As soon as he said the words, Carlos felt the weight of his secret lift from his shoulders and he let out a sigh so deep that he wondered if he'd just been holding his breath for the last 24 hours. Whether it was the relief of finally telling Jay the truth or the potion wearing off, he didn't know but he knew he suddenly felt a lot lighter, despite the fact he could physically feel the fear spreading over his whole body. Silence filled the room and settled uncomfortably – something Carlos couldn't quite appreciate since all he could hear was his own heart beating loudly in his chest and echoing in his ears.

Jays mouth was clamped shut and he realised he couldn't say anything even if he wanted to, his brain and body was betraying him. He wanted to speak, he wanted to tell Carlos that it was okay and that his confession had made Jay feel some sort of intense warmth he didn't think he'd ever felt before. But he couldn't. The shock made sure that he physically couldn't get the words out. He never took his eyes of Carlos though, still trying to hold some sort of eye contact with him even though his gaze was planted firmly on the floor.

"Please say… something." Carlos said, almost inaudibly.

Jay opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the sound of the door opening behind him. The two boys looked over to see who was entering their room and saw Chad carefully trying to slip into the room without making any noise, not even noticing Jay and Carlos standing only a few feet away. Jay turned completely, facing Chad with his arms folded, both annoyed and a little grateful for the interruption of that very tense moment. Jay cleared his throat dramatically, causing Chad to jump and let out a small yelp,

"Oh. Jay! There you are, man, I've been looking all over for you." He said nervously, trying to cover his tracks.

"Chad what are you doing here?" Jay asked, shaking his head.

"I uhh… wanted to know if you wanted to umm… get… a muffin! Yeah, free muffins in the quad right now. Freshly baked or something." Chad replied nervously.

"And you didn't think to knock maybe? How did you even get in here?"

"Well… I made myself a key just for y'know… emergencies."

"And this was an emergency because…?"

"Muffins, man. It's always an emergency when muffins are involved." Chad said, flashing a toothy grin that Jay knew all too well was what he brought out whenever he was trying to get his own way.

"I don't want any muffins, Chad." Jay said sternly, hinting that he wanted Chad to leave.

"Okay. Cool. Well I guess I'll be… going then. See you later."

"Actually, Chad," Carlos spoke up from behind Jay, "I would love a muffin, I'll come with you." He said, grabbing his jacket and making his way towards the door where Chad stood.

"Carlos, wait, weren't we talking?" Jay said, taking a step towards the two, attempting to stop Carlos from leaving but also slightly hoping he would go so he could have some time to think about what had just happened.

"No, I don't think we were. We can talk later. Come on, Chad." Carlos said coldly, practically pulling Chad out the door, closing it forcefully behind them.

Jay stood still, staring at the door long after Carlos and Chad had left and mentally crumbled a little. He couldn't quite comprehend everything and didn't know what to do or what to think. So, Carlos liked him. What did that mean? Obviously, he knew what that meant but what did it mean? He was used to people liking him and he was used to playing on that and flirting with all types of people; it had never bothered him before and he'd never really been interested strongly in anyone else either, so he couldn't understand why this was eating him up so much? He remembered the feeling he got when he finally got the words out of Carlos and felt almost… giddy at the thought of it and something else that he could only describe as intense happiness. It wasn't something he was familiar with so couldn't quite pin down the exact emotion but there was something, something he liked feeling and he couldn't help but smile a little when he replayed the words in his head, 'I like you!'.

But what did this mean?

He let out a frustrated sigh and furrowed his eyebrows, trying to think of something to say to Carlos when he came back. He was scared, he could label that emotion – it was one he knew all too well – but also knowing that Carlos liked him felt kinda right in a strange way. He didn't want to say something dumb and ruin the friendship the boys had formed but also didn't want to say something stupid and lead Carlos on if he didn't know how he felt and didn't really feel the same way. It was all unfamiliar territory and he was struggling to work out what the next step was. He decided he needed a second opinion and got out his phone to text someone a little more attuned to their emotions and knew what it was like to truly like or even love someone. Evie. Her advice was always spot on and there was no one else he trusted more to give her honest and always helpful input.

