Tao doesn't want to go back to school.   It's five thirty when his alarm wakes him up, a cruel reminder that yesterday was their last day of freedom, his last day to spend with Kris; today, they had to go back to school. He groans, leaning his head back and pulling his blanket up higher around his neck. It's too early, too cold, he doesn't want to go. He almost laughs at his own thoughts, no wonder Kris said he complained so much. It had been one week since Christmas and Tao had spent every day with Kris, they were inseparable.   All the other members laughed at them, but Tao didn't really care. Kris seemed to know him better than any of the others did, and the fact that he was over protective was kind of adorable. They hadn't even kissed yet, but somehow Tao felt like that didn't really matter. As long as he had Kris. Tao doesn't realize that he's falling back asleep until he feels someone shaking him gently, Kris's warm laughter filling his ears,   'Panda, you have to get up. We can't be late on our first day back.'   Tao groans, his eyes flicking open as he makes eye contact with Kris, a half-smile on his face, a slight whine in his voice,   "But hyung, I'm too tired! Maybe if you carried me..."   Kris sighs in mock annoyance, rolling Tao over and picking him up, an arm under his knees, another supporting his back. Tao grins, resting his head against Kris's chest, his heartbeat relaxing Tao, the younger boy's voice soft,   "Kris, we're going to be okay, right?"   Kris pauses in walking towards the door, glancing down at Tao,   'What do you mean?'   Tao sighs, his eyes almost sad,   "With school and everything, we won't get to spend as much time together. But, we're going to be okay right? We won't-"   Kris laughs softly, his eyes crinkling,   'Are you worried we're going to break up because of school? Panda, what did I promise you?'   Tao feels warmth spread through him, a nice kind of warm like sitting in the sun on a cold day. Their conversation from the previous week returns to him. '"Are we always going to be together?" 'I promise.'' Tao smiles,    "You're right, I'm worried about nothing, aren't I?"   Kris laughs, his eyes softening,   'I think it's cute that you worry so much, it means you care.'   He adjusts his grip on Tao, walking down the hall and downstairs, sitting at the kitchen table, Tao still in his arms. Both Baekhyun and Chanyeol are putting on their coats already, grumbling about their photography class being moved to six o'clock. They wave goodbye, an anxious Suho making sure they both have scarves and gloves. Tao laughs as the older blonde haired boy sits back down, his voice amused,   "Suho-eomma, don't worry so much. They'll be fine, we always are."   Suho sighs, smiling,   'I know, I know. But since Kris doesn't worry at all, I have to worry for both of us.'   Kris makes an offended sound, swallowing a mouthful of tea as he looks up at Suho,   'I worry about them!'   Suho laughs, shaking his head and looking down at his food. Tao sighs, smiling at Kris,   "Are you going to put me down anytime soon?"   Kris shakes his head, kissing Tao on the cheek and tightening his grip,   'Never.'   Tao sighs in defeat, looking up as he sees Xiumin and Chen stumble down the stairs, both of them looking exhausted. Chen sits down, groaning as he rests his forehead on the table, his voice thick,   'This isn't fair-'   Xiumin hits the back of his head and Chen yelps in pain, though somehow he doesn't question Xiumin's logic as the pink haired boy speaks,   'Of course it's fair! You drank enough saké last night for all of us combined, it's your own fault you were up half the night throwing up.'   Chen moans softly, putting a hand to his stomach,   'Minseok-ah, I was stupid, I know that, I'm just really not feeling well.'   Xiumin's face softens as he pets Chen's hair affectionately,    'Jongdae, stay home and rest today. I'll pick up your homework for you on the way home.'   Chen smiles, his face still pained as he leans over, pressing a gentle kiss to Xiumin's lips, pulling back quickly, his voice a near whisper,   'I love you, Xiumin.'   Xiumin laughs, running a hand along Chen's cheek and getting to his feet,   'I love you too. Now rest, okay? I'll be back at 2:30, I can take care of you then. Just take care of yourself until I get home.'   He grabs his coat, pulling a white pompom beanie over his thick pink hair and grabbing his backpack, waving to the others as he walks down the hall, the door closing behind him. Tao smirks at Chen, sounding amused,   "Hungover are we Chen?"   Chen laughs mirthlessly, groaning again as Suho reaches over a hand, resting it on his forehead, his face blank,   'Chen, how could you do this? You knew today was the first day of school-'   He cuts off as Lay walks up behind him, bending over and wrapping his arms around his neck, resting his chin on Suho's shoulder.    