=Normal POV=
[Friday, 10/26/2018; 2:30 pm]
[Berk High School]

The last few weeks went by smoothly, and now it was time to get home and prepare for the Halloween Homecoming dance at 6:30 pm. From right now; it was only four hours away. The bell would be ringing any second, and the halls would fill would students rushing to get to their buses or cars to leave the campus, go home, get ready, and return for the dance in the cafeteria. Yes, there had been a last minute change to the location; staff found it might be a bigger space to use the cafeteria for the dance. Back to the 5th of October when Hayden got sick; it lasted about three days. Hayden did come to school for Monday, though, despite how tired and miserable he was since he was recovering from the sickness; he only did it to purchase the tickets for the dance. Everything else leading up to tonight was average with classes. Tonight also, the friends would be having a sleepover since it had been about a month and most of them were carpooling to the dance.

Devon and Miya were chaperoning, but Ford and Hailey would be arriving with them. Bryan was driving Alyssa, Katie, Andrew, and himself. Evan would be driving in Rylee, Tyler, Alicia, Syrus, and Mindy. Hayden and Trayden were going together in Hayden's car. The sleepover would be at Hayden's since Gabriel was the only adult not going to the Police Gala in the city for the night. Silas, Felicia, Vincent, Kelly, Dustin, and Rachel were all going, so that instantly removed the Jorgenson, Raseri, and Grimborn homes from the list of possible places. Alyssa, Evan, Devon and Miya, Rylee and Tyler, Mindy, and Ford didn't have big enough homes to host, so Hayden suggested his place.

Trayden's siblings were staying home by themselves under Dex's supervision since Dustin and Rachel were trusting him. Of course, Gabriel offered to check in every few hours, which the Raseri parents greatly appreciated. And if there were any problems; Trayden's younger siblings would get brought to Gabriel and Hayden's house to be put under Gabriel and Trayden's watchful eyes. As far as costumes went; Hayden didn't know about the others but was going as something he descended from. A Viking. Hayden would be dressed in dark brown pants and boots, and a red long sleeve shirt. Hayden would also have some armor that he made himself; it would cover his chest, shoulders, wrists, and back sides of his hands. There was a belt too, and Hayden planned to put two little braids in his hair on the bottom right side. (Think Hiccup's appearance from Race To The Edge!)

For now, though, Hayden was waiting on the final bell of the day. Hayden needed time to have dinner, get dressed in his costume, and prepare himself to tell Trayden he was ready for a relationship. Hayden had no idea how he'd say it but hoped he could find the words before 6:30 pm. Now, it was 2:30 pm; the bell rang loudly throughout the halls of Berk High School. As expected; there was a mad rush of students fleeing their classrooms.

"One of these days, someone is seriously going to get hurt…" Alicia muttered. "I think the Freshman and Sophomores should be released five minutes before; then release Juniors and Seniors…" Hayden couldn't disagree; it was scary to see the entire school release at the same time and take to the hallways to get off campus.

"Alright, guess we'll see you guys tonight," Syrus stated.

"Definitely!" Trayden nodded as Syrus and Alicia hurried to get to the student lot. "You still coming to get me at 6:10?" he asked Hayden now.

"I am," Hayden smiled before he adjusted his backpack and rushed to get through students and out of the school as well. Trayden wasn't far behind and doing the same. Tonight was going to be awesome!

. . .

[6:10 pm]
[Berk; Raseri Home]

Hayden parked in the driveway and honked the horn to let Trayden know he'd arrived. Despite all the time he spent trying to prepare, Hayden had no idea what to tell Trayden about wanting to be together. Hayden felt like it should just say it, but got nervous thinking about such an approach. Either way, Hayden just wanted to enjoy some of the night before making it serious. Right now, he was in his car, dressed in his costume and waiting. After a moment or two, Trayden came out.

"Behave, and if you have any problems, call Gabriel!" Trayden called into the house.

"Okay!" Hayden heard the younger siblings reply.

"He will be checking in at random," Trayden reminded as he closed the door and came into view better. Hayden smiled seeing Trayden's costume; a dragon. "Hey," he greeted, getting into the car now.

