A/N: Thanks for all the positive feedback, hope you enjoy the chapter :)

x

Ste was done crying by the time he reached the familiar old council house, it had started to go dark and there was no car outside, he wasn't even sure if anyone was home as he stood there, staring bitterly at the door and wishing it hadn't come to this, he half wondered if it would be so bad sleeping rough. He knew where some good spots were to hide, he'd run away from home enough times to know where to go to not get mugged whilst he was sleeping, but the front of the house was soon lit up by the headlights of a car pulling into the drive. He turned, shocked and wide eyed, feeling like a stunned deer and rooted to the spot, terrified that Terry might 'accidentally' overshoot and hit him, but the car stopped short of him and Terry rushed out of the car.

"Ste..." he let out in disbelief, looking the teenager over, "What's going on?" he asked, and Ste reeled off a familiar spiel,

"I'm sorry for leavin'… I was stupid… and what he did…" Terry had fully healed by now, but Ste had to apologise, had to shrink into that pathetic little rodent Terry made him, the quicker he submitted to his old life, the easier things would be, "I'm sorry," he cringed, flinching when Terry approached him and stiffening when the man pulled him into a hug.

"It's okay Ste, you're home now, it's fine…" Terry assured and every fibre of Ste's being was on edge, this wasn't like Terry at all, he was distracted though, because the front door of the house unlocked and his mum was there,

"Ste!" she cried out, rushing to hold him, crushing Ste in possibly the most uncomfortable hug of his life, he wasn't sure if he'd ever been hugged by Terry, it certainly hadn't happened recently. The hug ended shortly after and Terry patted Ste on the back,

"Guess I'd best get back in the car then," he announced,

"Huh?" Ste frowned, adjusting his bags nervously,

"I'm gonna head to the chippie, get us some grub, you get unpacked and settled mate," Terry's kindness was unnerving but Ste accepted it with a hesitant nod, "Invite your mate round, the pretty one, Amy? I'll get her something,"

"I can't," Ste said abruptly, earning a frown, "I've got no credit, an' she's not been well lately," he added nervously,

"Ah right, shame, nice girl that one," he shrugged before getting into the car. Ste exhaled slowly, trying to settle his nerves as he let his mum guide him into the house and up to his room, it was different now, finished, they'd take his absence as a good time to decorate the room. He wasn't sure what to think of that, but the room had an oddly modern, simplistic air to it, which was upsetting given where he'd just come from had a similar (if more expensive) décor.

"I'm glad you're back Ste," his mum said, eyes wet and her expression soppy, Ste thought maybe she'd actually missed him, which made him feel bad, because he hadn't missed her at all,

"Me too," he lied, forcing a smile at her, "Can I have a bit mum? I'll be down in a few," he promised and she nodded, lingering briefly to smile at him like he was a fond memory before she left. He sat down on the edge of the black and white bedspread, so different from the weathered sheets he'd had before, he was half sure they'd planned on renting his room out or something, because this certainly wasn't for his benefit. It felt surreal being back here, and a part of him was already erasing the time he'd spent with Brendan like it had never happened at all, that strange feeling he also tended to get when he went back to school after a half term or end of term break, only it left an awful ache in his core that he didn't know how to ignore.

Ste had been sat there for so long that it was Terry who opened the door and leant in after a knock, "C'mon mate," he urged, "oh and here," he threw something to Ste, the teen fumbling for it before it flitted to the ground, he bent to pick it up, turning the top-up card over and looking at it in surprise, "you said you were out," he shrugged before leaving Ste to it. He was blown away, Terry had bought him £15 worth of credit for his phone, once again an uncharacteristically nice gesture, Ste usually had to beg the man for money to top up his phone, and even then he'd end up with a list of chores he never seemed to do to Terry's standard before he'd get anything, so his 'reward' would be less than was promised. He tucked the credit-card looking thing into his pocket, feeling saddened when he realised it was Brendan's pocket, but shaking it off and heading downstairs to eat with his parents.

They ate out of the bags for 'authenticities sake', Ste curled up in an armchair, his old battered one had been moved downstairs, whilst Terry and his mum sat on the sofa together; Ste was even using a wooden two-pronged fork, it was oddly nice to sit and eat dinner with his parents, if a little awkward.

