Author's Note: I suck. I know this. There is really no excuse except that life has been crazy and the few times I've been able to write, I haven't been in the mood for this fandom...which makes me feel horrible because so few people write for this forum, let alone this couple. I promise though. I will not abandon this story and I'm going to try update more often! For those of you who are still reading, you're absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for not giving up on me! I hope you enjoy!

The next morning, Jesse woke Adam early so he had time to head back to Eden Hall.

"Hey... hey," he whispered, shaking Adam's shoulder gently.

"Mm," Adam murmured as he turned onto his back. When he opened his eyes and saw Jesse, he couldn't help but smile. "Morning."

"Good morning to you," Jesse chuckled before leaning down and capturing Adam's lips in a gentle kiss.

"Are you ready for today?" he asked once he had pulled back.

Adam sighed in resignation, knowing what lie ahead of him not only today but the many days to come. He knew now, though, that he could still always come back here. This was home.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

Jesse smiled and pulled Adam into another kiss, this one much deeper, full of meaning.

Adam wrapped his arms around Jesse's neck, pulling him even closer. If he had it his way, he'd stay here forever, but alas that just wasn't possible.

He made sure that moment lasted as long as it could, though.

When Jesse started to pull back, Adam refused to let him go, instead pulling him even closer, Jesse's body eventually lying on top of his.

When their lungs were finally at their breaking point, both boys pulled back, breathing heavily with glazed eyes. Once they got their breathing under control, Adam finally got up and headed towards the window.

"If you need anything...anything...I'll be here."

Adam turned at Jesse's words and offered him a smile. Jesse believed he could do this and he hated the idea of letting him down. He couldn't let Jesse lose his optimism.

"I know," he replied truthfully. If he knew anything at all, it was that.

As he made his way down the fire escape, he held on to Jesse's optimism, hoping against all hope that today would be better.

Though nothing really got better, luckily for Adam, it didn't really get worse either.

He did exactly as Jesse had told him.

He went to his classes, which were incredibly hard. Most nights, either after hockey practice or immediately after school if there was no practice that day, he would bring his books over to the Hall home, where Jesse would sit him down and go over everything, making all the gibberish written on the papers and in the books he had actually become words. Concrete thoughts he could understand.

He played hockey. The varsity team were still treating him like the scum on their shoe, taking advantage of every opportunity they had to intimidate the hell out of him.

Adam had quite a few flashbacks to when he was on the Hawks.

And every night, Jesse was there. Just like he said he'd be.

He would sneak in through the window after they knew James was asleep, and then back out early the next morning.

It made life okay.

When it came time for the first JV game, Adam, through obligation, went along with the rest of the varsity players, sitting with them in the stands as he watched his friends venture onto the ice.

He tried his best to control his excitement for them, being shoved down immediately after he had let his spirit get the better of him, rising to his feet and clapping after Charlie had scored a goal.

He still couldn't help but smile, though, as he watched the trademarks of his different friends being played out in front of an entirely new audience. Dwayne's puck handling. Luis' inability to stop.

He missed them.

When the third period started, he was certain they had it in the bag. There was no way the other team could catch up by nine goals in a single period.

Then he watched in shock as it all fell apart.

The Bears started racking up goals left and right; and then Charlie was sent to the box.

By the end of it, it was a tie, and Adam hurt for his friends. He had no idea what had happened to them.

It wasn't until they were all leaving that the other guys on varsity told him what they had done to his former teammates' clothes.

TBC

I had actually written the first part of this a while ago, but forgot about it sadly. I will definitely be updating this fic again very soon, but I just wanted to have something to post to let you guys know that I hadn't forgotten about or abandoned this. Thank you so much for sticking with me! :)