According to the stats 197 people have read this story which makes me uber-happy : P I hope you guys like the following chapter. It took me forever to figure out screen names for Ethan and Benny. I love writing IM conversations for some reason (You'll see what I'm talking about )

Rory shot the action figure in the trash can and jumped in the air, while doing a little dance.

"Perfect shot! YEAH!" He held up his hand to Ethan. He high-fived Rory and smiled a little.

"So what do you want to do today? Go to the mall and check out the hot babes? I heard there was a sale at Victoria's secret." Rory said. He looked at Ethan eagerly.

"Rory, you're borderline creepy." Ethan said, while picking up his action figure from the trash can and setting it on his desk. Out of habit he glanced towards the computer screen to see if anyone had IMed him. More specifically, and honestly, if Benny had. There was nothing on the screen save a message from his mom saying that she had left liver and rice in the fridge. Ethan made a mental note to tell Sarah about buying pizza for them again.

"I'm soooo bored." Rory whined, "Where's Benny?"

"I don't know."

"Ha. Ha, good joke. Seriously dude, I feel like I want to eat that lamp over there." He gestured towards the green lamp with word "Radioactive" on it.

"How would that cure your boredom?" Ethan sat in his desk chair and leaned back in it while holding on the edge of the desk so he didn't fall over, like the time Benny stupidly decided jumped on the chair as well.

"I'd be doing something!" Rory sighed and flopped onto the bed not bothering to take off his shoes like Ethan had always asked him to. Ethan laughed,

"One time, Benny drew eyeballs on two old lampshades then we wore them around the house." Ethan laughed harder, rocking the chair, "And then…and then…. Benny...hahaha, he decided to go downstairs and obviously he couldn't see. He slid all the way downstairs. It was the funniest thing." Ethan wiped a tear of from his eye and giggled, "His butt hurt so I gave him a bag of frozen liver and he stuck them in his pants."

Rory gave him a weird look.

"Isn't that what your mom said we should ea-"

"Oh. Ew." Ethan said. He grabbed his phone and texted Sarah.

"Ok, I told Sarah to get pizza."

"One time I fell down the stairs. Or I was pushed….I don't remember. I think I got sent to the hospital." Rory said.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"What so funny?"

"Huh? Oh." Ethan hadn't realized he was still smiling. He felt all warm and excited.

The next day

6:08 p.m.

parnmrl_b36 is online.

Ethan looked up from his sudoku puzzle to the computer and smiled. He hesitated and his fingers floated over the keyboard nervously before he remembered it was just Benny.

ethanner10 is online

ethanner10: hey

parnmrl_b36: hey

ethanner10: long time no c

parnmrl_b36: its only been like 4 days

ethanner10: compared to everyday

ethanner10: …yeah I guess you're right

Ethan twisted a rubber band in his hands. He hoped Benny wasn't still mad at whatever he was mad at.

parnmrl_b36: I'm sorry for acting like a butt hole…

ethanner10: You weren't a butt hole…more like a moldy donut hole.

parnmrl_b36: that sounds more disgusting.

ethanner10: are you sure?

parnmrl_b36: butt holes can be cleaned

ethanner10: ew new subject

parnmrl_b36: You're just scared to know the truth

ethanner10: what? That doesn't make any sinse

parnmrl_b36: exactly. And learn how to spell. There's a 'e" in there stupeed.

parnmrl_b36: ...shut up.

ethanner10: You're stupeed.

parnmrl_b36: And you're ugeely.

ethanner10: that's not what your aunt said last night.

parnmrl_b36: it's not aunt, idiot. You're such a loser.

parnmrl_b36: . I'm joking…you're not a loser/idiot.

Ethan smiled.

ethanner10: awww how sweet.

parnmrl_b36: shut up. I just feel sorry for you.

ethanner10: no you just love me so much you can't bear to hurt my widdle feelings.

parnmrl_b36: I will eat your first born.

Ethan laughed, yet for a moment he felt conflicted, like there were two parts of him pulling him in opposite directions. And he hated the sick, self-destructive feeling.

ethanner10: you're a creep

There was the side that felt like blue neon lighting whenever he was around Benny.

parnmrl_b36: uve said weirder

ethenner10: give me an example

The side that wanted just to next to him all the time, breathe him, and sink into him so easily, like water.

parnmrl_b36: Remember out 8th grade dance and u said u were gonna get down with ur bad self?

And then the other side that was scared of seeing Benny turn around and walk away with a look of disgust. He felt nervous just thinking about it.

ethanner10: do you remember the time when you asked me if you could bite my head?

He couldn't risk their friendship for something as stupid as feelings. Ones that had only come about recently. He felt like he was so naïve, wasting his time feeling like this. Is it even possible Benny would ever like him too?

parnmrl_b36: yes.

Ethan froze for a second then realized what Benny had said yes to. He laughed, like a person laughs when they fall in front of someone and don't want to believe they got hurt.

ethanner10: I got to go. We're going out to eat dinner soon.

parnmrl_b36: aww…I'm so lonely! Bye

parnmrl_b36: if I don't hear from you by 9 I'm calling the cops.

Ethan smiled then shut his computer off.