"So Ste," Terry piped up, Ste looking over at him with wide eyes, acknowledging him, "How've things been?" he sounded genuinely interested and Ste couldn't help but give in to the need to boast,

"Good yeah, I've… I've finally done them essays," he announced,

"Yeah?" Terry hummed,

"Yeah, I handed the last one in today, well proud," he beamed, "I… realised some stuff while I were away… that I'm not the best I can be, an' when I were doin' them essays, an' they were gettin' easier, I realised I could be," he was grinning down at his tray of chips and kebab meat, "So I'm workin' harder in all my classes now,"

"That's great Ste! Isn't it Terry?" his mum smiled, there was something watery about the expression but there usually was with his mum, he'd always blamed the drinking.

"Absolutely, bout time you knuckled down," Terry nodded, watching Ste for a long while before returning his attention to the TV, "You know last night's score?" he asked,

"Nah, not kept up," Ste shrugged, he'd not really watched football at Brendan's, it wasn't that Brendan didn't like football, because he did his fair share of cursing at the ref during the weekend games, but during the week it was their time, and Wednesdays always meant Ste had been at football himself, and he couldn't be bothered to watch people better than him when he was exhausted and had homework to do.

"Brilliant, me either, got it recorded though, got one of them Sky plus boxes when you were gone, dirt cheap, conned a deal out of the tight fisted cunts," he smirked as he spoke, waving a blocky remote at Ste before turning the TV on and putting yesterday's match on. Ste grinned to himself, he never watched football with Terry and his mum, he was always too scared to come downstairs in case he fucked up. He was starting to wonder why he'd been so terrified about coming home, the welcome was warmer than he'd expected, and he sort of thought that maybe time away had made them care a bit more.

He figured when he got upstairs an hour and a half later that he should probably let Declan know he was okay, so he went through the laborious rigmarole of topping up his phone, sending a quick text of 'home fine, things r gud :) –S x' but it didn't send straight away, his phone sending him an automated text to say he had no credit.

"Fuck off, I do," he huffed, figuring he'd just wait for a bit, he got another text a few minutes later thanking him for topping up his phone, then the bar across the top flashed with a notification with a 2 on it, they were both notifying him his text had sent, so he dismissed the notifications and got ready for bed. He was nodding off when his phone buzzed and lit up, he picked it up off the side table and slid it unlocked, checking the message Declan had sent him. 'better b, da's b-in less of a tit, no sry yet, will keep u updated –D x' he rolled his eyes as he read it, about to text back when Declan beat him to it, 'nvm just stormed off, wtf is his problem? –D x' Ste sighed then, wondering if Declan had told him he was texting Ste or something. He felt unbelievably bad that Declan was angry at his dad because of him, it wasn't fair that Ste's naivety was ruining their relationship, Declan had been so happy to be getting to know his real dad, and Ste had ruined it.

'Dec just leave it pls, I'm ovr it.' He realised quickly that he'd not signed off properly and regretted it, because he always did the same thing and not doing that would flag something as wrong, as if to prove Ste right, Declan texted back in record time, 'Fine but ur not –D x' and Ste tossed his phone aside and pointedly tried to get some sleep, he'd have to deal with Declan at school tomorrow, god he hoped Amy was off sick, he didn't want to explain this to her just yet, because there was nothing he could say that would justify him returning to his parents unless he opened up about Brendan.

He fretted about it in the car to school the next morning, genuinely surprised that Terry had offered him a lift but too distracted to question it, climbing out when he got to school and thanking his step-dad for the lift. He saw Amy first, she looked awful, pale and puffy eyed, like she really shouldn't be in school, but the look she shot him when she noticed him told Ste that he was the reason she'd turned in today. He hung his head as he approached her, expecting some comment on the fact that he'd just been dropped off by Terry, he stopped just short, waiting for the questions,

"I can't believe you…"she sighed, "His dad?" that wasn't the comment he was expecting, his eyes widening in horror as it sank in.

"Oh god…" he didn't know how she knew and that terrified him, "Ames…"

"Don't Ames me, you slept with your best friend's dad," she hissed through her teeth, "the least you could have done is not slept with him too," Ste felt sick, but mostly at himself, her words were a sharp reminder that he wasn't as good a friend as any of his friends were to him,

"I'm sorry…" he let out quietly, "I didn't mean for it… I thought… I thought Dec'd be better for me I just… I'm sorry," he almost broke down then,

"Better for you? You were with Brendan before you slept with Declan?" she gasped,

"You… you said…"

"I know what I said Ste, I was expecting 'I didn't think anything would happen!' not… not this!" she balked, she looked like she was going to be sick but Ste wasn't sure if that was the revelation or just because of how she'd been ill lately.

