Hello readers. :waves:

It occurred to me recently that this fandom is seriously lacking in slash. I've never quite understood that since we do have one confirmed homosexual male actually in show, plus quite a few males who are quite possibly bisexual.

And thus, this fic, was born. :Grins:

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Well… I might partially own Tino… but not his name… It's confusing really. But whatever… non-profit… blah blah blah… don't sue…

P.S. Jordan's smarter than we give him credit for.

Reviewer Shout-outs! (I have decided that 3 reviews in a fandom that only consists of 50 fics rocks!)

alimvru: You rock. Thank you. And you're welcome.

Jay: LOL! Thanks to you too. And that's the whole idea.

yas: Whoot! Slashiness shall abound greatly. I expected heaps too, but alas… poopy. And let's hear it for semi-fictional bronze gods. Whoot!

Chapter Two

"Wake up Jordan; you're going to be late for homeroom."

I can only stare at him with confusion.

"Time for class."

I nod, getting out of his car. I slip on some ice (partially because of the jeans that are about 50 sizes too big for me) and nearly fell flat on my face but Tino catches me just in time.

"You gonna be alright?"

"Yeah… I'm cool, don't worry about it Tino."

He nods but he doesn't look convinced at all. "You're coming out with me tonight and I'm taking you to dinner."

I agree because no food for a week is pushing it, even for me.

It's like I've never really had a proper diet because my dad was never a really caring person. He was always more concerned with alcohol that making sure his kid was fed.

But this year, school year I mean, I've been eating less and less. Brian noticed when he was tutoring me.

I actually went to his house once—to study for a midterm—and I guess it clicked for him when I turned down everything he offered me, aside from some water. He started spouting some psychobabble at me about feeling lost and wanting to be able to control at least one part of my life. I can understand when he means but I don't agree with him because it's really more of an addiction. When I don't eat for a while it's like a high; I get buzzed, I mellow out, and I hallucinate.

And it's legal if not exactly healthy.

"So can we like cancel tutoring today or what?"

Brian's talking at me and I'm barely registering what he's saying. I almost wish I hadn't opted out of the eggos.

"Its not that I don't want to like help you or whatever but I have like this thing with the band that I have to be at because I'm the first flute… so, you okay with that?"

"Yeah… yeah that's cool," I reply slowly.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I've been doing better anyway, I can use the break."

He nods and leaves with relief.

Rider is the next one to find me, and he winces when I tell him what happened with my wrist. He tells me that I can borrow the brace for as long as I need it but to make sure I take it off from time to time, something about skin needing to breath. Rider's the tightest friend I have other than Tino (though I've known him for less than year) and he knows all about my food issues, so he shoves half of his lunch—a granola bar—in my right hand and makes me swear to eat it.

He refuses to leave until I agree.

Homeroom is a breeze and so is math because we have a supply today. I don't actually psyche myself up to eat the bar until English class. Unfortunately, I only manage to take a small bite before that teacher snatches it from me and dumps it in the trash.

"No eating in class."

"Shit…"

That one bite is killing me and I'm suddenly starving for more. I swear that my stomach has started trying to digest itself. It's not a cool feeling.

"What's wrong?"

Angela Chase. That girl is scary. She's like insane but nice. Too nice maybe. She's always trying to get into my head, and it's a little annoying. But I feel like I should be nice back because I know I was a jerk to her before… so I'm like making amends by trying to be nice to her. But she's still creepy.

"What's wrong?" She asks again.

It's weird how she can be so concerned about me when she doesn't really know me. I'm really just that guy who sits by her in English that has like issues.

"She stole my food."

"Oh." I've confused her. "Well, lunch starts in like ten minutes so you can eat then…"

I sigh. "That was my lunch."

"Your lunch was one granola bar?"

I shrug because it's the truth and I don't really want to go into a lot of detail with her. I don't think she'd get it if I tried to explain the whole deal with me and food. And I'd have to tell about Dad then too and that is NOT going to happen.

She's quiet for a long time.

"That's not really healthy…"

I nod absently. Thanks Sherlock, but I'm perfectly aware that it's not healthy.

"And you're like stunting your growth."

I can only shrug, because I really don't care if I stop growing now. I'm big enough.

"But what if—"

The lunch bell rings and she's cut off. Thank you lord for small mercies.

Tino is waiting for me in the hall when I get there. Rayanne Graff is buzzing around him, begging for Chinese food. Tino's just laughing at her; Rayanne really amuses him for some reason.

He said once that she's like the female version of me but with a helluva lot more energy. I guess I can sort of see it. We both smoke and drink and I have tried drugs (didn't like 'em though). It's no secret that she's a slut, she's proud of it. And I've charged people for sex to scrounge cash together… so I'm not exactly a saint either.

She's hanging off of Tino's arm now and pleading for food… so we obviously have different priorities.

"Catalano," He greets tossing his arm around my shoulder in what appears to be a friendly gesture.

What he's really doing is making sure I don't collapse in the middle of the hallway. He knows me too well.

"What say we take Graff—" He's cut off by Rayanne.

"And Ricky too!"

I feel horrible that I didn't notice him before and nod a hello at him. I must be more out of it than I thought.

