A/N: I know I ended up posting this quickly, but we're nearing the end. The next part is just the epilogue setting up book two. After that's posted it will be a while until you get the next instalment as I need to work out what happens during the year. Hope you enjoy this chapter anyway :)

John returned to his dorm from the campus coffee shop with a hot coffee and sandwich, exhausted. It was the first day of finals and he was heading back to continue revising for the rest of his subjects. At least the ridiculous volume of assignments and self-study he did each week disappeared after finals. He wasn't sure why he'd agreed with his brother to stay at college after deciding. It was just to leave and not cause rumours around burning out and not having what it took.

When he came back to dump his bag, he opened the door and spotted an envelope on the floor with his name on it.

COME FIND ME BEFORE YOU LEAVE. YOU NEED YOUR PAPERWORK FOR YOUR PT SESSIONS. RANDY

He didn't want to do it but he didn't have a choice. He threw his bag on the bed and headed back out. If he went now Randy should be free and it the encounter will be over with, quick and painless. He'd missed the sessions. As long as they worked, John was free to ask whatever he wanted. His relationship with Randy became complicated because of it but he didn't regret it. Until Cody made him face the truth; Randy lost his job if they continued. He missed Randy; but he hadn't missed his shoulder aching from the work outs though.

He went to the training centre, praying Cody wasn't there. As it was, neither man was. He asked where Randy was; he wanted to speak with him before he left for summer, but he was out of luck as Randy was with another student.

He still had his number, and he paused a moment before pulling his phone out and sending a message to Randy.

CAME TO FIND YOU. YOU WERE TREATING SOMEONE. HAVE THE OFFICE SEND IT TO MY HOME ADDRESS.

Now as he sunk into his chair to study his phone vibrated with a return message.

I'VE WRITTEN UP RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE FILE. NEED TO GO THROUGH THEM WITH YOU.

John was fuming. He was trying to save Randy his job, and he threw it back in his face as Randy kept trying to pull him back into the mess that was their relationship.

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU WERE FUCKING CODY?

WTF?!

YEAH I HE TOLD ME. PLUS I DON'T WANT THE NOTES OR YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS. ANY PT CAN TELL THE PROGRESS FROM MY SCANS.

The last text message didn't get a reply, and he calmed himself before trying again to focus on his books. He was just getting in the zone when someone pounded on his door.

"What?!" he complained throwing open the door.

"Listen up, you immature little boy," Randy pushed passed him into the room. "I don't care what you've heard but I'd never touch his asshole if he was the only one available. And here's another thing, even if I was fucking him, it's none of your business. You're a student. We'll never have a relationship."

"Thanks for coming over here to clarify," John spat back stung by Randy's words. "You're free to get everything off your chest that you want to tell me."

"Fine, first off, here's your medical file," he threw it on John's bed. "Get it to your doctor and visit another PT to finish the job because you haven't attended your appointments for a month and I can tell the work we did has regressed."

"Second," John asked, seething that Randy had the gumption to come to his room and lecture him.

"You told me you wanted to prove something to your family. I still don't understand what you have to prove because you're a smart guy. If you drop out of college, you prove how stupid you are."

"I can report you for the way you're speaking."

"Then report me. I don't care," Randy snapped. "There are others who are glad the year is out. I'm heading home to Missouri and forgetting this place."

Randy hung his head and went passed John to the door having said too much.

"You're leaving?"

"Yeah. I put my notice in last week. I'm seeing the year through," Randy explained with his back to John.

John moved to his bed and sat, trying to take in that Randy had quit his job. "Listen, do me a favour."

"What?" John asked.

"Don't quit. Come back next year and put everything you have into your college work; there are grants available for students who lose their sports scholarships. You aren't the first person it's to happen to and you won't be the last."

"I'll think it through."

"There's nothing can be asked more than that," Randy smirked at John over his shoulder. "I should go."

"Yeah, okay."

John sat there for a moment as Randy left his room, repeating Randy's words over and over again in his head. He moved to his desk and pulled out his readmission paperwork. Randy was right. There was more to life than football and money.

Four days later

It had been a long day for Cody and he was looking forward to cracking open a can of beer. The year was over and he was due a long break. He still had to mark the exams his classes had sat, but he had the rest of the week to put the scores onto the college database before his vacation started.

He was late arriving home due to a student popping in to discuss a piece of work. Sometimes he hated his job, but then he remembered why he went into teaching. He enjoyed seeing the kids take on board what he taught them and finding their way in life. He still gets emails from them keeping him informed of their progress.

When he pulled onto his drive he was considering whether to cook or order his dinner. He hated eating unhealthy food but sometimes life just called for a pizza. Today was one of those days. He grabbed his bag from his passenger seat but before he could open the door himself, someone opened it for him.

"Hi," the smooth southern voice said.

Cody sat in his car, shocked, unable to believe his eyes. It was him. His young face still perfect in every way. He'd missed his doting eyes and quirky smile.

"Ted?"

