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Chapter 14

I led Gale up to my room quietly, hoping that my usual clumsy self didn't wake my parents. There was about a 78% chance that I'd trip and fall down the stairs. Luckily, it was my lucky day, because I managed to get up the stairs in the complete dark safely. I tiptoed into my room and Gale followed timidly. When the door was completely closed, I flicked on the light.

Gale looked around, observing, since he hadn't been in my room before. He hadn't even been to my house before. My room was pretty boring, if you asked me. A bed with blue and yellow striped sheets, three shelves full of video games next to a tv, pictures of friends, you know, nothing special. Yet Gale gaped at my room like it was a mansion.

"So, are you going to tell me why you were hiding in Wal-Mart?" I raised an eyebrow and leaned against my door, waiting. Gale sighed and sat down at the edge of my bed. He looked sad, and really tired, like he wasn't getting enough sleep. He probably wasn't.

I got kicked out of my house, Gale signed. Three years ago.

My eyed widened. Three years ago?! That means he was lying to me from the start. I stared at him in disbelief and he looked away guiltily. I ran and hand through my hair and looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

My parents found out I was gay and threw me out. All of my family hated me so I left home and moved around the city a lot. I usually stayed in abandoned buildings and huge stores. No one noticed, or they didn't care. I play my violin so I'll have money for food and clothes. If I can't afford it, I borrow it.

"Borrow? What do you mean borrow?" I asked.

I...used some clothes and put it back after a day. If any clothes gets ruined I pay for it. I've never stolen anything, I swear. I kept going to school, but it got too hard with all my former friends so I came here for school.

"How did you enroll without a parent?"

I did most of it online, used an address in the area, and confirmed it all at school. I just told them my parents were at work.

"Or on a trip." I muttered and Gale nodded sadly. I knew he felt bad and was guilty, but that didn't change the fact that he lied to me. About everything. And if he hadn't been caught in Wal-Mart, he most likely wouldn't have told me. That's probably the worst part.

"So what, when you had enough money, were you just going to leave? We're you even planning to tell me?" I snapped, suddenly angry. Everything I thought I knew about him was a lie, and I didn't even notice. For weeks, I was completely content, soaring, because I was so happy that I was getting to know him, when I was really just learning a bunch of stories. Gale bit his lip and stared at his hands.

I was...going to tell you.

"No you weren't." I sighed and Gale looked up. "Because that would've been to hard, and I know you better than you think. I'm not as stupid as you think I am. You run when things get too hard." Gale didn't answer back so I kept going.

"Gale, I-I'm not sure what to say. I mean, I don't know anything about you anymore. All this time you...lied to me. How do I deal with this? Actually, how would you deal with this, because I have no idea what I should do." I stared at him and he stared at the floor. Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair and slid to the floor, my head rested against my doorframe. I cradled my head in my hands.

I was at a loss for words. I felt like our relationship wasn't real. I didn't know Gale was near until his hands intertwined with mine. Our eyes met, and like magnets, our lips did too. We kissed briefly, small pecks planted with care, before I withdrew, our foreheads pressed together.

Nothing about me has changed. I'm still the me you know. I'm sorry I lied to you. I didn't want to hurt you, but telling you I'm homeless isn't the best way to start out a relationship. I don't want to leave you. You mean a lot to me. A lot more than anyone has before.

I looked into his deep blue eyes and sighed, tracing swirls on his cheek with my thumb. I loved him. It had only been two months and yet, I knew I loved him. I kissed him again and scooped him into my arms, startling him. I carried him to my bed and set him down on it. Then I went to my closet.

"You can stay here for the night. My parents won't mind. My mom already adores you." When I came out of my closet with the smallest pair of shorts I owned and one of my T-shirts, Gale was still seated on my bed, gaping at me. I frowned and held up the clothes.

Aren't you mad at me?

I shrugged and ran a hand through my hair. "Mad? No. I can understand why you didn't tell me, I just wish you did. Gale, I'm always going to be here to help you if you need me. I just need you to be honest. I'm your boyfriend. You can trust me."

"Because your my boyfriend, Gale signed doubtfully. I grinned cheekily and tossed the clothes onto the bed, right next to Gale.

"No, because I'M your boyfriend."

***

I woke to the sweet smell of vanilla. Not just any vanilla, but French vanilla. I opened my eyes and realized that my nose was burried in Gale's blonde hair. My arms were wrapped around his shoulders and his around my waist. His head rested right on my chest. I smiled and kissed his forehead. He shifted in his sleep but didn't wake. It was beautifully silent, as it was a peaceful Saturday. The only sound heard was the soft patter of rain outside and Gale's faint breathing.

It was really cold so I drew the blankets closer around us and laid still in bed. I didn't want to get up. I just as wanted us to sleep in bed together while it rained, wrapped in each other's warmth, forever. Unfortunately, forever didn't last long because my mom pounded on the door, scaring the shit out of Gale.

"Jasper! Breakfast is ready!" I rolled my eyes and wrapped my arms around Gale, who looked ready to escape out my window.

