I didn't call to see if he was home...

Maybe his aunt's here and I can talk to her instead since we seem to do this thing where we'll talk to the other's guardian but completely ignore each other.

I only want to make sure he's not feeling alone.

My hand begins to freeze as soon as I take it out of my coat pocket. I knock hard on the door, hoping someone will hear me the first time.

Evan opens it, looking as if he's wearing what he slept in last night.

"Hey."

"Zach..." he says as if he can barely recognize me anymore.

"Yeah, I was just in the neighborhood-" I sigh, "no, I wasn't, I came here on purpose."

He smiles, "that's okay."

"I wanted to know if you were feeling alright. You know, since school and everything."

Evan shrugs, "I'm fine."

"Good," I nod and start backing away, "that's good, I was just wondering."

"You can come in if you want."

"In?"

"Only if you want to."

"Yeah," I walk up to him again, "sure."

I take off my shoes as soon as I step through the door, they're still damp with melted snow.

"Do you want some ice cream?" Evan asks as he heads toward the kitchen.

"Yeah, why not? It's only 30 degrees outside."

"Never too cold for ice cream." He grabbed two bowls out of a cabinet and a tub of vanilla bean ice cream from the freezer.

Evan pulls open a drawer of silverware, and I hear him chuckle.

"Are the forks telling jokes now, Evan?"

He shows me a spoon that's bent at the neck, "I've used it to scoop ice cream so much that it lost its shape. Now none of us are straight."

I press my lips together to try and keep from laughing. "You're so dumb." He smiles at me and I end up laughing anyway. "You and your gay spoon."

"Gay ice cream scooper."

It's bent because he doesn't let the ice cream soften first. The difference between us and that spoon is that we prefer things hard, apparently.

"I'm sorry you had to come out before you were ready to. That's tough."

"I'm sorry I hit you. That let off a bad chain of events, didn't it?"

"I feel like there were steps before that led to this..."

"Probably," he nods, "but your face really hurt my hand."

"Oh, I hurt you?"

"You kept yelling at me to hit you. I thought— damn, we did not go far enough for me to know you have a thing for pain."

And here I am trying and failing not to laugh at your stupid jokes.

Evan laughs too— Evan laughed first...and I almost forgot it was cold outside.

"I'm glad you're laughing at this now." I'm just glad you're laughing.

"It's only funny because we're talking about it together. In the moment, I hated myself," he admits.

"Well, don't. You're alright."

"Thanks," Evan says while looking directly at me and for some reason it seems like 'thanks' means a little more.

He slides a bowl of ice cream over to me.

"Thanks..." we hold that eye contact again before he breaks it. "So, what are you going to do?"

He shrugs, "nothing."

"Are people being really mean?"

"No, I'm not the first guy at school to like other guys. Some people are being extra nice and others don't care, it's just...different now."

"I don't think you're going to get beat up, you're still Evan."

"No one is going to beat me up but you apparently," Evan smirks.

"It's not like I won."

"I'll let you win next time."

"Let me win?" I scoff, "Alright, Evan— I bet if I wanted to, I could do some damage. You caught me off guard in the locker room."

"How? You told me to hit you, how were you not expecting it?"

"Because you took too long. If I were ready, I could've blocked it."

He snickers mockingly, "Okay, Zach."

"You don't believe me."

"What do you want me to say? You want a rematch?"

"Right here?"

"Unless something is stopping you."

"Alright, let's go."

We walk out in front of each other. He gives off a smug impression by just standing there staring at me like no matter what I do, he'll be able to take me down.

I launch at him and he holds me back, grabbing my arms to keep me at a distance.

How do we win if no one wants to get hurt?

I pull my arms away and step back before rushing to wrap myself around his waist. The force finally pushes him to the ground, and I shift my body weight onto him to keep him there.

I hear him laugh before I'm easily flipped over and staring up as he hovers over me.

It's been a while since I've been under you.

"I feel like you cheated somehow."

"He does this," Mr. Bailey sighs, "I'm convinced he waits for me to leave before he comes out."