'Suho-eomma, it's too early to be awake-'   He yawns, his dark eyes tight closed as he continues,   'Can I borrow your fur lined coat? I don't want to get cold today.'   Suho pulls his hand away from Chen, smiling at Lay,   'Of course you can, Xing. You don't have to ask, anytime you want to wear it, you can.'   Lay smiles, his sleepy face seeming to brighten as he twists his head, kissing Suho quickly on the cheek before releasing him, bouncing down the hall to get his jacket,   'Thank you hyung! I'll see you tonight!'   Suho looks a bit stunned for a moment but he quickly recovers, his face sad though his voice is bright,   'Have a good day, Xing!'   Lay's soft laughter can be heard for a moment as he shuffles around in the hall, pulling on his shoes before closing the door behind him and heading for class. Suho turns his attention back to Chen, his voice softer now,   'You have a fever, Chen, you need to go back to sleep. Why did you even drink so much?'   Chen leans back in his seat, his head tilted back as far as it will go, his voice strained,   'Minseok and I had a fight, I was acting stupid. I got jealous, thought I was losing him. But it doesn't matter now. We worked it out, but not before I got so drunk that he had to half-carry me home at midnight.'   He gets to his feet rather unsteadily, groaning as he puts a hand to his stomach, shuffling over to the couch as Suho follows after him, covering him with a blanket and whispering something to him, making the curly haired boy laugh. Tao glances up at the clock, smiling,   "Kris! We have to leave in half an hour! Let me go so I can go get dressed!"   Kris murmurs something, burying his face in the crook of Tao's neck, tightening his grip. He's silent for a second, nearly motionless before sighing, his arms dropping as Tao gets to his feet, pausing for a moment as he turns to look back at Kris,   "We're good, right?"   Kris smiles, giving Tao a light push,   'Always. Now go get ready! We don't want to be lazy like Chen.'   Said lazy Chen groans from the couch, murmuring something about his head hurting as he falls asleep. Tao nods, of course they were okay. And why wouldn't they be? Kris had promised, and Tao believed, wanted to believe, that it was a promise he'd always keep.     It's only noon and Tao feels like taking a nap. He's on his way from Calculus to lunch and already fatigue is setting in. Why did school have to start so early? He yawns, thoughts of Kris forcing their way into his mind. He smiles against his will, maybe school was good for something; if he'd never gotten accepted to college, he'd never have met Kris.   Tao pushes open the door to the cafeteria, glancing around the room as someone flags him down. Kai gets to his feet, moving gracefully over to Tao, an easy smile on his handsome face.   'Tao! Why don't we eat lunch together today? Sehun never stops talking about you and I figured maybe you and I should get to know each other better.'   Tao grins and nods, pulling his grey scarf tighter around his neck and following Kai to a table set against a window, grey-blue light streaming across the shining wood surface. Tao takes a seat, running a hand through his hair as Kai smiles, leaning forward across the table, his chin in his hand,   'So, word on the street is you were quite the playboy back in China. Huang Zitao, son of a famous businessman and award-winning actress. The one with the clothes, the girls, the cars, that everyone else wants. So my question to you is simple, if you could have anything you wanted, anyone you wanted, why here? Why Kris? Why all of us?'   Tao laughs softly, looking almost amused as he glances out the window, perfectly motionless as he watches the snow. Kai sighs in defeat after a few minutes, Tao's deadly soft voice surprising him.   "They told you that, did they? Whoever said these things, they were wrong."   Kai smirks, his beautiful dark eyes filled with amusement,   ''They' would be your ex-girlfriend, Krystal. She goes here, you know. I ran into her the other day and after mentioning your name, she seemed quite interested. Though I'm sure she's not the only girl who wants a second chance with you, sounds like you got around.'   Tao's eyes widen a fraction as he turns his attention to Kai,   "Krystal? I haven't thought about her in ages..."   He blushes a light delicate shade of crimson, looking back up at Kai,   "You're one to talk. You should hear the things people say about you."   Kai bursts out laughing, his shoulders shaking as he ruffles Tao's hair with one hand,   'I knew I liked you-'   Tao cuts him off, his voice a bit more serious now,   "But the part about me being rich is right, and in answer to your questions: here because I wanted to get away, Kris becau