Chapter One

            Mark knew that this was probably the last straw for his parents, after all he had never gotten in this much trouble before, but what was he supposed to do. After he saw Youngjae crying like that in the bathroom like that he knew he couldn’t let Yugyeom get away with hurting his best friend any longer.  This was supposed to be a fun end of the school year party, they were finally seniors now. Mark had never liked the way Yugyeom had treated Youngjae but he looked so happy and if anyone deserved happiness it was his best friend, but to hear Youngjae crying because Yugyeom had pushed him away for not wanting to hookup in the vomit ridden bathroom of a strangers home, that was the last straw.

            Mark had marched right through the crowd of drunken teenagers straight to Yugyeom who was playing beer pong. Mark barely got out a “hey,” before smashing his fist into the slightly taller males face, knocking him into the wall before climbing over him to land another solid punch to his face. It didn’t take long for the younger boy to fight back though, kneeing Mark in the stomach, rolling them both into the table that was next to them, beer flying everywhere. Some people were screaming while others were drunkenly cheering the fighters on.

            “What is your problem Tuan?” Yugyeom said, “Not that I care though; I’ve been waiting to fight your all year.”

            “You are my problem,” Mark snarled glaring at the younger boy. “Youngjae is too good for your .”

            “Youngjae, of course that’s what this is about. Well you know what Mark you can have him, he wouldn’t put out anyway. Such a tease that boy.” Yugyeom replied, earning a few laughs from the audience.

            What was the last laugh Mark wanted to hear coming from Yugyeom, launching forward he tackled the boy into the wall. They were both a bloody mess of punching and kicking. Mark was sure nothing was broken, but Yugyeom had landed a nice punch under his left eye that was sure to be bruised, and his ribs were quite sore. While fighting a boy the size of Yugyeom wasn’t one of Marks best ideas he could hold his own, that was until the police showed up to shut down the party. By the end of the night Mark was a mess of bruises and was in the back of a police car to top it off, the end of junior year sure was great.

Just Breathe

            “Mark are you okay!” Mrs.Tuan said upon arrival at the police station. After being brought to see his parents Mark held his head down, wanting to do nothing more than hide from his parents gaze.

            “Mark what happened to your face, I get a call at four in the morning saying that you were at the police station?”

            “I’m sorry…” Mark said, not knowing what to tell his parents. Getting through Junior year had been hard for Mark and he was no stranger to fights, but this was the first one that caused him to get arrested.

            “Mark your mother and I have had enough of this behavior from you, we thought we were doing the right thing by trying to be understanding but this has got to stop, all the fighting has got to stop, do you understand me?”

            Not wanting to argue Mark just nodded his head, that was until he heard what his father said next.

            “I called Jaebum, and we’ve been talking about you going to visit him. I think the summer is the perfect time for you to learn some discipline.”

            “Dad no, I can’t go live with Jaebum. I’ll do anything else but that Dad please.” Mark begged not wanting to see his Step brother. They had never gotten along and when he moved out Mark couldn’t have been happier. Jaebum was always the type to act nice in front of their parents punch Mark behind closed doors. Mark must say that he learned most of his fighting from JB as he called him.

            “We already discussed this and you will be going there. Starting tomorrow Jaebum is coming to pick you up so you better get packing.”

            “Wait I need time to say bye to Youngjae at least, please he’s my best friend.”

            “Well your best friend will see you after the summer. I hate being this strict Mark but you need to be taught a lesson and that is that.”

            To say the ride home after that was quiet was an understatement. When Mark got home he immediately went up to his room and texted Youngjae.

            “Please be awake, please be awake…”
            After a minute Marks phone flashed signaling a text message from Youngjae reading,

Youngjae Dongsaeng:  Mark-Hyung you’re alive, when the cops took you away I was so worried.

Mark-Hyung: Don’t be I’m alright but I have some really bad news…

Youngjae Dongsaeng: What is it, you shouldn’t have fought Yugyeom like that Mark, although I will admit I’m glad you did

Mark-Hyung: My parents are sending me to JB’s place for the summer, I leave tomorrow

Youngjae Dongsaeng: Meet up at the same place as usual?

            Smiling Mark Typed out a quick yea before sliding his window open and once again escaping into the dark. It was nearing sunrise when Mark finally made it to the local park, spotting Youngjae on the swing-set.

            “Hey…” Mark said sitting down next to his best friend.

            “Jeez, Mark your face looks like hell.” Youngjae said, laughing a bit.

            “Thanks I love it when you compliment me, keep em’ coming.” Mark said pressing his forefinger to his cheek before cringing at the pain.

            “If it makes you feel any better Yugyeom looks even worse than you do, his face looks like someone used his as a punching bag which I guess isn’t too far from the truth.”

            “Good he deserved it for treating you like that,” Mark said looking over at his friend who was slightly swinging his feet. “Youngjae, what am I gonna do without you this summer?” Mark asked seriously. It was always Youngjae and Mark against the world and a summer without his friend seemed, scary.

            “Aw you’ll be fine without me, maybe even tame some of those anger issues you have. Maybe staying with JB will be good for you.”
            “In what world will JB and I ever get along? I hate the guy, he always acted as if he was better than me.”

