Blink awoke the next morning on Race's couch, nursing one hell of a hangover.

"Morning," he muttered, burying himself under his pillows.

"So you're awake!" Race exclaimed loudly, looking up from the computer screen. "Did you enjoy Bumlets… I mean, yourself last night?"

"What do you mean?" Blink asked, a wave of confusion passing over him. "We had fun…I got my first kiss from him, and he asked me out afterwards."

"He did ask you out?" Race shut the laptop down, and turned his chair around. "Finally. I've been waiting for you to sober up long enough for me to get that piece of info."

"But you knew about us…"

"Well, yeah. You two were nearly putting me and Spot to shame."

"Um. Where was I when this was happening? Because I really don't remember that…"

"Well, you did have a lot to drink. You should be more careful next time."

Blink paled considerably, and dug further under the covers.

"I don't understand, I remember him giving me his phone number," Blink pulled the slip of paper with Bumlets' phone number written on it out of his pocket, "and then kissing me. A lot. So, you're joking right? I mean, please tell me we didn't do what you and Spot did the first night you met."

"Well, you didn't exactly have sex with him, but you sure came close."

"But I…"

Race grinned. "I didn't know you had it in you, Blink. And here I thought Spot and I were the exhibitionists of the group. Becca and Sari are going to be really upset that they missed the show."

Blink groaned. He couldn't believe this was happening. He didn't think he'd had that much to drink. And he didn't think he'd forgotten any of the events from the night before… but from what Race was saying… "Oh god, what did I do?"

Race started laughing. "Nothing really, you two were just making out. Spot and I still hold the record." He paused, noting the relieved, yet strangely angry look on Blink's face. "Having trouble taking a joke, Blink?"

"I hate you," Blink muttered, but he managed a smile. "I can't believe I fell for that. I must have been more drunk than I thought if I was even willing to consider that you were telling the truth."

"Well, you did do a shitload of shots. I took you home before you got too drunk."

"Oh, good. So, I didn't make too big a fool out of myself?"

"Well, outside of walking in drunk in front of my mother no, you didn't."

"If you think I'm falling for that twice, you're out of your mind."

"Totally serious here."

"Oh, shit."

"Don't worry Blink, we still love you. And I was worse yesterday. Now get out of bed."

Racetrack grabbed the sheets, and threw them onto the floor.

"I said out Blink."

"I don't wanna," Blink moaned, burying his head further under the pillows, which only resulted in Race taking those away from him too.

"Come on, Blink, it's nearly three. You need to be home in three hours."

"Shit."

"It won't be that bad. Your headache will go away soon enough."

"No, it isn't that bad. I just…"

"Don't want to deal with your dad?"

"Yeah."

"Out of bed. Now."

Blink just groaned, and tried to go back to sleep.

It was a much less hung-over Blink that made his way to the dining room over an hour later. Mrs. Higgins and Racetrack were waiting for him,

"Ryan, sweetheart, have a seat. Do you need anything for your head? Or do you want some water?" Mrs. Higgins asked sympathetically.

"I'll take some brunch actually," Blink asked, taking a seat at the table. "And I guess I owe you an apology for how I acted last night…"

"Oh sweetie, you were fine. And unlike my son, you at least had the sense not to drive." She smiled at him. "Now, Anthony tells me you met someone last night! I'm so happy for you."

Blink glared at Race. "Yes, actually. We're going out again this weekend."

"That's wonderful, sweetheart," Mrs. Higgins told him. "You deserve to be happy, and if this boy will make you happy, then the best for you."

The rest of the meal went well. The small group laughed, and joked, and for once, Blink actually felt that everything was going to be all right.

Then, the phone rang.

Mrs. Higgins picked it up, and after brief pleasantries, was suddenly quiet.

Passing the phone to Blink, she spoke three words. "It's your father."

Blink nervously took the phone, and glanced at the clock. It was only 4:30. Why could his father be calling now, when he wasn't supposed to be home for over an hour?

"Dad?"

"Ryan." His father's voice was still cold, but it was more human than Blink had been expecting.

Blink didn't say anything, he waited for his father to continue. He wasn't sure how long he waited, but finally he heard his father's voice over the line again.

"Your mother tells me that you're coming home tonight."

"Yes... I thought you knew that."

"Your mother told me at breakfast this morning."

"Oh." Blink felt like he'd had the wind knocked out of him. His mother had made him believe that there was still a chance that his father would actually care. That his father would actually love him. That had been one of the conditions for his return home. But his father hadn't even known.

"I'm… happy that you're coming home Ryan."

Blink stared at the phone. He didn't think that he'd heard his father correctly. It had to be some sort of hallucination, some sort of dream. His father would never say that.

"I'm sorry? Could you repeat that?" he asked, not trusting his judgment.

"I said that I'm glad you're returning home. I won't be here when you get back, I'm leaving on a business trip in a little while, but I do want you to know that I do… I'm glad that you'll be here."

"Thank you, Dad," Blink said softly. That was as close as his father had gotten to saying 'I love you' since Blink had come out to him three years before.

"I'll see you later in the week then. Good bye, Ryan."

"Bye Dad."

He waited until he heard his father hang up the phone before hanging up himself. He stared into space, not totally sure what had just happened. Had there just been some sort of mutual respect between him and his father? His dad had never actually backed down before…

"Blink?" Race asked hesitantly. "Everything okay?"

"He said he'll be glad to see me."

Mrs. Higgins grinned. "That's wonderful! So you two can have your big reunion when you get home, and then go sign up for Columbia."

"He won't be there." Blink's voice sounded strange to him, the tone was almost mechanical. He was fighting so fiercely not to show any of the emotion that he was feeling. "He's going on a business trip, and he's leaving before I get back."