"I'll be right there!" She went downstairs and I climbed out of bed, stretching. Gale curled up tighter in the sheets and burried his head in the pillows. I chuckled and sat on the bed beside him.

"Come on, Gale. It's breakfast!" I said but Gale shook his head. I laughed and grabbed his leg, trying to tug him and away from his sheets, but he thrashed and kicked until I lost grip. Sighing, I shrugged and backed up from the bed. I rolled my sleeves to my elbows, rubbing my hands together, and grabbed Gale by the waist. For a moment, he was so surprised he didn't react, but then he started to wiggle and hit me. I barely felt it as I swung him over my shoulder and carried him out of my room. I just barely saw him frantically signing.

Alright, alright! Put me down, Jasper! Now!

I ended his suffering and set him down in the hallway. Before Gale could swing on me, which I'm sure he was planning to do, I swooped down and caught his mouth with mine in a kiss. He blushed and shoved me away from him. Gale went back inside my room to change into a pair of sweats and one of my shirt, while I chose to stay in my pajamas. Once he was out, I took hold of his hand and led him towards the stairs, but he didn't move. I looked back and saw he was staring at his feet. I approached him and cupped his face.

"Are you nervous?" I asked and he nodded. "Don't be. They'll love you." He took my hand and we walked down the stairs together. Gale was slightly behind me, biting his lip nervously. He kept glancing around as if he didn't know where to look. Eventually, he settled on the floor.

When we got downstairs, my parents were in their usual spots. My dad was in his chair, watching the news and reading a book, and my mom was in the kitchen, shaking it to dubstep in a yellow sundress. Gale smiled and nudged me. I looked down at him.

I see where you get your energy.

I chuckled and cleared my throat, but only my dad faced me. My mom twirled in a circle and swung a wooden spoon back and forth.

"Your going to have to get a bucket of water, Jasper, because I. Am. On FIRE!" She cheered, flipping her hair. My dad laughed and cut in, reaching out to switch off her iPod player.

"Stephanie, we have company." My mom looked up and gasped. Gale teetered back and forth shyly, hiding partially behind me. Then my mom turned and glared at me menacingly. I raised an eyebrow and Gale shuffled closer to me. I wrapped my arm around him and kissed his forehead.

"Jasper! You are horrible at describing people, because he is WAY cuter than you said he was." Gale blushed at my mom's explanation and she cooed at him. My mom giggled and grabbed his hand, completely stealing him from me.

"Mom!" I protested, but she waved me off.

"Oh please, you'll be fine." She dragged Gale into the kitchen. "Come help me cook. Can you cook?" Gale, a little dazed, nodded. My mom smiled brightly, scooped up her iPod player in the other hand, and kicked the kitchen door closed with her foot. I sighed and sat on the couch near my dad. My dad bookmarked his book and shut it before setting it on the coffee table. He then turned to me.

"So, I never really got to sit down with you and hear how this happened. When did you know you were...?" I laughed as he considered his next word.

"Dad, just say gay. I won't beat you over the head with a rainbow stick." We laughed and he nodded for me to speak. I sighed and explained how I felt when I was younger. How when I was with guys, I felt different from when I was with girls. I saw girls as companions, friends, rather than possible love interests. Then I started to think that Danny was good looking. That scared me, and for a while, I tried to make it stop. After Shannon kissed me and I knew that I'd much rather be gay. My dad laughed at that.

"I'm glad you told us." My dad said.

"Me too." We both turned to the sound of loud dubstep and my mom yelling, "CELEBRATION DANCE BREAK", and rolled our eyes almost simultaneously. Great. She was probably freaking Gale out. I ran a hand through my hair and stood.

"I should check on him." My dad nodded and I went into the kitchen. The sight that I was greeted with had me laughing my ass of in the doorway. Gale was jumping from side to side, twisting his arms in random directions, in the middle of the kitchen and my mom was shuffling in a circle around him. My dad joined me at the doorway and just shook his head

"We leave you with the boy for five minutes and this is the result."

"He can cook!" My mom said, and started shaking her hips, completely off beat. I grinned and joined Gale in his impromptu dance. Soon, he forgot all about being shy around my family. Even my dad nodded his head to the music. And that's how my morning with Gale started. We all sat down to eat, commenting on Gale's amazing cooking skills, and had a great time. He played his violin for my mom, and then he played it over her dubstep music, which sounded really cool. My mom recorded it so she could make it her ringtone.

My dad had his turn with Gale when I told him Gale was good at chess. Then he got grumpy when Gale beat him three times. It was funny, because they never wondered how he got here and when, or maybe they loved him so much they didn't care.

It was almost five hours before I had him to myself. I had to drag him from my mother's clutches after she wanted to take Gale shopping with her. Gale was very fashionable and probably would be able add more to her wardrobe and succeed, but my mom shops for hours on end, and I would never get him back. My dad took my mom shopping himself so she would leave us alone, which was an amazing sacrifice on his part.