"Amy calm down please, it were nothin'," Ste tried, taking Amy's hands to try and calm her,

"Not according to Declan it wasn't," she pulled her hands away,

"Dec said it was fine, he said…" Ste was distraught thinking that Declan had lied about their time together, that he'd hurt his friend so much more than he'd thought by sleeping with him,

"Not Declan, Ste," Amy sighed, "Brendan," Ste felt his expression harden at what she was getting at,

"It weren't nothin'," he spat, he didn't want this to be about his little misguided confession,

"Ste…" her anger was gone, she knew Ste too well to know this was anything but him being stubborn,

"Please stop…" he sighed, "it's done, it's over, I'm…"

"Living with Terry again…" Amy sighed, okay to change the subject but not to the extent Ste had hoped,

"I don't have much choice…" he admitted,

"Declan said you could've stayed with him at his mum's,"

"Declan was stoppin' at his mum's, I dunno why he was even at the house…" that still puzzled him, and he was surprised when Amy gave him a hug,

"I'd talk to my dad but…" she trailed off, "he's not exactly agreeable lately…" she admitted, embarrassed and looking hurt,

"Is somethin' wrong Ames?" She looked up at him then and he thought she was about to say something, but she looked past him and offered a wave,

"Declan! Over here!" she called out, looking relieved that she'd been prevented from saying whatever it was she was about to say. Ste whipped around, stomach dropping when he saw Declan stood by the sleek black Merc his father owned, and on the other side, Brendan, stood looking over at them with an unreadable expression, he locked eyes with Ste before looking down at the ground. Seeing Brendan drop his gaze like that surprised Ste, but he didn't dwell on it, looking shamefully over at Declan before stuffing his hands into his pockets and turning bodily away from Amy when Declan approached and hugged her.

"Alright mate?" Declan greeted, reaching to clap him on the shoulder but Ste jerked away, "Ste?"

"I can't believe you told her," he hissed over his shoulder, curling in on himself when his friends moved to occupy his line of sight,

"Who else was I supposed to talk to Ste? I just found my best mate sha—" he paused before dropping his voice to a whisper, "shagging my dad,"
"yeah well it ain't gonna happen again so now you've got nowt interestin' to talk about behind me back," he huffed,

"Ste it wasn't like that," Declan sighed, "I was upset… I needed someone to talk to, I couldn't talk to you about it, could I?" another sigh, Ste felt unbelievably guilty but he also felt he was right to be hurt by Declan telling Amy.

"You could've tried…" Ste mumbled, unwittingly hitting a nerve,

"Yeah sure, 'Oh hey Ste, you mind if I talk to you about how you really fuckin' upset me by lying to me an' sneakin' behind my back like I can't be trusted with somethin' as huge as who you're in love with? Sorry I didn't say anythin' earlier, I was too busy worryin' about you runnin' back to an abusive home because I caught my dad balls deep in you,' good chat Ste, thanks for your support in this emotionally tryin' time that you're the cause of," he snapped, somehow managing to keep his voice hushed due to the topic.

Ste had seen red, but instead of thumping Declan like every inch of him wanted to, he turned on his heel and stormed off, Amy scolding Declan behind him before calling Ste's name out and hurrying to follow.

"Ste!" she all but shrieked when Ste threw his entire weight into punching the first person who had the gall to be stood even remotely in his way, knocking the other lad onto his ass and barely letting it register that he'd just floored Joel, potentially the only person in the school who wouldn't hold it against him.

He had already stormed into his first class of the day when Amy caught up, and she looked even more like shit now, dropping into the seat next to him and breathing like she was going to hurl,

"Ames are you alright?"

"Fine, I'm fine," she dismissed, "Ste what was that?" she asked, gesturing to the door, stunned when Joel walked in with a bruise already forming on his face, Ste looked over and coloured with guilt as Joel approached,

"Ste," the Scottish lad greeted, Ste was expecting to be told to stand up so he could take a beating, so he stood automatically,

"I am so sorry," he let out in a hurry, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah fine… nobody important saw so… yeah it's okay," he nodded stiffly, confusing Ste, "I won't say owt, you were upset, don't sweat… anyway… this isn't my class… I should go," it was an odd interaction and Ste felt unbearably guilty about it, he didn't get a chance to say anything to Joel, sinking back into his seat as the Scottish lad disappeared,

"This ain't your class either Ames," Ste pointed out,

"Yeah well it's Mr Biggins, he won't notice," she shrugged, "I need to talk to you," she insisted, "What Declan just said…" she brought up and Ste buried his face in his hands with a mournful groan,

"He said it was fine, he said we was fine," he sobbed, no tears fell but he felt like they could at any moment, "he said he was angry at Brendan not me," he was trying to keep his voice down but at this point he didn't care, as long as he didn't mention what had actually transpired nobody would be able to figure it out.

