Title: Falling Apart

Author: Joy

Pairing: Byron/Jeff

Rating: G (I promise, eventually I'll work up)

Disclaimer: Not mine. I'd never pretend otherwise.

Notes: Sequel to "Candy", and therefore #3 in the series. Start with "Drive Me" if you're unfamiliar with the territory.

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Byron was wrapped around his best friend's body, taking advantage of Jeff's slumber to breathe his scent in deeply. He decided, with a smile, that Jeff smelled quite similar to the sugar cookies Mrs. Pike made. The sugar cookies usually had a slight dusting of confectioner's sugar on top, but Byron doubted that Jeff would be sugar-coated as well.

Then again, Byron didn't know much about Jeff at all. The sandy-haired boy was constantly jumping from California to Connecticut, and this was just one of his longer stays with his East Coast family. The boys kept in touch every time Jeff came back, but it was only in the last visit that Byron found himself really missing his friend. There was always certainty that Jeff would come back, but the last time he went to his father's, Byron had spent a week moping and hadn't realized why until Jeff walked onto his front porch six months later.

He hunched up under Jeff's arm a little tighter, getting as much contact as possible. His thoughts were wound all up in a tight spiral and they kept unravelling. Why had he grabbed Jeff's hand earlier? Why had he been so ashamed? It all seemed futile to be worried about what was in the past, especially considering the position he was in now, but Byron always did things on the safe side.

Jeff sighed deeply and his head rolled a little closer to Byron's. He looked very peaceful sleeping; it was beginning to rub off on Byron. Just as he was beginning to drift off, he heard footsteps. Byron immediately sat up, shoving frantically at Jeff, who only grunted.

The footsteps stopped outside Haley's door, replaced by a sharp knock and the door swinging open. Byron stiffened, giving up on rousing Jeff.

Matt Braddock stood there, obviously shocked. Two teenage boys in his sister's room, without his sister there? Two teenage boys that appeared to have been cuddling? Matt stared for a few seconds, his usually overactive hands limp and silent.

/Where's Haley/ he signed, when he had regained some composure.

For almost a full second, Byron had forgotten all about Matt's deafness. Then he shook his head, trying to remember something. Anything. The only sign he could remember off the top of his head was the Bizzer Sign, and that was definitely not what Byron was looking for in the communication department.

While he fumbled, it came to Byron's attention that Jeff had woken up underneath him. A wave of despair washed over him. Jeff was not nearly as fluent in sign language as the Pikes were, and right now Byron was having a hard time with the simplest words.

Nobody had to figure out how to say anything next, as a second set of footsteps thundered down the hall. Haley grabbed Matt's shoulder and furiously began signing to him. Their hands were a blur as they talked.

Matt's face broke out into a huge grin as he pointed inside Haley's bedroom. Byron wanted to melt into the floor and never come back. Jeff was equally horrified. Haley's expression resembled something akin to a raccoon hit by a tractor.

"Uh... W-we wondered where you went," she stammered.

Jeff saved the day, smoothing the sheets and topping the pillow shaw with a pink rabbit.

"The living room was full. You guys all fell asleep on us when we got back with your food."

Haley blushed. "Ok. Now get out of my room. I catch you guys in here again, I tell them." She gestured towards the living room with a jerk of her head.

Byron got the message and hauled Jeff off the bed, nodding at Matt on the way out. They peeked around the corner, discovering that the other guys were still passed out completely. Jeff flopped on the couch quickly, flipping on the Playstation.

"Soul Caliber?" he suggested. Byron heartily agreed, and they hastily covered up their tracks with pixelated violence.