"Hey boys you okay?" A woman drove up some time later. She saw them on the ground together from a distance. She didn't know if they were fighting or making out, but either way it was a good reason to check it out.

"Oh hi it's Jayden and Alex!" She said, seeing the two. She was Hannah's mother, Mrs Lykehart. Like Hannah, she was also into "that stuff".

"We're fine," Alex said, still muffled by Jayden's shirt.

"No we're not... *sigh* get him... off me," Jayden said monotonously, not even trying anymore. He could feel the wind across his skin, but he can't be bothered acknowledging it.

"Sorry I thought there was a fight breaking out. I'll just leave you two alone now."

Ding! Jayden's phone, now with a broken screen, ringed again on the ground near by.

"You guys stay there! It's fine I'll check it for you," she said, walking up to the phone. "From (um how do you pronounce this,) Linsang? All good- now- just choking on a... (sec let me scroll down.) Nut?"

"Let me see!" Jayden said, with a renewed drizzle of energy, getting up and feeling the now-deflated Alex sliding off him.

Ding! Both their phones ringed again, as she passed Jayden's phone back.

....

Alex heard Jayden sigh in relief. He saw Jayden take time to read the new message. There were two messages, the first confirmed that his mum was safe, for now. The second were the scores as promised. 

4th place nation wide.

Within the text along with his score were instructions that asked him to come to school early for the next week's assembly. This is so they can walk through the award ceremony. The night was getting colder, probably just the wind again.

Satisfied with her daily dose of BxB, Mrs Lykehart drove off, but not before offering the boys a ride home. Sad that she was rejected, mostly because she wouldn't get the chance to see them make out in the back of the car, which she imagined they will do, she drove away.

"Alex...Pass me your phone." Jayden said, reaching out. "Show me your maths score. It just came out."

"Why? How did you go?"

"Just pass it over."

"Okay." Alex said, taking his phone out of his pocket and pointed it at Jayden.

"Tha-" Jayden said, reaching out, but Alex threw his hand back down.

"Okay I'm just teasing here you go." Alex said, this time offering to Jayden for real.

"Thanks-" but Alex drew the phone away from Jayden's reach again.

Annoyed, Jayden tried swooping for the phone, but Alex, still sprawling on the ground face-down next to Jayden, tucked it underneath his chest.

"Come and get it," he joked. Then seeing Jayden reaching to grab the phone, he moved it towards his crotch area. "Okay come and get it now." He said, smirking.

Jayden let out a small breath. He gave up. He wasn't sad no. He was more tired. Or he could be bored. Whichever one was a good enough reason to stop trying so hard. He was freezing now, but he was at a state where he'd probably be fine if he froze to death.

"You're alright hey?" Alex said, reading his expression word by word. "What are you so insecure about."

His voice was ragged by the concrete street. Jayden remained silent. 

"You know if it makes you feel better I definitely didn't get first place, you probably got 2nd or something right?" He said as he placed his free arm across Jayden's laps, hugging him around the waist. "Just chill okay?"

The wind was absolute zero by now, but so warm. Just like a hot water bag.  Jayden thought to himself, re-entering reality.

"It's nice to have you as a friend." Jayden said, placing his hands on Alex's arms. He doesn't want Alex to misunderstand. Alex knew what Jayden meant.

It's better this way, I'd have done him behind the telephone box if he had confessed here and then, and to be honest I don't really feel like doing it on Karl's turf.

"I'm not confessing because I don't have feelings at all." Jayden said in response to Alex's grinning face. "But," He squeezed on Alex's arms. "I think you're pretty cool."

"I'm pretty cool, but you're not confessing hey?" Alex said, rolling onto his back. His other arm now resting on Jayden's lap. "Then I guess you won't miss me then. Because I'm leaving soon." 

"No you're not," Jayden said, laughing. "You wanted to follow in your brother's footsteps, but his base is here."

"Yeah, not permanently, but I'll be quitting school, cause he's sending me on assignments across the country for several months at a time." Alex said, as Jayden lifted Alex's arm, by its hands, up and towards his lips.

What he's gonna peck my fists? I guess this hardcore guy can be pretty romantic huh.

"AHA! 3rd place. I knew it!" Jayden said, reminding Alex that his phone is still in that hand, which is now in Jayden's face. Because when he rolled over he didn't switch hands. "I envy you, I only got 4th."

"You're not jealous. You don't even care about the score anymore. Cause something else is on your mind." Alex said, rebutting Jayden. He closed his eyes in contemplation. "You don't want me to leave do you."

Honestly, Jayden would say that he's -

I'm not sure.

"Listen Jayden, whatever you might feel. Stay here, in this town okay? We're different, you can't give up your future just to hang out with a "friend"." 

Alex opened his eyes to gaze at the stars above, waiting for Jayden's response.

Jayden, following Alex's gaze, looked up too. For the first time in a while, he was compelled to the starry sky.

CHAPTER END

XXX

Beeep... beeep... beeep...

"Yo you've reached Alex, not really here right now but feel free to leave a messa-" 

Jayden hang up. Alex's note in his hand, it's only the first night. 

GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF! He screamed at himself. It's just the first night.

Hey Jayden, sorry about leaving so suddenly. Will be back in a few days, but I know you'll feel lonely. Ring me.

He rolled around in bed. His heart was beating fast, anxious for the event that wouldn't happen. Why am I feeling like this. 

After what seemed like forever, he managed to reached some state of calmness, to drift off to sleep-

Then he sat back up, his hand reaching for the phone.

Beeep... beeep... beeep...

"Yo you've reached Alex, not really here right now but-" 

"Damn you Alex! And damn your voice." Jayden said, rolling around, holding the phone in his hand, cuddling it with his body. Upset, he threw the phone away, into the pile of clothes in the closet, and lied back down-

Okay just one last time.  He got up once more and,

I know you won't pick up but...

"Yo you've reached Alex, not really here right now but feel free to leave a message," Jayden heard the phone replay once more. He wondered if he was satisfied with just hearing Alex's recording. "And hey if Pajamas is calling," the voice came back, talking to Jayden, after a short pause. "Just want to let you know that I'm dying to be with you right now...."

The voice continued, as Jayden held the phone close to his ears. He heard it describing in vivid detail certain moments they shared. He heard Alex expressing his wish to share those moments again... and again... and once if not more for every chapter in their lives.

"WHAT IF SOMEONE ELSE HEARS THIS!" He shouted into the phone, red with embarrassment, but also somewhat turned on.

He, the voice continued to narrate, saw someone today that looked like Pajamas, and he knew it wasn't Pajamas, but he wanted to make out with that look-alike so bad, but he restrained himself. He, the voice explained, thought he deserved a nice reward for that, but he wondered how he'll make it through the next few days. It tried to continue, but was interrupted by faint sounds of gunshots in the background.

"Hey Pajamas, I gotta go now, but if you're wondering if anyone else will hear this, they won't. Only one person has this number." Jayden heard Alex end the recording with a light sniffle.

"What you think this is enough?" Jayden asked the now silent phone, as he laid back on his bed, wondering what he'll do tonight.

Hesitantly, he opened the bedside drawer on Alex's side and took out Alex's favorite item. Changing into his boxers, he needed one more thing.

Beeep... beeep... beeep...

"Yo you've reached Alex..." 

XXX