“Wait up Leo!” Evan’s tall, lean whipcord body threw itself at Leo as he finally caught his friend.

“I haven’t seen you in like two whole days kid.” Evan said pouting.

Leo snorted. “You say that as if it has something to do with me.”

“Who was the one that came to your room multiple times only to hear sounds that needed to be warded off and scrubbed from his memory every time... Oh, yeah, that’s right, that was me,” Leo said snidely.

“Aww, don’t be all upset. Soon I won’t be able to come to your room without needing earplugs either.” Evan chuckled.

Leo flushed. ‘He hadn’t told Evan how close Max and he had gotten the other night Max had confessed.’

‘They had pretty much done everything but sex, it had been a whole long night of firsts, but they had been gentle, cautions. Since it was all so new.. He hadn’t been quite ready to share. Besides, Evan seemed to enjoy teasing his virgin friend about what he could look forward to. So Leo had just kept his mouth shut and enjoyed the talking.’

Evan chuckled. Leo frowned. Evan was a menace sometimes, especially as lately it seemed like he loved to see Leo thinking hard about stuff like that. He was just evil enough to tell him it made his day. He looked up at Leo with a huge grin on his face. Leo happily beamed back at him the sunlight glinting off his dark hair again.

“By the way, why is your hair dark again? It’s only been a few days since we dyed it.”

“I washed it out, then dyed the rest back,” Leo said offhand.

“You didn’t like it?” Evan asked.

“No, I liked it... Well, it looked okay.” He said dismissively.

“Okay... Sooo?” Evan said inquisitively.

Leo looked into Evan’s eyes, stopping both of them in their tracks. “I didn’t want to be eaten alive.” He responded very seriously.

Evan snorted.

“Max didn’t like it!” Evan said, raising his eyebrows.

“Odd, I was sure that would work... I was pretty sure it made you look so angelic and beautiful you would be hard to resist. I thought so anyway.” Evan said musing aloud.

“Wait... What? You did that on purpose!?” Leo said, shocked.

“He almost killed me the other day! All because I had to wait in between rinsing out the blonde and dying it black.”

Evan laughed.

“It isn’t funny Evan!” Leo said, staring at his friend.

“I had to endure five days with that jealous monster glaring at the entire school and, and, and me! I thought I was done in for.” Leo finished dramatically.

Evan wiped the joyful tears from his eyes.

“Well, at least my plan worked and you guys are together now.” He said happily.

“I don’t think that had anything to do with you.” Came a snarky voice behind them.

They both froze.

“How much do you think he heard,” Evan whispered to Leo.

“Oh, about enough of it that I get to do the punishing to you this weekend.” Sam said, in an amused voice.

“We are so screwed.” Leo whispered, he sucked in his bottom lip and grabbed Evan’s arm.

They both turned around.

Leo smiled and chuckled cutely at Max, then waved innocently.

Evan looked slightly abashed. “You came to get me Sam.” He clicked his tongue and smiled.

“Well, I’ll take the punishment if it means you came to see me on your own.” Evan smiled happily and walked up to Sam, then draped his arm around Sam’s shoulders.

Sam flushed with pleasure.

“Don’t turn this situation around.” Sam sniffed. Doing his best to look as haughty as he had just a few weeks ago.

Evan kissed him on the cheek gently.

“Aww, you are so cute when you get annoyed.” Evan teased.

Sam caved and smiled back at Evan.

Max walked over to Leo ignoring his friends.

“Are you mad I made you change it back?” He asked Leo encircling Leo’s waist with his arms.

“Nahhhh,” Leo said easily. He smiled and wrapped his arms around Max’s waist.

“Not in the slightest.”

Max smiled back happily and lifted a hand, then ruffled Leo’s hair gently.

Leo flushed up at him.

Max turned to look back at Sam and Evan, who were now arguing, yet again.

“Thanks for letting me know who to kill now,” Max said, staring at Evan, an eyebrow raised and a malicious evil grin on his face.

Evan sucked in his bottom lip and smirked back evilly.

“Just you try it.” He dared.

“Oh, stop it, we are all pretty,” Sam said, holding out his arms and walking between them all.

“But especially Leo, with that blonde hair.” He added snickering.

“Seriously, though, do you want to see?” Sam asked. Max let go of Leo’s embrace and turned to look at Sam.

“I took photos,” Sam had an evil twinkle in his eyes.

Evan looked at Sam in surprise.

Leo stared in shock at Sam. ‘Oh my god what is this kid even doing?… Why is he poking the bear?’

I can sell them to you at a special discounted rate. I can afford it, since they will make me rich.” Sam teased.

Sam held up his phone which actually held a really cute photo of Leo eating on it.

