Sorry, I know it's been a while. Thank you for waiting.

Chapter 8

Gabe's POV

The first thing that came to my mind was, 'I'm an idiot.' Because I am. Thane and I ordered Chinese and he cooed over my crab rangoon, and ate it all. Now he's sleeping in my bed, next to me. I sighed, staring at his face. I brushed my hand over his dark brown hair. Leaning, I breathed in his scent. He smelled like a fresh breeze and cherries. What a girly scent. But it smelled nice, and I liked it.

"Idiot," I sighed, getting up, to us both. We were both idiots. I moved to the computer in the living room. I started it up, and just started typing. About my life, who I was. My confessions and confusions, and my relationship with Thane.

The second bedroom door opened, making a creaking sound. I heard footsteps and I ignored them. Darion moved through to the kitchen.

"You're still up, are you?" Darion asked, chuckling softly. "Doesn't your father care about your hours? He'll be disappointed if your grades fall due to lack of sleep."

I sighed, and turned to him, pausing. "How about I tell your father where you've been all day?" I resumed typing. Darion hadn't said anything, and I smirked evilly.

"I've been in my room all day."

"Then how did you manage to get dirt all over your clothes? I didn't know you had a thing for pink azaleas, Darion."

There was an intake of breath.

"I wonder who's the only person we know who's mother has an obsession with pink flowers…" I trailed off suggestively. "And my father couldn't care less what the hell I do. Unlike yours. Decide next time if you're willing to pick a fight with me. I will crush you."

I stood, unplugging the computer.

"There's only so much you can do, little brother."

"I can do enough," I replied. "And that's all it takes." A single tear slipped down my face. I would know, I guessed. I wiped it away furiously. Walking towards my bedroom, I declared haughtily, "I'll do what I want."

Darion grabbed my shoulders and ground his fist into my head playfully. "You're such a spoiled brat, kid."

"Let go, you—you big meanie!" I whined, attempting to stomp on his feet. He had skillfully moved so I couldn't, and we ended up making a ruckus.

Thane poked his head out of my room. "What the hell are you doing?"

Aw, damn.

Seeing Darion distracted, I swished my foot at his groin, and when he moved back, aimed a kick at his head. Skillfully moving, he grabbed my leg, slamming me on the ground. I moved my other foot, taking out his knee so he fell.

We both sat on the floor, out of breath.

"This is Darion. He's my brother." I stood, brushing off my pants. I was tackled from behind, and fell at Thane's feet with Darion on my back.

"Ha, I win." He laughed in my ear. "I'm Darion. It's nice to meet you." They shook hands.

"I'm Thane."

"Woods?" My brother asked gleefully.

"Yeah." Thane looked slightly confused.

"Way to bring your boyfriend home, little brother. I'll have to tell mom and dad to keep a watch on you when you're home…" He smirked evilly. He had something on me now. But I had something on him too.

"Yeah, guess who's going to end up babysitting us?" I asked, standing. "There's only you. No, there's another person too, I suppose…" I looked at him with sorrowful eyes, and waited for him to get it. Nope. "You have pink azaleas all over your shirt. Why don't you go change?" He'd get it now, the thickhead. He glowered at me.

"Life sucks, deal with it," I told him, flicking him off. Thane wrapped his arms around me.

"So hostile…" He put a hand over my finger, and put it down. He sighed. Darion looked at us, surprised.

"What are you looking at?" I growled. "Beat it." I aimed a kick at him. He just went in his room and closed the door.

Thane dragged me back into my room. Thane dropped on the floor, on my pile of clothes, and I fell on top of him, in his lap.

"Idiot. Let me up," I said, blush covering my face.

"Your face is bleeding. You have a cut." Thane licked my cheek.

I winced, blushing even more. "S-stop…"

Thane smiled against my neck. "You're too cute."

I felt something on my hand, and froze. It felt...like a spider. "Ah!" I toppled over, Thane on top of me, and I clung to his shoulders, my face in his neck. "M-Make it go a-away."

Thane sat back up (with difficulty since I was clinging to him) and turned on the light. He looked and picked up a small black fuzzy that was on the floor. "It's just a fuzzy. See, there's nothing to be frightened of."

And he rubbed my back until I fell asleep.

Thane's POV

I put Gabe on the bed and I laid down beside him, falling asleep.

I woke up before he did—and let myself into the kitchen. I had just started cooking breakfast, when I heard footsteps behind me.

"Good Morning. Would you like something to eat?"

"No," Darion replied. He didn't say anything, and just stared at me for a while. I let him until it started to bother me. He better not be hitting on me or anything.

I sighed. "What's up?"

"You—" He started. "I've never seen Gabriel like that. You know, calm. He was always angry all the time, or silent and brooding. Lately, he's had some peaceful moments. I think 'cause of you."

I went back to cooking. "What makes you say that?"

"It happened last year too. For a short time. I guess he was with someone, because he was okay from November until about March, around his birthday."

"Hm." I nodded. So squirt loved someone else, did he? That hurt a bit, but the kid's bound to have some history. He wasn't a mannequin.

"Don't be too mad. It was one sided, on his part."

That just makes me even more mad, idiot.

"Be careful with him. He's had some pain in the past. He had an argument with one of his friends over a girl and was ostracized."

"Over a girl?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I guess the friend was trying to get this girl to go out with him, and she turned him down. Then Gabriel and Andrew had this whole fight—but it's not just that—"

"It wasn't a fight." Gabriel sauntered into the kitchen. "She basically told him he was being a giant asshole, and I agreed. Then Andrew told me to get lost and I left." Gabriel turned to Darion, who laughed nervously.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" he asked Darion.

"Yeah, actually. Bye!"

Thane nodded at Darion. The door shut.

Gabriel stared at my back, glowering. I turned, and kissed the corner of his mouth. I drew away and winked at him. "Don't be mad, love."

Gabriel grabbed my shirt, and pulling me forward, kissing me. I was shocked, and pleased. Also…I was concerned. The kiss was angry, but also very sad. He pushed me away, but he didn't let go of me. Head down, he told me, "If you want to know something about me, ask me." I tilted his head up and kissed him again.

We separated, and he said quietly, "Our breakfast is on fire."