Finally home. I smile for the first time that day. I run to my room and close the door, shrugging out of my jacket. I wince as the material runs over my arms. I sigh as I pull off my shirt and go to grab a long sleeved shirt from my closet. Before I pull it on I look at my shirtless self in the mirror. I can't help but frown at my reflection. I stand there and stare at myself for I don't know how long. I only turn when I hear a gasp behind me. I turn around and sigh when I see who's behind me.

"Ethan, what happened to you?" Benny asks, eyes wide with shock and … fear? I quickly shake my head and pull on the shirt in my hands.

"Benny, how'd you get in my house? Why are you here?"

"Jane let me in. I came to see if you wanted to watch this new movie I got. What happened to you E?" he asks, walking towards me. I back up until my back hits the wall behind me. He's right in front of me. I just shake my head and suck my lips in, avoiding his eyes. "Ethan." He grabs my face so I'll look him. "What happened?" he asks through clenched teeth. I sigh before shaking my head.

"Nothing happened to me."

"Then explain what I just saw!"

"You saw nothing. I don't know what you're talking about."

"Ethan," he growled out before pinning me even closer to the wall, close enough our bodies were almost touching. "Don't make me rip your shirt off and show you what I saw!" with that he begins to pull at the bottom of my shirt. I attempt to push his hands away but he grabs my hands and holds them hostage in one of his own. "Being taller than you does have its advantages sometimes," he says, a smirk on his lips. All I do is glare at him.

"Benny, let me go. You saw nothing," I say, glaring at him some more.

"Nope. Not gonna happen until you tell me what's wrong and what happened." I shake my head before speaking.

"You said you wouldn't force me into telling you." I say it so quietly I don't think he hears me until his hands fall to his sides. He frowns at me before turning around and plopping on my bed.

"You're right. I did say that. Okay then, I'll ask nicely. Ethan, will you please tell me what happened?" he looks at me, pleading with his eyes. I sigh before sitting next to him.

"How about we watch that movie first? Please?" He just nods and looks at me.

"Can we watch it in here? We can just hang out together. We don't need to bother your family." I can't stop the slight smile that comes to my lips, which causes him to smile a big, goofy, Benny smile at me. I nod before kicking off my shoes and settling into a comfy position on my bed, leaving enough room for Benny to sit next to me if he wants to. Which he does. Correction. He flops down next to me with so much enthusiasm I almost fall off the bed, and would have if he hadn't caught me from falling. I try my best not to wince at his grip on my arm. I don't think he notices thankfully. We settle next to each other and watch the movie.

…

Benny's POV:

I turn to face Ethan once the movie was over. He had been quiet the whole time. As I look at him I see why. He's asleep, head on my shoulder. I can't stop the small smile that comes to my lips as I look at him. He looks really calm for once. He had seemed so tense and distant lately and I was beginning to think something was wrong with him. And after what I saw earlier … well, I'm even more worried about him now. I can't help but notice how pale he looks. I gently lean over and grab the bottom of his shirt, barely raising it and seeing what I noticed earlier. A frown crosses my face before I put his shirt back to where it was. I gently shake him. He mumbles something and looks at me.

"Benny?"

"Hey E, you fell asleep while we were watching the movie."

"Oh I'm sorry Benny. I haven't been sleeping well."

"It's fine. Want me to leave?" I can see the conflict in his eyes as he debates with himself. Finally he shakes his head.

"No. Stay. We haven't really hung out this last week. Let me make it up to you." I smile at him before nodding. "Wanna play a game?" I just nod again and he gets up, stretching. I notice his shirt rides up some and I catch a glimpse of his stomach area and I frown some more. I quickly mask it with a smile before he notices. I join him for a game on his computer, neither of us really talking.

…

"Boys, Sarah's here!" Ethan's mom calls up to us. I look at Ethan to see him looking even paler. He looks at me and smiles.

"Wanna go say hi to Sarah?" he asks me. I just nod and we get up and leave his room. Before we can go downstairs I grab him and hug him. He tenses at first but then calms some and even wraps his arms back around me. A muffled "thank you" slips from him before he pulls away.

"I'm always here Ethan. Remember that."

"I know. Can you do me a favor?"

"Anything E."

"Don't tell anyone what you saw earlier. And I know I owe you an explanation and I'll give you one. Not yet though. Just please. Don't tell anyone." I hear the pleading and need for me to understand him in his voice. I can't help but agree with him.

"I won't tell anybody. But you will tell me what happened right?" he nods before heading down the stairs, me right behind him. When we get to the kitchen we go our separate ways; Ethan goes to say bye to his parents while I say hi to Sarah.

"Hey king doofus, where's Ethan?" she says, smiling at me. I just smile back and shake my head.

"Watch it Sarah, you're beginning to sound like Erica there. And Ethan's saying bye to his parents with Jane."

"Okay. And sorry."

"Nah its fine Sarah I don't care. You know that."

"Yep I do. Hey Ethan!" she says as he comes to stand up next to me. I notice he slouches against me some. I look at her to see her distracted by Jane so I put my arm around his waist, hoisting him up some.

"Ethan! Are you okay?" I whisper to him. He looks at me, a pained look in his eyes. A quick shake of his head and I pull him towards the bathroom. I shove him in and soon follow, closing and locking the door behind us. "Ethan. What's wrong?" He sits down on the floor, his back leaning against the tub. I sit next to him and just stare at him. He finally looks at me.

"Benny," he says, voice laced with pain. "I'm sorry."

"Ethan, you have nothing to be sorry for."

"Yes I do. I need to apologize for this and tell you why," he says, taking off his shirt.