Mrs. Myers was telling the students the instructions for the written essay. Justin had his head down concentrating on a drawing. When the teacher asked who wanted to do it on Sigmund Freud, Justin put his arm up, not really paying attention.

“Very well then, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Kinney are going to work together.” The teacher said. “And please refrain from fighting.”

Justin looked up then at the teacher and then at Brian who had his eyebrow raised looking at him. He didn’t realize that Brian had his hand up at the same time he did. The rest of the class he tried to avoid the glares he was getting from Brian’s friends and the weird looks he was getting from his own friends.

“What are you doing?” Hayden asked. 

“Have you lost your mind?” Adam asked.

“I didn’t see him raising his hand.” Justin said. “Fuck.”

“Just go back and tell her that it’s not going to work.” Hayden said.

“Yeah.” Justin said. “I’ll see you in the next class. Take notes for me.”

Hayden nodded and kept walking to their next class with Adam. Justin made as if he was going back to the room but turned around and went to the bathroom once his friends were gone. He sat on the counter and frowned. He didn’t know what was happening to him but he didn’t like lying to Hayden. He was going to work with Brian even if in the process they ended up killing each other.

“Hey.” Emmett said coming out of one of the stalls followed by Alex who turned red immediately.

“I'll see you in class, Emm.” Alex told him.

Emmett kissed him and watched him go. He turned to look at Justin and smiled. 

“What’s with you?” Emmett asked. “You are looking a little gloomy.”

“I like someone. And I want to make him notice me. But I don’t know how to that.” Justin said turning red not believing he had told Emmett what was going on.

Emmett smiled.

“Oh, honey. I’ll help you out.” Emmett assured him.

“Okay. But don’t tell anyone.” Justin said.

Emmett nodded.

“Who is it?” Emmett asked.

“I can’t tell you.” Justin said.

“Is it Shawn?” Emmett asked.

“What? No.” Justin told him.

“Well, as long as is not Alex. I don’t really care.” Emmett told him.

Justin laughed and assured him it was not.

“Okay, then.” Emmett said. “First step. You ignore him.”

“Why would I do that, Emmett?” Justin asked. “If I like him, why would I ignore him?”

“Well, guys are tricky like that. You see, if he likes you and you like him and you give your attention to him, he acts all tough and like he doesn’t care about you.” Emmett told him.

Justin nodded.

“But if he likes you and you ignore him, he is so going to go after you, wondering what’s going on and why aren’t you following him like a lost puppy.” Emmett explained.

Justin nodded and decided to test that theory.

***

Brian entered the room and looked at Mr. Kern who was sitting there. He sat down and waited for Justin to get there. When Justin came in, he sat down far away from Brian. Brian looked at him and wondered why Justin had sat so far from him.

“I’ll be right back.” Mr. Kern said getting up. “Behave.”

Brian got up as soon as the principal left and moved in front of the blond.

“What are you doing?” Brian asked. “Isn’t it enough that I have to see your ugly face here?” 

“I’m NOT ugly!” Justin shouted.

Brian arched a brow.

“Could you focus on the important things?” Brian asked.

“That is important.” Justin told him. “I’m very hot, thank you very much.”

Brian rolled his eyes.

“I wasn’t paying attention when I raised my arm.” Justin said. “Sorry.”

Brian took a deep breath and sat down in the next empty chair. Justin smiled when he saw where Brian sat down.

“What do you want to do then?” Brian asked. “Do you want to go to the library or your house?”

“Why can’t we go to your house?” Justin asked.

“You want to go to my house?” Brian asked.

Justin shook his head frowning. 

“So?” Brian asked.

“I don’t know.” Justin said. “Uh, we could go to the library.”

“God, being seen in public with you is going to be traumatic.” Brian teased.

Justin showed him the finger. Both of them smirked.

“So.” Brian said.

“So?” Justin whispered.

Brian frowned when Justin just stared at him.

“Do I have something in my face? Stop staring at me.” Brian told him.

Justin rolled his eyes.

“You are such an asshole.” Justin said.

“Okay.” Mr. Kern said coming back into the room. “We are going to Green Pines.”

Justin frowned and looked at Brian with a raised brow. Brian looked at the floor thinking for a moment and then back at the man in front of them.

“Isn’t that the elderly center?” Brian asked.

