Haven

KyleGranger

Chapter 2

Within the week, Shaun and Zach found themselves at Zach's house packing up Zach's stuff. They put the house up for sale and decided to move out right away. It was obvious that all this change was hard for Cody. While they were staying at Shaun's parents' house, Cody couldn't sleep on his own at all. Each night, his imagination seemed to scare himself into needing company. He crept down the hall every night and quietly slipped into Shaun's room and climbed into bed.

Zach was having a hard time with the change as well. He loved that he could finally be with Shaun and not have to worry about what his sister thought (although he had yet to tell his father, but he wasn't worried about that at the moment). But everything that was going on at that point was creating weight on his shoulders. He was selling his house, he just inherited his nephew, his sister left the family, he was starting art school soon, and he'll be moving to Shaun's place in a couple days.

Thankfully, Shaun could see all of this. He really was trying to do all that he could to make it easy for Zach. Shaun called the realtor and rented a truck and storage space to move and store all of the furniture and stuff in the house.

Zach and Cody were in the house packing up what they wanted in boxes and leaving them by the back door so Shaun could put them into his car.

"Okay, see you in a couple minutes," Shaun said and collapsed his phone. Zach was putting down a box at the time and ask who he was talking to. "Gabe," he said, "he's almost here."

Shaun's brother was being dropped off by a friend so he could drive the rental truck up to Los Angeles where Shaun rented the storage space. Zach nodded and half smiled before walking back into the house.

"Cody, you almost finished?" Zach called. He walked into Cody's bare room. Only two boxes sat at the foot of the bed.

"Yeah," he said and pointed at the boxes. Zach picked them up and dropped them in the hallway outside his room where he went to grab more.

"Hey."

Shaun turned around and saw his younger brother.

"Hey," Shaun replied, pulling Gabe into a hug.

"How's everything going here?" Gabe asked pulling away. Shaun glanced towards the house before he replied.

"Okay, I guess. Cody super bummed, and Zach seems to be so stressed out."

"Yeah?" Gabe said. "Poor kid. I knew Jeanie would do something like that."

"We all did." There was a pause in their conversation. The two of them were staring down at the bare driveway.

"So," Gabe began, "are you and Zach really okay?"

"Er... yeah. We're good," Shaun replied. He put his hands in his jean pockets and glanced up at the bright sun. There was another pause, but it was rather shorter.

"I'm really happy for you guys," Gabe admitted. "If you guys ever need anything let me know. And don't hog my best friend."

"Ha, okay," Shaun chuckled.

Zach came out from the house carrying the boxes that he took from his room and Cody's.

"Hey!" Gabe called to Zach.

"What's up man?" Zach said walking up to the two brothers. As he got closer to them, the slower he walked.

"Come here," Gabe said laughing, pulling him into a hug. "Remember, we're still bros." They broke apart: "Although you're dating my brother, which I'll never understand."

"Hey!" Shaun laughed, lightly punching his brother in the shoulder.

"Ha, yeah," Zach said awkwardly.

Cody came out from behind them with his backpack over his shoulder.

"I'm ready," he said coming up next to Zach.

"Hey dude, gimme five," Gabe said, extending his hand. Cody smiled and slapped his hand against Gabe's.

"Go get in the car and then we'll get going, okay?" Shaun said. Cody nodded.

"Bye kiddo. See you in a couple of days! Enjoy my bed!" Gabe joked. Cody went towards Shaun's car and got in. "He does seem a little bummed, ya know?"

"Yeah," Zach said. He turned to watch Cody in the car. "For the record, he has not slept in your room at all. He's had to come sleep with us—." Zach got carried away with what he was saying. He didn't know how Gabe would react if he told him that they were sleeping together. He glanced down at the ground, then went to Shaun, and then back to Gabe.

Gabe looked as though he was expecting more: "Okay then." Gabe looked at Shaun. This was definitely an awkward moment. "Okay then," he repeated, "I guess I'll just start heading up there."

"Thanks for doing this," Shaun said. "Let me know how much gas is."

"No prob. I'll catch you guys later," Gabe said hugging each of them and walked towards the rental truck.

"See ya," Zach said finally. He looked at Shaun who stared back at him for a second then half-laughed before heading towards the car. "What?"

"Nothing," Shaun said, "We'll talk later. Let's go, I want to beat traffic."

Zach ran inside and grabbed the last few items he needed. He took a final glance around the bare house before running back outside.

Later that night, the three boys were sitting in the backyard at Shaun's parents' house. They were having a bonfire and Zach and Shaun were helping Cody roast marshmallows.

Cody seemed to be having the time of his life with sticky hands and chocolate all around his mouth from the s'mores. Shaun was helping roast them and Zach sat back and watched them together. Shaun was so loving towards Cody. Besides Zach, he was the father he never had.

Shaun looked up at Zach. They smiled at each other. It made Zach feel so warm inside. Speaking of warm:

"Cody, come put your hoodie on," Zach said, zipping his own up. Cody came over and Zach helped him put it on. "Five more minutes. You've gotta get going to bed."

"Okay," Cody said, running back to Shaun.

Shaun was sitting on the couch in the den later that night. Zach was coming back downstairs after checking on Cody for the second time. Shaun was watching the end of the news. Zach sat down next to him and smiled at him.

"Zach, you don't have to feel uncomfortable around Gabe," Shaun said finally after a moment of awkward silence.

"What do you mean?" Zach asked. Shaun shifted his eyes.

"Are you kidding? Zach, you felt weird when he was with us today. You don't have to," Shaun said. "Talk to me."

Zach didn't say anything.

"Gabe has known about me for four or five years now," Shaun said. "He's okay with it. I promise."

"I know, Shaun. I'm just not used to it. I'm not used to people knowing," Zach said getting very frustrated with the conversation. "Fuck, I mean I didn't know I was a few weeks ago. This has all happened so fast. I just need to get used to it."

"Okay, okay, I understand. Trust me," Shaun said. "Gabe's been like your brother too. You can always go to him for anything. He cares a lot about you. You guys have been best friends forever. My brother won't look at you any different because of this."

Zach stayed silent. He stared straight ahead. His eyes were watery.

"The night we had that party here and you and I kinda broke up or whatever happened in the car, Gabe figured it out," Shaun said. "He told me he thought something was wrong when you disappeared, then he saw us in your car. After you left, I sat on the front stoop for about an hour. He found me and asked what was going on. I didn't say anything, but later he went to my room and asked if something was going on with us? And from there he kinda just guessed everything."

Zach avoided looking at him.

"Zach?"

"I'm sorry about that. I'm trying to get used to this. I am. I love you. You mean everything to me and I feel so happy when I'm with you," Zach admitted, now crying. "I'm just not used to people know and stuff."

Shaun pulled him close. Zach buried his face in Shaun's neck and shoulder.

"It's okay. Zach, I'm sorry," Shaun said. He felt so guilty. Was he throwing too much at him about the circumstances of their relationship? He kissed Zach's head. "Shh. Zach, it's okay."

Zach squeezed Shaun before pulling away. Shaun wiped Zach's tears away with his thumbs and Zach leaned in and kissed him. After a few seconds, he moved his head back to Shaun's shouder, but now he was more relaxed.

"I'm sorry," Zach whispered.

"You have nothing to be sorry about," Shaun said. "I'm here for you."

"I know," Zach said. He seemed to be completely calm now. He wiped away the remaining dampness from his eyes and half smiled at his boyfriend.

"You okay?" Shaun said, concerned. Zach nodded, resting his head on Shaun's shoulder.