BLUE [BXB]

TWENTY SIX

   Ethan woke up to the alarm blaring through his phone. Rubbing his eyelids, he untangled his arms from around the other boy. He took a second to admire Vincent cutely sprawled out on the bed. Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to his cheek and allowed his hand to rub circles across Vincent's soft cheeks.

   Ethan got up, stretching his limbs and groaning softly. He reached over to the nightstand to grab the phone that had seized its screaming a few seconds ago. He held the device in his hand, unlocking it to turn the alarm off before it started again.

   He realized, however, that he'd accidentally grabbed Vincent's phone. Quickly, he turned to set it down, but couldn't help as his eyes drifted to the notification obnoxiously splayed out on the screen. For an outside observer, it would've been almost comical to see how his eyes widened gradually as they roamed over the text.

   now you're too good for me because you're getting QB dick? does he know you're so damn loose after all the times i rammed it inside you like a fucking whore? i miss an easy fuck. text me when you're bored of Ethan's whiny ass

   Ethan felt cold water trickle down his back, freezing him in his tracks and making his feet go numb. It was from an unknown number, but after staring at the digits for a moment, it was easy to recognize the number he'd known by heart since he was thirteen.

   Mason.

   Epiphany washed over him, rocked his body like a tidal wave. He felt like running naked through the streets, screaming about some God-damned Eureka.

   How had he not seen it?

   All the little stabs and sly comments, Mason's prevalent irritation at Vincent's presence, the latter's reluctance to hang around or merely bring up Mason: it all clicked.

   Until Ethan could only ponder,

   How had he not figured it out earlier?

   He stormed out of bed, hastily throwing on his discarded shirt and not even bothering to use the bathroom. He stormed down the stairs, relieved that Roger was nowhere in sight. It probably wasn't too good of an idea to drive because of how clouded his mind was, but safety was frankly pushed to the back of his mind by more pressing matters.

   It wasn't long before Ethan pulled up in the school parking lot, the empty streets paired with his apprehension somehow shortening the ten-minute drive. Ethan wasted no time, hopping out of the car before it had even come to a complete stop. His thoughts were completely skewed, running wild and coming up with assumptions he didn't even want to believe.

   He wanted answers, and he wanted them now.

   As soon as he entered the school doors, he made a beeline for the locker room, the noisy chatter of the football team growing louder with each step he took. By the time he was outside, the guys had already changed and were making their way outside, which, in turn, enticed a chorus of greetings to their captain who was not at all in the mood for them.

   "Yo, my man!" Luke grinned, throwing an arm around Ethan's shoulder.

   Ethan gave him a tight smile. "Hey. Have you seen Mason?"

   "Yeah, I think he's still inside," Luke replied, shooting Ethan a concerned frown. "You okay, dude?"

   Ethan nodded dismissively. "Why don't you guys get started with laps? Tell Coach that Mason and I will be up there in a second."

   Not waiting for a response, he entered the stuffy, smelly space and shut the door behind him. In the corner, he spotted Mason in gear, shooting an—albeit confused—grin Ethan's way when he heard him come in.