“Yes.” Mr. Kern said smiling widely.

“Why are we going there?” Justin asked having a slight idea but not thinking that the principal would go that far.

“We are doing voluntary work.” Mr. Kern informed him and exited the room.

“I’m so slashing his tires.” Brian said to Justin in a low voice.

“I’m so helping you.” Justin told him as they followed Mr. Kern out of the school.

***

Justin tapped his finger on the table as Brian read. Brian looked up from the book and raised a brow as he stared at the blond.

“Could you stop that?” Brian asked.

“What?” Justin asked looking at Brian with confusion written all over his face.

“That noise.” Brian told him. “This is a library not a pub.”

Justin rolled his eyes and stopped tapping his fingers.

“I am tired of reading.” Justin complained.

“That’s not my problem.” Brian told him.

James was coming from the back of the library. He had just finished his homework when he saw Justin and Brian. He moved closer and wondered if his mind was playing tricks on him.

“It is your problem.” Justin said. 

“Why?” Brian asked.

“Because I say so.” Justin told him smiling.

Brian shook his head and rolled his eyes. He went back to reading the book he had and tried to ignore Justin.

“Are you ignoring me Brian?” The blond asked with a smile on his face.

Brian bit his lower lip and didn’t answer. He wasn’t going to let Justin get to him.

“What are you guys doing here?” James asked looking from Brian to Justin.

“Studying.” Brian told him. “It’s a library.”

“Okay but…what are you guys doing here? Together?” James asked very slowly.

Justin shrugged.

“I decided to try torturing myself.” Brian told him.

“How is it going?” James asked smirking as he looked at Justin. “I would consider him good company.”

Justin frowned at James. He hated when the man would flirt with him even if it was playing.

“I differ with that.” Brian said.

Justin hit Brian’s knee with his own. Brian looked at him and smiled. James looked at them and arched both of his brows. There was something going on.

“So where's Daphne?” Justin asked when he saw James looking at them intently.

James shrugged.

“Where is Ted?” Justin asked wondering if James knew where his boyfriend or girlfriend where.

“Today is not my day to spend with him.” James informed him. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

Justin smirked.

“Does Hayden know you are here?” James asked.

Brian shook his head.

“And don’t tell him.” Justin said. “I don’t want him having a heart attack.”

James nodded. 

“Understandable.” James said. “I’ll leave you guys then.” 

James moved away from them and towards the exit. James looked back at Justin and Brian and saw them pushing each other. He smiled and shook his head. Daphne was coming his way and he smiled at his girlfriend. They kissed and interlaced their hands before walking away from the library. 

“What’s wrong?” Daphne asked as they walked down the hallway.

“I stopped using drugs and I’m starting to see things.” James joked. 

“What are you talking about?” Daphne asked as they left the school and started walking towards the parking lot.

“Oh, nothing.” James assured her.

“Tell me.” Daphne begged.

“It’s just that I think someone is falling in love.” James said.

“Oh my god. Who?” Daphne asked.

“I can’t say.” James told her as he opened the door to his car. 

Daphne pouted. James smiled and they got in. He was sure that he had seen right. Brian and Justin seemed like they liked each other. But he wasn’t going to say a thing. He knew Hayden and if word got around, things weren’t going to be pretty.

***

Justin parked his car in the school’s parking lot and got out of the black mustang. He walked slowly to the school as he enjoyed his cigarette then stopped when he saw Hayden’s car. Hayden was screaming like a lunatic. The car was a mess. It had the tires slashed, all the windows were smashed, it was missing a door and they had used spray paint to write a bunch of swear words on it.

“Jesus Christ.” Justin whispered as he threw his cigarette on the ground and stepped on it.

“This is a great morning, isn’t it?” Brian asked laughing as he went by Justin with Chris, Alex and Kyle.

Justin took a deep breath and shook his head. He walked over to where Hayden had sat down next to his car.

“Hey.” Justin said.

“I’m going to kill him.” Hayden hissed.

“I don’t think that’s the solution.” Justin said.

“This is not good.” Shawn said to Justin. “He has been ranting like a mad man ever since we got here.”

Hayden looked at Justin and then back at the ground where he had been staring.

“How dare he?” Hayden spat out. “He is such a fucking asshole.”

