Title(you know, in case you guys all forgot :P): Holding On

Author: ME! :)

Author's Note: I know it may seem soon to post another chapter this long, but I had like a crazy burst of inspiration and since I'm stuck at home all day, this really helps to pass the time :D haha so read, review, and enjoy! :) I'm a little stuck on the next part(I know what will happen, I just...don't know how to phrase it right :P) so I'm sorry if it may take a little while to get it up, I'll try my bestest to write it ASAP ;)

Disclaimer: Even though Marco and Dylan are long gone in the actual episodes, I still love themm3 Anyway, I don't own anything from Degrassi, but if I did... ) Oh, and I know I used a line in here somewhere...from an actual episode...just for legal issues, I don't own it either ;) haha

Rebecca: THANK YOU SOO MUCH FOR REVIEWING! I didn't want to say it, but I was starting to think people forgot about me :D haha so this chapter is dedicated to you333

Months went by without a single problem or word from either Tim or Mr. del Rossi, and Marco and Dylan couldn't be happier. They were finally back to their bubbly, giggly, lovey-dovey selves.

But despite their perfect content, Dylan couldn't help but feel more and more anxious about when the next catastrophe would be. What would hurt his boyfriend next? Who would hurt him? Marco seemed to be oblivious to this thought, and Dylan didn't exactly want to ruin his blissful ignorance.

The warmer it got, however, the shorter the time was until Dylan would have to leave for University, and neither of them was at all willing to think about it. Especially when Dylan was insanely worried something horrible would happen or Tim would try to get with Marco yet again. Or Marco would 'dream' of something else. However, since Dylan was just going to be a half hour away, they didn't think their distanced relationship would be that difficult to maintain, which was a huge weight off both their shoulders.

Marco and Dylan were eating ice cream in the park, sitting on a bench with their rollerblades beside them. They had chased the ice cream truck for twenty-five minutes, skating crazily in one direction, giggling the entire time, before stopping and carefully listening for the truck's music. When they finally caught up to it, Marco crashed into the back of the truck; he didn't know how to stop. He was hardly better at rollarblading then ice skating, though at least with rollarblading he had a stable surface to go on.

The ice cream truck driver looked at them, shock written all over his face as he said, "Wow. You guys must really want ice cream, huh?"

They laughed and nodded enthusiastically, getting two large cones. Dylan and Marco then leisurely skated to the park, licking their cones and cracking jokes. Now that they were finishing their ice cream, Marco looked at Dylan and inwardly grinned maliciously. Dylan had ice cream all over his hands, and just as he was about to clean them with a napkin, Marco said innocently, "You got a little something on your cheek."

"Oh, thanks," Dylan said as he wiped at it, before his eyes went wide and Marco burst out laughing. His once perfectly clear cheek now had chocolate ice cream smudged all over it. He lightning fast cleaned his face and hands before he mock glared at Marco, grinned, and lunged at him playfully. Marco squealed and shot up, running. Giggling, Dylan chased Marco all over the place until he caught up to him and grabbed him from behind around the middle. Arms around his stomach, he lifted Marco into the air, the Italian boy's legs bent slightly and flying out, and twirled him around, chortling.

Marco smiled widely as Dylan put him down and kissed him sweetly and briefly on the lips. Dylan took his hand and they started walking, picking their blades up on the way, blissfully happy. They didn't even need to say anything; they were perfectly happy walking in silence. Until Dylan glanced at his watch. "Ah! We gotta go, my hockey game starts in an hour!" Dylan shouted in surprise. Despite the weather changing, Dylan's hockey season was still going strong.

Marco and Dylan quickly shoved their skates on and raced back to the house. As Marco ran inside to get Paige, Dylan heaved his hockey bag and stick out of the garage and into his car.

He started the car as the two fans hopped in. Dylan got to the arena in record time and both Paige and Marco tossed a 'good luck' at Dylan's back as he hurriedly went to the changing room.

Marco and Paige sat themselves on the bleachers in the stands, and waited for Dylan to come on the ice.

"Hey, do you want anything? I'm going to get a pop," Marco asked Paige.

She smiled, "Sure! Thanks hon."

As Marco left, she suddenly heard two fans behind her start squealing. "Oh I can't wait for number eight to come out!" Paige smirked. That was Dylan.

"Do you think he'd go out with me?" Another girl sighed.