"He's not angry at you Ste…" Amy sighed, and Ste looked out past his fingers at her, disbelieving, "Okay he's a little angry, but he said he'll deal with it, he's more upset that his d… that Brendan didn't stop you from leaving," she corrected herself, obviously uncomfortable reminding herself that Brendan and Declan's dad were one in the same.

"Well why would he?" Ste scoffed, "I don't mean owt to him, he said as much to Declan," he'd said those exact words, 'it meant nothing, I swear' Ste had heard them, and just thinking them had his soul feeling like it was going to crumble and leave him feeling like a pile of dirt.

"Declan said he didn't mean any of that stuff…" Amy assured, "and I think I believe him…" she sighed, like she didn't want to accept the fact that the father of one of her best friends actually cared about her other best friend in a non-platonic way.

"Whatever…" Ste dismissed, "he don't care enough to stop me goin' home, so he doesn't care much at all…" he huffed, resting his chin in his hands, determined not to fall for his friends and their reassurances, after all, they'd been wrong about Ste not earning his abuse, why would they be right about this?

Their conversation dwindled and Ste glanced over to see Amy looking worse than before, pale and covering her mouth, she looked queasy, "Ames are you alright?" he asked, but she was up like a shot and darting from the room, Ste following quickly after her and ignoring the teacher when he shouted for them to come back. "Ames wait!" he called out as he ran after her, slowing to a stop when she slipped into the nearest girl's bathroom, he hesitated a moment before his worry won out and he followed her in, getting told off by some girls before telling them to piss off. They left and he found Amy in the furthest stall filling the room with the sound of her vomiting,

"Go away Ste," she managed to gasp when she calmed down, but her ability to talk was once more impeded by throwing up. Ste was even more worried now,

"I'm gonna go get the nurse," he said hurriedly before rushing out of the bathroom in search of Lynsey, he found her and dragged her from her office to the girl's bathroom where Amy was no longer being sick, but instead cleaning herself up at the counter. Ste was ushered out of the bathroom and told to go back to his class, he really hadn't wanted to leave Amy, but he did as he was told and fretted for the rest of the lesson.

He received a text during his lesson that Amy had gone home ill, leaving him feeling alone and uncomfortable, even more so when Declan eventually caught up with him at the end of the day, he'd done a great job of hiding but Declan eventually found him heading for the car park at the school entrance,

"Ste! Have you heard from Amy?" he called out as he approached, "I was told she went home sick, how did she seem?"

"Like she was chunderin' everywhere," Ste shrugged, still sore about how Declan had talked to him that morning, worried that Declan was going to pretend it had never happened.

"Course… look mate… about this mornin'…" he trailed off as he spoke, trying to get Ste to stop walking away from him with a hand,

"Doesn't matter," Ste sighed, it did matter, it mattered a lot, Ste was still hurt, feeling like Declan had lied to him about them being okay.

"It does matter Ste, you're my best mate,"

"You hate me," Ste interjected certainly,

"I don't… I'm just… this… I don't know why I'm so upset… I sort of suspected it…" he sighed miserably, Ste balked then,

"You… you did?" he asked, he thought they'd been careful, but then if they'd really been careful, Declan wouldn't have caught them at it,

"Yeah, after we… you know…" he said awkwardly, "I started noticin' stuff… the way you an' my da were…" he shrugged, "I don't think anyone would suspect owt if they didn't know how you felt… Jesus…" Declan let out a heavy sigh, "you really love him huh…"

"Nah… was caught up in the moment weren't I, he took my virginity, course I'm gonna feel attached…" he lied, sort of, missing the look on Declan's first,

"Oh…" he looked over at his friend to see the shock dwindling and cursed himself, Declan thought they'd…

"I never said…" he started to panic,

"I know… I just… I figured… just a bit… weird hearing it out loud…" Declan admitted, "This is so weird…" Ste was just relieved Declan didn't think he had lied to him, because he'd never outright said it was his first time with a man,

"Well it's not gonna be is it? Nowt's happenin'," he dismissed easily, "I'm gonna stop off at Amy's on the way home I reckon…" They'd started walking again and it dawned on Ste that it was Friday afternoon, which meant that Declan was supposed to be staying with his dad, then again, he still didn't know why Declan had been there yesterday, he was too scared to ask though.

