Troye and Connor had never slept better. The warm Tuesday sun steamed in from the window and shone onto the covers.
"Hi," Connor said as Troye started moving in his embrace.
"Hi," he said sitting up and looking into the older boy's eyes and yawning.
"Sleep well?" asked Connor seeing how content Troye looked after yawning.
"Is it not obvious?" Troye asked smiling, earning a giggle from Connor. "I'm sorry... I'm so pathetic during storms."
"No it's fine Tro; actually it's quite adorable if you ask me," Troye threw a pillow at Connor's face.
"Shut up Franta."
"What! It's true!" he exclaimed while laughing, because he really did find it cute.
"Whatever, let's go get breakfast. School is starting in like an hour," Troye said blushing at the thought of his crush finding him cute.
The pair went down stairs; Troye prepared the usual Nutella toast while Connor sat on the counter island watching Troye.
"Morning," Sage chirped, opening the door of the fridge to get what she needed.
"Morning," the boys said in unison.
"So how did you two sleep?" Troye saw that now so familiar smile on her face while she looked them up and down, Connor didn't notice but Troye did, he knew that smile well and what it meant.
"Good, you?" Connor asked, trying to hide his smile.
"Good as well," she turned out the kitchen with her fruit salad in hand and while Connor's back was to her she shot a smile to Troye and made kissy faces. Troye's face went crimson and went back to spreading the Nutella onto the toast. Shit, he thought.
"Thanks Tro," Connor chirped as the boy handed him his toast.
They went and sat in the living room, with Sage there as well, while they ate. Connor finished first and went upstairs to go get ready. As he disappeared around the corner Troye saw Sage looking at him.
"What Sagey?" acting totally oblivious.
"Oh please," she said sarcastically. "Don't act like I don't know."
"Know what?" a voice said coming down the stairs.
"I...uh...Sage...uh...she," Troye stumbled over his words and gathered himself together. Sage sat wide eyed looking to her food, feeling guilty she may have spilled something. "Sage doesn't know what she is talking about mum," Troye said quickly.
"What you supposedly know Sagey?" Laurelle asked now very curious. Troye loved his sister more than anything but now he really wished she would disappear into thin air. The two siblings looked at each other, eyes as wide as saucers, trying to come up with something convincing. But saved by the bell, or Connor in this case as he walked down the stairs, Troye raced out the room and upstairs to get ready, but more to get out this situation. Sage got up and did the same while Laurelle and Connor were left to look at each other in confusion, eyebrows furrowed.
"Kids," Laurelle sighed to Connor, both shrugging their shoulders.
Connor laughed and sat on the sofa as he waited for Troye.
~~~
Days passed and soon it was Friday afternoon. There had still not been any sign of Kate's return but Connor remained on edge. Troye still tried to convince Connor he was safe and did so to remind him every day that he mattered and that what happened to his parents was not his fault. However nothing more had happened between the two boys. Sage was still teasing Troye but only with the looks she gave him, not daring to open her mouth after what happened with their mum entering the room that one morning, who was still not quite sure what was going on between her two children.
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