"Mmm," Chris sighs against Darren's lips. "I have to go."

It's several weeks after getting his cast removed, and Chris couldn't be happier to have it gone. To be able to run his fingers of both his hands through Darren's curls is so much better. That's how Chris finds himself currently sitting in Darren's lap running his fingers through his soft curls as they make out.

"No. You have to stay." Darren grabs his hips and keeps him from leaving.

"No," Chris giggles as he shakes his head. "I have to go before I get in trouble. It is after all, Mr. Criss, a school night."

"Don't call me that," Darren playfully reprimands him, lightly smacking Chris on the ass.

Chris grins. "And if I do? Will you smack my ass again?"

"Do you want to find out?" Darren asks in a tone of voice that is part teasing and part serious; corner of his mouth turning up into a smirk.

"Of course I want to find out," Chris leans in and whispers into Darren's ear, "Mr. Criss."

Suddenly, he finds himself lying over Darren's lap. Its sad how turned on he gets that Darren did that so effortlessly without him really realizing. Bracing his forearms on the couch, arching his back and sticking his ass up some, Chris is ready for whatever Darren is going to do to him.

"Wow, Chris," Darren laughs. "Don't make it so obvious that you enjoyed that."

"So what if I did." Chris wiggles his hips, looking over his shoulder and grinning at Darren. "You gonna do it again, or not?"

Chris feels the lite smack Darren places on his ass. "I think not." Darren smirks at him.

"You're terrible," Chris teases as he rolls off Darren's lap and stands up off the couch. Grabbing the back of the couch, he bends down and kisses Darren. "I gotta go. Promised Hannah I would watch a movie with her."

"Okay." Darren gives a gentle squeeze to Chris' hip before letting him go. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow in class."

"Definitely. Bye."

"Bye."

When he closes his front door behind him, turning to hang his keys up, Chris stops at the envelope sitting on the table. Addressed to him, with the school name in the corner, he knows what it is. Grabbing it with shaking hands, he holds it tightly and walks to his room.

Sitting on the edge of his bed and just staring at the envelope for several minutes, as if it's an animal he doesn't know what to do with, he delays opening it. This single envelope will change his future in so many ways. He's just not ready to know in which way. But he knows he has to get it over with.

Turning the envelope over and breaking the seal, he desperately prays it says what he wants. Pulling out the paper and unfolding it, he reads what it says. Dropping it to the floor, tears filling his eyes and spilling over, he doesn't move. He does nothing.

It's all a shock. After everything, it all came down to a single reply. It doesn't seem real; it feels like a dream and a nightmare all at once. He's not sure how he should feel about feeling that way, because this changes a lot of things.

"Chris, honey?" He hears his mom softly say as she steps into his room however much later. "What did it say?"

Standing up and facing her, wiping away the tear that rolls down his cheek, he smiles at her. "I got in."

The yell of delight his mom releases makes him laugh. Soon, arms are wrapping around him and pulling him close.

"This is good. Why are you crying, sweetie?" his mom whispers into his ear.

"I'm just excited," he mumbles in reply.

It's not a complete lie. He is excited and thrilled he was accepted. But now he thinks about what happens because of his acceptance.

The real reason he's crying is because the moment he found out he got accepted all he could think about was Darren, and her. The fear of what happens to Darren and he suddenly gripped him; it became that much more of a reality that what they share is in danger. He's moving and Darren will be here. He remembers how Darren said he doesn't like long-distance relationships. So with him being accepted to the school, it brings up a major problem for them.

Then he thinks about leaving his mom here with just Hannah so soon after his dad died.

"Mom?" he quietly whispers.

"Yeah, sweetie?" she says.

"Is this okay? Are you okay with me leaving so soon after daddy?" Chris asks, looking up at his mom as tears fill his eyes.

Chris feels as his mom cups the sides of his face, gently stroking her thumb over his cheek. "Don't do that, Chris," she tells him. "This is great news. Don't try to lessen it. I'll be fine with you going. I know you'll be a few hours away for me to visit any time I want to. I won't be losing you, sweetie."

"Thanks, Mom." Chris smiles, feeling her wipe away the tear that rolls down his cheek.

"I'm gonna call everybody and tell them!" his mom excitedly and enthusiastically says.

"Okay." Chris laughs, sitting back on his bed. Wiping away his tears, he does his best not to think about what this will mean for Darren and he.


