Chapter Epilogue: Vacation aka Everyone's heading South


"Stop that."

"What?"

"Stop staring at my brother like that. It's creepy."

"I can't help it. He's hot."

"Do you realise how weird that sounds coming out of your mouth?"

"Well, he is."

"You know, just a couple months back, you'd have been like, 'damnit, that prude brother of yours is walking towards us. Run! Hide!'"

"Well, that was a couple of months back. I wasn't dating him then."

"You sicken me."

"Like I care."

"You both do."

"Do what?" West asked, joining them. He slid his hand in Devin's, who received him with a warm squeeze.

"Apparently we sicken her."

"Very." Iris agreed.

"Oh. Well, that makes two people we sicken. Joe was just complaining to me."

"Well, they're the ones who wanted us to get together. I don't see what right you guys have to complain."

"We should never have told you about the plan." Iris shook her head.

"Well you did and we didn't get too pissed so all's well that ends well."

"You tied us up and left us in your dad's shed!"

"Well, he heard you and let you out in the end, didn't he?"

"We could have frozen in there!"

"Hey, like Devin said. All's well that ends well."

Iris scowled at her brother. "You're only siding with him because he's your boyfriend."

"Well, duh. That's what you wanted, isn't it?"

"I give up." Iris threw her hands up in the air and nearly hit Joe on the nose.

"Hey! What're you trying to do, turn me into Rudolph?"

"Too late. Your nose's as red as a stop light."

"Gee thanks. Great best friend you are."

"Thank you."

"I was going to show you something but now I think I won't."

West rolled his eyes. "How old are you?"

"Eighteen going on twelve."

"Ha, ha. What is it you wanted to show me?"

Joe fumbled into his jacket pockets, retrieved his phone. "I got an email from Flynn."

Devin stiffened. West didn't seem to notice as he crowded closer to Joe, pulling Devin closer as he did. "Oh yeah? What'd he say?"

"Gimme a second to access it, will you?" Joe quickly downloaded the page as Iris peeked over his arm. "Here we go."

'Hey Joe, West, Devin and Iris as I'm sure u'll all be reading this as well! Gr8 to hear West n Devin are still going strong – though I still hate you Devin for stealing my man. LOL. Nways, just writing to invite you over for the hols. After Xmas – Xmas is such a fam thing. Mum'd kill me if I separated you guys from your fams for Xmas. But New Year's gd. Reply soon as poss. I want 2 make arrangements. Hope to c you guys soon!'

West pulled back. "Hey, that's a pretty good idea. We should do that."

Joe and Iris nodded their agreements. Devin didn't. West frowned, looked at him. The blue eyed teen was staring across the road. "What's wrong?"

"You want to go visit your ex? Who dumped you by the way? Well, by all means, go."

West's frown deepened as Joe let out a meaningful cough. He and Iris wandered away while West forced Devin to turn to meet him. "Don't tell me you're still jealous of Flynn."

Devin's shoulders jerked in what could have passed for a shrug.

"You are."

"So?" Devin snapped. "So what if I'm jealous of a guy you used to like – you still like? So what if I'm jealous that he has two dimples – which you like – and I only have one? So what if I'm jealous?"

West couldn't help it. He let out a laugh. Devin's glare intensified and he would have pulled away if West hadn't skimmed his gloved hand across his cheek. "You can be as jealous as you want," West said. "Even though it's kind of useless."

"Yeah? Why?"

"Because, as much as I like Flynn, I like you more. And didn't I tell you I don't care about the dimples thing? And even if I did, your one dimple is way hotter than both of his."

Devin was still stiff. "He can still make you laugh."

"So? You make me laugh."

"He doesn't fight with me."

"Sure he does. But it didn't make me want to kiss him. Whenever you fight with me, I always get this sudden urge to plant one on your lips. Like right now."

Devin eyed him as he leaned closer. "That's not going to work. You're not going to distract me."

West grinned, stopping until his lips were a mere move away from Devin's. "Aren't I?"

Devin cursed. "Damnit." He shifted that little distance so their lips met, adhered.

At length, Devin pulled away. "Damnit, you did it again."