"I don't know, but that guy in front of us wasn't too bad either," another girl giggled. "The one with the dark hair?" Paige bit back a laugh. They were talking about Marco, as he was the only guy in front of them. Too bad they're both unattainable, Paige chortled.

"Do you think he's going out with the blonde next to him?" The teen asked again.

"How should I know? She did call him 'hon,' but just ask him when he gets back. Now, that number eight guy...what's his name?"

Marco came up the stairs, sipping his drink as one of the female fans told her Dylan's name exasperately. "There ya go Paigey," Marco smiled, giving Paige her drink.

Paige's eyes glinted wickedly as she noticed how silent the girls behind them had gone. "Thanks hon."

Suddenly Dylan's team came out and Marco and Paige stood up and cheered loudly. The girls behind them squealed, "Look! There's Michalchuk! Oh my god, he's so hot."

Paige glanced at Marco and they both snickered. Dylan skated around the rink twice before he looked up at the stands and waved. Two of the girls in the back shrieked, jumped up and started waving at him frantically. Luckily, Paige and Marco knew it was meant for them and waved back. Grinning, Dylan went to go warm up with his team, though he couldn't help but sneak glances up at Marco.

Marco watched his hockey star skate powerfully throughout the game, though he couldn't shake off the feeling that one of the girls behind him was staring at him. Every time he'd glance behind him a blonde eyes would hurriedly shift upwards to the game and a blush would appear on her cheeks. There had been constant whispers behind them, and Marco raised an eyebrow at Paige. She winked and sipped her pop.

Dylan had scored a 'hat trick' of the team's five goals, and Marco and Paige were going wild. They ran down and Paige noticed that the three girls behind them were following closely behind. Paige and Marco waited outside Dylan's dressing room, accompanied by the three girls. A particularly slutty blonde bounced up to Marco and leaned in close. "Hi, I'm Allie," she purred in his ear.

Marco gave her a surprised and slightly curious glance. "Uh, hey, I'm Marco."

She fluttered her eyelashes and Paige coughed quite conspicuously. Allie ignored this and whispered to Marco, "Well Marco, I was hoping we could go out sometime," and she brandished a prepared slip with her name and phone number on it and running her fingers up and down Marco's arm. "Call me."

Marco gave her a funny look. "Um, no offense but I'm already going out with someone."

Her face visibly fell and hardened. "Is it her?" she asked rudely, pointing at Paige.

Marco and Paige grinned at each other. "Nah, it's not her," Marco chuckled.

"Then who?"

Suddenly Dyan came out of the dressing room, his hair wet form the quick shower he took. Two of the girls squealed as he came out, shouting if he'd go out with them, but Dylan looked at the blonde and back to Marco, the girl obviously hitting on his boyfriend. The couple shared an amused look before Dylan swooped down and kissed Marco pointedly.

The three girls' jaws dropped open and Paige roared with laughter. "If I were you, I'd probably leave," she said in a fake-sweet voice.

With an embarrassed huff, they all but ran out of their sight. Marco giggled when Dylan pulled apart. The Italian boy threw his arm around Dylan's neck and said, "You were amazing!"

Dylan grinned and blushed, hugging him back.

Paige was still laughing. "I know it's mean, but that was hilarious!"

Dylan rolled his eyes. "Nice, Paige."

"Come on, you know it was," Paige insisted as they walked back out. Dylan draped an arm around Marco's shoulders as he unlocked the car door.

Marco smiled and poked Dylan's chest. "Poor girls don't know what they're missing."

Dylan beamed and kissed his cheek, climbing into the driver's seat. The entire way home wasn't very eventful, but Dylan was thinking hard about something. In a couple weeks, it would be Dylan's Prom, and he really wanted Marco to be there with him.

However there were two problems about this; one, Marco might not want to go because he'd feel uncomfortable. And two, he didn't know how'd he go about asking him in the first place. The older boy wanted to make it special and memorable, only he didn't know how.

Dylan was nervous; he didn't know how long it would take to plan everything, he didn't even know what he was going to do in the first place, and time was running out.

Marco glanced up at Dylan's face and saw him biting his lip, eyebrows knitted together. He cocked his head to the side and shared a confused glance with Paige, who shrugged.

