"You lied, Evan." Jonathan said while he stared at the lights overhead from where he was lying flat on his back on the cold hard ice.

Evan slid over to him and stared down at him smiling. "I did not."

"You promised this would be fun." Jonathan narrowed his eyes at him. "But here I am flat on the ice. My ass is probably bruised and the children are laughing at me."

"Don't be such a grump, Jonathan. You're not the only one who is busting his ass out here. And they're laughing because it's funny not because they think you're stupid." Evan reached down and grabbed his hand and started to pull him up slow, letting him gain some traction with the skates. "Like I told you, it's all about balance. Once you get it, you've got it. It can't be unlearned. It might take you some time to find it, but I'll get you there."

Jonathan grabbed his shoulders when he was finally standing tall again. Evan held him by his arms as he wobbled and started to skate backwards, pulling Jonathan with him. "I promise. You'll be skating like an Olympic athlete by the time I'm done with you."

"I'll hold you to it." He grinned and nearly lost his balance.

"Focus on not putting your weight on the inside or outside of the skate. That's what makes you unsteady and wobbly." Evan let him go and glided backwards with ease.

"Don't leave me, you jerk."

Evan just smiled and held his hand out for him. But he was a good distance away and Jonathan knew as soon as he pushed off he would slip and bust his ass for the tenth time.

"Don't force it, let your foot slide in front of you and to the side. Now, come here."

Jonathan bit at his lip and focused on Evan's hand and tried his hardest not to push off hard, instead he let the skate gently slide in front of him and moved forward. His weight was evenly placed and to his surprise his other foot followed without a problem.

"Hi." He said and laughed as he wrapped his fingers around Evan's.

"See. That wasn't so hard. If you'd just listen to me. Now, do it again." Evan let his hand go and moved further away.

"I was listening to you. But my feet wouldn't listen to you. They don't have ears, so you can't blame them." He said and Evan laughed as Jonathan started to skate toward him. He wasn't as smooth as Evan was but at least he wasn't wobbling anymore. Just as he was about to touch his hand again, Evan moved even further away.

"And don't kick your feet out behind you like you're wearing roller blades, because you will fall forward and bust your face open. I learned that the hard way." Evan grinned and moved back again. Jonathan was biting his tongue and concentrating so hard. His nose was red with cold and his cheeks were flushed.

Jonathan eventually stopped reaching for him and just started to skate toward him. He evened out after a while and just started to glide calmly around the rink, letting his legs get familiar with the movement. Evan leaned against the railing and watched him make smooth circles.

Jonathan glanced back and realized that the kids had been following him, for how long, he didn't know.

"Hey! What are you creeps doing back there?"

They laughed and started to skate faster towards him. "Ahh! No!"

Jonathan picked up the pace, making sure he didn't lose his balance or kick his feet behind him like Evan told him not to.

Evan was laughing when he flew past him with the kids still on his trail. "Evan! Did you put them up to this?!"

"Why would I do such a thing?" He called out, still laughing.

"Because, you're evil and like to torture me!" He cried out as he passed him again. Evan felt the wind coming off of him.

"It's good practice!"

Jonathan laughed and kept going, making his corners carefully but quickly so his feet didn't come out from beneath him.

"Eat my dust, suckers!"

"Get him!" The kids screamed and laughed as they tried their best to keep up. Evan was right and Jonathan was smiling from ear to ear. He'd found his balance and he didn't lose it again. He was no where near as good as Evan but he had the basics down and that was enough for now.

He slowed down until he wasn't hardly moving, then he dropped to the ice and laid on his back. A small weight fell on top of him and then another. And one more after that. The kids were giggling as they made a tiny dog pile on top of him. He flailed his arms dramatically.

"Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!"

Evan laughed at him until he had tears in his eyes. The kids eventually got off of him and tried to pull him to his feet. He high fived them when they finally did and two of the little girls took him by the hand and started to pull him along for a ride.

"Who's your friend?"

Evan turned to find Vanessa standing on the other side of the wall watching her girl drag Jonathan along the ice. Vanessa was the granddaughter of the man who owned the rink. He'd met her when they were in middle school and they'd been good friends ever since. She brushed her blonde hair away from her face and waved at her baby when they passed by with Jonathan in tow.

