Jake shot up in bed, breathing heavily to supply his deprived lungs with precious oxygen. He was absolutely soaked in cold sweat from a nightmare that had been plaguing him off and on since he and Drew reconciled.

It's always been one of Jake's more prominent fears to lose someone he loves and cares about. Ever since Drew has become one of those people, he's had numerous nightmares in which Drew leaves him without explanation, disappears without a trace or worse.

Jake ran a trembling hand through his hair, relieved that it was once again only a nightmare and Drew was sleeping next to him, safe and sound.

He quietly got out of bed and snuck to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water to rehydrate himself and collect his thoughts.

"Jake?"

Jake nearly sprang off the couch.

"What's going on?" Drew asked, his voice scratchy from having just woken up.

"Oh, uh nothing." Jake said glumly, "You should go back to sleep."

"Not until you tell me what's up," Drew said sternly, "You seem upset."

He sat down next to Jake, "And uhh, sweaty." He said, noticing the moisture on Jake's forehead, "Are you sick?"

"No, I'm fine, it was just a bad dream." Jake scrunched his eyebrows, averting eye contact with Drew.

Drew found the sight slightly unsettling. He didn't think it was possible for Jake to look so scared and distraught. Defeated, even. He placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Must've been quite a nightmare."

"It was nothing." Jake smiled, "Not important at all."

He leaned over and wrapped his arms tightly around Drew who returned the embrace right away.

"I'm really glad you're here with me." Jake whispered.

Drew could really sense the fear in Jake's voice. The poor guy must've had an awful nightmare to shake him up this much. "There's no place I'd rather be."

Jake was silent except for his soft breathing. Drew took this as him simply not wanting to talk about the dream, which he was fine with.

"Hey, what do you say we go back to bed?"

Jake nodded, "Yeah, sure."

The two stood up and Drew led them back to the bedroom. They crawled into bed and Drew cradled Jake securely in his arms. Jake didn't protest to their change in position, in fact, he was more than welcome to it.

The alarm blared in the early hours of the morning.

Jake jolted as the intrusive noise broke him from his sleep. He reached up and grabbed the clock to glance at the time.

"Shit! I'm gonna be late."

His eyes were red from exhaustion and his hair was disheveled, but to Drew, he couldn't fail to look flawless.

Jake smiled bashfully once he noticed he was being watched.

"I know I don't look the greatest in the morning, but-"

"Oh, shut up, you look great and you know it."

"I can always count on you for an ego boost."

"You got that right." Drew got up and began getting dressed, "You seem like you're in a better mood this morning than you were last night. That's good."

Jake's demeanor fell into a serious tone. "Yeah, sorry about that. I was just being weird last night."

"You don't have to apologize or even explain yourself. If you're ever feeling down for whatever reason, just let me know and I'll make you feel better. It's the least I can do for you after all you've done for me."Drew gave him a lingering kiss.

Jake wanted to tell him what was on his mind, but he couldn't get the words to come out.

"You better get going. Don't wanna be late to school."

"You know, it's not the same without you there."

"At least someone misses me." Drew said cynically.

"Anyone who doesn't is an idiot." Jake walked over and gave Drew a hug and kissed his cheek. "Gotta go. I'll leave the door unlocked for you when I come back."

Jake and Drew decided on spending the weekend at the cabin, but neither of them could wait until after school on Friday to meet up, so they both made the trek to the cabin a day early. This meant having to wake up earlier to make it to school and work, but they agreed it was worth it. Of course, that also meant Jake would have to come up with a lie to tell his dad to explain where he'd be Friday night.

As Clare would say, 'Jake can get away with murder when it comes to his dad,' so convincing him wasn't a hard task.

"Is that a cold breeze blowing in from outside or has Satan himself graced us with his presence?" Marisol viciously greeted as she spotted Jake at his locker. Jake turned to see her crossing her arms as well as wearing the disdainful look on her face that she seemed so fond of.

"Nice to see you too, Marisol." Jake rolled his eyes and gathered books from his locker.

"Oh, I never said it was nice to see you." She snapped, "What is it with you jackasses that make you think you can treat my girl Katie like shit and get away with it?"

"What is it with you that makes you think that your girl Katie can do no wrong and that it's always the guy's fault when they break up with her?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Let's see, for about 90% of the time we dated, Katie's choice of topic centered around Drew, how much Drew fucked her over, how Drew is a scum bag, how Drew has made her realize that the entire male population is shit.. shall I go on?"