"Tell Harry to stop bringing him breakfast in the mornings, you'll see him a lot more then."

"I'll also have to start taking blood pressure medicine," he jokes...I think. "Trevor, it's noon!"

He shouts back, "I'm awake!"

"Then why don't you come out here?"

I hear his door open down the hall and a heavy sigh when he starts walking toward us.

"I wasn't aware we had a father-son breakfast on the books. When was this schedule-" he rolls his eyes when he spots me by the bar. "Noon and still too early for this shit."

Trevor begins to walk away.

"Did I excuse you?" Mr. Bailey raises his eyebrows. "No, so turn back around. Don't you see Jace standing here?"

"That's the problem."

I wave, "Hey, Trev."

"No."

"Come on, how many times are you going to make me apologize?"

"When your apology grants me a girlfriend."

"You didn't want Alison anymore! Why are you so mad?"

"The same reason you're mad that Heather is getting pounded by Leo Rylin."

"Are you seriously trying to compare my two-year relationship to your two month one? Less than a semester and you were already complaining about the relationship."

"It wasn't your place."

"And that's why I'm sorry."

"You're fighting over women?" Mr. Bailey chuckles as he looks at Trevor, "and you genuinely wondered why I didn't want someone like you in charge of my company? Look how quickly you'd lose focus on your priorities."

"You say that as if I don't pay attention," Trevor glares are him. "What do you know at all about the things that happen here? You're based out of New York and you don't know anything about it."

"I know where the money is."

"So you know mayor Michaels is siphoning money out of charity foundations because he's broke but Audrey can't go without pocket cash?"

"Who told you this?"

"Does it matter? He is definitely going to jail over Audrey because she would physically combust if she had to give up her lifestyle."

"That's why she lived with you? I figured you were using the 'friend in distress' excuse to hide the fact that you were hooking up," I say in shock.

"You're the only one who cheats in relationships, Jace. But since we're on this topic, let's talk about my now ex girlfriend. Audrey lost her funds at the perfect time because our sweet Ali has been picking up the bill everywhere since she made a business of blackmailing men who rim college boys."

My jaw drops, "what?"

"That's enough now, Trevor. You've made your point."

"I know everything that goes on in New York City. I am Manhattan," Trevor boasts. "Your parents stopped fucking each other when we were in middle school. The only reason their marriage works is because they get to see other people."

"Shut up," I scoff.

His dad sighs in what I assume is disappointment. "What is the relevance of this, Trevor?"

"You claim I wouldn't be good for your business, what do you know about the people you do business with? You know Blakely Corp is merging with Kendal enterprises in Shanghai? If you would've cut a contract with William Blakely, you could've merged in Beijing since he wants to expand in China so badly, and then you could've thrown Kendal a small deal in Australia or New Zealand and tripled the value of your company. Did you know that?"

"If you had all this information beforehand, why would you not suggest it and triple your value."

"Because of that right there. It's not my job, you gave it to George, remember?"

I quietly walk into the house, peeking around corners in hopes of avoiding my mom.

My room door is open, so I know she was looking for me. Maybe I can convince her I got home late and left again early in the morning.

I walk in and see Danny, Matt, and Zach lounged around my room.

Nevermind.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"There he is," Danny says in revelation.

I ruffle my hair when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror; it's messy, there's creases in my shirt, my tie is un-tightened.

"What were you not doing here?" Matt asks.

"Your mom had to let us in," Zach says in a warning tone.

"She knows you were camped out at your girlfriend's house. Good luck with that conversation," Danny adds, visibly amused.

I chuckle and lay down on my bed. That conversation is worth it.

"So, how'd it go with her folks?"

"Bad," I shake my head and laugh. "Worse than I thought it'd be. We cut dinner short."

Danny scrutinizes me, "Then what are you so happy for?"

I smile, thinking about exactly what I'm happy for— and just shrug so I don't have to tell them.

Matt and Danny look at each other before looking at me again.

"You got laid," Danny says, "didn't you?"

I laugh harder at the idea that I couldn't even hide it.

