Ian texted me the next morning.

"Devin's still pissed."

I frowned.

Last night's events were still fresh in my memory. I never knew a good day could end so badly until then. Jake shared something special with me, and I enjoyed every second of it. And then it all fell apart because I decided to be the century's number one jerk.

"So?" I texted back.

"He's your best friend."

"He's your boyfriend."

Ian stopped texting after that, but the anger and frustration I felt was still there.

My phone rang in my hand.

"Nate, you have to talk to him," Ian said.

"Why can't you do it?"

"I tried," he stressed out.

Irked, I ran my fingers through my hair which had grown out in the past few weeks.

"What's he so upset about?"

"He...He's mad that I didn't tell him about you and Tom earlier. Keeps calling me a goddamn liar."

I could hear the anger and hurt in his voice, the way it deepened, and the heavy breaths he took in between every few words.

"How can I help with that? It's all my fault."

"I just thought since you knew him longer..."

I sighed. "Where is he?"

"My apartment."

I squeezed my eyes shut and took a few deep breaths before opening them again. "Send me your address."

He sighed. "Thank y-"

"Don't thank me yet. I haven't done anything."

"Still, you're willing to try."

I didn't say anything to that, but waited until we both hung up.

Ian sent me his address a few seconds later, and I got my car keys out and ready.

The dog barked by the corner, and I bent down to pick him up.

Locking my apartment door, I knocked loudly against Rob's.

"Hello, Nate. It's been a while."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "I know. I'm sorry."

He smiled a little and pointed at the dog in question.

"Please?" I asked.

"No worries."

"Thank you, I owe you one."

"Correction, you owe me many." Then he winked, picked up the dog, and ducked back inside his apartment.

I huffed, my hair flopping out of my view as I quickly rushed towards the elevator down to the parking space where I hurriedly got into my car.

My fingers tapped against the steering wheel unconsciously as I drove, my thoughts far away from the street signs and buzzing car engines. All I could think of was Devin. I forgot all about Jake. He wasn't my best friend. My best friend was back and I still spent time with someone else, that didn't make a good friend. That made me a horrible friend. Not to add that I freaking lied to him, repeatedly.

I chewed my lip nervously as I slowly neared the parking spaces.

Climbing out of the car, I took a deep breath and tried to calm my nerves.

Okay, I told myself, I can do this.

I found Ian's door, checking my phone for a quick reference.

135.

My arm stretched out and my hand clenched in a fist before I knocked it against the wooden door.

Ian was behind the door, which he had wrenched open.

He looked like a mess.

His hair was all over the place. His usual stubble looked like it was about to form into a full fledged beard. He had dark shadows under his eyes, and his shirt was half tucked into his pants. From the looks of it, he'd just woken up.

"Ian, what..." I trailed off once I saw the wreck that was his apartment over his shoulder. "Oh."

"Come in." He said, then brushed his hair back as he moved to the side so I could walk in.

Numbly, I nodded my head and took a few steps inside.

"Listen-" he began, but I stopped him before he could say anything.

"What time did you sleep? You sounded tired last night."

He smiled weakly. "A few hours ago? I don't remember. Look, I have this important exam tomorrow so this was just a bad timing."

"I'm sorry."

"I was going to say, before you interrupted me...You should talk to Devin."

"What happened?" I asked him.

"Let's sit first."

Frowning, I followed him to the living area, where he took a seat on the couch.

It was leather. I could barely tell from the spots where his blanket, pillows, and school work weren't hiding it.

Hesitantly, I took a seat beside him.

"I have a feeling this is more than just me lying to Devin?"

Ian nodded. "What did he tell you when we fist moved back? About his parents, I mean."

I frowned, again. "What do you mean? He told me they like you so-"

Ian cursed, pushing his hair back from his face as his face tightened in anger. "He lied to you."

I swallowed. "What?"

"Devin sort of...ran away. He ran away to come here with me."

My eyes widened. "Why?"

"He came out to his parents. Let's just say...They didn't take it well."

My stomach twisted in a painful knot. I shook my head. "No."

