••

Will

Please come over.

I cringe after hitting send, almost regretting it.

It sounds whinny and like I'm begging, but I kind of am. It's been a long week. A hard week, arguably my hardest week.

Having Mason shut me out and tell me he's done after what I thought was an intense night. A night where he finally kissed me and whispered sweet words comforting me has had me messed up. Frankly I was confused, hurt, and angry. I still am, but having avoided each other for a week also meant I've been sleeping alone.

For some reason that hasn't been easy. I've been sleeping here and there but it's broken and unsatisfying. I wake up just as tired as when I went to bed.

So I finally caved.

I stare at the text, 2:00am Friday night and I texted him. I sigh when he doesn't respond and decide that at this point I'm desperate and text again.

I can't sleep...Not without you.

Even after I send it I cringe at how cheesy and like some romance movie it sounds, but maybe it's the sleep deprivation that makes me not care. That doesn't see a problem with me calling Mason back into my life.

All I know is I was sad and angry and now I'm just tied. So fucking tired.

My phone doesn't make a sound and I bite my lip staring at my ceiling willing I don't cry another tear for Mason, but only a moment later my door creeks open.

I shoot up in bed and my heart pounds at the sight "Mason"

He looks uncomfortable, maybe even guilty.

"Only sleeping, Will" I nod moving over "only sleeping"

The moment I feel my bed dip with his weight it's like my body has a mind of it's own and I'm crawling to his side collapsing into his arms without a second thought.

Mason's breath catches, but he doesn't push me away. His arms wrap around my torso and he squeezes me tighter into him. Pressing his nose to the top of my head and inhaling deeply, before laying his head back and letting out the most content sigh I've ever heard.

I sink into him and within seconds I'm asleep. My body feasting on the satisfying sleep I seem to only get when wrapped in Mason's arms.

••

When I wake up the next morning I groan, not wanting to get up, my mind actually foggy with sleep. A feeling I haven't felt in a while.

I blink slowly and I bite my lip when my bed is empty. Almost convinced I imagined Mason coming last night, but his scent is still in the air and that alone has me buzzing to life.

Today is some football game that Gage is so excited to watch and even though I have no desire to hangout with him and his friends I promised I'd hangout for a little while. Gage has been so worried about me I don't know how to calm him down.

It's not like I can tell him his best friend broke my heart, not unless I want to ruin that friendship.

I sigh and text Jenna that I was jumping in the shower, but if she wants to come over in an hour that was cool with me. The one condition I had to hanging out with Gage and his friends was that Jenna could tag along. Lord knows I'll need someone to keep me entertained. Not to mention with Mason there I'll need a distraction as well.

After my shower I head down stairs and Gage grins "hey what's up? You feeling better?"

I roll my eyes "yeah Gage I'm fine" he shrugs "you've just been so sad lately if I didn't know any better I'd think some girl broke your heart"

I cringe when he says girl and without much thought blurt out my next words

"Gage I'm gay"

He pauses staring at me for a moment before nodding "okay...some guy then, is that what happened?"

I'm surprised and lift a brow "that's it?"

He shrugs "doesn't really matter Will, and I mean I sort of had an idea" I hold up my hands "hold on, you had an idea?"

He nods sighing "yes Will I had an idea, you...I don't know just didn't show a lot of interest in girls and I mean your best friends with Jenna, you sleep in the same bed for god sake, but nothing? And then there was Kade you just didn't seem fazed by him being gay or that I said he was into you"

I blink not realizing Gage was that attentive "oh" he nods turning back to the tv setting up the channel for the game.

"So a guy then?"

I shake my head "uh no I've just been stressed and tired I promise"

I think about the sleep I got last night and nod "I'm feeling a lot better" Gage gives me a smile "okay cool, and Will?"

I look up meeting his gaze "yeah?"

He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly "if your going to tell mom and dad..I'll....we'll I can be there with you" he shrugs "if you want"

I nod a smile growing on my face "I'd like that Gage" he grins "okay"

I turn to go upstairs but suddenly Jenna jumps off the bottom step "you told him?!"