"Heather finally gave you some?"

"If it's that obvious then I really have to avoid my mom," I rub my face as if I can wipe off my transparency.

"It's not that obvious," Zach says. "I thought you were just happy you were with Heather."

"Trust me, I am," I reply.

"So— what, did she hop on to make up for her parents being jerkoffs?" Matt questions.

"No, we just hadn't had sex yet and she wanted to."

"How was it?"

Here I go again with the blushing and the grinning and— fuck, they'll make fun of me forever because I can't make it stop.

I saved the money, took the subway and blushed all the way home.

"Look at his stupid smile." Danny teases, "he was whipped enough before, there's no hope for him now."

"Ah— shut up," you're absolutely right.

"That good, huh?" He chuckles.

"She ordered us room service and we just laid there laughing, talking, and messing around for hours until we fell asleep."

"Aw," Zach says, clearly interested in the less sexual aspects of last night.

"Aw," Matt mocks him.

"I snuck out about an hour ago, but man I kind of wish I ran into her dad, you know?"

Matt scoffs through laughter, "So you could rub it in his face?"

"Not exactly— but he told me last night that Heather will be done with me by graduation and shit. So, it would've been nice for him to know that she was pretty into me last night."

He snickers, "You were more into her."

"I need to take a shower."

Danny nods, "I bet."

My mom passes by my room absentmindedly but backtracks when she sees me.

"Leo!"

"Hey, mom..."

"Hey?" She starts to yell, "Where were you? Why didn't you call?

"I'm sorry, I got caught up."

"Caught up? That's you're excuse?"

"I'm sorry."

"You leave and don't tell me where you'll be, and then you don't come back all night— and now you're sorry?"

"It's not like I was out in the streets somewhere, mom. I was inside."

Matt chokes on the laugh he's trying to stifle, and somehow that makes her madder at me.

"Don't ground me," I sigh.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't," she crosses her arms.

"Because...I love you...and I won't leave again without telling you where I'm going."

"Where were you?"

"I was at this restaurant and then I stayed with...someone."

"Were 'someone's' parents home?"

"...Eventually."

"Leo-"

"Don't say it."

"You're grounded," she says sternly before leaving my room.

"What the fuck?" I huff.

"I would've covered for you if I knew you weren't coming home last night," Danny sympathizes.

"She's never fucking here anyway, but it's a problem when I'm not?"

My mom looks back into the room with a hurt expression on her face.

Yeah, now we're both upset.

"You know you don't have to wait in this room if you don't want to."

"It's okay, I like watching them," Elizabeth replies, her eyes still locked on the stage.

"Really?"

"Yes, it's nice that they have one person out here who isn't going to masturbate to this later."

"The people who are, are giving them money."

"That's all you care about."

"That's...partially true," I admit.

"The fact that you have friendships and relationships is really shocking."

"I guess no one thinks I'm that bad."

"I do," she says sardonically.

"I don't believe you."

"You should."

I shake my head, "it must be frustrating to be so heavily attracted to me and still feel the need to resist."

"It must be frustrating to never have anyone love you as much as you love yourself."

I smirk at her and nod before backing away. I head toward the stage and take a seat in the front where Elizabeth still has a view of me.

Rosebud has her legs hooked around the pole right now. She takes one leg off and lets her body turn in circles as she hangs upside down.

She sees me when she stills, and a smile forms on her face.

I motion her over to me with a finger.

Rosebud lowers herself down the pole and eyes me deviously. The audience cheers when she comes off the stage.

She takes a seat on my lap.

"Shouldn't you be working?"

"This is working," I look down to where she has us pressed together as she gyrates.

I hear her laugh before she leans her back against my chest and begins to guide my hands over her skin.

"Don't we have a look but don't touch rule?"

"Yes, but it doesn't apply to you," she places my hands over her breasts.

Almost instantaneously, I glance up and meet Elizabeth's gaze.

We hold eye contact long enough for me to see she's flustered.

She looks away and my eyes watch her chest rise and fall now that she's breathing quicker.

