Rodney's eyes scanned over the small article on mitosis, the library was surprisingly quiet that afternoon. He was lost in a world of cell division and genetic markers, the glow of the old computer screen caused him to squint as he read through it. He looked away from the screen for a moment to blink and caught sight of the icicles dripping in the window.

  "Hey, Rodney," came the confident voice he knew all too well, he turned to find his caller. Hunter leaned casually against a table, he was wearing a more excited than usual grin. He seemed eager to talk to talk much to the annoyance of the other library patrons.

  "Hey," Rodney replied, closing his notebook. "What brings you here? I thought you had piano lessons today, right?"

  "I decided to skip them today," Hunter said, shrugging his shoulders as if his dad wasn't going to freak out on him later. "I figured since my parents are gone, no one would notice." He paused, scanning the room. Noticing an older man browsing the aisles, he continued in a hushed tone, "Which is why I am here. I was thinking... now is as good of a time as any right? For you to spend the night, if you want to,"

  Rodney paused for a moment, the thought of being alone with Hunter excited him but it also scared him. "I don't know, Hunter," he started, his mind bringing him back to what happened with Olive, was that what Hunter was expecting?

  Hunter caught the worried look in Rodney's eyes. "Hey, we would just be hanging out, no pressure," he assured quickly, his tone softening. "Mom left her credit card, so dinner is on me, and I've got this massive home theatre setup. It'll be chill, I promise."

  Rodney's eyes traced the ceiling, considering. The idea of being alone with Hunter could be fun, and deep down he wouldn't mind another kiss. "Okay," he conceded finally, reasoning to himself that he deserved a little fun after all the hard work he put in studying that week.

  "Awesome," Hunter grinned and glanced around once more to ensure their privacy before leaning in. His lips brushed against Rodney's cheek in a fleeting kiss, leaving behind a tingling warmth that made Rodney's face flush before he wandered away "I'll text you time. This is going to be awesome,"

  That night, Rodney stood at the doorstep of Hunter's house, unsure whether to knock or ring the doorbell. Before he could make his decision the door swung open, and there was Hunter. It was almost like Hunter had been waiting by the door for him since that afternoon.

  "Come on in," Hunter said, wrapping an arm around Rodney's shoulders and leading him through the grand entrance. They ascended the staircase to Hunter's room, where a blow-up mattress lay on the floor next to a neatly made bed.

  "You can choose where you want to sleep," Hunter motioned towards the mattress, " The mattress or my bed, whichever you want. I'll take whatever you don't choose,"

  The mere thought of sleeping in Hunter's bed sent Rodney's pulse racing. "Cool, um I'll have to think about it," he managed to say, trying to sound nonchalant.

  "No problem, why don't we decide on what to eat then?" Hunter replied as Rodney left his back in the room.

  They made their way down to the basement where Hunter's home theatre awaited. A large screen dominated the room, surrounded by plush seating and thin speakers against the wall. Hunter picked a spot and patted the seat beside him while Rodney stood in the doorway. Rodney settled next to him, not sure whether he should lean against him or not.

  "Friday the 13th marathon and pizza?" Hunter suggested, scrolling through the movies on the screen.

  "Sure, let's see how many bad decisions we can count," Rodney chuckled, feeling a little more at ease.

  By the time the pizza arrived, they were fully invested in the cringy antics of the ill-fated teens on screen, Hunter's arm snug around Rodney's shoulders. In the glow of the projected images, Rodney took his head off of Hunter's shoulder, freeing him to grab the food. As he waited in the dark theatre, Rodney felt hopeful about the way the night was going.

  Hours later, as the credits rolled on yet another sequel, Hunter turned to find Rodney's eyes sealed shut, his breaths even and deep. He had fallen asleep. Hunter shook his head and smiled, he retrieved a blanket from the closet and draped it over Rodney as he let out a snore, tucking it around him gently.

  "Goodnight, Rodney," he whispered, his voice barely audible above the hum of the projector cooling down.

  As Hunter stood there, watching Rodney sleep, he felt a little deflated, having expected the night to end a little differently. He switched off the lights and quietly made his way to his own bedroom wish Rodney would have joined him there and then who knows what would have happened.

  Rodney's eyelids fluttered open to the sight of a half-open pizza box, and he blinked against the dim light filtering through the basement windows. The plush theatre seat had moulded to his shape overnight, making his back stiff. As he shifted, trying to shake off the grogginess, his eyes landed on Hunter, who was ending the room in nothing but pyjama bottoms, a smirk on his face.

  "Morning, Sleeping Beauty," Hunter teased, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hope you're ready for some killer waffles because they are all I know how to make."

  Rodney felt a blush creep up his cheeks as he tried not to stare too long at Hunter's clearly defined chest. "Sorry I crashed before the movie marathon ended," he mumbled, running a hand through his dishevelled curls.

