Okay, here is the next chapter, obviously.

Nate smiled at Caitlyn as he walked over to her and hugged her.

"What are you doing here?"

Caitlyn smiled, "Um, actually I'm in town for a few days. Yeah, the parentals brought me along and I got bored so I figured I'd hit up the music store."

Nate smiled, "That's cool. Actually, um me and the guys bought an apartment here."

Caitlyn nodded, "That's cool," She then noticed Blake, "Oh…and who's this?"

Nate smiled, "This is Blake. He's a really good friend of mine. He saved Jason's life."

Caitlyn's smile faded, "Saved'? Wha-what do you mean, 'saved'? What happened?"

Blake shook his head, "Just some guys trying to play rough with Jason."

Caitlyn nodded, "Cool, I guess."

Nate nodded, "Yeah. Hey, um Mitchie is actually hanging out with us, you wanna hang out?"

Caitlyn smiled, "I would love to, but I can't. I actually have to be getting back like yesterday but maybe tomorrow?"

Nate nodded, "Sure. It was great seeing you, Cait."

The curly haired girl smiled, "Likewise. You, too, Blake."

She waved goodbye and left as Blake kept smiling, looking at Nate.

"What?" Nate asked, confused.

He laughed, "You have the hots for her. She's pretty cute."

Nate raised an eyebrow, "You're gay."

Blake laughed, "Actually, Mitchie never let me finish what I was gonna say. I'm actually bi."

Nate nodded, "Oh…that's cool."

When they met up with the others in the guitar store, Nate was instantly captivated by the guitars.

"This guitar is so awesome!" Jason smiled as he picked up a red guitar.

Blake smiled, "You want it?"

Jason laughed, "Yeah, 'cause I remember my wallet!"

Blake rolled his eyes and smiled, taking the guitar from him and up to the counter. Once there, he finally noticed the girl who was just staring at him. She was dressed like a punk-a black tank top, black skirt with fish net stockings, black boots, black eyeliner…almost looked like a hooker in a way, but she didn't look too slutty. Her blonde hair was curled with hot pink streaks in it.

Blake smiled at her, "What? Is there something in my teeth?"

She finally snapped out of her staring gaze, "Oh, uh no, no. I just…you're really cute."

He smiled, "Thanks, so are you. I'm Blake."

The girl smiled, "Peyton." She said as she gave him back the change for the guitar.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, Peyton."

Peyton nodded, "Thanks, you too."

Jason then snatched the guitar up, looking rather pissed, and stormed out of the store. Blake laughed nervously and slightly waved goodbye as he followed Jason.

"Jase…Jason!" He grabbed Jason's wrist and spun him around, "What's wrong?"

Jason looked at him, "What's wrong? What's wrong?! What's wrong, Blake, is that you saved my life! You saved my life, made me feel like I actually meant something to the world. You treated me so well, then you go and flirt with some guitar store whore! And I would be okay with that if you weren't my boyfriend!"

Blake let out a sigh, "Jason…I wasn't flirting with her. I was just trying to be nice."

"Right. Nice…like you were to me, right? Are you gonna go protect her now?!"

Shane, Nate, and Mitchie were now standing there, watching the fight play out, shocked.

"What? No. Jason, you're saying this like it's some sort of game."

"Isn't it?" Jason was in tears now, "Isn't it a game to you? You swoop in when someone's in trouble, act all nice, then expect to get your rocks off in return and then swoop in on someone else?"

"Jason, I never even mentioned sex. Come on, baby, you know what I told you was sincere."

"Don't call me baby. I'm not your baby. Not anymore." He then turned and walked away. Blake let out a sigh and turned to look at the others, tears forming in his eyes.

"Guys…I wasn't trying to flirt with that girl. Not intentionally."

Mitchie nodded, "We believe you. It's just that Jason still kind of doubts your feelings for him right now."

Shane looked down, "I can't believe he thinks that we don't think he matters."

Nate looked at Shane, "Well, we are the ones who have names on the fans' signs at the concerts."

Shane looked at Blake, "That's why you wrote I heart Jason on your arms."

Blake nodded.

"Are you gonna be ok?" Mitchie asked, hoping it would all work out.

"No, not really. But you should all go check on Jason. I can handle my side of it."

Nate looked at him, "You sure?"

Blake nodded, "Yeah, I'm used to being alone. It's no biggie." Blake forced a small smile and left the mall. Shane looked at Mitchie and Nate before Barnes & Noble.

"Why don't you two go after Blake?"

He smiled at them before walking into the store, looking around for a section before finding the music book section. He let out a sigh of relief as he saw a weeping Jason curled on the floor with a book of sheet music from RENT sitting next to him. He picked the book up and sat down next to him, wrapping his right arm around his friend.

"I knew you'd be here. Jason…I'm sorry. We don't try to make you feel unimportant. I had no idea that you felt that way. If I knew-"

Jason spoke, interrupting Shane, "Shane…not now. Please."

Shane flipped open the book and found a song before singing it softly in Jason's ear. He knew nothing calmed Jason down more when he was upset then RENT.

The heart may freeze

Or it can burn

The pain will ease

If I can learn

There is no future

There is no past

I live this moment as

My last

There's only us

There's only this

Forget regret

Or life is yours to miss

No other road

No other way

No day but today

Jason smiled slightly, "You remembered."

Shane nodded, "Hell yeah. You sang that song every single time you got upset at camp. You're one of my best friends, do you really think I'd forget stuff like that?"