Paige didn't know what was bugging her brother, but she knew how she could find out. Giving Marco a sly wink, she looked at Dylan and asked innocently, "Hey Dyl, could you drop Marco off for a second? I need to check to see whether Hazel has my textbook and I'm sure Marco wants to get started cramming for his exams."

Dylan jumped slightly, shaking out of his reverie. He looked at Paige in the rearview mirror and said, "Sure Paige," as Marco groaned, remembering the amount of studying he had to do. Dylan grinned at him.

"Thanks Paige, now I can't wait to get home," Marco replied grumpily.

Dylan chuckled and patted his knee. "We'll be right back to share in the fun, don't worry."

He pulled up to the driveway, and Marco went to get out. Dylan, however, grabbed Marco's arm, yanked him back, and kissed him hard but briefly. Marco smiled widely and got out of the car.

Dylan pulled out of the driveway and started down the street. "So where does Hazel live?"

"Oh, we're not going to Hazel's," Paige replied easily.

Dylan looked confused and a little angry back at Paige. "Then what am I doing driving you around then?"

"Dyl, honestly, what's bugging you?"

Dylan sighed, and started blushing. "Well...um I wanna take Marco to the Prom...but I don't know how to ask him." His cheeks were bright red and he was avoiding Paige's eyes.

Paige grinned at him. "Is that all? Well, I can help you there, dear brother of mine."

Dylan raised an eyebrow at her in the mirror. "Oh really? Then what should I do?"

Paige shifted in her seat excitedly. "Okay, well, first of all, how do you want to do it? Do you want it to be in public, alone, romantic, funny, et cetera, et cetera?"

Dylan thought about this. He didn't want to make Marco uncomfortable if he really didn't want to go to the Prom...but he didn't want to make it seem like he didn't care about it himself. So he guessed doing it in public was out...but then again what if it made it more awkward being alone? Damn, this is hard, Dylan thought exasperately.

Paige rolled her eyes at Dylan's struggle. "I really wish Marco could see how crazy he makes you sometimes."

Dylan mock glared at her as she gave him an amused look. "Well...I guess I want it to be...cute and romantic at the same time...I don't want to make him uncomfortable, though, if he doesn't want to go..."

"Dylan, honestly, why wouldn't he want to go? He'd do anything as long as you're there, he loooooves you."

Dylan's face flushed as a stupid grin broke his face.

Paige continued, chuckling at his expression, "Anyway, about you asking him...I have a few ideas. You could write 'Will you go to the Prom with me?' and put it in a fortune cookie and take him to that new Chinese restaurant down the street. Or set him on a scavenger hunt of all of your favourite places with directions on how to get to the next one. And then when they reach the last place, you're either hiding or standing there or something with a sign that asks him to the Prom. Or you could get five of your friends to write the letters 'Prom?' on five t-shirts with you standing at the end with flowers or a sign. Or-"

"Whoa, slow down Paige," Dylan laughed. "I barely know what you're saying. Did you like look them up and memorize them?"

Paige looked at him seriously. "You need to be prepared for anything, Dyl."

Dylan forced himself to not roll his eyes at her. "Okay, Paige. Um...I don' know..."

Paige smiled widely. "It's alright, we'll look some more up. But where will you take him for dinner? How long will you stay? What-?"

"Hold on a second Paigey," Dylan said slowly. "I don't to plan this all at once. I want it to be perfect, not rushed and crammed all in a five minute session."

Paige nodded wisely. "That's a good idea. Why don't we talk about this tomorrow? We'll come up with another excuse."

Dylan smiled. "Deal."

"We must've done something awful, in our past lives to deserve this hell," Marco groaned unhappily, burying his face in his textbook.

Dylan rubbed Marco's back. "It only gets harder, sweetheart." It had been a week since Paige and Dylan had had their how-he-can-ask-Marco-to-the-Prom discussion, and things were still very undecided.

Marco moaned, "Fantastic."

"Past lives?" Craig asked, amused.

Marco peeked up at him. "You know, when we were younger. Or centuries ago when we were some other poor loser or form of cattle." Everyone chuckled. "If you believe in that kind of stuff, anyway," he added.

"Frankly I'm surprised you guys roped me into this in the first place." Alex mused. She paused before saying, "Or that I've even stuck with it for this long."

"Trust me, hon, no one is more surprised than me," Paige replied.

