Leo P.O.V

The morning lights streamed through the light curtains of Nico's bedrooms waking me up alone with a significant lack of Nico in his bed. I hoped that we would be downstairs and not in the middle of the woods somewhere because he was scared of how laid bare he was last night. Plodding downstairs, there I found him in the kitchen attempting to make breakfast.

"So," I said coyly, leaning against the doorframe, "Word on the street is that you love me."

"Ah shut up Valdez."

"The thing is about the word on the street is that," I stepped forwards, "is that it could be load of bullshit."

"Yeah but-"

"I think I need you to say it again Di Angelo. Let me savour it."

"Okay." Nico said looking up, "I love you" and pressing a light kiss on my lips

"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that" A grin began to slip onto my lips,

"I love you."

"Hmm maybe a little louder."

Nico placed both of his hands on my cheeks and forced me to look into his eyes.

"I love you, Leo Valdez" His voice barely above a whisper.

"Hmm yes, I think I do believe you." We both stood there savouring the silence that laid between us. It was too sweet to break until the loud blare of the fire alarm sounded throughout the house.

"Fuck!" He shouted as he quickly shifted the pot of what used to be food on to the next hob.

I peered into the pot to be offended by the smell of charred eggs.

"How do you even manage to burn eggs?" I choked out between laughs.

"Oh I don't know maybe I was distracted by a certain boy practically giving me bedroom eyes while beggin me to tell him that I love him."

"You know you love it."

"Hmm maybe." He said finally.

Then I remembered, I had to go home. Fuck, I hadn't even bothered to check my phones. He would be so mad. He's kill me if he knew. Oh fuck. It hit me. I didn't want to go back. I wanted to stay right here with Nico. I wanted this to be what it was like every morning- the harmless teasing, the kisses and the fact that I was as safe as I had ever been.

"You want to go back home, don't you?" Nico said, breaking through my worrisome thoughts and all I could do was nod.

"Get dressed," He said, "You can borrow some of my clothes."

"What, why?"

"Just trust me on this one, okay?"

That was my mistake, trusting him at every turn. Sure enough, I still got myself dressed in his clothes, in his house under the pretence that his idea was once again the right one. I could feel myself entwining with himself. I was becoming more like him each day- slowly finding the independence I needed to wean myself away from my old life and into this new one… Who was I kidding? Of course I'd go back there. I continued to persuade myself to be brave as I went downstairs once more to greet him. He took my hand and dragged me out of the door.

I didn't notice where we were going until we got there. I was too busy looking at him, taking him in before my oh so loving father would consume me. I was stupid to believe I could get away from him. Nico stopped dead when we arrived and instead of worrying about what would happen to me, I was surrounded by peace. The sunlight rained through the gaps of the trees overhead in small droplets. It cast stops of fire on the leaf covered ground, on the bark of the trees and combed through Nico's hair. There was green and brown and yellow and orange and everything around me. And then there was him. Stood there, holding my hand looing just as he did the first day I met him. No, he was entirely different. He was my Nico. He was here and he was so real that everything for that moment felt okay. I wanted to ask where we were, why he had brought me here but I already knew. The birdsong danced in the air. It reminded me of what home should be like. But home to me wasn't a house. My home was Nico. He was always here, knowing me better than I knew myself.

"Thank you." I whispered.

"I thought it would show you how the world is bigger than your problems. I used to come here myself some days." He sighed, "You know, you don't have to go back to him. Your life will be shit and you know it. I hate seeing you like that. You've trusted me so many times before, I'll need you to trust me again. Let's go back to yours, collect all of your stuff and come and live with me. He won't know your there, you will be safe. Leave him a note so he can't call the police or any shit like that. If he does, you tell them everything. So, will you trust me one more time?"

"Nico, you know I can't."

"And why not?"

"I just-"

"Leo, you're holding back from what could be a perfect life because you are so scared of what might not happen. You have me. When have I been wrong? And if you get lost, I'll find you. If you get scared by the dark, I'll be there. Please, I'm doing this for you."

"Okay, I'll do it."

We rand back to his house and he drove to mine. My dad wasn't there and so we began. First my clothes were put into bag and then thrown into the car. Next, books and heavier shit. My covers just in case and all my shoes. Every photo, every lost sock, every memory that has been spoiler by this house were put into boxes and put into the car. We had to act fast in case he came home. I didn't want him to spoil this, not now, not ever. Everything had been packed, the few material possessions that were solely were packed. Now just the note remained to be written. I scrawled an apology and a goodbye on a piece of paper, making sure to leave out the place where I would be staying. In a way, I didn't want to leave. I'd grown up in that house with my Mom and my Dad. Yeah, I'd had a few good years, but now was the time to change. I'd be free.

"You okay?" Nico asked, sliding his hand into mine as I stood at the doorframe thinking of a way to say goodbye.

"Yeah," I said, turning away and looking at him, this boy, my future, "I'm fine."

We both got in the car, and as he drove off I didn't turn back to see the remains of my past. The ashes of the fire I had started. No, now was the time for me to collect new timber, move forward and build new fires and new lives. As long as I was with him, every day would be an adventure.