A/N- Thanks for the reviews. So, I gave fair warning of OOC and how I don't own anything so I'm not going to keep writing that bit of info cuz it's boring! Thanks again, review some more please, and have a great day!

means that a new POV is happening, usually Andrew's.

Chapter 3

The odd sound of beeping slowly registers in his mind as the warmth that had been pressed against him all night removes itself alerting him that morning has successfully risen. Tiredly he rubs his eyes with his fist, a childhood action he hasn't given up, and watches Andrew stretch out his sore muscles. "Go back to sleep, Justin, it's only six," the teen says looking at him through sleepy hazel orbs and he shrugs responding, "I use to get up at five thirty everyday for that dreadful thing called high school, it's fine. Why do you get up so early anyways? How far away can you possibly work?" Rolling his eyes, Andrew leans over to kiss him gently upon his lips and says, "I work at the mall and to catch the bus I'll have to leave in twenty minutes and ride for nearly thirty five minutes. Once I get a car it'll only take about twenty minutes just to get there from here." Tugging the teen back onto the bed he laughs when Andrew pulls away frowning and explains, "I'll drive you, don't worry about."

Smiling he watches Andrew make his bed perfectly and he laughs when the teen even stops to smooth out a wrinkle. "What are you laughing about?" Shrugging he heads towards the door and says, "You're just going to sleep in it again tonight so why make it." There's a slight pout on Andrew's face as the younger teen takes his hand and drags him out of the apartment. "I think I liked you better before," Andrew says, annoyance clearly in his tone, and he frowns responding sarcastically, "Yeah, I was a sure winner then. I did everything that you wanted me to do without complaint. Listen clearly, no one will ever run me again. I'm not going to end up hurt or in the hospital again because of some guy." Guilt shadows Andrew's hazel orbs and feeling like an ass for making Andrew feel bad he brushes a thumb over his cheek saying, "Don't worry so much. I could have said no or left at any time." "Why did you stay with Jason if he beat you? I would have left," Andrew asks taking the focus off himself.

Driving towards the mall, he admits, "He kept telling me that it was my fault and after sometime I believed him. I must have done something wrong to make him act that way. He threatened to kill himself and I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing that I was the cause of his suicide. Then he threatened to kill everyone I cared about, even going as far as writing threatening letters that he just signed The One. He made sure that I knew no one around where we lived. The only reason I met Marianne was because he wanted me to take the photos. Only when I had a shoot soon would he stop hitting me, but afterwards they would be worse until the next shoot would arise." Wrapping his arms around Justin's waist, Andrew glares at the mall wishing Jason was alive so he could kill him and through gritted teeth he states, "You didn't deserve to be beaten."

I love you, more than you would ever believe. If I told you, would you laugh? I doubt it; you're not like that. You're so sweet and I've missed your gentle ways so much. I deserve what I lost, but you only deserve the best. I'm not lying when I say that I'll give you anything just to have you. I didn't realize how much I needed you until I lost you. Without you, I am just a weak boy fighting a losing battle.

His lips desperately crush against Justin's craving his strength and loving the feel of his lean, tan body pressed so intimately against his own. "I'll see you later," Justin says and he nods glancing around the parking lot. "Damn it," he hisses spotting his mother walking towards the entrance and Justin reassuringly kisses his cheek before asking, "Do you want me to walk you inside?" Shrugging he hops out and inquires, "Do you need anything for your place?" There's a hint of bitterness to his tone, but he can't help it that he wants Justin to stay with him.

Hesitantly he takes Justin's hand and walks towards the glass doors. "Are you openly gay," he asks suddenly afraid that he may have done something wrong, but Justin shrugs saying, "I guess so. I don't deny it, but I don't really broadcast the fact that I am. Depends on the other person, really. If he wants to be openly together I'll go along with it." His mood darkens when his mother approaches. "Hello, Justin. It's been a while since I last saw you. How have you been," Bree Van de Kamp exclaims and he tenses beside the blond. "I've been fine, Mrs. Van de Kamp," Justin replies before glancing at him and he tugs slightly on his hand letting the blue eyed teen he had to go now. "Justin, you should stop by for dinner sometime," she says and he smirks when Justin responds, "I'm not sure it that's a good idea, Mrs. Van de Kamp." She tilts her head and says brightly, "You could always invite a date if you want to." Glancing at his watch, he squeezes Justin's hand and the older teen says, "Sorry, Mrs. Van de Kamp, but we have to go."