"I'm being held captive." He whispered at Evan. "There's a ransom of cookies and hot chocolate."

"No, I think you want cookies and hot chocolate. Am I right?" Evan asked him and Jonathan looked back at him with that damn smile and nodded.

Evan shook his head and grinned at Vanessa. "That's Jonathan. My housemate, he moved here from North Carolina."

"Oh. Well, he's adorable." She grinned. "Is he single?"

"Yeah." Evan raised a brow at her, "But probably not looking to mingle."

"Oh, he's one of those quiet guys like you that likes to stay inside and be antisocial." She teased.

"Yes, he is actually." Evan held a finger up at her. "And for your information, Ness, I am extremely social compared to what I used to be."

"This is true, and you still don't have any attraction towards me at all I assume?"

"Correct." He smiled and she giggled. It was a question she always asked and his answer was always the same.

"Kate! Time is up, let's go home." She called and her girl dropped her head in disappointment.

"But we're having fun, Mom!"

"No, you're torturing the poor guy."

"But it's fun!"

Evan laughed and Vanessa sighed, "I've created a monster."

The other kids were already leaving with their parents but Kate was clinging to Jonathan. He leaned down and said, "Hey, Kate. I'll be here next Wednesday."

She broke into a smile, "Me, too!"

"Well I'll see you then, partner." He grinned and held his hand out and she high-fived him. Kate then reached up for him and Evan felt his insides grow warm when Jonathan picked her up and glided their way with her resting on his hip.

"Your offspring, malady." Jonathan grinned and passed Kate to her mother.

"Thank you for keeping her entertained." Vanessa smiled at him and Evan could see Jonathan drawing in on himself. Ava didn't lie when she said he was shy. Although he seemed to be fine around children.

"No problem." He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at Evan.

He took the hint and said, "Alright, Ness. We'll see you two next week."

"Absolutely. Tell them bye, Kate."

Her girl smiled and waved as they walked off, "Bye!"

Jonathan smiled back at her and gave a small wave before sticking his hands in his pockets. He looked over at Evan.

"Sooo. What now?"

"You want to try skating backwards?"

Jonathan took to the ice and stuck his arms in the air like a ballerina, pretending to twirl. He giggled to himself, "Maybe next time. My ass hurts, gotta let this baby heal."

He winked at Evan and started skating around the rink, testing out how to make sharp turns and sudden stops. Evan joined him and they went in circles around each other for a while before he grabbed his hand, gripped it tight and started them spinning in a tight circle going faster and faster. It felt like a merry-go-round to Jonathan and he was laughing until Evan finally let up. Then the vertigo hit him hard and his feet went one way while his body went the other.

"Oh come on!"

Evan was laughing, but was laid out on the ice beside him watching the ceiling spin until it slowed to a stop.

"We need to come up with a good skit for GTA tonight." Evan said as they lay sprawled on the ice together. "Something for Valentine's Day."

Jonathan nodded. "Yeah, it would be awesome if Rockstar put out another DLC and gave us a bow and arrow. We could ride around in the car we had last year and have someone dressed as Cupid, but instead of shooting people so they fall in love, they start killing everybody. Just have a big rampage going on. That'd be pretty cool."

Evan gave a laugh, "Yeah that would be awesome." He sat up and looked over at him, "We can still do that. Just improvise on the weapon."

Jonathan smiled and sat up, "Okay, but you owe me pizza. And maybe some alcohol."

"Alright." Evan got to his feet and helped Jonathan up. "Whatever you want."

"Ha!" Marcel laughed as he shot someone else in the foot, "Now go my minions! Fight to the death!"

Evan was hiding behind a dumpster with Jonathan and they were snickering to themselves, "I didn't know cupid was half black."

"Shut up, you racist bastards!" Marcel yelled, "I'm coming for you."

"Come on, Delirious. Let's go over there." Evan tried to gesture upward so he wouldn't give it away to Marcel. "He can't get us if we go there."

"Where?!"

"Just follow me. Hurry!"

Evan took off down the alleyway and up a ladder when he rounded the corner. Jonathan was right behind him. They had been at this for about thirty minutes. Marcel was the evil Cupid, dressed in nothing but his white underwear and the Cupid mask. The rules were that he had to ride on the side of the vehicle and shoot whoever he found and once they had been tagged they had to start shooting the next person they saw until they died and then it started all over again.

