Elliot yawned and stretched. He kicked the covers off of himself and turned over on his stomach. He pulled his phone from under his pillow and checked the time. It was eight o'clock. Elliot groaned and sent a quick text to George.

"You're awake."

Elliot turned his head and saw John pulling a bag of laundry to the back room.

"I really don't want to be. I didn't sleep that well," he said yawning again.

"I didn't think you would," John said.

Elliot got off the bed and walked to the back room and watched John load the washing machine.

"I'm not even sure what's going to happen today. At least George will be there with me when I go back to the house. I'm sure my mom will try to understand. She may not like it but I just hope she'll get that this is who I am."

"I hope so too, El," John said with an encouraging smile.

Elliot chuckled. "You seem a bit happier. How's it going with Fin?"

John shrugged at turned on the washing machine. "Fin is Fin. Annoying and very distant about everything when it comes to him and me."

"You've got to be making progress, right?" Elliot asked.

"Yes and no. I pull for more and get it but he's going to push away again soon," John said with a shrug.

"Make him jealous then," Elliot said. "Make him so jealous that he'll have no choice but to officially date you. Seems like the only thing that will work."

John frowned and he took off his glasses. He rubbed his eyes before putting his glasses back on. "Fin will kill me if he finds out."

"He'll never know and it would be a win-win for both of you. It's a good idea."

"Now I know not to follow it," John said. "Your good ideas are notoriously bad ones."

"Whatever, John. You're still going to do it," Elliot said before going to the bathroom.

John rolled his eyes knowing that Elliot was right.

George looked at himself in the mirror. He wasn't sure if he should go with Elliot to his house. He wanted to support Elliot but he didn't want to be looked at like he was the problem. He was part of the reason why Elliot was thrown out of his house by his dad. The reason why Elliot was going be estranged from his family for however long they were together. He felt guilty and even though he had no reason to feel that way, he felt it all the same.

He went back to his room and looked at his phone. He sighed reading the text message. Elliot would be there in ten minutes. He pulled on his on his hoodie and leather jacket.

"Mom, I'll be back later," he said as he walked past the kitchen.

"Tell Elliot I said hi," his mom said and George went out the door.

George got into the elevator and sighed. This wasn't a good idea but he needed to support Elliot.

He waited inside the entrance of the apartment building. He looked out the door, hoping that Elliot's truck would pull up soon.

When the truck did pull up, George ran to it and hopped in. Elliot leaned over and kissed him.

"Are you okay?" Elliot asked him and he smiled.

"I'm fine. I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night. I'm nervous," George said.

"I am too but we'll get through it," Elliot said.

They pulled up to the house and Elliot shut the truck off. George looked out the window and he felt Elliot grip his hand.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Elliot asked again and George nodded.

"I'm fine," George said wishing he really was okay. His stomach was churning and he felt like he would throw up.

"We can't sit here forever," Elliot said getting out of the truck. George did the same and Elliot was soon by his side. Elliot threaded his fingers through his and he squeezed.

They walked to the house together and Elliot opened the door.

"Mom," Elliot said and George took a deep breath. Elliot's mom came out of the kitchen and looked at both of them. Elliot held onto his hand tightly.

"I know that this isn't something you think is right but this is me. I'm dating George and we're going to be together for however long we are. Aunt Carol told me that she would tell everyone and I know what that will mean. I'm not going to give up my happiness to make everyone else happy. I just want you to understand, Mom," Elliot said.

George saw the way Elliot's mom frown and the way she looked at him and he slipped his hand out of Elliot's. He turned and headed back out of the house with Elliot looking at him.

When he made it outside, he wanted to bolt but he felt Elliot grab him by the arm.

"Where are you going? What's wrong with you?" Elliot asked and George turned and looked at him.

"I can't do this right now. She thinks I'm the one who changed you. It's my fault you're losing your family. She'll tolerate me and then try to get you to stop being with me," George said pulling his arm away.

"How do you think I feel? I'm the one losing them because I want you. I want us and I really don't care what every one else thinks."

"I want us too but this whole thing is my fault. You got beat up because of me. You got suspended off the football team. I've broken up your family. None of this would have happened if wasn't for me."

