T W E N T Y O N E

Journey winced from the sunlight pouring in through the thin, white curtains hanging above the top bunk. Slowly, his baby blue eyes adjusted to the sudden exposure. He sat up, the hem of the tshirt he was wearing riding up.

A pool of gray sheets hugged his waist. The familiar scent of cheap cologne embraced him when he felt Jeong's lips on his neck, teeth sucking at his neck already stained with hickeys. "You know, you look cute in my shirt, Ginger."

Journey pouted at the black haired boy, feigning sadness. "But I don't wanna be cute. I wanna be sexy."

Jeong laughed throatily, black hair disheveled and for the first time in a while, the bags under his eyes were faded. "Okay, you can be sexy, baby."

Journey flashed him a smile, his hands threading through the messy, black locks. Jeong's dark lips formed into a smirk. "Which nickname do you like better? Ginger or baby?"

"I like both," Journey hummed.

Jeong climbed off the top bunk, his bare feet padding the worn-out carpet. From his dresser he grabs a pair of ripped jeans and a loose fitted, gray tshirt. Before he was able to walk into the bathroom, Journey asked sheepishly. "Can I wear your clothes to class? They're comfy."

Jeong quirked an eyebrow at him. "Aw, but you look so hot in your sweaters."

Journey wringed his fingers together nervously. "Yeah, but I wanna wear your shirts."

"Well, okay, Ginger. Choose whichever one you'd like." Through Jeong's small dresser Journey fumbled, pondering over which long sleeved shirt to wear. Finally, after a few minutes of debate, he chose a navy blue shirt that looked like a dress on him. "You look so sexy, baby." Jeong drawled in his ear, his tongue swiping across his collarbone. "I mean, you look sexier in nothing, but my clothes look damn good on you, Ginger."

Journey rolled his eyes at him. "Stop flirting. Now, can you hand me a pair of pants from my dresser?"

"So you can't just go to class like that?" His teeth grazed his bottom lip, eyes traveling to Journey's bare legs.

"Well, I guess I can. I might have my ass checked out," he prompted.

"Let them check it out, Ginger. But that ass is mine, if you want it to be, of course." he half smiled at him, gleams of mischief dancing through his eyes.

"So possessive," Journey mumbled. Jeong hums in response. "How are they going to know I'm 'yours?'" A small smirk formed on the small boy's face.

"First of all, you're not an object to be claimed," he hoisted him up, his arms secured around his legs. "Second of all, you have those hickeys decorating your neck, love, so they'll leave you alone. Besides, I don't care if they know. I care if you know that I'm yours to love. So if given consent, can I have you as well?"

Journey's eyebrows drew together,  confused. "Have me as what?"

"As your boyfriend, Ginger. What else?" A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, as he gazed lovingly down at the ginger haired boy.

Journey's face colored a deep crimson. "Sure, you can, Jeong." Hastily, Jeong placed a kiss on Journey's forehead, his fingers pushing his red hair away from his blushing face. A rosy hue adorned his cheeks and he averted his blue eyes to the carpet.

Intertwining their fingers, Jeong led him into the hallway, ignoring the surprised glances and irritated looks. Being self conscious, Journey hid his face behind Jeong, his taller stature  covering the smaller boy with ease. "What are you doing, love? Are you embarrassed?" A small chuckle rose from Jeong's throat. Journey pursued his lips. "Ginger, you don't have to hide, you know. Those piece of shits won't hurt you."

"I know," Journey whispered. "But they're judging me because they don't think I'm worthy of being with you-"

Suddenly, Jeong froze, his footsteps halted. With gentle eyes, he lifted Journey's chin, forcing him to look at his face. "Baby, listen to me. You're more than worthy. Okay? You mean everything to me. If anything, I'm not worthy of being with you. I fucking love you."

Journey unintentionally licked his lips. The action turned Jeong on, but he couldn't take Journey against the lockers behind him. "Fuck, Ginger, don't do that."

Innocently, Journey batted his long eyelashes. "Don't do what, Jeong?" Purposely, he let his tongue travel across the roof of his mouth, while staring into Jeong's lustful eyes.

His hooded gaze fell to Journey's ear. "When we get back to the room, love, you're gonna regret that. I'm gonna tease you so damn bad."

Leaving Journey with unwanted thoughts spiralling through his head, he strolled into the classroom, hands shoved into his pockets. Curse words tumbled from Journey's lips when he realized he was turned on.

Jaehyung sat in the back of class, his bored gaze scanning the room. His elbow propped up his head. He drew random lines onto an empty page of his notebook to distract himself from boredom. Even though he was in study hall, he didn't care enough to actually study. Instead, he'd rather watch in a nonchalant manner as the boy across from him checked him out not so subtly. Honestly, if he was going to check him out, the least he could do is not make it obvious how long his gaze lingered on his crotch.

But Jaehyung had to admit that it was really, fucking amusing how deeply crimson the boy's cheeks flushed when he was caught staring at his dick.

Jaehyung didn't know his name. All he knew about the boy was that he wore a hoodie to class every day and how he loudly typed onto his phone when he wasn't threading through the worn pages of his book. Jaehyung wasn't sure if he was aware that everyone could hear him type, but undoubtedly, not a single person cared enough to tell him.

At Meadowsville, the students minded their own business unless a fight has broken out or someone poked at Jeong with a stick, upsetting him. Jeong was laid back and flirty when he actually cared enough about someone. But as soon as he's upset, he's a ticking time bomb, lethal to anyone in his path.

Jaehyung had never experienced his wrath firsthand, but he'd watched him almost tear someone apart limb from limb, staining them in scarlet. The person deserved it, however, for he'd cracked a suicide joke the week after their mom's overdose. Because Jeong was struck the hardest, the fury he felt led him to pounce and wipe the mischievous grin off the boy's face.