"Yeah, that was me, Caiden; I felt someone looking at me throughout the night, but I got nervous. Taylor kept trying to push me to talk to you, but by the time I had wanted to make my move, you had some guy with his arm on your shoulder and you looked a bit too comfortable," Jake nodded, admitting his past.

Caiden couldn't help himself; he pulled Jake in for the most passionate kiss the two had shared. Jake could feel himself spilling out every single little spec of emotion he had guarded away. Caiden all but said the words of love, while their lips moved and danced in sync.

They pulled apart for air, breathless as always, their eyes locked with utter failure of ever hiding anything from one another, again.

"That was Mark, Jake. He actually encouraged me to say something to you, but I was too chicken," laughter echoed throughout the room.

"You were nervous? You?! Caiden, you're the most confident person I know," the curly haired lad raised a brow, delighted by what he had just heard. "And, I know Taylor Key."

"Because I'm only flirting and fucking; you don't need much confidence for that, Jake."

"I disagree, but I'll respect your opinion, Caiden."

"Why do you say my name like that? Like, you'll never hear it again if you don't say it?"

"Because, I do have that thought in the back of my head, Caiden. I worry that will happen, and I don't know what I would do if it did," Jake let out a few tears, voicing his thoughts towards the boy who had captured his heart.

Caiden was quiet. For the first time in his long life, he didn't feel like he was alone in his own head, and he had someone who understood the emotions he had been keeping away. Someone had the fear of losing him. He didn't have to feel alone at being scared they would disappear.

"Well, Jake Hart, you know what you said about our worlds intertwining?" the raven haired lad spoke, laughter in his tone, trying to lighten the mood.

"Uh huh..." the tattooed boy nodded, letting him go on.

"I was known as CL in high school. Caiden Lee is my name. Well, everyone knew me as Lee, till Mark stole the nickname, accidentally; he was a jock and everyone knew him as that Lee boy."

"You're telling me-"

"Funny thing, isn't it? I noticed someone eyeing me the entire night at that party. I kept seeing hazel eyes and my heart was ready to burst. I wanted to talk to you, and just like at Halley's, Mark kept giving me pep talks, trying to talk encourage me, but when I finally got around to walking your way, you were gone," Caiden couldn't help but laugh at how the universe kept giving them chances at meeting.

"But how didn't I recognize you? And how did you know about that party?" Jake's mind swarmed with nothing but questions.

"Halley had told Eli that she had a friend throwing a party and she could invite anyone she wanted, so she invited her cousin and he doesn't do parties alone, so he invited Ava, Mark, and me. Also, I mean, I still don't get how I could forget those eyes, so I have no idea, Jake."

Caiden took a moment to study the curly haired boy's eyes, utterly confused and almost upset at himself for forgetting someone so incredible. He felt his inner self scold him, but as if Jake could read his mind, he leaned in for a short kiss to remove those negative thoughts.

"Was that you before Mark passed? Were you always so social?" Jake stayed close to Caiden, his head nearly on the raven haired boy's chest.

"Not always, but I was definitely better than I am now," he confessed, nodding as a reply.

"I get you, angel."

"I thought you didn't do pet names," Caiden smirked, loving the sound of him calling him that.

"I just don't wanna be another one of your babes," Jake admitted and at that moment Caiden understood what he meant.

Caiden could hear Jake's roaring stomach begging for food, and before he could call or text someone to bring them food, Jake called his work place for two pies and some garlic bread.

"What if you're my only..." Caiden heard himself say, pulling Jake into his chest, holding him close. "But I suck at this, Jake. I-"

"It's okay-" Jake began, but couldn't finish his thought.

"No. I mean, there's something I'm hiding from you and Noah and I'm pretty sure you'll run and he might just kill me."

Jake took a deep breath, pulling away to look Caiden in the eyes.

"Try me."

Caiden sat up, stretching out his body, and rotating his head in frustration from his own life.

"After the whole Theo Gabriel and Mark mess that happened, I thought we were done with Nick, but he threatened to hurt Ava and Eli, so I was kinda, but not really, forced to hook up with this guy named Evan, who kinda became obsessed with me," Caiden took a moment, knowing Jake's expression was of one that couldn't comprehend how his life turned into some movie.

"Anyway, Evan is Nick's brother, which, by the way, I didn't know when I met him. Long story short, Ava and Eli think he's this dude I've been seeing, but truth is he planted my fingerprints on the knife that killed my brother, but I don't even remember when or how, so he wants me to sign some papers that I did it. That way Theo gets released and he wants like two hundred thousand dollars, which Noah will gladly shell out, but I feel like money will just bring him back."

"Why would I run listening to this, angel?" Jake shook his head in confusion, uncertain why he was shutting down, again.