"Hi," Hayden chuckled. "Nice costume,"

"Yours isn't bad either," Trayden complimented. "Are we ready?" he asked. Hayden nodded as he backed the car out and they were headed to the school.

. . .

[6:25 pm]
[Berk High School]

It took them ten minutes to arrive, and then another five to park. However, now they were here and turned in their tickets. Just outside the cafeteria, aside from the ticket table, was another table on the opposite side where snacks and drinks were available. Also, outside the room were the bathrooms in D-Hall and A-Hall.

"Shall we?" Trayden offered his arm.

"We shall," Hayden replied, linking his arm around Trayden's. The two males walked into the cafeteria; it was nothing but loud, dark, but flashing lights. The cafeteria was decorated nicely for the occasion, and the costumes people wore were interesting; that was the best way Hayden could describe it.

"Up for a dance?" Trayden inquired as the next song to start was the Monster Mash, appropriate for a Halloween dance. Hayden nodded as he and Hayden started dancing together. After some time passed; they finished and just in time to see their friends making their way over. Hayden was surprised to see all of them dressed like Vikings.

"Uh?..." Hayden looked at himself and them. "Guess my idea wasn't original," he mumbled.

"It was, but guess we all ended up with the same one. We all watched the How To Train Your Dragon series up to the second movie and decided to cosplay the characters we basically originate," Hailey giggled.

"And…I take you you're supposed to be a dragon, Tray?" Syrus asked.

"Yeah, a Night Fury," Trayden nodded.

"Nice job," Mindy said.

"I love the all black," Hayden smiled. "Looks good on you,"

"You look pretty good yourself there, Hiccup," Trayden teased.

"Screw you," Hayden mumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Maybe later," Trayden remarked as Hayden blushed.

"Don't get your hopes up," Hayden remarked.

"They weren't, something else was…" Trayden grinned.

"My Gods, you might be as perverted as I am…" Hayden blinked, then grinned as well. "And I'm totally fine with this," he added as he brought his hand up and locked it around Trayden's neck, drawing him closer until their lips met. Trayden kissed Hayden back, deeply. The kiss ended a few seconds later. "If you don't behave, maybe I'll have to use my ancestral skills of dragon training," he winked.

"Oh, I'll be extra bad then," Trayden said as they shared another short kiss.

"Okay…I've officially heard way more than I wanted to!" Alicia squealed.

"Yep, walking away," Evan snickered.

"You two will both behave…" Miya reminded.

"It's just clean fun, Miya," Trayden sighed. "It's not like we're gonna do anything,"

"At least not here," Hayden added in.

"Beg your pardon?" Trayden blinked.

"If you two keep us up all night by fucking, I swear to Odin…" Bryan warned.

"What are you gonna do? It's my house, remember?" Hayden said as Bryan closed his mouth. "Besides…You'll be in the basement; it wouldn't be hard for Tray and me to sneak upstairs into my room once you all knock out around 12:30-1 am," he stated with a smile.

"How do you know that?" Ford asked.

"You're usually the first one asleep by 11 pm," Rylee agreed.

"And…Then I usually wake up around 1 am to use the bathroom," Trayden said. "And Hayden is up around that time too, so we leave the room to go talk for a bit until we get tired,"

"Is that why you two are always the last ones to wake up? Because you stay up talking?" Alyssa blinked.

"Yeah, typically," Hayden nodded. "Tray and I don't get back to sleep until around 3 or 4 am," he giggled. The friends stared a bit, shocked. "Oh, come on! Can't you guys and girls take a damn joke?" he muttered. "Trayden and I aren't even dating, what the fuck makes you think we're gonna screw?"

"Well…I mean…You and Brad weren't dating…" Tyler started as Hayden glared.

"Finish that sentence, and I promise you that I will get hauled out of here in cuffs for pummeling you…" Hayden warned before leaving Trayden's side and walking away.

"Really? Did you have to go there of all places?" Trayden asked, unamused as he quickly trailed after Hayden.

"Yeah…I gotta agree; that was kind of a low blow, Ty…" Mindy frowned.