  "Hey, no worries." Hunter rolled his eyes at Rodney's apology. "You don't need to apologize for everything you do. Now get up because the waffles are getting cold."

  "Right, so..." Rodney caught himself before he finished his sentence.

  He rose from his seat, joints popping in protest, and followed Hunter toward the kitchen. The house seemed unusually quiet, Rodeny had only ever been there during one of Hunter's massive parties. Rodney marvelled at the sheer size of the kitchen as they stepped in, with its gleaming countertops and state-of-the-art appliances. It seemed like it could have been used as a restaurant.

  "Seriously, you could film a cooking show in here," Rodney quipped, finally able to see the scope of it without it being filled with party guests.

  "Actually, I think they have," Hunter boasted, reaching for a plate stacked with waffles. He turned back to see Rodney's shocked face, "I'm kidding Rodney, it was a joke."

  "Yeah, right, I thought it was a joke," Rodney stammered, taking a seat at the large hand-carved oak table.

  "Sure you did," Hunter chuckled placing the waffles in front of him.

  But before they could dig into their fluffy syrup-coated waffles, the sound of a key turning in the front door lock caused Hunter to freeze. His body twisted in one fluid motion towards the door, worry and fear crept over his features, as the doorknob began to twist.

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  "Shit, they're back early," he hissed, eyes darting to Rodney. "Upstairs, grab your stuff—now!"

  Rodney didn't question it; he bolted up the stairs, heart pounding like it wanted to escape his chest. He snatched his bag from Hunter's room and raced back down, only to nearly collide with two figures in the entranceway—Hunter's parents.

  "Uh, hi," Rodney stammered, holding the bag as if he were trying to hide his identity from them.

  "Mom, Dad, this is Rodney," Hunter said quickly, now wearing a shirt and throwing Rodney an apologetic glance. "He came over to share his notes with me from chemistry class."

  "Nice to meet you," Rodney managed, offering a weak smile and a polite nod.

  "Rodney, you say. That name rings a bell," Hunter's mother replied with a polite smile. "Oh yes, how are you doing?" the recognition running over her face.

  "He's doing great really, but he has to go," Hunter flashed her a quick smile, steering Rodney gently toward the door.

  "Yeah, right, I have more work I have to do today. But it was nice meeting you officially," Rodney said, as Hunter practically dragged him to the door.

  Once outside, Hunter ran a hand through his tousled hair, exhaling heavily. "I'm sorry about that, really. They weren't supposed to come back today. They don't like me having friends over without their permission."

  Rodney nodded along, he knew his mom would have freaked if he had someone spend the night without telling her. "Right, I totally get it. Um, but are we just friends? or are we something else?"

  Hunter's gaze fell to the ground. "Oh. No, I just said that because of my parents. I mean I wouldn't mind being more than friends if you want to be." Hunter's face had turned a crimson shade of red.

  "I wouldn't mind that," Rodney said, not really making eye contact with Hunter.

  "Ok so we're... something," Hunter started, not saying the words.

  "yeah. We're something then," Rodney said, wondering why Hunter didn't say the word boyfriends. "I actually should be going, I do have some homework I didn't get finished yesterday," Rodney turned to go but Hunter grabbed his hand.

  "Thank you for understanding," Hunter said, his eyes meeting Rodney's. "I owe you one. Let me make it up to you."

  "You don't have to," Rodney said, forcing a smile. "I really should get going."

  "Okay." Hunter stepped forward, hesitating before pulling Rodney into a brief, tight hug. "Take care, Rodney."

  Rodney nodded, every part of him screaming for him to leave before things got more confusing. He turned and walked away, every step feeling heavier than the last.

  ---

  Madison's fingers paused mid-scroll, her eyes flicking to Derek with a mixture of frustration and worry. "Seriously? That's the twentieth listing today that's either out of our price range or looks like something out of a horror movie."

  "Come on, we have to pick something," Derek replied, his eyes scanning the listings on his laptop for any hidden gem they might have missed. His optimism didn't waver as he reached over and poked Madison playfully. "We'll find something, Madison. We've got time."

  "Time is exactly what I don't have," she huffed, as she got up to pace the room. "I passed up dorms to room with you and Marcy. Now most places are full for September."

  "Hey, how about we take a break from this?" Derek suggested, closing his laptop with a gentle snap. "Let's head to Masonville Mall, clear our heads, maybe even get something to eat. My treat?"

  Madison thought about his offer as she paced, finally coming to a standstill. "You had me at food. But after, we're back on the hunt."

  "Deal," Derek agreed, standing up and giving himself a good stretch after hours of sitting.

  As they grabbed their jackets, Derek paused in the doorway. "You know, I haven't seen Rodney in a bit. How about we swing by his place and see if he wants to come along?"

  "Good idea," Madison said, noting that they hadn't hung out outside of school for a few weeks now. "It would be fun to hang out without having to talk about homework for a change."

