Who: Jason and Halden
What: Working in the Chem Lab, they get trapped
When: Wednesday night
Where: Art/Science building
Status: Complete/private
Rating: PG? PG-13?



Somewhere in the back of his mind, Jason knew they shouldn't be in the lab this late in the evening. It was true that the labs had open hours after school, but in all the time he'd been there, he'd never actually seen the security guard check in side the room for students before locking up for the night.

Still, Halden needed help with his practical, and Jason was one of his only friends who really knew what was going on in Chemistry.

"Okay, so now we're gonna get some of the burners out. Do you know where they store them?" Jason ducked under the table to search through the cabinets. He found the burner that fit the station they'd set up at, and tried to pull it out, to no avail. "Can you come down here and help me, please? It seems to be stuck on something."

Halden ducked down and shoved his head in the cabinet. He strained his eyes to see what Jason was wrestling with. He started feeling around and put his hands on Jason's forearm and followed it down to his hands to grab the burner and helped giving it a tug, useless. Right now Halden was wishing this wasn't a light sensitive experiment so maybe they could see what the hell was having the burner stuck down there. He pushed himself further into the cabnet to try and feel what was tangling up the burner.

As both of the boys were digging through the cabinets a security gaurd walked by noticed the lights were off and locked the door assuming no one was in there.

After a few minutes of tugging and untangling the boys finaly managed to get the burner out of the cabnet and set up which gave them a small flame that they could see the surounding area by, and heat up the chemicals that needed heating, "Alright there we go burner set up whats next?"

Jason was distracted at first when Halden's hand drifted down his arm to the burner. It took him a moment to realize what he was doing - after the panic of Halden possibly making a move on him dissipated.

"Er, well, we need to heat the water mixture to a temperature of 150 degrees farenheit, and then add the other compound. And... then we wait for a while. It's gotta cool again."

He helped Halden through the entire experiment heating and mixing the chemicals, then turned off the heat and using the tongs set the beaker aside. "So, want to go get a coke while we wait for it to cool? It should take a good 20 minutes or so."

Halden nodded as Jason explained what was happening and what to do next in the experiment, "Sure a coke sounds fine." The boys headed over to the door as teh beaker cooled. Halden was the first to reach the door and attempt to turn the nob, "Ummm Jason... The door's locked."

"What do you mean, locked?" Jason went over to the door and tried turning it, himself. All it did was jiggle a little. "Oh, this is not good."

He looked at the clock. 8:20. The school shut down at 8:00, and nobody would be back to open up again until morning. "Not... not good." Jason looked over at Halden and swallowed hard. Okay, so it could have been worse. At least the school wasn't on fire or anything. "They must have locked it while we were..."

Halden let out a sigh as Jason tried to turn the door nob himself. "See locked." He didn't want to say it could be worse because that would just jinx them and do something bad like set off the fire sprinklers.

He put his hand on Jason's shoulder, "Calm down it just looks like we're spending the night in the chem lab. The gaurd probably saw the lights off while we were digging for the burner and locked the door. So what, shit happens." He went over to the windows and began closing them partly so as the night went on they didn't freeze as they slept. The room was bound to cool down anyways but it wouldn't bee a major worry with the windows closed.

Jason sighed and went back to the table where they had been working. He picked up his backpack and sunk to the floor, leaning up against the cabinets. "Great," he huffed. "I wonder if there'll be enough time after they unlock for us to go back and shower." He watched Halden close the windows and then scooted over to "make space" for him - even though there was the whole floor available.

"Well, I don't have anything to drink with me, but I have some corn chips and granola bars. I'm kind of hungry since we skipped dinner."

He took out the food and offered them to Halden.

Halden shut the windows completely. they could finish the experiment in the morning all they needed to do was check the results. He grabbed his own bag and pulled out his sweatshirt it was just a light hoodie but it would keep them warm enough. He put his bag next to Jasons, sat down next to him getting close thorwing the sweatshirt over both of them.

"Nah I'm not hungry I ate dinner before we met up. Eat if you're hungry."

It was early fall, and they hadn't turned off the air conditioning in the building yet. Even though it was getting cooler at night. Jason was glad to share Halden's hoodie with him, and for once was relieved that he made it a habit to wear long-sleeve shirts.

"If we get really cold, I think there are some blankets under the main sink. You know, in case of fire or something," he said nervously as Halden snuggled up against him. "Um, I was thinking that..." No, he wouldn't finish that sentence. It didn't matter anyway. They were locked in the Chem lab, and anything he might say could make things even more uncomfortable for the night."

