Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I'd list you individually again but I've got to get to work.
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Chapter Five
Marco was in Chemistry, listening to a boring lecture when Scott slid a note over to him.
Who's the cute guy last night? You two seemed into each other.
Marco looked over at Scott, who appeared to be paying attention to the teacher. He looked back at the note and laughed silently.
He's a friend. I met him at the gym yesterday and hit it off. It could be the start of something good. Why?
Marco slid it back over and continued his lecture notes/doodles. He was waiting for a response. And he got one, just not the one he expected.
Dylan became moody after you left. He wouldn't explain why and I figured it might have something to do with you.
Marco was a little shaken by the information just provided. He knew it would cause Dylan some pain, maybe a mood swing but to be irritable even after they left was unexpected.
What've I got to do with his moods? We're only partners in Lit.
Marco held his breath as he waited for the next response. This was going to tell him whether or not Dylan told him all of the story yet.
That's what I was wondering.
Marco just shrugged and waited not quite patiently for class to end.
Finally class was dismissed and Marco packed up quickly. Scott put his hand on his arm and Marco looked at him.
"Can we make a study session before the first test on Thursday? I need to pass it remember?" asked Scott.
Marco laughed, "Yeah, how about tomorrow at ten a.m.?"
Scott nodded, "Sounds great. I have practice at 2."
Marco jotted down his address and some brief directions then left the classroom.
Since Marco didn't have time to go home before his next class, so he sat in the courtyard reading a book. He felt a hand start toying with his hair. When he didn't turn around, someone placed a gentle kiss on the back of his neck. Marco jumped up and turned to see who was kissing him.
The offender smiled at him evilly. "You looked so cute, studying so earnestly."
Marco smiled broadly, "I didn't expect to see you so soon. What are you doing here?"
"I had some time so I figured, why not," stated the friend.
Marco threw his arms around the person, "I've missed you so much. I can't believe you just decided to come to Boston, Chad."
Chad laughed, "I wanted to start looking for a place to live next year. Dylan sounded a little stressed when I talked to him a few days ago."
Marco looked at him questioningly, "When did you talk to him? Have you seen him yet?"
Chad sat down with him on the bench, "Whoa, wait a minute before the questions start flowing. First, it was late Wednesday night. He was ranting about you moving on and finding someone new. He wasn't making much sense. I haven't seen him considering I've only been in town for about twenty minutes…the last ten of which have been spent with you."
Marco smiled, "Yeah but it's a great way to spend time. Do you need somewhere to stay?"
"You offering?" asked Chad coyly.
"Yeah, there's some room for you at my place."
"Do I get to sleep with you again?" asked Chad, jokingly.
"Not this time. I prefer to be alone now when I sleep," said Marco, still smiling.
"Fine, I guess the guest room will have to do then."
"Don't sound so put out…it's a free place to stay and the food's excellent," retorted Marco saucily.
Chad pulled Marco into another hug, "I can't believe you left a year early. I could've used you this year."
"Well, well, well, not only does he find one guy but no, now he's got two. How many more can you handle, Del Rossi?" asked Dylan bitterly.
Marco pulled away from Chad and smiled sweetly, "Maybe two, you and Scott into swinging?"
Chad muffled his laughter in Marco's shoulder. He had so many comments to make but didn't think it was appropriate since Dylan hadn't discovered it was him.
Chad turned to face Dylan when he composed himself enough, "Hey, I'm not just some guy. We have a history." He tried to sound indignant but it didn't quite work with all the laughter.
Dylan gaped at his best friend, "What are you doing here? When did you get here? Why wasn't I the first to know?"
Chad laughed and hugged his friend, "I missed you too. I came to check out places to live for next year and you sounded like you needed me. You weren't the first to know because I found Marco sitting on the bench first. Proximity over intention."
Dylan laughed, "Where are you staying? I'd let you stay with me but it's only a one bedroom apartment."
"No worries, Marco's lending me his guest bedroom. Besides, knowing you, your bedroom isn't always lonely," retorted Chad.
Dylan glared and Marco laughed weakly, "Yeah, the resident lothario strikes again."
The awkward moment seemed to lengthen. Marco looked at his watch, "Oh look, it's time for class. I'll see you later. Dylan, give Chad directions to my house. I'll be home in about two hours and probably for the rest of the night."
Chad nodded, "Thanks, I'll see you later."
Marco headed off toward his next class.
"So, how long are you in Boston?" asked Dylan after Marco strolled off.