He looked around the car park nervously, he didn't want to risk being offered a lift from Declan in order to get him and Brendan talking, but he was surprised to see Eileen chatting happily to a guy he'd seen photos of when he'd gone to Declan's that one time, presumably her husband.

"Dec, I thought you spent weekends with your dad…" he said slowly as he turned to his friend,

"Not this time…" Declan scowled and Ste felt guilty, he'd pushed father and son apart, he hated himself for it.

"W-Why not?" he asked, he didn't want to hear it confirmed, but he knew it was coming, 'I don't want to see him anymore',

"He's gone to Ireland…" Declan said and heaved a sigh; Ste's eyes widened, Brendan had left? Was he coming back? Would Ste ever get to see him again? He hated himself for diverting so quickly to wanting to see Brendan, but he couldn't help it, as much as he was loathe to admit it right then, he loved Brendan.

"He's… for good?" he asked finally, hoping it sounded like casual interest rather than the sheer panic he was going through,

"Nah, he said he was goin' for a week I think? He's goin' with my auntie Chez, his sister, cause my granddad is dyin'," he said it so casually, and despite Ste's insides feeling like they were turning to ice at the thought of Brendan going to see his dad, especially after what he'd told Ste and how he'd promised to stay put, he couldn't express it though, so he settled for trying to be a good friend for once.

"I'm sorry about your Granddad," he apologised, hoping it sounded sympathetic,

"I never met him," Declan dismissed, "I met Auntie Chez though, she's loopy, told me about da bein' here," he gave a fond smile then,

"Oh… okay…" Ste was worried about Brendan, and once again he found himself feeling dumb for it, Brendan had hurt him, again, and here he was thinking about him and caring about what was going on with him. He was glad Declan hadn't met his grandfather though, especially knowing what he did about the man and his treatment of Brendan both as a child and a teenager, he didn't know what he'd do if he found out that Declan had run the risk of being treated like that too.

"You alright Ste? Everything okay at home?" he asked, gesturing to his mum to wait a sec,

"Things are fine at home… good even… Terry got me credit," he pulled his phone out and waved it lazily, "and we had takeout," and Terry actually got him some, which never happened.

"Really?" Declan looked like he didn't believe him, as if Ste was making up elaborate lies to put his mind at ease, he still ended up narrowing his eyes suspiciously at Ste though, sighing his defeat on the subject, "you'll tell me if something happens this time, promise me, promise me that you trust me that much," it was a trust dig again and it hurt, he knew Declan was hurt too and he tried to understand and not take it to heart, but it didn't sting any less.

"I promise," and he meant it this time, he didn't want to lose Declan, he thought he deserved Declan leaving him, but he was relieved he hadn't, even if things were tense at the moment, "I will, I swear it," he promised. Nervously, he moved closer to Declan, lifting his arms in a gesture to say 'can we hug?' letting out a relieved breath when Declan pulled him into a hug, it was briefer than Ste had wanted it to be, but Declan had to go anyway, his mum was waiting.

"You want a lift?" Declan offered, it would have been easier to accept that offer than if it was Brendan driving, but Ste declined anyway,

"Nah, I'm gonna stop by Amy's," he shrugged, Declan nodded and they said their goodbyes quickly, Ste walking briskly from the school, Brendan playing heavy on his mind as he went. He didn't mean to, but he realised he'd lied to Declan again, he didn't want to see anyone, and as worried as he was about Amy, he was still sure she'd tell him if there was something wrong, so he sent her a text telling her to call him if she needed anything, and wishing her well before heading home.

Over the next week or so Ste was stuck in an emotional limbo, things were still weird with Declan, he was constantly hit with waves of worry and concern for Brendan, who Declan had not heard from since the Friday the man had left for Ireland, and Amy's return to school seemed almost awkward, she was closed off and distant with them unless it was about anything but how she was feeling. And despite Ste protesting that he didn't care, Declan gave him an update on Brendan's lack of contact every evening before he went to sleep and then brought it up in the morning when they met up before class. It was always disheartening, but Ste was dreading it this time, struggling to recover from the events of last night.

