They slept till noon, and Aydan smiled like an idiot when he opened his eyes and became aware of his hands that were tightly wrapped around William. To his surprise, when he looked up at William's brown eyes, they were open and looking straight at him.
''Morning baby.'' Aydan murmured and his smile spread even wider.
''Baby? I think I really need some time to get used to that.'' William smiled back at him.
''Have you been staring at me for a long time, baby?'' Aydan ignored his protest about the name.
William pondered his answer for a moment, before admitting: ''Mayyybe. But you were snoring, so don't flatter yourself.''
''Oh, really? Am I not the most beautiful guy you've ever had in your bed?'' Aydan teased and rolled over a bit, his arms still around William, lifting him up to lay on top of him. William looked down at Aydan with wide eyes and his cheeks turned red.
''Have you always been this adorable?'' Aydan couldn't help himself. Seeing William flustered like that was way too amusing not to take all the pleasure out of it.
''Have you always been this mushy?'' William retorted back and leaned his head to rest on Aydan's chest.
''Only when I'm with you.'' Aydan murmured.
''Oh gosh, that's even mushier.'' William muttered.
They laid there like that for a good while. The sun was shining through the gauzy curtains and patterned the room with shadows and light spots. Aydan could hear Matthew talking with Sophia quietly in another room, but there was no other sounds to hear.
''I still can't believe you actually like me.'' William wondered then. It was more like he was thinking out loud: ''You know, I've loved you for nearly seven years already. I just kinda always thought there wouldn't be a day you thought that way about me too.''
''So you do love me?'' Aydan asked and this time he wasn't teasing.
''Of course I do.'' William muttered, he was brushing Aydan's fingers and palm with his fingertips.
''Oh, that's a relief.'' Aydan said and used his free hand to lift up William's chin. Then he pressed a soft, prolonged kiss on his lips. William answered the kiss, as leisurely, and made Aydan feel like he was floating two feet in the air.
''I've loved you for some time too.'' Aydan admitted when they drew back from the kiss.
''Yeah, like two days?'' William muttered looking away, but Aydan could hear from his voice he was smiling.
''More like two years.'' Aydan answered.
''What?'' William exclaimed and rose to lean on his elbows, staring at Aydan.
''Yeah. I kind of loved you even before I started dating with Claudia.'' Hearing the name made William's expression darken. She was the thing both of them kept thinking, but wouldn't say aloud, because they didn't dare to ruin the congenial atmosphere.
''Then why did you..?'' William's voice trailed off, but Aydan didn't need to hear rest of the question to know what he meant.
''There were these two guys who talked shit about you, and I think I kind of thought I would protect you by clearing the rumours about us being together.. but in reality I was just protecting myself. I wasn't ready to face my true feelings, and look where that led us.'' He explained.
''Well, I'm laying here with the most beautiful guy that's ever been in my bed.'' William smiled shortly, but then became serious: ''No, but really, I don't blame you for what happened.''
''Maybe you should.'' Aydan sighed, but then William planted a kiss on his lips, and he started smiling again.
''I'm not saying you did everything right, but you didn't mean things to go the way they did. It was Claudia who did that.'' William said.
''I don't think I can ever forget myself for what happened to you.'' Aydan admitted.
''Hush.'' William smiled and put his finger on Aydan's lips, indicating he didn't want to hear any more about that. Then they just laid there holding each other in silence.
''Did you really do it with George?'' Eventually Aydan just had to open his mouth again.
''Did what?'' William asked.
''Have sex with him?'' Aydan continued.
''Wait a second — are you jealous?'' William avoided answering the question. Aydan laughed, but didn't say anything. He really wanted to know the answer.
''I told you it was my first time at the pool. I mean, we kissed and all that, but then he said he just couldn't do it. That it would have been wrong to take advantage of my condition.'' William answered eventually.
''I guess I own him an apology then. I think he really cares about you.'' Aydan sighed.
He hadn't thought much about it, when George had tried to hit on William. He did that all the time, so Aydan didn't think he was actually being serious. Besides, William wasn't the kind of guy who would fall for a guy like George.
Then Aydan had heard the rumours about William kissing with someone at the club, and that had definitely made him jealous. It was even worse knowing it could very well have been him with William, if he hadn't been so deep in his denial.
The next time then.. Well, Aydan had put some pieces together when William and George went to the men's room together. A while later William stormed back to the table, his clothes wrinkled and hair ruffled. That day Aydan had felt an uneasy feeling in his chest, trying to lie himself it wasn't jealousy.
George really cared for William, that much was for sure. The things George had said to Aydan when he went back to the club after the assault, his caring actions, all of it.
But all that time William had been in love with Aydan and eventually there weren't any other options for them. They were drawn together and there would never be anyone who meant as much to Aydan as William did.
***
A month later they had more about the case and what was wrong with Claudia.
Turned out she had antisocial personality disorder and she was incapable of understanding other people's feelings. She had learned to act certain way to get what she wanted. She had been manipulating everyone like they were some puppets in her show.