He smiled at Jason and put the book away, "Look. He's sorry, ok? He's miserable right now…hurting just the same as you are."

Jason scoffed, "No, he's not. He didn't see his boyfriend hit on someone."

"No, he didn't. But he's still hurting. A hurt heart is the same, no matter what caused it."

Jason nodded, "I guess you're right."

Shane smirked, "Ya think? Jason, I honestly believe he didn't mean to flirt with her."

Jason nodded, "I just keep wondering and I ask myself what's gonna happen when he finds someone more attractive or smarter than me? I thought I was finding out."

Shane laughed and shook his head, "Nah, there's no way he could find someone better than you."

"Why's that?"

Shane smiled, "Because there's no such thing. Now come on, let's not sulk on the ground inside of a bookstore and let's go find the others."

Jason shook his head, "No. I still don't believe it. I'm sorry, Shane, but I just…"

Shane hugged his friend again as he started to cry, "Don't," He said softly, "Not here. At least wait until we get in the car, ok? Don't let anyone see you like this."

He helped Jason up and walked him outside of the mall to the car. Nate looked panicked and Mitchie was crying.

"What's wrong?" Shane asked.

"We got out here and he was gone," Nate said.

Shane nodded, "We'll find him later. It's time to go."

They all got into Jason's jeep as Shane drove them back towards the apartment. Jason just stared out at the landscape around them as they drove. Shane and Mitchie were in the front and Nate sat in the back with Jason.

Nate looked up at Jason and gently squeezed his shoulder, "It'll be okay, dude."

"No, it won't, Nate. What if he's left me? What if he's hurt? What if he's-"

"Don't say that. Don't you dare finish that sentence, Jason," Shane said as he continued to drive, "He's not dead. If he were dead you would know it for sure. We just gotta trust that he'll be physically ok until we find him."

Mitchie nodded, "He's right. I'm sorry you're hurting, Jason."

Jason just nodded as he continued to look out, tears streaming down his face slowly.

Later on that night, Jason hadn't really changed much. He just sat on his bed, staring at nothing and worried about Blake. Nate had called Caitlyn and told her what happened. She insisted she help look for him, but Nate wouldn't have it. They'd just have to hang out some other time. Mitchie and Shane were lying on Shane's bed, Mitchie's head resting on his chest.

"Do you really think he could be hurt? Like…seriously hurt?" Mitchie asked, looking up at Shane.

Shane shrugged as he gently ran his fingertips over Mitchie's back, "I dunno. We just have to keep positive and have a little faith. Tomorrow I'm going to go look for him. Nate's going to stay here with Jason. I'll try to keep you posted while you're in school."

Mitchie nodded, "Okay. Thank you..."

Shane nodded and could tell Mitchie was about to cry. He held her tightly as he kissed the top of her head, "Don't cry, baby."

Mitchie smiled, trying not to cry and looked up at Shane.

"What?" He asked, slightly confused.

"You called me 'baby'"

Shane laughed, "Because you are one." He said jokingly.

Mitchie scoffed and hit his arm, "Jerk."

Shane laughed as he let Mitchie cuddle up to him.

Nate walked by Jason's room and noticed he had fallen asleep, but he was shivering. He walked in and carefully covered his best friend up, trying not to wake him. Jason turned in his sleep and smiled, "Blake?"

Nate stopped, a single tear glossing over his right eye, "Yeah…it's me." He lied.

Jason smiled, still asleep, "You're okay."

Nate smiled, "Yeah," he choked out.

Jason smiled, "I'm sorry. I never meant for this to happen."

The tear finally escaped Nate's eye, running down his cheek slowly, "It's okay."

Jason's smile faded, "I miss the way you kiss me."

More tears slid down Nate's cheeks as he covered his mouth, trying his hardest not to start sobbing. His friend really and truly was deeply in love with Blake. He hated seeing his friend hurt…but he figured if he at least thought he was talking to Blake and believed it then it would be easier for Jason.

He smiled and leaned down, kissing his friend's cheek ever so softly, "You don't have to miss that anymore."

Jason smiled in his sleep, "Will you ever come back?"

Nate sighed heavily as he fought back the tears before looking back down at his sleeping friend, "Yeah," He said softly, "I'll be back. I just…need a little time to sort some things through. But I'm never going to leave your heart."

Jason smiled again, "I love you."

A tear once again glossed over Nate's right eye, "I love you, too, Jason."

He then leaned down, kissed Jason's cheek again, and then walked out the door, pausing as he turned to watch his friend sleep as his heart ached for his missing boyfriend. He blinked slowly, the tear building up in his eye slowly falling down his tear stained cheek before he carefully shut Jason's door.

The next morning, everything seemed different. Jason had told Shane not to look for Blake, that he'd come back in his own time. Nate knew he had restored a little bit of Jason's hope, but he knew Jason's eyes were not going to have that same gleam again until Blake was back and he knew that he was safe.

I'm sorry to end it here, but you know that chapters go as far as they need to. No, Nate is not gay or bi. He just felt bad for Jason and it was his way of comforting him without Jason knowing it was him. I think this story has a few more chapters left and then it'll be done. I'm not really sure. I just know a few things that I want to happen. As for what happened last chapter, I guess I didn't make it clear enough in the previous chapter, but the thing that embarrassed Nate was that he had morning wood. So question: Is there anything that you want to see happen to any of the characters?