Charlie awoke with a start, sitting up quickly and looking around himself. He didn't recognize the room he was in. He looked around, his mind still cloudy with the fading traces of sleep. He rubbed his eyes gently, trying his best to clear his thoughts as he looked around the room, trying desperately to place himself. And then it hit him. The realization of where he was and what had happened hit him like a tidal wave and he lay back down, smiling to himself. It had all happened so fast. But he had wanted it to happen. Charlie realized that he didn't remember exactly when he had decided that he wanted it to happen. But he did. He had wanted to be with Knox. And he had been. Charlie was surprised at how easy it had been. He never thought that Knox would want to be with him. Charlie and Knox were not usually two boys that you saw together.

Charlie always saw himself as a bad boy. And he knew that how other people saw him too. And he liked it that way. It let him know who he was, and he took pride in that. E didn't have to actually let people see the real him, because they all knew that he was a "bad boy" and that's all that needed to be said. But it did present one problem- he had fallen in love with the good boy.

Knox was not a bad boy. In fact, he was the exact opposite of that, no matter how much he didn't want to be. He was the kind of guy who opened doors, didn't talk behind peoples back, who would say something since or try not to say anything at all. And that's what Charlie loved about him. The fact that he was so different.

Charlie didn't know how the line had been crossed, but it had. And it had happened when it needed to. Charlie had needed, more than anything in the world, someone who would be there for him. And that's exactly what Knox was- there for him.

Charlie sat up in bed and looked around for his clothes. He found them, folded neatly, with sharp creases, lying at the end of his bed. He didn't remember having put them there, when he saw the note. He picked it up and smiled at the familiar handwriting and the comforting words.

Dear Charlie,

I didn't want to wake you. You looked so peaceful and beautiful. Look, Charlie, I don't' know how you felt about what happened. But I just need to tell you that I loved it. I love you. I'm so glad that we...you know. It meant the world to me. I know that I should have been there holding you when you woke up. But I needed to think about some stuff. You see, when I woke up, I realized exactly how much had happened between us. Charlie, this is big...this means something; at least it does to me. I think we both need to think about a lot. Charlie, I need to tell you something- I've wanted this for a very long time. This is really embarrassing to write, but I used to hope that, maybe one day you and I could...well, you know. Even with Chris there was always a part of me that wanted to...well, you know what I mean. Look, Charlie, I'm sorry I'm not there. I really am. I would give anything to be there right now, to kiss your hair and see you smile, as I undoubtedly know you will when you read this letter. You always do smile- well, smirk is more like it. But I needed to think, and so do you. Charlie, when you've thought about what all this means, then you can meet me in the cave. I'll be there all night. I can't wait to see you- if I see you.

With a tentative love,

K.O.

Charlie put down the letter and slipped his clothes on. He knew it would be cold outside, but he didn't have the energy to grab a coat. He knew that Knox was right, that he had a lot to think about. He trudged slowly down to the lake, pushing against the bitter cold. He found a rock large enough to sit on and pulled his knees in to his chest. He smiled as he watched a swan glide carelessly through the air and land gracefully on the water. He watched the water ripple out from the swan's landing spot until the ripples reached the edge of the lake, just inches below his feet. He smiled and breathed deeply, the crisp lake air laced with the smell of pine trees. He shoved his hands deep in to the pockets of his slacks and trailed is foot in the water. The bitter cold didn't bother him- it was relaxing to be so close to nature. A nature that, for him, always seemed steady. He though back to all the times he had roamed the surrounding forests with Neil after they had first come to Wellton- how many times he had rowed this very lake as he and his friends had grown up- together.

Charlie turned his thoughts from the lake to the events that had transpired over the past few hours, and the years before that. He hadn't woken up one day and just started liking Knox. His love for him grown steadily over the years, peaking when Neil died. That was the first time that Charlie felt comfortable to put a name to his feelings- love. Charlie loved Knox, and it made him so sad to see that it took Neil's death to make him realize that. Charlie thought over all the times that he had sat in the cave and just watched Knox cry, ignoring the strong urge to reach out and brush his tears away, to ruffle his hair and take him in his arms.

Charlie stayed at the lake for as long as possible, watching the lake turn from red to blue to purple, and, finally, to black. Charlie finally forced himself to leave when the cold had turned his hands purple and the stars were reflecting in the stars. Walking slowly thorough the woods, rubbing his hands together quickly, trying desperately to stimulate the flow of blood back to his numb hands, Charlie found the path that he and his fellow society members had worn deep in to the forest floor. Before long, Charlie found himself at the entrance of the cave, and he called coyly in to the darkness.

"Oh Knoxy-poo..."

Charlie didn't get an answer. He yelled again.
"Knoxious Darling, it's your lover-boy!"

Still no answer. Charlie took a step gingerly in to the entrance, calling louder.

"Hey Knox, I'm here."

Charlie didn't get an answer. Feeling as though a stone had dropped swiftly in to his stomach, he walked quickly in to the body of the cave and allowed his eyes time to adjust to the dim light. Finally being able to see, Charlie smiled to see Knox curled up in to a tight ball in the corner.

"Baby, I can't believe you fell asleep. Did I take that long?"

Charlie crossed to Knox's body and sat down next to him, shaking his shoulder gently.

"Wake up sleeping beauty. Come on. We've got to get back to school."

Knox didn't move. Charlie shook him harder.

"Come on love. It's time to get up. We don't have time to fool around."

Knox remained as still as stone. Charlie shook him harder, feeling Knox's teeth rattle in the back of his head. Charlie turned Knox's head towards his and kissed his forehead gently, feeling the flesh cold beneath his lips. He bent his head to Knox's chest and heard a faint heartbeat.

"Oh my God, Knoxy. What happened to you? Don't worry babe. I'm gonna get you out of here. You'll be fine. I promise."

Charlie hoisted Knox up and carried him as quickly as he could through the woods. Before long Charlie felt his feet go numb and his breath slowed. It was getting colder. Charlie could feel the cold beginning to seep in to his lungs. He began to walk faster, singing to himself to keep himself coherent. Just when he thought he couldn't go on any more, the dim yellow lights of Wellton Academy came in to view and Charlie hurried even faster, his breathing labored. He brought Knox in through the front door of and sent him down gently on the floor. Charlie stood up and walked slowly to the stairs, looking for help. He took one step up before the floor started spinning and the wall began to change colors. The floor in front of him went in and out of focus and he felt his hand grab the banister, though he didn't remember telling it to do so. The last thing Charlie remembered was hearing someone shout for help.