"You know how sensitive Hayden is about his past with Bradley," Rylee smacked her brother's arm.

"I just figured since Tray and Hayden were so close despite not dating…" Tyler muttered, looking down.

"I think Hayden regrets how things happened with Brad, becoming a friend with benefits to him. Maybe that's why he's so hesitant with dating Trayden…?" Hailey shrugged.

"You think it's something to do with the fact they are both gay and so open with the perverseness that Hayden's worried he'll end up doing the same thing again?" Ford wondered.

"I mean, it's a theory if nothing else," Alyssa mentioned.

"No matter what it is; it's not our business, and we remember what happened last time we took a joke seriously with Trayden…He gave us the cold shoulder for a bit, and we promised not to do it again," Miya pointed out.

"This time it was with Hayden, and I don't think it upset him as much as it pissed him off," Katie told the others.

"I think we should leave them alone for right now, and let Tray calm Hayden down…" Devon suggested. "And hope that the sleepover is still on. I wouldn't blame Hayden if he canceled it over this," he added.

"No…I think we should apologize," Tyler admitted.

"Tyler is right; we shouldn't be ragging on them for their jokes. It's keeping Hayden happy, and we know they'll end up together eventually," Alicia said. In agreement; the friends left the cafeteria, following Trayden's path.

. . .

[7 pm]

It took Trayden a while to locate Hayden, but he found him sitting outside the school and off to the side leaning against the brick wall. While Trayden assumed that Hayden might want some time to clear his head or get fresh air because it was hot as hell inside the building; Trayden didn't expect to find a cigarette between Hayden's fingers. Hayden had his back on the wall; his left leg bent up, and arms at his sides, but in the left hand between his fingers was an unlit cigarette. At first, Trayden did a double-take and made sure it was Hayden; it was.

"Hayden?" Trayden asked. The auburn-haired teenager looked over at Trayden slowly.

"Hey…" Hayden replied. Not far away the friends were outside as they saw Trayden walking off the sidewalk to the side of the building; it was the outside wall of the cafeteria. Carefully, the group peered around the corner just in time to see Hayden bring a cigarette to his lips. Hayden took a drag and pulled the cigarette down, blowing out the smoke. "I take it you're surprised to see me smoking?" Hayden inquired.

"A bit, yes," Trayden admitted. "Never seen you do it before,"

"I keep it to myself," Hayden stated. "Gabriel knows," he added. "I don't do it at school or around you and the others…I wasn't entirely sure how you'd take it,"

"It's…Shocking, but doesn't bother me. I've done it a few times since turning 18, just to see what it's like or super stressed out," Trayden shrugged, stepping closer. The friends blinked a few times. Hayden smoked, and Trayden had done it a few times too?

"Yeah…That's my main reason too…The others know you've done it?" Hayden wondered.

Trayden shook his head. "Don't think they'd take to it as well as they have everything else," he confessed. Hayden took another drag before blowing it out and offering it to Trayden, who took it and also took a drag as he handed it back to Hayden while releasing the smoke. "I have a pack at home, but I keep it hidden and only do it when I know I've got some time,"

"You're 18, Tray, who is going to stop you? I carry mine around all the time; usually in my backpack or the metal carrier that sits in the same pocket as my wallet," Hayden informed. "Sorry I walked off on you,"

"It's fine; I understand why you did. What Tyler said was uncalled for," Trayden replied.

"They say anything after I left?" Hayden inquired.

"Didn't stick around to find out. I didn't come to this thing to be part of the group; we're doing the friend hanging out portion later at the sleepover. This, right now at the dance; is you and me. I asked you here as my date, so I'm more interested in spending these next four hours with you in there, dancing, and having a good time," Trayden explained as Hayden smiled a bit.

"Thanks, I think," Hayden responded. "I came to have fun with you too, not in the perverted way, but you know what I mean,"

"I do. I don't mind the perverseness; you know that" Trayden reminded.

"I do, but sometimes I feel like it's better if I keep it between us. It's not exactly easy to share things with them; that's being entirely honest. I know they are my friends and are here for me; I get that, and I understand it. But…What Tyler said tonight…Is why I never told them anything to begin with," Hayden admitted.

