Secrets

Conner comes around the corner and smiles at Thane as he says "I'll help you carry in the bags. Val is knocked out. I guess he's tired after everything. Did you know he could do that?" Thane looks to Conner in silence before saying "What happened today has to stay a secret."

Conner looks to Thane with a frown and says "What do you mean?" Thane grabs his bag and Valen's before saying "What happened with Valen today can't leave us." Conner suddenly understands.

He grows quiet and slowly nods his head before looking back to Thane and saying "I didn't think of that... I don't want anything bad to happen to him." Thane gives him a small smile before nodding and saying "Good, let's keep him safe."

As Thane carries the bags in, he comes to a slow stop before glaring at Cruz. Cruz had placed himself right next to Valen and was trying to push the youngster's head onto his shoulder. Thane's eyes darken as the room grows colder.

He drops the bags down on the floor, making everyone in the room jump, including Valen. When Cruz looks over to Thane, he gives him a gaze full of anger before shouting "What the hell man!? Can't you see Valen sleeping?"

~~~~~~~~~~

I snap my eyes open and jump when something loud startles me. When I see Cruz yelling at Thane for something, I realize that I had fallen asleep! I guess I was more tired than I thought... and here I thought I was making progress.

I look down to see the little monkey sleeping so I carefully get up and start looking for a room. I couldn't care less about what they were arguing over now. As I come to one room, I turn to walk in before I feel a large hand slip over the back of my neck!

Thane steers me away from the room as he says "You're rooming with me down the hall." I start walking as Cruz glares at Thane's retreating back. When we finally make it to the room, I ease the little monkey down and wrap him into a blanket before asking "Is anyone taking a shower right now?"

Thane slightly pauses before silently shaking his head and saying "No, you can go. I'll go after you." I nod my head and pull out clean clothes. I can't wait to get out of these things! My poor boobs need to breathe...

~~~~~~~~~~~

Thane silently watches Valen leave the room before pulling out the folded picture again. The girls in the picture are a little younger but... he slowly looks up to the door Valen just walked out of before quickly walking to the shower.

When he hears the water running, he walks back out and glances down the hall to see the others were still busy. He walks back to the room and silently shuts the door before walking over to Valen's bag. He hesitates, not knowing if he should really do it or not but he has to know. He has to...

He unzips the bag and starts going through everything while trying to keep an ear out. When he doesn't find anything out of the ordinary, he starts to question himself. Was it just what he wishes so he's making Valen seem more like a female?

He starts replacing things as he tries to work through his own emotions but before he's even done, he feels shock roll through him. He likes Valen... like... really likes him. So he really is gay!? Can he accept that?

When he thinks about Valen, he clenches his teeth and mutters "When it comes to him, yeah... I can as sure as hell accept that." He feels like a prick for doubting him and going through his things like a creepy stalker just to make himself feel better about liking a guy.

He's careful to put everything back in the same order he found it but when he picks up the bag of candy to put it back, something feels off. He frowns and slowly opens the bag to find another bag mixed in with it.

He reaches in and pulls it out with a frown but when he sees what it is, he freezes. When he hears Valen coming, he quickly shoves it back and replaces the bag before quickly walking back over to his bed.

He keeps his back to the door as Valen walks into the room with his hair still wet. Thane clenches his jaw as he starts folding a shirt and asks "Was the shower good?" Valen nods and starts digging for something as Thane asks "I can't remember very well but you said you have a twin sister, right?"

Valen slightly pauses before saying "Yeah, what about it?" and goes back to digging. Thane folds the same shirt for the tenth time as he asks "What was her name again? I don't think I recall you ever telling me."

Thane watches Valen's every move as Valen comes to a complete stop. Valen clears his throat before saying "Valerie, my sister's name is Valerie." Valen seems to find what he was looking for and asks "Do you want anything? I'm going to go get something to eat."

Thane politely smiles as he says "No, I'm good. Thanks." Valen nods and walks out. Leaving Thane standing in the room with dark eyes. So Valerie was it... what the hell was she doing pretending to be her brother?

Thinking back to her house and all the missing photos along with her parent's behavior, he feels his anger spiking. Her parents know... they're in on it! How could they allow their daughter to go in place of their son!?

Suddenly, something clicks. The son... her brother. They spoke about the sister and said she ran away from home. That she was nothing but trouble... Did her brother somehow create this whole situation?

He grabs his clothes and heads straight for the showers. He strips down, ignoring the large bruise on his left side as he steps into the hot water. It still smells like her... no facial hair, no adam's apple, the short and small frame... how could no one see it!? How could he not see it??

The water runs down his back and bare chest, rolling over his defined abs as his dark black hair hangs down in his face. His eyes are so dark, they almost look black as his anger and confusion swirl around inside him.

He's not angry at her... No, he was angry with himself and with her piece of shit brother. If he had noticed it before... maybe he could have prevented her from coming out here. Out here where rules don't exist... for him... or the others.

Steam starts to rise in the shower as he closes his eyes and lifts his head. He lets the water wash his face as his mind goes back to all the times she was almost caught. A cruel, dark grin creeps across his face as he thinks about how to keep his little bird safe and hidden.