"Yeah, I'm here," he said holding his hand out for Cody.

Cody went to take his hand but stopped himself. Instead, he stood and brushed passed him.

"What are you doing here? You went to Florida?" Cody asked heading for his front door, trying to get away.

"I missed you," Ted said keeping up with him. "I was wrong to go. My concentration has been off this year."

"Try harder," he snapped, fiddling with his keys trying to get the right one for the house. "You can't just show up."

"Why not? Have you moved on?"

"Ted it's been a year since you left me," Cody said ducking his head avoiding making eye contact.

"I made a mistake," Ted admitted. "My heart is here with you. I tried dating but nobody compared. The guys were immature, or in the closet. I want to be open with my affections."

Cody opened his door and stepped in before turning on his heel blocking Ted's entrance.

"You and I were never open with our affections. You were a student," Cody snapped. "The only time we were open was when you were here, or the few times we went away for a weekend."

"Don't forget Spring Break," Ted said stepping in close. "We both enjoyed that long, hot, week."

"Ted," Cody said holding him back with his hand. He felt the muscles under his shirt and tried not to falter.

"I remember how I made you ride my cock," Ted whispered. "How you enjoyed sliding along my thick length."

"Ted," Cody murmured, losing his cool. "No."

"It's not what I enjoyed most though, do you remember?" Ted asked him taking hold of his hand and linking their fingers.

"I remember," Cody admitted, pulling on Ted's hand dragging him inside and closing the door. "You enjoyed having your ass in the air waiting for me to fuck you."

"God yes," Ted said smiling with his eyes.

"Shut up and kiss me," Cody ordered pushing Ted against the door.

That evening

Stage one complete. His forms were complete. Stage two. Call a cab. Done. Stage three. Have the courage to kiss Randy. Well, he was working on it. Working on it outside Randy's house having pressed the doorbell. What was he doing? Again! Why did he keep doing this? Turning up without forewarning Randy. Randy was heading for the front door and he heard his voice. Shit. He had guests. It could be just one guest. Shit, please don't be Cody.

Randy answered the door and stopped talking. His phone to his ear. "I have to go."

He waited for Randy to end the call before speaking, or at least try to talk.

"I wanted to stop you quitting."

"John," Randy closed his eyes and sighed. "I told you. I put in my notice. My boss accepted it the same day."

"Take it back. My dad's done it before," John said as though explaining something to Randy that he didn't understand. "You have that right. My dad explained it."

"John, I'm aware of how it works," Randy said smiling at the John's state. "Come on in the house. At the least it won't be a wasted journey."

He walked into the house and John followed closing the door.

"I'll stay... If you do," John said, hoping Randy never found out he'd reapplied earlier that day.

"John, don't, I've told you."

"Yeah, but, you're making me stay, but you're leaving," John said.

"It's for the best. I can get a job at one of the college's in St Louis, be near my family again. I've missed them," Randy said sinking onto the sofa.

John sat on the sofa next to him, not knowing what else to say without repeating himself again.

"What can I do to convince you?"

Randy chuckled at John's vulnerability.

"Nothing John, I need to do this for me. I miss my family, I get on with a small group of my colleagues, and, yes, there's a small issue of being attracted to a student," Randy explained. "I'm wanting a quiet life. Or at least a simple life. Get up, go to work, come home, make out with my partner and go to bed holding him in my arms."

"We can-"

"No, we can't."

"Why not?"

"Because you're a student. How can I hold you in my arms at night if you have to live on campus?"

"If I signed up for part time study, I-"

"John don't. It won't work," Randy said just as his phone rang. He pushed himself off the sofa and grabbed the phone. "Hello… Oh, hi, I wasn't expected a call..." He looked over at John before continuing his conversation. "Yeah, I'm sure. I want to get back to my family."

Randy turned away from John and went through to another room to continue his conversation. John's heart was racing as he thought how college will be the next year without Randy. It didn't sit right. Feeling sick, he got up from the sofa and headed for the front door pulling his phone out to call for a cab. He'd failed too many times, and he'd just added two more things to the list. He hadn't kissed Randy, and he hadn't convinced him to stay.

Four days later

"How are you getting home tomorrow?" Chris asked passing John books to pack in their new suitcases.

"Either my dad or brother," John said shrugging. "I hope it's Steve. You?"

"Yeah, I hope it's your brother," Chris said throwing him a softball and a sarcastic smile.

"You're an idiot," John said laughing along with him. "And I was being serious."

"I told you my dad moved back to Winnipeg, right?"

"Yeah, couple months back," John nodded as he stacked books in one of his cases.

"He booked me a flight from Hartford, paid for the extra luggage," Chris said smirking. "I can't wait for the cabbie's reaction when he's trying to load these cases tomorrow morning."

"You are so evil," John threw the softball at Chris's head. It bounced off toward the door just as it opened, hitting Barbie in the face.

"Speaking of evil," Chris said with a grimace.

"Whatever," she said not rising to his comment. "You still have my stuff. I want it back."