Ellie rested her head on Marco's shoulder when he sat back against The Dot's couch. They were having a huge study/homework session in a quiet corner in the back, and everyone had a pounding headache. "I'm so tired, I think I actually might've answered the questions with White Stripes lyrics," Ellie stated, holding up her science exam practice packet.

Marco laughed and gave her a one-armed hug. "Poor baby," he teased.

"I don't know about you guys, but I am done for tonight," Paige stated forcefully.

"Agreed," Hazel chimed in. Jimmy was already dozing off in his wheelchair. Alex took a pillow and chucked it at his head.

"Gah!" he cried, jolting awake. He threw the pillow back at the obvious-looking Alex, who smirked and caught it.

Marco gently pulled out of Ellie's grasp, stood up and stretched. "Same time tomorrow?"

"Whoopie," Paige grouched sarcastically.

"Hey, Ryan's going to join us tomorrow by the way," Dylan told them. "He really needs to get a good grade on his exams."

"Don't we have too many people in this study group as it is?" Spinner asked.

"He can come," Marco yawned. "Though if anyone else does I think we can officially take over the entire restaurant."

"Hmm, interesting thought del Rossi," Alex mused.

Marco rolled his eyes and smiled at his boyfriend. "Ready to go?"

"I've been ready for the past hour and a half," Dylan grinned. They said their goodbyes and the two Michalchuks and Marco got into Dylan's car.

Marco climbed into the front seat and closed his eyes. "I. Am. So. Tired. My brain is mush."

"I'm surprised I'm still able to speak English," Paige groaned.

"Aw, come on babies, you guys are only in tenth grade. I'm studying for twelfth grade exams," Dylan pointed out seriously.

Marco and Paige exchanged glances. "Okay hon, you win," Paige told him. "But that doesn't mean we have it easy. Grade ten's hard too."

Dylan eyes smiled at them and he nodded. When they pulled up to the house, Marco and Dylan cuddled up on the couch, yawning and watching television. Dylan leaned down and kissed him sweetly.

"Mmm," Marco sighed happily.

"Hey Dylan," Paige suddenly butt in. "Can I see you upstairs for a second?"

Dylan felt a flicker of irritation towards his sister and ignored her, kissing Marco more intensely.

Paige murmured something exasperately under her breath and flicked Dylan at the back of the head.

"Ow!" Dylan cried, pulling back. His hand flew to the inflicted area and looked at Paige reproachfully. It wasn't so much the pain then the surprise that made the older Michalchuk cry out.

"Come on, let's go," Paige waved her hands in a 'shooing' way as she lead her brother upstairs.

Marco smiled at Dylan as he hopped up the steps unwillingly. Stretching, the younger boy couldn't help but feel his eyelids droop closed and he layed his head on the couch's pillow.

"Do we really need to do this now, Paige," Dylan complained.

"Yes," Paige replied giving him a hard look. "Because incase you haven't noticed, your Prom is in two weeks and you don't have a suit or anything, and you haven't even asked Marco yet! You're running out of time, Dylan."

Dylan ran a hand through his hair, feeling hassled. "I know! I know, but I just...I want to do it right, but...I just wish I could get it over with and ask him straight out."

"Dylan, I thought we already decided! You're going to-"

"Shh! Paige!" Dylan hissed, covering his sister's mouth with his hand and glancing at the door. "Don't say it! He might hear!"

Paige rolled her eyes. "Okay Mr. Paranoid, I won't spoil the surprise. All I'm saying, is you better get the guts to ask him soon, or it'll be too late."

Dylan sighed. "I know Paige, I know."

"Okay Dylan, what's up?" Marco demanded suddenly during one of their homework sessions a few days later, slamming his book down in annoyance. He had spent the past five minutes staring at the unaware older boy and tapping his pencil aggravatingly. It was just the two of them this time as everyone else had already planned prior committments.

"Huh?" Dylan asked, looking taken aback.

"You've been acting so strange these past couple of days."

Dylan inwardly rolled his eyes angrily at himself. Why is it that the one person I'm trying to surprise is the one person who can see right through me? But he fixed a confused expression on his face and said, "Strange?"

"Yeah, like you're hiding a big secret and it's driving me insane!" Marco exclaimed, throwing his arms up in the air and looking beyond agitated.

Dylan grinned at his boyfriend. He was so cute whenever he got frustrated.

