"I'm busy." Skylar replies, walking towards the door to lock it. He does so upon reaching it, and prepares to continue and tell Jessie some sort of excuse as to why Skylar needs to be alone. However, then Jessie continues.

"I'd rather get this out of the way sooner than later."

This actually intrigues Skylar, so he decides to ignore his desire for rest and instead just sighs, running a hand through his hair and hoping he's not about to receive bad news.

"Can't you just tell me what's going on now? I'm tired."

There's a silence, and Skylar is not appreciating the suspense. Seriously, he would much rather be unconscious right now. He has no desire to talk about anything, especially when Jessie's voice sounds almost nervous. This has him losing hope of receiving any good news.

"Alright," Jessie says, voice sounding odd still. Skylar frowns. "I got accepted to a university. I'm transferring there from community."

Skyler still doesn't understand how that is a big deal at all. So what? Since when is he supposed to care where Jessie goes to school? Is the guy trying to brag or something? Flex the fact that Skylar will never be as academically successful as him? No, that doesn't seem like something he'd do.

"Uh, okay? Congrats."

Another pause. Then, Jessie speaks again, and clears up exactly why this is such a big deal.

"It's three hours away. I'm going to be moving at the end of summer."

Skylar's heart drops to his stomach.

Skylar unlocks the door and pulls it open with a speed he didn't even know he was capable of in this state, immediately after the words leave his brother's mouth.

He finds Jessie standing there with a nervous expression on his face, and vaguely processes Ashton in the background. He doesn't even acknowledge him, already freaking the hell out. Jessie's leaving him?! With these fucking people?! Jessie has always protected him so well from their fury and impatience with him. If Jessie leaves, Skylar is so screwed.

"What? Three hours? You're fucking with me—"

"What," Jessie has pure alarm on his features, taking a step forward. Skylar sees Ashton move from the corner of his eye, but takes a minute to curse himself and his forgetfulness. Shit, he forgot the shape he was in. "The fuck happened to you?"

Skylar takes several steps back. "Doesn't matter, what do you mean you're leaving? You're- you're gonna leave me with them?"

"Skylar—"

As if Skylar wasn't stressed enough before. He begins pacing back and forth, running a hand through his hair as he freaks the hell out.

"They're gonna kick me out. Oh my god, I'm gonna be homeless—"

"What are you talking about?"

Skylar sees Ashton enter the room, finally, behind Jessie. Skylar flicks his gaze over to him just in time to catch the exact moment Ashton lays his eyes on his bruised, battered face and body. Skylar instantly averts his gaze, ignoring when Ashton walks further into the room, passing Jessie.

"Dad! I went to see him today, and he threatened to kick me out if I get into shit again. Oh my god, I'm so fucked. You are literally the only reason they haven't disowned me, I'm—"

Skylar cuts himself off when he feels his jaw get grabbed none too gently. Ashton does so, moving his head so they're making direct eye contact. The fury in his eyes actually catches Skylar off guard. His jaw is clenched, his pitch black eyes somehow turning even darker. Skylar has never seen the typically laid back (to the point where it's almost infuriating) guy show such visible hatred.

"Who did this to you."

It's not a question. It's a demand, his tone almost threatening if Skylar doesn't tell the truth. Skylar is unable to make eye contact much longer before glancing off to the side. He feels his face heating up at the proximity, and hopes the bruising covering most of said face hides it from Jessie.

Shit , Jessie!

"I, uh, I don't know. Just one of my stunts—"

"Bullshit."

Why is he doing this in front of Jessie?! He's going to blow their cover, he is way too close right now and cares way too much to be friendly. Jessie is smart, he got into the university for a reason. He will catch on if they're not careful.

Wait... catch on to what? It's not like they're in a relationship or anything. They had a one night stand. Why... why does Ashton care so fucking much?

Skylar glances at Jessie from the corner of his eye, and finds the guy looking predictably very confused. Skylar can feel his blush spreading the longer Ashton keeps this proximity, and the fact that he's getting so flustered begins to piss him off. Anger is much more preferable to this feeling in his chest that Ashton is causing, so he takes full advantage of it.

Skylar reaches up and grabs Ashton's wrist, pulling it away and taking a step back. He forgets to let go of said wrist when there actually is a good enough distance and he can think again, but whatever.

"None of your fucking business, Ashton. It was just another one of Wes's stunts."

"You have a black eye," Ashton says, and his voice is lower. His eyes are darker, his jaw is more pronounced since it's clenched. Skylar is aware that it's because of the anger, but it still kind of reminds him of the way Ashton looked when—

Ashton, hovering over him, eyes full of desire and want. Skylar can't believe his feelings, or at least his lust, are being reciprocated right now. Skylar can't even control the sounds coming out his mouth, and he's almost mad at how good Ashton feels inside of him. He should've known the guy would have the size to go with the ego, but he can't find it within himself to complain. All he can do is moan and shake on the guy's cock as Ashton pounds into him, leaning down to start kissing at his neck while Skylar's nails scratch up his back. In and out and in and out and—

Skylar snaps himself out of it, unwilling to go down that train of thought with Jessie in the fucking room with them. Did Ashton just forget that or something?

