Two weeks. It had been over two weeks of silence. It was definitely an all-time record.

He considered their last conversation. Had he said something? Did something happen? What did any of this mean? Cameron wasn't someone to just drop off the face of the Earth like this. Even when they fought, he'd still send passive-aggressive replies and devil emojis. Now Aidan didn't know what to make of it. Something had to be wrong. What if he was in the hospital? Or he'd been abducted and sold to the circus?

In the midst of Aidan's freak out, something flew by him, nearly hitting him in the head and pushing him back to reality.

"What the hell, AJ?!" Drew Williams shouted. "Are you even awake over there?"

He and some other guys from their school's lacrosse team were playing volleyball on the beach like they did every weekend. People around him were enjoying the last day of summer vacation swimming and basking in the sun. Aidan's younger sisters were building sand castles by the shore and complaining whenever the water washed it away.

It should have been a great day.

"You're right, man. I'm barely cognitive." Aidan attempted an easy laugh. "I think I'll sit this one out."

"Whatever, dude," Drew mumbled, already preparing to serve.

"I'll have some of whatever he's on." Will joked as he jogged away.

Crippling self-doubt? Aidan thought darkly.

His house was on the beach, which he was sure his parents had to sell their souls for. Even inside, you couldn't escape the sounds and smell of the ocean. His mom was sweeping sand from the back porch as he came up. Her short, thick hair was pulled back with a bandanna and her light pink dress a contrast from her dark complexion. She was shorter than her broom.

"What is it?" She asked as he kissed her forehead. "You're in early."

"I'm just feeling a little under the weather."

"I can make you some tea!" She said, following him into the house. His mom was convinced tea could solve any and every illness known to man.

"I'll tough through it," Aidan answered before shutting his bedroom door. He resisted picking his phone up from the bedside table and replaced his sweaty tank top with a plaid button up. He sat at his desk and stared out the window, trying to keep his mind on tomorrow, the first day of his senior year. But he couldn't hold back and checked his phone.

Again, nothing new.

For about the hundredth time, he read through their texts, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Just the two of them bantering at three o'clock in the morning.

CT: I just kind of feel like a stereotype.

AJ: Yeah because you're soooo flamboyant and colorful, Mr Cynic.

CT: I'm being serious, Aidan. This is my serious face. >:[

AJ: >:]?

CT: No, >:[

CT: i just feel like if (or when) I ever come out, no one will be surprised.

AJ: Same.

CT: I doubt that. you don't seem gay.

AJ: What does that even mean, Cam

CT: i mean, 1) you have terrible fashion sense, 2) you're the definition of a jock, 3) you're probably allergic to rainbows and 4) idk, you just don't.

AJ: what does that have to do with my sexuality????

CT: I don't know!!! I just feel like people expect us to fit into this certain mold, like that's the only way they can understand it all. And that sucks bc I do and that just bothers me....

AJ: You think you have good fashion sense? Hahahahha

AJ: hey, are you still there?

AJ: Did you fall asleep?

AJ: Cam????

CT: How do you block a number again? Just curious...

Aidan gave a frustrated groan and let his head hit the desk with a thunk. "Where the hell are you?" He asked an empty room.