Ryan's black Hummer entered the deserted school's parking lot, except for a few cars belonging to the staff, at 6:30 the next morning. He had decided to come in early, not really wanting to have to run from his sister this morning, especially since she tried to attack him again while he was sleeping last night. She tried to sneak into his room in the middle of the night and smother him with his pillow, but since he was awake, anticipating an attack from his sister, he was able to escape and run to his parents for safety.

Exiting his car Ryan closed the door after him and made sure to lock it before heading towards the school's main entrance. Upon reaching the pavement Ryan decided to take a seat on the fountain and finish the homework that he was unable to finish at home. Weird, being not able to finish homework at home. Ryan laughed at his little joke and commenced in trying to figure out some calculus problems. About seven minutes later he was done with everything that was due today and stuffed it all in his messenger bag.

Guu-guu. Guu-guu.

What the-

Guu-guu. Guu-guu.

Is that snoring?, thought Ryan as he looked around the area, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. Eventually he found that the sound was coming from the other side of the fountain. Apparently someone had come and decided to take a nap on the structure as Ryan was engrossed in his homework.

Walking around to the other side of the fountain he found Jason Cross laying down on the edge of the fountain with his hair covering his closed eyes and his snores echoing across the front area. How had Ryan not heard these snores before, they were so thunderous? As Ryan looked upon Jason's sleeping form in the early morning light against the background of the falling water, a small smile formed on his face. He slowly crouched down in front of the sleeping boy to gently push his hair out of his eyes.

"God, Jason," whispered Ryan with a sigh, as he traced a finger don Jason's face, "Even asleep you're able to make me smile. You know you were all I could think about while I was away. Well, you and some other things, but you get my point. Why did you have to make things complicated? This isn't going to be easy now … but it has to be done. Ok," said Ryan taking a deep breath, "Now wake up."

Ryan gently patted Jason on the cheek which caused the boy to stir a little, but not wake. Ryan was tempted to leave and give up on this plan, but he had to go through with this. It was the only way. Sucking in a large breath he prepared his lungs.

"WAKE UP, CROSS!" he yelled into Jason's ear.

This caused Jason's eyes to shoot open forcing him awake. Unfortunately, Ryan hadn't anticipated the shock of his yell to cause Jason to roll backwards and into the pooling water of the fountain. He gasped as Jason submerged in the water, causing a splash that also got some water on his own clothes. Quickly he threw his arms under the water and grabbed one of Jason's arms to pull him up. When Jason was finally standing up in the fountain, with his damp hair and clothes clinging to his body and his breathing finally catching up with him, he wiped the water out of his eyes and looked at Ryan.

"What did you do that for?!" he asked in a mix of surprise and anger.

"I'm sorry!" said Ryan holding his arms up in defense. "I didn't think that you would fall back into the fountain!"

"Well, I did!" said Jason pointing at his wet-self still standing in the fountain.

"Yeah, well . . ." Ryan was at a loss of words for his defense. "I just really needed to talk to you."

"What could be so important that you had to scream in my ear?!"

"I'm sorry, alright?! Would you stop yelling at me?!" Ryan shouted back in a hurt tone, before changing into a more somber one, "I thought you would be happy to see me again."

Jason's anger melted away when he saw the sad expression on Ryan's face. "I am happy to see you." he said as if it were simple. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Could you step out of the fountain first?" Ryan asked. "I don't think I can have a serious conversation with you while you're dripping wet and standing in the school fountain."

Jason took one foot out of the fountain after the other and took a seat on the rim of the structure. Ryan sat down right next to him, but not too closely, fearing the idea of getting his own clothes even more wet.

"So," asked Jason still waiting, "What is it?"

"First, I want to ask you something." said Ryan looking at his friend.

"Yeah." said Jason.

"Did you . . . why are you here so early?" asked Ryan suddenly curious about Jason's appearance at the school at such an early hour.

"I . . . always come to school early." said Jason hesitantly.

"Really?" asked Ryan suddenly suspicious, "At what time?"

