Welcome back dear readers! First of all, let me start with THE BIGGEST APOLOGY FOR TAKING THIS LONG OF A HIATUS! That was certainly not my intention. Ha. We're starting off with a short story that will probably only be about 3 to 4 chapters long. I'm not sure yet. It really depends on how badly the boys want this version of their story told. So. Come along and we'll discover what happens with our favorite Alt!Double Dee and Reg!Kevin.

In. Out. In. Out. Breath. 1, 2, 3. In. Out. In. Out. Breath. 1, 2, 3.

The boy repeated this mantra in his head for several seconds. His jade green eyes shut tightly and hand clutching the front of his shirt tightly. He felt his panic starting to rise in the middle of class and asked to be excused. He had forgotten his inhaler though. His mother even reminded him to grab it before leaving for school that morning. He was in a rush as usual though and raced past it out of the door to make it to the bus in time.

So. Here he was. Hiding in a janitor's closet. Having a panic attack and wondering when it was going to be over.

Vaguely, he heard the door open softly and shut. He felt a hand on his shoulder. Felt it lightly trace his arm and grip his free hand gently. His other hand had to be gently pried open for the other to take it.

"Kevin. I'm going to put your hand on my chest. Match up your breathing with my heart beats. Concentrate on it. It'll help you." Kevin knew that voice but was terrified that someone found out he had attacks this bad. Tap tap, tap tap. He felt the other boys fingers gently tapping his hand. He did what he was told then.

"That's good Kevin. Just concentrate on my heart beat." He felt his erratic breathing begin to slow. He opened his eyes. He sighed. "How did you find me Double Dork?"

The blue eyed boy smirked. "Kevin. All I had to do was listen. I know what you sound like by now when you have a panic attack. What triggered it this time?" Dee asked. He already knew, but he wanted to hear it from the beautiful boy in front of him.

Kevin sighed again. He knew if he lied, Dee would level a certain look at him. "Nazz. She sent me another text today. We used to be best friends. I don't understand what I did to make her so angry with me." He held back a sob. He missed his best friend. He just wanted an explanation. Why was that so hard to understand?

Dee sighed in resignation. "I know why she doesn't speak to you and why she sends the messages she does." He rested his head in his palms. He thought it might be because of who he chose. And it saddened him to know that she no longer talked to her friend because of him. Dee brought the red haired boy in close to him. Kevin relaxed. "It's because I didn't choose her isn't it?" Dee smiled a sad smile. Of course this boy guessed it. Why wouldn't he?

"Yes, Kevin, I believe it is." He held Kevin tighter, a moment longer. "I do not wish to come between you and Nazz. I know you value your friendship with her over anything else."

Kevin looked up. "Dee, I love her like family. And she knows that. If she can't accept you, then she doesn't accept me."

"But mon coeur, I don't want to be the reason you lose a friendship."

"I'm not losing a friendship. But I also don't want to lose you either."

Dee sighed. He hated feeling like this. It wasn't the first time though. Another sad smile, an errant tear that was quickly wiped away. "Kevin. I love you. And I always will. But I fear that Nazz will never talk to you again if you continue this relationship with me." He disentangled himself from the red headed boy that stole his heart in more ways than one. He had softened a heart that was made hard so long ago.

"I am sorry, Kevin...but if you refuse to make the choice, I'll have to. For the both of us." He was out the door and already in the hall before it dawned on Kevin what happened. In the quiet of the janitors closet, he wept.