  They pulled up just as Rodney was walking up to his front porch, backpack slung over one shoulder, a look of relief washing over his face at the sight of them.

  "Hey, guys!" Rodney greeted them, dropping the bag on the porch and waving at them. "What's up?"

  "Mall trip. You in?" Derek asked, looking over to the empty back seat of his car.

  "Absolutely," Rodney replied, straightening up as a smile crawled across his face. "Just give me a second to drop off my stuff." He pulled open the door and tossed his bag inside. "Going with Derek to the mall love you," He shouted into the house before racing to the car.

  With Rodney in tow, they set their sights on the mall. Between the clinking of hangers and the rustle of shopping bags, Derek and Madison filled Rodney in on the challenges of finding a place to live in Waterloo.

  It wasn't until they settled into the bustling food court, trays filled with tacos from a food stand, that Rodney finally told them where he was coming from when they picked him up.

  "And then Hunter's parents made a surprise comeback, and he basically kicked me out but not before saying we were something," Rodney recounted, putting his taco back on his tray.

  "You're something?" Madison commiserated, gulping her soda. "I thought guys were supposed to be straightforward with each other. What the hell does he mean you are something?"

  "I don't know, I think it means we are more than friends but like we are exclusive," Rodney tried to reason, but he had no clue what any of it meant. "I mean wasn't he and Melody White seeing other people while they were together last year?"

  "Melody White?" Derek snorted, nearly choking on his soda. "The girl who'd steal your socks if you stood still long enough?"

  "Exactly," Rodney said, thinking back to grade ten. "I'm sure she hooked up with David while they were dating and he was seeing Oilvia on the side."

  "Sound possible, so you're his new side piece then?" Derek teased, nudging Rodney playfully.

  "Either that or he has a mistress," Madison chimed in, pointing her taco at Derek.

  Rodney joined in the laughter, but deep down, he couldn't shake off the idea that maybe he really was Hunter's secret. As they drove back home, Rodney stared out the window wondering who else Hunter could be seeing and deciding he needed some clarification of what exactly they were.

  ---

  Monday morning, Rodney shuffled papers into his backpack, ready for the impending biology test he had later that day. As he stepped off the bus, he felt ready to talk to Hunter about whether or not they were really together. He took a deep breath before heading right for Hunter's locker.

  "Hey, Rodney," Hunter said, as he spotted Rodney making his way toward him. "I'm so sorry about this weekend, I really thought they wouldn't be back until Wednesday. I was thinking maybe we could go to a concert or something to get some alone time. My treat."

  Rodney glanced up, meeting those stunning hazel eyes, and felt a flutter in his chest but he stopped himself from agreeing. "Well before we do that can we talk?" he asked, needing to know if Hunter what Hunter actually wanted. He had to be sure they wanted the same thing, "Do you remember Melody?"

  "Sure," Hunter said quickly, almost too quickly. "What about her?" He seemed to already be on high alert for what came next. "Is she saying things about me? Because none of it is true, I didn't start seeing Olivia until we broke up but she makes it seem like I was cheating on her the whole time."

  "Oh, well yeah I kind of heard that rumour, and it had me a little worried because..." The bell rang, cutting off Rodney's thought in mid-sentence.

  "Shit I can't be late, we can chat after school, K?" Hunter asked as students began to move through the halls.

  "Sure," Rodney agreed, though he cursed himself for not getting straight to the point right away.

  ---

  Later, Rodney's sneakers scuffed the linoleum floor of SDCI's hallway, as he waited for the student council meeting to end. Hunter found him as soon as everyone had left the room and motioned for him.

  "Come in, dude. I just need to finish typing up this one thing for the upcoming student auction," Hunter said, not leaving the computer in front of him.

  Rodney entered the room and took a seat across from Hunter. It felt like he was in trouble and waiting to speak to the principal. He wasn't sure if he should ask while Hunter was typing away or wait for him to finish before starting the conversation. He wondered what Mr. Rogo would have suggested he do in this situation.

  When Hunter finally looked up, shutting down the computer, Rodney couldn't contain it anymore. "Are you my boyfriend?" he blurted, louder than expected.

  Hunter's face clouded with concern. "Rod, that's a loaded question. Don't get me wrong I like you... it's just... do we have to label it like that?"

  "So we're not boyfriends?" Rodney was confused, feeling unsure about everything. "Then what are? Like what are we doing here?"

  Hunter hesitated, his eyes darting away before returning to Rodney's. "We're just hanging out, you know? Just two bros, having fun. I mean in the long wrong don't you want to get married to a girl and have a family of your own? I know I do."

  Rodney suddenly felt very hot, he could feel himself start to sweat. The room seemed to close in around him, and he didn't want to look in Hunter's direction. Without another word, he picked up his backpack and darted out the door. He felt stupid for thinking Hunter had any real feelings for him in the first place and he just wanted to go home and cry.