Title: The morning after
Fandom: The Faculty
Characters: Casey Connor / Zeke Tyler
Rating: PG13
Words: 673
Written for Challenge 255: Amnesty and Extra Challenge Bingo: Suitcase


Zeke stepped out of the bedroom, still not fully awake. He had been surprised that Casey hadn't been lying beside him anymore. Usually they loved to sleep in at the weekends and then to start with a round of good-morning-sex, or maybe two.

But probably this was asked for too much, after the fight they had had during the night. Zeke knew well enough that he had been the one who had overreacted when he had called Casey a self-absorbed drama queen and worse. It hadn't been fair; he had always known that Casey wanted a serious relationship without ifs and buts and that the family was an essential part of his life. Not a surprise that he finally wanted to come out with the truth. They were already living together for over six months. Casey tried to convince him, that his parents were okay and would accept his decision to spend his life with another guy.

But when he had asked him to come back home to Herrington with him for his mother's birthday, all Zeke had felt was panic. He wasn't ready for this step yet, and to be honest, he wasn't sure if he would ever be. His relationship with Casey lasted for longer than any other before but was he really made for it to deal with a whole family? He had never had one, had lived on his own since he could remember. Even to move together with Casey had been a big step for him.

When he stepped into the living room, he almost fell over a big suitcase on the floor. Filled with several clothes, books and some of Casey's favorite CD's. The boy was standing in front of his desk, searching around in a drawer.

Suddenly Zeke's heart was up top his mouth. „Hey,“ he croaked. „Guess I should apologize for acting like an idiot last night.“

Casey turned around, looking tired. Not a hint of a smile on his lips. „Didn't mean to disturb you. Go back to sleep.“

„What's that?“ Zeke pointed at the suitcase. „Do you finally decided to get ridge of your geeky stuff?“

Casey breathed in deeply. „Don't play dumb, Zeke. I will go home for a while.“

„Your mom's birthday is only next month.“

„I guess she won't mind when I come back a bit earlier. College will close for spring break soon so that I won't miss anything of importance. Maybe I could even visit some guest courses at the city college in Akron. They offer some interesting photo courses.“

Zeke noticed some tears sparkling in Casey's eyes, though he tried to fight them back and cringed inwardly. „Will you come back?“

Casey hesitated; finally, he shrugged. „I need some time to think about a lot. And I guess you should, too. Do you really love me? Do you actually want me to come back? After all you said last night I am not so sure anymore if there is still a future for us.“

„Don't say that!“ Panic rushed through Zeke's body. „I promise, I can...“

„Not now, Zeke, okay?“ Casey threw some papers into the suitcase and closed the lid. „I need to go, or I will miss the bus.“

When he grabbed for his camera bag, Zeke had to close his eyes for a moment, feeling dizzy. „I don't want to lose you,“ he murmured.

Casey had already opened the door but turned around again. „Me neither,“ he said. „I love you, Zeke, but I also love my family, and at the moment I feel so torn apart that I sometimes can barely breathe.

If I mean anything for you, you need to give me the time to find out where all this will go to, or one day it will break me.

I will call you."

When the door fall shut, Zeke opened his eyes again. „I love you,“ he whispered; well knowing he had never had said these words to Casey, to anyone, before. „Please, come back.“