I watched as he twisted the ring in his ear, tugging at it painfully as it gleamed under the little lighting that shone through the window. Then he shrugged.

I looked away for a second, my eyes trained on the carpet.

No way.

"Why didn't he tell me?" I whispered.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Ian shrug.

"Why did you let him run away?" I asked.

"I didn't just let him. He wouldn't listen when I tried to convince him to stay."

My head snapped up to look at him. Only then did I realize how bad he felt. "They're his parents."

"I know," he said, frustration evident in his voice.

"Aren't they worried about him?"

Ian shrugged. "I think Dev might've called them at some point. He wouldn't talk about it."

"Where is he now? You do realize he has to go back, right?"

Ian nodded. "He's in our room."

Dumfounded, I staggered towards the door he pointed at and knocked at it a few times.

"Dev? It's Nate. Open up," I called.

I stood for a few seconds but heard nothing from the other end.

"Dev, c'mon." I tried again.

Nada.

Exasperated, I tried the door knob but it was locked. I banged on the door, pain shooting up my arm as I cursed.

"Ian told me what happened," I said.

The door knob jingled, and I blinked in surprise as it opened up just a fracture and I saw a slice of Devin's face.

I felt my heart start to beat uncontrollably. But unlike the other times before, it wasn't because I liked him, but because I was scared for him. I was worried.

"What do you want?" He mumbled.

"Dev, we need to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about."

"Please-"

"Go home, Nate." He began to close the door but I stuck my foot between us.

"Nate," he threatened.

"Do you seriously want to hurt my foot over this?"

He was a silent for a few seconds before he sighed and pulled the door open a few inches wider.

I walked inside the bedroom as he locked the door behind him and crawled back inside the nest he made on the bed.

Otherwise, the room looked clean enough, save a pair of socks and boxers here and there.

Devin looked to be in the same state as Ian. Disgruntled, unhappy, messy.

"Talk to me," I said, as I sat on the corner of the bed.

He snorted with no humor in his eyes. "What do you want me to say? My parents hate me. My best friend doesn't care anymore-"

"I care!" I almost yelled. "Of course, I freakin' care!"

He shook his head. "Not like you used to."

I sighed. "I'm sorry, okay? Stuff just happened. I know there's no excuse but before I knew it..."

"Why didn't you tell me? We didn't talk like we used to even when we tried. It didn't seem..."

"Right," I finished, looking down at my hands. "I know."

"You felt it too?"

I nodded.

I heard him shuffling around until I felt his hand on my shoulder, and I moved my head to look at him better.

"It was my fault too," he said. "I should have tried harder."

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter anymore."

He smiled sadly and nodded. "So, Ian told you, huh?"

I shrugged. "Well? Why'd you do it?"

"You should've seen their faces, Nate. I-I couldn't do it anymore. I had to get away," he said.

I didn't know what to say. "Have you called them?"

"Yeah. The day after I left."

"And? What did they say?"

"At first, they just wanted me to come back. I hung up on them, and we hadn't talked since. I ignored all their texts and calls...until last night. I was just so pissed at everything and I missed them so much."

"You called them?"

He nodded. "They want me to go back."

"What? Will you do it?" I asked, my breath catching in my throat.

"Not permanently. No. I want to stay here, because you're here. Because Ian's here."

"But you'll visit them, right?" I asked.

He nodded. "They're still mad but willing to talk about it. Maybe even accept me."

I smiled, "That's good, Dev."

He smiled back. "I know."

"When are you going?" I asked.

"In a week maybe. Two weeks, maximum. I have a few school stuff I need to take care of before I can leave."

I nodded understandingly. "I'm sure things will eventually fall in place."

"Yeah," he said, but I could still detect a hint of sadness in the way he moved and talked.

"So why are you so upset at Ian?"

He shook his head. "Now you're playing matchmaker?"

I shrugged. "Well?"

He sighed. "He lied to me. More than once."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," he said impatiently. "A few days ago, when I was at school, he left somewhere and wouldn't tell me where he went. When I pestered him about it, he lied and said at the grocery store but there wasn't a grocery bag in sight. When I found out that he knew about you and Tom faking it, it just felt like another betrayal."