Linden screams and throws herself into his arms. Of course she is excited for him, obvious by her display of emotions. But she's extra ecstatic about his acceptance since that puts him closer to where she is going. They'll only be a few hours apart. But a few hours is better than a few states.

"This is perfect. We can still see each other on weekends." Linden takes Chris' hand and swings their clasped hands together as she practically skips down the hall.

"Were you that worried about it?" Chris chuckles as they turn the corner to go to class.

"Yes." Linden nods her head. "You're my best friend. I want to be able to see you other than on holidays and summer break."

Completely understanding, Chris lets go of her hand when they walk into class. Seeing Darren sitting behind his desk, he walks up to him.

"Hey, Chris," Darren says as he stands up.

"I have something to tell you," Chris whispers so no one hears.

"Me too. After class."

Agreeing, Chris walks back to his seat. Sitting down, he looks to Linden to still find a happy smile on her face.

By the time the bell rings to signal the end of class, Chris is a nervous mess over telling Darren. He knows he'll be happy for him. But then the reality of what that means will set in. And he's not sure if can deal with what Darren is going to say or do.

Staying behind by slowly shuffling papers and stuffing them in his bag, straightening his desk, he heads over to Darren's desk once the last kid is gone.

"So, what's your news?" Chris lays the strap of his bag across his chest, bag resting against his hip.

"You first." Darren barely sits on the edge of his desk, legs out in front of him and ankles crossed, arms crossed over his chest. He wears his glasses, Chris figuring he wasn't in the mood to deal with contacts today.

Chris likes it better when Darren wears glasses. It makes him more sophisticated looking. And sexy. Plus, something about his eyes seem to shine more behind the lenses.

Taking a deep breath, Chris tells him the news. "I got accepted to UCLA."

It's the smallest of changes. He's positive nobody else would notice it. He only notices it because he's been around Darren more than any other person he knows; seen it happen when he was the one that had to remind him that they couldn't do anything beyond kissing.

"Dare?" he says nervously.

"That's great, Chris!" Darren excitedly tells him, losing that look in his eyes as quickly as it came. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks." Chris smiles, and then remembers Darren had something to tell him as well. "What did you have to tell me?" he asks.

"Oh. Nothing." Darren shakes his head. "It's not important anymore."

"You sure?"

"Yeah." Darren nods his head.

"Alright."

"How about you come over Saturday and we can celebrate the big news?" Darren suggests. "I'll even take you out on a proper date."

"Did I just hear you say take me out?" Chris playfully teases.

"Yes. It would be someplace an hour or two away. But it would be a date outside my house."

"That sounds perfect." Chris smiles at him. "I have to go. Don't want to be late for class. Bye, Dare."


Closing Darren's front door behind him Saturday night, Chris hangs up his coat. "I'll be down in a sec," Darren yells down to him.

"Okay." Walking to the kitchen, he pulls open the fridge and grabs a can of Sprite. Popping the tab and taking a long drink, he sees the lone piece of paper on the breakfast bar.

Setting the can down and taking the few steps to the bar, and out of curiosity, he grabs it to see what it says.

Reading the letter, getting more and more upset with each line that passes, Chris wants to ball it up and throw it away. He doesn't understand; he's confused and angry. Reading what he did, he doesn't get why Darren didn't tell him. Why couldn't he have said something in the days since he received the letter? Why couldn't he have said something, anything to…Suddenly, it hits him. It's then that Chris remembers Darren saying he had something to tell him as well when he had his news to share.

But it still doesn't make sense. Why not bring it up then? Why lie about what he had to say? He doesn't understand why Darren did what he did. It makes him frustrated and worried just thinking about what this could mean for them.

Hearing Darren coming down the stairs, composing himself some, he gets ready for some answers to the million questions he just had.

Darren walks up to the breakfast bar with a grin on his face. "Hey, Chr-"

"That's what you were going to tell me the other day, isn't it?" Chris doesn't let him finish speaking as he pushes the paper to Darren, noticing his eyes go wide with surprise. "You're leaving?!" He's mad, livid over this, there's no other way to put it. To find out Darren is planning to leave, and he didn't even have the decency to tell him about it. It angers and frustrates him.

"No!...No. I haven't even given my reply," Darren informs him. "I just got the letter the other day."