            “Come on Mark don’t look at it that way,” Youngjae said pushing his feet so he could grab onto one of Marks chains attached to his swing. “Promise me you’ll try to at least stay out of trouble, if you get into any more trouble who knows where your parents will send you. Call me selfish, but I kind of need you around ya know?” Youngjae said, a soft blush tinting his cheeks barely visible under the street lights.

            “How about we make a deal, I’ll try not to get into trouble if you stop dating s? Or at least people with a mean right-hook.”

            Smiling up at Mark Youngjae nodded his head and said ya before hooking his hand with Marks. While they sat like that and watched the sunrise Mark thought about what he had gotten himself into, but it was totally worth it to see Youngjae smiling again.

Just Breathe

            Crawling back into his room Mark nearly toppled over seeing JB sitting on his bed. Straitening his self-up, Mark glared at his step brother.

            “I hope whoever you went to see was worth it because you won’t be seeing them for a very long time.”

            Instead of saying anything Mark just continued to glare. He was glad he saw Youngjae when he did because it was only seven in the morning, when they meant he would leave today they meant early as well. Looking down at the suitcase next to JB’s foot Mark walked over and grabbed it. He tried to ignore the presence behind him as much as possible as he put this and that into the grey suitcase. Reaching over for the photo frame that held a picture of Youngjae and him at that same park he slid it between some clothes and turned around carrying his suitcase downstairs and out the front door. If his parents wanted him gone then they didn’t deserve a goodbye from him. Sliding into the backseat of the taxi cab that was prepared for them Mark put in his headphones and tried to ignore the person that soon slide in after him. This was going to be a very long ride.

Just Breathe

            When they pulled up to a house Mark was surprised, the last time Mark had been at JB’s place of residence it was an old apartment, and this was defiantly an upscale from the old place. Following JB inside the house it was everything Mark expected it to be, dull and lifeless. While Marks home was full of family photos and warm colors JB’s house was simple, almost everything in shades of black, white, and grey.

            “Your room is the one furthest down the hall, next to the bathroom.” JB said doing down a narrow hallway. Mark lifted up his bags, snatching a bag from JB’s hand and dragging his things the rest of the way down the hall. The last thing he wanted was JB’s help. All he had to do was survive the summer so when he opened the door to his “new room,” he was surprised to see that the walls were painted a nice shade of blue which was Marks favorite color. Dropping his bags to the ground Mark laid down on the bed.

            “This is going to …” Mark said, closing his eyes.

            “You can say that again,” An unfamiliar voice said, scaring Mark.

            Sitting up he surveyed his room, there wasn’t anyone there and Mark was sure that JB lived alone with his only companion, Nora who was a cat. Getting up to start putting his things away to occupy his time Mark went to try to open the closet door, but it seemed to be jammed. He tried again but all he managed to do was shake the door. It didn’t have a key hole to open it which Mark found strange seeing as it wouldn’t open no matter what he did.

            Not wanting to bother with it anymore Mark went and just stuffed as much as he could into the dressers in the room. Mark placed his photo of Youngjae and him on the nightstand next to his bed and turned to grab another piece of clothing but when he turned about around the photo frame was knocked down. Setting it back upright Mark continued to put his things away until he heard the frame once again topple over.

            “Ugh stop that,” Mark said out load but what he wasn’t expecting was an answer in return.

            “Make me,” That unknown voice from before whispered into Marks ear.

            Rushing from his room down the hall Mark nearly knocked into JB who steadied Mark.

            “What’s wrong with you?” JB said, a bored expression on his face.

            “My room, uh the closet door won’t open.” Mark said trying to come up with a logical excuse to get JB to look into his room.

            “The closet door…?” Walking down the hall JB reached for Marks close door and turned the knob easily. It unlocked with a soft click displaying a plain empty closet, nothing blocking it from being opened and closed.

            “It opens fine for me, Mark I don’t appreciate you acting out so early, it’s only day one.” JB said, disappointment evident in his tone.

            “I wasn’t playing around! I heard something and then the door wouldn’t open.” Mark said glaring at his brother. Just because he got into a couple of fights at school didn’t mean he was an overall trouble maker. Mark didn’t do drugs or anything bad like that but he brother was treating him as if he was some sort of waste of space.

            “You heard something, it’s only you, Nora, and me. How hard did that boy hit you in the head, do you have a concussion?”

            “No I don’t have a concussion,” Mark grit out balling his fists up at his sides. “Thanks for the help with the closet.” Mark said before walking back to the bed to sit down. Mark watched JB reach over to his knocked over photo frame and picked the photo up.

            “Who’s this?” JB asked simply before putting the photo down.

            “Youngjae, the best friend you stole me away from.”

            “Come on now Mark you brought this upon yourself, all of this bad behavior is really unbecoming. You’re a senior now and you need to act like it.”

            “Oh yea because you’re mister perfect,” Mark muttered. “Look I’m not going to cause any trouble. I’ll stay for the summer and then I’m gone as planned.”

            Sighing, JB left Mark alone knowing that he couldn’t get through to him today. When Mark saw JB leave he laid back down and stared at the ceiling, “Just one summer huh?” He said to himself. As Mark stared up at the plain ceiling he was unaware of the eyes staring out at him from the cracked closet door.

            “One summer…” The voice said.