“Sunshine, wake up. You’ll be late for class.”

Ray rubbed his eyes, grunting as he sat up. Him and his newly found boyfriend had had their first sleepover together. They stayed up until the late night talking. Well, mostly talking. There was quite a fair amount of kissing and giggling too.

Tanner wasn’t going to be at the dorms this weekend so it was the perfect time to sneak another person in.

“Fiiiiiiinnee but only because you said so, buttercup.”

----------

It was four in the morning and Tanner couldn’t sleep. All he could think about was Ray. Ray and his stupid smile. Ray and his stupid beautiful blue hair. Ray and his stupid, stupid boyfriend.

He had a boyfriend! Tanner couldn’t believe it. He gets rejected once and runs off to hook up with another guy. It wasn’t like Tanner liked him or anything, or did he? Tanner didn’t exactly know at the time. All he knew was that he liked the qualities of Ray but wasn’t sure if they could happily make it together.

It was seeing Ray turn his back to Tanner hurt. The fact that no matter how many times Tanner tried to talk to him, Ray ignored him. Ray probably had his boyfriend over right now. The things they were doing.. NO! Tanner would not think about that. He would not think about how stupid Samuel got Ray and not him. He wasn’t jealous, he just didn’t like Samuel. He didn’t deserve Ray.

----------

Since their little fight in the hallway in the dorm Gem and Dylan have become great friends. They hang out all the time in between classes and studying. Although Dylan didn’t think of Gem as just a friend. He had the biggest crush on him and didn’t quite know how to tell him.

He and Gem had agreed to meet at the cafe that afternoon. Dylan decided to tell Gem over some coffee and pastries. Dylan sat sipping on his coffee when Gem walked in. Gem smiled to him and sat down across from him.

“Hey. How was your day?” Gem said, eating one of the pastries.

“It was okay… but now we’re hanging together so it’s better.” He smiled.

They talked for awhile about random nonsense before Dylan built up the courage to tell Gem.

“So um… I kinda like you… like, like like you...” he said awkwardly.

“Oh… well, I don’t, but hey you are an amazing person. I just don’t like you like that. I am willing to help you find the perfect boy!”

Dylan’s smile faded. “Oh...” He got up with his coffee, ready to leave.

“Wha- we’re still friends right?” Gem pleaded.

“Yeah...”

Dylan walked out the cafe leaving Gem feeling horrible.

----------

“What?” Riley said pacing around her room. “No, you can’t, you promised!” She yelled into the phone.

She hung up and threw her phone with a grumble. She sighed not knowing what to do. Her parents aren’t going to pay for her tuition anymore. She had either the option of dropping out or going to work on her own. She didn’t even know who was hiring in the middle of school.

Riley picked up her bag and went out to find some place that had a “now hiring” sign. She passed by the cafe wanting some coffee. In the window there was a sign saying that they were hiring for full or part time. She walked in nervous, she has never had to do this before. Her hands were sweating and her breath was heavy, but she did it anyway. She got the application and filled it out for an interview.

A few days later she had the interview. It went horribly since she has never been trained in how to handle that type of situation. But a few days later she got a call for a second interview which got her hopes up.

----------

“Babe I told you! Either start spending more time with me or we’re over!” Willow yelled.

“So you want to end it? After six and a half years you’re going to dump me because I have to work?”

“No! I’m willing to work things out but you have to spend more time with me.”

“I’m busy working on something! I’ve told you before it’s important!”

“Then tell me what it is. You haven’t said anything and you expect me to believe you?”

“What are you accusing me of?” Charlie asked.

“I’m not accusing you of anything! Just, maybe.. What if you’re seeing someone else?”

“Really? Really. Wow. Just wow. You accuse me of cheating. Great, Willow, I love you. I would never cheat. I love you more than life itself, don’t you remember that you are the reason I’m alive?”

“Yes I do! But what if you are? You’re working so much and with school I hardly get to see or talk to you, and you know that’s important to me! So what if instead of work you’re actually cheating?”

“If you really can’t trust me maybe we should see new people.” Charlies eyes began burning, but before she could cry she grabbed her purse and left.

“Babe! Wait!” Willow cried.

----------

Ray kissed Samuel before getting out of bed.

“Nice ass.”

“Oh shut up.” Ray blushed.

Ray’s boxers left little to the imagination, just being honest. He went into the bathroom, took a shower, and got changed. He was suddenly pinned to the wall.

“Hey sunshine.”

“Hey buttercup.”

“How much time until class?”

“I’ve gotta leave within the next two minutes or I’ll be late and the professor doesn’t like us being late.”

“Aw, then maybe when you get back?”

“What?”

“We could try something more… intimate.”

“I-I don’t think I’m ready.. I’m not fully transitioned and until I am I don’t want to do anything like that, I’m sorry.”

“You’ll come around.”

“No, I-I really won't until after surgery…” Ray whispered.

Ray left in a hurry, blushing. He wasn’t so sure about this relationship anymore. He really liked Samuel but he didn’t want sex yet. It would only be a year or so until he had bottom surgery, his family and him were still saving money. Speaking of that, he needed to get a job soon. Maybe he could apply at the cafe.

Once his class was over, Ray went back to his dorm. He was immediately pinned again by Samuel.

“Hey sunshine, you ready?”

“No…” Ray looked away.

Samuels leg pressed again Ray in a not so good area for him.

“Please stop.”

“C’mon, it’ll be fun. I’ll treat you good!”

At that moment, the door opened. Tanner walked in.

“TANNER! YOU’RE HOME!”

Silence.

“So uhh how are you? You know what, Sammy you should go. Me and Tanner need to catch up! Call you later, see you!” With that, Ray all but shoved Samuel out the door.

“What’s with you talking to me all the sudden?”

“Tanner I’m so sorry but I was just mad that you ran away. And I’m not going to lie, but Samuel was just trying to pressure me into sex and I just wasn’t ready. I don’t know why, I should be fine with it but I just want to wait until I get bottom surgery. You get that, right? I know you’re not trans but you’re an understanding person and all, when you want to be…” Ray began tearing up as he talked.

“Hey, hey. Don’t cry! It’ll all be ok. You don’t ever have to talk to Samuel again if you don’t want to! I’m here for you.” Tanner held out his arms, and Ray gave in and gave him a hug.

“I’m so sorry for ignoring you.”

“It’s ok, I’m sorry for running away. I’ve been meaning to talk about that..”

“What?”

“I don’t actually know if I like you. I love your qualities and who you are, but I’m not sure if it’s romantic or if we would actually work out. I’d be willing to try though, to try engaging how I feel and see if it gets stronger or fades, that is.” Tanner said.

“I’d be willing to try!” Ray said a little too excitedly.

“Let’s start with this,” Tanner grabbed Ray’s phone. “Break up with him.”

“No prob, Bob.”

Ray: I think we should break up. I’m sorry but I can’t be pressured and I think I like someone else and don’t want to cheat on you.

Samuel: k. but youll be back for me. i just know it

Ray: I really won’t be.

“Should we tell the girls?” Ray asked.

“Nah. Let them figure it out on their own.”

“Sounds fun.” Ray took Tanners hand in his.

Tanner blushed and smiled.

Tanner leaned over and gave Ray a kiss on the cheek.