"Why would you apply?" The anger and frustration and confusion Chris feels starts to spill into his voice.

"This place isn't for me, Chris. I...can't stay here."

"That's not what you said at the beginning of the school year. You said what you wanted was here," Chris reminds him.

"I meant...Dammit, Chris, I meant you. You're the reason I came back; the reason I gave up New York."

That admission shocks Chris out of his anger. It was the last thing he expected to hear.

"Y-You gave up New York for...me?" Chris asks with surprise. He doesn't understand why Darren would do that. "Why?"

"Like I said: What I wanted was here," Darren quietly responds. "I tried so hard to not see you as anything but my student last year. But, I failed." Darren shrugs his shoulders and nervously chuckles. "You just...amazed me like no other student I've taught before. You were smart and gorgeous, which you still are," he is quick to add. "You had these eyes that would look at me like they knew me."

Any anger Chris might have felt melts away as Darren talks. Replaced by it are tears he tries to fight back.

"I felt myself slowly wanting to do things I shouldn't have. I no longer wanted to be your teacher. It's one of the big reasons I applied for the job in New York. And when you told me how you felt about me, I saw how easy it could have been for us to be together. I fought against that, though, and knew I had to lie to you. The rest you know."

"No, I don't." Chris shakes his head, wiping away the tear that fell. "What happened in New York?"

"New York." Darren huffs and then takes a deep breath. "I tried to move on from how I felt about you while there. I tried dating, but it was to no avail. I tried forgetting how I felt about you. But I couldn't. You were everything I thought. So, I knew I had to come back and try."

"Why wait as long as you did to tell me?"

"I was nervous and scared. I tried a couple of times to say something during our Wednesday lunches, but I would chicken out at the last second. And then your dad died and I knew I couldn't say anything while you were so broken and vulnerable; when you needed time to heal. Then the Halloween dance happened."

Chris smiles at the memories of that night. "You kissed me," he recalls, still feeling that kiss and how amazing it was. "It made me happier than anything in weeks. I felt...alive."

"I kissed you because it was all I could think about; I wanted you to know the truth about how I felt. I, also, wanted something good to happen to you after the cards you had been dealt."

"You gave me something amazing."

"It was one of the best moments of my life, so far. I knew when I kissed you that I wanted to do it for as long as I could."

"I don't get it, then. Why apply for a job on the other side of the country? Why leave?"

"Did you look at where the school was?" Darren questions.

"In New Jersey. Why?"

"Not just New Jersey," Darren says. "Close to Princeton. Where you applied."

"And?" Chris says confused.

"I told you, Chris: this place isn't for me. I wasn't gonna stay here with you gone."

"You were gonna go with me if I got accepted?" Chris mumbles, realizing what Darren is trying to say.

"Yes."

"Does that mean...?" Chris doesn't finish the question, too thrilled and hopeful at what this means.

"Yes, I applied at a school near UCLA." Darren grins at him as he wraps his arms around his waist and pulls him close. "I just haven't heard back from them, yet."

"When do you hear back?"

"I'm not sure." Darren shrugs his shoulders. "After you told me about UCLA, I found no need to tell you about being given the job at this school. Since you weren't going there, neither am I."

The thought that Darren is willing to pack up his life and go with him when he leaves makes Chris happier than he can remember. To have Darren by his side will easier and more bearable. It won't be him alone in a new place. But the thought of possibly having to go alone hits him. It terrifies and scares him. It makes his heart race with worry over being by himself in an unknown place.

"What if it doesn't happen?" he worriedly questions, looking at Darren with concern.

"If what doesn't happen?" Darren asks.

"What if you don't get the job? What if you have to take the job in New Jersey? You said yourself you don't like long distance relationships. What if I'm there and you're somewhere else?" Chris starts to panic over what could be.

"Chris! Chris!" Darren says as he holds him close to calm him down. Chris finds comfort in Darren's tight, warm embrace. "I know what I said. Yes, I don't like long distance relationships. They almost always end bad. But..." Darren trails off.

Chris feels himself hanging on to that but, clinging to it like a safety line to keep him alive. He needs to know what it means that Darren said that; he needs him to finish his thought. "But what?" he mumbles.

"But, I'm willing to do it for you, if it comes down to that," Darren quietly tells him in his ear. "Even if that means staying here to be closer to you."

