Jeremy's POV:

I will forever be grateful to Jackie and Vincent; they have completely had my back and have kept it secret from my parents that I'm staying in Vincent's apartment. He's twenty four and is currently in a program to get a PhD in physical therapy and to open his own physical therapy location.

My parents respect his career, but from the way Vincent and Jackie have spoken since they discovered what my parents did to me, they will be cutting contact with them. The plan is to wait until Jackie finishes college at Rowan and then they'll move to another state where they can escape our hometown.

Jackie promised she'd stay in contact with me and our little sister, Danielle, and allow us to go to her and Vincent's wedding when they decide they're ready to get married.

It's been four days since I moved in with Vincent, but most of the time has been spent at school or at Carter's apartment, since they live pretty close. Usually we just hang out and work on our homework, or I'll cook something while he's at swim practice.

Janelle seems to enjoy my company and she often helps me with some of my assignments that are difficult for me. When she and Carter aren't there, Vincent helps me out if he's available.

It's nice to have friends and to not be afraid of going home, but I still have a terrible guilt in my gut. I have the urge to go back to the church and to apologize to Father Peter and at least tell him that I will not be returning to his church so I can go to Carter's, but I fear what he will say to my parents.

I don't want them to come after me. Even if they can't legally force me to do anything due to my age, they've always had control over me. Maybe I'm too impressionable, but I've been taught to follow their lead and to always do what others want.

How can I just unlearn that?

"Are you going to be here for dinner?" Vincent asks me, sitting across from me at the kitchen table and working on something for his program that I wouldn't understand if I tried.

I shrug. "Carter hasn't answered my text yet because he's at swim. Maybe."

Vincent hums. "Do you think he's going to make a move on you?"

"Excuse me?" I ask, taking my attention off my English essay. "Carter is just my friend."

"I've only met the guy a few times, and he seems way more mature than a lot of twenty one year olds. Plus, whenever you come back from hanging out with him, you're always all smiles and you seem so much healthier and happier than you did when you were with Amanda."

I frown. "Well, I've made it kind of clear that it's more because I wasn't attracted to her."

I told both Vincent and Jackie that I'm gay, and neither of them judged me. In fact, both were proud of me for being able to accept myself and have promised to help me out and not tell Mom and Dad where I'm hiding.

Thankfully, Mom and Dad are never invited to Vincent's apartment. If they were, I'd probably hide out with Carter or Amanda.

"Yeah... and Carter is a good looking guy."

"Are you trying to tell me something, Vincent?"

He laughs loudly; he has one of those deep, baritone laughs that can make anyone smile. "Unlike a lot of the community you grew up around, I can admit when someone of the same sex is attractive without being attracted to them."

"Well... this is all just so new to me and I'm still... I'm still scared."

Vincent's laughter ceases and he sighs. "Yeah... I'm not sure what to tell you to make you feel better, but I think that you should keep in mind that there are so many people who care about you and support you," he says, offering me a reassuring smile. "And I think Carter could be a good guide to how to handle the gay community..."

My face warms up as I'm sure I look like a damn tomato. I try to continue working on my essay, but my phone starts ringing and I see Carter's contact come up.

I answer immediately and Vincent gives me a knowing look, smirking at me. That leads me to scowl and move to the other room to have my phone call.

"Hey, how was swim?" I ask, trying not to sound too excited.

I shouldn't be excited; he's my friend and I've seen him a lot this week already. Not that I'm tired of him; I've never had such a close friend that I absolutely love being around as much as him.

Maybe I am a bit attracted to him, but I don't know if I'd be a good boyfriend. Especially now that I have to rediscover what I even want out of a relationship and how to be a guy who likes guys. I know it can't be extremely different from liking girls... but the sex part scares me.

I (regretfully) did some research on Google, which Vincent walked in on, and I'm pretty sure I'm what's called a bottom.

Not that I'll know until I try it.

"It was good... not giving me much of a start to winter break, though," Carter says, chuckling.

Their winter break started today, and it lasts from now, early December, until mid January.

My break doesn't start for another week and it's only three weeks long. Not six.

Lucky college students.

"Are you worried about the qualifying meet?" I ask, because I know that's coming up in a week.

Janelle, Amanda, and I are driving the two hours to support Carter because he's a great swimmer and we want to cheer him on. Hopefully he qualifies this year, just as he did last year.

"Sort of, because my coach has been super hard on us. I think I'll be better than last year, though, because I've been working a lot harder. Hopefully I'll actually win a medal this year instead of getting fourth."

"It was only by a half a second."

"That's a half second that robbed me of a medal and trophy. I did get a fancy ribbon though that says 'Fourth,'" he says, and I can tell he's smiling from his tone.

It makes me laugh a little.

"Anyway, I called because I need your help," Carter says, sounding uneasy.

My heart beats a bit quicker.

"What's up?"

"Well, my dad lives alone and he mentioned that he wants a pet and doesn't really know what to get, so I figured I'd surprise him with a kitten, but I need help picking one. Can I come get you and you can help me?" he asks.