So far everyone had died at least once and Tyler had swapped places with Brock as Marcel's driver so everyone had a chance to be prey. It took Evan forever to get to Jonathan because they kept having to dodge and hide from Cupid. But once they finally got to each other, they stuck together and watched each other's back.

Jonathan was right behind him as they continued to climb until they reached the roof. They both ran to edge and peered down as Tyler came drifting around the corner with Marcel hanging off the side looking creepy as hell waving his pistol around.

"Hey! You're cheating!"

Evan laughed, "No. No we're not."

"We're using our surroundings." Jonathan giggled and jumped back when Marcel shot at him. He missed and cursed.

"Damn it! Turn around Tyler!"

"As you wish my Lord." Tyler said and whipped the car around.

"Hang on. I got this." Marcel said and Evan watched him pull out his in game phone.

"What are you doing, Cupid?" Jonathan asked and they watched as a helicopter appeared in the distance.

"Haha! I'm improvising, bitches." Marcel snickered and jumped off the car when the chopper landed. "Pilot!"

"I'll do it." Brock came out of nowhere and relieved Tyler of his duties. Tyler gave him a salute and he ran off to hide while Brock got them in the air.

"Guys! Get over here. I sense an epic standoff about to go down. Cupid called a chopper." Tyler laughed. Lui and Mini showed up and Brock finally took them high enough so that Marcel could fire at Evan and Jonathan.

"Abrasive maneuvers, Delirious!" Evan laughed and they started running in zigzags across the rooftop as bullets danced around their feet.

"Evan!" Jonathan yelled and dove in front if him. "This is where you queue in some dramatic music, okay?"

"Why?"

"Because I just took a bullet for you."

"How fucking romantic is that?" Craig laughed and gave a fake sniffle.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Delirious, don't kill me!" Evan said while Marcel was perfecting his evil laugh in the background.

"Kill him! Do thy bidding my minion!"

"This is epic." Lui was laughing as he watched with MiniLadd on the adjacent building.

"Ahhh! Damn it!" Jonathan yelled and pointed his gun at Evan who put up his hands.

"It's okay, I'll forgive you. Just do what you have to do, Delirious." Evan said in a sad resigned voice. Brock giggled as he kept the chopper hovering over the building.

"Do as I command! Can't you feel the urge to kill running through your veins?!" Marcel said and Delirious was walking closer and closer to the edge of the building.

"Yes. But, I can't pull the trigger." He said dramatically. "I won't!"

"Kill me, Delirious. Do it! Just make it quick!"

"No!" Jonathan was doing amazing. He actually sounded torn. He stepped on the edge. "I'd rather kill myself!"

"Wait!" Evan walked over to him and stood on the edge beside him. Jonathan put his gun down and the boys went quiet. "If you go, I go." Evan said seriously.

"Together?" Delirious asked.

"Together." Evan turned around and walked back a bit. "Let's get a headstart."

"Too bad there's not a gesture for kissing." Tyler said and everyone laughed.

"Or holding hands." Lui said.

"Or crying." Mini giggled.

"Okay Delirious. Take off your mask. I want to see your face one last time." Evan said and Delirious' mask disappeared to reveal his clown make-up and Evan almost snorted on a laugh.

"Shut up." Jonathan chuckled to himself.

"Sorry. You're just so . . . beautiful."

"Hahahaha!" Jonathan died laughing and everyone was rolling for two whole minutes before they got quiet again.

"Okay. Guys. Come on, lets finish this skit." Evan was wiping his eyes.

"Alright, alright." Jonathan stood beside him. "On three. One. Two. Three!"

They took off running and he knew he would have to make this scene in slow motion. They reached the edge and Evan stopped, "Wait!"

Delirious skid to a stop an inch short of his death, "Jesus Christ! What?"

"I need to tell you something."

"Then say it!"

Evan took a deep breath for dramatic effect and he said his next words in a rush, "I was the one who ate your last two cookies even though I made you believe that you ate them and just didn't remember."

Everyone gave an exaggerated gasp and all was quiet until Jonathan said, "You . . . you lied to me, Evan? If you wanted the fucking cookies I would have let you have them, all you had to do was ask."