Instead, he leaned his head back against the cupboards and closed his eyes. "This is just like my luck. I knew I should have brought my cell phone to school with me."

Halden looked over to Jason not believing that was really what he was thinking. As he moved a bit closer to fit better undner the sweatshirt he asked, "What were you really thinking?" By now he could tell when Jason wasn't being one hundred percent truthful. Sure Jason was thinking that somewhere in his mind but that wasn't the main thought he had.

Damn this whole situation! Things were going to get awkward very fast if he didn't think of something to say. As part of his own defense, Jason kept his eyes closed and kept leaing back. "I was thinking that I'm starting to believe you," he said softly. "That... you know... about the way you think of me. And that if that's the case - which I think it is now - than I have really sucky luck, and I'm totally fucking confused, too."

There was no hiding the desperation in his voice. It didn't matter if he had lied or told the truth, he would still be aching with fear and dread at this whole situation. If only Caleb were there to help him calm down and suppress this "fight or flight" instinct in him.

Son of a bitch! was all Halden could think. He moved away from Jason so things didn't get too awkward for him. All he could manage to say was, "I'm sorry" in a soft but audible whisper.

Jason put his hand on Halden's arm as soon as he felt the heat leave his side. "No... Please. I'm sorry. Please."

He stopped as Jason put his hand on his arm. Instead he snuggled closer he felt a twinge of guilt, "I'm sorry" he repeated softly again but enjoying the contact between them.

Jason wrapped one arm around Halden's shoulder and pulled him close. "I'm just freaked at being locked in here all night. You're... probably my best friend. You don't need to apologize."

He nodded and wrapped his arms arounds Jason's waist, "No need to worry, and ok." Halden nuzzled his head into the right side of jason's pec slightly. He'd never actually cuddled with a guy before for some reason it seemed diffrent than with a girl he felt safer in a sense, maybe that was just Jason who he actually trusted.

That tremendous warmth coming from Halden was comforting. It wasn't all that cold in the room yet, and he was still trembling inside at the idea of this person being so close and wanting to be even closer - even though Jason was with and in love with Caleb. Still, Halden was the closest thing he'd ever had to a brother. Although not like a brother at all. He was more like a best friend. Jason felt as if he'd known him forever.

"I know it's early, but if we sleep now, maybe we can be up when they come by to unlock the doors in the morning." Jason put his other hand on Halden's shoulder. He leaned down and smelled the top of the other guy's head. It was so different from Caleb. Caleb was taller than he, and more manly in many senses. Halden was smaller and younger and seemed to bring out a protective instinct in Jason.

And he smelled different.

Sleeping was the last thing on his mind. It was racing over every little thought about Jason it could find his firm chest, his arms around his own, his slightly manly smell even if it was mixed in with the chemicals. It was Jason at work and he liked it. He wanted to say something - do something but he knew that wouldn't work out well. Instead he sighed and pouted slightly, "I guess..."

Considering how early it was, Jason was a little surprised how easily he fell asleep like that. It seemed all he had to do was lean his head back, close his eyes, and relax, and he was gone. Maybe it had something to do with how comfortable he was with this person, or the warmth of the two of them huddled under the hoodie.

Halden looked up at Jason as he fell asleep and scoweled. For the love of god this boy could not take a hint at all. He sighed and moved up and gently kissed on the lips and whispered very softly hoping not to wake him up, "Good night babe." He scowled as Jason didn't wake up. So he wasn't a soft sleeper which was good. Halden began tracing his finger over Jason's chest and abs with a bit of pressure. Again, nothing. God damn could this boy sleep. Halden moved up in Jason's arms and nibbled his ear continuing to lightly trace his chest and abs with a finger.

"Um," Jason was pretty much asleep as Halden started moving up his body. However, when he felt the nibbling on his ear, Jason was well-awake. "You were going to sleep," he said sleepily. Jason rubbed Halden's shoulder, pushing him down slightly. He could have turned his head to face Halden and might have sounded a little more forceful, but if he did, that would have put them nose-to-nose. Actually, it would have put their lips practically on top of each other's.

And besides, there wasn't a warm-blooded teenage boy in the world who wouldn't have had to control himself when someone was nibbling on his ear like that.

"Right?"

He let out a soft whimper as he was pushed down. Halden shrugged at his question as his face seeming unusually innocent, "Sorry, You were... just a bit too tempting. I'll try to have more control."

