Page 27 (1/2)

"I know," Aden said on a laugh "No worries"

Thoht you" Shannon closed the door, shutting theainst the wood, head back, eyes closed He sighed, the sound weary

"So?" Aden asked

Slowly Shannon’s eyelids opened His green eyes were bright with apprehension "I--I need to tell you s-so it i-inside…"

"Yeah, I know" Secrets ate at you Proof: Aden was currently riddled with holes "You can tell e you Like I can, you know" He leaned his hip against the side of the desk and crossed his arlanced at Thoe ahead anyway "I’m Crazy Aden, remember?"

"You aren’t c-crazy"

"Thanks"

Shannon pushed out a breath "W-we’re roommates, and if y-you find out later, y-you’ll be pissed, and t-then you’ll want t-to kill rowled Do you think he laid a irl Victoria?

Nah I bet he murdered his last roommate, Julian said

"Tell ht of Shannon and Victoria together was enough to ay," Shannon said, and the words were uttered with shauilt

Gay Aden blinked That was all? Seriously? "Okay"

Those green eyes widened "O-okay?"

"Yeah"

"But, ere you not l-listening? I’m queer"

Aden rolled his eyes "I don’t know about that You’re a pain in the ass sometimes, but I wouldn’t say you’re weird"

"You knohat I meant," was the snapped reply

"So, too soon to joke about?"

That earned hiay, not diseased It’s fine I’m not worried"

The scowl vanished, replaced by astonish a rooet handsie?"

A smile twitched at the corner of his friend’s lips, and he seeht with it?"

"Yes, I’ht"

"Thank you"

"Am I the only one who knows?" Aden asked "Do you want me to keep quiet?"

"R-Ryder knows"

Today in the forest, that blush, Ryder’s inability to look at Shannon… Ah Everything made sense now

Shannon peered down at his feet, pushed out another breath, then banged his head against the door once, twice "I t-thought he was, too, but no He d-doesn’t swing that way"

He’d clearly been hopeful, though "Is your being gay the reason your parents kicked you out?" Aden asked

A nod "Part of it T-they had heard about Dan’s ranch and called h-hi, t-that sort of thing, and it was e-either come here or hit the s-streets I caan to break its way free "I think so, too"

A tentative knock sounded at the , and Thohtened and Aden turned There, beyond the glass, stood a blonde va, concerned, Aden stalked to theand opened it as quickly as he could Cool evening air blustered inside "Stephanie?"

She popped a bubble Moonlight bathed her, illu the paleness of her skin "The one and only"

"Another vas to Vlad She Must Die" Tho Only, he smacked into the same invisible wall Aden had encountered in his world with a thud When he realized he was blocked, he pounded at the ith his fists

Aden forced hi here? Is so with Victoria?"

"Physically, no, but I was one of the girls chosen to date you So yeah, there’s so that "Take me to her I need to--"