The car was still moving when he unbuckled his seatbelt and got out. From where he was standing, he could see sunlight streaming through the broken windows of the fourth floor, casting long shadows on the charred walls and singed remnants of the upper floors of the apartment. Shattered glass and debris littered the ground below.

Maddy sucked in a deep breath, tasting the bitter taste of soot and smoke on his tongue. He swallowed the flavors, and tried to avoid falling as his shoes beat against the wet pavement caused by an opened fire hydrant. He was able to make it past the yellow tapeline and to the front entrance before a fireman stopped him.

“I’m sorry, kid, but I can’t let you inside.” The fireman adjusted his position to block the doorway.

“Do you know where it started?” He asked, trying to keep his voice level.

“The fourth floor.” The fireman replied, watching him skeptically as he sucked in a sharp breath.

“Um, do you know which room?” His eyes stung, but he refused to let himself cry, not until he was absolutely sure.

Don’t say it. Don’t say it.

The fireman was slow to respond. Something must have clicked in his brain and his face softened.

“Four B.”

Maddy felt like he was punched in the stomach. Darkness surrounded his vision and the man in front of him became a watery blurr. He knew the fireman was asking him questions because his mouth moving, but all he could hear was a dull ringing that grew louder and louder, like leaving a concert after standing too close to a speaker all night.

The fireman took a step forward, his hand reaching out to touch him, but he jumped back. Eyes as wide as saucers he looked at the fireman as if he had grown a second head. He didn’t want anyone near him. He didn’t want to be awake right now.

Maddy could smell the fresh scent of strawberries and spice before he could see Greyson. He was half-expecting to see a smug smile lingering on his face. Despite only knowing him for a couple of days there was something calming about the way he looked when his lips curled and that tooth popped out. But, when all he saw was a deep set frown etched in his face, it only made things more real for him.

His apartment really was gone.

Greyson’s steps turned into long strides as he took in the situation. When he was close enough, he gently placed a hand on his shoulder and asked, “Are you okay?”

He looked into Greyson’s silver eyes as if he was searching for something to hold onto. The silver coy fish in his eyes swirled and his brows narrowed with concern. There was a small nagging in his chest as he spoke, "Everything that ever made me… me… was in there.”

Time passed quickly as he absorbed the painful truth of his situation. He remembered nodding at the fireman and being told he would need to go down to the police station at some point for statements and to pick up whatever was salvageable from the fire. He watched as Greyson spoke briefly with the fireman and then guided him away from the crowd that had formed.

“Dee,” He mumbled, keeping his eyes wide to stop the tears from overflowing. “I need Dee.”

“Sure,” Greyson said softly. “Let’s get you out of here first.”

“There’s a park three blocks from here.” Maddy let his feet do most of the work, while his brain shut down. He found his favorite bench nestled between the edge of the park and the forest behind it.

Greyson hummed and asked, “Why did you pick here?”

He shrugged and focused his eyes on the box in his lap. “I don’t know. I always end up here whenever I-”

His lips pressed tightly together like they were glued to each other. On any other day, he would have been happy that the spell he was under kept him from opening up, but today he hated how he could just say what he wanted. He hated how he never had a normal day in his life. Every time he thought he could catch his breath, something knocked it back out again. Angry tears started to fall down his cheeks and he aggressively wiped them away. 

“If you've got somewhere to be today, you should probably go. I don't want to make you late,” His gaze focused on a pair of squirrels playing by a nearby tree. If only his life were that simple. “Thanks for your help.”

“Are you sure?” Greyson asked, but never shifted his position.

He didn’t answer. It was probably best Greyson left now before he became a complete mess. It was probably best if he was alone. He squeezed his eyes shut and breathed in a shaky breath. For a moment he couldn’t understand why this was happening to him. Why he had to be the one to watch a man die at Douggies and why it was his apartment that was set on fire?

“You’re a fucking monster!” Darren’s words echoed in his head, loud and raw from screaming it over and over. That’s right. He was a monster and monsters deserved every awful thing that came their way.

The second he let out a whimper, he was thrashed into a tight hug.

Maddy tried to pull away, he pushed and shoved at Greyson’s chest, but it was like throwing fists at a wall. When he couldn’t free himself, he did the only other thing he could think of.

He cried.

“I’m sorry you have to deal with me like this. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. My life’s just a mess.” He sniffed and looked up at Greyson. His face was hot and swollen as tears continued to slide down his cheeks.

“You’re doing it again,” Greyson furrowed his brows.

“Yeah,” He shrugged. “Once I start crying it’s hard for me to stop.”

“That’s not what I meant.” There was a lightness in Greyson's tone as if the mood wasn't so heavy he might have laughed.

Maddy smiled, confused and Greyson gave him a kiss as a reply.

It was soft, sweet, and over before he could fully register it happened. Goosebumps formed on the surface of his skin and he couldn’t help staring at Greyson as if he was the grand prize winner of a million dollars.

If Dee, could see him now, she’d have a field day. Oh, crap, Dee.

“But… You like Dee.” He struggled to speak as if the words would erase the taste of Greyson on his lips.

“Let me show you who I like,” He cupped his hand against Maddy's cheek and gently tugged him closer. Inviting Maddy to open his mouth and follow his lead. The start of a dance he was very familiar with and happy to teach.

Maddy's heart raced like an orchestra filled with only drums, it beat wildly against his chest in a symphony of chaos and desire. The crack in his heart was splitting open and his need for more grew stronger. He held onto Greyson's shoulders tighter than before, digger his nails into Greyson's muscles as the kiss deepened and their tongues mingled.

He was suddenly pulled back into reality when his phone buzzed in his back pocket and pushed away from Greyson, but not before getting another quick peck on the lips.

“Looks like the tears stopped,” Greyson said, his voice was low and husky as his lips broke into a smile that showed those perfect white fangs.