"Big secret?" Dylan asked in a politely interested voice.

Marco glared at him. "You are so doing this to me on purpose."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Dylan teased.

Marco groaned, loudly and with emphasis as he leaned back in his chair. He looked at Dylan accusingly and stated, "You know, you're going to be the reason why I'll be in the mental hospital years from now."

Dylan chuckled. "Years? Dang, I'm not trying hard enough. You should be there already."

Despite himself, Marco smiled and rolled his eyes. "If you keep this up I probably will be."

Dylan gave him an amused look, before leaning over the table and pressing his lips to Marco's forehead. "You're crazy, you know that?"

Marco smirked. "So I've heard."

Dylan nuzzled his face into Marco's hair. "Hey...you're not doing anything tomorrow are you?"

Marco looked at him curiously and said, "Not that I know of...why?"

"Oh, just wondering," Dylan remarked, giving him a playful wink.

Marco, thinking he was messing with him, smacked Dylan's arm lightly in mock reproach. "You think you're so funny, don't you Michalchuk?"

"Maybeeee..."

Marco shook his head and kissed him lightly, chortling a little. "I guess I'll find out tomorrow."

Dylan's heart sped up at the thought of what he was going to do. As confident and sure as he appeared, when it came to Marco he was about as fearless as a lost puppy. But he faked it nonetheless and said cheerfully, "I guess you will."

"And you have no idea what he's planning on doing?" Ellie asked as they walked down the hallway to Marco's locker. It was the end of the day and Marco had been waiting anxiously to see what Dylan was up to.

"None," Marco replied.

"No anniversary? Birthday? Holiday?"

"What holiday is in June, Ellie?" Marco asked exasperately.

"Father's Day?" Ellie stated without thinking. She clamped her mouth shut his her hand, eyes apologetic. "Sorry, forget I said that."

Marco gave her a don't-worry-about-it look before saying, "No, there's no birthdays and our anniversary's in the fall."

Ellie shrugged. "Then I have absolutely no idea."

Marco rolled his eyes. "Thanks El, that helps a lot."

"Anytime."

When they reached Marco's locker they were both equally as surprised to see a note taped to the door. Puzzled, Marco pulled it off and automatically recognized Dylan's handwriting.

Marco -

I know you've been going mental trying to figure out what I was up to these past couple days, and I have to admit you're cute when you're frustrated. So, of course, that means I'm going to milk this for as long as I can ;) Anyway, long story short, I've been planning this for a little while and I hope you haven't figured it out already becase that would just ruin the surprise. I love you mon chéri. Good luck.

Marco smiled goofily at the note, Ellie quickly scanning it over his shoulder. He turned it over, expecting some sort of clue and was surprised to see that there was nothing else. "What?" Marco spluttered. "How...what?"

Ellie looked just as confused. "Maybe the clue's...hidden in the note?"

"Dylan's an evil mastermind," Marco grumbled as he looked more closely at the note. It was then that Marco realized that some of the letters were darker then the rest. "Hey El...look." He pointed at the letters and mentally started putting them together. "Beach? I'm supposed to go to the beach?"

"Huh. Looks like." Ellie smiled at him.

"How exactly am I going to get there, though? I can't drive."

"Ummm...oh, hey, what about Ryan? He has a car doesn't he?"

"That I do, Nash," Ryan smirked as he appeared seemingly out of no where and leaned against the lockers beside the pair. "And I am supposed to be your personal escort today." He gave Marco a small wink.

Marco grinned. "Alright, Ryan, what's going on?"

Ryan fixed an obviously fake-innocent expression and said, "What do you mean? I don't know anything."

Marco rolled his eyes. "Okay, let's just go with that."

Ryan beamed and poked Marco in the side. "Let's get moving del Rossi, I don't have all day."

"Fine, fine." The two of them said their good byes to Ellie and headed over to Ryan's car. Ryan was barely able to keep up as Marco, in his eagernes to discover what the big surprise was, all but slammed into the car, jerking on the door handle repeatedly as Ryan pressed the 'unlock' button. It wouldn't open and Marco looked beyond confused and a little annoyed as he pulled at it harder.

"Dude, just...stop jiggling it and it'll unlock!" Ryan said almost exasperately, chuckling at him as he came up beside the car.