He'd been lying awake, toying with his phone, idling on a text he'd typed out 'Are you ok?', it was for Brendan, he wasn't sure about sending it, deleting it and rewriting it over and over until he gave up on being a complete wuss and hit send. He was surprised when a text tone chirped nearby, frowning at the door to his bedroom and watching it, sucking in a nervous breath and hiding his phone when the handle began to twist, scared to say anything. He watched the door inch open, face lighting up when he saw who it was,

"Brendan," he gasped, watching the man close the door quietly and approach him whilst checking his phone,

"I'm fine, Steven," he purred,

"You're back," Ste beamed, sitting up and reaching out to touch Brendan's face as he leant down to meet him, a hand pressing into the sheets wrapped around Ste's lower half.
"Yeah…" Brendan breathed against Ste's lips before kissing him, pushing him down onto the bed and climbing swiftly on top of him,

"What happened Bren? Why'd you…" he wanted to ask why he'd left, why he'd talked to Declan the way he had, but he couldn't get the words out, throat tight as he felt emotionally overwhelmed by Brendan being back and here with him,

"I don't want to talk about it Steven…" Brendan hummed against his skin, kissing down his throat and easing the tightness like he had a magic touch.

"Okay…" he sighed, wrapping his arms around Brendan when he moved up to kiss his lips again, "I missed you," he smiled.

"Missed you too," Brendan purred, rubbing their noses together before shifting off of the bed, leaving Ste confused, "so much…" Brendan breathed as he pulled Ste's covers down, revealing the teen was buck naked, "beautiful…" he whispered, gesturing over Ste like a treasure before he stripped quickly out of his t-shirt and jeans, tossing them aside and slipping his boxers down, revealing his half hard cock. Ste's mouth watered just looking at it and he sat up, gesturing for Brendan to come closer and engulfing him to the root in one swift motion, surprised at how deep he managed to get Brendan's cock. Brendan's hand stroked through his hair and he encouraged Ste to move, dragging tongue and lips along Brendan's hardening cock, wetting and slipping down til the head was just in his mouth, tonguing at the sensitive underside of the glans as he stroked one hand up Brendan's wet length, the other cupping his balls. He was confident and sure as Brendan's cock pushed further into his mouth again, but Brendan didn't let him blow him for long, pulling away with a reluctant groan and ordering Ste onto his hands and knees on the bed.

The bed dipped behind Ste and he felt Brendan's hands on his ass, thumbs pulling his cheeks apart, he bit his lip at the sound and feel of Brendan spitting on his nervously clenching hole, looking over his shoulder at the intense way Brendan was watching him, hand releasing a globe of flesh to push two fingers and a gob of spit into Ste's asshole. He expected it to hurt, but it didn't, it felt good, beyond good, so he just let himself get lost in the quick buggering Brendan's fingers were giving him, slicking him and stretching him just enough to make Ste's pucker kiss the tip of Brendan's prick when he withdrew his fingers and pressed his slick cock to the opening.

"Bren you need…" he began to suggest a condom but Brendan pushed into him and a moan ripped from the teen like he'd finally got something he desperately needed to survive, it should hurt, it should, but again it didn't, and he didn't have the mental capacity to dwell on it as Brendan began to fuck him hard and fast and relentless.

"God I've missed you," Brendan panted against the back of his neck, hunched over Ste as he rammed him, "needed this for so long…" he bit Ste's neck and Ste let out a low, desperate moan, his cock hard and leaking precum onto his bedding, "near killed me not havin' you," Brendan growled, licking where he'd bitten Ste, pressing one hand flat on the bed whilst the other came down to jack Ste's cock in time with his brutal thrusts.

Their time apart meant neither of them could hold out, and the feeling of Brendan stilling above him and creaming his asshole had Ste shooting across Brendan's hand and his bedding, giving him a nice wet spot to flop into when his orgasm tuckered his muscles out. Brendan pulled out of him and lay beside him, propped up on an elbow and watching him with a smile, Ste couldn't help but smile up at him as he rolled onto his back, not giving a shit about the wet patch because he was with Brendan.

"Bren… I love you…" he smiled, reaching to touch Brendan's cheek, tracing his thumb over the man's moustache, he grinned when Brendan's hand covered his, but his fingers held too tight and Brendan's expression sobered.

