Ever After

Grayson

James' words were still bouncing around in Grayson's head.

"I know you're straight."

"I know you're straight."

"I know you're straight."

Grayson yelled out and turned around quickly, swiping the gingerbread house that he and James had just worked so hard on into the floor.

Was he? He didn't know anymore.

He lied. He lied to James and now he was paying for it. He remembered every bit of that party.

He remembered pouring back shot after shot, he remembered how good James looked the more he drunk.

He remembered following him up to his room and he remembered his bed and his lips and his acrylics.

It was weighing on him. He wasn't sure how much longer he was going to be able to keep all these secrets.

James was bound to figure out that Grayson knew a little more than he did about what happened after the party and Ethan was already catching on as well. Emma wasn't acting very interested, but she wouldn't pass up the opportunity to figure it out either.

It was the footsteps Grayson heard above him that brought him back. He bent down and started to pick up the broken gingerbread house, putting the pieces back in the box to throw it away.

"Hey, Gray, I saw James leave. Did you guys make up alr- ah, come on! I was gonna eat some of that." Ethan gestured towards the broken gingerbread house as he walked through the kitchen.

"There's still another one." Grayson mumbled.

The older twin picked a seat at the bar, watching his brother. "I take it you two didn't make up then?"

Grayson let out a dry laugh. "No." He spat. Ethan was really getting on his nerves. This was something his brother couldn't help him with. He had to figure this out on his own.

He couldn't let Ethan know he slept with a guy. It would change their whole dynamic. They were joined at the hip quite literally. Grayson didn't want to make his brother uncomfortable.

"Geez, dude, what's going on with you two? I don't have to beat him up do I?" Ethan asked. He was worried about his brother. He'd never seen him act like this towards someone without a good reason.

And James was their friend, but if he did something to hurt Grayson then Ethan wouldn't hesitate to put the oldest in his place.

He couldn't see how James could have hurt Grayson though, or even made him mad or upset. The two were too much alike. Even when they had misunderstandings in the past they were never very serious.

Grayson finished and stood to take the box to the trash and wash his hands. "No." Grayson said, rolling his eyes. "Nothing, Ethan. We're fine. I'm just, my head's messed up, I'm working through some things and James has been annoying me. I just- I don't want to be around him. He.. spikes my anxiety."

Grayson didn't know how much of that his brother was going to believe, but he had to say something to keep him off his back. He couldn't let Ethan find out.

The older twin eyed his brother. "He spikes.. your anxiety." He repeated.

Grayson glanced over, Ethan had his arms crossed, his eyes cut like he was trying to see something far away.

"Yeah." Grayson mumbled.

Ethan scoffed. "Okay. Then tell me why your head's messed up. What do you mean by that?"