Marco, smiling sheepishly, did as he was told, and waited a few seconds before finally opening it and hopping inside.

"Okay, where to?" Ryan asked, knowing perfectly well what Dylan had put in the note.

Marco raised an eyebrow slightly in suspicion before saying, "Uh, the beach."

Marco never specified what beach he was talking about, yet Ryan pulled out of the parking lot and headed down the same route to the beach where Dylan and Marco first met. Shaking his head at the older of the two boys, Marco proceeded to look out the window expectingly.

When they reached the entrance there was another note in Dylan's handwriting taped to a sign. Groaning, Marco jumped out of the car before Ryan had even come to a full stop and ripped the note off.

Marco-

Congrats sweetheart!

And, assuming that Ryan (for once) kept his big mouth shut and hasn't told you anything, good luck with this next one!

You're clue's on the back of my favourite vehicle. In fact, I think part of you is on there too ;)

Marco chortled when he read this; he knew exactly what he was talking about. Ryan had been reading it over Marco's shoulder, and looked completely baffled. Sure, he'd known what the first clue said, but Dylan hadn't trusted him enough not to blurt out the other ones. "His favourite vehicle?"

Marco looked at him amusedly and said, "Well, his favourite desert is ice cream right? So when we were roller blading he heard the ice cream truck music-thing and we chased it all over the place to find it, and when he finally caught up with it-" he chuckled. "I ran right into the back of the truck."

Ryan burst out laughing. "Why?"

"I didn't know how to stop!' Marco grinned as they walked back towards Ryan's car.

Ryan shook his head and ruffled Marco's hair. "You are the most uncoordinated person I have ever met."

Marco rolled his eyes jokingly. "Tell me something I don't know."

Ryan suddenly paused as a peculiar thought struck him.

"Uh...how exactly are we supposed to find it?"

"Just...it has to be around here somewh - there!" Marco cried triumphantly as they saw the unique ice cream truck driving down a street. They had spent almost three quarters of an hour searching for that exact ice cream truck and they were starting to get a little cranky to say the least.

"Great. We found it. Horray." Ryan grumbled. "Now how are we supposed to get the note off the back?" He squinted his eyes and peered at it before throwing his hands up in the air. "I don't even see it!"

Marco, having the better eyesight, looked carefully and intensely at the back of the truck before spotting it on the far left side of the truck. "I see it, Ryan. Just drive along side the truck on the left and I'll get it."

"It's a moving truck, Marco, how're you supposed to get it?" Ryan asked him, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll reach out and-"

Ryan looked at him like he was crazy. "You are not going to 'reach out and get it' Marco."

"Why?"

"Because I'd rather you not die on my watch?"

Marco gave him a look. "Ryan, I'm not going to die. Don't worry, it'll be easy. You just need to keep the car steady."

Ryan sighed, praying another car wouldn't decide to come around the corner just then, and pulled up next to the truck. Marco rolled the window down the entire way and started to cautiously lean out. He got his torso all the way out the door and was continuing to push himself as he reached for the white envelope.

Ryan was having a panic attack as his eyes flickered at a maniac pace between the road and his friend. Suddenly, as the truck rounded the corner, a parked car that was in their lane popped into view. "SHIT!" Ryan yelled as he slammed on the brakes.

With a shout of surprise Marco was thrown from the car and landed on the gravel with a sickening thud.

"Marco!" Ryan flew out of the car and ran around to the other side.

Marco's arm raised slowly into the air, his hand clutching the envelope. "Got it," he groaned.

"God dammit Dylan!" Ryan cursed, glaring at the note. "He is so going to get it!" The furious twelfth grader held a hand out to Marco and pulled him up as gently as he could.

Wincing regardless, Marco grabbed on to it and stood up, brushing the pebbles off his arm and noticing the bloody scratches and forming bruises on his elbows. He then proceeded to tear the envelope open and both boys started reading it.

Marco-

Nice job baby ;) (hopefully it wasn't too much trouble)-

Ryan snorted at this.

-buttttttttttttttttttt you're not quite done. Haha, I know, I know, you're probably rolling your eyes right now, but there's not too many places left, I promise.

Anyways, now you need to go to where you first watched me play :)

Marco smiled. "Alright, well this isn't hard. We just need to go to the old hockey arena."

