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Chapter 16 - The Boy From Seven Years Ago
Asher looked up and met Cailen's cerulean eyes.
He smiled shyly at Cailen and he didn't blame him because he knew he was staring but he couldn't pull his eyes from him.
"Hey, Cai," Asher said awkwardly with a small wave.
Cailen really had to pull it together. He knew that but he couldn't believe this was Asher. He couldn't believe this was little scrawny Asher. Asher that begged him to tell on the bullies in school. Asher who cries at Toy Story, every time.
Asher who always made sure to include Cailen at the parties he was invited to. He couldn't believe this was Asher.
"Jesus, what's in the water here?" Cailen joked, trying to cover up his utter shock and possible drool.
All four boys chuckled at Cailen, even Noah who really didn't know him.
"I should have stuck around. I seemed to have missed the puberty bus," Cailen joked, looking down at his s
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A Place To Call Home Chapter 17 - Unexpected
"This summer is going to be ace,"Matthewinformed the other four boys while they waited for their food to arrive.They were sat in a local diner that they always used to eat at. Cailensupposed they still ate here. It was only him that used to eat herebefore.They sat in a booth with Matthew, Williamand Noahsquished in on one side and Asherand Cailensitting comfortably on the other. Cailenwas looking around at the diner, seeing it really hadn't changed a bit.It still had the old beat up chairs and tables, the red booths still had rips in them, if not more, but Cailenloved it all the same.It was a piece of home and Cailenwouldn't change it even if he could."Yeah, we'll actually be able to score some beer without begging people to buy it for us,"Noahsaid, grinning at Matthew.Matthewsnorted."Who said you wouldn't have to beg? I want you on
A Place To Call Home Chapter 18 - First Sign
The two boys silently climbed the stairs to William's room together, Cailenflopping on the bed when they got thereand Williamflopping down beside him.William's room looked like any other teenager's room.A bed against the wall in the middle, a desk on the far wall that had his school bag hanging from the office chair there, and a TV on the opposite wall of his bed, facing the bed so he could watch while laying down.There were band posters lining the walls along with school awards and sports medals, most of them being the award for 'most improved' or 'hardest working' because Williamreally wasn't very coordinatedand tended to fall a lot but that didn't stop him from trying."What do you think happened?" Williamasked, finally breaking the silence."I don’t know. She'd tell us if someone died, right?" Cailenasked.Williamnodded."Could be nothing... She really could be
A Place To Call Home Chapter 19 - Connection
When Cailenfirst saw Ashercome out of the bathroom the first day he came back,he was surprised and very pleased with who Asherhad turned into.Now, seeing him nearly naked, jogging into the water,took his breath away.Asherhad a defined chest with a growing sixpackabs, his arms were muscled but nicelytoned and that's all Cailencould see in the faint light the moon offered but that's all he neede-or could handle because he was fairly certain-anymore,and his brain might short-circuit."What are you gonna do about it?" Asherasked, grinning at Cailenas he approached but he wasn't capableof speech right now. "Hmm?" Asherencouraged and frowned when all Cailencould do was stare. "Cai? Are you okay? I didn't hurt you,did I? Cai?""Hm, what? No! No, I'm fine,"Cailensaid quickly but Ashercontinued to frown at him, probabl
A Place To Call Home Chapter 20 - Surprise In The Palm Of His Hand
He saw Asher’s eyes move down to his lips, then back to his eyes.Cailen didn’t know what was happening anymore as he saw Asher’s adam’s apple move as if he was swallowing something.Time seemed to stop when he suddenly felt the tip of Asher’s nose against his. He didn’t even know who moved and he can’t really hear anything anymore other than the pulse in his ears.Cailenfelt like he couldn't breath again, and not only because Ashermight be squishing him, not that he actually minded that, but because of this feeling inside him.It took his breath away, making his stomach flutter and his heart skip and…What was he doing?This was Asher.He shouldn't be feeling this when he looks at Asher.Asherwas his friend, has been since he was thirteen. He shouldn't get that kind of reaction from him.It was one thing to think he was fit when he to
A Place To Call Home Chapter 21 - Ticking Time Bomb
Cailensat on the edge of his childhood bed with his eyes locked on the envelope in his hands.He only stared at it because he didn't know what to do with it. He didn't know why Edenand Deanhad given it to him. He didn't know why he was dwelling on it either.It was just a letter.Supposedly a letter from his biological mother that's he's never even seen before, but still, just a letter.Obviously he should open it, he should read it and try to make sense of it but he couldn't.There was something stopping him. What, he did not know, but there it was inside him, preventing his finger from tearing open the envelope and seeing what was inside.It was just, he's never wondered about his biological mother. Not really. Sure, for a while he wondered why he was dropped off attheorphanage in the first place but he's never actually wondered about what his mother looked like or what kind of person she was.
A Place To Call Home Chapter 22 - Getting Caught Up
"Cailen," Asher's voice came from behind him, soft and concerned.He turned around and looked up the couple inches to meet Asher's eyes. Asher's hand on his wrist tightened as if to reassure that he was in fact, there."Are you sure you want to go? I can tell them you're not feeling well," Asher offered and Cailen really wished he would stop.Something about the way Asher was looking at him, like Cailen looked about ready to break down, made him feel like he was actually about to break down.But he couldn't. Not yet.He had to stay strong and just get through the mall."I'm good, Ash. Really," Cailen said more cheerfully than he felt.Asher continued to look at him, his eyes searching his face for any doubt. Cailen wanted Asher to understand that he was fine, that he didn't need to pretend to be sick or that he didn't need Asher to coddle him and talk about what was on his mind, because he didn't want to talk about whatever was in the letter or the letter in general.He wished the let
A Place To Call Home Chapter 23 - Putting Leash
Itsjust... It was hard and it only got harder as the day went on.Cailenwould catch himself staring at Asher, not even realizing that he was and then Noahwould nudge him or clear his throat and raise his eyebrows at him.Cailencouldn't help it. He knows that forhim, Asherhas always had a special place in his heart, a different place from Williamor Matthewbut he just refused to acknowledge it.He could play off the feeling of adoration when Asherwould rush to help a little old lady carry her groceries to her car as friendship. He could play off the fondness when Asherdidn't understand a dirty joke because he was too innocent as friendship.He could play off all those feelings as friendship and nothing more,but this?This was definitely not friendship.Friends didn't daydream about what their friend’s lips felt like. They didn't daydream about holding their h
A Place To Call Home Chapter 24 - Unrestrained
It went on like this for a while.Cailenwould spend his nights staring at the envelope, too afraid to open it but too curious to just throw it out.He wasn't getting a lot of sleep and Asherwasn't the only one beginning to notice.Everyone was starting to comment on how tired Cailenlooked and asking if he was alright,but Cailenwould just brush it off, making up some excuse about not being used to his bed and they'd move on.Asher, however, wasn't buying it.He would constantly check on Cailen, asking if he needed anything or if he wanted to talk. For the most part,he was pretty subtle about it but sometimes,he would be a bit more direct and ask Cailento open up-if not to him,then justtosomeone so he could get help.Asher's gone as far as begging Cailen, pleading he just wanted to help and that he hated seeing him like this and that he was beginning to worry
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