A/N: I posted Chapter 3 so quickly I missed a lot of grammatical errors, I tried to proof read better this time. I’m surprised no reviewers mentioned them. All constructive criticism welcomed.

Chapter 4: Rupture

The next morning Spinner stared down at Johnny with a goofy smile on his face. “Wake up Johnny,” Spinner coaxed.

“What time is it?” Johnny groaned.

“It is nine o’clock and breakfast is made,” Spinner boasted.

“No way,” Johnny snorted.

“Uh, yes way,” Spinner vowed.

Johnny stretched lazily and opened his eyes slowly. He smelled something delicious down the hall. “I’ve made breakfast for myself for the last ten years, usually in the form of cereal,” Johnny confided.

“Don’t get use to this,” Spinner teased.

He hopped off the bed; Johnny trailed behind him to the kitchen.

“I thought we could go over to my friend’s place today,” Spinner offered as they ate.

“Whose place,” Johnny questioned, predicting Spinner’s answer.

“Paige, Marco, and Ellie’s place,” Spinner confirmed.

Johnny took a swig of orange juice. “That’s not one friend, that’s three I have to deal with.”

“So?” Spinner uttered incoherently, his mouth full.

“I don’t want people to know about us,” Johnny warned.

“Its not like we have matching “I’m with my boyfriend” t-shirts with arrows pointing at each other on them,” Spinner joked.

“People notice things Spin,” Johnny reasoned. “How could I tell there was something between us? You didn’t spell it out for me at first; it’s there Spin. If we hang around the same people they’ll notice eventually.”

“So what if they find out?” Spinner nagged. “They wouldn’t care about us Johnny; they won’t tell anybody, you can trust them.”

“I’m not going,” Johnny refused.

“Fine,” Spinner chomped down on a piece of toast, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.

Sometimes Johnny was so close to him physically, but emotionally he felt miles away. Spinner felt like he was yelling at the younger boy from a distance, trying to slowly convince him to take a few steps closer.

“Maybe we should take a break,” Spinner hinted.

“I don’t want a break,” Johnny pouted.

“You don’t want a lot of things Johnny, how are we suppose be together if you can’t make compromises, I’m willing to sacrifice my friends trust in me for you, I’ve been lying my ass off and you won’t even bend a little for me.” Spinner complained.

“I’m sorry,” Johnny blurted. “I guess I could go over, for a while.”

“Good,” Spinner jumped out of his chair and leaned over the table to give Johnny a peck on the cheek. “You won’t regret this, I swear.”

Paige and Marco were the only ones at the house that day. They hung out in the kitchen with Spinner and Johnny, playing random card games while they talked.

“My minds been in over load with classes this semester,” Marco whined, “Wait until next year boys, college is quite a ride.”

“Thanks for the encouragement,” Spinner grunted.

“College is lame,” Johnny commented. “Why spend all that time is high school, escape it finally, then turn around and pay for more years of torture?”

“I’m with Johnny,” Paige agreed. “College is overrated.”

“To each it’s own,” Marco sulked. He looked to Johnny. “What plans do you have for the future then?”

Johnny shrugged. “I’ll join the army like my old man for sure, easiest way to get out of the gutter, except I won’t leave; I want to make a career of it.”

“Ellie’s dad’s in the army,” Marco divulged.

“You never told me that,” Spinner interjected. Everyone glanced his way.

Johnny shrugged. “It never came up.”

Paige and Marco shared a look.

“Anyway,” Johnny continued, “I’ve talked with some recruiters and it sounds like a good deal. I’ll miss my hair though.”

Everyone chuckled at that. Johnny smiled.

“That went well,” Spinner broke in as they buckled up in his car.

“It did,” Johnny admitted. “They’re good people.”

“They’d have to be to put up with me,” Spinner reckoned.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing them again.” Johnny stated.

“You’re becoming quite the boyfriend,” Spinner gushed.

“Don’t get use to it,” Johnny griped. “Can you take me back to Tony’s?”

“I thought you were staying over this week?” Spinner moped.

“He’ll drop me off later, he got me a job interview,” Johnny explained.

“For who? If you need a job I can get you one,” Spinner acknowledged. “I know the hiring manager at The Dot.”