Oh, Liz, you're uncomfortable in ways I'm not sure you understand.

Are you mad that I'm doing this?

Or

Are you mad you're not her?

She watches me for a few more seconds until she decides to roll her eyes and leave.

All you do is storm off from me.

I reach into my pocket and grab the wad of bills I've collected just from making rounds through the club.

"This is for you," I give Rosebud a couple of fifty dollar bills for the dance.

"Thank you, Ethan," she fawns.

"Don't mention it, gorgeous. You've done more than you know," I tap her leg twice and she takes that as a signal to get up. "If you'll excuse me," I say before going off to find my irritable assistant.

There's no quiet place for her to hide out, she'll have to sit in the casino room or entry bar...and she still doesn't know what goes on upstairs.

"Yoo-hoo, Elizabeth."

She snaps, "What?"

"Where are you going?"

"Why are you following me?"

"Because you're walking away."

She stops in the middle of the hall and turns to face me. "Better?"

"Why are you upset with me? I haven't even done anything this time."

Elizabeth scoffs, "this time."

"Yes, unless there's something I don't know. In that case, please enlighten me."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Should I spell it out?"

"Go for it."

"Why would you get so jealous that another girl has her hands on a guy you think is bad?"

"Get over yourself."

I step closer to her. "Can I kiss you, Elizabeth?"

The frustration eases from her face, and instead, she's stunned...probably expecting our cat and mouse game to have lasted a bit longer.

Too bad I'm impatient.

"...I'll slap you," she replies.

I chuckle and easily intertwine our fingers as I move even closer to her, pressing the back of her hands against the wall.

"How?"

Elizabeth stares at me the way she did when we were at that dinner table...when she knew that if we continued she'd give in to the thoughts of me she can't push away...

"Ethan..." Her eyes draw me to her in ways I won't let her hands.

I shake my head, "That's not what you're supposed to call me," and then I kiss her. Gentle...demanding...how I am with her.

And my first thought is— her lips are even better when they're not being used to snap at me. They're soft and inviting against mine and in between.

I expected her to kiss me back, of course. But I didn't anticipate how fervid she'd be. She's hot against me, intense pressure and tongues brushing on one another—we're breathing the same air. Right now, we're perfectly flammable...

And I smirk knowing that if I let go of her hands, they'll be locking us tightly together, tracing over my body, desperately memorizing the feel of my skin. I know you're boiling inside.

This is all you can have for now. We're playing the long game, after all...

I pull away from her and set her hands free from the cage of my fingers.

"Do you want to slap me?" I ask arrogantly.

Elizabeth avoids eye contact as if she's guilty of something.

"I don't know."

"You should figure it out."

"After you," I hold the door to the building open as old lady Turnbom walks slowly....slowly out of it.

"Thank you, Matthew," she taps my shoulder.

The door shuts and I whistle as I head up the stairs. My parents aren't back until tomorrow, and I'm going to do whatever I can't do when they're-

Who the hell are you?

I stop and crouch down on the steps to get a better look at the man in front of my door. He's a buff fucking tower dressed in all black and wearing leather boots. He's here to kill me. Goodbye.

I go back down the stairs so fast that I'm practically flying toward the door.

"Hey!" The man's loud voice makes my heart tighten in my chest. But, does that stop me? No.

My hands push the door open and I walk as fast as I can. I want to run— but being chased while you're running is the scariest shit ever, plus, I'll really get my ass kicked then.

I keep my head low and try to blend in with the random strays coming down the sidewalk. Why is it that when I want to hide, people want to be tucked away in their houses instead of crowding the streets for no reason?

"Matthew," he says in a deep, intimidating voice.

Great, the Godfather sent one of his goonies after me.

"Uh, no," I keep moving without looking back, "I'm not Matthew."

"Oh, that's funny," he grabs my shoulder to stop me before tossing me toward the bricks of an apartment building. "Because if you were Matthew, I'd tell you that the longer you go without giving me my money, the longer I'll make you suffer before I finally kill you."

"Yeah..." I fake a laugh, "that is funny."