As soon as they left, I let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank God." I breathed and Gale rolled his eyes, smiling.

Why are you complaining, your mom and dad are awesome.

"Yeah, but they're stealing you away from me." I pouted and took Gale by the hips. He practically melted into my arms, his hands automatically gripping my shoulders tightly. We gazed at each other for a moment, and our mouths clashed hungrily. Before that ship could even sail, we were, once again, interrupted.

"I forgot the keys!" My dad announced out of freaking no where and we both jumped away from each, putting at least six feet between us. Gale's head snapped around searching for my dad, but luckily, my dad was in the kitchen. He tried to fix his hair in vain while I went to keep an eye on my dad. How he even got in the house undetected is a mystery. Since his keys were on the coffee table and Gale's swollen lips were enough evidence as to what we were doing, I took them to him.

"Here you go." I said, tossing him the keys and he smiled knowingly, before shaking his head and heading towards the front door.

"Young love."

"Don't tell mom!" I yelled back and he just chuckled.

***

At the end of the day, my parents wouldn't let Gale spend the night, as expected. After all, it was a week day. Luckily, my mom's hyperactive personality kept Gale so occupied he didn't notice me sneaking out of the house while they played Just Dance 2 on the Wii. My dad did (I'm pretty sure my dad notices everything) but he chose to say nothing. Thank God. It would've ruined it if Gale saw me.

So, my parents didn't allow another sleepover so I had to take Gale...home? He was skittish and nervous the entire drive, wondering where I was taking him, and I almost told him what I had planned. But even though Gale looked ready to hyperventilate, I remained quiet until we pulled up in front of my dad's company building. I realize I didn't mention this, mostly because it isn't really important, but my dad and Shannon 's mom specialize in computer science. They make new software and security systems.

When I parked outside of the building, Gale immediately relaxed. I think he was afraid I'd drop him off in some random dark street corner and send him on his way. Yeah, right. I was already one step ahead.

We took the elevator to the rooftop and I led him to the greenhouse. I stopped him outside of the greenhouse and covered his eyes.

"Can you see?" I asked and Gale shook his head.

No, but what are you doing?

"In a minute." I replaced my hands with just one and unlocked the door, leading Gale inside by the small of his back. Glancing around to make sure everything was perfect, I exhaled deeply before uncovering Gale's eyes. His eyes fluttered open and he gasped.

Oh my God. Jasper.

The pull out couch we used for our sleepovers was made into a makeshift bed, complete with blue sheets and plush white pillows. The futon was off to the side, one half raised to form a small couch, and placed a few feet away from both was the tv, now seated on an old office desk instead of the floor. Movies Gale liked, Finding Nemo, Now You See Me, Tangled (don't ask, I have no idea why), were all stacked next to the DVD player. Underneath the tv desk was an ice chest with water, Arnold Palmer's (of course), and mangos, because they were easy to store.

"Um, the ice comes from the office break room on the first floor, so you can refill it before people come to the office and after they go home. They have an ice bucket thing, you know the ones at hotels and stuff? So it'll be easy to carry. I can pick you up for school and we can eat out. I'm paying, no objections! So...yeah, do you like it?" I rambled nervously. I felt like it was a bit much, and maybe he wouldn't like it. What if he got offended?

Where did all this come from?

"Most of it was already here from when Shannon and I used to hang out up here. Now its yours for as long as you need."

This is...Jasper. I...I don't...know what to say, I...

Then Gale started crying. I kind of panicked for a minute, because he was full on crying and I didn't really know if that was a good thing, so I just hugged him as tight as I could. He clutched the back of my shirt and hurried his face in my chest, sobbing. I ran my hands through his hair and tried to calm him with sweet words, until he stopped. Then, he looked up at me and showers my face with small kisses. He withdrew after some time and bit his lip.

You don't even know how amazing you are. No one has eve done anything like this for me. No one has ever gone this far just to show they care. And I...I love that about you.

Then he blushed he hid his face behind his hands, embarrassed whenever he was blunt about how he felt. My fingers curled around his as I uncovered his face and kissed him. On the inside, my heart was leaping with joy and I was mentally throwing a fit. Gale almost said he loved me. The look in his eyes, the hidden love behind those blue orbs, told me he what he really meant, so I rubbed my nose against his in an Eskimo kiss and hugged him.

"I love you too."

-

Another chapter conquered! Yes! MwaHahaHaha! Now I can rest for ten seconds and thethen start to work on a Yellow chapter. Those updates come a little slower than Symphony's because I'm still getting a feel for everything. You know, I'm trying sort the storyline and figure out what I want. This one just comes naturally.

Another picture of Jasper-------------->

There were so many good pictures of him but he had freakin girls hanging off his arms and I was just like HOW DARE YOU CHEAT ON GALE!!! So I found this one, and I like it because he looks really cheerful, which is so Jasper :)

VOTE/COMMENT/FAN pretty please!

You do your thing, and I'll do mine ;)

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