Truly, Madly, Deeply

By C.K. Siren

When their senior year of high school began, Kellin Evans and Vic Torres figured it would be like every other year of high school that they'd been through so far. Kellin planned on being with his friends and maintaining his reputation as the high school heart-throb who was lucky enough to have rich parents that were never home; While Vic would do his very best to melt into the background of his normal suburban life with younger brother Matt and loving parents.
What they didn't count on were the questions. The brewing familial ties and tragedies that no one knew about. The feelings that they couldn't explain that refused to be hidden away any longer. When Kellin figured he'd try something 'different' while staying after Chemistry class with his new lab partner, Vic, it changed things. Just one attempt at a kiss, just to figure things out. At first, Vic didn't know what to think. Was he really... in to guys? He hated Kellin for that; for the panic attacks he had when he thought of facing him the next day, and most of all for the fact that he really actually wanted to see him, and know him, more.
As much as it killed them both, there was no use in denying their feelings for each other. Deciding to see each other in secret, they did all they could - no matter how many awkward situations it created - to hide it from friends and family. And for a while, it was fun. They managed to keep their separate 'rolls' within their school and friendship groups.
Teenage-esque doubt and angst erupted into a mess of drama that put Kellin and Vic's relationship to the test, and just when they thought things could never be worse, they find out that someone knew all along what was happening behind the scenes. And worst of all, that person has a plot to break them up, and the troubled couple aren't the only two that wind up hurt by this. Can two boys from different social background fall so truly, madly, deeply in love with each other in this day and age? Or is their relationship the worst thing that ever happened to either of them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.K. Siren
• Release date: Dec 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311915597

C.K. Siren

Eighteen year old independent author from north central Massachusetts. Currently a senior in high school just tryna make it in life.Everything I write has an over all message that I'm trying to get across, and I dare you to try and find it. ;)

Book preview

Truly, Madly, Deeply

C.K. Siren

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2013 C.K. Siren

License Notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Ebook formatting by www.ebooklaunch.com

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Alexe, Nicolle, Sarah, and Laurel, for always pushing me to do my best. Also to my Mom and to Kent, for all their help in making this a thing. Thanks to Alaina and Nat, without whom none of this would be happening. And to the most important people of all, to you, the readers; because without you I'd pretty much be talking to myself a whole lot.

Lastly, to Kellin and Vic, for inspiring me to do so much.

Chapter One

"Torres and Evans."

That's it. That is exactly how all of this started, in the middle of their senior year. A simple fragment of a sentence. Three words, two of which are not even found in the English dictionary. However, those three words absolutely and maybe accidentally changed the lives of two boys; and had a huge impact on the ones around them.

Vic groaned inwardly when he first heard whom he had been paired with. He shot a nervous glance up at Kellin, whose top lip twitched with clear displeasure. One of his friends wearing a varsity jacket chuckled at him, warranting the toss of a mechanical pencil in his direction.

Shut up, he heard Kellin mutter as his buddies all elbowed him, picking on their friend for being paired with the skinny, Mexican loser that never really said much.

Kellin was a LOT more popular than Vic was. He had been since as long as Vic could remember. They had gone to school together since elementary.

Sighing, Vic organized a few of his papers, figuring that Kellin was going to have to come and talk to him if he wanted to get this stupid lab done, because Vic wasn't moving. The clock ticked away though and other groups were getting started, so Vic began getting the materials they would need for the assigned experiment. He was not going to try to get Kellin's help if the popular boy wasn't going to do anything. Vic wanted to 'fly under the radar' as much as possible, not wanting to attract attention to himself.

The assignment was hard with only one person though, and salvation came in the form of a man with a degree and a snappy attitude.

Kellin, why aren't you doing anything? I know your friends are simply 'fabulous', but really, get your butt in gear.

Their teacher jerked his head towards Vic, not waiting for some sarcastic reply from Kellin who shrugged and sauntered his way over to where Vic was standing. A hot plate situated in front of him with some sort of solution on it that Kellin wouldn't know anything about.