"Right.. and I suppose it's Katie's fault that Drew played with her emotions and had sex with her when he had already went back to the slutty boiler room queen?"

"No, but she sure tried to make it seem like it was my fault. Always bitching at me about it, not even trusting me to be in the same room as another girl if she's not around to supervise."

Marisol laughed incredulously, "You're a trip, Martin. Hard to believe there was ever a time I thought you were a halfway decent guy. The way you stood up for Mo when I was suspicious of him-"

"Unfounded distrust. No wonder you and Katie are besties!" Jake turned away from Marisol, hoping she'd eventually leave him alone.

"And how you seemed so perfect for Katie because you treated her right. It was all an act."

"Awesome. You done now? I think I've reached my quota of being bitched at for one day."

"Oh, you haven't seen the worst of it yet."

"Well, I'm terrified." Jake smirked to complement the sarcasm dripping from his words. Marisol was not amused. Before she could utter another threat, Fiona approached them.

"Hey Marisol, I heard the goth mullet convention was coming to town, shouldn't you and Katie be on your way there on your tacky broom?"

Marisol shot her a glare, "That's rich coming from you, Fiona." She raised a hand to her mouth in mock surprise, "Oh, sorry, I should really reconsider my choice of words. It's probably too soon, right?"

Fiona rolled her eyes. "Sweetie, I may not have my money, but at least I still have my class."

Marisol folded her arms, "Is that right?"

"Sure is." Fiona flashed a bitchy smile, "If there's anything I've learned, it's that class can't be bought. You either got it or you don't. And you're obviously the latter."

Jake stifled a laugh as he watched the two girls go at it. All Marisol could do is cross her arms and glare at Fiona.

"Now shoo!" Fiona waved her hands at Marisol until she admitted defeat and walked away, but not before she gave Fiona and Jake the one finger salute.

"Ugh. She is such a hag!"

"No kidding. Ever since Katie and I broke up.." Jake stopped, noticing Fiona grinning madly. "What are you so happy about?"

"Okay, okay, don't get mad at Drew, but.. he told me everything!"

Jake feigned ignorance, "Everything? Everything about what?"

"Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about, Jake Martin!"

He chuckled, "It's not that big of a deal, Fiona."

"Of course it's a big deal! I mean, you guys are adorable together and you make Drew really happy."

Jake stopped in his tracks and looked at Fiona, "Really? He said that?"

"Always. And not only that, but he acts a lot happier too."

Jake felt as if he'd made the greatest accomplishment in the world. "That's actually pretty amazing."

"And just so you know, you're welcome at my place anytime. Well - our place, I should say."

"Thanks, Fiona. I really appreciate that."

"Don't mention it!" Fiona beams, "And if the gloom twins give you anymore trouble, you know where to find me. I'll be more than happy to put them in their place!"

Jake laughed, "I'll keep that in mind." He was just thankful to have at least one person on their side.

Drew headed for the bedroom of the cabin when he didn't immediately find Jake in the living room. There he found him sprawled out on the bed.

"Rough day?" He asked, noticing Jake's evident exhaustion.

"Nah, just long." Jake yawned, "Didn't help that I had an annoying pest following me through the halls all day long."

Drew arched an eyebrow, "Care to elaborate?"

"Marisol."

"Say no more." Drew grinned, "That's all the explanation I needed."

"Exactly. We all know how dialed in Marisol is to the Katie Network."

"Yeah, but she's not a problem. She can't do shit. All talk."

"So I've heard. I'm not worried about her." Jake extended his arm to welcome Drew into the bed as he climbed in next to him. "Besides, if she gets unruly, I can always send my football player boyfriend after her."

"Boyfriend?" Drew asked, as if it were absurd of Jake to refer to him in such a way.

The question made Jake uncomfortable.

"Well, I figured, you know, since we've been .. together like this, that we were.. boyfriends."

Drew grinned as Jake stammered on, "Relax. It's just that it sounds nice hearing it from you."

Jake was relieved, "I'm glad you think so." He slid his hand down Drew's forearm and interlocked his fingers with Drew's, tenderly caressing the back of his hand with his thumb.

For a moment, they simply laid in each others' arms and soaked in the other's presence.

Drew slid closer into Jake, "Why can't things always be like this?"