"Oh." Evan stated, "Well, fuck."

Then he walked off the building to his death, Jonathan landed a second later as nothing but a splatter of blood and limbs.

"Aaaaand cut!" Marcel said. "Land the chopper, Brock. I'm sweating in this damn mask. Where's my hair dresser?!"

Lui put on his squeaker voice and said, "I'm coming, Marcel, sir. Sorry, sir!"

"Alright guys, let's take a breather." Evan stood and stretched, "Reconvene in ten."

He pulled his shirt over his head and slipped on some sweatpants and before he could get out of his room he heard his name.

"Evan, you dick!"

He stood at the top of the stairs and saw Jonathan in the kitchen, "What did I do?"

"Exactly what you said you did!" He turned around and gave Evan the stink eye as he came down the stairs. Evan smiled.

"You really ate my cookies! I thought you were fucking joking!"

Evan didn't say a word, he just walked in the kitchen and opened a cabinet, feeling Jonathan's eyes burning holes in the back of his head. He pulled out a brand new pack of cookies that he had gone out of his way to hide just for this moment. He even stuck a red bow on top.

He turned around and held it out in front of him, "Happy Valentine's Day, you dork."

Jonathan just stood there with a blank stare on his face until his lips betrayed him and the corners of his mouth stretched from ear to ear.

Evan's heart hammered and he felt hot all of sudden. Like, really fucking hot. So hot he thought he could feel sweat beading up on his skin.

Jesus, fuck. Was he sick? Running fever? He didn't know, he felt fine.

He swallowed thickly and exhaled when Jonathan's fingers brushed against his when he took the cookies from him.

"Thank you." He said, still smiling until he slid his teeth over his bottom lip and a small fire lit itself where it shouldn't have at the base of Evan's stomach. No, that was definitely not a fever. That was something else he was scared to even think about it.

"You're welcome."

"I didn't get you anything though."

"You don't need to."

"But, I will." Jonathan opened the fresh packet and nearly moaned when he bit into the cookie. "These are so fucking good it should be illegal."

"And they're only found in Canada, baby."

Jonathan rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah. Keep gloating about your country." He grinned. "I've got to admit though, you guys have some pretty cool shit here."

"I know. I mean," Evan pointed at himself, "I'm here. What more does Canada need?"

"Some coke, violence, and bathrooms." Jonathan said with a wicked grin and Evan just laughed knowing exactly what he meant: Pop, peace, and washrooms. All staples of Canada.

"Are you okay?" Jonathan asked suddenly.

"Fine, why?"

"Your skin is super flushed." Jonathan pressed his palm against Evan's bare chest. "And you're burning up. Fuck."

Evan inhaled at his touch, his fingers were cold and felt like a breath of fresh air. If Jonathan felt his racing heart he showed no sign.

"I'm just really hot." He said and rubbed the back of his neck, his hand coming back slick with a thin layer of sweat. "Nothing to worry about."

"If you say so." Jonathan shrugged and put his cookies away. "Let's get back, they're probably waiting."

"Yeah." Evan gave a small nod, his mind was still trying to process what the fuck just happened and what was still happening as he stood there watching the way Jonathan's shoulder blades moved beneath his skin as he walked away. The way the light cast a small shadow on him had his eyes following the line of his spine down to the hollow of his back.

He blinked and snapped himself out of it, forcing his legs to move long enough to get him up the stairs and into his room. The guys were already gearing up for more and they spent the next two hours in complete and utter chaos, killing each other in the most outrageous ways.

The daze he'd been in eventually worked itself out and he didn't think about it until the next morning when he witnessed a half asleep Delirious walking down the hall in nothing but black briefs and an adorably confused look on his face. He stopped when he saw Evan and blinked slowly a few times before walking back into his bedroom and crawling back under the covers.

Evan stood there for a minute before he turned back around and got in his own bed and stared at the ceiling for two more hours, until the sun was completely up, until the image of Jonathan's body was wiped from his brain.

For days he almost sent Brock a text.

"I need some advice."

But, he never could talk himself into sending it. He debated for weeks as the heat got worse the more time he spent with Jonathan. It got the point where he was used to being on edge, feeling like he was losing air at the most inconvenient times. Like when they were watching a movie and Jonathan stood and stretched his long arms above his head and Evan couldn't keep his eyes off of the exposed skin of his stomach. Nor could he stop following the line of his hip or wonder where it might lead to if . . . . no.

