I've already decided that writing for Liam is going to kill me. He's a pain in the ass to write for. Gino, too. Ian reminds me of Keele, so he's a piece of cake. And the plot is like a really bad soap opera. It's starting to get to me. It sucks. I hate it. It must die.

kicks the plot

Die, bitch.

Die.

Btw, Liam fans, please forgive me!

Chapter 3: Misunderstanding

"Done!"

Ian proudly looked over his tidy, full, and Christmas-decorated shop. And though he admired his handywork, something in him had a feeling he'd get more anti-Christmas protesters this year due to Gaia's rapidly-growing population. The shopkeeper sighed and petted Rufus on his shoulder. "So...what do you think, Rufus? Should I go visit Gino again?" Ian asked the cat.

A tired shrug shook the cat's shoulders. "You're the human in love. You decide."

He made a face at the cat. "Thanks a lot buddy..." Ian set Rufus on the counter and looked around his shop. "Well...should I at least bring him something? A gift or something like that? Like flowers...or a card...or a card with flowers..."

"You don't need my help," Rufus purred, making himself comfortable on a shelf. "You're doing just fine making yourself into a lovestruck fool on your own."

Ian glared weakly through his blush. "Well I know a certain cat who won't be getting any treats after dinner tonight!" With that, Ian left.

Rufus pouted at the closed sign. "I was only teasing..."

Ian sighed to himself as he stood outside of Sasha's house. Go in, give him the flowers, make out with him, and say "I love you," he thought. Piece of cake...I hope. The storekeeper clutched the bouquet of flowers in his hand. Alright...here goes nothing. I really hope I'm right about Gino liking me... He entered Sasha's house.

Almost instantly, a feeling clung to his gut and heart, as if something were wrong. Ian felt almost sick and shook his head to shake the feeling away, but it clung to him still. Gino... Heart racing with worry in his chest, Ian ran through the house and up the stairs. His soul begged that the blonde was okay, and his mind ran through thoughts of danger and despair. The same feeling of dread and helplessness he had felt as Gambino Mansion burnt down was returning with a vengence.

As he reached the top of the stairs, Ian saw the door to Gino's room was open. But the bad feeling was still there, still inside Ian as he ran for the door. The shopkeeper froze in the doorway, the bouquet of flowers falling to the floor. His eyes went wide and his breath left him, burning tears filling his eyes.

Liam sat beside Gino, hugging the blonde gently as they continued their passionate kiss without seeming to notice Ian watching. The blonde sighed through his nose, gripping Liam's biceps. A hand went through Gino's hair, sifting through golden locks to cup the Gambino's delicate neck. Liam went further into the kiss, causing the younger male to squeak then groan somewhere in his throat.

Ian couldn't take any more. Without looking back, he ran, slamming the door behind him.

Gino's eyes flew open at the shutting door, and he growled at Liam. A hand left Liam's bicep and formed a fist, Gino's right-hook flying true. Liam broke the kiss when punched and rolled onto the floor. The blonde wiped his lips with the back of his hand, glaring at Liam. The shopkeeper stood and smirked at Gino. "What was that for? I thought you were enjoying yourself."

"Silence!" Gino roared. "That was for you barging in here and kissing me!"

"And what are you going to do about it?" Liam grabbed Gino's wrists and pinned them over his head, watching in satisfaction as Gino flinched from his wounds. "With you bedridden for a few weeks, you're helpless. So why don't you relax and enjoy the ride?"

Gino's glare darkened as he managed to spit up into Liam's face. "I'd rather cyber a n00b than be a part of your schemes," he hissed. "Ian's right not to trust you. You're just a player looking to get laid!"

Liam growled and wiped away Gino's spit from his cheek. "Spoiled little brat! Don't you get it yet? Ian hates you!"

The blonde's eyes went wide. "What?"

A nerve... Liam thought. Perfect. "Ian hates you because he's jealous. Jealous that you got Sasha's attention, jealous that you have all the supporters, jealous that you have everything when has no one and nothing but a cat and his cheap store!"

Gino went silent and looked away from Liam in thought; the shopkeeper gazing over the blonde's flawless profile, pale, slender body wrapped in bandages, and perfect wrists still held prisoner. A tear found Gino's cheek, which was nuzzled and kissed tenderly dry. Liam let go of Gino's wrists to support himself as he whispered in Gino's ear, "The night of the fire, he went to ruin you to win Sasha."

"Go away..." The blonde whispered, closing his eyes.

"Alright..." Liam stood. "But think about what I said and htat kiss...You know where to find me." He left there, nearly tripping over the bouquet of flowers as it got caught in the door on his way out.