"And Vasquez, and go for some Chinese?"

"Don't you have tutoring right now though?" Angela asks, coming up beside Ricky.

I know she means well but she really is annoying me today. If she wasn't a girl and I knew how to throw a decent punch I think I might actually hit her.

"Brian cancelled," I muttered. "Can we get going already? I need a smoke."

That's code to Tino for: I'm going to faint, get me out of here please.

Tino nods in agreement. He tells Chase she's welcome to tag along and steers me out to his car. He doesn't let go until he's delivered me right to the passenger door, even opening it for me. He opens the doors for the others too so that it doesn't seem like such a big deal.

I'm ready to pass out right now but instead I light a cigarette and crack the window. I don't want to make Tino worry more than he already is so I take a long drag on my smoke and offer him a quick smile.

It only takes a few minutes to get to House of Wong and Tino cracks jokes the entire time, periodically stealing a drag from my cigarette. Rayanne and Ricky are in hysterics but Angela just looks bored and its bugging Tino. He loves to entertain and the fact that she's not amused is killing him.

He's grumbling under his breath when he gets out of the car, getting even more annoyed when Angela and Rayanne follow him into the restaurant. Ricky stays though because he doesn't see any reason to leave a nice, warm care in subzero temperatures; he's a smart guy.

"So," He begins slowly, obviously feeling awkward.

"Yeah?" I ask, taking a last drag on my cigarette before stabbing it out.

"Are you and Tino like together?"

I'm a little surprised but I try not to let on too much.

"Not really…" I answer thoughtfully. "We're just really tight." He looks a little disappointed because he thinks he read us wrong, so I shrug. "It's like a friends with privileges sort of deal."

"Cool."

"Yeah…"

Ricky sighs kind of sadly and settles back into his seat.

"You alright?"

"Yeah… I just wish that I had like someone to be with, you know? Even if it's only a friend…"

I nod in understanding because that's sort of what got me and Tino started back in eighth grade.

"I'm usually around."

His eyes go really wide. "You're joking!"

I'm not though.

I shrug. "Or I can like set you up with someone if you want."

"Oh my god! You're not even joking are you?"

"I don't kid about these kind of—"

Tino hops into the car with a huge grin and arms full of Chinese food while Angela and Rayanne climb into the back. He thrusts one of the small Styrofoam containers into my hand. There's only a half portion of brown rice and assorted veggies inside—my favourite.

"Please eat it." He says quietly.

I nod and start eating it slowly. I know I won't finish it but it might keep me conscious for the next few hours.

The guys in the back are chattering amongst themselves and completely ignoring Tino and me. He's happily tearing into some sweet and sour pork and he looks like he's in heaven. He pauses for a moment when he notices I've stopped eating. I did manage to finish over half of it though.

He's just staring and I have to look away.

"I can't eat anymore."

"Correction: you won't eat anymore." He sighs loudly and holds out a piece of pork to me. "At least have a bit of meat, you can use the protein."

I accept it and it feels like it takes a month to chew it. The only meat I really like is chicken so the only time I ever have anything else is when Tino talks me into it.

"I really wish I could get you to eat normally." He states as we drive back to school.

"I know… I'm sorry."

When he doesn't reply I light up another cigarette.

"How's your wrist?" He asks, parking the car.

"Its throbbing, are you sure it's not broken?"

He shrugs as he gets out of the car. "I'm not a doctor but I don't think it is."

Angela, Rayanne and Ricky are long gone and I take my time getting out of the car. Gray dots swarm my eyes as I stand and I'm fairly certain I'll pass out sometime in the near future.

"Jordan," Tino's hand is on my shoulder and he's urging me back toward the car. "Sit back down."

I'm not about to argue with a guy as big as Tino—especially when he sounds so serious—but I don't understand what he's on about.

"You went really pale of a sudden, and," He takes my good hand and holds it up. "You're shaking… God, anyone else would think you're a heroin addict."

I flinch because I know it's the truth. People have stopped me in the street thinking that I'm a dealer.

"Christ Catalano! When you're hungry you should eat!"

I nod because as close as we are he could never understand the high I get from starving myself.

"You keep nodding like you understand what I mean but you don't do anything about it!"

He's shouting and I can't help but wince. My head is pounding and I can feel a migraine starting.

"Why can't you see that you're killing yourself!" He screams, pulling on his hair. "What the hell am I going to do with you!"

I start crying. It's not voluntary and I'm not loud about it or anything but the fact remains that saltwater is leaking out of my eyes. I can't help it though. The whole thing with my dad last night, the starvation thing, my migraine, Tino yelling… It's all too much and I can't stop the tears.

"Jordan…?"

I turn away from him.

He sighs and easily picks me up, moving me in the back seat. He wraps his car blanket around my shoulders and pulls me close, gently rubbing my back.

"I'm sorry," He whispers. "I didn't want to make you cry… This thing is just so frustrating."

I'm one of those rare people who can talk and cry without sounding retarded. It's not exactly something to brag about but it can come in useful.

"I know… it is."

And I fall asleep in his arms.

I've been doing that a lot lately.

Push the purple button. You know you want to. More soon.