"I made those choices. I didn't have to make them. I made them for you because I want you. I don't want anything to ever happen to you. I love you," Elliot said.

"I love you too, Elliot but I don't know if I can do this. I need go. I need to think and you need to think," he said backing away from Elliot.

"Why are you being like this? None of this is your fault. I don't need to think about anything."

"We both have a lot to think about. We're both making snap decisions about things and I think we need to take a break."

Elliot's eyes widened and balled up his fist.

"You want to break up with me? What type of shit is that?"

"That's not what I said. We just need to think about what we're doing. We're seventeen. We're both doing things without thinking about it."

"I said I don't need time to think! Why aren't you listening to me? If you're just going to leave, then leave." Elliot said and George frowned.

"El, that's not how I meant it. I just want to be rational about this."

"Forget rationality. what about how we feel? You're feeling guilty for no reason and now you're just going to leave me," Elliot said.

"It's not for no reason and telling me not to feel this way isn't going to help. I feel this way and I need to sort through it. I'm going to go home and I will text you later," George said and Elliot shrugged.

"Do whatever you want, George because you have everything figured out and I'm the one stuck in the dark."

"Are you kidding me? Seriously, Elliot? Now I know that we need some time think and I seriously don't even want to start in on that," George said walking away.

Elliot watched George walk off and he went into the house slamming and locking the door behind him.

Elliot looked up to see his Mom and walked past her to his room. He slammed and locked his door. He turned on his radio and pulled of his coat. He dropped onto his bed and he felt his heart squeeze just thinking about George. He pushed him out of thoughts wishing that things had went differently.

George got off the bus and walked to his building. He really wanted to get into the apartment and just cry himself to sleep. He got inside the building and into the elevator. Leaning back against the wall, he frowned going over what just happened.

Soon he was in his apartment. He pulled off his shoes and jacket.

"George. You're back soon."

George nodded and looked at his mom.

"What happened?" She asked concerned by the sad look on his face.

"I don't want to talk about it," he said walking to his room.

He went in and closed the door. He threw the jacket on the bed and pulled off his sweater and shoes. Then he crawled into the bed and grabbed the jacket and wrapped his arms around it. He snuggled into it and sighed. He felt so bad. He should have just stayed and put on a fake smile. Why did he say anything? Hopefully they would spend sometime thinking and then maybe everything could go back to being normal. He told Elliot he loved him. It was true. He thought about it some more after the first time Elliot said it and he knew he did. Now he was sure that he messed everything up but he was hoping for the best.

John looked at the text and Fin looked over at the screen.

"What happened?" Fin asked.

"You won't believe this but Elliot and George had a fight," John said texting Elliot back.

"Seriously?"

John nodded and he really couldn't believe it.

"What did Elliot do?" Fin asked and John snorted.

"Knowing him he misinterpreted something George said and George is still probably feeling guilty about what Elliot's dad did and Elliot's family disowning him. It was bound to happen."

"How can you be so sure that's what happened?" Fin asked. John leaned against him and smiled.

"I'm a genius that's why. You should know this by now."

"Genius my ass. Get your elbow out of my rib."

John smiled when Fin wrapped his arm around his waist using it as a guise to get a better look at his phone.

"They're taking a break? We might have to lock them in a closet or something to figure this out if it goes on too long," John said.

"You should text George and get his side of the story. Elliot's my boy and all but we all know what he can be like."

"You're one to talk," John said glaring at him. "You think that we should take everything slowly and one day at a time. I sometimes think-" John was cut off by Fin's mouth and he kissed back after a few seconds.

Fin pulled away and pushed John's glasses back up his nose.

"That's not going to keep me from grilling you later on but for now I'll leave you alone," John said with a smile.

"That's all I can hope for."

Elliot closed his locker and looked around the hall. He hadn't seen George yet. They both had early classes and they had locker's that were close together.

He wanted to talk to him but he didn't want to text. He was still a little ticked off at George for wanting time apart.

"He's not coming."

Elliot turned around and narrowed his eyes at John.

"How do you know that?" Elliot asked.

"He called me last night and said he wasn't coming to school," John said a frown on his face.

"This is getting a little bit crazy. I didn't think he'd be like this," Elliot said looking at Johna.