She replied almost instantly, and they agreed to go for a walk off-campus, so they wouldn't be distracted by people and potentially run into some they didn't really want to see at that moment – Carlos unfortunately being one of them. Jay took the quick response as a sign that whatever was bothering Mal earlier had either been resolved or blown so far out of proportion that even Evie had to go deal with someone else's problems for a while just to get away. Whichever it was, he didn't have room in his head to dwell on it too much and was just glad Evie was happy to talk to him. He did briefly wonder if Evie got sick of dealing with all her friend's problems and acting like an agony aunt all the time but honestly, he knew she loved it; giving advice had always been something she was good at.

"Hey, are you okay?" Evie asked as she approached Jay at the front gates of Auradon Prep where they'd agreed to meet.

"Yeah… kinda. Are you? How's Mal?" Jay asked, deflecting just a little away from his own problems.

"Oh, I think she's okay now. I don't know, she's been going through some stuff lately, but she seems to be handling it all pretty well all things considered."

Jay nodded, he couldn't even try to understand the stress Mal was presumably under at the moment with the constant nagging about cotillion and the pressure of potentially being a queen one day of a land she had only just come to know a little over 6 months ago. Plus, her mother was a lizard and that couldn't be all that easy; as much as he hated his evil dad, at least he knew where he was and that he was safe and not… well, a reptile of some kind. A sick part of him found comfort in that knowledge.

"But that's not why we're here, what's up with you?" Evie said, not allowing Jay to change the subject as she knew he needed to talk about something and would need a little prompting.

"I don't know if Carlos has mentioned anything to you, I mean I'm pretty sure he would have, but he told me… something. And I don't know how I'm meant to feel about it and I'm just… freaking out I guess." Jay said, struggling to get the right words out.

Evie smirked, knowing exactly what Jay was talking about but not wanting to be too obvious about it. Instead, she thought she would know more about what Jay was feeling if she got him to say the words.

"What did he say?" She said, pretending to be confused.

"He told me this crazy story about taking a truth gummy or something and that he kissed Jane when he didn't even want to and their whole relationship is fake and…"

"And?"

"And that he had feelings for me." Jay said, keeping his head down, not daring to look Evie in the eye in case she saw the corners of his mouth threatening to turn upwards into a small smirk as the words left his mouth.

But, of course, Evie was very observant and caught him through the strands of long hair that were hanging loosely by his face. She smiled contently to herself for a brief second, feeling pretty confident in her guess that Jay felt at least a little bit the same way as Carlos and happy that her two best friends were finally being honest with each other. Even though all the bet stuff had been a joke, she was glad that there was some truth behind it all as she and Mal had always said what a cute couple Jay and Carlos would be.

"Yeah, Carlos did tell me, I just wanted to see how you reacted to telling me. So, what are you thinking?" Evie asked, feeling only slightly smug.

"I don't know what I'm thinking. It's all a bit of a shock. I mean, I got annoyed that he was with Jane and when he told me, I… I don't know, it's lame but I think I felt happy about it? Like kind of pleased. I don't know if that means I feel the same though and I don't want to ruin anything between us; he's still my best friend at the end of the day." Jay said, feeling better at just getting it all off his chest.

Evie nodded in understanding,

"Yeah, that makes sense. I think it's normal to feel that way if you've never thought or talked about it before. Especially for us isle kids who wouldn't know true feelings of affection if they came and punched us in the face."

The two of them laughed a little at this, both of them knowing it was true. Until coming to Auradon, they'd never been exposed to true feelings of love and affection, never seen it put into practice anywhere. They had no role models for relationships to be based on, and no experience in real dating and romance. It was a wonder Evie and Doug had found each other so quickly with the emotional drought the villain kids had been experiencing their whole lives.

"How do you and Doug manage it then? I mean how did you know you liked him?" Jay asked.