Jake gave him a questioning look.

"Me and you, just like this." Drew gently laid a kiss against Jake's neck. "It feels so good."

"I agree. It is pretty nice, isn't it?" Jake stretched out his long legs and slung his other arm around Drew, reeling him in closer and resting his head against Drew's.

"Maybe when I graduate and start working for my dad full time, we can afford our own place."

"That'd be awesome!" Drew was enjoying the full contact from the other man.

Jake didn't answer, but his breathing was slowing down and steading. Drew turned to him and saw his eyes were closed. "Jake?"

"Hmm..?" He responded without opening his eyes.

"Uh, it's nothing." Drew noticed how comfortable and adorable Jake looked and decided to let him fall asleep if that's what he wanted.

"Okay." He answered sleepily.

Drew was about to carefully slip out of Jake's grasp, but then he started feeling sleepy too. Probably didn't help that he was feeling quite cozy in the warmth of Jake's arms.

He nestled his head against Jake and drifted off.

It was pitch black outside by the time Drew woke up and he found he was alone in bed.

"Jake?"

He noticed light pouring in through the door. Jake must be in the other room. He got up to see what Jake was up to, but the sound of roller skates on the hard wood floor and a thin veil of smoke in the air were big enough clues.

"Drew! Look how fast I'm going!" Jake said excitedly as soon as he noticed Drew stumble in. Jake was skating around the perimeter of the table in the center of the room.

"Having fun without me, speed demon?"

"You looked so damn cute when you were sleeping, so I thought I'd let you be."

Jake skated over and placed his hands on Drew's shoulders to stop himself.

"Have a nice nap?"

"Yeah, what about you?"

"It was exactly what I needed." Jake leaned down and kissed Drew on the forehead, "So, do you wanna join in on the fun? I got plenty."

Drew was still a little apprehensive, but he knew Jake knew what he was talking about, "Let's toke up!"

"Sweet." Jake skated over to the couch, "And remember, just stay chill and don't worry about anything and you'll be fine."

"No problem."

A few minutes and a few puffs later, Drew was on Jake's level, which was clear by the way he was laughing like a hyena.

"Someone's having a good time!" Jake was amused by how fast it hit him.

"You could say that! So, umm, Jake I gotta know something. What's up with the skates?"

"Well, Drew, if you must know, I... I don't really know, actually."

Jake's answer made them both howl with laughter to the point of tears.

"Actually, actually.. there is a few reasons." Jake struggled to answer his question for real, but had a hard time getting through it without breaking into laughter.

"One, I like going fast. Two, it's more fun to move around in them than walking. Three, I like being higher than I already am. Four.. skates are awesome."

"Wait, your skates make you even higher?" Drew asked with such amazement. "Are they weed skates?"

"No, though, that would kick ass."

Jake became distracted with the prospect and stared into the distance for a while.

"Weed skates... hmm." He whispered.

"But no, I mean, y'know, higher. Like.." Jake made an up and down hand gesture.

"Oh, you mean taller?" Drew asked, finally understanding what he meant.

"Yeah."

Drew laughed, "Like you need the boost. You already tower over everyone."

"I know." Jake smirked, "I want to be even taller."

"Fair enough." Drew said, "I like it. It suits you."

"What I'm hearing is, you think it's hot."

"Hmm.. maybe." Drew winked, "You know, it's too bad I don't have any skates, otherwise we could turn this into a roller rink."

"Yeah and this is the only pair I have." Jake noted, glancing down at them. "I do have another suggestion, though."

"What's that?"

"I'll hold you up while I skate!"

Jake's face lit up like he just came up with the best idea ever. Drew was a little less enthusiastic about it.

"Jake, normally this is where I'd ask what have you been smoking, but I already know the answer to that."

"Come on, why not?"

"Because you'll fall and we'll get hurt. I don't really feel like taking a trip to the hospital."

"I'm stronger than I look, Torres."

Drew took it as an invitation to cop a feel of Jake's bicep. He arched his eyebrows in approval, but was still reluctant.

"Come on, it'll be fun! I promise I won't fall and if I do, I'll make sure to break your fall and you can kick my ass afterwards. How about that?"

Jake gave Drew his best puppy look. All bets were offically off the table now.

"Fiiiine."

Drew put his arms around Jake's neck and looked up at him nervously, "Ready?"

