven haired boy to fall asleep in his best friend's arm, though his slumber was nothing short of worrying. Mutters sounded from his mouth as he dreamt, and tears fell from his eyes. Ava had a hunch of what he had been dreaming of, and almost immediately called Eli to come by his room.

Eli knocked once, before Ava let him know it had been unlocked. He could see his friend slowly disheveling into nothingness, while asleep, and was uncertain of what steps to take.

"What day is it today?" Ava knew why Eli had asked, and instantly called for a cab to meet them at the door of the dorms within the hour.

Waking Caiden up, she told him he had less than an hour to be ready, but didn't give any more details. Caiden was never one to follow orders, unless he fought them first, but complied, this time.

He took his time, letting the water wash away every negative thought and tear he had throughout his nightmare; the dream he had been reliving in his mind, haunting his every move.

The voice he yearned for and craved sounded, as he was drying up; he could hear a laugh following the voice and he knew that someone was with Jake. But one thing he had learned was Jake was never one to branch out of his social circle, so though Caiden had given Jake every reason to feel jealous, Jake had no way of reciprocating it to Caiden.

Mike made his way into one of the empty showers, while Jake walked closer towards Caiden, noticing a sudden weirdness surrounding him. There was definitely something off with the usually cocky smirk that was missing and the mischievous look in his eyes, which disappeared.

He didn't know if asking if Caiden was okay was part of their unspoken agreement, as they never actually spoke. Jake, however, decided to ask, anyway, earning him a slow nod, without a single word.

"I'll see you tonight," Caiden simply said, before leaving the shared bathroom.

Jake was dumbfounded; Caiden could so easily turn on and off his emotions and that scared the living hell out of him. The smaller part of Caiden wanted to tell Jake why he was being like this, but the larger part knew not to. He knew not to allow someone else to break his walls.

****

"Where are we?" As annoyed as Caiden wanted to sound, he was more concerned, as it was never like Ava nor Eli to plan an escape. That was always Caiden's doing.

"Let's walk a bit and you'll recognize the area," Ava replied, paying the driver, before making her way out with the boys following.

Caiden nodded, following the two down a road, and towards what looked like a beach, and instantly he felt his heart both break and piece itself back together. This was the one place he missed, but dreaded returning to.

"Wanna sit and watch the waves, or you ready to go in?" Eli asked, turning to his left, watching tears streaming down Caiden's face.

He didn't reply; Caiden took a seat, his mind on one person, when it should have been on another.

Jake.

****

That night was like any other; Caiden reverted to his old self, as if nothing had happened earlier that day. Jake, though very into what was going on, couldn't help but remember the redness in the boy's eyes, and the life that was gone. But he knew Caiden was himself, when he showed up at his door, ready to give him everything he had.

Jake enjoyed every moment with him, and loved the sudden changes throughout; it was never boring and always captivating.

Caiden still couldn't help but think of the water and all the times he had spent over there when it was just him and the one kid who made his whole life better. Before everything fell to shattered glass and pieces of his life threw themselves away. He wanted to bring that moment back to life and hold on to it in a way that it would never vanish.

But at that very moment, he had something in his arms with pressing needs and desires, and locked away all thoughts of his past, leaving him in the now. But it was never that easy, because he was someone who meant more to him than Jake did, but not in the same way.

"We could stop," Jake could tell Caiden wasn't as into it as he had been the previous times, though he was still his cocky, obnoxious self.

"Do you not want to?" Caiden was not about to force anything on the curly haired lad, and was ready to pause, when Jake shook his head, hinting that Caiden hadn't been in the right headspace, but Caiden told him it was fine.

"I know it's not something we do, but I'm here if you wanna talk..." Jake said, before being met with Caiden's lips.

Panting and breathless sounds echoed throughout the room, leaving their relationship, or lack thereof, wordless with emotions pouring out.