"I'm not sure. I suppose I could compare it to just strong happiness. Whenever they're around you just want to soak them up and when they're not, you miss them. I feel warm in the pit of my stomach whenever I think about Doug and he makes me smile just to think about. It was completely insane to feel those things for a while and they made absolutely no sense for what felt like the longest time but once I was with Doug, it just made sense. I was primed all my life to meet a prince and get married to him, so I guess I'm more open than the rest of you guys – and we all know I'm definitely more emotional – but I've never really known love or anything like that. I think people like us need to take things slow, one step a time. Don't rush into anything or you'll freak yourself out. Like, Doug and I have been together for almost six months but I don't think I'm anywhere near ready to say I love him. I don't even really know what that means." Evie said, smiling fondly at the thought of her boyfriend.

Jay nodded, taking in all the information Evie had just relayed. He understood those feelings and knew that some of what she was saying related to how he felt when he was around Carlos, but he'd never thought much into those feelings until that day when he'd got so wound up about him and Jane being together.

"Okay, that makes sense. Maybe I need one of those truth gummies or whatever Carlos took, might make things a lot easier. Especially since me and Carlos didn't end things on the best of terms earlier, God, he probably thinks I hate him now, I've been so moody all day." Jay said, thinking back to how hurt Carlos looked when he walked out the dorm with Chad earlier.

"You're always moody, that's your thing." Evie chuckled, "I think you'll be okay. Anyway, by the sounds of things, that truth gummy didn't exactly help Carlos all that much, look at what a mess he got himself into."

"That's true. What is he meant to say to Jane now? I mean I feel kinda bad, she's been messed around a lot since yesterday. And what will everyone do without the newest power couple?" Jay sniggered.

"So, does that mean that my fabulous advice has made you realise you do have feelings for Carlos and that you need to go tell him right now, immediately?" Evie grinned.

Jay chuckled at her,

"I don't know, I still have some stuff to think about, but you definitely helped. And I guess whatever I decide, I have to tell Carlos as soon as we get back to school so I figure I have until we get there to sort myself out."

"Yeah, that's fair. You don't need to drag this out any longer than you need to either if you really don't feel the same way, for Carlos' sake if nothing else." Evie said, trying to prompt Jay to argue back and tell her that she didn't need to worry about that because he did have feelings for Carlos and wanted to be with him.

Jay did nothing of the sort though and instead, grew very quiet to really think over everything; what Evie had said, what Carlos had said, how upset he got when Carlos was following Jane around like a little puppy. The whole strange and confusing situation. He didn't have long until the two of them were back at campus and he would need to tell Carlos something, so he didn't waste any more time on small talk. Evie understood this and left him to his thoughts, instead admiring the leaves and people-watching as they strolled through the park. She slowed her pace a little as well, Jay automatically matching her speed, just to give him a tiny bit of extra time.

'Okay so, stay calm, don't freak out, Carlos is probably just, if not even more, freaked and stressed out as you are right now. Just because he knows how he feels, doesn't mean this has been any easier on him. Anything that happens now, you can work through and if you say you want to be with him, he knows what it's like to not know love and you can take everything slowly. And if that's what's scaring you the most about the whole thing, you shouldn't let that hold you back. Okay, the real questions, be honest with yourself. Does Carlos make you happy? Yes. Does he make you smile? Yes. Do you miss him when he's not around? Yes. Does it affect you when he's with someone else? Obviously. Okay, so what's the issue?' Jay thought to himself, the questions going around his mind rapidly, trying to sort through everything.

'You also can't deny that on more than one occasion when you or he have had a nightmare, you've just wanted to not let go of him and settle down in bed together. You always find excuses to put your arm around his shoulder or on his back and sometimes when you can't sleep, you just lay there and listen to him breathe to calm you down. Also, your near-constant urge to touch his freckles and maybe even kiss them a little because of how cute they are. Oh my God, how have you never realised you're literally obsessed with this boy and would jump at the chance at being with him and being able to do all these things. What is my problem?' Jay perked up at his realisation; not only at how dumb he was that he never realised what all this meant before but also at how excited he was to go and tell Carlos and actually be able to tell him how he felt.