"Give up New Jersey?"

"Yes."

It's crazy how much Darren is willing to sacrifice for him. So far, he has yet to give up anything so they can be together. It makes him feel selfish and mean. "You keep giving up things for me," he says, "but I haven't. I'm getting everything I want, and you're losing, or jeopardizing, things you want or have." Taking a deep breath, Chris stares into Darren's eyes and knows he has to say this. He wants to make Darren happy. "Don't give up New Jersey for me. Take the job if that's what you really want. If-"

"I want you," Darren interjects, looking surprised and confused. "I don't care if I have to stay here. As long as I'm closer to you, I'm fine."

"I know that's what you say, but...I can't do that to you. I don't want you staying somewhere just for me. If you have the opportunity, take the job in New Jersey." Chris can already feel heartache at the thought of Darren and he possible being on opposite ends of the country. But he knows it would be the right thing; if Darren is happy, he's happy. It would be frightening to be by himself, but he knows he could do it if he knew he had Darren to comfort and support him, even if they are miles apart.

"You're willing to do that for me?" Darren whispers, sounding shocked.

"Yes." Chris nods his head. "If it comes down to it, I know we would do everything to get through a long distance relationship."

"You're amazing," Darren whispers against his lips before kissing him.

Chris pulls in a deep breath after Darren ends the kiss. "I love you," he says on the exhale of breath. It's the first time he's said it since he first told Darren almost a year before. The moment he says the words, though, he realizes what he said and tenses in Darren's arms.

He feels like an idiot now. Why would he say that? Why couldn't he bite his tongue from uttering those words? Now Darren probably feels uncomfortable because he said that. He never meant to tell Darren that like this.

Lips press to his in a soft, tender kiss. Parting his lips and moaning when Darren gently thrust his tongue into his mouth, he figures Darren is choosing to ignore what he said.

Pulling in a deep breath when Darren breaks the kiss and rests his forehead to his, Chris hopes they can forget what he said.

"I love you, too," Darren says above a whisper.

Realizing what Darren said, a jolt runs through Chris. Pulling back and staring into Darren's stunning eyes, he feels like he has to pinch himself at the moment to convince himself he's not sleeping.

"Did you just say that? Or am I imagining things?" Chris twirls one of Darren's curls at the back of his head around his finger.

"Why? What did you imagine?" Darren slyly grins as he looks to him.

"Dare, what did you say?" Chris says a bit annoyed, poking Darren in his stomach. Hands wrap around his wrist and hold them tightly. Only he could be told he's loved by the man he loves and have said man joking with him about what he heard.

"What do you think you heard?" Darren nudges his nose against Chris'.

Getting a tad upset that Darren won't tell him, Chris yanks his hands away and turns to leave. He doesn't want to start doubting himself on what he thought he heard.

Arms immediately wrap around his waist and pull him backwards.

"I love you, Chris," Darren softly whispers into his ear. "I love you. I love you. I love you."

"Really?" Chris asks with a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Yes." Darren places a kiss at the side of his neck. "I think I've loved you since that morning in the store."

"That long?" Chris asks a bit surprised.

"Yes. Maybe even before and I didn't realize it yet."

Looking over his shoulder at Darren, he feels his heart swell with love. "I love you," he whispers.

"I love you, too."

The press of lips in a soft, gentle kiss has Chris turning in Darren's arms. Deepening the kiss, he drapes an arm over his shoulders and melts into his touch.

They never do make their date. But Chris doesn't mind. Kissing Darren for several hours is better than any date they could possibly go on.

"Sorry we didn't go out," Darren mumbles against his lips a few hours later as they lie on the couch.

"Trust me," Chris pulls back to gaze into Darren's eyes filled with love as they look at him. "It's perfectly fine. Besides, after what you said, I'd rather be alone with you."

Pressing even closer to Darren's body, nudging their noses together, and giggling, Chris finds himself happier to be in Darren's arms than out on a date and still be worried over being seen by someone they know.

"You're eighteenth birthday is coming up in several weeks," Darren quietly says. "Is there anything you want?"

"For you to fuck me," Chris seriously replies, but with a hint of a smirk on his lips.

"I guess I walked right into that one."

"Anyways," Chris skims his finger over Darren's lips, "I don't need anything. You don't have to buy me a present. I have everything I could want."

