T H I R T Y E I G H T

"What's wrong?" Casper softly says. He crouches down in front of him. He sits against the bunk bed he shares with his brother.

Ryleigh sniffles. "I can't sleep here. It smells like him and even though he's doing better, I'm worried about him. He still barely eats. Casper, what if he-"

"Shush," he whispers. He presses his fingers to Ryleigh's lips. "Don't worry, you can sleep with me."

Ryleigh's eyebrows shoot up in surprise and his cheeks burn from embarrassment. "Casper, I-"

The caramel haired boy laughs humorously. "I didn't mean it like that. I mean, I wouldn't be opposed to it, either." Ryleigh glares at him. "I meant that you can sleep in my dorm tonight. Bodhi's scared shitless to be in the same room as me, anyway. He stays in Kaysen's room most of the time."

Ryleigh gives him a small, halfhearted smile. "Thank you, Casper. Why are you so nice to me?"

"I feel obligated to protect you," he says quietly. He interlaces his fingers together anxiously, while he averts his piercing, blue gaze.

Ryleigh refrains himself from scoffing.

"Do I remind you of your brother?"

Casper shakes his head. He strokes Ryleigh's cheek with his thumb. "No. Because I care about you. Why else do you think I made it my life mission to help out your brother? I mean, yeah, I saw myself in him and as a result, felt drawn to protect him, but I came to that hospital for you. You were crying and shaking in the waiting room. And I hurled curse words at myself for not protecting him enough. I beat myself up because you were in pain." His lips fall into a somber, dejected smile.

Ryleigh leaned forward and when he was a mere inch from Casper's lips, he whispered, "Would you mind if I kiss you?"

Casper smirked at the jade eyed boy, his sadness fading away. "No, you can kiss me. In fact, I might even kiss you back."

Ryleigh hesitantly grazed his lips against Casper's. Soon enough, he melted into the kiss, while moaning softly into Casper's mouth. Casper bit down gently on Ryleigh's bottom lip. Through Ryleigh's parted lips, Casper slipped his tongue.

Ryleigh straddled Casper, his legs  hooked on either side of his waist, and his lean arms were wrapped around his neck. His hands roamed his chest and Casper's breathing hitched under his delicate touch. His teeth graze Ryleigh's neck, sucking softly at the skin. "Casper, wait," he breathes out.

His smile falters, but mischief circles within his dark blue eyes at the way his name rolls off Ryleigh's tongue. "What is it, Ryleigh?"

Ryleigh averts his green eyes. "I'm not fully comfortable with my body yet. I haven't had metodioplasty yet," he mumbles quietly.

"Hey, look at me, Ryleigh." He lifts his chin with two fingers. "That's okay. I don't have to touch you. You can touch me if you want."

The dark haired boy smiles at him. Ryleigh's lips travel to Casper's ear and he nibbles gently. Casper moans lowly. His fingers grip onto the loose fabric of his shirt and he pulls him closer. "Fuck, Ryleigh," he growls. "Have you done this before?"

"Not necessarily," he mutters.

"Dammit," he says. "Have you watched porn?"

"Hasn't everyone?" He grins at him. He plants peppery kisses across his jawline. He traces the sunkissed skin with his hot tongue.

Casper's head falls back. "I never been dominated before," he says in a low voice, his tone laced with desire. His dark blue irises darken when he peers at the dark haired boy.

Ryleigh's smile widens and he pushes him onto the carpet. "Well, there's a first time for everything, baby?" He pins his wrists above his head and licks his collarbone teasingly. Moans bubble from Casper's throat as soon as Ryleigh's mouth contacts with his skin.

Jeong stalked the crowded halls, his snow colored knuckles clenched at his sides. Fury swirled through his near black orbs. The students immediately jumped out of his way on instinct. As if the fear was drilled into their brains at birth. His leather boots thumped against the dark wood. Finally, he sees Kaysen propped up against the wall. He's laughing loudly at the complete bullshit that came out of Bodhi's mouth. Abruptly, Jeong shoves him against the wall, his hand at his throat.