"How long am I here? Is that all you've got to say? Let's try, Marco's dating someone new, I'm dating someone new…when did things get so messed up?" asked Chad.
Dylan shook his head, "Let's not have this conversation here. Anyone can overhear." Dylan started to lead the way to his apartment.
Chad followed his friend and knew he'd struck a nerve with the question.
Chad walked into Dylan's living room, "Early college is the décor I see."
Dylan laughed and started to clean up a little. "Sit down and tell me what you want to know."
Chad sat and watched as Dylan did his nervous cleaning job. He did this every time a situation became the least bit uncomfortable for him.
"Let's start with your boyfriend. Who is he? Do you like him? Is there a possible future?"
Dylan sighed, "His name is Scott. He's sweet, funny, and extremely good looking. I like him but I can't help it if I keep comparing him to Marco and he comes up short. I don't think there will be a future for us."
"Is the lack of future due to Marco? Or could it be that you just really don't like this guy?"
"Marco, definitely."
"So you still love Marco?" asked Chad, hesitantly.
Dylan became frustrated with that question, "How in the hell can my best friend in the entire world ask that question? Look around you, are these colors I would've chosen on my own? These are the colors of Marco's bedroom in Degrassi." Dylan pushed up his sleeve, "Look, I still wear the watch he gave me. I haven't taken it off unless I'm at hockey practice. The last time I slept with Scott, I couldn't take my eyes off of it. It was mocking me."
Dylan slammed out of the room and down the hall. Chad waited a few seconds before following him.
Chad paused at the threshold of Dylan's bedroom. Dylan was sitting on his bed with his head in his hands. Chad entered and sat down next to him. "Have you let yourself move on? Have you closed your relationship with Marco?"
Dylan shook his head, "I guess not. His ring is still in my box on the dresser. I look at it and wonder when I can put it back on again. There are pictures of him everywhere, you just have to know where to look. I like to hide them."
Chad patted Dylan on the back, "Dude, you've either got to let go or tell him how you feel. Either way, it's going to kill you but one is more humane than the other."
Dylan laughed sickeningly, "More humane? Which one is more humane? Losing the love of my life because I decide to let him go or him telling me that he doesn't love me anymore? Oh then there's the slim chance in hell that he still loves me…I highly doubt that though."
Chad took a deep breath, "Okay, come down from the rampage. Have you any idea of why Marco chose Boston? Do you really think it was only because of the journalism program? There are hundreds of schools around the world with excellent programs like this one. There must have been another reason for him to choose here. I wonder what could it be? Oh, yeah and the fact he wanted to get here a year sooner than he should be here."
Dylan looked at him, "Damn, I'm an idiot. Maybe it was me he came here for. Maybe I should've given that some thought."
Chad smiled grimly, "Don't go putting too much stock into you being the ultimate reason though. I know he got an awesome scholarship on top of everything else."
Dylan nodded his head, "I know he did but I could've caused the deciding vote."
Chad laughed, "Now don't go get a huge ego from this. You still have a boyfriend and so does he. This conversation doesn't mean a damn thing out there on the campus."
Dylan lay back on his bed and stared at the ceiling, "I don't believe my luck. I finally figure out everything and I can't do a damn thing about it. I feel like I'm back in high school, in the closet again. That sucked back then and it's worse now. I'm not in the closet completely, just for one person."
Chad shrugged, "I know it sucks but things will work themselves out."
Dylan laughed, "Marco should be home by now. I'll walk you over there."
Chad stood up and pulled Dylan up with him, "Come on lover boy. Let's go see Cassanova."
Dylan stood on Marco's front steps and watched as Chad knocked on the door. Marco opened the door and the welcoming smile froze on his face. "Come on in. Chad, if you want to set your things down, the room is the first door on your left."
Dylan came in and smelled something wonderful. The recognition hit him like a ton of bricks, "Pasta primavera night. It smells great."
Marco grinned sadly, "Yeah, a little nostalgic with Chad in town. There's plenty, you can stay if you want?"
Dylan nodded, "I'd love to stay. Are you sure?"
Marco nodded, "I'm sure. I need to check on the pasta."
Marco left Dylan in the living room. I wonder if I should mention that I invited Braden over for dinner? I wanted him to meet an old friend, not the guy I used to date…not to mention still love. Oh shit!
Dylan looked over as the doorbell rang. Marco came out of the kitchen quickly.
"I'll get the door. Open that bottle of wine on the counter, please. Oh wait, I forgot who I was talking to…don't touch the bottle."