The fury in Justin's blues surprises him and he stops him in the middle of the walk way saying, "It's alright. She's a bitch and everyone knows it." "She's your mother, the least she could have done was acknowledge you," Justin argues and he kisses the blond roughly before saying, "We'll go to dinner. She wont dare kick your date out." Grinning Justin nods and asks, "Where do you work?" Rolling his eyes, he points at the ice skating arena and says, "Little kids get to tug me to the floor all day when I try to help them up. Occasionally Julie and her mother stop by, but usually it's just a bunch of brats." He leads him into the employee room and sits down to put his skates on before tugging on a repulsive hot pink shirt. "It's really bright," Justin comments trying not to laugh and he hands him one saying, "Glad you like it. You're helping me today for the birthday party."

"No, Andrew, I can't go out there." "Why not? Come on, Justin, it's just for today and I wouldn't ask if I didn't need the help." "I said no," Justin argues handing him back the ugly shirt and he asks, "Are you afraid?" Justin shakes his head then lowers it quietly admitting, "I can't ice skate. Practically any other sport I can do, but ice skating isn't one of those." Smirking he holds back his snickers and says, "I'll teach you. Just come on." "Fine, but I'm not wearing that shirt," the object of his affections declares and he shrugs saying, "You look good in pink." "I do not." Tugging Justin towards the free skates, he picks out a pair and says, "You look good in baby pink and you can't deny it." As Justin ties up his skates, he watches the little brats file up at the ticket booth. Anger bubbles up within him as he spies his mother watching the skaters almost as is she's waiting for someone.

Slowly he relaxes in Justin's arms and he silently pleads that the teen will ignore his earlier offer to go to dinner at his old home. "Andrew, I'll tell her that the only way that I'll go is if you do. I don't know why she offered since she doesn't like me too much in the first place." He looks up at Justin and says, "People just like you. You're easy to get along with and people are just drawn to you. Anyways, she invited you over twice before." The guilt that flashes through those blue orbs surprises him and Justin admits, "That time after your grandparents left was because I helped her. The other time was a peace treaty with you." He glances at the group already beginning to skate and says, "We better go out, but how did you help her and why?" "You were going to just up and leave, she offered a way for you to stay. I just did what she asked."

Harshly he drags Justin onto the ice and waits until the blond gains his balance before starting him out slowly around the rink. His tight grip on Justin's hand forces the other teen to keep up or fall. "Andrew, let me go," Justin orders and he begins skating backwards so he can look him straight in the eye. "No, tell me what you did," he demands glancing at the older male's white fingers and cringing Justin growls, "I showed her where you hid your supply of gay porn and brought her some of my stuff to add to it. She didn't tell me what she was going to do with it or anything else. Now let me go." Carefully he releases the teen's hand and watches as the color reverts back to tan. "Justin, wait." Sadly he watches the teen use the ledge to get back to solid ground and his eyes lock with his mother's seeing that beneath the sorrow and anger is triumph. Effortlessly he skates after Justin.

Taking deep, calming breaths he rubs his fingers and blocks out the images the pain brings him. "Justin, are you okay?" Without looking up at Andrew, he ties his shoes and heads for the door. "Justin, don't walk away from me!" Smirking he looks at the kid and says, "You better get out there before you lose your job." He can see the battle fighting in the teen's eyes and sighs as he rests his hands on Andrew's shoulders. "I just need some time to myself. I'll drop by a little latter," he says and Andrew smiles briefly though it doesn't reach his eyes. Someday I'll make him really smile. "Come by around one, I have my lunch break then. It's only an hour, but we can go anywhere around here." Nodding he kisses Andrew gently on the cheek and admits, "It's not you I'm mad at, it's myself." Andrew will never hurt you like that, why are you so damn jumpy still? He's dead and he can't hurt you anymore.

