Jay didn't sleep at all that night. Not after seeing Carlos and Evie together.

His mind was cycling through all the possibilities as to why they were laying together - but Jay could only think of how close they had become since the Isle. Maybe they were so close that he hadn't even realized they had a thing for each other…

How could I be so stupid?

As soon as Jay finally nodded off from exhaustion, it was if he was only asleep for a few minutes before the door creaked open and his eyes sprung open as well.

"Oh, um, you're still asleep?" Carlos' dual-toned hair stuck in every direction possible and he was rubbing sleep from his eyes.

Evie must have just woken him up.

Embarrassed that he was still in the clothes he had went into the locker room with yesterday, Carlos made a beeline for his dresser and started looking for an outfit for the day. He honestly hadn't expected Jay to be in the room, he didn't even consider it an option. It was 7:00 AM now, and Carlos figured he had a fifteen minute window to get in and get out before Jay came back.

"Yeah, I was up late partying with the boys." Jay rolled onto his back, trying to keep his cool. He just felt so...dumb for thinking him and Carlos had a chance at all. It was crazy, right? To think that?

Carlos could have anyone he wanted, and of course it would be Evie. She was beautiful and smart and a princess. She had more in common with Carlos than Jay did…

"Sorry I didn't make it to victory pizza, I was -"

"In bed with Evie?"

And it was out. Jay hadn't meant to play his cards right then and there, but Jay needed to know if they were a thing. He needed to know so he could put all this nonsense behind him. Jay didn't want to be strung along longer than he had to be.

"In bed with Evie? ...oh, Jay, that wasn't -"

"It was exactly what I thought it was, wasn't it?" Jay felt his temper rise. They were, if anything, always honest with one another - which was so hard for Jay, because lies came easier than the truth for him.

And for Carlos to be lying to him right now, well, that was icing on the cake.

"I'm your best friend, Carlos! You're supposed to tell me these things, like if you have a god damn crush on Evie!" He was raging at this point, having hopped off the bed taken to pacing between their beds. A breeze tousled his hair and Jay pushed it away aggressively.

There would be no time for Pocahontas-hair shenanigans, not at a moment like this.

"A crush on Evie? Jay, are you absolutely nuts?" It was almost comical, how bent out of shape Jay was getting about this. If he had had a crush on Evie, he would have told him first.

But the person he actually had a crush on, well...that was another story. One that may have been ending right before his eyes.

"Jay, Evie has been like a sister to me ever since she came out of castle-schooling and joined us at Dragon Hall. I love Evie, but not in the way you're thinking I do."

The amount of honesty in Carlos' words stopped Jay where he paced like a caged animal. It was true, the two had taken to each other like ducks to water and they had never once expressed interest in each other romantically. Besides, Evie only went for…princes.

Jay's face flushed in embarrassment, having blown the whole thing out of proportion, But there was still the issue of Carlos going to Evie instead of him for comfort...

"Oh, well, uh, I guess I'm sorry for the accusation - but you guys - you were…"

"I was in Evie's bed because that's where I fell asleep. It's as simple as that. I went to see Evie because I didn't feel like going to tourney pizza and I knew she'd be able to… You kow what? Nevermind."

So close, and yet so far, Carlos thought as he shut his mouth. This was not a conversation to be had today. Or ever. Not with Jay.

Jay could never know what Carlos was feeling for him, because it wasn't right. You weren't supposed to fall for your best friend, especially if they were the same gender, right?

Without thinking, Jay moved closer to where Carlos had his back to him.

"What could Evie understand that I couldn't?" His voice was so low, so full of concern and hurt that Carlos couldn't take it anymore.

"This."

And without saying anything more, Carlos grabbed Jay by the front of his night shirt and pulled him down, colliding his mouth with Jay's.

But Jay didn't respond. He was just so shocked that Carlos felt the same way that he couldn't even process what was happening.

When they separated, Carlos didn't look at Jay. He finally had his answer.

Jay hadn't kissed him back. He didn't feel the same.

"I have to go, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

Carlos hurried out of the room, tears filling his eyes and his limbs shaking violently. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but no one ever told him rejection would taste like heartbreak and pepperoni pizza.