What are you like, doing? he asked half-heartedly and without even looking at the lab set-up.

Vic shot him an exasperated glance before answering his question. The hotter the solution solvent gets, the more solute will dissolve in it. That's why we're boiling it until all of this powdery stuff is dissolved.

I don't speak Chemistry, sorry, said Kellin, pulling up a chair.

Well we'd be a lot further along if I didn't have to set this fucking thing up myself, then you could have gone and done nothing since once I get this dissolved it's mostly just writing down the actual data..., Vic muttered quietly.

Gee, you're pleasant, teased Kellin.

Vic did not justify his words with a response, just dumped a little more of the powder that they had to dissolve into the mix. Chemistry with Kellin was like physical torture. He was so ridiculously popular and so ridiculously good looking that everyone adored him when there was utterly nothing special about him whatsoever. Nothing that made him stand out; accept for his looks and asshole-ish personality.

So like, what do we have to write down for data?

Vic considered explaining the whole lab to him, but he really could not be bothered today and instead pushed the paper containing the printed directions towards his partner. Kellin's eyes scanned over the text for only a few minutes. Vic thought that maybe he was actually trying to understand it and he gave him credit for that, but the face he made as he pushed the paper away told him he was going to have to explain it anyways.

All right... You should have the lab part of this done by now, said Mr. Sheehan in what felt like no time at all, which was something Vic was dreading since the lab had been assigned. Spend the rest of the class putting this all away, tomorrow you can do the written part.

Vic looked down at his work and bit his lip, nerves stirring up inside him. We aren't even close to being done, he said quietly.

Around him, other groups that had started in on clean up were clogging the sinks and counter tops with beakers and hot plates that made frequent, loud clanking noises.

The fuck do we do then? Asked Kellin, picking at a hangnail.

It was obvious he honestly did not care what happened, or about his grade and for a moment Vic wondered if he would be able to just finish it himself after school; until their teacher spoke again.

Vic, Kellin, if you can you should stay after today.

I can't, Kellin spoke up. I have...things to do, he said.

Too bad, said their teacher.

Kellin frowned and crossed his arms. Chemistry was their last class of the day. There wasn't even the opportunity to skip a class; no, this came out of their personal time. The shame was that Vic should not have been required to stay after seeing the whole situation was Kellin's fault.

The bell rang a little while after as Vic and Kellin kept working. Well, mostly Vic. Kellin did not really seem to be able to sit still until after everyone had left the room, including their teacher. Then he finally sat down and looked into whatever it was that Vic was doing.

The Hispanic teenager put in the last of the powder, stirring it in as much as he could as Kellin watched, his blue eyes sparkling. He didn't say anything until Vic pulled out his phone and unlocked it.

Who're you texting? he asked curiously, a little smirk on his face.

Vic had absolutely no idea why Kellin would care except to make fun of him, so a part of him did not want to answer the random question.

My mom and my brother he answered bluntly.

Aw, you're a momma's boy Kellin snickered.

No, she just likes to know that I haven't been hit by a car or something.

Vic was getting impatient with him now. Why'd you even stay? You're not helping; you can just go if you want.

Can't cause Sheehan will kill me, and I am so helping, just think how bored you'd be without me here, said Kellin, sticking his tongue out.

Vic rolled his eyes and checked the directions to see which step was next, wishing that Mr. Sheehan might come back so that Kellin could bug him instead.

At least I give you something pretty to look at, right? Kellin winked.

Sorry, I'm not gay, but if you are, that's cool, said Vic.

He turned away, knowing that that might earn him a trip into a dumpster or something. Vic was a smart-ass, that's why he kept his mouth shut most of the time. Bullying had not been too much of a problem in his life, and he did not need it to start to be one now that he was half way through his last year of high school. When he turned around though, Kellin was just staring at him, no trace of a smile or a laugh on his face.

You think I'm gay? he asked.