It only took an hour and half to walk the entire mall while window-shopping. Finally the haunting thought of his fingers being crushed by the door leaves his mind. Still he hears Marianne's shrill voice yelling, "Justin, he almost killed you and nearly broke your hand! How can you even think about staying with him? You're in the hospital because of that asshole!" His eyes are drawn to the male at the check out leaning on the booth appearing bored and he shakes his head figuring his luck must have ran out a long time ago. "Justin?" He smiles politely before entering the leather store and says, "Hi, haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?" "I've been good. Surprising that we both ended up here, huh? Are you seeing anyone yet," Marc asks and he shrugs not entirely what he and Andrew are right now.

Looking at Marc again is like opening the floodgates to his guilt and regret. This twenty-one year old man with hazel eyes just a shad lighter than Andrew's and brown hair that is the same tone as the Andrew's in the sunlight. "Maybe we could go out sometime," Marc offers with a hopeful smile, yet his eyes betray is resignation, and Justin realizes that the only reason he had been attracted to him was because he looked so much like Andrew. "Sorry, but I'm sort of giving someone another chance and it would be wrong to give anyone the wrong impression," he explains looking at the man closely and he smiles at the familiar way Marc's lips curve slightly into a pout when he's thinking deeply. "It was nice talking to you again, Justin. If things don't work out, then feel free to give me a call," Marc says as a customer comes up and impatiently taps her foot. Walking away from possibly the best man he'll ever meet, Justin feels the regret seep out of his body and the guilt lessen. Smiling with relief, he enters the rink to sit and watch.

Andrew skates over to Justin and says, "Want to come skate? I'll hold your hand and teach you." He follows Andrew, though the glass divider that separates the ice from the solid ground separates them, and he enters the room where he had first been brought. "Just put those on and wear this visitor's pass," the teen says and he obeys before commenting, "He works at the leather shop. His name is Marc and he asked me out on a date." Jealousy flares up in Andrew's hazels and the boy asks curtly, "What did you tell him?" Without warning they're on the ice and the only thing holding him up is the stable pressure upon his hips of Andrew's hands. The teen expertly skates backwards while holding onto Justin's hips and the older teen says, "I told him no, just in more words." Their bodies move closer together as he starts to get the hang of ice-skating. "Was he upset?" He shakes his head with a slight smile upon his lips and says, "He seemed to already know that I'd say no, but he wanted to ask just one last time out of hop. He'll move on."

The kids skate around the pair and occasionally curious eyes fall upon them for longer than a few seconds. "I'm going to let go, okay? I'll be right next to you," Andrew says removing his hands from Justin's waist and the older teen moves easily on the ice skates even though he keeps a slow pace. "Justin, can I meet him," the hazel-eyed youth states and he glances at the clock saying, "During your break. It's only 10:15." Glancing around he notes that Mrs. Van de Kamp had left sometime while he was occupied and Andrew says, "She left shortly after you did, but not before saying she doesn't see why you don't find someone decent." He rolls his blues and watches Andrew twirl in a circle then the younger teen grabs his hands helping him skate faster. "If I wanted a decent guy then I'd fine one. I like you the way you are for the most part, so forget what she said," Justin says as Andrew eyes him suspiciously.

At one o'clock, Andrew leads him out of the rink and asks, "What are you hungry for?" "I don't care." Looking annoyed and skeptical, Andrew says, "Yeah right, tell me what you want." To quell the argument, he takes the younger teen's hand and says, "We'll stop along the way. You want to meet him, right?" Nodding Andrew walks beside him and Justin releases a nervous sigh before entering the shop. "Can I help you?" He feels Andrew tense beside him and says, "Marc meet Andrew; Andrew meet Marc." Andrew studies Marc with the scrutiny of a predator watching its prey while Marc observes the similarities and differences between them.