The car ride was mostly silent because both Hunter and Troy were thinking of what to say to one another. Troy knew Hunter said he wanted to talk about them, so that sounded promising but it could also mean that Hunter was letting go of him for good under the assumption that he hadn't told the others. Or maybe Hunter hadn't forgiven the comment Troy made about his mourning of Jay. Troy didn't know, so he guessed he just had to see what happened. Hunter knew what he wanted to say, but not in the car. Plus, they didn't go far once out of the long departure line. Hunter chose a little diner that was open until 10 pm, and it was only about three minutes down the street from where they'd been. Hunter parked in a space close to the door and then they unbuckled and got out to get inside. The males were greeted by the host and taken to a table along the wall where you could still look out to the parking lot. The placemats were put down, then silverware. Next, the menus were handed to them and the host went back to his spot after saying their server would with them soon.

"This is a cozy little spot," Troy admitted, the silence killing him.

"Yeah…Jay and I used to come here a lot for after-school dates." Hunter stated. "The ruins of the academy are three blocks down, so it was close."

"I like it," Troy replied. "I'm also starving because I didn't think to snack on something before the competition," He laughed a little.

"I ate a package of cheese crackers on the drive, but nothing since." Hunter responded. "Let's figure out what we want, and then we can talk while we wait." He suggested.

Troy nodded as they both went back to looking at the menus. After five minutes, the waiter came by and introduced himself as Zachary. Hunter and Troy put in their order for drinks, a shared appetizer of Mozzarella Sticks, then just to cover it, their dinner choices. Zachary smiles, nodded, and headed off to put the order in and said he'd be right back with their drinks. Such happened just five minutes later, then the former lovers were left alone. At least until their appetizer came, but it wouldn't interrupt anything.

"So you…Wanted to talk about us?" Troy decided to start things off. Why wait?

"Yeah," Hunter nodded.

"Okay, I'm all ears. What's up?" Troy invited.

Hunter took a breath and looked at him. "Being forward and honest like I am, I'll start with admitting that I miss you." He confessed, surprising Troy. "Since the day after I broke up with you, I've been pretty miserable. Yes, some of it is still mourning Jay…But when we were together; losing him didn't hurt so much. And I don't mean that in you being only a distraction for it, but it was helping me to move on. If that makes sense?"

"It does. Don't worry, I never assumed you being with me was your distraction from losing your ex-fiancé, Hunter," Troy responded calmly. "I miss you too. I'm sorry I've been quiet since the breakup…I was giving you your time and space to hopefully forgive me for being a colossal fool that day," He added, looking down a bit. "And I knew what I said had hurt you, I told myself that as soon as the words left my mouth and I regretted saying it. I know you said you were going to leave me anyway when you learned I hadn't told the others, but even at that…I never should have said what I did. And you'll never know how sorry I am for saying it."

"Yes, it did hurt. While I was with you, I was mourning Jay still…But it never had a bearing on our relationship. Except for the really hard days, and then that one where I cried as much as I could over losing him at the cemetery," Hunter stated. "I know you didn't mean it, I know it was said as something you didn't really think about before it left your lips for an excuse to cover your ass in front of the others." He mentioned. "I hadn't wanted to fight with you that day, and yes…I had planned to leave if you didn't tell your friends the truth about us, about your sexuality. I didn't expect you to show up at my house within the hour…"

"The others told me to. I was planning on giving you your space to calm down before we talked. I would have messaged or called you later that night to ask if we could, and still wouldn't have blamed you for leaving me. But when I got to practice, the others and Greg were on me about what happened with you and they said screw practice, go to your house right then and fix things." Troy informed.

"Don't take their advice. They should know to back off when I'm heated," Hunter rolled his eyes. "We might not have yelled and fought that way if you'd gone with your idea to give me time to cool off." He sighed. "Things would have been calmer, even if still would have ended up breaking up. But at the same time…If we'd been calmer, I may have just gone with being on a break as the warning that if you don't say something to them; it will be over…" Hunter explained.

"No, you were right to leave me. I promised you I'd tell them on that date and I didn't. I let fear hold me back and then I was just confused as hell when Star kissed me. Like we've been broken up for over a year now, and she was spouting off wanting to get back together." Troy revealed. "It also got me thinking on other things too, so that didn't help in saying something to them. Then you came and it went from there,"

"I shouldn't have come at you like that that in school. I should have messaged you, and said we'd talk later…Even if you didn't tell your friends what was going on, I shouldn't have cornered you that way." Hunter admitted. "It was wrong to put you on the spot, and I was the one who kept telling you to take your time. I shouldn't have tried to force it out. I'm sorry for that."

"Don't be sorry, you had the right to be upset about seeing Star kiss me and find out I still didn't say anything. I'd have been upset if I were in your shoes," Troy said.

"But I shouldn't have come at you in school. That should have been a private conversation," Hunter stated. "All that aside…What did you mean Star kissing you made you think on things? Since you brought it up?"

"Oh. I realized I'm not bisexual after all," Troy shrugged. "I'm gay. Her kissing me showed me I felt nothing attraction-wise towards girls."