Johnny shook his head. “Nah, its cool Spin.”

“Hey, let me help you,” Spinner added. “I don’t mind.”

“Okay,” Johnny relented. “But I’m still going to see Tony’s guy.”

After dropping Johnny off at Tony’s Spinner realized Johnny didn’t answer him about who he was being interviewed by and he wondered if it was deliberate.

A week later Spinner waited for Johnny after school in the parking lot, like he had many times before, however Johnny never appeared. He drove his car around and saw one of the thugs Johnny was friends with, Lucas, walking with Jane. He beeped his car horn at them. “Need a ride?”

“What’s with the good Samaritan act?” Jane asked as they drove to her house. Lucas, to Spinner’s relief, didn’t take his offer.

“I’m feeling generous?”

“You’re a bad liar,” Jane observed with a smile. “If you’re looking for Johnny-“

“What makes you think I’m-“

“Come on dude,” Jane giggled. “I’m not stupid; I know something’s going on with you two.”

“I’m not supposed to talk about it,” he told her.

Jane rolled her eyes, “Whatever. My brother mentioned Bruce and Tony helping Johnny move the rest of his stuff to Tony’s place today. I guess his mom’s going to live with his aunt.”

“His mom left his dad?” Spinner gasped.

“Not a shocker,” Jane cackled. “Everyone knew all the mysterious bruises him and his mom had were attributed to daddy’s fist.”

Later that night Spinner’s phone rang and even though he’d been pining to hear from Johnny he didn’t feel like answering the call.

“What do you want?” Spinner answered.

“Hi to you too.”

“Where were you today?” Spinner snapped.

“Don’t be mad,” Johnny begged. “A lot happened today.”

“You could have called,” Spinner barked.

“I have a lot going on right now Spinner,” Johnny grumbled. “I’m sorry if I hurt you, but I didn’t even think of you until a few hours ago. Meeting you completely slipped my mind.”

“What happened that was so monumental?” Spinner asked, already knowing part of the story, hoping Johnny wouldn’t with hold any information from him.

“My mom left my dad, she’s staying with my aunt,” Johnny explained rush. “I had to get my stuff out of my house while I still could.”

“Where are you now?”

“Tony’s.”

“You aren’t with your mom? I can’t believe your aunt didn’t take you in.”

“Spinner, she offered, I didn’t want to go. Far as I’m concerned her and my dad can go to hell.”

“What?” Spinner wheezed.

“You heard me,” Johnny’s tone was tense.

“I was hoping I misheard you,” Spinner shook his head. “Your mom finally got the guts to leave the assholes-“

“-Ten years too late-“

“-And your bailing on her?”

“She bailed on me,” Johnny corrected.

“She did her best in a bad situation,” Spinner argued.

“No,” Johnny denied. “How would you know? You don’t even know her! Whose side are you on?”

“You need your mom Johnny, she needs you. Don’t hold a grudge against her for things your father did.”

“She had a choice Spinner, didn’t she?”

“Well yeah, but-“

“Did I have a choice-“

“Not really but-“

“So drop it okay? I have every right to hate her, both of them, so just drop it.”

“Fine!”

He heard Johnny disconnect their conversation and he felt a chill go through him. In that moment while the beautiful, angry blonde had been making him so mad he couldn’t see straight, he realized just how much he cared for Johnny.

The next day Spinner saw Johnny at school in the library and approached him.

“I’m sorry about what I said,” He apologized immediately. “I don’t know what went on with your parents. I promise to stay out of it unless you want to include me.”

“Sometimes you sound like such a grown up,” Johnny choked. He looked more vulnerable than ever.

In that moment Spinner wanted nothing more than to take Johnny in his arms.

“I got you the job at The Dot; you start tomorrow morning, if you want it.” Spinner revealed.

“You did that for me? Even after-“

“I’m sorry, let’s just forget it,” Spinner pleaded again. “I’ll never push you again.”

Johnny nodded. “Tonight, why don’t you come over to Tony’s, I want you to meet some of the guys.”

Spinner smirked. “Really?”