The antisocial personality disorder explained many things about her behaviour, but that didn't mean she wasn't to blame. Claudia knew more than well what she was doing. She didn't feel any remorse of the things she had done either.
Once she was gone from their lives — not just from William and Aydan's, but also from her group — the atmosphere had changed and everyone was healing in their own ways.
It was Saturday morning and William had finally agreed to meet the group after Aydan had been talking about it for days. This time they wouldn't be going to a night club, but in the ice cream shop Aydan was still working at.
William had gotten a haircut earlier that week, and it made him look even better. Better and better and better. It truly was a torture to have a boyfriend that hot: how was Aydan supposed to keep his hands off him?
He was looking at William through his reflection. It was a familiar sight: William trying on clothes in front of the big mirrors in his neat room.
This time William decided to wear jeans and a simple white t-shirt — his style had gotten more casual after the assault — and he was without doubt the best looking guy in the city.
Aydan had brought some of his clothes and other necessities to the mansion, where Matthew Davies allowed him to stay for now. He had been in extremely jovial mood ever since he and Sophia had officially started dating again.
Aydan was wearing a dark grey t-shirt and black jeans, choosing exactly the colours and accessories he wanted. William didn't try to control the way Aydan looked, and even though he had said he could live with the fact Claudia was doing that, this was so much better.
Another thing that was so much better nowadays was that Aydan could get up from the bed and hug William from behind, not having to run to the bathroom. Not having to hide what kind of an effect the proximity had to his body. Not having to hide how good it felt to hold William in his arms, well, that was just perfect.
''You look good.'' Aydan whispered in William's ear and planted kisses on his neck. William leaned on him and bent his neck revealing more skin — a habit of his Aydan adored.
''Maybe we should just stay here instead..'' Aydan murmured, planting more kisses on William's skin and lowering his hands on William's hips.
''We can't, not now.'' William sighed, clearly needing to muster all his self-control not to let Aydan continue. Then he smiled, and murmured: ''But when we get back, we have plenty of time.''
A few moments later they were sitting inside the ice cream shop with Brooke, Aubree, Josh and George. At first they all seemed a bit awkward: there were so many things to say, but few of them the kind you could easily start talking about.
''Um, so, I reckon you all know about the tape.'' Surprisingly Josh was the one started the conversation. The others nodded their heads, not looking too happy about the topic.
''Well, I just wanted to say: what a bitch.'' He continued.
''Cheers to that!'' Aubree and Aydan said at the same time. They did exactly that: everyone raised their glasses, this time filled with juices and iced coffees.
''She actually did have a point in what she said about me, though. I've been acting like a bitch too, hoping I could hide that behind the brand bags and all. I'm sorry.'' Brooke said.
''Well, I'm not going to apologise for being fat.'' Aubree smiled and added: ''But I am sorry about the other things.''
''I'm sorry I laid my hands on you.'' George said to William and then quickly glanced at Aydan. ''And all the shitty things I said.'' He continued, turning his gaze back to William.
Aydan could see William was feeling uneasy when everyone was taking their turns to apologise him. He placed his hand on William's thigh, hoping the touch would erase some of the discomfort.
''I'm not sure what I've done exactly, but I reckon I've been a dick as well. So yeah, I'm sorry too.'' Josh said then.
''I didn't come here to ask for apologies, but.. thanks, I guess?'' William said, making the others relax a bit.
''There's something good about the things Claudia said about me: I've been trying to get in an university and I've quit drinking.'' Josh smiled then. Aydan was really happy to hear that, and it seemed like everyone else was proud of him too.
''I just still can't wrap my head around all the things she did. I mean, I always thought she was nice. Like the kindest of us all.'' Aubree wondered, a sad look in her eyes.
''I think that's what she wanted us to think.'' Brooke noted, looking equally as sad, but also pissed off. They all had been friends with her a lot longer and she had been manipulating them for years.. It must have been a lot to take in.
''I'm just so happy she's gone.'' Aubree continued.
''Same.'' George said.
''Ditto.'' Josh conformed. The rest of them just nodded.
''But can you tell me one thing: why do you do look so happy today?'' George asked, narrowing his eyes. He was looking at Aydan and William in turns.
''Well, that's another good thing that came from this all. We're together, as in William is my boyfriend.'' Aydan said and he couldn't quite hide the victorious look in his eyes when he glanced at George.
''Oh what a bummer.'' George grinned, and after he saw the expression on Aydan's face, he quickly continued: ''I'm kidding. As long as you make William happy, I'm happy for you.''
It seemed like the rest of them were all doing better now that the splinter had been removed and the pus had been squeezed out. That was probably the most disgusting way one could possible describe their situation, but also the most descriptive.
Having a toxic, manipulative person in your life was like having an inflamed splinter under the skin of your index finger. First you barely notice it, but in time it's only going to get worse and worse, until you finally get if off and you can start the healing.
These people sitting at the table with William and Aydan were all good people. They all were good and caring — and healing.