"Someone looks like they just had an epiphany. Care to share with the rest of the class?" Evie asked as she saw the sudden change in Jay's demeanour and stance.

Jay turned and grinned at her,

"I think I like Carlos. I mean, I know I do. I just don't know how or why it took me so long to admit it to myself and realise. I'm so dumb."

Evie laughed and clapped her hands together, beaming almost as brightly as Jay was at the thought of her two best friends being happy and honest to themselves and each other.

"I knew it. Actually, Mal also knew it. I think you just needed to know it and tell yourself about it." Evie said happily.

"Evie, how are you always right? It's kind of annoying sometimes." Jay joked.

"You love it, who else would listen to all you guys' problems and give you excellent advice?" She replied.

"Very true. Thank you so much."

"Anytime! I love helping you out, even if you are blind as a bat, completely oblivious to your own feelings and a little moody sometimes." Evie giggled, "but, what are you waiting for? You need to go find Carlos and tell him you like him too! Go. Right now!"

Jay smirked and hugged Evie tightly, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around before putting her back down and running off back towards Auradon Prep to tell Carlos exactly how he felt and make up with him.

"Thanks again, Evie! I'll talk to you later!" Jay called behind him as he ran.

Evie smiled after him and continued her leisurely stroll back to campus, glad that she had helped her friend and excited to see what would happen with them. She wasn't far from school now but wanted to take her time walking back as she did enjoy walking around Auradon on nice days.

Jay, meanwhile, was jogging quickly back to his dorm room to try and find Carlos. He didn't know if he would be there after he'd gone off with Chad earlier, but he knew that he wouldn't still be with him, Carlos couldn't be around Chad for long periods of time before getting frustrated and needing some peace and quiet. Jay reached his room and threw open the door, scanning the room for Carlos, ready to finally talk about his feelings and get everything out.

That was until he saw Carlos, sitting on his bed, his lips attached to Jane's as the two of them kissed deeply. The smile on Jay's face dropped as quickly as it had formed, he felt his heart sink and his throat close up as he struggled to breathe or say anything. All he managed to do was stare at Jane and Carlos who were now looking back at him, blushing and not making eye-contact.

"Oh, hi Jay." Jane chirped in her usually chipper voice.

Had Carlos been lying to him earlier? Had this all been some kind of weird, sick joke he was playing? Had he ever really had feelings for him at all? What was this? Jay still couldn't say anything and couldn't make his feet move to turn around and leave to make the situation less awkward, so he just stood there, watching Carlos look at his feet and Jane eye him, trying to get him to say something.

Jane cleared her throat quietly and snapped Jay out of the haze he was in. He blinked a few times before finally getting his mouth to say words,

"Hi Jane. Carlos." There was venom in his voice when he said Carlos' name but even that didn't make him look up, "I'm gonna… take a shower."

Jane nodded, still smiling sweetly in the hopes that she would diffuse the situation at least a little. Jay walked towards the bathroom, stopping at the door to turn and look at Carlos one last time. He still wouldn't look up and had his brows furrowed together, looking stressed.

Jay shook his head in disbelief and anger and slammed the bathroom door shut behind him, leaning against the back of it and letting out a deep breath. What was Carlos' game? He couldn't work out why Carlos would tell him he had feelings for him if it wasn't true and if it was then why was he still fooling around with Jane? Just when things had started to make sense, everything was ruined and suddenly he was completely confused all over again. What did this mean? Did Carlos do this on purpose? Jay decided to actually take a shower then to try and calm down and wash away some of the anger and hurt he was feeling from what he'd just witnessed. It was also a good way to avoid Jane and Carlos until he was ready to talk to either one of them, which he didn't feel would be any time soon.

A/N - So, it's been... a while. Sorry! I started uni and it's kicking my ass in terms of just being unmotivated and tired all the time so I haven't had much time for writing. I hope this is okay and like you don't hate me too much for the end because I was going to write it so they were happy and then changed it to BETRAYAL at the last minute. I mean, I do have a plan so stay tuned but yah, enjoy and please leave me a cute review if you feel like it :)