Dylan laughed good naturedly as Marco went to the door. Chad had reappeared after settling in to his new room for the next few days.
"Who's at the door?" inquired Chad.
"I don't know. Marco invited me to dinner, though." Dylan said with a huge grin.
Chad started to respond until someone other than Marco entered the room. Marco followed shortly though.
The three guys were eyeing each warily. Marco made the introductions, "Braden, you remember Dylan from the coffee shop and this is our old friend, Chad. I might've forgotten to mention that Dylan and I've known each other for a few years."
Braden smiled a tight smile, "Nice to see you again, Dylan. Chad, I'd say I've heard a lot about you but I haven't known Marco long enough to hear any stories."
Chad laughed, "Good to know you're honest. We don't like liars for our Marco, do we Dyl?"
Dylan just shook his head, "No, no liars for Marco."
The four sat down to a very tense dinner. Marco tried to make conversation but after twenty minutes, gave up and started drinking more wine. Chad was finding the situation extremely amusing. Dylan was…to say uncomfortable would've been a gross underestimation. Braden knew there was more to Dylan than an old friend, he could sense the tension in the air.
Dinner was finally over, much to the relief of everyone. Marco was more than a little tipsy thanks to two bottles of wine.
"I'm going to show Braden out, now. He's got an early class in the morning and I have a study session with your boyfriend," said Marco laughingly.
Dylan looked at him in astonishment. He'd never seen Marco drunk before and didn't think it was a good thing.
Marco walked Braden outside and smiled at him, "I know it was strange but thank you for coming and staying for dinner. Maybe next time we won't have the extra guests and you can stay." Marco put a hand over his mouth and started to laugh, "I'm sorry. That sounded like a proposition for sex…"
Braden laughed, "Time for you to get some sleep. You need to sober up. I'll call you tomorrow."
Marco nodded obediently. He turned to walk back into his house but was stopped by Braden's hand.
"Just because you're drunk doesn't get you out of a good night kiss. Come here." Braden declared and pulled him to him with force. He kissed him with more force than was intended but he wanted to make sure Marco remembered who he was dating.
Marco walked back into his living room and saw Chad and Dylan waiting. Waiting for what, he wasn't sure.
Chad stood up, "It's been a really long day. I'm gonna take a shower and go to bed. Thanks for dinner and a place to crash."
Marco nodded and watched Chad go down the hall. Marco couldn't stand any longer, so he dropped down next to Dylan on the couch.
"So was dinner good?" asked Marco, half leaning on Dylan.
"You know it was wonderful. It happens to be my favorite."
Marco smiled at him weakly, "What happened between us?"
"You didn't want a long distance relationship, I let you go, you avoided me for a year, I took that year to screw around a little, date a few guys, you made the most of your year and graduated early. I'm dating someone, you met someone and here we are…miserable dating others." Dylan said in one breath.
Marco sighed, "We are dating other people now, Dylan. We shouldn't be doing this."
Dylan leaned a little closer, "Doing what?" He leaned down and kissed Marco gently, "this?"
Marco moaned lightly, "That. We can't do this. We owe it to Scott and Braden not to do it. You should go." Marco said firmly but pulled Dylan down for another kiss.
Dylan responded enthusiastically to Marco's kisses. He knew it was wrong and if Marco hadn't been slightly inebriated this wouldn't be happening.
Marco kept kissing Dylan even though his brain was sending him signals saying it was wrong.
His body however was telling him to continue. He chose to ignore his brain for once.
Chad walked back toward the living room after his shower. It had gotten quiet and he was wondering if Dylan had left. He had his answer soon enough when he saw Dylan lying over Marco kissing him passionately.
He stood there for a second, staring at the floor. He was debating whether to interrupt. He cleared his throat loudly as he entered the room. "Don't mind me. Why bother to stop except you each are dating someone else?"
The two on the couch broke apart and looked at Chad. Dylan jumped up and looked down at a very disheveled Marco. "I've got to go. I'll see you tomorrow Chad."
Marco stayed on the couch and had his eyes closed.
Chad sat on the coffee table in front of him, "Care to talk?"
Marco opened one eye and peered at Chad, "Not tonight but thanks for the intervention. I need some sleep."
Chad nodded and helped Marco to his feet. He watched as Marco walked down the hall holding the walls.
Chad shook his head and started for his room as well.
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If I get 10 reviews for this chapter by Sunday, I'll update again!
