LOGINTHE EYES THAT FOLLOWEDThe figure vanished from view at the corner of the athletics building before Ethan and Blake even reached the parking lot. Ethan didn't see it – neither did Blake. They were both far too busy walking side by side, whispering to each other and saying nothing important at all.It seemed odd – almost too ordinary. After all the things that had occurred between them, Ethan had expected any time spent with Blake to be dangerous. Yet this night was simple. Blake wasn't acting like anyone else, and Ethan wasn't trying to figure out if he should put some distance between them. They just walked together."So," Blake said, filling the space between them with words, "what do you plan on doing tomorrow after school?"Ethan glanced at Blake. "I'll be studying."Blake groaned. "Sure.""Why?""You always study.""That's because some of us actually need to pass their classes.""I pass.""Hardly."Blake dramatically placed his hand against his chest. "Ouch."Ethan laughed, makin
THE SPACE BETWEEN US 2Tom's eyes met his face. "Oh, this is bad," he said.Ethan frowned. "What?" he asked."You like him," Tom said.Ethan almost choked on his water. "I–" he started.Tom raised his hands. "Relax. I'm not judging you," he said.Ethan stared at him, looking around the crowded grass. "Can you lower your voice?" he hissed."Sorry," Tom said.Ethan looked around them once again–apparently nobody noticed–and let out a breath. "I don't know what I'm doing," he confessed.Tom's teasing expression changed, and for once, he looked rather serious. "Neither does he," he said.Ethan looked across the field once again. Blake had stopped looking his way. "That's the problem," Ethan whispered.---After lunch, Ethan found a note tucked into his notebook. He stared at it for a few moments. It wasn't signed by anyone–just three words. *After school. Football field.*Ethan's heart raced as soon as he understood who had written it. He didn't need any confirmation. Ethan folded the pap
THE SPACE BETWEEN USBy Monday morning, Ethan had convinced himself almost entirely that the weekend had never happened. Almost.Ethan stared at the reflection in the mirror, adjusting his glasses for the third time as the sounds of Jake getting ready downstairs echoed through the house. The morning sunlight was streaming through the small window above the sink, turning the glass pale and highlighting every tired feature on Ethan's face. Ethan looked normal. That was important. Normal. His hair was messy but tidy, his school shirt was neatly tucked into his trousers, and his backpack was already slung over one shoulder.None of it indicated that he had spent most of Sunday thinking about Blake. None of it indicated that every time he closed his eyes, he remembered sitting beside Blake, watching as the evening passed away out the window. None of it indicated that the thought of Blake leaning closer made him feel sick in the pit of his stomach.Ethan sighed and grabbed his toothbrush. H
A PROBLEM FOR JAKEJake looked down at the duffel bag, then back at the two men staring at him, and lifted his arm to give the bag to him. The man took the bag, unzipped it, and looked inside for a few long seconds while nobody spoke. Then he looked back at Jake."Where's the rest?" he asked."I told you, that's everything," Jake said, his voice cracking slightly.The man's eyes narrowed. "You think we're stupid?""No," Jake said, quickly."Then where is it?""I don't know!" Jake shouted, his voice echoing in the empty warehouse.The second man reached into his jacket, and Jake felt his blood freeze. He took a step back instinctively. "Whoa," he said, holding both hands up.The man pulled out a handgun, and Jake's entire body froze. "Wait," he said, but the gun was already aimed at him.Jake threw the duffel bag and turned around to run as a gunshot rang through the warehouse.BANG!Jake felt something tear through the air beside his head and dived behind the pile of wooden crates, hi
THE RUN The engine of Jake's car rumbled as he drove around Brookwoods' darker side. The streets here were quite different from those in Brookwoods High. No bright street lamps, fewer luxurious houses with well-trimmed lawns, and more abandoned buildings with boarded-up windows. The storefronts were behind rusty shutters, and the years had long faded the signs. Several people waited by the corners in the orange light of street lamps, watching every passing car. Jake gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands; his teeth were clenched. He turned the radio off. He did not need any music and anything else to distract him–he only needed to complete the damn run and go home. He glanced at the small clock on the dashboard: it was 8:43 pm. Aaron had told him to arrive at the location before nine, and he had already driven for almost twenty minutes. He turned into another street and passed a closed laundromat and an old convenience store with two men standing outside it. One of th
THE RUNJake knew that there was one constant factor in each drug run, and it was the one thing Jake never liked the most. It was not the danger or drugs themselves but the anticipation–the long journey across the country, the silence in the car, the suspicion about the strange cars, the fear that somebody would tailgate him.This night was no exception. The palms of Jake were sweaty; his muscles tensed in anticipation while he was driving on the dark streets of Brookwoods, the nice suburbs with their neat streets and houses giving place to the dark cracks in the asphalt and abandoned buildings.The sky was already dark, only some sporadic lights on the streetlamps making dim circles in front of him.Jake swallowed and checked the clock. 8:43 p.m. He should have finished the run in half an hour, but he had promised it to Aaron. In and out, he had said. Jake laughed inwardly about this promise–nothing was simple for Aaron.Jake did not turn the radio on. He needed to hear everything–th
THE TASTE OF REGRETThe house carried the strong smell of beer–one that Ethan knew too well. It mixed with the faint scent of cigarette smoke clinging to the couch cushions and curtains, welcoming him as he opened the door. Coughing, he pushed through the ash cloud as he prayed his brother was alr
KISS ME LIKE YOU HATE MECoach Daniels' sharp whistle rang out, echoing across the empty court. The sound of squeaking shoes and quickened breath filled the space as everyone huddled at a corner. “Alright, y’all pair up,” Coach Daniels shouted in a thick southern accent, as he grabbed a basketball
DREAMS, DESKS AND DIRTY THOUGHTSHis hands were everywhere and his kisses were like fire, burning with passion. Blake ran his hands over Ethan's body before pushing him hard, pinning him against the locker. The cold, metal surface bit at Ethan's skin through his shirt but he didn't mind it. He wan
LEFTOVERSThe class buzzed with almost instantly. The moment Dr. Keller said they should pick their partners, the sound of chairs scraping across the floor echoed across the room as students began turning toward “Calm down," Dr. Keller shouted over the noise, slamming his palm against the desk. “G