"Oh, yeah?" Darren smiles. "What's that?"

"My beauty. My health. My youth. My, obvious, healthy sex drive. And nothing else, really," Chris sarcastically replies.

"Oh! You think you're so funny." Darren grabs at Chris' wrists and rolls onto him, pressing his body down on Chris'.

"Alright," Chris sighs, pretending to be annoyed. "I guess I have you."

"That's right. You do have me," Darren sincerely says with love in his voice. He leans down and brushes his lips over Chris', whispering against them, "You'll always have me. I love you."

"I love you, too."

Chris sighs when Darren leans down and tenderly kisses him.


The next few weeks fly by in a blur of complete and utter happiness for Chris. Almost all his free time is spent with Darren. Just simply being with him is enough to make him happy, but to hear him utter those words into his ear, catching him by surprise each time, makes Chris' heart soar, and a smile to spread across his face. He's not sure how many times they've told each other that they love each other after saying it the first time. But he does know it will never be enough; he will never tire of saying those words to Darren, and for Darren to tell him.

But right now, Linden next to him, Chris just thinks about how much he loves Darren as he listens to Linden complain about the field trip they're about to take with their senior class.

"Think we can skip it?" Linden leans over and whispers into Chris' ear.

Chris can hear how serious she is. Standing next to her, watching everybody board the school bus in front of them, he looks to her and shakes his head. "Too late. I think we're stuck with going," he tells her.

Somehow, the school finds that the seniors field trip should be them going to the zoo for the day. It's the stupidest idea ever considering most of the seniors would rather be spending their day doing something other than staring at animals. But Chris went along with it for one reason and one reason only. That reason stands just outside the bus checking off student's names before they climb on board. Seeing Darren makes Chris' heart stop at how gorgeous he is, and how much he loves him.

"It's so hot, though," Linden whines as she pushes her sunglasses up on her nose. "Why do we have to something that involves being outside for hours?"

"It's the zoo, Lin," Chris laughs. "It won't be too bad. Plus, you spend hours at the beach. Same difference."

"Not the same difference. At least then I can wear a bikini and have fun in the water, and build sandcastles." Chris snickers at the idea that Linden still loves building sandcastles after all these years. Where some girls her age lie out on a towel and tan, she dumps sand into a bucket to build stuff like the nine year old he remembers. "I should have stayed home," she grumbles. "Why can't I at least be on the same bus as Matthew?"

"I'm going to poke you if you continue to bug me."

"Abusive," Linden jokes as she laughs.

"Linden! Chris!" Looking up at hearing their names called, Chris smiles at Darren standing there staring at them. "Time to go."

"Come on, grumpy," Chris teases as he grabs Linden's hand and drags her towards the bus. "We have a bus to catch."

"Ugh!"

Chris laughs as he pushes Linden onto the bus, winking at Darren before he steps on.


"Why the zoo?" Chris plops himself down next to Darren on the bench he's sitting on a few hours later. Opening his lunch bag, he pulls out the bag of Fruit Loops he packed. "I never understood that," he states as he eats a handful of the sugary cereal.

"Apparently it lets you guys be kids again for a day, or something. It's fun and different." Darren looks at him and grins. "You're not having fun?"

"Oh, I'm having fun. It was beyond thrilling to watch the monkeys pick fleas off each other. Or watch as the tigers just laid there and did nothing," Chris jokes, enjoying when Darren laughs. "It's definitely a field trip to remember."

"Don't think I didn't see you and Linden sneakily throwing candy to the monkeys."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Chris plays coy and acts like he's innocent. It was one of the few things Linden got a big kick out of doing so far in the day. Chris remembers how hard she laughed. "Me and Linden would never."

"Linden and I." Chris hears Linden correct him as she sits down beside him. "And what would we never do? Hey, Mr. Criss."

"Hello, Linden."

"Okay, smartie," Chris teases, holding out the bag of Fruit Loops so Linden can grab some. "D-...Mr. Criss here says he saw us feeding the monkeys."

"Who knew they'd like Skittles so much," Linden says with an air of surprise.

"Linden," Chris laughs. "We're supposed to act innocent."

"Oh! Right." She looks to Darren and innocently smiles. "Sorry, Mr. Criss, I don't know what you're talking about."

"It's fine, guys," Darren chuckles. "Just make sure you don't do it again. Don't want the zoo mad at us."

