Ethan turned and faced Sawyer.

"No, I was thinking about things and eventually concluded I was at fault. I stood in front of your car like an idiot and I shouldn't have. I force you to do a lot of stuff I shouldn't. I'm sorry."

Sawyer weighed Ethan's word.

"Well still. I kept thinking about your concussion. The image of you falling down because of me kept replaying in my mind and it was torturing me like mad crazy. I can't believe how much I love you Ethan."

Tears ran down Sawyer's face. Ethan was stunned. Literally no words would come out. Sawyer rolled over on his side and went to sleep.

Ethan hardly went to sleep that night. Sawyer's words literally pierced his heart. Ethan had never heard the L word from Sawyer before.

Was it the accident? Did something awake in Sawyer? Ethan didn't know. Maybe Sawyer was reminded of Ethan's accident somehow when Sawyer knocked him over with his jeep.

Either way, Ethan saw Sawyer's love for him, and his resolve was once again strengthened.

Ethan woke up the next morning and didn't find Sawyer in his bed. He sorta sighed and had a sloping spirit.

"I guess things are back to the way were before," Ethan said aloud.

He was disappointed, however, he didn't know for sure things were still bad between him and Sawyer. He just knew Sawyer was still getting up early in the morning, possibly to avoid him.

Ethan didn't see him when he went to school. He even looked for him during lunch and in the parking lot at the end of the day.

He was a little worried but tried not to say anything. He decided to text Sawyer.

"Hey. I haven't seen you in school all day. Are you ok?"

When he hit sent, Ethan went home hoping to see Sawyer there.

Ethan did not see Sawyer when he got home. He was not in his room and Ethan was near panicked.

He asked Mrs. Lancelot where Sawyer was and she told him he'd asked for the day off from school and said he was going to a lake or something for r & r.

Ethan knew exactly where that was and instantly took off.

Ethan slowly made his way to the bridge. He'd already parked his car. The sky was cloudy and the wind was really strong.

Ethan spotted Sawyer in the middle of the bridge with his hands folded. He was looking out over the water, as he always did.

Suddenly Ethan was nervous.

He walked over slowly to where Sawyer stood.

He inched closer and closer. Finally side by side with Sawyer, Ethan put his arm around Sawyer's middle. Sawyer actually moved so that he could. Ethan rested his chin on Sawyer's shoulder.

"Sawyer I love you."

Sawyer nodded. "I love you to Ethan."

Ethan rested his face on Sawyer's back. Sawyer never pushed him away. They stayed that way for a long time.

It was going on nine o'clock and Ethan -n- Sawyer were still cuddling up on the bridge. Neither had really spoken about what had happened, and Ethan knew that it would have to happen eventually.

"It's getting dark Ethan. I think we should be heading back soon. Mom wouldn't really care but I have assignments to finish up. Gotta keep my grade up."

"Are you going back to school early in the morning Sawyer?"

"I'm not sure yet Ethan."

"What is that supposed to mean? Have we not made up? Have we not confessed something deep to each other?"

"Yes Ethan, we have. But I'm still mad at you. You punched me in my face. I didn't appreciate you hitting me like that and I am not moving forward going through something like that again. What we have is far from stable."

"You go back to school tomorrow and continue to avoid me and then what?"

"I don't know."

Ethan jerked himself away from Sawyer and marched straight back to his convertible. He got to his car and hopped over the door and fiercely cranked his car. He screeched his way out of there and onto the road. Sawyer just watched him with raised eyebrows.

Sawyer got home about twenty minutes after Ethan did. He walked in and expected Ethan to be asleep, but he was wide awake. He had the light off but he was laying on his back. Sawyer knew he was usually awake when he laid that way.

Sawyer changed clothes and put on boxers and a T- shirt. He looked Ethan's way but didn't say anything. When Sawyer sat down on his bed, he heard Ethan speak.

"I'm sorry Sawyer. I didn't mean to walk out on you and end things the way I did."

Sawyer paused for a moment, then replied. "It's ok Ethan. I know you are the sensitive type."

"I love you Sawyer."

"I love you to Ethan."

Both went to sleep minutes later.