Skylar is having a full body reaction at his thoughts, struggling to keep his desire from affecting the situation. The shit he'd do to not be attracted to this guy.

Wait. No. Skylar is not attracted to him. Even... even if he is objectively attractive. Okay, that's a contradiction. He just— he can recognize when someone is hot as fuck, okay?! That doesn't mean he personally thinks so, it just means that he's secure in his masculinity and not blind!

Skylar is busy trying to convince himself that Ashton is ugly. A losing game, especially when Ashton continues, effectively snapping him out of his thoughts altogether.

"That is never an accident. Not with you."

"Ashton," Skyler hisses through grit teeth, shooting his gaze to Jessie and then back to the guy in front of him. Ashton doesn't seem fazed in the least, and Skylar is not looking forward to the questioning he's likely to receive if they don't handle this right.

It's then that he realizes he's still holding Ashton's wrist. He pulls it away instantly, like it burned him, and prays that Jessie doesn't catch on. Skyler has always been pretty vocal about hating Ashton, and it's not like he's ever actually told anyone he's bisexual. Also, Ashton looks extremely straight. So... hopefully he just thinks they're arguing in a weirdly touchy way.

Ashton looks so fucking mad, and normally Skylar would be thrilled that he's the cause. He's never really succeeded in causing a huge emotional reaction from the guy, so Skylar wishes he was feeling the self satisfaction he's always craved. The feeling of winning. However, instead he's just feels self conscious. Nobody can find out his secrets, nobody can find out all the shit he's gotten himself into throughout the years.

Ashton stares at Skylar's face for several more moments, before he snaps. He just turns and walks towards the entrance. His next words are directed at Jessie, and then he's gone.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

Jessie watches his retreating form in confusion, before turning back to face his brother. "What was that about?"

Skylar shrugs, and does what he's best at. Playing dumb. Well, he's also great at ruining his own life and stressing out everyone he knows, but we're going to focus on the playing dumb part.

"I don't know. He's your friend."

Jessie shrugs, seeming to accept that. Skylar is happy, because he has no idea what would happen if Jessie knew. The guy hasn't noticed the sexual tension they have, which even Skylar knows is undeniable. He also hasn't noticed how much more hostile Skylar has been since The Event. He hasn't noticed the change. So, hopefully they're in the clear. Also...

Skylar will never tell anyone this, not even his closest friends. Even Lily doesn't know. Skylar won't even tell Ashton, but the guy took his virginity.

It's really fucking embarrassing, and it pisses Skylar off to no end. If there was one fact he could change about himself, it would be that. He has like no romantic experience, he just hates everyone too much. So, Ashton was by far his first, and may end up being his only. That thought makes him even more mad.

Anyway, Skylar has never had any prior experience, but he's pretty sure that one night stands are not supposed to have that level of passion.

Seriously, it was mostly on Ashton's side, but he was far more on board with the whole thing than Skylar expected. Of course Skylar was into it too—he's quite literally the one who started it—however, he was not expecting Ashton to be that down to fuck him. Skylar knows that they've always had tension, but he doesn't think it's ever treaded into that category before.

"Hm." Jessie says, turning to look back at Skylar. "Wonder why he cares so much. You've been worse. I thought you two hated each other."

Yeah? Me too buddy.

"I don't know." Skylar says, before going back to their previous conversation. "Are you seriously leaving? What does he think?"

Skylar is referring to Ashton, and Jessie shrugs. It never fails to irritate Skylar, how easygoing and cool this guy is about everything. Skylar is so emotional and angry all the time, but Jessie's always had his shit together.

"I mean, he'll probably miss me, but he has other friends."

Skylar is upset, that's a fact he can't deny. He and Jessie have always been close, and it's about to really suck when the guy leaves. At least Skylar still has a couple months with him, but it still sucks. However, Skylar knows he should be happy for the guy. Jessie worked very hard to get to this point, and it would be selfish for Skylar to make it about himself.

"Well, I'll miss you too..." Skylar takes a deep breath, and Jessie smiles at him, "but good job."

"Wanna play games?"

Skylar is beyond exhaustion, but he says yes because he's sure that when Jessie leaves he will regret all the times he turned down hanging out with him. So, they go to Jessie's room, and essentially play video games the rest of the night. They order pizza in the middle of it, and the whole thing is a lot of fun. Despite the pain he's in, Skylar missed spending time with Jessie. He'll miss it even more when he no longer has the option to.

Once it hits about midnight, Skylar decides to go to bed. Upon entering his room, he spots his phone on his floor. He leans down to pick it up and put it on the charger, but when he does so, he finds a message notification. It's from an unknown number, and it reads;

Go to the hospital or I'm taking you there myself.

Skylar blinks down at the message, and it doesn't take long for him to recognize that this is probably Ashton. How did he even get Skylar's number? Skylar never gave it to him. Maybe through Jessie?

Skylar is not dealing with this right now. He puts his phone on the charger and doesn't even feel like washing off the blood on him. A change of clothes is good enough.

So, he decides he's dealing with Ashton's unreasonable dramatics tomorrow, and passes out.