**A/N: This chapter contains SA (in the form of a memory night terror). Read at your own discretion.**

Owen POV

It’s been almost one full year since Markus and I started this relationship. I wanted to do something special for him to celebrate. It’s the first time I’d been in a relationship, and I knew it was his longest lasting relationship that was more than just strictly a D/s relationship. I was proud to be his first for something… because I knew I’d only get a few of his firsts by this point in his life. So I really wanted to celebrate. Luckily, there was still about a month and a half until we reached our one year mark, so I had time to plan.

I wanted to see if Roy and Vincent were up for helping me plan something nice, but like with Markus, I did not want them to meet my sleazy roommate, Manny. I get that some people don’t want to be tied down in a relationship, and that’s totally fine. And I get that some people have frequent one-night-stands with a new stranger every day. I don’t agree with that, but it’s not my place to judge people. But Manny was doing the worst thing. He was intentionally finding guys who were in relationships, seeing who he could bait into his bed, and screwing up happy relationships. Don’t get me wrong, the people in the relationships are just as terrible, because they should be more faithful, but if Manny wouldn’t intentionally target taken guys, there wouldn’t be a problem. And that’s not even the worst of it. Occasionally, he’ll bring home both partners of a relationship – which, I’m all for having a little fun, so no judgment on the threesome factor of this – but he’ll do things like focus more on one of the partners, which makes that partner focus on him too, and intentionally leave the other partner feeling neglected and left out. I’ve been home for plenty of those occasions to know they never end well for the couple. I really couldn’t stand Manny, but I can’t afford to move right now, so I made do with the situation. I never invited my friends over, or Markus, and I made it clear exactly why I never wanted them here. Manny was disgusting, and he had zero respect for couples.

Rather than having Roy and Vincent come here, I asked if I could just go to their place so we could talk out some ideas. They lived about a five minute drive from me, which was nice, since they were my two closest friends here in Monterey. My best friend was still living in Oklahoma, but I haven’t seen him in a really long time… or spoke to him… I didn’t even know if he still thought of us as friends anymore… I do miss him a lot, but I have no plans of going back to that small town. At least not until I find the guy I will marry and can show them that I’m way happier now that I can be openly gay.

I finished getting myself ready for the day, told Manny I would be home later, then headed to Roy and Vincent’s apartment.

“Hey there cutie!” Vincent sang as he opened the door to let me in.

“You seem very energetic.” I smiled.

“I get to see my favorite twink, other than myself of course.” He winked at me.

“Awe, you hear that, Roy? I’m his favorite.” I bragged teasingly.

“You’re his favorite twink, I’m his favorite everything else.” He boasted.

“Now, now, children. Play nice.” Vincent intervened before things got too snarky.

I stuck my tongue at Roy in one last act of childish defiance, earning myself a chuckle from both Roy and Vincent. We all moved to their dining table and I pulled out my laptop to show them some of the ideas I had. I had already told them that getting engaged wasn’t an option for us right now, because we aren’t at that point yet. I knew Markus loved wine, and food. So I was thinking of wine and dining him. But that didn’t feel like enough, though, like I said before, this is my first relationship… so what did I know? Maybe it was more than enough.

“Awe this is such a sweet idea. I love this.” Vincent fawned as he read over my plan and saw all the tiny notes I’d taken to make sure the place I chose was the right one.

“This will definitely suit Markus’s tastes. He’ll love this. And he’ll definitely love the sentiment of you wanting to celebrate this huge milestone for the both of you.” Roy commented. Hearing that made me excited, knowing I’d picked the right thing.

After we’d finalized all the plans by reserved a spot for the wine tasting and dinner at the Taste of Monterey Wine Market and Bistro, we decided to hang out a little longer. We didn’t really want to go out and waste money, so we opted for a movie on one of the streaming services they already pay for, had a few drinks and enjoyed ourselves. Usually, Vincent and I talked through the movies, about random things or the movie itself. But this time it was different and I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the situation. I was sitting in the middle of the couch, because usually they opted to sit in the love seat together… but this time the sat on either side of me. Now, them being my closest friends here, I didn’t really think much of it. Vincent rested his head on my shoulder, while Roy draped his arm over the back of the couch behind me. His hand rested on Vincent’s shoulder, so I just figured he was only doing this so he couch touch his fiancé. I didn’t know why they didn’t just sit in the love seat if they wanted to snuggle, but whatever.

It was only early afternoon when we started the movie, but I still ended up passing out halfway through the movie. I guess I was just really exhausted today, which wasn’t abnormal for me these days as I was still getting used to the weird schedule of being an EMT. When I woke up, it was to the loud end credit music, but the brightness of the outside sun in the living room kept me from opening my eyes right away. I could still feel Roy and Vincent leaning on me, but now it was more like someone was laying across my lap. With Roy still draping an arm over my shoulder, I knew it was Vincent across my lap without opening my eyes. That was only made even more factual when I heard the low moans coming from Roy right next to my ear. I was far too shocked that I was hearing Roy moan to open my eyes and figure out what was causing it… though the movement of Vincent’s body made it pretty clear what was going on. It wasn’t the first time I’d been around them while they did something sexual, but it was the first time they did it while on top of me. The sound of Roy’s soft moans, was weirdly starting to turn me on… and with Vincent laying across my lap, it was only a matter of time before they realized I was awake now… Embarrassment, and some guilt, flushed through my body. I jerked my body off the couch, scaring both Roy and Vincent, and ran out of their apartment without saying anything to them, or grabbing my stuff. I wasn’t even mad about what they were doing, and that made me feel even more guilt.