"I understand why you were hesitant about telling them about certain things now; I'm sorry if I ever pushed you to say something when you weren't ready to," Trayden stated as he and Hayden moved to sit down on the short stone wall that separated grass from the sidewalk into the main entrance of the school.

"No, you didn't push me to do anything I didn't want to do, Tray," Hayden took another drag, blowing out the smoke as he sat on the stone wall, his back against the school, one leg bent upward and the other dangling over the side. "You've only ever reminded me that they wouldn't judge me and that you're here for me while having proved it many times," he added. "For you, at least. I know the others aren't judging me, but bringing up my past just because I'm finally comfortable acting a little more like myself…That's not cool,"

"No. No, it is not. I don't approve of them getting all whatever you wanna call it just because you and I are having a little fun," Trayden nodded. "You know they only do it because they are all straight and have never seen you or me act that way despite knowing we're both gay. It's different for them to see us liking one another since up until a little while ago; they didn't know I'd ever had a boyfriend before. And they didn't know about you and Brad. So for them to see us interacting with one another this way; it will likely some getting used to," he informed.

"I figured as much, but still…While they get used to it; they could keep their comments to themselves. It's stuff like that why gays and lesbians don't come out about their sexuality. It makes someone feel like they won't be accepted if they start showing more about themselves. It's…Borderline judging…I feel like I can't joke around with you in that fashion with them around," Hayden confessed. "I feel like I can't be myself…With them, of course, not you," Hayden took another drag, blowing it out and offer it to Trayden again.

"I feel ya. Remember that I didn't tell them I was gay and had a boyfriend of almost two years until just a few weeks ago. I worried about how they'd react to me being gay, or if they accepted it, seeing how Marcus and I were around one another. Seems that even without you and me dating; I'm seeing how that might have gone," Trayden sighed some, taking the smoke and repeating the same process as Hayden had done before giving it back.

The friends knew they shouldn't be listening in; this was a private conversation between Hayden and Trayden. However, it did allow the group to see that the two gay males who liked one another got into some pretty deep talks when it was just them; they were more forward and open.

"While we're on the subject of dating…" Hayden paused a moment as Trayden looked at him. "I want to," he said finally as Trayden's eyes widened a little as Hayden glanced down, blushing a little. "Be with you that is…"

"A-Are you telling me you're ready for a relationship?" Trayden wondered as Hayden managed a nod. "Did all the dates help make you see I'm not like Brad, out of sheer curiosity?"

Hayden took one more drag, blowing the smoke out as he put out the end of the cigarette and tossed it in the garbage. "The dates were nice, but to be truthful as Gabriel made me understand; I wasn't scared of being with you because of Brad,"

"Then…What was it?" Trayden asked.

"It was being in a relationship period. I was scared to do it because I've never done it before. I can't compare things with Brad to you because I was never with Brad. Sexually, I was, but not in a relationship because he bailed not wanting commitment or whatever it was. Honestly; I've stopped caring about the reason why. It's in the past, and I don't have to worry about him anymore. Gabriel made me understand that my only fear of dating was with myself and I just had to go for it and let things go as they do," Hayden stated.

"Well, in that case," Trayden smiled now as he moved closer, taking Hayden's hand in his. "What do you say we let things go as they do from here with you and me being in a relationship?" he asked as Hayden blushed a bit, but he was smiling too. "Will you be my boyfriend, Hayden?"

Hayden nodded, linking his fingers with Trayden's. "I will, Tray," he replied. Trayden moved in more, capturing Hayden's lips with his own. Hayden returned it as it lasted a few moments before they broke apart and got off the wall.

"Now..What do you say we get back in there and enjoy the rest of this night as a couple?" Trayden asked.

"I say let's do it," Hayden responded as the two of them rounded the corner and walked past the friends who were trying to act casual and like they just arrived. "Just so you're aware…I know you've been standing there since Trayden arrived and were listening in," he added before Trayden and him entered the school and turned right to re-enter the cafeteria.