"I've never had a pet, Carter."

He makes a sound that sounds indifferent to my statement. "Oh well, you're still going. I want to hang out with you," he says and my heart warms a bit and I grin without being able to control it.

"Alright... Janelle is letting you use her car?"

"Eh, she's in her room with Peyton and I don't want to hear the moans, so she's not going to stop me. So long as I fill her car with gas, that is," he tells me. "Be ready, I'll come get you in ten."

I bid him goodbye and tell him to drive safe before hanging up. When I turn around to go get my shoes, I screech because Vincent is looming right behind me, like slender man or something.

"Don't bring home a cat," he warns me. "Or you're paying the pet deposit."

"So... that's not a no?"

Vincent sighs. "Children."

"I'm eighteen."

He shrugs. "Still a baby," he calls, heading back into the kitchen. "Have fun, use protection, and if you feel uncomfortable at any point, text me and I'll come get you."

I roll my eyes, but I keep his advice in the back of my mind anyway.

Carter is anxious on the drive, and it may be a bit forward and relationship-y of me, but I grab his hand across the console to offer some support.

"Why are you so nervous?" I ask, and he sighs, smiling softly at me.

"My coach is stressing me out and I'm worried my dad won't like me getting him a pet... I'm sure he'll be okay with it, because he hates being alone and loves animals and I'm totally overthinking this, and-" He cuts himself off. "And that's it."

It sounded unfinished, but I'm not one to pry for more information.

I just want him to feel better.

"From how highly you speak of your dad, I'm sure he'll appreciate your effort and if he loves animals, he'll be over the moon. As for swim, you have worked so hard and I know you're going to do amazing. Besides, Amanda, Janelle, and I will all be there to support you, and if it goes bad, we can go get ice cream and you can cry in your room while I use your Netflix account."

"How kind," he grumbles. "Can I cuddle with you, then?"

I scoff. "Only if you don't qualify."

"I might fail intentionally."

"I'll give you supportive cuddles if you succeed."

"... So, cuddles either way?"

I sigh. "Well, you got me there."

We pull into the parking lot of the humane animal shelter just outside the city we live in, and I note that it smells clean when we walk in. It's usually a sigh of a place good for animals, so I know the animals will be healthy.

The worker smiles at the pair of us. "How can I help you two?"

"We're interested in getting a kitten for my dad. He needs a companion and he works full time so a dog would be too much," Carter explains, and I cast the lady a smile.

She hums. "Alrighty, I'll take you back to them!"

Carter grabs my hand and I give him a glance of bewilderment.

He just shrugs. "Support?"

"Uh... yeah, I guess so," I agree because I don't really mine.

His hands are really warm and it gives me a bit of comfort. They're not the gross, sweaty warm either that I used to feel when sitting anxiously in front of Father Peter; they're soft and make butterflies flutter in my stomach.

"Here we are," the associate says, leading us to a back room where there's several cages with kittens and cats alike, some of them with 'Adopted!' signs on their kennels. "We have a lot of friendly cats here, if you two would like to sit down and hold them."

Carter lets go of my hand as we sit down and I try not to feel disappointed.

The associate takes out a fluffy grey kitten and a short haired black and white one. They're both adorable and cuddly, but Carter doesn't seem too sure right away. That is, until the associate hands him a little orange tabby and a smile breaks out on his face.

"This is the one," he says, showing me the kitten.

"She's a bit malnourished, sir. And... well..."

I see what she's talking about; the kitten is missing an eye and is pretty thin.

"My dad would love him," Carter says. "His first dog when he was a kid only had three legs and his mom had a pet duck who had a tiny wing. Plus, my mom was missing a kidney and then died because of it, so I'm just following the pattern."

Both the associate and I are stunned to silence.

"Okay... I'll go get the paperwork," she says, disappearing from the room.

"That was a lie, by the way," Carter murmurs to me, holding the kitten that's cuddled close to his chest and I can hear the little purrs he's emitting. "My mom died in a car accident. I just figured it would get her to stop trying to dissuade me from adopting this little guy."

I still watch him, feeling concerned for him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it was years ago," Carter says, his smile dropping a bit. "My dad needs this little guy."

I pet the kitten's ears and the purrs get louder as the associate comes back with the paperwork that Carter needs to sign.

"He'll love him," I assure Carter, and he hands me the kitten as he fills out the papers and pats the adoption fee.

We drive to the local pet supply store and walk around with me holding the kitten and Carter grabbing stuff to fill his cart.

"He's adorable!" the older lady at the cash register says. "Is this your fur baby? You two are such a cute couple!"

I blush and Carter awkwardly clears his throat.

"We aren't together, actually," I say, my face really hot. "This little guy is for his dad and I'm just helping out."

She raises an eyebrow. "Oh, well, you would be a cute couple," she continues, scanning the items.

"Would you like to come with me to drop him off?" Carter asks. "My dad is super relaxed and friendly, I promise."

I find myself nodding before I can process the question. Maybe it's because I want to know more about Carter's life and family because I want to spend more time with him...

Maybe I truly am attracted to him.