In the picture, Leo’s face was down, his ears and cheeks flushed a pretty hue of red and his curly blonde hair fell over his eyes innocently yet seductively at the same time, while he was eating lunch.

Max’s mouth dropped and his eyes widened.

“What the hell Sam! Give me your phone now!” Max snapped heatedly, anger darkening all of his features quickly.

Sam shook his phone back and forth while smiling.

“If you can catch me in under two minutes, I promise I will send you all the photos I have and delete them after.” Sam laughed and ran off.

“I promise when I catch you, I will only make your death excruciatingly painful,” Max called and chased after him angrily, a giant pissed off scowl scrunching up his handsome features.

Sam’s chuckles could be heard for only a moment before the swearing and pleading for help came from around the corner.

“Should we go get them?” Evan sighed.

Leo grinned and held in his laughter.

“Oh, I think we will catch up to them pretty soon, Let’s let Max have his fun.” Leo said, looping his arm around Evan’s and chuckling.

“Ooo, what is this new side of yours I am seeing? Max brings out the evil side of you. I love it.” Evan’s eyes glinted happily..

“Oh, just trying to be more open to the possibilities in life.” Leo laughed.

They both walked around the corner. Max had Sam in a headlock, arms twisted and Sam was whimpering for help as the stronger Max made him beg for repentance.

“I think you might have to be gentle with Sam tonight,” Leo said laughing.

“Nah... He deserves as good as he gives, and who else can punish him but me.” Evan smiled wickedly.

“I think Max is doing a pretty good job.” Leo stated watching with fascination as the two goofed off. A week ago that would have bugged him, but he trusted Max, in his heart, what they had shared that night was special.

“If only Sam had asked me first before liking you. I could have saved him from the pain.” Leo commented offhand.

“It isn’t good to divulge that your best friend is evil.” Evan chuckled.

“Do I need to tell Max about your weaknesses?” Evan teased back lightly.

“How would you know any weakness of his I don’t already know?” Max stopped and smacked Sam one last time hard to get him to behave and then turned his icy glare onto Evan.

Evan smiled deviously.

Leo had the decency to look sheepishly at his feet.

Max let go of Sam, everything forgotten in that moment and walked over to Leo. Leo backed up slowly until his back smacked into the wall. His breathing deepened for a moment as the breath was knocked out of him lightly.

Max Slipped his hand under Leo’s chin and raised it so that he was staring into Leo’s eyes.

“Tell me, are you hiding anything from me?” Max asked dangerously.

Leo nodded no, his eyes wide saucers that twinkled playfully.

He flashed back to that moment less than two months ago when they had been exactly like this before and his expression changed to a flushed, flustered one.

“You can look if you want to see if I am hiding something.” Leo’s voice came out a soft, delicate amused pout filled with desire.

Max grinned knowingly. He stuck his hand in Leo’s pocket. And this time his hand grazed something on purpose.

Leo closed his eyes and opened them in elation at the feeling as he leaned in to whisper in his ear just like before.

“Tell me or this time I just might not let go,” Max said seductively.

Leo shivered in excitement. Then remembered they were not alone. He tried to stall.

“Ah, guys we have to get lunch… we should go to the Canteen before all the rooms are done in the… are gone….” His voice cut out as Max tightened his grip slightly.

Leo groaned. And Evan and Sam snickered watching Max play with Leo’s emotions, embarrassing him, making him flush bright red.

“Oh, stop being mean already. If you’re going to grab it just grab it.” Sam said, rolling his eyes and chuckling.

“Yeah, jeesh.” Evan laughed and they both turned to scan the halls and make sure no one was coming and could see what was going on behind them.

Max smiled and pulled back, letting Leo go. He gave Leo a knowing look. Leo looked down at the ground, embarrassed.

“Fine, I’ll behave.” He said and chuckled.

“Jeez, you both have your own rooms. Go do it there.” Evan said snarkily. And the two turned and ignored Max and Leo and started chatting amongst themselves again.

Max smiled at Leo and held out his hand. Leo laughed once under his breath, then grinned back and they intertwined their hands together.

“What do you want to eat today?” Max asked Leo, as if nothing had occurred moments before.

Leo smiled cheekily. I don’t really know… what are they serving? He asked his brows furrowing while he thought about it.

Max smiled, then chuckled to himself. Leo looked at him strangely.

He chuckled again. “I heard they are serving…”

“Food.” Max stared at Leo, his eyes twinkling waiting for him to realize.

Leo looked at him and rolled his eyes. “I know Max they are always serving food… OOOhhh.” Leo laughed as he got the joke.

He shook his head a large grin spreading across his face until it reached his twinkling eyes. They both walked behind Sam and Evan, who were too enthralled on their phone to care about the two behind them who were playing with each other's fingers, hands interlocked not caring who saw they were a couple.