"Well, that's always good to figure out what you actually are. But a lot of people who went from believing they were straight used bisexual as a mid-point to figuring out they were actually gay. Some stayed at bisexual and some realized that they were, in fact, straight. Meaning they tried things with a guy after curiosity and realized that it wasn't for them. The journey for all is different." Hunter shrugged. "Good for you," He smiled.

"Feels nice to be set at one thing, I'll admit that. I'm more comfortable at gay than I was at bisexual. I guess I needed that kiss to set the record straight, but it should have been done under different circumstances and maybe not with my ex…" Troy mumbled. "Anyway, we were talking about us?" He wondered.

At that moment, their appetizer came and was set down. Both thanked Zachary, and he walked off to handle other tables. Hunter and Troy both started eating a bit, then they'd get back to talking. After a few bites in and both feeling infinitely better to have put something in their stomachs, they relaxed.

"The last month gave me a lot of time to talk, and aside from missing you like crazy…It hit me tonight that I wasn't being fair to rush you towards coming out to your friends. I do know what it's like to tell others and have them walk away, then get bullied and treated differently. It's the entire reason I left public school in 4th grade and went to the academy, where there was a zero bullying policy." Hunter said gently. "And in all truth of the matter, people in relationships make sacrifices for one another. Yes, I don't like to hide my openly gayness…But I was with the guy who wasn't ready to be all out like that yet. My sacrifice should have been accepting that, and I didn't." He looked at Troy. "I'd like to fix that, if you'll still have me as your boyfriend."

"You'd continue to hide yourself as my boyfriend around my baseball and cheerleading friends?" Troy asked, surprised.

"I would if it means I don't have to feel how much I hate not being with you," Hunter admitted. "Yes, I hate hiding myself and who I'm with…But I love my relationship over hating my hiding. I miss you, Troy. I miss everything we had and I felt like it was going somewhere, that we were going somewhere together in the relationship. I'd like to see where it goes, wherever that is for however long it goes…" He revealed. "I don't want things to stop now without knowing…What could have been if I'd calmed down and been more accepting and supportive to your choices. If I'd sacrificed for your happiness in order for us to stay together and let us be happy."

"I…Felt that way too and I mean…I told you I love you. That hasn't changed for me, despite the breakup," Troy said. "My…Parents told me something similar, about the sacrificing in relationships." He added. "They told me mine should have been telling my friends the truth because who cared if they walked away, it wasn't worth losing you and what could have been over losing fake friends. They were right. You were right and I shouldn't have been a chicken about it. But I do want you back, so we could venture into the unknown future together,"

"Well…Let's get back together then. And I promise no limits on telling them, I'm happy keeping things private as long as I get to do it with you," Hunter reached across the table to hold Troy's hand.

Troy held Hunter's hand, intertwining their fingers together. "Okay, lets go back to dating…" Troy agreed. But it wasn't right, even if Hunter was willing to keep things private; there was no need anymore. Troy had told the others the truth and now he needed to tell Hunter.

"And I don't even care about going to prom together. We can go out to eat or something, cuddle up with a movie. That's a fine night by me," Hunter added.

Troy smiled as he lifted Hunter's hand and placed a kiss on the back of it while also grabbing his wallet from his coat pocket and finagling to get the tickets out. "You sure you don't care about going to prom? Cause I have two tickets, and since we're dating again…It's only right to take my boyfriend to one of the biggest high school senior year events," Troy chuckled a little.

"If we go together, you know that's going to out you in front of the entire senior class…Is that something you're ready to do? I told you, I don't mind keeping it quiet." Hunter reminded.

"Well, here's the thing…I really don't care about what everyone else has to say and bonus…My friends know I'm gay and that we dated." Troy confessed.

Hunter's eyes widened. "T-They know?" He asked to make sure he heard right.

Troy nodded. "They know."

"W-Why didn't you tell me earlier that you did tell them?" Hunter asked.

"I was giving you your space and it's been a few crazy days leading up to competition." Troy told him.

"Okay, that's fair…But when did you tell them?" Hunter questioned.

"During lockdown," Troy said as Hunter stared at him.

"Locked down with active shooters and that's when you decided to reveal the truth. I'm not mad, I'm just surprised that's when that came up." Hunter blinked a few times.

"It didn't come out in the form of hey, while we're locked down and doing nothing, just thought you should know I'm gay and was dating Hunter last month even though I said I wasn't," Troy chuckled. "It came out because I was worried about you."

"M-Me?" Hunter looked at him, still with surprise.

"You." Troy replied. "When Devon and Ethan locked the doors to the room, the first thing I said was that you weren't there due to taking the call in the hallway. And the first thing I tried to do was go find you," He enlightened as Hunter only listened. "I'd tried messaging you. Even calling you. No answer and the longer it went, the more scared I got you had been hurt or killed. Devon and Ethan had to hold me back from leaving the room after I argued that while you may have hidden in the bathroom, those doors didn't lock from the inside. I kept going on about needing to know you were okay," Troy explained. "I mentioned that you could only be hiding in the bathrooms because it was the closet when shots went off, and said again the bathrooms couldn't lock from the inside. I said you could be shot and hurt or dead, unable to get to your phone…I admitted that maybe they all didn't care about you, but I did. I cared and I loved you."

