Hello. First off, thank you to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter. I love getting reviews so I'll know if I'm writing to everyone's liking. I really appreciate your comments. Just so you know, if you cannot figure it out by reading, the beginning of this chapter takes place at the same time as the first chapter, only it follows Dylan.

Here you go:

Chapter2

Dylan most certainly loved Marco more than anything, but being away at University, he simply needed to see other people. Perhaps Marco could go days without any sort of intimacy, but Dylan simply could not. He knew Marco didn't really like the idea. He could tell by the upset look Marco had in his eyes when Dylan had suggested it. Nevertheless, he hoped Marco would go a little out of his comfort zone just this one time so they could both be happy. Dylan suggested that Marco see other people as well, and was almost proud of him when he saw him making conversation with a guy named Derek. He was proud of Marco for trying to meet other guys, but didn't like that Marco went off with said guy only moments after meeting him.

Dylan didn't know Derek very well. He had only spoken to the guy a few times, because he was a genius when it came to computers, and Dylan needed his computer fixed one day. Therefore, he didn't know if he could trust Derek with Marco. Certainly everything would be fine. Marco wouldn't let someone pressure him into doing something he didn't want to, right? Well, maybe he was a bit easy to persuade... Dylan would have to check on him in a few minutes.

At present, Dylan was talking to a guy on the University hockey team. Despite what Marco had probably assumed, this guy was not a romantic interest for Dylan. In fact, he wasn't even gay. He was just a friend.

"...because girls love hockey players," Dylan caught the end of his team mate's sentence.

"Everyone loves hockey players, Jon," Dylan laughed.

"True," Jon agreed, "so, practice is gonna be at five o'clock on tuesday in the main gym."

"Five o'clock in the afternoon?" Dylan asked.

"Yeah, in the afternoon!" Jon exclaimed, "Of course, man! I'm not getting up at five in the morning!"

"I have a class from four until six on tuesdays," Dylan complained.

"Well, leave class early," Jon suggested, "I'm sure you won't miss anything too important."

"I guess I could just one time," Dylan agreed, "we'll need to come up with a better time for practices in the future though."

"Of course," Jon smiled, "wouldn't want you to miss your class."

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with caring about my marks," Dylan laughed, "what if hockey doesn't work out? Then I'll be glad I didn't skip classes."

"Come on, man," Jon insisted, "you know hockey will work out. You're the best on the team."

Dylan smiled at the compliment, "Thanks... well, I've got to go check on something, so I'll see you around, okay?"

"Alright. See ya at five on tuesday," Jon told him.

"See ya," Dylan walked away and made his way to the elevator. He knew the general location of Derek's room, but didn't know the exact room number for sure. Surely there would be someone else on that floor who could tell him. He could just knock on the door and pretend like he needed help with his computer again. That way, neither Derek nor Marco would even know why he was really there: to check on Marco.

Now that he was on the correct floor, he looked about for someone to tell him the correct room number. Unfortunately, it seemed everyone was down stairs at the party instead. He would have to reach back in his memory and figure this out on his own. He knew Derek's room was near that floor's washroom, so he walked toward that general vicinity and pondered the room numbers.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard what sounded like someone screaming something. He couldn't tell what they had said, but it certainly sounded eerily like Marco's voice did when the younger boy was frightened. He moved toward where he thought the sound had come from, hoping that the sound was just in his head. "Help me! Please!" Dylan heard clearly. That was definitely Marco's voice, "Help!" Dylan finally found the correct door and could hear nothing more than Marco's soft muffled voice now.

He grabbed the door's handle, glad that Derek had left it unlocked, and opened the door quickly. At the sight before him, Dylan's expression changed from concern to blazing anger within half a second. Derek was hovering over Marco, who was lying on the bed, with streaks of tears visible on his face. The smaller boy was breathing hard and almost seemed as though he was having a difficult time breathing at all.

It took Dylan no time at all to make his way over to Derek and Marco. He grabbed Derek roughly and pushed him against the wall, "what the hell do you think you're doing?" he yelled, punching Derek just as hard as Derek had hit Marco.

Derek smirked, "hey, Marco came here on his own," he defended himself, "I didn't do anything he didn't want me to do... Jealous?"

Dylan's eyes filled with rage. He wanted to beat the hell out of Derek for that comment, but his attention was brought to Marco, when he heard a soft sob. He looked at Marco, who was still laying on the bed, but was now curling himself into a ball and also trying to stop himself from sobbing. Dylan looked back at Derek, "you make me sick," he spat, "get out of here," he added pushing Derek away.

"This is my room, Dylan," Derek smirked.

Dylan harshly shoved Derek against the wall again, "GET OUT!" he yelled again.

Derek frowned, knowing Dylan could probably win against him in a fight, "whatever. It's not my fault your little boyfriend can't handle-"

"GET OUT!" Dylan yelled again, pushing him harder than before.

Derek left without further protest. Dylan didn't know where he went, and he didn't care. He could deal with Derek later. Now he had something, or rather someone more important to worry about: Marco.

Dylan sat down on the bed next to Marco, placing his hand gently on Marco's back. He wanted to hug Marco right then and there, but he wasn't sure if Marco would want him touching him. Dylan didn't know exactly what Derek had done, but he could see Marco's shirt was off and was quite relieved to see that while Marco seemed shaken, it didn't seem like the two of them had actually had sex, as Marco was still wearing his pants.

"Marco," Dylan began, "are you hurt?" he asked, needing first to make sure Derek hadn't injured Marco physically.

