OMG, I feel like I've abandoned you guys! This chapter is going to be a bit longer, just because I haven't updated in SO LONG! Well, last time, I asked you if you wanted slash or not. The verdict is 14 and a half for slash and three and a half for no slash. That means slash won! If you didn't want slash, sorry. Majority rules, my children. Only Jarlos slash will happen, though. No Kogan.

Carlos sat down in his living room. It was the last day of Easter break, and he was dreading going back to school. Even though he and James had seemingly worked everything out, they hadn't talked since Carlos told James that he thought he liked him. Carlos's mother Sylvia came into the living room and threw her keys onto the couch beside Carlos. She sighed loudly. Carlos narrowed his eyebrows. "What's wrong, Mamá?"

"Your father wants to move to California!" yelled Sylvia.

Carlos's eyes widened. "No! We can't! I just got a girlfriend and everything is just starting to go right here!"

"I know, Carlitos," said Sylvia. "But you know your father. He's so stubborn."

Carlos sighed angrily. He jumped up and left his house before his mother could say anything else. He started walking aimlessly. He thought about going to Candace's, but she had family staying with her.

Carlos ended up knocking on James's door. As soon as he did it, Carlos suddenly wished he hadn't; he and James hadn't spoken since Carlos told James that he thought he used to like him.

James opened the door. He was smiling. Carlos smiled back. He felt his face flash red as he paid more attention to James's outfit: James was wearing nothing but a pair of plaid shorts. "Hey, Carlos. What's up?"

"Uh, my...um...Dad wants to move to California," said Carlos. It seemed like it took him forever to get the words out. His mouth suddenly felt dry. He swallowed. "Do you have something to drink?"

James nodded and motioned for Carlos to come in. Carlos followed James to the kitchen. James handed Carlos a Dr. Pepper from the refrigerator. Carlos opened it and took a big drink. He stared at James and wiped his mouth off. "So what do I do about my dad?"

James shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe if you tell him how great your life has been lately, he won't want to move anymore."

Carlos huffed. "I doubt it. My dad is extremely stubborn."

James opened his mouth to say something, but then his mother, Brooke, entered the room. She wasn't wearing any make-up and her hair was untidy and frizzy. Carlos looked confused. Brooke's eyes were red, as if she'd just been crying. Brooke got a Corona from the fridge and left the kitchen. Carlos looked at the space she had just occupied. "James, is everything okay here?"

James closed his eyes and pressed his lips together. He took in a deep breath and then let it out. "Dad left us."

Carlos couldn't believe it. James's parents had always seemed so happy together. "Why?"

"He's gay," said James, almost too quietly for Carlos to hear. Carlos could feel his heart beating in his ears. James looked so sad. He just wanted to hug his friend, but he felt that that would be too awkward, especially because of what Carlos had told James only a few days ago.

"I don't know what to say," said Carlos. His eyes took in all of James's appearance; his hazel eyes, his perfect hair, and his soft belly. Carlos suddenly looked away. This was not happening. He was not feeling this way again. Carlos Garcia did not have a crush on James Diamond.

Carlos set his soda can on the counter. "I'm just gonna go."

"What? Why?" asked James. He sniffed. Carlos hadn't noticed that James had started crying. Carlos sighed. He didn't know what he should do. If he left, James would be mad at him again. If he stayed, Carlos didn't know what would happen. He would probably end up doing something he would instantly regret.

"Okay, I'll stay," said Carlos.

"Thanks." James sniffled again. He wiped a tear from his face, but there was no point to it, because another tear just replaced it.

Carlos took a step forward and hugged James. He was extremely warm, and he smelled microwave popcorn and Axe Chocolate. It was the best thing Carlos had ever smelled. It was intoxicating, and Carlos wanted to smell this smell every day for the rest of his life. He held the hug for longer than he probably should have. Carlos pulled away, and James sniffed again. Carlos looked at his friend's face. James looked so sad.

Before his conscience could tell him not to, Carlos leaned forward and kissed James. To his great surprise, James didn't pull away. Both boys moved their lips. Carlos felt James's hands run down his back, and he put his own hands on either side of James's face.

Carlos was the one to pull away. He stared at James's face. James looked both confused and excited at the same time. His eyes were wide, but he had the hint of a smile on his lips. "I thought..."

"Yeah, me too," breathed Carlos. He was a little out of breath. The kiss had lasted a lot longer than he had planned, probably because he had expected James to pull away. Carlos stared at James again. "Why-why didn't you pull away?"

James shrugged. "I guess I liked it. Maybe I like you..."

A smile appeared on Carlos's face. He was actually glad to hear it. Suddenly, Carlos realized his relationship with Candace was a lie. He really didn't like her. He liked James. He liked James and James liked him.

"Does-does that make me gay like my dad?" asked James.

Carlos shook his head. "Maybe you can like boys and girls. I think I like both. Well, I've never liked any boy other than you, so I'm not sure what I am."

Both boys were quiet for a moment. James started laughing lightly. "I'm just surprised you like me like this. You know, carrying this big thing around."

James put his hands on his stomach. Carlos shrugged. "Why are you surprised? Maybe I think it's cute or something."

James kissed Carlos hard. Carlos kissed back, and it felt right. It felt as if everything before this moment had just been make-believe, and this was what the real world was like. It was like waking up from a coma or watching a 3D movie for the first time. It was so liberating. The two boys felt that they could do anything.

So what do you think? Please review! Next chapter will be set during summer vacation.