"6:30." Jason answered quickly.

"I came at 6:30." Ryan shot back.

"I come through the back entrance." Jason countered.

"Why are you in the front?"

"I was waiting for the others."

"For almost half an hour?"

"I'm a very patient person."

"And a very tired person. Why would you come to school so early if you were going to fall asleep again?"

"I didn't know I was going to fall asleep. I just laid my head down on the fountain."

"And fell asleep instantly because we all know that the fountain rim is so comfortable." said Ryan sarcastically.

"Apparently it is, or else I wouldn't have fallen asleep."

"Or maybe you were just so tired you didn't care where you fell asleep?"

"I got some coffee on my way here."

"From where?"

"When did this turn into an interrogation?" asked Jason now suspicious of Ryan.

"When you hesitated giving an answer to my first question. Why are you here so early?"

"I told you. I always get here early." said Jason. "Was that too hesitant?"

"Now that you've said it once before of course it doesn't sound hesitant!" Ryan retorted.

"Can we just skip this?!" asked Jason holding his hands up in frustration.

"Fine!" said Ryan annoyed, "Don't tell me!"

"Why are you mad?!"

"Because you won't tell me the truth!"

"I just did!"

"Whatever." said Ryan with a huff. "Just answer one more question."

"I don't know if I want to here anymore questions." said Jason looking away.

"This one is important." said Ryan seriously. "Very important. For the both of us."

Jason looked Ryan in the eye and decided to go along with it. "Fine. What is it?"

At first Ryan was hesitant about this question because he knew it would cause a whole chain of events that he be unable to stop once it started, but after a few seconds he blurted out, "Did you miss me at all while I was gone?"

"What kind of stupid question is that?" Ryan was at first a little hurt by the response, but when he heard what Jason had to say after it only made him feel worse. "Of course I missed you. I missed you every day and night that I didn't know where you were or what you were doing or who you were with. I was scared for your safety every minute that you weren't here. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes, it does." said Ryan looking at him with a frown.

"Good." said Jason leaning in closer to capture Ryan's lips in his own for a passionate long-lasting kiss. When they pulled away two minutes later Ryan had his eyes closed tight and when he realized it was over he looked away in shame.

"I really wish you hadn't done that." he whispered.

"What?" asked Jason confused. "Why?"

"Because … because I can't do this anymore." forced out Ryan.

"What are you talking about?" Jason asked, still baffled.

"I can't do this anymore. I can't deal with us." Ryan informed his friend.

"Are you breaking up with me?" asked Jason in disbelief.

"Technically," said Ryan softly, "You can't call it a break-up if the two people in the relationship were never officially dating. So really, it's just a friendly separation."

"Bull shit." Jason spat out bitterly. "No matter what you call it it's a break-up. When two people love each other and eventually split-up, it's a break-up."

"Who said we loved each other?" said Ryan seriously. Jason looked him in the eyes with a look so hurt and confused Ryan had to look away. "I never said I loved you."

"Yes, you did." said Jason. "That day you showed me the picture of your dad. You said you loved me."

"No, I said I think I might love you. I never flat out said 'I love you'." Ryan defended himself. Looking at Jason he put on the most emotionless face he could muster up and said in an even voice, "Besides, that was back when I was a drug addicted idiot. It was nothing more than a mistake."

"Don't say that." said Jason, his voice filled with hurt.

"Do you seriously think that I could love someone like you with a clear mind?" asked Ryan.

"If that's how you feel . . . then why did you want to know how I felt about you going away?" asked Jason tears entering his eyes.

". . ."

"Well?!"

"I wanted to know how much you actually liked me." said Ryan truthfully, with a little too much more emotion in his tone than he had wanted. To cover up for it he added, in a hurtful tone, "It's actually so pathetic how much you like me. And it ends now. I'm done."

Ryan got up from his seat on the fountain rim and walked through the front doors of East High leaving a soaking wet Jason to sit alone on the stone structure. Alone, confused, and empty.