It was March and Evan hit send.

E- "I need some advice. Or your opinion. I just need your fucking help in general, Brock."

B- "Sure. What's up?"

E- "I'm losing my fucking mind."

B- "Explain."

E- "I don't know how to. It's Jonathan."

B- "He pissing you off? Or something else?"

E- "Something else."

B-"He eating all your food?"

E- "No. I've been feeling a certain way around him. I don't know what it is or what it means. But it's been like this for 3 months and it's scaring the fuck out of me."

Brock was slow to reply and Evan rubbed his eyes as he lay in his bed. His heart was already running away with his confession but he trusted Brock with this, and only Brock. He took a deep breath when his phone finally buzzed.

B- "What have you been feeling?"

He thought for moment.

E- "Well, I get really warm sometimes, almost to the point where I'm sweating. Or sometimes I get a terrible anxiousness and it crawls up my throat and I feel like ripping my hair out. Or his. I don't know."

B- "And when does this happen? Just when you're around him or is it under certain circumstances?"

E- "Well, I'm always around him. But it's mostly when we're doing things together, like a movie, or going out to eat, or just walking around town. Either way, it's when I look at him. Like, when I really really look at him. Or if he's standing there in front of me with that fucking smile of his. Sometimes it's just the way he moves. What the fuck is wrong with me?"

B- "Wow. Evan, nothing is wrong with you. Have you ever considered the fact that you might be attracted to him? I mean, did you even read what you just sent me? Everything you said is just classic attraction, just like how some guys like it when a girl brushes her hair behind her ear, it's the same thing. Just, it's a guy. And there is nothing wrong with that. At all."

Evan's head was starting to hurt from thinking about it. Before he could reply, his phone started to ring. He answered.

"Evan, listen. I went through the same thing you're going through. There was a guy that I always passed by on campus and I always looked for him, every day. And I didn't know why, until one day he made eye contact with me and he grinned." Brock huffed a laugh. "Like, the butterflies I had were unreal and I started thinking about it. There was nothing holding me back from being attracted to a guy, it was just in my head that I was supposed to be with girls."

Evan finally spoke, "What did you do?"

"I asked him out a few days later. We had coffee on campus. We got to know each other then we went out a few times. Kissed. And it was good. Really good. Didn't work out, but my point is that there is a whole new experience out there waiting for you if just realize that you don't have sexual boundaries. If you can just admit to yourself that you can be attracted to a guy and that the world isn't gonna end, you'll feel loads better. About everything. I swear to you, Evan."

Brock heard Evan sigh, frustrated. "Evan, I'm not saying you're in love with him. I'm just saying that you are very attracted to him. Just say it out loud."

Evan opened his mouth then shut it and opened it again before pulling at his hair, "I . . . am attracted to Jonathan." He sighed out of relief. "Yeah. I'm really fucking attracted to him. If he smiled at you the way he smiles at me, you'd be attracted to him, too."

Brock gave a laugh, "I believe you. Do you feel better?"

Evan sat up and crossed his legs in front of him, his free hand rubbing at his cold feet. He thought for a moment and he looked around his quiet room. The world wasn't ending, he still felt like the same person, he still felt the same towards Jonathan. But he had a new found appreciation for him and his sexuality. It was a new feeling, it was freeing to admit it to himself that he could be attracted to a guy just like he was to a girl.

"Hang on a second." He put his phone down and walked down the hall to Jonathan's room and opened the door to find him sitting at his monitor, editing a video. His headset was on tight and he could hear music flowing through his ears. Jonathan was moving his head slowly to the tranquil beat and Evan just watched for a moment. He watched his silhouette, the outline of his face from the side. He was so relaxed. His lips would pull back into a smile every so often when he came across a funny clip. Evan felt that heat again, but this time it wasn't unwelcome, it wasn't confusing.

It was Jonathan. And it was nice.

He closed the door without a sound and went back to his room putting his phone back to his ear. He grinned. "Yeah. I feel better."

