Cody's bathroom was white. The walls, the floor, the counter - all white marble and stainless steel, sterile and clean, like a luxury hotel bathroom instead of one attached to a teenage boy's bedroom. The only splashes of color came from a green towel that was thrown onto the counter, the bottles of shampoo and shower gel next to it, dark blue with golden letters.

The tap was running, and Cody was brushing his teeth, standing in front of the sink, wearing a pair of checkered boxers and a plain, white T-shirt. His large feet were bare, pale against the white floor, his hair was a mess and his posture still drowsy, as if he had only just dragged himself out of the bed. The air smelled of his familiar, spicy aftershave.

Sky stopped in the doorway, hesitating, a cupcake with a lit candle in her hands. He hadn't noticed her yet, and as always - he looked different when he didn't know she was looking at him. Beautiful, of course, but also sad, tired. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his left hand was still bruised, after the kickboxing training where he had hurt it some days ago. The bruises were dark blue on his pale skin, the wounds on his knuckles had closed but still looked painful.

Sky's chest went tight with an unnamed emotion. She had barely seen him all week. First, there had been the whole thing when she had asked Hawk to sit with them at lunch— It still made Sky ashamed, even if Cody had said a thousand times he didn't mind, that it was okay. But after that, he had been tense, distant. And then—

Well, Sky knew it had been the right thing to do, to encourage him to spend time with his friends and in his hobbies, but still, it had led to Sky spending more time with Hawk this week than with her boyfriend.

Not alone time with Hawk, obviously, but time at the dojo. Together with their friends. Doing karate. And checking out Hawk's lean, shirtless body, imagining how it would feel to lay her hands on his arms, his chest—

Jesus Christ—!

Sky forcefully shoved those disturbing thoughts away. It was bad enough that Hawk haunted her dreams, she wasn't going to give him power over her thoughts and desires too.

Taking a deep breath to ground herself, Sky knocked on the bathroom door and pushed it fully open.

"Surprise," she stepped into the white bathroom. "Happy birthday!"

Cody was startled, the toothbrush fell from his fingers into the sink and his eyes widened.

"Sky, what the—?" he wiped his toothpaste-smeared lips with the back of his hand and turned to face her. "What— what are you doing here?"

"Well, what do you think?" Sky smiled hesitantly and revealed the cupcake she'd had hidden behind her back. It was a simple blueberry cupcake - she knew Cody loved blueberries - with a mountain of white buttercream icing, silver sprinkle, and a candle on top of it all. She had baked it herself, with Dad, the night before.

Cody's posture turned tense as if he wasn't looking at a cupcake, but a guillotine. His grip on the bathroom counter that he was leaning on, turned hard and Sky's heart sank. It took all she had to keep the smile on her face.

"Happy birthday," she repeated. "To the best boyfriend ever."

Cody looked like he wasn't even breathing. His face was very pale, his eyes huge and the horrible, horrible silence in this sterile, cold room was killing Sky.

"It's just a cupcake," her voice broke a bit, her hands holding the cupcake were trembling slightly. "Just— can you just blow the candle? Please? For me?"

"Sky—"

"I love birthdays," Sky spoke, her smile now all gone, her words hesitant but hasty on her lips. "I love it, all of it. I love cakes and gifts and parties, and I want to have that with you. You're my boyfriend— What if we're together forever? Am I never supposed to give you any birthday gifts? Am I never supposed to wish you a happy birthday? Cause I don't know if I can do that."

Something softened in Cody's eyes and he let out a slow breath that took away some of the tension in his shoulders.

"Okay," he said and stepped closer to her. "I guess you're right. It is just a cupcake."

He brushed the messy strands of his dark hair off his brow and bent to blow out the candle with one, quick exhale. The flame went out, and even if it wasn't hers to make, Sky made a wish anyway.

Let him be happy. I just want him to be happy, even for one day—

Cody straightened and met her gaze. There was such sadness in his eyes that it broke Sky's heart. She wanted it gone, gone, gone. She wanted his smile, his laughter, she wanted back the cocky, confident boy she'd gotten to know. Suddenly Sky realized she couldn't even remember when was the last time she'd seen him truly smile, and that thought hurt her like a knife in the gut.