Jason sighed deeply and closed his eyes again. "Too tempting?" He chuckled. "Alright."

He took off his glasses, folded them up with one hand, reached up behind him and set them on the counter above his head. Maybe if the world was fuzzy in his eyes, he could get everything to make a little more sense.

"It's safer just to go to sleep," he said softly, scratching his head. "If you close your eyes, you won't be tempted, right?"

Halden moved and strattled Jason supporting his own weight and whispered into Jason's ear, "You're even more tempting with out the glasses." He started nibbling again hoping this time he wouldn't push him down, "I want you Jason." Halden wasn't obviously thinking he was just acting now pure instinct and it told him to continue.

"I know," Jason said, squeezing his eyes closed. He put his hands on Halden's shoulders and slid them down his arms. "Please don't make me do this," he said softly, grabbing Halden's wrists. "You know I can't, Hal."

It was as if his worst fears were becoming reality right here. Slowly, Jason pushed Halden's hands away and looked into his face. "Halden, I like you a lot. You're my best friend ever. Really, EVER." Jason sighed. He knew this was gonna hurt, and he hated to do it. "I'm with Caleb. I love him. I would never cheat on him, and couldn't imagine being with anyone else right now. I'm sorry."

He felt his heart sink into his stomach. There wasn't anything that could make this better. "God, Halden, if I wasn't with him - if I'd never met him, I'd be with you in a heartbeat."

Jason leaned back against the cabinet again. "He's the only one, though. I'm sorry."

Even though his words were pushing Halden away, Jason still held onto the guy. It was a combination of hurt and embarrassment, and Jason felt as if his own heart was being torn out as he said that. "I'm so sorry," he whimpered, lowering his head to press into Halden's shoulder.

He sighed, "I'm sorry for putting you through this. I...I'm awful." He sat up so he wasn't leaning on his body. He naturally slouched in disappointment Jason still holding onto his wrists. He tried pulling away weakly to just leave Jason alone give him space.

"Please, Hal," Jason said, hugging Halden closer. "Don't move. Just stay like this for a minute." He wanted to make sure that things would be okay. That even if he turned Halden down now, they could still remain friends. It was the first time Jason had ever been in a situation like this. At first it was unbelievable that anyone would want him, so when Caleb made a move, he was stunned and could only react with gut instincts.

The same was the case in this situation, but his gut instincts told him to hold on for dear life, and not to let go for fear of him losing his best friend.

All of a sudden, his protective instincts were all gone, and all that was left was this whimpering shell of a person who had no idea how to react to these conflicting emotions inside of him. "We should just sleep," he said softly, finally pulling away from Halden's shoulder. "We can use our backpacks for pillows and lie down."

Halden was fighting not to cry it was so hard for him. He wanted to be away from Jason to just let him live his life till he was no longer with Caleb which looked like was never going to happen, "O-ok," Halden choked a bit swallowing hard, "Can you let me go now." All he wanted to do is crawl into his own little corner of the chem lab and cry himself to sleep till the morning.

Something seemed to be breaking between them. Jason found himself trying desperately to think of something - anything he could do to make things alright again. "I can't," he said softly. Reaching up, he pushed some of Halden's hair out of his face. "Sorry, but I can't lose you right now."

He really did need the comfort. "Will you sleep with me? I mean, next to me -by me? If I let you go, that is."

"I don't know if I can," he looked down to the side hopefully the dark hid his face as the tears he's been holding in his eyes for a while now began to spill over. "But I'm always here for you Jason, always."

It took a lot of effort, but slowly Jason released his grip on Halden. "Okay," he said. As long as he had some kind of assurance that their friendship wasn't in jeopardy, it would be alright. He handed the hoodie off to Halden and forced a half-smile.

Jason lay down on the hard floor and tucked his backpack under his head. Without Halden there or the hoodie, he was kind of cold. The shivering, however, was from a combination of the chill, his own fears, and the emotions that he'd just experienced. "I'll see you in the morning, then?"

Halden half smilled back to him, and took the hoodie reluctantly. It took halden a bit longer to fall asleep. He had to stop crying, as he did he looked over to Jason and he was shivering. Halden gently wrapped the hoodie back around Jason and went back to his little spot and began to sleep.




As soon as it was remotely light outside, Jason began to wake up. He was never one who could sleep past dawn unless he was either very sick, or had been up the entire night before. As it was, he figured he must have gotten up at some point in the night, seeing as how he was wrapped around Halden's body, holding him close. It was still cold, and the hoodie had long since fallen away.