"If you leave now, you can probably catch him…" Race offered.

Blink shook his head. "No, I don't know if I can handle it. I'll see him later in the week."

He glanced at the clock. "I should probably go pack."

He left the room, trying not to notice the worried glances that Racetrack and Mrs. Higgins were shooting him.

Homecoming had gone a lot easier than Blink had expected, without his father there. He and his mother had hugged, and she had continued to apologize, and had cooked him his favorite food for dinner. He'd spent most of the evening holed up in his room, doing homework and chatting with Bumlets and Race over IM.

But now he was back at school, and he had to deal with the consequences from Saturday night. It was only the beginning of sixth period, and so far, Blink had been slammed into two lockers, been called a fag by four different people, and just generally been treated like shit.

And now he had English class. While normally this would be his favorite class, he would have to deal with Mush. And the knowledge that when it came down to it, Mush hadn't defended him. Not that there was any reason for Mush to defend him, since it wasn't like they were actually friends. But still… they knew each other, and they had to work on this big project together.

It was just a fantasy that one day Mush would actually show him some sort of affection, but the fantasy was all he had.

Well, it had been all he had. He was semi-seeing Bumlets now, so maybe learning the truth about Mush would be for the best. Blink wasn't sure if he was willing to damage what could be a wonderful relationship for his fantasy.

Moving his desk next to Mush's, Blink pulled out a notebook.

"So," he said bluntly. "The project."

"What, no hello?" Mush asked, smiling.

"Hello."

"Jesus, someone's in a bad mood. Get up on the wrong side of the bed or something?"

Blink just glared at him. "So what do we want to research?"

"I don't really care. You know Jaye better than I do… what do you think will get a good grade?"

"Is that all you care about?" He did have to admit that Mush did have a point. But English was the one class that Blink really enjoyed, and while he did want to get a good (well, better than good) grade, he was also hoping to enjoy the project. Of course, he thought bitterly, I'd be enjoying the project a lot more if I was working on my own. No stupid hot wrestlers to distract me then.

"Well, yeah. I don't like this class. I'm not much of a writer… I only took AP because it looks good on college applications. It worked though, but I do like to do well."

"Right." Blink could understand that, but he didn't really care to. At least now that he was actually interacting with Mush, he was learning what a jerk the guy actually was. Some dream guy.

"What's wrong with you anyway?" Mush demanded. "You've been acting like a jerk all day."

"What's wrong with me?" Blink asked him in disbelief. "What planet are you from anyway? Or haven't you noticed how people in this school treat me?"

"Well, maybe if you and your friends don't flaunt it, people wouldn't treat you that way. People don't like having others sexuality rubbed in their faces."

"So Spot can't make out with his boyfriend in public, when it's perfectly all right for you and Shortie to do so?"

"It's Alex."

"Yeah, her. Why is it so different for you two?"

"We don't make out in public." Mush's voice was cold, angry. "And even if we did, it doesn't upset people like you…"

"So why should Spot and Race upset you so much?"

"I'm just trying to help you, Blink. You make people nervous. And some of the guys on the team, they don't like it that much."

"And that gives them an excuse to push me into lockers?"

"Nobody actually does that."

"You're really oblivious, aren't you? I bet you didn't hear what Snoddy said on Saturday either."

"He didn't do anything. It's not like anyone got hurt."

Blink laughed bitterly. "How can you take yourself seriously? Just because they didn't do anything, didn't mean that they didn't hurt me."

"Well, if you didn't flaunt it, they wouldn't go after you."

"You sound like my father. And he's a bigot, so that isn't much of a compliment."

"I'm not homophobic," Mush said very quietly. He was shaking. "I'm anything but. I just don't like conflict… especially when it can be avoided."

"And you're on the wrestling team?" Blink raised an eyebrow. "Whatever, it doesn't matter anyway. Let's just work on this project."

The rest of the period was spent in silence. Graduation couldn't come too soon.

Author's Notes-I LIVE. I know that this took forever, but there was end of the semester stuff, and then Racetrack wouldn't talk to me for over a month, and yeah. I really have no excuse. However, B, Signpost and I have started a website – The refuge. refuge dot queenitsy dot com so go check it out!

Many thanks to Parkranger and B for the beta, and Shortie for some feedback and for allowing me to use her in the fic.

Next chapter- Mush gets a clue about what actually goes on in the school. And Blink could use a hug.

Shoutouts!

B-EYDW!Race and LastDance!Blink so need to bond. And don't worry about Mush not standing up to Blink… he'll make up for it. ;)

Mondie-I know I made Mush mean in your birthday chapter, and I'm sorry. Because I love you. But it needed to happen for my plot to work out. Sorry! And I'll see you in a month. :-D

Uninvisible-Yep, Snoddy's a jock. So are Pie Eater and Jake, but you don't know that yet… And as for Sari, she's Race's other best friend and fag hag. She's mostly just there to show that Race at least has more friends and has it a bit easier in school than Blink does.

Shortie (Twice!)-I'll write you the ice cream kiss. Maybe. :-p And as for ChrisHobbs!Snoddy, you'll have to wait.

Rumor-You should worry about Spot and Race. But this is me, so I really can't back that up…

Berri-Race's dad is actually based off my dad. Dinners at my house… are very very strange.

Braids- I'm glad you're enjoying the Sprace! They make me happy. When they aren't fighting anyway.

Nani-No, you still can't kill Blink's dad. I hope you like him a little bit better now…

Bovine-Cow/Chicken OTP! That's all I have to say. :-p

Thistle-Yep, Blink and Bumlets are together now. And as for the suffering… just wait and see.

Gothica-What would I do without SpRace? I don't want to know. My poor OTP… I miss you, and I hope you get back soon!

Til Next Time!

TSB