Gino blinked at the sound of crunching plastic and stems, opening his eyes and turning to see the bouquet in the doorway. Wincing, the teen rolled onto the floor and caught himself on his arms. Ignoring the pain of his recovering burns and broken bones, the blonde crawled to the door and pried it open to free the bouquet of flowers. The tears in his eyes returned as he pulled a card from the green and petals. "Gino...Get well soon. XOXO - Ian"

He buried his face in the sweet-smelling flowers to keep from crying. I don't know what to think or feel... Gino thought as he curled up on the floor, holding the flowers dearly. I trust Ian...with my body and soul...But Liam's right...It wasn't hard to notice Ian's hatred toward me after Sasha first found me on the beach. I feel so lost...I don't know what I should do.

Something crinkled against his cheek that wasn't plastic or paper. Sniffling a bit, Gino pulled his face away from the bouquet. There, amongst the bright colors and green stems was an old brown leaf. Gino sighed, picking it out of the plants. Ian's hat-leaf... Gino thought. He kissed it lightly and held it to his heart. It's a sign...I should continue trusting Ian. No...I not only trust him...but I...I love him...I can feel it...I felt sick when Liam kissed me because my heart belongs to Ian. I'm happy when he's near and when I think of him...It's the only explaination...I have to get to him...but my legs...

Gino looked over his cast-covered legs. The pain of my wounds is nothing compared to the pain in my heart. He looked around and grabbed a pair of scissors from the desk next to him. "Ian!"

Ian threw a rock off the docks at the ocean from the port, Isle de Gambino in the distance to his right. He felt as empty as he felt when he watched Gambino Mansion burn to nothing several nights ago, if not even more. The shopkeeper threw another rock and watched it sink to the bottom of the waters.

Doesn't surprise me at all... Ian thought bitterly. Gino is a Gambino. A cheating, lying, power-hungry Gambino, like his father. Of course he'd dump me and make-out with Liam. I just hope Liam's happy. He spun around to shout at the distant city of Aekea. "Are you happy, Liam! Happy with Gino! Happy with the fact you've once again ruined my life!"

He stormed off the port and onto the beach, heading back to Barton Town. A thought hit him, and Ian turned to shout at the far off island, but his mouth closed as a body stood from the waves of the ocean, walking toward him. Gino looked like a mess; seaweed sticking to his shoulders and wrapped around an ankle, bandages falling off to reveal the half-healed burns, obviously-borrowed pants ruined by the salt water.

"Ian..." Gino winced and limped to the shopkeeper, his casts missing. The blonde appeared exhausted. He pulled his father's pocketwatch from his pocket and fumbled to open it.

"Gino!" Ian ran to him and gathered the blonde into a hug. "What are you doing! You should be in bed! And your casts are gone!"

"Had...to see you..." Gino panted. He collapsed against Ian, dropping the watch as his legs gave way to exhaustion and pain. The shopkeeper caught Gino and carefully held him in his arms. "Had...to tell...you something..."

Ian shook his head and picked up the dropped watch. "Gino...hush...You need to save your strength..."

"No...I...have to tell you..." Gino struggled to stay awake as Ian carried him to Barton Town and his home behind the shop. "Have to...tell you...I...love you..." The shopkeeper stopped, looking down at Gino in confusion. The blonde continued speaking softly. "Liam burst in...forced a kiss on me...then you came...He tried to turn...me against you...I...I almost believed him...but...I realized...I love you..."

"Gino..." Ian sighed. "I...don't know what to say..." He winced when he felt his arms weaken, knowing he had to stop and set Gino down. Ian carried Gino to the shade of a tree outside of Barton Town and laid the teen down. The shopkeeper sat down beside Gino and shook his head. "I felt angry when I saw you two kissing...angry that I was so helpless and stupid to let such a thing happen..."

"It's okay," Gino said with a weak smile. He opened the pocketwatch and pulled the leaf from it, lifting it to touch Ian's cheek. "Do you forgive me?"

Ian smiled and gently took Gino's hand in his. Closing his eyes, he leaned down and kissed Gino's lips. They were sour from the sea, but Ian didn't care. He felt the perfectly full lips part against his and took the offering, letting his tongue lightly slip in. Gino greeted him almost eagerly, his salt-flavored flesh sliding against Ian's tongue to dance together in the heat of their mouths. Gino's hand placed itself on Ian's cheek to hold him there and not break the kiss.

After several minutes, the kiss was reluctantly broken and hte two were left gasping for breath. "I...forgive you..." Ian whispered against Gino's lips. "And...I love you..."

"Well, this is an interesting turn of events," a girl's voice said with a sneer.

Ian's eyes went wide and Gino got a horrified look on his face. The Von Helson sisters exchanged proud smiles as they held up a recording tape-recorder and digital camera.