"I sleep like this," Wayne answered.

I watched through my fingers as Eli smacked his back. "Put it back on!" he yelled.

"Ow... Not on my bare skin..." He dejectedly put his shirt back on.

"See?" Eli had a soft tone of voice as he approached me. "Everything's fine. And if it becomes too uncomfortable, we can always stop."

I slowly put my hands down and nodded. He smiled so gently I was almost surprised he could make an expression. Then he carefully took one of my hands as he led me to the bed. It almost seemed like we were actually going to sleep together. I mean the more intimate...um, sexual...kind of sleeping together. But I knew we were just cuddling and falling asleep.

"I'll lay against the wall," Wayne said as he got on the bed. He opened his arms once he was situated. "Owen, come here."

I felt flushed seeing such a handsome boy opening his arms for me. And his shirt was off earlier... No, no, no, I must keep pure thoughts.

I carefully got in bed while Eli got in behind me. They both wrapped their arms around me, practically trapping me between them.

"This bed isn't big enough..." Eli muttered.

"I said we'll make it work." Wayne tried to push himself against the wall even more.

"You don't have to do this for me–" I tried to say.

"I won't let you sleep with him first!" Eli exclaimed.

"Damn," Wayne said as if that's what he was wishing for.

"It's like you guys are fighting over me..." I said.

"We are!" Eli said.

I tried to turn to look at him behind me.

"Don't look so surprised. I've been all over you, haven't I? And Wayne was trying to be but I kept him at bay."

"We should nap on the grass sometime," Wayne said.

I couldn't wrap my head around it. I was just grateful that they wanted to be friends with me. But to think they were secretly pining over me... How did I not know?

"You guys are so close though, I didn't think..."

Eli nuzzled his nose into my neck. "I was holding myself back. Wayne was too. He was way more clingy with me to avoid bothering you if you didn't want it."

So the way they were all over each other was because... They wanted to be that way with me but were holding themselves back? There's no way! This has got to be a dream!

"That's in the past now," Wayne said. "Let's enjoy this time together. And many more times in the future."

"He hasn't given us an actual answer yet, you know."

"I'll wait then..."

Wayne looked like he was drifting off. I decided to stop thinking and enjoy the warmth enveloping me. As I let sleep wash over me, I realized this is the most comfortable and loved I've felt in a really long time.

The next morning, I realized it was just me and Wayne in bed. I decided to carefully get out of his embrace before going to look for Eli. But I didn't get far since I almost stepped on him. Eli opened his eyes and looked up at me.

"I fell off the bed," he explained. "It was definitely not made for three people."

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine. Luckily I put this mat here before we decided our sleeping arrangements. I didn't knock my head on the ground."

I got off the bed and stepped around to his other side. I laid down next to him. "This probably doesn't fit three people either."

He smiled. "I have two so it could fit all of us."

"Then let's do that next time."

He grinned. "Next time? Did we already win your heart?"

I flushed and looked away. "I...I still have to think about it..."

He wrapped his arms around me. "I understand."

The sound of Wayne stirring was heard. "Owen...? Eli...?"

"Down here you idiot," Eli called.

"Gasp. Cuddling without me?" He really said the word 'gasp'...

He tried to squeeze in on the mat with us. I was pushed to the edge.

"Now I'm going to fall off..." I said.

Eli held onto me tightly. "I won't let you."

"We're only like an inch off the floor, I'll be fine."

I suddenly felt Wayne holding onto me too. "We won't let you."

Pfft... I laughed. These two are quite unique... But they might just be perfect for me...

When I said I should probably go home, they both begged me to stay another night. I glanced at my backpack with clothes only for one day. Eli offered to let me borrow some of his clothes and Wayne said he could run to his house for more clothes too. I had to give in with all their begging. I knew I had to make a call home first though.

"Mom?"

"Owen? What is it?"

"I'm thinking of staying one more night if that's alright."

"Sure. If anything changes, call again before it's too late."

"Okay, I will."

After that call, I eventually got a text from Millie. She asked about Eli's address. I didn't know why she was asking and sent it to her without question. She didn't respond after that. But then she randomly showed up at the door later.

"Millie," I said, surprised, with Eli and Wayne next to me.

She held out the bag in her hands. "Clothes."

I slowly took them. "Clothes?" I repeated.

"Since you're spending another night." She glanced at the boys next to me.

Eli waved. "Hello! Are you Owen's sister?"

She nodded. "Millie."

"We're Eli and Wayne. It's nice to meet you."

"Bring Abby next time," Wayne said.

Millie looked surprised.

"Ah, Eli has two younger siblings. They're twins, Jack and Ruby," I quickly explained.

"Right... So Abby can have friends. I'll bring her next time."

"Thanks for the clothes, Millie. Really." I smiled at her.

She nodded. Then she left without another word. I let out a quiet sigh. Eli put his hand on my back.

"Are you alright?"

I nodded. "Yeah... She usually isn't that nice. I'm surprised."

"Really?"

"You haven't told us much about your family," Wayne said.

"I guess it's just kind of complicated..." I said.

"We'll listen if you want to tell us," Eli said.

I nodded as I stared at the bag in my hands. I guess I should tell them. Maybe I'll tell them everything. I wonder how they'll take it. Honestly, I'm still worried I'll mess everything up. I'm not totally sure why they like me in the first place. Anything I do could still change their opinion of me. But I want to be honest with them if I can be.

After I told them my story, they both hugged me.