Grinning and shaking his head, Chris pulls out the sandwich he packed. Undoing the plastic wrap, taking a bite of his PB&J, he huffs when Linden grabs his hand and takes her own bite of his sandwich. "Where's your lunch?" Pulling his hand away, and playfully sticking his tongue out at Linden, he makes sure his food is out of reach from her.

"Matthew's buying it right now," Linden explains. "But I'm hungry; and your sandwich looks delicious."

"Well, too bad, thief. This is mine." Purposely taking a big bite of his sandwich as he stares right at Linden, and adding more emphasis on how good it is by moaning, hearing Darren choke on and spit out whatever he's drinking behind him, he winks at Linden and smirks.

"I hate you." She pouts.

"No, you don't," he says around the mouthful of food he has. "You love and tolerate me."

"Sad but true." Linden pulls out her phone when it buzzes. "Seems my lunch is waiting for me. See you later."

"Bye." Watching Linden walk away, Chris turns back to Darren with a smirk. "Don't think I didn't hear you choke on your drink earlier, mister."

"That was your fault," Darren teasingly accuses. "Perhaps you shouldn't make noises like that that catch me off guard."

"Off guard, huh? What does it make you want to do?"

"Things I'm not allowed to do to you just yet."

"Man!" Chris huffs as he stares into Darren's dazzling eyes. "I really want to kiss you right now."

"I really want to kiss you right now, too." Chris blushes as he sees Darren dart his eyes to his lips. "You make it difficult for me to be in public when I'm around you."

"I'm not sorry."

"Don't be."

"Hello, Darren," Ms. DuBois says as she comes and seats herself between Darren and Chris.

Chris quietly snickers as she turns her body to Darren, completely ignoring him.

"Hello, Brooke," Darren kindly greets her as he puts some space between them.

"You know," Brooke says as she reaches out and places a hand on Darren's knee, "I was thinking after this whole field trip craziness is over you and I can go grab a bite to eat."

Biting his lower lip to hold in the laughter wanting to escape his mouth, seeing the small amount of fear cross Darren's face, Chris finds himself enjoying his boyfriend being hit on right in front of him. The fact that it's Ms. DuBois, and that she never gives up, makes it that much better.

"Um..." Darren stammers a little, Chris seeing him trying to formulate a good enough lie to get out of that. "I...I can't."

"Why?"

"I'm busy."

"Oh, you're always busy," Brooke whines. Without looking, Chris can guess she is pouting. "You never have time for me."

"I wasn't aware I was supposed to make time for you," Darren replies with a hint of confusion.

"Well, you're not. But," Brooke scoots closer, Darren moving away until his back hits the arm rail, "I would really like to spend time with you."

Mentally gagging, Chris knows he's heard enough. "I think I'm gonna go to the snake exhibit." Standing up and grabbing his trash, he smiles at Brooke who looks like she just realized he was there. "Bye, Ms. DuBois. Mr. Criss."

"Bye," Brooke replies.

Looking at Darren whose eyes scream "Help me!" and seems he wants out of there, he winks at him when Brooke turns back to him.

Walking away and throwing his trash away, he pulls out his phone. Pulling up Darren's number, he decides to rescue him.

Chris: 12:34

Hey, handsome. I'm here to help. Say it's your mom and she needs to talk, and then excuse yourself.

It takes several seconds for his phone to buzz with a reply.

Darren: 12:35

I love you so much right now. Thank you!

Answering his phone when it rings a couple minutes later, he doesn't need to look to know who it is. "Are you safe?"

"I'm out of the clutches of Brooke's perfectly painted claws," Darren tells him. "Are you still heading to the snake exhibit?"

"Yeah. I'm walking in right now." Opening the door, a cool blast of air immediately hitting him, Chris goes up to the first glass exhibit holding a snake. Placing his hand on the glass, he looks at the snake currently hanging over a tree limb. "Do you want to meet in the bathroom and make out?" he asks as he taps his finger against the glass.

"Are you actually propositioning your teacher to make out while on a field trip?" Darren laughs into the phone.

"Yes," Chris replies without guilt. "So, you want to meet me in five minutes?" Looking over to where Darren is standing in front of a exhibit a few feet down, he can see the nervous blush forming on his cheeks. "You up for it or not?"