"I'm not comin' back," he said flatly,

"Huh? Ow, Bren you're… you're hurtin' me…" Ste grimaced, confused and trying to bring his hand from Brendan's grasp,

"What makes you think I'd come back? You think I'd do it for you?" Brendan asked, his expression was cruel and he moved to pin Ste with his body, terrifying the teenager,

"I don't… I don't understand Brendan…" he let out quietly, cringing when Brendan's fingers pushed roughly through his hair,

"You mean nothin' to me, you're a fuck, a bit of high risk fun," he hissed and Ste could feel tears prickling at his eyes. He gasped when Brendan's hands slipped from his hair to wrap around his throat, thumbs cutting off his air, his vision blacked quickly and he'd woken up alone in bed, soaked in sweat and boxers and pyjama pants sticky with his own cum.

He'd fled his bed and curled up in the corner to cry, mortified by his dream, fully confident that it was just a dream after inspecting his phone and his person, but still thoroughly shaken by it, so he was silently hoping to god that the first words from Declan would be that his dad hadn't gotten in touch.

Declan and Amy looked shifty as hell when Ste finally arrived at school, he was half tempted to avoid the two but they'd spotted him and beckoned him over,

"Hey guys," he greeted, sighing heavily and shoving his hands into his pockets after he'd gone through the typical hugs,

"Ste…" Amy greeted like she had bad news, Declan looked just as sheepish,

"My aunt stopped by at the house this mornin', Auntie Chez," he elaborated and Ste's stomach dropped, if Declan's aunt was back, it was likely his dad was too, but they looked apprehensive, so maybe they were worried he'd be upset that Brendan wasn't back.

"Okay," Ste frowned at them, hoping he didn't look as tired and worn out as he felt,

"Da's back too, or he will be by about lunch time, Auntie Chez managed to get on an earlier flight over…" Declan explained, watching Ste for his reaction,

"Alright…" Ste said blankly, but inside he was nervous, he'd thought he'd be happy to hear Brendan was back, or at least feel neutral about it, but he was terrified, like somehow Brendan had come back, traumatised him, and then fled, but he knew it was a dream, he had enough reason to be mad at Brendan without adding imaginary sexual assault to the list.

"You okay?" Declan asked,

"Sure, why wouldn't I be?" he asked,

"My da…" Declan started, but Ste interrupted him,

"I'm over it, don't care, life goes on mate," he forced a smile and brushed past Declan, fully intent on leaving this conversation in the dirt before last night dredged up like bile in his throat.

"Ste!" Declan barked and followed after him, "No need to run off, classes don't start for like ten minutes," Declan laughed, he seemed relieved to Ste, and Amy looked brighter just knowing Ste was okay, even if he was putting it on. It sort of hurt that they couldn't tell his mood was forced, but he didn't blame them for it, he wasn't battered and bruised, which was usually what gave him away in the past.

He felt jittery and jumpy all day, barely paying attention in his classes as he tried to compartmentalise and keep nightmares and reality separate, he didn't know why it mattered anyway, he wasn't planning on running back to Brendan any time soon.

"Ste?" he jumped at the sound of his name, looking up to see the whole class had turned to look at him, he was being addressed by his teacher, but the door to the classroom was open and the head of disciplinary action, Mr Davies, was stood looking at him expectantly,

"Wot?" he grunted,

"Steven could you come with me please?" Mr Davies asked impatiently, and Ste realised he'd probably been waiting for Ste to start paying attention for a while now. His nerves flared and he stood up, "bring your things," Davies piped up, and Ste nodded, shoving his things into his bag and turning beet red as he shuffled from the classroom, everyone watching him in silence. He could hear them all start whispering to one another as soon as he had physically left the room, he didn't know why he was being summoned by the head of discipline, he hadn't done anything wrong, unless that punch he'd thrown Joel's way had finally caught up to him.

He followed the balding man nervously, clutching his bag straps like a lifeline, head ducked in case anyone looked through the glass panel of their classroom door and saw him in trouble; he kept thinking about Joel, the teen had said things were fine, had he changed his mind and told someone? Had a teacher asked about the bruise and worked the truth out of him? Why had it taken a week and a half? He decided he wouldn't mention it, he'd feign innocence until he was proven guilty, things were still okay at home, he didn't want that to change at all, but if his parents got called about this then he'd be up shit creek without a paddle.