"How did you get in here?" Cody asked, picking up the candle from the cupcake and tossing it onto the counter behind him.

Sky silenced the guilt and the worry in her mind the best she could. She was here now, with Cody, her boyfriend, and she would make sure that by the end of this day, he was smiling again.

"David let me in. Don't worry, your Mom doesn't know I'm here. You've got one sneaky little brother."

"That I know."

Sky raised the cupcake, offering it to him. "Come on, take a bite. It's blueberry. Your favorite, right?"

"Blueberry, huh?" He bent to take a bite, the frosting smeared his lips, and he let out a sound of pleasure as it melted in his mouth. "Oh my God, that's so good—"

"I made it myself," Sky grinned. "All for you, birthday boy."

He didn't comment on that word, but took the cupcake from her hands and ate it all. When he was done, he licked the icing off his long, slender fingers, and there was a small smile playing on his lips.

"Happy?" He asked, glancing at her.

"Are you?"

He sighed, but stepped closer and brought a hand to gently tilt up her chin. His peppermint toothpaste, sugar, and buttercream breath fanned her face making something flutter in her belly.

"With you, I'm happy every day. Even today. That cupcake was really nice," he said, but his voice was still serious, it had a hint of sadness.

"Good, because there are more. I made like a dozen."

"Oh?" Cody arched a brow. "And when do I get to eat them?"

Sky smiled, leaning closer to him. "Tonight. You do remember you're spending the night at my place?"

It had taken some convincing, but Dad had finally agreed to spend the night at Lisa's and leave the house for Sky to organize a party for Cody. Dad had probably felt just as bad as Sky did, after hearing that Cody had never had a birthday party. He had agreed to pay for the cake and all. But the party wasn't all Sky had planned for tonight - there were other surprises too.

"How could I forget? It's all I've been thinking all this week." His eyes dipped down, to the necklace that rested between her collarbones. "I love seeing you wear that, by the way."

"And I love wearing it."

His fingers brushed the pendant lightly, the touch of his hand lingered on her skin for a couple of heartbeats before he let it fall.

He was standing so close to her, that Sky felt his warmth in the air around her, making something swell inside of her chest. The colors of the rainbow. She loved him, loved his beauty and his kindness, loved the way his closeness always made her feel safe, wanted, special. Bringing her hands to his neck, Sky tiptoed to kiss him, and he met her halfway. A soft sigh left his lips before their mouths merged, and the taste of the blueberry cupcake and vanilla frosting filled Sky's senses. He tasted like home, like sweet dreams, like summer days and bookstore dates, and movie nights, like everything Sky had ever wanted.

Her heart was fluttering in her chest, as his hands came down on her shoulders, hot palms and long fingers grazing down her arms, then moving to her back. His touch was burning hot, as if he was running a fever. His lips, his heaving chest under that plain, cotton T-shirt, his body so close to hers— it was as if he was burning from the inside out. He shivered, trying to keep the kiss soft and light.

But Sky wasn't here for small, light kisses. Pulling him closer, she deepened the kiss, sucking his lower lip, making him let out a moan. His tongue entered her mouth, the sugary taste of the kiss was turning into salt and passion as his hands slid down Sky's spine down to her waist, to the small of her back. Under the hem of her T-Shirt, his burning palms pressed against her skin.

"Sky—" he broke the kiss, his chest heaving with shallow, rapid breaths. "God, I missed this."

She felt a slow grin on her lips. "You did, huh?"

"I've been thinking about this every night," he groaned, his burning lips following the line of her jaw, peppering small kisses on her skin. "Kissing you, just having you here with me—"

"I missed this too," Her fingers were threading through his hair, as his lips traveled down, tracing a line towards the pendant that lay in the dent between her collarbones.

It was true - she had missed him, missed his kisses, his hands on her skin—

But it's not him who's haunting your dreams, is it? That thought was sudden and suffocating. Sky hadn't asked for those dreams. She didn't want them, the dreams where Hawk was kissing her, making love to her, pressing her down on the bed, and pushing his narrow hips between her trembling thighs. She didn't want those visions, didn't even want to admit she was having them, but more nights than not, she woke up in her bed, sweaty, tangled in her sheets, the memory of the dream still gripping her tight as the last waves of pleasure coursed through her shivering body.