Marco slowly turned to face Dylan and proceeded to bury his face in Dylan's chest. At that point, he lost control over his sobs and began to cry inconsolably into Dylan's chest. Dylan wrapped his arms tightly around Marco, rubbing his back gently as the younger boy sobbed. After a minute or two Dylan noticed Marco was attempting to say something between sobs.

"I don't want to be here anymore, Dylan," he whimpered, "get me out of here."

"Okay," Dylan agreed, putting his hand under Marco's chin and tilting his face so he could look at his eyes, "did he hurt you Marco?" he asked again, not wanting to transport Marco if he was injured.

Marco hesitated but then shook his head, "no... just get me out of here," he repeated.

"Is it okay if we go to my room?" Dylan asked. He wasn't sure if being in any dorm room would make Marco uncomfortable or if he just wanted to be out of this one in particular.

Marco nodded.

Wrapping his arm around Marco's shoulders, Dylan led Marco to the elevator and up to his dorm room. When Dylan sat Marco down on his bed he noticed that he had forgotten to retrieve Marco's shirt before leaving Derek's room. As much as he didn't want Derek to have his boyfriend's shirt, Dylan also didn't want to leave Marco alone in order to go back and retrieve it. He decided he would get it back later.

Dylan looked Marco over. He could see hints of bruises starting to form on Marco's face and chest, and what looked like finger marks around his wrists and neck, "what did he do to you, Marco?" he asked gently, kneeling in front of Marco, needing assurance that Derek hadn't done anything more than he assumed. Marco's pants were still on, but Dylan now noticed they were unbuttoned and unzipped.

Marco inhaled a shaky breath, "I'm okay, Dylan," he managed, though Dylan could see he was far from okay.

Dylan sighed, "Marco... what happened? I can see something did, or else you wouldn't be crying," he decided not to mention the bruises.

Marco breathed in again, "I... I went up to his room... and we were kissing," he looked down as though he was ashamed of himself, "I changed my mind... and I told him to stop, but he wouldn't."

Marco seemed as though he was going to call the story finished there, but Dylan looked at him, silently asking him to elaborate.

"I told him... I said I didn't want to... and when he wouldn't stop, I tried to get away and I screamed for help, so he hit me... and he said..." Marco shuddered, "he said he was going to tie up my hands... so I would stop fighting... so I stopped struggling... but then... when he tried to... I couldn't just let him... so I tried to fight him off and I screamed and he hit me so hard I couldn't breathe... and then you came in."

"Oh, Marco," Dylan looked like he was ready to cry, "are you sure nothing is broken?"

Marco looked up at him, "I don't think anything is."

"What were you doing with him in the first place?" Dylan asked the question Marco had been trying to avoid explaining.

"I..." Marco began, "I was trying to make you jealous..."

"What? Why would you do that, Marco?" Dylan asked, now sounding more like a concerned older brother than anything else, "you can't just go off with people you don't know just to make someone else jealous."

"I know that!" Marco yelled, "and you shouldn't date a bunch of guys you don't know just because I'm not enough for you!"

"Marco, that's not the same thing," Dylan insisted, "It's not that you aren't enough, Marco. I love you, but being at University, I don't get to see you as often."

"Whatever. I don't want to talk about this," Marco told him, turning away from Dylan.

Dylan sighed. He hated seeing Marco upset; he wanted to discuss this matter and make everything better again, but he knew he should drop this subject as Marco requested, "I think I should take you to the hospital," he suggested. Even if nothing is broken, it's better to be safe, right?"

Marco shook his head, "I'm fine, Dylan," he insisted.

Marco watched with interest as Dylan stood and walked over to his wardrobe, opening the doors and sifting through his clothing. He pulled out a t-shirt and walked back over to Marco, handing him the garment.

"Thank you," Marco told him, taking the shirt and putting it on.

Dylan sat down on the bed next to him, looking him over again. Marco looked so small in Dylan's shirt. He still looked scared and Dylan wondered if he still was.

"You okay?" Dylan asked him.

Marco nodded, not saying anything.

Dylan wrapped his arm around Marco's shoulders and leaned back against the headboard of his bed, holding Marco as gently as possible. After a moment Dylan noticed Marco was trembling.

"Are you cold?" he asked, not knowing if the trembling was merely Marco's reaction to the slight chill in the air or to fright.

Marco didn't respond.

"Marco?" Dylan looked down at him. He was staring ahead as though he was thinking, "are you sure you're alright? I think I should take you to the hospital. Or to the police station. We can file a report against Derek. We should do it sooner rather than later."

Marco shook his head and Dylan felt him begin to shake even more.

"We can go tomorrow morning instead," Dylan compromised, "we have to go to the police station eventually though. We cannot just let him get away with what he did to you."

Marco breathed in shakily, still not looking at Dylan or speaking to him. Dylan could see his lip quivering as though he was trying hard to prevent himself from crying. Not knowing what to say, Dylan continued holding Marco until the younger boy finally choked out a pained sob.

"I was so scared, Dylan," Marco cried, letting Dylan hug him tightly.

"It's alright," Dylan assured him, "you're okay now. I won't let anything bad happen to you."

Dylan continued holding Marco for what seemed like hours. Marco's sobbing eventually died down. The younger boy seemed to have fallen asleep.

xxxxxx

I hope you liked Chapter2. I would appreciate more reviews, please, and I'll continue to work on this story and update soon.

Thank you for reading.