And even though it was chilly, he needed to get up - to get Halden up - so they could make themselves presentable before the security guard came to unlock the door.

"Hey," he said softly, rubbing Halden's back. "Hey, it's morning. Time to get up."

Halden groaned as Jason woke him up and swatted behind him and swatted at him. He grumbled inaudibly and realized the who was holding him. "Oh... What is it Jason?" His eyes were still red and puffy from the former night.

"Time to get up," Jason said, leaning over Halden. He was still groggy and very stiff from sleeping on the hard floor. "I think I'm gonna skip classes today," he said as he pushed himself up. "Gotta get some real sleep in a real bed."

As he looked down at Halden he noticed the guy's eyes were all puffy. "Do you have allergies? I think I've got some anti-histimines in my backpack. You know, I'm allergic to just about everything," he offered.

Halden looked up to to Jason, "Ugh i don't want to get up." Suddenly the shock hit him, "You're gonna what!?!?!" He chuckled lightly smiling, "Nah i do't have allergies. I don't need any of your anti-histimines." Halden began to wonder how Jason ended up arround him but he was glad to wake up in Jason's arms and that after last night Jason didn't find him a complete jack ass.

"Well, I'm sure if I'm not sick right now, I will be in a few hours. My nose is already kind of runny from sleeping in the cold." Even though you were really warm. "I think taking a day off would be better than pushing myself and getting even more sick from going to school when I should be sleeping."

Jason stood and offered a hand to Halden. "Come on, we should get our things together. It's almost 6, and they should be by to open the door soon."

Halden took his hand and was pulled up to his feet. Once he was up Halden cracked his neck, and sat in a desk to crack his back. The cold floor wasn't exactly good for either, "Ehh maybe i'll skip the first few periods myself. Mostly chem seeing as I didn't finish the assignment. He picked up his hoodie which Jason had ended up sleeping in for part of the night.

He walked over to one of the faucets, turned it on, and washed his face some of the puffyness of it dissapearing. He walked over to the door and waited for a security gaurd to come and unlock the door. As he continued to wake up the night before seemed to come rushing back; each little tidbit of info making him feel more and more guilty.

Jason slung his backpack on his back and tightened the straps, then went over to stand with Halden. It seemed they didn't have anything to say about the night before. Although Jason suspected they could have had a long conversation about how nice it was to share their body heat that way.

"You've gotta go to chem class. If nothing else to let her know what happened so you can get extra credit points for being locked in here all night." Jason smiled at his own joke. "Learning by osmosis if nothing else."

Halden couldn't look Jason in the eye right now if he ever could. He felt like such a jackass now. He chuckled at Jason's lame joke, "Jason... I-I'm so sorry... I shouldn't have ev-""

"You're still my best friend, right?" Jason said, putting his hand on Halden's arm. His face was wrinkled with worry that things might be different now.

He looked over to Jason his face pained with guilt, "If you really want me to..." at this point Halden wouldn't blame Jason if he never wanted to see Halden's face ever again after the shit he tried to pull. Why the hell would he still want to even befriend me? I'm a selfish jackass who doesn't even deserve another chance.

Still, Jason's smile was bright and wide. "Of course!" he said. "Oh, I was really worried. I mean, after not wanting to let you go last night and being all weird and hurtful. God, that was painful. Still, I'm glad you will still be friends with me. I can't imagine what it would be like if you never wanted to talk to me again."

Halden let a little sigh of relief, "Really? I thought that it'd be the opposite after the way I acted... Again I'm so sorry I should've never put you through that." He looked away again ashamed of his actions.

"Don't worry about it."

A few minutes later, the janitor came around to unlock all the doors. Jason pulled Halden aside and out of sight. He figured it would be better if nobody knew they'd spent all night in the lab. AFter all, rumors were bad enough as it was - to have another set go around about them would be more than Jason wanted to deal with.

"Want to sit together at breakfast? I'm kind of hungry. Then I think I'm going back to my room to go to sleep."

He wasn't exactly sure what Jason was doing and Halden wasn't exactly ready for another wave of hurt, but Halden could bear it for Jason, "Sure I guess. I'm actually really hungry. Yup I'm at least missing my first two classes maybe more if I can get up."

Jason took Halden's hand and squeezed it. There was so much he wanted to say, but none of the words seemed to form proper sentences in his mouth. So, instead, he just looked at Halden for a moment before letting go of his hand, opening the door, and leaving the room.