Jake giggled a little, "Yeah, I'm ready!"

Drew jumped up and wrapped his legs around Jake's waist while Jake pulled him up so that they were eye level.

"You alright?" Jake was grinning ear to ear while Drew was still unsure if this was a good idea.

"Yeah, I'm cool." Drew glanced occasionally at the ground as if he were standing on top of the Empire State Building. "Just no tricks or anything, okay?"

"Relax. I got you." Jake kicked forward and as they started moving, Drew held on to Jake tighter.

Jake was skating smoothly and smiling gleefully as if he were lifting a 4-year-old girl instead of a full grown man. Drew was quite taken by his skill and his strength, especially considering he was high as a kite right now. It was actually kind of a turn on.

Drew couldn't help bursting into a giggle fit.

"See, I told you I could do it!" Jake said, relieved to see Drew finally lighten up.

"I promise I won't doubt your skills again!" Drew coughed out in between giggles, "Apparently you're a pro at this."

Drew was so tempted to just start making out with Jake at that moment, but he knew that would probably end badly.

The ride only lasted a few more minutes before Jake had to set Drew down. "Even pros have their limits." He huffed out.

"More than I could do." Drew admitted. He waited a whole split second before he attacked Jake's lips with his own, nearly knocking him over in the process.

They fell backwards onto the couch. Drew pulled Jake closer to him on his lap as he continued to press eager kisses against his soft lips.

Jake groaned delightedly into the kiss as his ass was grasped firmly by the other man and his hands traveled up his back. Drew was so gratified with the way Jake's form felt in his hands. He wondered how he managed to resist him for this long.

"I'm so glad my car broke down that night." Drew whispered in between kisses.

Jake stopped and stared down at him for a moment, "Me too. Who knew car trouble could be such a good thing?"

"Life's just crazy sometimes."

Jake places his hand over Drew's face and gently pushes it upward.

"You know, you love to randomly touch my face when you're high," Drew chuckled.

"Can you blame me? Your face is perfect. Duh." Jake bit his lip seductively and then retracted his hand after a moment.

"No, don't stop." Drew grabbed his wrist, "That actually felt kinda good."

Jake sat up and placed his hands on the sides of Drew's face and gently massaged along his temples, across his forehead and around his eyes. "Like that?"

Drew nodded with a simple "Mmm". Jake had the hands of a master masseur. They made all but one particular area of his body go limp with relaxation.

"Feels so good." He said in a breathy whisper. Jake smiled in satisfaction.

"Jake, I need to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"About last night, the bad dream you had. What was it about?"

"It wasn't anything important."

"Jake, I know it wasn't just nothing. Whatever it was must've been pretty fucked up to make you look as freaked out as you did last night. Please tell me."

Jake looked as if his great mood had been completely shattered by Drew and for that, he felt guilty, but he just had to know if everything was okay with his boyfriend. He hoped he'd understand.

"I really don't want to go into detail," Jake got up and stood by the window, watching the snow blow around outside, "But umm, I had a nightmare that you.. died."

Drew didn't know what to say. Jake didn't either, but he tried to think of something fast because he knew Drew was probably freaked out by this.

"I've always had a phobia of losing people I really care about. I don't know why or how it started, I just... it scares the hell outta me."

Jake rested his forehead against his arm, which was now propped against the window. He wasn't comfortable facing Drew while explaining this.

"That's why I'm so protective of my friends and family. I never want anything to happen to them and if I have anything to say about it, nothing ever will."

"Well, you do a great job of it." Drew stood up and walked over to Jake, "I've honestly never felt safer than when I'm with you."

Drew ensnared Jake from behind in his arms and leaned his head against Jake's back, "You don't have to worry about me, man. I just want you to relax."

"Yeah, I do have to worry about you. I.." Jake stopped suddenly, like he was about to say the wrong thing, "You really matter to me."

"You matter to me, too. A lot. Tell you what, I promise I'll make it easier for you to not have to worry about me as long as you do the same for me."

Jake snorted, "Deal." He spun around to face him. His eyes looked a little glossed. Drew knew it wasn't from the weed.

He reached up and cupped Jake's face in his hands.

"I'm not going anywhere, Martin. There's no getting rid of me that easily."

Thanks for the views and reviews! I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who ships these ridiculously attractive guys. I'm planning on writing special chapters for Christmas and New Year's, so be on the lookout for those in the near future!