Author's Note: I apologize for leaving anyone who read this story hanging.

Chapter Thirty-one

He could barely believe his eyes when he saw Gord following Pete down the dorm's main hallway. And he wasn't wearing his favorite brand even though it was a Saturday. What gives? Troy peered from the doorframe of Jimmy's room. He had been staying there since his older friends had their fight; the place on the beach was so tense that he actually felt safer with all the boys who threatened him for the hell of it.

The head boy led Gord to a room directly across the hall. "Okay Gord, this'll be your room." Petey double checked the door number and glanced down at the clipboard he was carrying.

"Do I really need to stay in this particular one?" Gord whined. Troy glanced around and saw that he was not the only boy spying. The other stares didn't seem friendly though. "It's too close to…"

"Sorry, but there just aren't a lot of spare rooms right now. In fact, there technically isn't any. This room was Troy's, but your stepmother bought it out." The head boy patted the taller male on the shoulder. "It won't be so bad. Jim is never here anyways. Do you want me to help get you settle in?"

Troy could see that Gord did not look like he wanted to be alone, but he still answered, "No, I will be fine. You have plans with Smith, I assume."

The short underclassman waited until Kowalski left to wander through Gord's open door. So this is my room? I almost forgot about it. Pete said it was bought out. I bet Mom didn't even ask where I was staying. There was not much for furniture inside the dorm. A standard bed was pressed to the wall and a desk stood across from it. A wardrobe looked to be molding in a corner. There wasn't a window in this room, making it feel smaller and stale. All Gord had for personal belongings were two boxes of clothes. Troy had helped Hopkins pack up the other boy's things. It'd been surprising how much time Jimmy spent folding each article of clothing before tucking it in. There'd been more than two boxes though.

"Did you get all your stuff?" Troy asked.

Gord jumped a little. "Oh, Troy, I did not see you." The young boy was conflicted about how to feel when seeing Vendrome's haunted face. He wished for Gord to be happy, but he had also taken a shovel to the dirt. "Yes, I grabbed everything. Thank you for packing it. I know James could never have done such a lovely job."

"What happened to the rest of it?"

"I donated most of my clothes."

"Why?"

"Well, I've decided that Aquaberry is definitely not my cup of tea. It is so dated." He tried his best to pull out a light smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Been sleeping here."

"Oh, did I take your room? I apologize, there must be—"

"In Jimmy's room. He kinda gave it to me to use."

At the mention of his ex-boyfriend's name, the teen looked ten times as distraught. "Is he… How is he handling everything?"

Troy didn't know how to answer this, so he didn't. Instead, he began to help Gord take his clothes to the old wardrobe.

After they had finished their task, the pair of boys stood in an uncomfortable silence. Troy hesitantly asked Gord about how he was doing. He received a short answer about his father being upset about his moving out of Harrington House and his stepmother trying to help bring him around.

"It is almost funny," Gord darkly chuckled. "I never thought she liked me. Now I find out she is one of the last few people who do."

"You shouldn't have done that to Jimmy," Troy blurted out. He didn't want to hear a pity party from either one of the boys who looked after him.

"I know, and I regret it terribly. Going behind his back, losing his trust, was the worst act I have ever committed." A few silent tears slid down his face. He apologized as he wiped them away. "They say after a while your tears all dry up; I have never found this to be true."

"You do cry a lot."

Gord laughed at that.

"I hope you guys make up. I like being on the beach more than here."

"I'm afraid I cannot envision that happening, not after what I have done. Why have you been sleeping here? You shouldn't punish yourself, and James would probably like to have you near. He might stomp around and yell, but I know he needs somebody."

Troy did not think it was his place to say that he did have someone. Or that that someone was the reason Troy was stuck in the dorm. He sighed, ignoring the question. He knew that Gord had a right to know. Once he did find out, Troy wondered if Gord would start calling him by his real name again. Lawford hoped not.