"Troy…" Hunter whispered.

"Star was first to speak in the silence, confirming what I said about loving you. So I confessed to being gay, and being proud of it. Also that you and I dated and you left me because I was scared to tell them the truth. But also admitted that the lockdown showed be there were bigger things to be scared about and what overrode fear of them walking away was losing you. I told Devon and Ethan I was going into the hall, quickly, silently, and cautiously to get into the bathroom to look for you. And they let me go…So I fibbed two days ago. They didn't send me to find you, I refused to sit idly by when I didn't know if you were okay…" Troy told him. "Don't know how they took things, it hasn't been brought up since the confession. But I don't care either…You were more important that day and you still are to me…"

"You risked your life to come check on me…" Hunter mentioned softly.

"I love you…Even if you don't feel the same. I had to know you were okay, and nothing else mattered to me than making sure you were. Then getting you to safety." Troy nodded, but became surprised when Hunter got out of his chair and walked over to stand next to Troy. "Are you alright? You look like you're about to-," He was cut off from finished that sentence by Hunter setting his hands on Troy's shoulders and leaning in to kiss him deeply. Of course, while shock was there, Troy closed his eyes and kissed Hunter back, but things stopped a moment later as Hunter looked at him with tears in his eyes.

"I love you too," Hunter said. "Before the breakup…I was going to tell you at prom, assuming you were going to tell the others then." He admitted gently. "And I could have continued to save the reveal until then, but I couldn't resist after all that." He smiled. "And thank you…For coming to check on me."

"I'd do anything for you," Troy replied, stroking Hunter's cheek.

"And I, for you too," Hunter responded, pecking Troy's lips and then breaking it to peer to his right and see the waiter coming towards their table. "We'll pick that kiss up later, if you're down to stay over? Or me with you. Don't care which way, but I don't want this night to end yet…"

"Doesn't matter to me. I'm okay to stay with you, just gotta let mom and dad know," Troy agreed. "I brought a change of clothes to get out of our competition outfits. I left it in your car."

"I have a change too, but since we're just gonna go to my house, can change then." Hunter shrugged.

"Works for me, I'll text mom or dad when we leave with the plans." Troy said as Hunter sat back down in his chair across from Hunter.

Zachary took away their appetizer plate and set down their main courses. Troy got a grilled chicken club with lettuce and bacon, along with the aioli sauce it had on it and the side of fries while Hunter got chicken broccoli alfredo with two garlic bread sticks.

"I'll let my parents know too," Hunter said. "I'm still shocked that your worry for me is how the truth came out,"

"I wasn't surprised. I meant what I said, fear for you was stronger than losing them or caring about their reactions." Troy remarked. "And you were right, it felt so great to have them know. I guess just saying it at random was what made it so scary. But when something else overrides that fear, it just came out so easy."

"I'm glad they know and that we don't have to hide, unless you still want to." Hunter wondered.

"No, it's fine. Like I said, don't even know how they took it because I left the room and came back with you and those other kids then we all sat quiet until we got all clear," Troy replied. "But I don't care what they have to say anyway. I'm happy with things,"

"Me too," Hunter smiled. "See, there's that confidence. Knew you'd get it after the truth was out," He giggled.

Troy rolled his eyes, but was smiling and held up the tickets again. "So…Amazing boyfriend of mine, would you like to go to prom with me next week?" He asked.

"I'd love to," Hunter replied.

"Can't wait," Troy set the tickets away in his wallet for safe keeping. "Should we meet there?" He inquired.

"I can come pick you up, or have your parents drop you at my place. Me and….Steven, Ollie, Freddie, Jase, Eli, Shane, Ty, and Ford are getting ready there. Their dates are meeting them there and my dad is sending us in limos…" Hunter informed. "I think Jase and Eli are going together. Ford is definitely going with Hailey, Shane with Madison, and Tyler with Addilyn. Not sure on Ollie, Freddie, or Steven yet." He shrugged.

"Alright, sounds good to me. What time?" Troy questioned.

"Uh…Prom is…At 6?" Troy nodded to him. "The guys are coming around 4, so that works. Or you can show up earlier and we can have some pre-prom fun," Hunter winked.

"I almost forgot what a sexual deviant you are sometimes," Troy sighed, but jokingly; he didn't mind one bit.

"Only when I've had no relief for a while," Hunter teased.

"You could have masturbated," Troy mentioned.

"Way too busy for that," Hunter admitted. "Did it plenty in the academy dorm cause I had a single unit, but these days? Pfft."

"I get it. I did it plenty before you, and maybe a time or two when we couldn't get together. But not during the breakup." Troy revealed. "No worries, though…If I'm staying over with you tonight, I'll give you your fix," He joked.

"Oh, thought you'd never offer," Hunter laughed. "We'll have to stop at the store for condoms, though. I actually used the last of mine last time we had sex."

"Okay. For now, let's just eat and enjoy our time here. We got all night to get…Reacquainted." Troy reminded.

"Oh, indeed," Hunter agreed with him.