Justin bit his lower lip not sure what to say.

“He knew how much I loved that car. After all the things he said to me about…” Hayden said sadly and then shook his head. “He’s an asshole.”

Justin wondered what Hayden was going to say. He looked at Shawn who was frowning not sure what Hayden meant. Hayden shook his head and got up. He walked towards the entrance of the school where Brian was with his friends. Justin and Shawn walked behind him knowing that there was going to be trouble. 

“Brian!” Hayden yelled. “You fucking asshole!”

Brian stood up and smiled at Hayden. He crossed his arms and arched a brow.

“Is there a problem?” Brian asked.

Hayden grabbed Brian by the collar and was about to punch him when Justin stopped him. Justin moved between both of them and put a hand in each boy’s chest.

“Stop.” Justin told them.

“Justin.” Hayden hissed. 

“Why are you defending him?” Shawn asked surprised.

“I'm not.” Justin told him. “But if you guys fight…then the teachers are going to come. And how much do you want to bet that I am going to get blamed for this? I am tired of detention, Hayden. Time just keeps adding up.” 

Hayden took a deep breath and tried to calm down. He knew that Justin had taken a lot of the heat that was supposed to be for him. He nodded and walked away before he started beating the hell out of Brian. There would be another opportunity. Shawn went after Hayden.

“You didn’t have to do that. I can take care of myself.” Brian told him.

“Run along.” Chris told Justin.

Justin looked at them and then walked away.

“What’s going on?” Chris asked.

“Nothing.” Brian said turning around and leaving his friends.

Justin watched Hayden who went back to where what was left of his car was. Shawn was with him and telling him something. Justin then looked to where Brian had headed. He took a deep breath and made a decision. He followed the brunet.

***

“Why did you do that?” Justin asked sadly.

Brian shrugged as they stood in front of the lockers. No one else was around since the bell hadn’t rung for school to start.

“I thought you said you were going to give him his car back.” Justin said.

“I never told you in what condition it would be in.” Brian told him.

Justin sighed.

“He was really hurt, Brian.” Justin told him.

Brian shrugged.

“He used to be your best friend. Why can't you just let it go?” Justin asked. “Ignore him, don’t listen to him…I don’t know.”

Brian snorted.

“What do you care?” Brian asked.

“I care for both of you.” Justin told him.

Brian looked at him surprised.

“You're not half bad, Kinney.” Justin said smirking.

Brian smiled a little. Justin moved towards Brian and caressed the brunet’s face. Brian took his hand and held it for a moment before he let it go.

“Stop doing things like that. I’m straight, remember?” Brian asked as he pushed Justin away slightly.

Justin smiled and nodded. He looked at Brian and something told him that Brian was gay and he was going to make the brunet come to him with Emmett’s help. He just had to be patient.

***

As soon as Mr. Kern closed the door to the little room in the basement, Justin turned to glare at Brian. Justin was pissed with the brunet. The whole day the only thing that Brian did was teased Hayden about his car.

“Why did you have to fucking make fun of him, Brian?” Justin asked. “Isn’t it enough that you destroyed his car?”

Brian smirked and shook his head. Justin walked over to Brian and pushed him against the shelf.

“You are so fucking mean.” Justin shouted.

Brian grabbed Justin and turned them around. He pushed the blond against the shelf and held him there. 

“So, if I am mean, what is he?” Brian asked. “He is worst that I am.”

Justin tried to get away but Brian was keeping a strong hold on him. He looked up at Brian and knew that the words, somehow, were true.

“Let me go, please.” Justin told him firmly.

Brian let go of Justin and moved away. He dug on his pocket and pulled out a set of keys then he smirked and threw them at Justin.

“What is this?” Justin asked.

“Those are the keys to lot C, over by Tony’s restaurant to the back.” Brian said. “Hayden’s car is there.”

Justin looked at the keys and then at Brian.

“But…you…the car…” Justin said stuttering.

“It wasn’t his car.” Brian said and shrugged. “It’s a beautiful car. I really didn’t want to ruin it. I just wanted to make Hayden suffer.”

“You are such a bastard.” Justin said angrily. 

Brian rolled his lips in his mouth and arched a brow.

“Thank you.” Justin told him after a while and put the keys in his pocket.

Brian smirked and shook his head. He shrugged and moved closer to Justin.