Ryan nodded. "Fine. But you listen to me, del Rossi," he glared into Marco's brown eyes. "If I tell you not to do something...Do. Not. Do. It. You may be in denial about this or something, but you're a freaking danger magnet. So things that would probably work out fine for most people, will not work for you! So that means, if Dylan puts a note in the middle of the ice in the arena or something stupid like that, you're not getting it! Do you know how much it would suck if I had to find Dylan myself and tell him his boyfriend died because he was trying to get the note he left for him?"

Marco felt an odd desire to burst out laughing as he looked at him with a slightly surprised visage. "Got it."

"You better." He went around to the driver's seat and got in. Marco sat down too and waited for the car to start.

Ryan hesitated before turning to Marco, the tone of his voice completely different as he asked, "You are okay, though right?"

Marco grinned. "I'm good, Ryan, really."

He paused again. "And...I'm not mad at you, okay?"

The Italian boy nodded.

Ryan let out a deep breath before giving Marco a crooked smile. "You should feel special, del Rossi. You're the only person I actually feel guilty about yelling at."

Marco laughed and winked. "Well now I do."

Ryan started the car and headed to the old arena, pondering what it was about Marco that made him feel so bad when he snapped at him. He shook his head at himself, now knowing why Dylan never, ever got into a fight with the younger boy. It was impossible.

When they arrived Marco hopped out of the car and Ryan kept a careful eye out for anything remotely hazardous. Dylan had trusted Marco's safety with Ryan and he wasn't about to let him down. The envelope was taped to the locked doors of the arena.

"Okay, let's hope Dylan doesn't send us on another goose chase," Ryan muttered.

Marco silently agreed, but he stepped forward and opened the note anyway.

Marco-

Yay you've finally reached my last note ;) haha so now you get a riddle. Yeah, I know, lucky you.

So...here it goes.

"Go to the place that never leaves but is in constant motion."

I know, it's lame...

But you love me anyway :D

Marco laughed at that, shaking his head at Dylan's dorkiness. "Finally we're done." Excitement was working it's way into the Italian boy all over again. He bounced slightly in his step as they hurried back to the car, Ryan chuckling at him.

They drove to the river bed and Marco vaguely noticed the dirt covering him and the slight blood on his arms, but he really didn't care they were there; all he wanted to know was what this whole thing was for.

The younger boy practically sprinted out of the car when they arrived, spotting Dylan immediately. Dylan's face lit up when he saw Marco, and as he got closer he brandished a bouquet of flowers.

Marco blushed a deep red as the older boy gave them to him and pulled his boyfriend into a hug. "What's this about Dyl?" Marco asked, burning with curiosity.

"Well," Dylan murmured into his hair, his heart speeding in his chest. "I was just wondering..." He looked into those warm, brown eyes and smiled. "Will you go to the Prom with me?"

Marco, if possible, blushed even harder and beamed at his boyfriend, hugging him tightly. "Of course I will!" After a while, Marco looked up at him and stated amusedly, "You went to all this trouble..."

Dylan grinned. "Anything for you, del Rossi." Though now that he got a better look at him, he noticed the blood and the dirt caked on his arms and shirt. His expression waved to worry. "What happened to you?"

"Oh, I think I'll field that one," Ryan announced, walking up to them. Marco had completely forgotten he was there. "Yeah, it was real brilliant taping the clue to the back of a moving ice cream truck!" He playfully shoved Dylan and glared at him.

"It was moving?" Dylan looked shocked. "I didn't know it was working today..."

Marco's big eyes were yelling shut-up! at him but Ryan only winked at them. "Yeah. Your ingenious boyfriend had the idea to lean out of the car and grab the note off the truck, which in return chucked him out of the car."

Dylan's eyes went wide as he looked from Marco's avoiding gaze to Ryan's mischievous one. "What?" He looked only at Marco now. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine Dyl," Marco rolled his eyes and smiled. But Dylan still looked at him concernedly and guiltily. "Hey, no frowns," Marco told him, hugging him again.

That worked. Dylan couldn't help a smile from breaking on his face. "I love you," He told him softly, pressing his lips to the top of Marco's head.

Marco sighed. "I love you too."

They stayed like that for some time, just the two of them. Ryan had left some time ago to give them privacy, knowing Dylan had his car hidden somewhere around. But finally when they did part, they walked hand in hand to the car, both boy's grins a mile wide.