I bite my lip "um yes"

Jenna turns to Gage who holds up a hand "I should have known you know, but seriously Jenna knew before me?!"

I bite my lip and shrug "Jenna well...she sort of figured it.." Jenna interrupts me "I found him looking up gay porn in 9th grade!"

My cheeks immediately heat up and Gage's eyes widen making me cringe "Jenna!"

She laughs "what?! That's how it happened!"

Gage laughs "okay fine I'm happy it was you and not me" Jenna chuckles "yeah I bet" I shake my head "anyway..who's coming today?"

Gage shrugs "Mason, Hank, Jack, and Austin" I nod "okay cool"

After that Jenna and I go upstairs and find my mom in the kitchen preparing snacks.

"Hi sweetie" I smile "hi mom, that's a lot of food" she nods "well a lot of growing boys will be here"

I chuckle "okay" I snag a cookie off the tray. My mom tries to take it back reminding me they're for later, but I only chuckle and take off to my room Jenna following behind me laughing.

"Your in a good mood" I cringe and my cheeks heat up knowing Jenna isn't going to be happy. I close my bedroom door and sigh

"Mason slept here last night"

Jenna's eyes widen "what?! Why?! That asshole!" I shake my head "I texted him!"

Jenna stops but she gives me a disappointed look "why Will?"

I sigh "I couldn't sleep Jenna I haven't been able to sleep for days and I just snapped. He came over and Jenna I finally woke up feeling rested"

I shake my head "maybe I shouldn't be letting him close to me again, but I need to sleep and this is the only way I know how"

She makes a face "that doesn't sound healthy Will" I nod "your probably right but what else can I do?"

She sighs "Will. I won't tell you what to do because it's your life, and I respect that you have to sort out what's best for you, but I don't want to see you hurt again"

I nod slowly "It's only sleeping Jenna" she sighs and mumbles "that's what you said last time" I cringe but don't respond because my door swings open.

Hank walks in and grins "catboy!" I lift a brow "Hank?" Jenna laughs "cat boy?"

I sigh "Hank stop calling me that!" Of course he ignores me and turns to Jenna "who are you?"

She lifts a brow "Jenna. Who are you?" He shrugs "Hank. Masons brother, are you Will's girlfriend?"

Jenna snorts and I roll my eyes "no Hank she's just my friend" Jenna scoffs "best friend"

I nod "best friend" Hank shrugs "okay"

He turns to Jenna "Soooo last time I was over I scared Will by jumping on him to wake him up, which was hilarious, but what was even funnier was that Will was wearing boxers with cats all over them!"

He starts cracking up again and Jenna laughs along with him "wow Will" I grumble "it's not that funny"

Hank goes to disagree, but suddenly Mason's voice floats up the stairs "Hank?!" Hank sighs and rolls his eyes walking to my door "what?!"

I cringe following Hank and pushing him out my door and towards the stairs lightly "we can just go downstairs to talk to him instead of yelling"

Hank shakes my hands off and starts walking down the stairs "yeah yeah" I turn to Jenna who chuckles "cute kid" I shrug "sure"

She laughs at me as we walk down the stairs "don't pout just because he calls you cat boy, you should feel special he gave you a nickname"

I roll my eyes, but Hank of course overheard Jenna and turns away from Mason to grin "yeah Will feel special" I just roll my eyes "I'm going to get a cookie"

Hank grins "a cookie?" He turns to Mason "you did not say there was cookies" Mason rolls his eyes "I didn't know there was"

Hank turns to me with a serious look "the cookies?" I laugh and nod toward the kitchen Hank following me.

My mom is washing the dishes so I quickly swipe two cookies before running out of the kitchen just as my mom calls out "Will!"

I chuckle while Hank laughs beside me before turning around and almost running directly into Mason.

I jump back "oh! Sorry!" He shakes his head "it's fine I was trying to make sure Hank didn't bother you" I avoid meeting his gaze for to long and shake my head "no he's good"

Mason looks between Hank and I before nodding "if he bothers you just tell him to beat it" I chuckle lightly and Mason's eyes light up at the sound. That of course just makes my chuckle die short lived.