"Oh yeah," Chris said turning away.

John continued packing, enjoying the spectacle of the separated couple. Chris had long found out Barbie was having additional relations and he called it quits, making a point of calling her a 'ho' in the common room downstairs.

"Here you go," Chris said turning back with the trash can in hand. John tried not to laugh remembering how they'd taken her the trash can and her belongings along to the river and set fire to them, roasting marshmallows and having a few beers as they celebrated his newfound freedom. "We spilt beer on them."

"And a match," John chimed in trying to stay serious as he spoke, though it was a losing battle when he caught how serious Chris was looking.

"I hate you," she screamed and stormed out the room slamming the door.

"The feeling is mutual," Chris said putting the trash can back on the floor. "Are we going to lose our security deposit because of that?"

"Yeah," John said pulling the entire drawer out from his chest of drawers. He carried it over to his bed and tipped the content into his old suitcase.

"We can't let that happen," Chris said. "And Barb's should have her stuff back."

"I hear she's heading out on the town tonight with Torrie."

"You still in contact with her?" Chris asked.

"I get a text inviting me out now and then," John shrugged. "I ignore it."

"Wise move, she's friends with Barbie; she might be as crazy," Chris said heading for the door. "I'm hitting the shower."

John continued packing their belongings into their cases after Chris disappeared. As he was packing up his desk, he came across the documents from Randy which he needed to give to his doctor, he'd asked his brother to make him an appointment for the next day to get things moving. The last couple of days he'd felt a few twinges which made him realise Randy was right. John needed his body back to full strength, even if he playing football the following year was out of the question.

He grabbed his phone from his nightstand and went into his messages pulling up his message history with Randy. He tapped in a message, asking him if he were home. John wanted to spend one more night with him, as they used to before. He went to send the message, his finger hovering over the send button, but he lost the nerve. Randy and he could never happen if Randy was heading back to St Louis. He wondered what Randy was doing with his house since there was no for sale sign, was he keeping his options open? Was he keeping it as a vacation home? Not that this was somewhere you went for a vacation.

The thought occurred to John of a long distance relationship. Flights to St Louis was under five hours and his weekends could be kept free since if he studied on his weeknights. He wondered if Randy and he could spend the holidays together, meeting his family. Able to talk every night after John had finished studying and Randy had marked any work needed doing. Then reality crashed in when he realised, he had no mean to afford the flights unless he got a job.

Forcing the issue from his mind, he focused on his packing, in particular, Chris's belongings since he was leaving early in the morning to get to the airport. It had been a weird year, and he figured being at home for the summer will help put everything back into perspective, including the irrational feelings he was having toward Randy, a man.

Plenty of people were gay for just one person; that's what it had been. A bromance gone too far. And with Randy not at the college next year, John could focus on the women.

This summer he was planning on spending as much time as possible with the girls from his old high school and getting acquainted on a level he hadn't during school.

No more experimentation.

The next day

It had been a long morning so far that day. John had woken to help Chris with his belongings and to say farewell. The pair had become close friends over the year and he hoped Chris came back the next semester to continue his studies, but that depended on whether his dad came back to America.

Chris was hoping the same for John, even though John still wasn't sure what he wanted to do. He'd applied for his second year which meant if the financial aspects were resolved then he had his place reserved. Alongside his readmissions, he had applied for funding, but he didn't find out for another month or two.

"Is this everything?" his dad asked breaking into his thoughts.

"Um, yeah," he said counting the number of cases. "I'll help you with that one, it's heavy."

He looked around realising how it had been his home for the last nine months. It felt surreal to be leaving. As he looked over he spotted Randy coming along the path with a box in hand; John glanced around the car park and spotted Randy's car, thinking back on the night they went to the cinema. The intense moment inside the car when he thought Randy meant to kiss him.

"Um, I'll be back in a second," John said realising he needed to say goodbye to Randy.

"John, we need to get going," his dad said closing the trunk.

"I'll be quick, I promise," John said over his shoulder heading over to Randy.

Randy looked sombre as he put his belongings in the back of his car. It was just as much an end for Randy. He'd studied at the college before taking a job there.

"Hey," he said greeting John. "I thought you might ignore me."

"I wanted. Needed, to say goodbye," John admitted. "College won't be right without you here next year."

"It was for the best," Randy said opening the driver side door.

"Will you keep in touch?" John asked.

"There were colleagues I was friends with, so yeah," Randy nodded his response.

"I meant with me."

"I'm aware of that," Randy said looking away. "I don't… nothing can happen, John."

"If I'm in St Louis, can we meet up?"

"John, we have to go," his dad shouted from his car. John looked back toward his dad to tell him one moment, but his dad hated waiting.

"So?"

"John, you have to go," Randy said avoiding the question. "Go. Do something good with your life."

John stood for a moment longer, hoping Randy caved in and said yes; but the longer he waited the more stubborn Randy got. He took the hint, nodded, and walked away. College will get easier next year without Randy here.

A/N: Let me know your thoughts in your reviews :)