A bright light streamed through the window, indicating that it was morning, but Tristan had been awake for hours. He lay there, staring at his phone, watching the minutes go by until he had to get up and leave the safe haven of his bed. His whole body ached with fatigue, but he couldn't get himself to fall asleep. Miles was getting closer to the truth, he saw it in the way he looked at him. If he didn't get his shit together, he would soon find out how pathetic Tristan was, and then he would dump him all over again. Tristan squeezed his eyes shut, trying to banish the bad thoughts, but his head felt heavy with the malicious fog of self-deprecation that seemed to have taken up a permanent residence in his head, restlessly tormenting him.

The sounds of the refrigerator door opening and closing, followed by loud footsteps descending the staircase indicated that his parents were awake. Tristan let out a deep sigh and braced himself for the inevitable.

He dragged himself out of bed as his phone alarm rang and over to his closet. The unmistakable sounds of fighting rose from the kitchen as he pulled his arm through a red and white striped sweater. Tristan walked around his room aimlessly, trying to busy himself until he heard his phone ring.

He rushed over to his side table and picked it up.

Here :)

Tristan slung his bag over his shoulder and bounded down the stairs, eager to escape. He didn't even bother saying goodbye to his parents, knowing that they were too busy tearing each other apart to even realize that he was there, let alone acknowledge him.

Miles turned away from fixing his hair in the rearview mirror when he heard the front door open. He felt his heart beat a little faster as he saw Tristan emerge from his house. Why was he wearing a sweater when it was hot outside? His heart clenched when he saw Tristan flinch at a loud thud that came from inside his house. Miles watched Tristan as he made his way towards him, defeated, tired, like a skeleton of his former self. But as he came closer to the car, his eyes lifted from the ground and he saw a faint glimmer of happiness as he raised a corner of his mouth in an attempted smile.

"Hey, thanks for the ride."

"Anytime."

Miles shifted in his seat as Tristan sat down next to him.

"So, um, how are things with your parents?" Miles finally breathed out, his voice hinging on the last word, riddled with uncertainty.

"They're fi-"

"Don't you dare say fine," Miles interjected.

Tristan gave a shallow sigh, "Can we just please go?"

"But-,"

"Please," Tristan said in a small voice, turning away from Miles, his eyes watering as he heard the ignition start. He let Miles slip a hand into his, but didn't trust himself to face him, knowing that he wouldn't be able to hold it in if he looked into those worry-stricken eyes.

Tristan rested his elbow on his desk, leaning his head into his hand, trying to keep his eyes from closing as the teacher droned on. But the more he fought, the heavier he could feel his eyelids grow, he wanted so desperately to just sink into sleep and escape. But just as he was about to give into temptation, he felt a small hand shaking his shoulder, stirring him from his hazy, sleep-like state into the cold harshness that was his reality.

"What?" Tristan asked, annoyed at having been forced awake.

"Well the bell rang and unless you wanted to be left drooling on the desk…," Zoe gave Tristan a pointed look as she gathered her things.

"Right, um, thanks," Tristan rubbed his eyes and reached for his untouched bag.

"Is everything ok?" Zoe asked suddenly, spinning on her heels to face Tristan, her voice gentler than usual.

"Yeah, sure." Tristan tried to walk past her towards the exit but she stopped him, reaching out to block his path by stretching her hand across the aisle to the next row of desks.

"Zoe I really have to-"

"Go? Yeah I know, lately it seems all you have to do is go. I barely see you anymore and when I do you're too busy sleeping through class to talk. What is going on Tris? And don't say nothing 'cause I can see right through your bullshit." Zoe huffed out, crossing her arms across her chest.

If only you knew.

"I've just been busy lately, you know school stuff." But before Zoe could respond Tristan slipped past her, hurriedly walking out of the room.

Tristan rounded the corner of the hallway and leaned against the wall, closing his eyes, trying to shut out the buzz of voices swirling around him. He shouldn't have come to school, but his parents were working from home today and he really didn't want to be witness to yet another fight.

"Tris?" An anxious voice broke through the noise.

Tristan opened his eyes to see Miles' green ones watching him, clouded with uncertainty. He wished that Miles would stop looking at him like that.

"Hi." Tristan forced himself to smile.

"So, uh, let's go then," Miles gestured down the hall.

"Go where?"

"Lunch, or did you have other plans?" Miles asked, a bemused expression crossing his face.

"Right," Tristan nodded slowly as he pushed himself off of the wall and followed Miles to the cafeteria, his mind reeling.

I can't go in there.

Miles is already getting suspicious.

I need a distraction.

Tristan turned his head to look up and down the now empty hallway before slamming Miles against a row of lockers, descending on him so quickly that Miles just stood there, shocked at the sudden turn of events.

Miles relaxed into the kiss, letting Tristan overwhelm him as he raked his hands through Tristan's hair, pushing him closer. Tristan placed his hands on Miles' hips, joining their hips together. Miles could feel the blood rushing below his waist and pulled away, gasping for air.

"Uhm, maybe we shouldn't do this here." But when Miles saw Tristan's face, flushed with desire, he felt himself go weak at the knees.

"There's no one at my house, so if you want…" Miles let his voice trail off.

Tristan leaned in, licking up Miles' neck, sending shivers up his spine.

"I always want." Tristan purred into his ear.

He peeled himself off of Miles and the two began walking towards the parking lot.

Miles lunged at Tristan as soon as he shut his bedroom door behind him, his body colliding with Tristan's with such a force that Tristan stumbled back, the backs of his knees hitting Miles' bed. They toppled over without breaking their lip lock. Miles pulled away, his nose rubbing up against Tristan's, their hot breath mixing together, the air between them thickening.

Miles sat up, straddling Tristan as he pulled off his shirt before leaning back down to scatter kisses all down Tristan's jawline, continuing down his neck. He brought his hands down to the hem of Tristan's shirt. He felt Tristan's body suddenly tense up, his hands darting down to grab Miles'.

Miles sat up, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-".

"It's not that I don't want to…just," Tristan moved from under Miles, crawling to the side of his bed.

"What is it?" Miles walked over on his knees.

Tristan just turned away and buried his head into a pillow.

"I just can't," Tristan whispered, his voice muffled by the pillow.

Miles watched Tristan lay there curled up on his bed, looking so different from the guy that threw him up against the lockers only an hour earlier. He looked so, broken.

Miles' heat radiated from his body as he enveloped Tristan in his arms, but despite Miles' added warmth pressing up against him, Tristan still shivered.

"It's ok," Miles whispered, pulling Tristan closer.