"As tempting and great as that offer sounds, I think I'll have to pass for right now," Darren answers him. "How about stop by later at my house and we can make out then."

"It's a date. Much better than the one Brooke was offering," Chris jokes as he stays where he's at and watches as Darren slowly makes his way to him.

"So much better." Chris hears and sees Darren reply, eyes trained on him.

The way Darren is looking at him at the moment makes him feel like he's being hunted by one of these snakes in the exhibit. The hunger and desire and lust filling his darkened eyes has him feeling like an unsuspecting mouse about to be attacked. Only Chris wouldn't mind the attack; he would welcome it like a desert seeking rain.

He knows these next two weeks will be long and torturous.

"Stop looking at me like that." He breathes heavy and tries to get all thoughts of Darren and he naked in bed out of his mind.

"Like what?" Darren stops several inches from him and ends the call. His voice is low and deep; a smirk on his lips like he knows exactly what he's doing to Chris at the moment.

"Stop looking at me like you want to devour me," Chris says with an unsteady voice; heart racing in his chest.

"I do want to devour you, Chris," Darren whispers under his breath so no one around them can hear. "Every. Single. Inch. Of. You."

Trying so desperately not to get hard in a snake exhibit at a fucking zoo where there are elementary school kids around, Chris tries to focus on anything but Darren. But the smell of oranges floods his senses, it makes him momentarily dizzy and fills him with desire and need.

"Oh, God," he quietly groans with a hitch to his voice. Clenching his hands into fist to stop from reaching out and splaying them on Darren's chest, he tries to get his feelings under control. It takes a few deep breaths to do just that.

"I like you all flustered and bothered," Darren teases as he smirks at Chris. "Makes you cuter."

"Um, excuse me, Darren."

Looking when Darren turns around at his name being called, Chris finds Mrs. Hamilton standing there looking a bit worried. Although he still wants to be alone with Darren, he's grateful for the distraction at the moment.

"Yes, Mrs. Hamilton?" Darren politely says.

"I need your help with a few students. They won't stop acting up."

"Alright. Well," he says as he looks at Chris and grins. "It was lovely talking snakes with you, Chris. Bye."

"Bye," Chris replies, watching Darren walk off with Mrs. Hamilton.

Unlocking his phone when it buzzes with a message a few moments later.

Darren: 12:48

Now you know I felt earlier. ;)

Chris: 12:49

I hate you.

Darren: 12:50

Okay. Then come hate me at my house at six.

Chris: 12:50

Deal. :)


Groaning when Darren pushes him away, like he always does when it starts to get too hot and heavy, Chris falls back on the couch with a huff. They've been making out for who knows how long.

He came over earlier like Darren asked, and he barely gave Darren any warning before he was jumping into his arms and hungrily kissing him. Darren carried him to his living room and fell on to the couch with him where they lost track of time as they made up for what happened at the zoo earlier.

Even though it didn't go past making out and some heavy petting, Chris was desperate for it to. He wanted more; his body craved the touch of Darren on every inch of his skin. He wants bare skin on bare skin.

"I hate school," he grumpily complains as Darren climbs off the couch.

He takes the few seconds alone to compose himself after what just happened.

"Well, you're almost finished with it," Darren tells him from the kitchen. "Soon the horrors of high school will be behind you."

"That's not why I mainly hate it right now." Sitting up and crossing his legs, Chris takes the glass of water Darren offers him when he sits down beside him. "It's keeping me from jumping your bones at the current moment."

"Jumping my bones," Darren recites with a chuckle. "You say such nice things to me."

"What can I say, I'm a romantic."

Setting his glass on the table after taking a drink, Chris lies down, resting his head in Darren's lap. Gazing up at him, he reaches up and runs his finger along Darren's lower lip. "Have you heard from the school yet?" he asks, sounding hopeful and hesitant. He wants to know if Darren heard from the school, but at the same time he's terrified of finding out he didn't get the job. Being separated from him will be too much for him to handle, even if it's a few hours apart. But then he thinks about the possibility of Darren taking the job in New Jersey, and that terrifies him more.

"No." Darren shakes his head as he runs his fingers through Chris' hair. "Not yet."

"Do you know when?"

"It should be soon."

"I hope you get it." Chris leans forward and nuzzles his face in Darren's belly.

"Me too," Darren agrees with a smile.