I rushed to Markus’s house, going way over the speed limit, and being stupidly reckless. I sped down his long driveway, and finally made it to the space where he preferred I park my car. I ran to his door and flung it open. I was in such a rush to get to Markus that I didn’t even realize there was another car in his driveway until I saw someone else in his house. The shock of what I’d just went through with Roy and Vincent, and seeing the one man who reminded me so much of my past made the water gates between my eyes flood and I began bawling hysterically. I hadn’t even form a single coherent thought before turning around and rushing right back into my car. I didn’t want to face my past. Hell, I hadn’t even told Markus, or Roy, or Vincent about it yet. We were all so focused on making sure Roy was getting the help he needed, that I never found the right time to bring my own trauma up.

“Owen? Hey! Come back! Shit.” I heard Dominic’s voice call after me. But I didn’t stop, got into my car and left as quickly as I’d come. I hated Dominic so much, for so many reasons. And seeing him here, alone in the house with Markus, just added to that list of reasons.

I rushed back to my apartment in my frantic state. I couldn’t think straight right now. As I entered the apartment, Manny was in the kitchen making himself some sort of smoothie concoction.

“Hey you okay?” He asked, not sounding the least bit genuine.

“I’m fine.” I lied in my effort to not involve him with my personal affairs.

“You sure? I know we don’t really talk much, but if you need a shoulder to cry on, I’d be willing to listen to you.” Hearing him say that shocked me even more than anything else that happened in the past hour.

“Thanks. I appreciate the offer. But I’m fine. Just a rough day is all. Nothing I can’t handle.” I lied again, then went to my room and flopped down on my bed. It didn’t take long for me to pass out in my overwhelmed state.

I waited patiently outside the football locker room for my friend. When I heard the door open, I looked up and smiled at the sight of him ready to go home now.

“Hey, want to hang out tonight? I have a new video game we can play together. And my parents won’t be home to yell at us over the loud volume of the game.” I asked Todd.

He smiled his dazzling smile, “Yeah, sure, I’d like that. Let’s go.” Butterflies of excitement erupted in my stomach. Tonight will be the night.

~

In my living room, we were both focused on the game for quite some time, laughing at mistakes the other made, or helping one another to do something so we could both succeed the round. At the end of the fifth round of the game, Todd set the remote down and turned to face me.

“Owen?” His voice was just over a whisper.

His tone made me so nervous, “Todd?” I questioned back in the same tone, looking in his direction. With the afternoon sun shining brightly into the living room, I could easily see his beautiful golden-brown eyes from the other side of the couch. His dark braids, which usually looked black in unnatural lighting, shined more brown in the streaks of sunlight light coming from the window behind me. Even his deep ebony skin looked stunning in the golden light. He was all around gorgeous.

“Can I move closer?” He asked. I nodded, and watched him intensely as he scooted across the couch to sit right next to me. The butterflies just kept getting stronger and stronger. I gulped hard under his strong gaze. Before I knew it, his warm hand was caressing my cheek.

“You are so beautiful, you know that?” I felt heat rush to my cheeks at his complement. “Stop me, if you don’t like this, okay?” He whispered, just before his face leaned closer to mine. The warmth of his lips felt amazing on mine. I leaned into the kiss more, accepting it.

Our tongues were colliding, and we were in the middle of a heavy make out, when suddenly the space around us turned black and ominous. I pulled away from him and looked around, scared.

“What’s happening Todd?” I asked in a panic, but when I looked back him, he wasn’t there. Now he was walking down the school hallway holding hands with a girl.

“Todd?” I cried out. He looked at me with disgust in his eyes, before pulling the girl in and kissing her right in front of me.

“Did you think I was serious about you? It was a prank. How could I ever be a fag like you?” His words were like venom devouring my heart.

I tried to run away from him, but my body wasn’t moving, “Where are you going, Owen? Don’t you love me? I love you!” Todd cried out to me. I turned to hug him, but the second my body moved I was attacked but unknown assailants.

“I heard you suck dicks for a living. How about you suck mine for me?” The unknown boy shoved my face into his crotch. I tried so hard to push him away from me. But I only ended up back in Todd’s arms.

“Don’t leave me Owen. You’re my everything.” He told me as he pinned me to the wall and kissed down my neck. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

“NO! STOP! GET OFF OF ME!” I cried as loudly as I could, hoping anyone would hear me, hoping someone could save me.

My body started to shake violently, “OWEN! OWEN WAKE UP!” A unembodied voice pleaded frantically.