“Yeah, it’ll be a party setting so you don’t have to get too personal. Just dress casual, drink some beer, and try not to bring up any Lakehurst/Degrassi feuds.” Johnny detailed. “If you come over early, say a few hours after school, the room I share will be empty for the two of us and we can have some pre-party fun.”

The large, slightly run down house was more modern and clean cut than it appeared from the outside. Johnny gave Spinner a tour that included a huge basement (which was being prepared for party goers), a large kitchen, a living room, a family room, four other rooms down stairs, a master bedroom and second bathroom upstairs, and an attic that was converted into a room with a bathroom.

“A lot of shady stuff goes on up there,” Johnny told Spinner, indicating the attic. “I try to just chill in my room or the kitchen mostly, keeps me out of trouble.”

They went back to the master bedroom that Johnny shared with three other guys; each had a tiny bed on opposite ends of the room. The room was fairly neat and normal looking except for the gang writing spray painted on every inch of the walls.

Johnny locked the door and took Spinner’s hand. “I see you eyeing the walls.”

“They’re interesting,” Spinner tried.

“Not as interesting as having you and me on that bed over there, alone,” Johnny proclaimed, tugging on Spinner.

Spinner allowed his dark thoughts about Johnny’s friends to be hushed by the blonde’s warm lips. His mind went into distraction mode, temporarily forgetting all the questions and worries he had circulating around Johnny and their relationship.

Johnny took the lead this time, pushing Spinner onto the bed and jumping atop him. He took Spinner’s face in his hands and crushed their lips together. As they kissed he went for Spinner’s belt, unfastened it and shoved his hand into the older boy’s pants.

“Johnny,” Spinner moaned.

Johnny felt Spinner teasingly through his underwear, and then he pulled Spinner’s shirt up and planted his hot mouth on Spinner’s belly. Before Spinner knew what was happening his pants and underwear were around his ankles and Johnny was taking the tip of Spinner’s member into his mouth.

Spinner groped at the blankets, trying not to grab onto Johnny’s head. Johnny’s hair tickled and blanketed his thighs and belly as the blonde explored Spinner with his tongue. Spinner began panting and a warm tingle spread inside him, starting in his toes and moving upward to his heart.

Johnny marveled at how flushed and jittery Spinner became as he preformed the simple act, eventually he nearly engulfed Spinner’s entire member in his mouth.

“Johnny, I’m going to, I’m going to, I’m going to,” Spinner chanted.

Johnny released Spinner’s member from the heat of his mouth and began slowly massaging it. He heard Spinner hiss at the contact before climaxing.

“Wow,” Spinner inhaled and exhaled slowly.

Johnny looked up at him in awe, continuing to stroke Spinner leisurely until the pale fluid stopped oozing from his body. “You shot a gigantic load.”

“You have a colorful, romantic vocabulary,” Spinner mocked. “And damn, you have an amazing mouth.”

Johnny blushed. “I’m glad you liked it, I’ve never done it before.”

“Never?” Spinner was in disbelief.

Johnny nodded. “I wanted to make you feel good so badly, like how you make me feel, I thought it’d be appropriate. Good to know I’m a natural.”

Johnny crawled up the bed and grabbed tissues from the tissue box on the night stand. “Here Spin, clean yourself up and pull your pants up.”

The satisfied Spinner dutifully did as he was told. “What about you? I’ve never, you know, either. Well not to a guy. Maybe I’m a natural too.”

“Maybe after the party,” Johnny considered.

The party was insane, huge crowds of people were taking up every inch of the house within an hour of it starting. People flowed frequently into the basement, where Johnny and Spinner were relaxing, to get more drinks.

Spinner and Johnny chatted with a few of Johnny’s Lakehurst buddies and Johnny introduced Spinner to several people who passed and greeted him. Spinner had no idea Johnny knew and liked so many people, he wondered how he’d been socially in school before J.T. was stabbed and Lakehurst was burnt down.

“Here’s the guy I’ve been waiting for you to meet,” Johnny announced as an incredibly muscled man came there way and towered over both of them. He had tattoos and scars on his face and looked like he’d stepped out of a prison movie.