It wasn't sarcastic; it was a serious question as if Kellin was actually interested in Vic's answer. It was as if he had totally dismissed the fact that Vic was trying to find a way to insult him. Vic looked at him, his eyes wide, unsure of what to say.

Uh, well, I mean... he started awkwardly. I guess that would be something for you to find out.

Kellin smiled at him, resting his chin on his hand, Aww, I was almost expecting another wise-ass response.

If you're that offended I could still come up with one, said Vic, while turning off the burner and swishing around whatever it was he was mixing to examine the different colors it was starting to turn. He wrote something down in his lab notebook, wishing Kellin would say something to kill the awkward silence.

Kellin's mouth did not open to speak though; he was just staring off into space for a moment.

Find out myself? he said quietly, standing up and stepping towards the window.

Vic looked up to watch him move, starting to feel a little in awe of the boy. Maybe, just maybe there was a weird side to Kellin or at least, more to him than he actually let on.

Hmm.

Vic frowned at him, not sure of what to say. Well... uh...that's how it's... supposed to work I guess.

Is that how you find out you're straight? he asked, staring up at the sky.

The sun was hitting his eyes just right, practically making them light up, and Vic was feeling the anxiety that came with questions about sexuality that he was constantly asking himself.

Don't you have like, four hookups a minute and three thousand ex-girlfriends or something? asked Vic, turning back to the lab.

Doesn't mean anything, said Kellin, turning towards Vic.

Suddenly and without warning, he stood next to Vic, watching his hands at work. He handed him something he had begun to reach for, maybe making an attempt to be helpful. Vic did not really know or care. He didn't actually remember much from that part because of what happened next.

Kellin stared at him, straight into his eyes, practically right into his soul.

Vic stared back, his face nearly expressionless.

You've had girlfriends in the past too, and you're not moving away. Maybe you don't actually know?

Vic bit his lip. Kellin had struck a nerve. His eyes still stared back at him, and Vic wasn't sure of what to do now accept curse himself for being born so goddamn awkward and shy and bad with words.

Kellin smirked a little and placed a hand on Vic's shoulder, trailing down to his chest and gripping his shirt.

Fear seeped into Vic's stomach as he wondered if Kellin was actually doing what he thought he was doing. Just as he felt the pull of Kellin's hand on his shirt, however, the door of the classroom opened and in popped Mr. Sheehan, his face buried in papers he'd gone to retrieve.

Almost done, boys? he asked.

Y-yeah, I think I gotta go though, said Kellin.

The boy who was normally so confident and cool, practically fled from the classroom, leaving Vic to just stand there, barely able to finish the lab in his own confused state.

Chapter Two

Vic quickly finished the rest of the lab himself, his hands shaking as he was putting beakers away. His teacher never looked up, had absolutely no idea what he had almost walked in on, and interrupted. He'd simply sat down and went about his business, and Vic had awkwardly said a goodbye and got out of the building as fast as he possibly could, not bothering to zip up his sweatshirt or pull up his hood against the cold weather. It actually felt somewhat nice.

He turned street corners faster than he had in his life, or maybe his mind was just racing as fast as his heart was, he really couldn't tell. He needed to stop, breathe, and collect his thoughts.

His street was never busy, so he kind of absent-mindedly walked in the middle of the road until he stood in the driveway of his modest home.

His mom had simply waved to him as he came through the door. Matt could be heard practicing on his drum kit in the next room.

That left Vic, laying face down trying to come to terms with the fact that Kellin fucking Evans had tried to and nearly succeeded in kissing him, and Vic would have gladly let him.

Still. Kellin. Kellin Evans. The kind of guy that the girls that wore booty shorts and leggings went for. The kind of guy that would be found in the stands at the football games in front of the cheerleaders. The kind of guy that the other guys would bro-fist in the halls, or shout obscenities with. The kind of cocky prick that had absolutely everything handed to him that Vic utterly despised for being so goddamn attractive and fake at the same time.