"What do you expect, Elliot? He feels like he's the reason for everything. He feels guilty. Every time something happens he's at the forefront of it."

"I told him not to feel guilty. He has no reason to be."

John looked at Elliot like he was stupid. "Just telling him that isn't going to help. Did you reassure him? Did you tell him you understand and are willing to help him get over it? You have to help him see that. I know we both know that he knows that none of this is his fault but that doesn't make him feel any less guilty."

"If he knows, then why is he acting this way? I've told him that this was my choice. He didn't make me do any of the things I've done."

"I can't tell you what's going on in George's head but maybe if you talk to him and do it without telling him how he should feel, you can work this out. I will lock both of you somewhere to work this out." John said.

"How's Fin?" Elliot didn't want to think about George or John actually making good on his threat.

"An ass. We were on his bed and he had his arm around my waist. He kissed me. It was to shut me up but still. Then the door started open and he pushed me out of the bed. I land on my ass and have to put on a smile for his mom. I hate him."

"I told you to make him jealous. John you're not a bad looking guy. I'm sure a girl would talk to you, if you made yourself a bit less of a creep," Elliot said.

John glared at him before sighing. "I will try tomorrow. You and George need a week to think, so don't bother him. Think about what you're going to say to him and hopefully you two figure something out."

Elliot sighed and started down the hall to his class. "See you in History," he said to John.

George looked in the fridge and he grabbed a carton of juice. He poured himself a glass and leaned against the counter.

"How's Elliot?"

George looked at his mother and sighed.

"He's fine," George said quickly not wanting to think about Elliot at the moment.

"That's good. I hope you don't expect to stay here tomorrow too," his mother said and George shook his head.

"I'm going to school tomorrow. I just didn't feel all that well," he said before draining the rest of his juice and putting his glass in the sink.

"How long are you going to avoid Elliot?"

George sighed and crossed his arms. "I'm not avoiding him. We're just not talking right now. It's not a big deal."

"It is when it makes you upset. What's wrong? I know you might not want to tell me but maybe I could give you some advice."

George looked at his mom before sighing. "I feel like Elliot's dad leaving and hitting his mom was all my fault. I feel like everything is my fault. I know it's not but I can't shake this feeling. I told El. He said I shouldn't feel that way and that he made these choices. That didn't make me feel better and I told him we need to take a break. That didn't go well. I feel like we need to think. You should have seen the way Elliot's mother looked at me, Mom," he said looking down at the kitchen floor.

"None of this is your fault but I can see why you would think that. You've both made decisions and some of them haven't ended well. Some of them aren't even you or Elliot's fault. You'll blame yourself for a sometime about what has happened but you know that it's not. You both need to talk to each other without anyone else interfering and get him to understand how you're feeling but also know that he's not fairing too well either right now."

George sighed and nodded. "Can we talk about something else? I don't want to think on this right now."

"What is your new song about?"

Elliot moved his food around his plate and sighed. He looked at his mom and frowned. He saw the look she had given George but he was hoping that he'd imagined it. It was real and it made him angry but he wasn't sure what he was going to say to her. He had no intention to stop being with George after they sorted everything out. He loved George and no one was going to stop him for being with him unless George wanted to end it.

Maybe that's what he should tell his mother. Maybe. He didn't feel like anymore conflict so soon especially when he didn't have George to make him feel better. He wasn't sure if he could go a week without George but he would for George's sake. He should have handled everything better. Ran after him and tried to reassure him. Maybe some time to think about what he wanted was a good thing.

"Elliot!"

Elliot looked up at his mother.

"Sorry, I have a Math test tomorrow and it's making me nervous," he said with a weak smile. He pushed his plate away.

"I'm going to go upstairs and study," he said quickly leaving the dining room and heading up to his room.

He checked his phone for new messages and saw that John left him a novel. He went to George's messages and he typed a message. He looked at it before deleting it and reading John's novel.

It was about Fin again. He was going to have to talk to Fin and see his perspective on everything. John was going to give up soon if Fin kept pulling back from him every time they move a step forward. It gets tiring to move forward and then be thrown three steps back again. He should do that tomorrow. Have a nice talk with Fin and let John figure out how he was going to make Fin jealous. Maybe it would make the week go by faster.