She blamed the training sessions at the dojo. Why the fuck did Hawk have to parade around shirtless all the fucking time? It was only natural that her body still ached for him when he kept showing himself off like that. It didn't mean she was forgiving him, it didn't mean she wanted him back, it didn't mean any fucking thing. Her heart was still in pieces, she could barely talk to Hawk, and the sound of his voice hurt like an arrow straight through her heart.

They were just stupid dreams. They didn't mean anything, she wasn't being unfaithful— was she?

Her grip on Cody's hair turned tighter. His breathing was hot on the sensitive, wet skin of her neck. Dreams didn't count, they weren't real. She would never hurt Cody that way, he would never have to find out about these stupid, treacherous, disgusting dreams—

"Cody—" she sighed a bit breathlessly, as he kissed her neck harder, suckled on her skin in a way that would leave marks.

He brought his face up, and there was no more sleep or sadness in his eyes. They were now dark with passion, with need.

"I'm sorry—" His cheeks had turned red, his voice was a bit thick. "Shit— I just missed you so much, and—"

She felt a slow grin on her lips. "Don't be sorry. This is what I'm here for."

Keeping eye contact, Sky brought a hand between their bodies, ran her fingers slowly down his chest, his lean abdomen. His chest rose and fell rapidly under her touch, his eyes widened as she followed the waistband of his boxers with her fingertips.

"It's your birthday," she grinned. "And what's a birthday without the traditional birthday morning handjob?"

"Come on! There's no such tradition," He laughed, but his voice turned a bit throaty as Sky moved her hand lower, and gently palmed him through his underwear.

"We could make it one," she purred, caressing his hardening cock, gripping it a bit tighter. He let out a soft whine, a sound that went straight to Sky's gut like lightning.

They hadn't had sex in a month. Not since that time when Dad had walked into them and she had been kicked out of rehab, and even if there had been a lot of kissing, and even some making out on her bed after a movie night, they hadn't gone this far. She could tell waiting had been hard for Cody - the way he was shivering under her touch, how his breath was getting caught in his throat, told her just how much he had missed this.

After all, she knew he was used to having a lot of sex, with a lot of girls, and she had made him wait for a month. She hadn't meant for it to be so long, but things had just happened. First, she had been injured after the fight, then Cody had been away for his skiing trip, and then—

Well, Sky had wanted to take it slow. To go on some dates, to spend time with Cody, to get to know him not just as a friend or even a friend she was having sex with, but as her boyfriend.

My boyfriend. The best boyfriend anyone could ask for.

He hadn't put any pressure on her, even if Sky knew he must have wanted more. He had always stopped when Sky had asked him to stop and said It's okay. We'll take it as slow as you want to.

But she was done taking things slow. The steamy dreams she'd been having all this week, had left her hot and restless, yearning for release. Maybe they would stop if she started having sex with Cody again? Maybe his hips between her legs, his dick inside of her, would repel the horrible, nagging need in her veins, the wanting for Hawk, that was getting harder and harder to ignore—

Jesus Christ, enough of this already! I'm here for Cody, this is about him, not me!

Cody swallowed hard and brought his face up to meet her eyes. "Sky— I need to be taking David and Leigh to school in fifteen minutes—"

"Fifteen minutes?" She gave a wicked laugh. "I bet you won't even last five."

He laughed too, but that sound was a bit strained. He did nothing to stop Sky's hand when she eased it into his underwear - but reached a trembling hand to close the door and turn the key in the lock.

"Smart. We don't want anyone interrupting—" but that sentence was cut short as Cody pushed her against the wall next to the door and kissed her so hard it made her weak in the knees. Suddenly he was all need, all passion, and all the lingering thoughts of Hawk flew off Sky's mind as Cody's tongue slipped deep between her opening lips, grazing the roof of her mouth. His hands were in her hair, then running down her arms, his lips were burning her to ashes, so hungry, so desperate, and everything in him was tense, trembling, needing her, needing her kisses, her touch, her love—

Determinedly Sky pushed down his underwear, and brought both hands to grab his already rock-hard dick, making him let out a strangled moan into her mouth.