"That's really tough..." Eli said. "I'm so sorry..."

"Your family kinda sucks," Wayne said.

I hugged them back. "Thanks... I needed this..."

We had a quiet moment as they comforted me. Eli talked about his family but none of it was bad like mine. Then Wayne mentioned his as well.

"I'm the youngest child," he said. "I only have an older sister."

"She's the best," Eli grinned.

"She likes to humiliate me."

"And it's the best!"

"Humiliate you how...?" I asked.

"She likes to mention how many times I've peed the bed when I was younger. And all the other totally normal but kinda gross things I've done as a child. She's just jealous that I'm our parents' favorite."

"Wow..."

"I'd be mad too, my little brother who only sleeps all day still gets A's in school and succeeds in other aspects of life too? I'd definitely hate your guts if I was in her shoes," Eli said.

"You already hate my guts."

"Hm... I do dislike you, but I also like you just a tiny bit. Otherwise I would never put up with you."

"Awww, Eli likes me," Wayne said as he leaned closer to him.

"Only a little bit! Don't put words in my mouth!"

"I think you guys go well together," I beamed.

"You can be with us too," Wayne said. Eli nodded.

"Right..."

We spent the rest of the day playing around and talking. When night came, we slept on the mats on the floor to sleep next to each other better. I felt content as I closed my eyes. I slept really well last night and I did this night as well.

When I went home, my family was the same as ever but I tried to not let it get to me. Max of course said he was glad to have me out of the house and my parents didn't comment on my absence. At Eli's, we briefly talked about our futures and I figured I could finally give Max what he wanted, move out when I'm 18. I have a couple more years left. I can do it.

Time went by and when I went over to Eli's once, Abby came with me. She played with the twins and seemed to enjoy herself. Then I decided to accept Eli and Wayne's feelings. They were so excited they hugged me and refused to let go. When I had to go home with Abby, they were practically begging me to stay and holding my legs to prevent me from leaving. Eli's parents gave them a scolding.

"I like them!" Abby said as we went home.

I smiled. "Me too."

I had agreed to meet up with them and watch the new anime come out every week. The more we hung out together, the deeper our relationship became. Then the day came when we all graduated high school.

"Oh my baby boy! He's becoming a man by the day!" Wayne's mom had his face in her hands. He looked funny with his cheeks squished together and his expression devoid of emotion.

"Stand together so we can take a picture! Be still, Jack!" Eli's parents were fawning over him as well.

I watched them with a smile. Then I turned to my family.

"Smile," Millie said as she held up her phone. I smiled brighter as she took a picture.

"Did you want to go out and eat somewhere?" Mom asked, looking impatient to leave.

"When will you move out?" Max asked with folded arms.

"In due time, I'm sure!" Ryan gave me an awkward side hug.

"When will I graduate?" Abby asked.

"Many years from now," Millie answered.

My dad still didn't say a word.

"We could go to that restaurant by the corner–" I said. I was interrupted by Eli and Wayne putting their arms around me after Ryan let me go.

"Let's all go!" Eli said. "My family is down if you all are."

I nodded and looked expectantly at my parents. Mom began scratching her neck like she was anxious. Eli and Wayne's parents said they were willing, which pushed my parents to accept to not look rude to strangers.

"Abby!" Ruby exclaimed as she ran up to her. Jack joined them.

"Nice to meet you," Wayne's sister, Natalie, said as she shook Millie's hand.

Millie nodded. "Nice to meet you."

We were a ginormous group going into a family diner but the staff expected it since it was graduation day. They already had a group seated but they'd be done soon apparently. We waited around and talked amongst ourselves.

"I'm surprised you graduated," Wayne said to Eli.

"Why, you!! Of course I graduated! I studied my ass off!"

"Language," his mom scolded.

"But you still had terrible grades despite that."

"I'm going to kill you!"

I laughed. But I didn't have the best grades either. I really studied my ass off to finish all the end of year tests and barely passed. I get why Natalie hates Wayne too with his picture perfect grades... I noticed that she was actually getting along with Millie.

Somehow Millie had changed a lot. I'm not sure why. But I'm glad. I even told her I was dating Eli and Wayne and she only nodded. I was worried she'd tell the rest of the family but I never heard a word about it from them.

After graduation, I had planned to pick up a job and work towards moving out. My dad surprised me with a sizable amount of money to help me. Mom smiled next to him and said I could ask for more if I was ever in a bad situation. I don't really want to have to rely on them though. For multiple reasons.

Eli said he wanted to move out too and become roommates. And of course Wayne jumped on the bandwagon as well. Eli also said he's secretly wanted to write and illustrate a book of his own. He showed me a fanfiction of MLOHHMED where Leo was the male lead and it was really good. I decided to practice drawing to help him achieve his dream since he prefers writing instead. Wayne nominated himself as our editor in both writing and the comic format.

When we moved in together, a lot of our free time was spent working on our book. Even though we all like romance fantasy novels, Eli wanted to work on something more meaningful and real. He decided to call it Finding Acceptance. I noticed how it mirrored the issues in our lives. I approved of the end message and drew beautiful illustrations to fit the equally beautiful words. Wayne tried to promote the story online and eventually got it published.

I'm so glad I was able to meet them. My life feels so much more full and happy. I may still have bad days, and it's not like my family ever changed much, but I have two great people I can fall back on. Instead of receiving rejection all my life, I finally found the opposite. I finally found acceptance.