Now, he had made Vic horrified of facing tomorrow when they had to do the write up portion of the lab together. Maybe Kellin would skip the class, or school in general. He was definitely the kind of person to do that.

Maybe Vic would skip the class and go out with his friend Jimmy; outings with the boy were always worth missing a class. No, if he wanted a good grade on that lab he knew he had to go because there was no way in hell Kellin was going to get that thing done by himself.

Vic turned over, staring at the ceiling. The drumming in the next room grew quiet after a few minutes, and he could hear the door opening.

That meant Mike was hungry. That meant dinner soon. That meant getting up. That meant pretending nothing shocking or exciting had happened that day.

That was terrifying.

******

When the bell rang during English, Vic moved as slowly as he was able, picking up his backpack and his books and getting out of his seat. Some of the kids that would be in the next class started to file into the room by the time Vic was getting out into the hallway. He was dreading this next class.

Perhaps it would be better if Kellin just ignored him and he finished the lab himself. He walked in and sat down in his seat as usual, managing to not be the last one there even though he had taken as long as he possibly could to get there.

Kellin was not in the room yet, even though everyone else was. For a fleeting moment, Vic thought maybe he really had skipped until the bell rang just as the door swung open and Kellin and one of his other popular friends, Jeremy stepped into the room with goofy smiles on their faces.

Just in time, said Mr. Sheehan, frowning at them.

Would we ever be late for YOUR class, Mr. Sheehan? said Jeremy sarcastically.

Kellin grinned and chuckled a little.

Mr. Sheehan just shook his head and stood to address the class, raising an eyebrow at the cocky teenagers that 'swagged' their way to their seats.

Finish those labs up! Due at the end of class.

With that, he sat back down at his desk and pulled out papers to correct, probably their tests from last week that Vic knew he had done well on.

School was easy for him. He opened up his binder and pulled out all of the data and worksheets from yesterday, setting to work. Kellin would have to copy the charts down into his own notebook if he hadn't already done it yesterday. He was not expecting him to come over anyway, so he pulled out a calculator and began answering questions.

Focusing was hard though, especially when Vic was wracked by the terror of Kellin actually coming over and talking to him. What would he even say and how unreasonably awkward would that conversation be?

Damn, it seemed like God was not on his side today because now a shadow loomed over him that could only belong to the messy haired teenager. His sparkling eyes were staring down at Vic, his face expressionless. They were in the back of the classroom away from everyone else who would be unable to see the tension between the two.

"So, can I like, copy what you did? Are we almost done here?" he asked finally.

Vic handed him the papers he could copy and began his own work as Kellin took a seat across from him.

So that was how it was going to be, they were just going to pretend that nothing had happened? Just go on as normal? Not that Vic minded; that was probably the best way to go about it. It's not as if he meant anything to Kellin. No, he was probably just messing around because he was bored.

The one thing that weighed heavily on Vic's mind, however, was the look in Kellin's eyes as he left the room in such a hurry yesterday. That looked like real... fear? Or confusion? Vic couldn't be sure. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.

He could hear Kellin's pencil scraping against the paper as he scribbled down answers, glancing up every so often at Vic, who pretended not to notice. It was confusing as fuck, and all he could think about was that there was no way it would end well.

He glanced at the clock on the wall; he still had half a class left of this. He let his mind focus on the work, blocking out all the other thoughts.

Get it done...get it done...get it fucking done.

Shit.

It was done. Now what?

Um, I finished the questions if you just wanna copy those too. You're gonna fail that test on Friday if you don't know how to do them though, Vic said awkwardly, his voice cracking on the last word.

Kellin nodded, taking the paper he had been reading upside down.

I'm learning as I copy, I promise, he said sarcastically, and Vic could tell by his tone that he couldn't care less.

The whole situation was just generally terrifying, so the only thing Vic could think to do was pull out the blank notebook he carried around and start writing everything that came to mind. It wasn't much, just lyrics that he had never shown anyone. It was something he could do until the class was over.

How do you do this one? said