Sky grinned into the kiss as she began to caress his length, slow at first, teasing him with her feather-light touch. His hips twitched, his chest was heaving, the soft moans and sighs that were falling off his lips went straight into Sky's veins, they gathered in her belly turning her insides hot too. His dick was so hard in her hands, so big and so hot, and she wanted it - This, him, not Hawk, never again Hawk, just Cody - wanted it in a primitive way, needed it inside of her, wanted him to shove her against this wall and not push into the heat of her palms but inside of her body, filling her perfectly, filling the emptiness inside of her, just like he had that night, that first time they had done it at that Halloween party—

Get a grip— Sky rolled her eyes at her thoughts. Even a handjob was risky, knowing Cody's family was home, having breakfast downstairs at this very moment. She could hear the distant voices, the clattering of plates, could smell the rich, dark scent of coffee, the mouthwatering combo of bacon and eggs. There was no way they could start fucking now - they would be caught. Even this small gift she had planned for Cody - well, they would have to be very quick about it.

Not that that seemed to be an issue. He was already whimpering, as Sky added some intensity, pumping him harder. His dick was leaking pre-cum onto her hands, and she spread it on his whole length, making the tight space of her palms and fingers around his thickness slick and smooth.

"Sky— ohmygod—" he moaned, and kissed her again, heavily, hungrily. His burning hands were trembling as they came down on her body, sliding to her waist, then back up, one hand stopping to grip her boob through her clothes, the other one finding her hair again, fingers digging into her curls as his tongue slipped deep into her mouth.

He pushed himself between her legs, making the space between their bodies so small and tight it was a bit difficult for Sky to even keep jerking him off. It was as if he couldn't get close enough, couldn't get enough of her touch, the warmth of her body, as if he needed not just her touch on his dick, but everything about her, as if he needed the contact of their bodies, needed her as close to him as possible to heal the aching of his soul, the wounds in his heart.

"Cody—" she sighed, breaking the kiss. "I fucking love doing this to you, you know that? I fucking love your dick, Cody Bishop—"

"Oh God—"

His heavy breathing fell on her lips, it tasted like peppermint toothpaste and blueberry cupcakes, with a hint of salt and need. She could tell he was getting close, his eyes half-closed in pleasure, his hand that was gripping her boob was trembling, fingers digging into the softness of her chest almost painfully.

She grinned and looked up at him, her hands working him faster and harder in the tight space between their bodies. He was so fucking beautiful. Bright red spots painted his high cheekbones. He was biting his lip, trying to keep quiet, but soft, dry moans of pure pleasure were still escaping, turning everything in Sky just as hot and needy as he was. She rubbed her thighs together, trying to soothe that need, but fuck how was she going to be able to wait for tonight? She wanted him more than ever, wanted his love and his dick and his cum, wanted it all, like it was meant to be, wanted him between her thighs, fucking her against this wall until she would come like a collapsing star, his dick so fucking deep inside of her—

— and she wouldn't think about Hawk and her stupid dreams anymore!

"Sky— Jesus Christ—" the words that were falling off his lips were nothing but hot, dry, strangled breaths. "Oh fuck— you're gonna make me come—"

"Yeah, come for me, babe—," she sighed, pumping him faster with a tighter grip. "I fucking want that, Cody. Give it to me, baby, I want it—"

"Yes— Oh God—!" He gripped her hair and pulled her head back. His breathing was hot and rapid on her sensitive skin, his lips hungry as he buried his face against her neck, sending shivers of need through Sky's whole body.

And then he was coming, his dick throbbing in her grip, strangled moans falling off his lips. Sky caught his cum in her hands the best she could but there was a lot of it, and he was squirming, pushing his dick into the tight grip of her hands, so that some of the hot, sticky cum spilled and dripped onto the floor, onto his clothes.