Making Mason smile doesn't mean he likes you; I keep that chant on repeat in my head.

Mason notices and sighs before walking away. Hank chews loudly next to me before nodding "these cookies are amazing" Jenna laughs "your a lot more upbeat then your brother"

Hank laughs "yeah because I don't walk around brooding all day" Mason isn't down the stairs yet and calls out "I heard that!" Hank grins "oops"

Jenna laughs again and nods to me "want to go downstairs? Or upstairs?" I shrug "either one" she nods and moves to go downstairs, but Hank grabs my arm.

"Hey Will?" I lift a brow "yeah?" He looks lightly at Jenna before sighing "I just...before we go with everyone else I wanted to ask you.."

I nod and he sighs "I heard Gage and Mason talking just that...you know, you haven't been yourself or something lately"

I bite my lip feeling uncomfortable but I let him talk "I just wanted to know if you were still I don't know upset about what my dad said?"

I cringe at the memory, but shake my head "no Hank I'm okay" he sighs "okay because it's a load of bull crap you know that right?"

I give him a half smile "thanks Hank" he doesn't look satisfied with my answer, but nods and squeezes my arm once before letting go and turning to go downstairs.

Jenna gives me a questioning look but I just shake my head whispering "later" she nods and we go downstairs.

The minute I get downstairs Austin notices and walks over grinning "baby..!" He chokes halfway through and immediately my cheeks heat because despite knowing what he meant to call me he now called me baby in front of everyone.

Jack immediately starts laughing and drawing attention to it, but my gaze is on Mason whose head whipped around the minute Austin spoke. It reminds me of the time Mason was calling me the same word.

Austin composes himself and his cheeks tinge slightly "shit I meant baby Jackson"

I laugh and Jack chuckles slapping Austin's back "we know what you meant!"

Gage shakes his head "you hitting on my brother Austin?" I cringe because even though Gage is putting on a joking tone he seems tense and I worry it's because I came out to him.

Austin shakes his head "I didn't mean to say that"

Gage chuckles and Austin whines when Jack won't let it go. I just shake my head chuckling before heading over and sitting on a bean bag.

Hank follows me and grins "baby Jackson? That's almost better then cat boy" I cringe "Hankkkk" he chuckles but Mason grunts from his spot across the carpet "stick with catboy"

Hank chuckles "I won't be letting that one go for a looooong time" I shake my head "you.."

suddenly Gage grins "Hanky Panky! You didn't even say hi to me!" Hank's eyes narrow before shooting to me with a look of horror and I grin.

"Oooh Hanky Panky I guess you should feel special Gage have you a nickname!"

Hank glares "Catboy you better not call me that" I chuckle "what was that Hanky Panky? I couldn't here you?"

He glares and jumps on me knocking me backwards out of my beanbag and we end up wrestling on the floor until I poke Hank in the ribs and he starts giggling like a schoolgirl.

I grin and immediately begin attacking his ribs "Please!" He gasps "Will! Stop! I won't call you Catboy!"

I pause my attack for just a moment "what Hanky Panky? You won't call me what?" He laughs again as I poke him "I won't call you Catboy I won't!"

I chuckle and finally let him get up grinning at him as he narrows his eyes a huge smile on his face "your evil" I laugh and he turns to Mason who I only then notice is wearing a breathtaking smile and staring right at us.

"You didn't even help me! Your own brother being brutally attacked right in front of you!"

Mason rolls his eyes and grins "you asked for it" I chuckle behind Hank smiling at Mason for siding with me.

Hank shakes his head "I thought you were my friend Cat.." I lift a brow and he rolls his eyes "I'm going to get another cookie"

My eyes light up "get me one!" He's already at the bottom of the stairs and turns "get your own cat boy!" With that he darts up the stairs and I laugh climbing back onto my beanbag.

Jenna laughs next to me "how many times have you met that kid?" I shrug "three?" My eyes automatically drift to Mason to confirm and he nods "including today yeah"

I nod and turn to Jenna who smiles "he really likes you" I smirk "what's not to like?"

Jenna rolls her eyes "okay Catboy" I sigh falling back on the beanbag "don't start"

••

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