"W-What the fuck?!" Kaysen chokes out.

"I'll tell you what I'm going to do and I want you to listen closely. I'm going to fucking murder you."

Kaysen narrowed his mismatched orbs. "I-I don't know who the fuck you are, but you can't do shit to me."

"Is that what you fucking think? I can tighten my hand around your damn throat and have you beg for oxygen, Kaysen. Just ask your friend Bodhi here what I'm capable of. I fractured his damn arm." He smirks. Kaysen's eyes ignite with fear. His arm was still encased in a sling.

"W-What have I done to y-you, man?"

Jeong shoots him a deadly glare and bares his teeth in a snarl. "What have you done?! You tried to fucking rape him, you little bitch! You tried to rape Journey! Journey means the world to me and you hurt him! You painted his body in fucking crimson! You lined his body with bruises! And for what? Because he wouldn't have sex with you?! You're fucking sick! Do you know that?! You're a psychopath!"

Kaysen desperately tries to retaliate against Jeong's haste punches with his own, but Jeong expertly dodges each one.

Moments later, he steps over his unconscious body, and strolls down the hallway with his hands buried in his pockets.

Jeong sees Journey curled up on the bottom bunk of the bed. A look of pain is laced onto his florid face. He offers Jeong a small smile when he sees him walk in. Jeong clench his fists at his sides and anger washes over him at the state Journey's in.

"Ginger," he says. He intertwines his fingers with Journey's and plants a kiss on his knuckles.

"I'm okay," he breathes out.

"Love, that's bullshit. You can barely move. You're obviously not okay."

"I'm better now that you're here."

Jeong laughs breezily. "That's the cheesiest shit I've ever heard."

Jeong's fingers rake through Journey's unruly, red locks. He plants a kiss onto his forehead. He smiles softly at his sleeping form.

As he removes his shirt, he sees the familiar bottle tucked underneath the pillow. With shaking hands, he peers at the small bottle of pain medication. He pulls back on his shirt and heads out of the dorm. His dark eyes narrow at the wooden door mocking him.

"Open the fucking door," he shouts. He bangs his fists against the surface like a madman.

"What the hell?" Ashtyn seethes at him, his shoulder length, ebony hair disheveled atop his head.

"Where's your fucking roommate?"

"Hell if I should know. Trace didn't come back last night. I assume he's in the gym smoking shit. Why do you need him?" He leans against the door.

"None of your damn business," he clips.

"You woke me up, Jeong. I think I deserve to know why."

He huffed. "Your ex boyfriend is the only fucking person in this school with access to drugs and he has to explain to me why the hell he sold them to Ginger."

"Jeong," he laughs dryly. "Trace isn't concerned with the reasoning behind the deals he makes. He just wants the money."

Jeong glowers down at him. "He'll be concerned if he hooks Journey onto drugs. I'll fucking rip him apart, piece by piece, and scatter his damn limbs across the fucking school. That shit kills, Ashtyn."

With that, he stomps away, his boots thundering down the hallway. Finally, he sees Trace and grips him by the arm. He spins him around and forces him to meet his deathly gaze. "Trace," he spats.

Trace arches an eyebrow. "Jeong?"

"Well, now that we've introduced ourselves, if anything happens to Journey, I'm holding you solely responsible."

Trace scoffs. "Jeong, I can't help it if your boy toy finds himself addicted to shit. That's on him."

Jeong slams his fist into the lockers behind Trace's head. "Call him my boy toy one more time, Carhart, and I'll snap your fucking neck," he warns. Scarlet smears across his knuckles and his orbs appear black from the fury. Trace visibly gulps. He holds his hands up in surrender.

Jeong stalks away from the shaking boy, his fists clenched at his sides, as he heads back to his dorm. The anger in his eyes is replaced with sadness when he sees the open bottle of pills in Journey's hand.

Oops.... I'm so sorry. 🥺😭 Anyway, let's move onto the next chapter, shall we.