"Because I'm a walking mess, baby, and I don't wanna fuck you up, too," Caiden pulled on his own hair, exasperated by everything surrounding him.

Jake could feel every spark and electric current around his body, listening to the way Caiden called him baby. Fireworks had nothing on the flames igniting within him.

"I think calling Noah isn't a bad idea, but I can see it in your face you don't want to; so, let me help."

Caiden had no time to deny his assistance, because of the knock on his door. The pizza had arrived, and the two decided to walk to the park by the school to eat. Jake suggested that sunlight would be best for the pair, as they had become shut ins about three weeks before.

Jake loved how comfortable he felt around the raven haired boy, even at the most uncomfortable of times. There was something about the way the boy smiled; something about the way he held in his laughter when Jake did something clumsy, but eventually burst in laughter.

Jake Hart was crazy about Caiden Lee.

"You're not signing that paper, angel," the curly haired lad randomly spoke his thoughts, once the two had finished eating.

Jake had his head on Caiden's lap, his hair being played with by the raven haired lad.

"I know, baby, I know," the raven haired boy nodded, worried for Jake's life, now that he had him close. "I'm not joking when I say I suck at this."

"That's alright, angel; I'll be in control," Jake chuckled, his hand removing a little gadget from his pant pocket.

Caiden laughed, shaking his head, "For the first time, I'd have to agree."

It was quiet and serene as the two enjoyed each other's company; Jake wanted to say three small words to Caiden, but was uncertain if the timing was right.

"Why do you call me angel?" Caiden interrupted Jake's thoughts, realizing he called him something so commonly used.

"You angelically brought me back to life," Jake responded quickly and easily.

"I guess I should call you hero, since you saved me from myself," Caiden responded, leaning his head down to kiss Jake.

Some may argue that was the moment of all moments to declare his love towards the raven haired boy, as he clearly had felt the exact same way towards the tattooed lad, but with everything the two were just revealing, Jake wanted to say it at a time where it didn't feel necessary, but would slip out naturally.

****

Jake had elected to invite Caiden to the lake house, but the two agreed to try and do this the right way; no sex until they had gone on a date. Caiden shyly asked him out on a date for Monday night, as it was a four day weekend, and he had no classes until Tuesday afternoon.

Caiden knew these unknown waters he had decided to tread could cause him to drown, but before he could overthink himself into a bucket of worries, he called Ava and Eli telling them everything that had happened, while leaving out the part of who Evan really was.

Ava had also been invited by Taylor and was excited to experience a weekend by the infamous lake house the others spoke so highly of; Ava and Eli had hit it off with Tay and Mike and joined them once in a while for coffee or food, while Jake and Caiden went through their shut in phase.

Caiden expected a few questions and concerns when he had brought up his true feelings for Jake, but was completely supported by his friends, as they, too, worried about him when he had vanished for three weeks.

****

"Jakey!" Landon spoke through the other end of the line, excited to speak to his long lost friend.

"What's up, Lan?" Jake laughed, realizing he was the only one who had ever called him that.

"So, no party this weekend, we're gonna do a movie night, instead," Landon informed him, which Jake was utterly thankful for.

"So, it's really just us; we're not inviting outsiders. Well, I mean, other than Caiden, Ava, and Eli," Jake verified, earning him a hum in response.

"Saturday is the usual bonfire, so don't forget the guitar, please!" he sounded like a little kid, reminding his friend.

"And Sunday we're going paddle-boating?" the tattooed boy laughed, knowing their usual schedule.

"You know it, J!" Landon laughed.

Jake heard a knock on his door, and asked Landon to hold, trying the knob, only to see his friend at the door.

"What are you doing here?" Jake asked Landon, letting him in.

"I know your tone of voice, dude, wanna talk about it?" he knew him well enough to read him even when he was asleep.

"How did you and Kai jump so easily into what you guys have? Like, aren't you scared of something fucking it up?" Jake questioned, taking a seat on his bed, with Landon beside him.

"I used to have that annoying fear every day, but then I realized we have such a strong foundation. Like, I can tell you everything about him, and vise versa, but it's more than that; I know our base is steady that not even a tornado can destroy us." Landon's smile grew with every word, as he thought of his boyfriend, "Why do you ask?"

"I'll tell you the long story later, but I just don't wanna screw up something so new, you know?" Jake was all talked out, and repeating his entire day was something he was not up for.

"I don't think you would screw up what you and Caiden have; Tay filled me in, and I can promise you, your heart and mind are finally aligning. You guys have more of a base than you think."

"Aren't you lucky you drunkenly walked into my room all those years ago?" Jake stuck his tongue out at his friend, childishly.

"You have no idea, dude. None," Landon playfully shoved Jake, laughing alongside him.