He was led to the school reception and then through to the little parental meeting rooms set up for when parents were called in, they were cosy warm looking rooms with comfy chairs, but being in that room either meant you were new to the school or you were on the verge of expulsion. Ste definitely wasn't new to the school, so he was a bag of nerves as he sat and waited whilst Mr Davies left to fetch someone else, he wasn't told who it would be though he suspected it was Joel. He was surprised when Mr Davies returned with his English teacher in tow, Ms Marshall was definitely not who he'd expected,

"Ste," she greeted,

"What's goin' on? I handed in the last of me essays last week, you got them," he said hurriedly, but the teachers sat down opposite him and laid out some papers, his essays,

"I know Ste, it's just… I have some concerns," His stomach dropped then, he thought he'd done really well,

"They're shit aren't they? I really tried, I did, I did my best, I spent hours on em," he frowned when Mr Davies scoffed, not sure why the man had reacted like that,

"Ste, these are B grade essays," Ms Marshall explained and Ste perked up,

"Really?" his elation was met with judgemental stares and he was confused,

"Which means you've screwed up," Mr Davies pointed out,

"What do you mean?" he asked, he really wasn't sure why he'd been brought here if his essays were good, Ms Marshall gave Mr Davies a look to stop him from explaining, which meant it was down to her.

"Ste, we're concerned about the quality of your essays in comparison to previous work you've handed in," she explained, and Ste nodded, he understood that, his work was always abysmal before now, "Ste where did you get these essays?" she asked, Ste frowned then,

"Uh… I wrote them…" he said slowly, it was obvious,

"Son, plagiarism is a big deal, you've jumped from an Ungraded to a B in a matter of weeks, isn't that a bit suspicious sounding to you?" Mr Davies asked,

"Plagiarism? What? I didn't nick em, I wrote em, I spent hours workin' on those every night for ages!" he balked,

"Steven," Mr Davies chastised but Ste was having none of it,

"Don't call me that," he spat, "It's Ste," he huffed, "I didn't nick my essays, I worked hard!" he felt tears prickling at his eyes, hurt that they'd accuse him of stealing something he'd worked so hard on, "I worked so hard," he sniffed, he was getting angrier the more they gave him that accusing look,

"Ste, I think we're going to need some proof," Mr Davies supplied, "If your parents saw you working on it,"

"They didn't…" he huffed,

"You spent 'hours every night' working on them but your parents didn't know?" Mr Davies gave him a disbelieving look,

"I weren't at home," Ste admitted,

"Well this is getting to be a big mystery isn't it," Mr Davies sighed, obviously settled on his opinion that Ste had stolen his work,

"Can I call someone?" he asked, "To back me up… my mate's dad…" he got a frown then, "I was stoppin' at there's… cause he said he'd help me,"

"So you had help," Ms Marshall pointed out,

"He only checked me spellin' an' shit like that…" Ste protested weakly, he didn't want to call Brendan, he didn't want to see Brendan, he was struggling to not be scared of the man and he wanted to be able to hate him for what he'd said to Declan,

"Language son," Mr Davies scolded,

"Sorry…" he huffed, "Can I or what?"

"Tell him he'll need to come in," Mr Davies conceded, "the sooner the better…"

"Can I have a minute?" he asked, he didn't want to call him in front of them but he wasn't sure he was allowed to just walk out. Mr Davies gave him a narrowed look but Ms Marshall stood up,

"Come on, give him some privacy to make a phone call," she said quietly and Mr Davies reluctantly nodded and stood, adjusting his blazer before heading for the door,

"Tell reception when you're done, they'll call me," he sneered, giving Ste a scathing look as he pulled the door closed behind him.

Ste felt awful, pulling his phone from his pocket with shaking hands, looking down at it and feeling his throat tighten nervously, skin tingling on his neck as he remembered what hadn't actually happened to him, but had been invited by a dreamt text to the man. He sucked in a shaky breath and thumbed through his phone, he'd never deleted Brendan's numbers but he should have, thumbing over the contact for BB and hitting his home number, holding the phone to his ear and waiting. He felt like he was waiting an age, the phone ringing out and making him wonder if Brendan hadn't gotten home yet or if he knew it was him calling and was ignoring him, he sucked in a sharp breath when the phone clicked,

"You've reached the home of Brendan Brady, I can't come to the phone right now, leave your name an' number after the tone," the beep that followed made Ste's heart drop and he realised he'd started crying just hearinga recording ofBrendan's voice, so his voice was high pitched and uneven,

"Brendan, it's me, Ste, I'm in trouble, call me back as soon as you get this… please," he didn't even get to say goodbye before the phone clicked again,

"Steven?"