“Spinner this is Tony, Tony this is Spinner,” Johnny acquainted them.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Tony spoke loudly over the music playing on the floor above them, “heard you’re getting my Johnny some punk job.”

Spinner shrugged. “Uh, he said he needed work.”

“He doesn’t,” Tony correct Spinner; “he makes plenty with me.”

“With you,” Spinner shot Johnny a puzzled look.

Johnny’s eyes widened. “It’s nothing. Tony.”

“What?” Tony challenged. “Don’t you be ashamed of what we do, we survive, if your friend can’t handle it get a new one.”

Tony stalked off, hollering at a girl that was going up the basement stairs.

Spinner was already making his way towards the stairs as well.

“Wait!” Johnny yelled.

He followed a stomping Spinner to his car.

“Don’t go Spin,” Johnny groveled. “I-I didn’t want to tell because I thought you’d be worried.”

“Worried about what?” Spinner turned to face him, his voice booming. “What are you doing with that guy?”

“It’s nothing big,” Johnny swore, “I just move some products for him-“

“Drugs right?”

“Keep your voice down,” Johnny shushed.

“Are you even going to take that job at The Dot?” Spinner asked.

“I don’t know,” Johnny confessed.

“When were you going to tell me?”

“I don’t know.”

“Wanna know what I know?” Spinner growled, “I know this is never going to work.”

Johnny looked like he was close to tears. “Spin.”

“I have to go.”

The next day a miserable Spinner dragged himself out of bed early to inform The Dot’s training manager that Johnny DiMarco could be removed from the schedule.

On the way to The Dot the previous night played over and over again in his head, refusing to stop. He kept wondering where he went wrong with Johnny, how he’d been so stupid. Maybe Johnny was more messed up than Spinner wanted to believe.

Upon entering The Dot he froze. There Johnny was, dressed in a Dot t-shirt, talking with the training manager.

“Hey, can I have a minute with your latest trainee?” Spinner asked the manager, giving her his puppy dog eyes.

“One minute,” she allowed.

They stepped out back, Johnny looking as nervous as Spinner felt.

“I can’t believe you took the job,” Spinner admitted.

“I can’t believe I almost didn’t take the job,” Johnny countered. “Like I said before, you’ve been so good to me. I couldn’t blow this over someone who pretends to be my friend so I can peddle drugs for him.”

Spinner gave him a shocked look.

“Of course I knew what he was all about Spin, I’ve know from day one, but staying with Tony seemed better than being at my dads or even at my aunt’s.” Johnny confided. “I changed my mind though; my mom’s willing for me to stay with her at my aunt’s, my uncle’s going to help me move my stuff.”

“That’s awesome man,” Spinner congratulated, “Hopefully you guys can work things out.”

Johnny bit his lip. “Yeah… she wants me to go on some retreat for troubled youth. Thinks it’ll help un-harden me. She-she doesn’t want me to end up like my dad.”

“I think you should go,” Spinner approved.

“I might.”

“Listen, I’ve made a lot of mistakes Johnny, mistakes that are just as bad if not worse than the ones you’ve made,” Spinner stared intently into Johnny’s eyes. “I want to be with you and to help you deal with the consequences of those actions, because I’ve been there. If us being an “us” is too much then we can just be friends-“

“I don’t want to be your friend,” Johnny cut him off. He took Spinner’s hands in his. “I just feel like I’m such a screw up, I’ve always been—and I know I’m going to mess this up again.”

Spinner smiled. “Yeah, I know how it feels to be that guy. You have to be willing to want to change and to try and let others in. Only then can you truly stop being that mess, no one can do it for you. Part of me wants to so badly, but now I realize I can’t.”

“I’ll try Spin. I’ll try.”

Johnny leaned into Spinner and gave him the sweetest kiss; it made Spinner’s heart ache. “Okay.”

-The End-

A/N: This story took a different direction than I first intended, the main characters friends were suppose to discover their relationship, this will not occur until the sequel.

Sequel: The Bond that Breaks Us

Teaser: Later on in Johnny and Spinner’s increasingly close relationship Spinner discovers Johnny has a temper that greatly rivals his own. Will Johnny be able to face the anger inside him that so strikingly resembles his fathers or will Spinner have to give up the love of his life?