Note: Chapter 15 is going to come later in the day.

Dancing between someone else's sheets

I can't believe that this is really happening

Your guilty conscience is going to be the death of me

• Love You Like Me By William Singe

When Nine entered the bedroom, he sighed before pulling out his phone. When he had his 'argument' with Quin, the vibration became nothing to him, but now that they were done talking, he felt it again. 

He saw that they were text messages and two calls from Vee. Nine rolled his eyes from the constant text before unlocking his phone and finally answering Vee. 

Nine: Why are you blowing up my phone?

Vee: Oh, so you are alive? I wanted to make sure you made it home safely, but you weren't answering. I thought something had happened. 

Nine: That quickly? 

Vee: Anything can happen in a second.

Nine chuckled at Vee's response. He wasn't wrong; anything could happen in a second. 

Nine: I safely made it home. Happy, now? 

Vee: Hmm, I think I need a picture, then I would be satisfied. 

Nine raised his eyebrow with a smile; he knew exactly what Vee wanted. He walked toward the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind him. He began unbuttoning his shirt with one hand while pushing the call button with the other. 

Vee quickly picked up, "Oh, a sudden call?" 

"Yes," Nine chuckled, "I want you to hear what you cannot have." He put the speaker on, setting his phone on the sink. Once he finished unbuttoning his shirt, letting it drop to the floor, he moved to his pants. 

Hearing the movements from Nine's end, Vee made a noise, "Oh, I see what game you are trying to play." 

"I am not playing anything," Nine quickly responded, "I planned to shower, but someone kept interrupting." Nine dropped his open pants, swiftly pulling his underwear off right after. Standing nude, Nine walked to the shower and turned it on. 

Once he heard the water running, Vee's thoughts turned dirty, "Well, I think I need some compensation from you for making me worry by not answering. Let's turn this into a video call, and I can watch you shower." 

"Hmm, sounds reasonable," Nine hummed, grabbing his phone, "too bad I don't give free shows. Good night, Professor Vee." 

"Ah, wait-" 

Nine quickly ended the call with laughter, turning it silent so that he could ignore Vee calling him back. After talking with Vee and playing around with him on call, he felt better. 

Maybe the main reason he keeps entertaining the thing between him and Vee, besides the feeling of someone touching him after so long, is that Vee makes him laugh and forget his failing relationship with Quin. 

When did me and Quin fall so far? Nine thought before entering the shower. 

Nine woke up early to Quin entering the room and getting ready for work. Sitting up on the bed, Nine kept the blanket wrapped around him as he rubbed his eyes with his free hand.  

"Good morning," Nine greeted, watching Quin fix his tie. Nine moved off the bed, carrying the blanket with him as he stopped in front of Quin. He kissed Quin's cheek. 

Quin allowed the kiss while humming in response. He did not look at Nine, focusing on his tie instead. 

Nine noticed the indifferent mood but acted like he didn't at all. "Are you feeling better?" He asked, trying to get a verbal response from Quin. 

Quin finally glanced at Nine after he finished tying his tie, "I won't be here tonight." 

"What? Why? Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?" Nine questioned. Quin always did not come home after fighting because he did not want to listen to his arguments anymore. 

They didn't really fight last night, so what happened? 

Quin laughed, "Sometimes I wondered why I stayed." 

Nine frowned, growing confused. 

He did not know what Quin meant with those words, but it made his heart jump into his throat. "What do you mean?" 

Instead of answering, Quin walked off, closing the bedroom door behind him. Nine watched him walk off in confusion and frustration. He felt like they were a thin thread at this point. 

No, wait, the thread could have already snapped off. 

The more pressing question is when did the thread between them snap to the point that they were living a routine and not an actual relationship? 

Nine walked into the cafeteria with a bitter expression, making his way to the table he and his friends usually sat. Once he reached it, he sat down, resting his head on his hand. 

Noticing his mood, Lee asked, "What's wrong with you?" 

"Quin," was the only word he said. He did not need to say anything more, and his friends understood him. He did come to them after every fight or when Quin outright ignored him. 

Lee hummed, nodding his head as if he already understood. Cassy shook her head, "What happened this time?" 

"The thing is, I don't know," Nine shrugged, "he started acting all over the place yesterday. He even tried drinking whiskey." 

Cassy clicked her tongue, "Damn, I told you not to leave those types of alcohol in the house." 

"I know, but he had been good the past years, so I don't know what happened. I am wondering if I did something wrong." 

"Why do every time you two fight, you think everything is your fault? That is not a good mentality, Nine." Lee commented. He didn't like Nine blaming himself for every fight. He was the one always trying to fix them. 

Lee felt that Quin needed to put in the work, too, instead of walking out. 

Nine shrugged once more, "I don't know; it became a habit. But, lately, I haven't been good, so I feel it is my fault." He thought about him cheating, making him feel guilty once more. 

And did he have the right to keep feeling guilty when he kept going back to Vee? 

"How have you been bad?" Cassy asked, sounding lost. 

Nine opened his mouth, almost spilling without thought when the words stopped at his throat once he realized his mistake. He coughed, shaking his head, "Nevermind." 

Lee and Cassy looked at him with questioning expressions. They seemed ready to push Nine when Jon ran to the table, almost lying across it. Nine grabbed Jon's shirt, pulling him down into a seat. 

"Guys," Jon excitedly spoke, "I had the best night ever!" 

Cassy put her fingers in her ears, glaring at her brother, "It is too early for you to be yelling." 

Nine rubbed Jon's back, trying to calm his excitement. He appreciated the distraction because it looked like Cassy and Lee wanted to push him on his earlier slip. "What happened?" 

Jon calmed down but still smiled broadly, "Remember when I said I got this guy's number?" 

"Yeah." Lee injected. 

"Well, we had a somewhat date last night, and it was great. I can definitely see myself going out with him." 

"You always say that about people, then cry when it doesn't work out," Cassy commented. 

Jon flicked her off. "I am serious this time." He turned toward Nine with a pout, "Nine, you believe in me, right?" 

Nine continued rubbing Jon's back like he was a child. Well, Nine always felt that he adopted Jon because, for someone who was the same age as him, he acted like a child. "I do." He nodded while talking in a tone like he was appeasing a child.

Jon stuck his tongue out at Cassy, "See, Nine is on my side." 

"He is just spoiling you so that you don't throw a tantrum." Cassy rolled her eyes. 

"Lee, get your girlfriend before I fight her." 

"She is your sister. And she can handle herself." 

Cassy kissed Lee, "You are right on that. I can beat his ass with my eyes close." 

Jon grabbed Nine's arm, shaking it, "Nine, they are teasing me." 

Nine laughed, feeling better from his earlier mood. His friends always knew how to distract him, even if it was unconsciously. 

He patted Jon's head, "There, there. You are a strong boy."