"Did what?"

"Distracted me by kissing me."

"Well…" West shrugged. "Can't say I regret doing it. Will say I don't mind doing it again."

"Who knew you were such a nympho?" Devin asked. "All this lust hiding behind that prudeness."

West frowned. "I'm not a nympho. I take offence to that. And I can't help that lust. I'm a healthy teenage boy. Granted, I'm a gay teenage boy, but I'm also a healthy one."

"Uh-huh."

"You can't say you didn't enjoy it. After all, you're the one who initiated it."

"Point."

West grinned. "As always."

"Ha, ha. About Flynn."

"What about Flynn?

"Are you serious about going to visit him?"

"Well…yeah. We're friends. Yes, we're friends who used to go out, but friends all the same. Come with us, Devin. It won't be fun without you."

"You mean you won't have anyone to make out without me."

"Well, I could always make out with Flynn…that was a joke."

"Wasn't funny."

"Point. Look, I'm over Flynn. Have been ever since you kissed me on the patio."

"Are you sure?"

"How can I not be? They're my feelings, aren't they? I know I'm over Flynn."

"I don't."

"Damnit, Devin. I can't believe you're still stuck on this. You and me? We've been together for two months. That's double the time me and Flynn were together."

"Yeah, well, if those two hadn't interfered, you'd probably still be together."

"Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows with a long distance relationship? All I know is that right here, right now, I'm with you. And I couldn't be happier."

"Damnit." Devin stared down at him in frustration before giving him a swift hard kiss.

West blinked at him. "Okay. What was that for?"

"For soothing me. You're too damn good at it."

"Thanks. I think."

"Ha, ha. Fine. I'll go. But don't expect me to make civil conversation with the guy."

"I don't. But I do expect you to hold some semblance of politeness around him."

"You know, you might have dropped the prude act but sometimes, it comes shining through. Just now being a good example."

"Ha, ha. I'm serious."

"I know. And I promise, I'll try. Can't guarantee it, but I'll try."

"Good. For now. Speaking of now…" West looked around. "Where's Joe and my sister?"

"Think they're making out behind the stairs?" Devin looked at the large brick stairs that led up to the entrance of their school.

West shot Devin a disgusted look. "That's not funny."

"What? We do it. And we know neither of them are gay."

"Again, not funny. Now shut up or I'll kiss you again."

"Hmm…how's that supposed to make me shut up?"

"I don't know. Didn't figure it out fully when I said it. Ah – hah!" He pointed at a scrap of bright blue cloth peeking from the corner of the building. It was the same colour as the scarf Iris had wrapped around her neck. "Over there."

They rounded the building, and found Iris by herself. "Finally." She peeled away from the wall.

West frowned. "Where's Joe?"

Iris shrugged. "I think he's breaking up with Maria."

"Really? He didn't mention he was planning that to me."

"Well, seeing as your face is surgically attached to Dev's face most of the time, I know why."

"Shut up. Where is he?"

"How am I supposed to answer that and shut up at the same time?"

"Point. That's a good idea."

"Fine." She pointed.

"Good. Let's go."

They headed in that direction, in time to see Maria hug Joe and then run off, obviously crying. Joe shook his head, turned, spotted them. He shrugged. "At least she didn't slap me. I was sure she was going to."

"You're going to end up friends with her, aren't you?"

Joe shrugged again, this time in answer to West's question. "I guess. I usually do. Well, what's the decision on Flynn's invite?"

West looked at Devin, who looked at Joe and said, "tell him to make arrangements for four."

West grinned, squeezed his boyfriend's hand. Joe took out his hand phone to reply to Flynn's email. And Iris looked up at the clear sky and grinned. West and Devin were together, finally, and they were happy. They were all heading down south for a sunny new year's. Things couldn't be better.


A/N: I apologize for the crappy ending but the story had to be ended and I couldn't think of another way to end it.

Yes, there will be a sequel. Yes, Flynn will be in it and so will everyone else. Because I love them all. And I will not say more.

Curtains down. I thank you all for reading. (And I can't believe people actually like my story! And West and Devin! Yays! I would hug you all but I don't have arms long enough)