Micah and Noah burst through the doors.

  Suddenly, Halloween didn’t feel cheery or fun anymore.

  Not for Noah.

  Not even with children laughing and running through the crowded streets.

  Micah didn’t say a word either.

  There wasn’t anything to say.

  Not after what happened.

  Not after Daniel betrayed Noah like that.

  Not after… Micah responded the way he did.

  They walked in silence, heading in the opposite direction of home.

  Micah didn’t question it.

  “Noah… I—”

  Noah didn’t answer. He turned to face Micah, his green eyes dim and emotionless.

  “Micah. Take me away from here.”

  Micah knew better than to question a request like that.

  He’d do anything to see Noah smile again.

  Noah barely reacted when Micah scooped him up, noticing how sluggish and drained he was.

  Micah held him close, slipped into a secluded alley, and then ran — fast enough that the world blurred around them.

  By the time he set Noah down, Noah seemed barely conscious.

  “Noah… I—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at Daniel like that.”

  Noah took a deep breath and finally looked around.

  They were on the rooftop of a tall building, the night sky brilliant and beautiful — a sharp contrast to the emotions weighing them down.

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  “It’s not your fault,” Noah said softly, staring up at the stars. “You defended me. And I thank you for that…”

  Micah felt those words all the way to the tips of his toes — and to his twitching ears, now flushed bright pink.

  “I-I didn’t do anything… It was nothing.”

  “It wasn’t nothing.” Noah’s voice softened. “You have no idea how much it meant to me. I’m just… I’m sorry you had to see that. Daniel acting like that. I should’ve never gone to the party. I thought… D-Daniel cared…”

  His voice cracked.

  Micah’s breath caught. He reached out and gently laced their fingers together.

  “I-I care,” he whispered, shy and sweet.

  Noah looked at him — really looked — and suddenly tears spilled over.

  He collapsed against Micah’s chest.

  “N-Noah?!” Micah panicked, wrapping his arms around him awkwardly but protectively.

  “Just hold me.”

  Micah obeyed immediately, sitting down with Noah curled against his chest.

  They sat in silence, the kind that said everything without needing words.

  Noah traced little patterns on Micah’s shirt, dazed and exhausted.

  Micah, meanwhile, was flushed red, trying desperately to hide how much Noah’s touch affected him.

  After a while, Noah looked up at him and grinned.

  “You look so adorable,” he teased.

  “I am most definitely not adorable.”

  Noah’s grin softened into a genuine smile — warm, bright, and real.

  And then the thought hit him like lightning.

  I want to kiss him. Right here. Right now.

  “Kiss me,” Noah said bluntly.

  “W-WHAT?!” Micah’s entire face burned.

  “What? So it’s okay when you say it?”

  “I-I mean—”

  Noah sighed dramatically, shifted, and pushed Micah down onto the cold rooftop floor.

  Micah blinked up at him, stunned… then smirked mischievously.

  “Are we bedding now?”

  “Where the hell do you see a bed?!”

  Micah pouted. “I don’t like this position.”

  Before Noah could react, Micah flipped them effortlessly, placing Noah on the floor instead, hovering over him.

  Holy crap… what is he trying to do?

  “You’re heavy,” Noah muttered, avoiding his gaze.

  Micah didn’t move. He opened his mouth to speak.

  “You know… you’re won—”

  Noah grabbed his shirt and pulled him down into a kiss.

  “Stop talking,” Noah murmured against his lips. “We can get emotional later. Not right now.”

  Micah didn’t argue.

  He kissed him back.