"Hell yes!" Jonathan yelled and it echoed around the empty rink. He was skating like a fucking pro and now he could turn around at will and skate backwards. It was the most exhilarating feeling he'd ever had in his life. It was the rush of wind in his face as the skates glided smoothly across the flawless ice. If he closed his eyes he felt like he was on a fucking cloud. He finally understood why Evan put as much time into it as he could. But to finally be able to be out here with him and be able to keep up and enjoy himself without busting his ass was pure heaven.

"I told you." Evan smirked at him.

Jonathan just beamed, "Yeah, you did. Sorry I ever doubted you."

"I forgive you. As long as you buy me pizza for dinner."

"Ha! Yeah, okay." Jonathan rubbed the back of his neck as he kept a steady pace with Evan. "Whatever you want."

He'd give him the fucking world if he asked.

"I have a question for you and you don't have to answer it. I'm just curious." Evan finally said. He'd been thinking of when and how to bring it up for the past two days and he would probably still be wondering if it weren't for Brock and his persistent nagging. Just ask him.

"Ask away."

Evan kept pace with Jonathan as they continued making laps around the ice. "Uhm." He ran a hand through his hair, "When did you know that you liked guys?"

Jonathan looked at him and grinned, "That only took you three months to ask."

Evan laughed, "Yeah, I just didn't want to ask straight away. Didn't want you to think I didn't approve of it or you know. I don't fucking know."

"No. I get it. It's a weird question to ask." Jonathan stuck his hands in his pockets and started to skate backwards so he could look at him. "First time I realized I liked guys. Uh, it was a guy that I had known for a while. He moved away for a long time and he came back and I was really happy because, you know, I missed him. He was one of my only friends. But anyway, he came back and when I saw him, he smiled at me. Just an ordinary smile, but it hit me so fucking hard . . . I didn't know what to do."

Evan locked eyes with him and he knew exactly what he meant, knew exactly what he felt. He finally looked away from those blue eyes and Jonathan continued.

"His name was Noah. Noah Hansen."

Evan snapped his eyes back to his, "You mean the one you grew up with? The bookstore owner's son?"

Jonathan nodded and glanced at his feet. Evan saw something else when he looked back up at him. Sad. He was sad, but then there was a fire behind his eyes and he seemed angry, regretful, when he spun on his skates away from him.

"Jonathan." Evan lunged forward and caught his arm, "What happened?"

Jonathan looked at the ceiling and closed his eyes, "He ruined me."

"How?"

"He was so good. We were so good. And if you asked me what my preference was, I'd tell you both. And I still believe that but when it comes down to physical relationships, I'd rather be with a guy." Jonathan rubbed his face and took a deep breath. "It's hard to explain."

Evan held arms hands out, "It's just me and you here. Try."

"Alright." Jonathan put his hand on Evan's chest and they slid to a slow stop. "Everything with a woman is great, it's sexy and hot and all diamonds and everything pink and shit. But with a guy it's so much more intense because you both have that little voice in the back of your mind telling you that you shouldn't be doing it. And that makes it infinitely hotter with everything you do. Once I got to feel that, I didn't want anything else."

Evan wanted to say that he understood, but he didn't. He'd never felt that, never experienced it for himself. Because he'd never been with a guy. But he wasn't about to go run out and find one.

Not yet.

"So why didn't you stay together?" Evan asked him instead and Jonathan grinned and shrugged.

"He ended up being a real asshole, then he just fuckin' got up and left one day. Haven't seen his sorry ass since."

"Douche bag." Evan said and Jonathan smiled.

"Let's go, man. I'm tired." He rubbed his eyes, "We still have three videos to edit."

"Yeah, I think I'd rather just watch a movie." Evan smirked and Jonathan giggled as he unlaced his skates.

"No, we need to get it done. And then we can watch a movie."

They walked quietly side by side to the car until Jonathan looked up at the sky as it turned a brilliant shade of purple. The clouds were pink, slowly melting into an orange. "That's pretty."

He looked back down to find Evan staring at him, a blank expression, in thought perhaps. Jonathan couldn't name it but it stirred something in his chest as he got caught in his gaze. "What?"

Evan blinked and finally looked down at his hands before unlocking the door, he looked back up, "Nothing."

April came and went and Evan felt normal again. He and Jonathan continued to work their way comfortably into each other's lives and he wasn't surprised with how close they had become. Or how nonchalant they were with each other compared to a month ago.