I realized that that was the time Ian came over to my apartment after my three day hiatus. When he gave me all those warnings about Jake. Why didn't he just tell Devin that he was with me?

"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation," I said, not wanting to tattle on Ian who probably had his own motives.

Devin thought about it and nodded. "I guess. I hurt him bad, didn't I?"

I nodded. "Real bad."

He chuckled, and I looked at him like he was a mad man.

"What?" He asked. "It means he must care if he's hurt."

"He always cared," I pointed out.

He just rolled his eyes at me. "I'm glad we could talk again."

My lips tugged into a smile. "Me too."

"Your parents still don't know? About you being gay?"

"I would've told you if they even tried talking to me, but they didn't. Not since last year."

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

I brushed him off. "The money's still coming in so that means they're still alive."

He punched my arm. "They're your parents, Nate."

"They don't act like it."

I knew I was making things awkward for Devin, so I changed the subject. "You should go talk to Ian."

"Not before you tell me all about Jake," he leaned forward.

I shoved him away. "There's nothing to talk about."

He raised his eyebrows. "Seemed like there was yesterday."

"Yeah, before we had a fight." I said, a pang of guilt hit my chest painfully.

"What happened?" He asked.

"I don't know. I kind of freaked out on him," I said, scratching behind my ear.

Devin frowned. "You should talk to him."

I sighed. "I know."

"Is he a good kisser?"

The sudden change of mood caused me to blink a couple of times before I could respond.

My face flushed. "Yeah," I replied weakly.

Devin laughed. "Tell me everything."

I did, and I was halfway through telling him about our date the other day, when my phone rang.

Distracted, I didn't even bother checking the caller's ID and just swiped at my screen.

"Hello?"

"Nate."

It was Jake. Talk of the devil and he shall appear.

Or call.

"What's up?" I asked, then felt stupid right away because I knew exactly what was up.

"I...We should talk."

"Yeah, I figured."

"So, can we?"

I blinked. "Right now?"

Devin nodded his head at me, but I waved my hand at him to stop.

"Yeah, if you can."

I glanced at Devin and saw his expression fall.

"I'm busy," I said.

Devin grinned at me, and I felt myself smile back.

"Oh," Jake said. "I guess this can wait."

"Great."

He didn't say anything, just hung up.

I felt guilt tug at my chest but I pushed it away.

"Where were we?" I asked. "Oh, right. Ian."

Devin's face turned red. "No, we were-"

"Ah, ah," I shook my head. "You're telling me all about Ian. It's sad enough that I learned some stuff about you two from him first."

"He talked to you about us?" He sounded surprised.

"Yup."

From then on, all Devin and I spoke of was Ian, Ian, Ian. Until I got sick of it and told him to stop.

"You asked," he shrugged.

"Speaking of, you should go apologize to him."

He smiled shyly. "Be right back."

He moved off the bed and started walking towards the door.

"I should be going, anyway," I said.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "I can't avoid Jake forever, even though I desperately want to."

"Okay," he smiled.

Then he surprised me by wrapping his arms around me in his infamous hug. I missed his hugs.

I hugged him back for a second before pushing him off towards the door. "Go."

He smiled and walked out of the room.

"Ian," I heard him say.

Ian was sleeping on the couch, a couple of textbooks and notebooks scattered around him.

He sat up abruptly at the sound of Devin's voice.

He blinked a couple of times, wiped his hand down his face and then said, "Devin?"

Devin smiled a little and said, "We should talk."

Ian nodded, shaking the rest of his sleepiness away. "Yeah..."

"I'll see you guys later then," I said, moving towards the door.

Ian frowned when he noticed me. "You don't have to."

"I have things to take care of."

His frown deepened but he didn't say anything else.

"Bye," Devin called just as I shut the apartment door behind me, leaving the two of them with a dreading conscience in my chest.

Heyyy,
Question: If you could give Nate one piece of advice what would it be?

School's coming up really soon so expect slower updates. I'll try to get at least one up every week, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. Fingers crossed! :D