They got to the Canteen and slipped past the insanity. It was insanely packed out there just as usual, and they moved through the maze carefully, stepping over, book bags, projects, piles of books, binders and laptop bags. Until they made it to the front of the Cafeteria.

Max sighed. It was going to be hell again wasn’t it.

Leo wondered when the heck they would open up the other side so people didn’t have to go through the whole Canteen area to get to the Cafeteria study. If they didn’t hurry and do it, he was ready to punch a hole in the wall and just go through there instead.

Max wiggled Leo’s arm since their hands still linked so that he could get his attention.

“Looks like the broken chairs and mini table are all that’s left.”

Leo gave him a look.

“There are four of us and only two small armchairs, and a little table.”

Max smiled. “There are some regular dining chairs stacked against the wall. Sam and I can grab one. You and Evan can have the comfy chairs.”

“Dude, why do I have to get the dining chair? Shouldn’t I be getting a comfy chair like Leo? My bottom is precious.” Sam retorted.

Evan spanked Sam’s butt and smiled a few people looked up and smirked at the four of them goofing off in the corner. Then went back to their work.

“He’s right, his butt is precious. You leave your seat accommodations to me. I’ll make sure you get to sit somewhere comfy.” Evan said, patting Sam’s hair.

“Your butt’s just as precious as mine.” Sam pointed out.

Max rolled his eyes, but his eyes twinkled with amusement. “Fine, you are both pretty. Stop talking about your butts and help me with the chairs.”

Sam smiled, pleased he had won.

“Seee, my boyfriend takes care of me, better than my lifelong best friend.” Sam rubbed it in. Max stuck out his tongue playfully at Sam.

Evan winked at Max, Max chuckled but didn’t dignify Sam with a response instead he walked to the corner and grabbed a single chair while chuckling softly.

“Ahhh, damn it!” Leo’s voice yelped out.

Max turned around and saw that Leo’s chair had gone sideways because of the force of him sitting down in it regularly, forgetting the leg was too short.

Leo started laughing, and the rest chuckled at his brain lapse. Leo got back up and dusted his hands off on his pants.

Max walked over to his bag and opened it then began sifting through his bag.

“You will not find anything that will work, it's an awkward height.” Leo stated, his voice firm, certain of it.

“I used to have a book that fit. But I lost…” His eyes widened.

Max smiled and his eyes twinkled. He handed Leo’s notebook to him.

“That’s where this went!” Max chuckled.

“You left it behind that day… I always meant to return it… But well. It’s kinda been a long spring. And you didn’t seem to miss it too much.”

Leo smiled. “Sure, I missed it, it’s the only thing that fits under this stupid chair.”

“I have been perching delicately like a bird on this thing all month. Just praying I wouldn’t fall on my ass.”

“I always end up coming here too late and getting this stinking spot.” Leo said pouting. He shoved the book under the leg with a vengeance.

He checked the chair. It didn’t move, so he plopped down into it hard as payback. Then looked back up triumphantly at Max, Evan, and Sam.

“Oh, I am sure a month of squatting was good for your glutes, you will be grateful for that later. Sam said with a sly wink at Leo.” Evan slapped him lightly in the head before he sat down in the chair opposite to Leo. Sam frowned.

“Wait, I thought we agreed my bottom needs the chair?” He said annoyed.

Evan smiled. “I never said you were getting the chair…” Evan smirked evilly.

“I said I would make sure you got to sit comfortably.” Evan pointed out. then reached out to grab Sam and pulled him onto his lap.

Sam plopped down onto his lap ungracefully, taking a second to figure out his balance until he was comfortable.

“I’m sitting on your lap???” Sam asked, annoyed.

“That’s my comfortable seat?” Sam said snarkily. He turned and stared at Evan, displeased.

“Of course, who can take better care of your bottom than me?” Evan said cheekily, smiling like a little devil.

Sam turned around and poked him in the belly.

Evan pretended to be wounded, but still smiled back up at him charmingly.

Max chuckled and Leo smiled at the two.

“You two are a pair.”

Evan snorted. “So are you and Leo.”

Sam nodded his agreement.

“Yeah, your lovey dovey stuff is practically annoying at this point.” He snorted.

Max looked at him and shook out his hair but didn’t deny it.

“Leo only said he would date me like a week ago. There is no way we have been as annoying as you two. In less time.”

“Sure it’s definitely possible, ask Evan.”

“Yes, you two are clearly much more annoying, because your spark is hot and heavy and awkward to be around.”

“I am not awkward to be around,” Max exclaimed defensively.

The three of them started arguing and Leo sat back in his chair and looked at his book under the seat. Ignoring the three bickering.

‘Just what kind of future was ahead, and what feelings they had to confront and conquer he didn’t know. But he knew his life was going to be fun from here on out.’

End