Jonathan stopped sending him a five a.m. text on Mondays. Instead he chose to sneak into Evan's room and get as close as he could and whisper, "Good morning, bitch."

And it scared the shit out of Evan every time. Until the one Monday that Evan was so fucking tired and irritated that when he heard Jonathan next to his bed and leaning in close to him, he reached out and pulled him down. Jonathan had flailed and fought but Evan held him in place until he stopped moving.

Evan mumbled, "Good morning, bitch."

Jonathan was lying half on him, half off and the weight of his body was nice. It wasn't even twenty seconds before he was asleep again and he woke hours later still feeling that warm weight against his chest. Jonathan's hair was in his face and he was breathing deep and soft, his arm flopped over Evan's stomach. Evan thought he would feel something other than content to just lay there all day until Jonathan woke up. He caught himself tracing a finger over the tattoo on Jonathan's arm, following the swirls of branches that led to the smooth pale skin of his neck. Jonathan flinched, his fingers tightening around his middle. Evan waited until he was still and felt sleep dragging his eyes closed again. But when he woke the next time, Jonathan was gone.

When Monday rolled around again, Evan didn't expect him to come into his room, but at five o'clock on the dot his door opened and he would have been lying if he said he hadn't been laying awake waiting for him. He turned his head to see the familiar shape of his best friend standing beside his bed. He didn't bother leaning in. He didn't bother trying to scare him. He just said, "Good morning, bitch."

Evan could feel him hesitating and the word left his mouth before he gave it permission to, "Stay."

That was all Jonathan needed and he crawled under the covers next to Evan and didn't really know what to do from there. But he lost his awkward thoughts when Evan found his arm and pulled him towards him. Jonathan let his head fall on his chest and his arm across his stomach just as it had the week before and he sighed. It was all he needed, the warm presence of his friend to help him fall asleep. To keep his dark dreams at bay. The dreams he'd never tell Evan about, the ones that kept him up every night.

It was like that from then on out. Every Monday they shared the same bed and body heat, but they never talked about it and it worked. It was the best sleep either one of them got. And at times Evan thought maybe it was more than just attraction he felt toward him, but he never lingered on the thought for too long, because he was afraid to go there just yet.

"Hey, Jonathan. Did you check the mail?"

"I did." He said, not looking up from his laptop as he sat at the island counter in the kitchen. "It's by the fridge."

Evan walked around him, getting a whiff of the soap he bathed with. It smelled like pine and it buzzed in his head. "You smell delicious."

"Thank you." Jonathan looked at him from the corner of his eye and grinned.

"Have you seen any of my bills?" Evan asked as he tossed the junk mail in the trash. "Should've been here yesterday."

"Yes. It's taken care of."

He turned around and eyeballed his friend. "Taken care of? As in, you took care of it?"

"Yes." Jonathan was resting his chin in his hand and chewing on a piece of gum while he looked at Evan, waiting.

"Why?"

Jonathan sat back and gave a small laugh, "Why?" He looked around dramatically and shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe because you've been letting me live with you for the past five months. Maybe because you buy me dinner all the time. Maybe because you let me sleep with you on Mondays. Or maybe because you're just the best thing that's ever happened to me and I'd like to do something nice for you every once in a while. Like pay your bills."

Evan just stood there stunned until Jonathan got up and slapped him lightly on the face, "I'm saying thank you, you idiot."

He opened the fridge and poured himself a glass of sweet tea that he'd made. Evan had cursed him for getting him addicted to it but still begged for more when it was gone.

"Alright." Evan finally said once he got over the fact that Jonathan said he was best thing that ever happened to him, "I appreciate it."

Jonathan brushed past him and looked back with a smirk on his face, "You smell delicious, too."

Evan grinned and he almost let his stare linger too long. "So. What are you doing?"

"Just finishing this design up."

He walked over and looked over Jonathan's shoulder at the piece of art he was working on in PhotoShop.

"That is fucking amazing."

Jonathan smiled. It was a mash up of games all thrown into one, tiny props and guns adorned the design. The colors were magnificent and you had to look really hard to see every thing he'd hidden in it. It all came together in the shape of VG. VanossGaming.

"That's it." Evan pointed at the screen. "That'll be my tattoo."