“It’s like you said.” Brian told him. “I’m not half bad.”

Justin smiled and nodded.

“What am I going to tell him?” Justin asked. “That you just handed me the keys.”

Brian shrugged.

“Tell him whatever you want, Sunshine.” Brian said as he moved to pick up the book he had been reading.

Justin walked over to the desk and sat down. He took out some white paper and a pencil and started drawing. He kept drawing without talking to the brunet until he was done. 

“What did you make this time?” Brian asked as he looked up from his book.

Justin looked from Brian to the drawing and frowned. He wasn’t aware of what he had been drawing.

“Let me see.” Brian told him.

“No.” Justin said folding the drawing quickly and tucking it inside his blazer.

Brian arched a brow and Justin just ignored him and hoped that time would go by faster. He didn’t want Brian to discover that he had been drawing the brunet himself. He didn’t want Brian to find out that he was falling for him.

***

William and Tom got out of the car first. They looked around and didn’t see anyone. Justin and Shawn got out and walked over to the gate. Justin took out the keys and unlocked it. The four of them walked in and looked back at Hayden who was still sitting in the back seat.

“All this for a car.” Tom muttered. 

Justin rolled his eyes.

“It’s his baby.” Justin said.

“Let’s just do this. Hopefully, Kinney is not playing with us.” William said.

They walked for a while looking at all kinds of cars.

“Who owns this place?” Shawn asked.

“I think is George’s father.” Justin said.

“Oh, shit.” William said.

“What?” Tom asked.

“There it is.” William said pointing.

They jogged toward it and looked at it. William smiled at Justin who smiled back. Shawn took a deep breath and looked at Tom.

“Go get Hayden.” Shawn said to Tom.

Tom nodded and ran back to the care to tell Hayden they had found his car.

“Thank god. Blood is not going to run.” William said.

Justin frowned.

“That day…that Hayden pulled the knife. Do you think he would have used it?” Justin asked.

William looked at Justin and the silence gave the blond the answer he was looking for. Justin didn’t want to believe that was true.

“What are you talking about?” Shawn asked.

“I’ll tell you later.” Justin told him.

Shawn nodded.

“Oh my god.” Hayden yelled and hugged his car or at least tried to.

“You are nuts.” Justin told him. “It’s only a car and before you say it’s because we have money, I am really saying, it’s only a car. There are more important things.”

Hayden showed him the finger as he kissed the car. William and Tom laughed. Justin just shook his head and smirked. Shawn smiled happy to see Hayden calmed down.

“Oh baby.” Hayden muttered as he started to inspect the yellow GTO. 

“We should go.” Justin said.

“In a minute.” Hayden told him.

William looked at Justin and wondered how Justin had managed to find Hayden’s car.

“How is it that Kinney told you about this?” William asked. 

“Yeah.” Tom said frowning.

Shawn frowned not liking where the conversation was headed. Hayden was just looking at the car making sure everything was okay with it. He didn’t care what Justin had done, he was happy. Then he frowned and turned to look at Justin who was frowning.

“What did he make you do?” Hayden asked angry.

“I had to clean up all by myself today and the weeks to come.” Justin said and shrugged. “No big deal. You have your car now.”

“God, Justin. I’m so sorry.” Hayden told him.

Justin shook his head.

“It doesn’t really matter.” Justin said. “Really.”

Shawn looked at Justin and frowned. He had known Justin practically all of his life. They were close and he knew that the blond was lying.

“I’m going to make him pay.” Hayden said.

Justin took a deep breath.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Justin commented.

“Why not?” Tom asked.

“It’s never going to end.” Justin said. “We do something and then they retaliate. Then we do something back to them and they are just going to keep on doing something to us.”

Hayden frowned.

“So you just want me to keep my arms crossed and forget this?” Hayden asked.

Justin bit his lower lip.

“No.” Justin said.

“So we can count with you.” Hayden said smiling.

“Of course.” Justin told him.

“Was there any doubt?” Shawn asked putting his arm around Justin’s shoulders.

Justin took a ride back to his house with Hayden. He didn’t really say much, listening to Hayden talk about his car and what he was going to do to Brian. Justin was getting tired of it all. He wasn’t going to hurt Brian. He was going to have to find a way to warn Brian without them knowing he was doing so.