**VIC’S POV**

“Where’s my phone?” he asked, not looking at me, but everywhere else.
“How should I know,” I mumbled coldly. I know I was being harsh, but so was he.
“Well, would you help me please?” he asked annoyed. I sighed dramatically. I turned myself to get off the bunk when my ribs cracked. A few had broken when Kellin threw me over the desk and when Jaime had thrown me over his shoulder.
“Ow, fuck!” I yelped, bending over in pain. I fell to my knees, wrapping my arms around myself. Jaime surprisingly rushed to my side, trying to help me up and support me. I just looked at him, a hand around my stomach. His eyes met mine and his face went from sympathetic to cold again. It bothered me to no end that I couldn’t get inside his head. Why is he being so distant?
The arm that was draped around his shoulder was now shaken off as I was to my feet again. He gave me a cold shoulder as he spotted his phone in his bunk. Jaime turned his back and headed towards the bus door, looking down at it.
“Wait!” I cried out, but he had already shut the door. How am I going to get back in my bunk? The lowest bed was Jaime’s and Tony’s. I know Tony wouldn’t mind my presence in his bed, but Jaime’s was more inviting. And maybe I could piss him off I he found me in it. Yeah, why not.
I climbed in his bed to discover the sweet smell coming from his pillow. I buried my face in it, taking in his aroma of axe and conditioner. I missed that smell. So much. Maybe I should text him, I thought. This stupid disagreement is ridiculous.
I took out my phone again as I hugged Jaime’s sweet pillow. I scrolled through my inbox, searching for “Hime-Time!”. We didn’t text much because we were always together, so there was no need. Finally I found his-…huh? It says I sent him a message a few weeks back. It read:

Don’t bother coming near me. We’re over. I can’t deal with you anymore. Your presence sickens me.

Surely, I didn’t send that. This would explain why he’s been ignoring me. My heart started to race as I got excited at the possibility to get Jaime back. My Jaime back.
Jaime, come back to the bus. We need to talk.
Why should I?
You already broke my heart once.
Please. It is an emergency.
Whatever.

I hope that means he’s coming. I climbed out of his bed taking one more whiff of his pillow, in case that was the last time I’d smell him if this plan back fired. I gimped over to the bathroom as fast as my ribs would take me and made sure I looked okay. And with that, I felt the van’s weight shift as someone stepped in.
“What do you want, Vic? I’m a busy man,” I heard him call out so wherever I was in the bus I could hear. I heard the door shut behind him and by the sudden jerk of the RV, I’m guessing he flopped on the couch. I put on my best serious face in the mirror to prep myself for the talk awaiting me.
I left the bathroom and sat across from him at the dining booth.
“Have you been ignoring me because of the text I sent you when I was in the hospital?” He immediately looked away and shifting uncomfortably, trying to hide his ashamed face.
“I know when I’m not wanted.” He mumbled sadly under his breath.
“I didn’t send that text,” I exclaimed, almost excitedly.
“No?” he sat up, surprised. The younger boys eyes widened and a small smile of relief started to spread across his dimpled face.
“I would never, Jaime! Why wouldn’t I want my savior in my life after doing what you did?” I explained in a low, needy voice. “But I don’t know who did.” I was interrupted when Jaime quickly sat up, hovered over me and crashed his lips with mine, holding my face. Oh my god. Words couldn’t explain how much I yearned for his touch. I haven’t been touched in weeks. He never left my mind. Butterflies filled my stomach like they always had when Jaime does this to me.
He pulled apart, grinning ear from ear. I couldn’t help but smile back. He looked happy and, well, at peace. He took a seat in the seat across from me.
“Well, then who did?”
“I don’t know, but I sure didn’t.”
“If you didn’t send it, why have you been ignoring me?” he asked, his smile turned into an offended frown.
“Because you were ignoring me!” I practically flailed my arms trying to get my reasoning across.
“Well, only because of that text. I assumed you needed space after the thing,” he paused awkwardly, looking down at the empty table. Chills shook me. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you in the hospital. I wanted to be there, but I didn’t wanna disturb your healing.”
“Oh Jaime,” I sighed. I cautiously got up and sat in his lap, wrapping a bruised wrist around his neck. “Baby, I need you more than ever…” I looked deep into his eyes before breaking down as the flashbacks came back. These had been reoccurring for weeks and tore me to pieces. I buried my face in his neck before tears flooded my eyes and I sobbed into his shirt. He rubbed my back in return. I noticed his breaths became shorter. I looked up to see tears in his eyes as well. I couldn’t stand to see him like this.
“Jaime,” I whispered. “Be my boyfriend.”
He just snapped. He started sobbing too. Was it something I said? He laced his fingers with mine, and put the other hand on my hip. He smiled through his once troubled face.
“You’ve just made me so happy.” He whimpered, kissing my nose softly. I tightly wrapped my arms around him and he did the same, leaving no space between us. We held each other in silence, Jaime still recovering from his small sobs of happiness. When we pulled apart, his tear strained cheeks now showed his famous dimples as he was smiling ear to ear. I couldn’t help but catch his contagious grin and pecked his lips slowly. Finally. I was at peace. And I had the most amazing boyfriend ever.

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**JAIME’S POV**

“So,” I broke the silence, wiping tears from my face. “I’m gonna find out who did have your phone. And when I do,” I set the small boy aside as I stood up, determined. “I’ll kill him.”
“You can’t go around killing people, dear,” Vic warned as he tried to stand up, hunched over. He winced at his condition, and sat back down in the booth. I tore me apart to see him like this. I absolutely killed me knowing I couldn’t help him, thinking he didn’t want me around. Whenever I saw someone helping him or asking if he was okay, I had to resist the urge to go save him myself. But he wants me here now, and that’s all that matters. I’m glad Victor wants me in his life. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without him. But I want to make this work between us. I don’t want to this about things not working, because I know they will. I make sure of it.
I rushed to his side and offered my shoulders as a crutch. “Wanna watch a movie?” I asked, thinking of anything to get him to rest.
“Sure,” he winced again, trying to take a step. I helped him to the couch. I laid down first and then scoot back so my back was against the back of the couch so I could cuddle him. Vic’s back was pressed against my chest and I rested my head on top of his. We ended up stumbling across the Evil Dead, so we watched that. After the movie got a little boring, I pointed my attention to the Mexican in front of me. His chocolate eyes were peaceful and his face was at rest.
“Vic, I can’t help but ask,” I started. “What did Kellin do to you, exactly?” I hesitated mid-sentence, but my curiosity pushed me on. I instantly watched his face transform from peaceful to troubled. “Nevermind, that was stupid. You don’t have to answer-“
“He experimented,” he said softly. “He touched, he grabbed, he hit, he spanked, he choked, he did everything.” Vic’s voice became shaky.
“Shhh,” I shushed him as I saw panic in his eyes. They widened and he froze. I paused. What is he doing? I snapped my fingers. He shook his head, seeming to snap out of a vision or something. Vic stared at me with pain filled eyes. “No no, please don’t cry Vic,” I helped him turn over so he could hug me. “I’m sorry I asked love, I’m sorry I asked.” I ran my fingers through his hair before he lightly dozed off. Thank god.