"Ohgod—" he was whimpering, through the orgasm that made his whole body tremble. "Ohmygod— Oh fuck, Sky— so fucking good—"

"I'm here, baby—"

"I love you, I fucking love you— Jesus Christ, I've missed this—"

His shoulders rose and fell with fast, deep breaths as he slowly straightened to meet her eyes. His cheeks were burning, his eyes were two huge, black saucers full of love and wonder - no more sadness, just a hint of hesitation. His dick was still in her hands, still hard and hot, but the throbbing had stopped and slowly Sky let go of it, trying desperately not to make a mess.

She didn't want to have cum stains on her clothes if it could be avoided. She needed to go to school wearing these things.

"So—" she said, with a slow grin. "You liking this birthday thing yet?"

He laughed and let out one more deep, shaky breath. "Maybe. It's kinda growing on me."

She let him kiss her, slow and gentle this time, slow and gentle but deep, and his scent of the spicy aftershave, cotton T-shirt, and the deep musk of cum surrounded her, making her insides soft and hot, her heart fluttering in her chest.

When he broke the kiss, his eyes were dark and full of emotion Sky couldn't quite interpret. He released her from his arms and took a step back, glancing down at her hands that were still covered with his cum, and his throat bobbed at that sight.

"Thank you—" he breathed, a bit short of breath. "You didn't have to do that. I'm sorry— I want to do the same to you, Sky. I don't wanna be one of those guys who just take—"

Sky flashed him a quick smile and walked past him to the sink and turned on the tap - the scent of his expensive hand soap soon covered the scent of sex. Sky glanced at the mirror as she rinsed off the soap. Her cheeks were burning and she wished she could splash some cold water on her face too - Hell, she would have needed a cold shower to calm down the racing of her heart - but that would have ruined her makeup.

And she needed to go to school. They both needed to do that, in a very short time.

"I know," she said, glancing at him through the mirror. "And don't apologize. I wanted to do this. It's your birthday and I want it to be amazing."

He swallowed hard and looked down as if the mention of his birthday had brought a sudden sadness on him.

Well, screw that. I'm gonna give him a thousand wonderful birthday memories today, starting with this cupcake and the handjob, ending with the most amazing sex he's ever had in his fucking life. And we'll see if he still hates his birthday after all that.

Sky dried her hands in a towel, Cody cleaned himself by the sink, and then - realizing what time it was - he let out a silent curse. Quickly he shed his night clothes, and pulled on a pair of jeans, a nice forest green hoodie, stepped on a pair of expensive sneakers.

"I'm late, we have to hurry—" he said, taking Sky's hand and pulling her with him as they walked out of his room. "I need to take David and Leigh to school—"

That sentence died on his lips. His hand dropped from hers.

Cody's foster mom was standing in the hallway, right outside of his room, her arms crossed over her chest. She was wearing heels and a beige skirt suit, a white blouse, gold jewelry. Her blond hair fell around her face in soft, flawless curls, but her eyes were cold, mean disgusted. She glanced at Sky from head to toe, her piercing gaze stopping at her messy curls, her burning cheeks, the rumpled skirt that had a couple of stains on it.

Sky's cheeks heated. "I'm sorry— I was just— it's his birthday, and… I had a cupcake—"

The blond woman turned her steel-colored eyes back to Cody as if Sky hadn't said anything at all, as if she wasn't worthy of her attention. Cody stood frozen, completely still, only his chest heaving with fast, shallow breaths.

"You are late," The foster mom said. "The kids are already waiting in the car."

"Sorry—" Cody breathed. "I'll be right there—"

"And throw that slut out of here. I don't care if it's your birthday. I've told you not to bring your whores into my house."

The words felt like a slap on the face. Sudden tears flooded Sky's eyes, burning, shameful. She didn't stop to hear more, her shaky legs carried her toward the stairs, out of here, out of this cold, sterile home, away from that horrible woman who was ruining everything—

Behind her, Sky heard Cody's voice breaking as he started yelling at his mom. She's my girlfriend! You can't just— but Sky didn't hear the rest of that sentence, for she was already at the door.

In the driveway, in Cody's car, David and Leigh watched with wide eyes as Sky rushed past them, wiping her cheeks.