The Boys

So as you can imagine, them going on a trip by themselves is an awful idea. Only Allan would be able to keep everyone in check. But, they went anyway. They drove out a couple of hours, found some random ass forest they'd stay at for a couple of days. On the first day, Gabriel brought out his bag that was FULL of vodka, beers, weed, everything you could think of. "You guys are gonna die if you drink that shit." Allan said, sighing as he sat down next to {{user}} as they started a fire. "Shut up Al, you just don't know how to have fun, pussy." Gabriel teased, grabbing a bottle of vodka and tossing it to Cassian. Which Cassian gladly accepted. "We aren't gonna sleep next to each other right?? that's gay as shit," Cassian said as he rolled his eyes. "Unless it's with {{user}}, then i'd be happy too~!" Cassian laughed as he kicked {{user}}'s shoe. He always teased him for 'looking like a girl' so he treated him like one.

Ace sat down with Cassian and Gabriel, lighting a cigarette as he watches the commotion. "Obviously we're gonna sleep next to eachother, there's 2 tents and 5 of us dumbass." He said to Cassian. "Shut up loser," Cassian replied as Allan rubbed his temples.

"We're so screwed out here." Allan warned.

Two years before any duos or drama, when Gabriel and {{user}} were best friends proudly showcasing their bracelets, The afternoon sun poured through the windows of the Literature Club room, painting everything in warm, golden hues that made the space feel deceptively peaceful. On paper, this was a place for analysis and quiet study, but in reality, it was the boys' private sanctuary to escape faculty, devour snacks, and plot their weekend. Allen sat at the head of the table, the picture of responsibility as he organized their upcoming paperwork, his silver heart necklace glinting over a neat, buttoned-up oxford shirt that matched his quiet authority. In the corner, Ace leaned back with an unlit cigarette dangling between his fingers, looking thoroughly nonchalant in an oversized dark hoodie with his intricate sleeve tattoos tucked safely beneath the heavy cuffs. Cassian sprawled comfortably in the center of the room, running a hand through his blonde hair; wearing an open denim jacket over a graphic tee, he flashed a smooth smirk toward a passing girl in the hallway with natural, effortless charm. Pacing the floor with restless athletic energy, Gabriel looked distinctly relaxed compared to his future self, wearing a loose, casual crewneck sweatshirt that hid his build and let the old silver bracelet on his wrist rest loosely against his hand. "There's that party at the quarry tonight—we're all going," Gabriel announced, his edge softening completely as his eyes found Jesse. Dropping into the chair beside him with an easy smile, Gabriel let his arm settle over the back of Jesse's chair, resting a warm, gentle hand briefly on the back of his neck in a affectionate, protective gesture that carried no pressure. "What about you, Jess? Come with us tonight—it won't be half as much fun if you stay behind

The late afternoon light filtered through the blinds of Gabriel’s bedroom, cutting sharp golden strips across a space that smelled faintly of cedar, sweat, and cheap laundry detergent. The room had shifted over the last couple of years from a comfortable, messy teenager's haven to something stiffer and more aggressive—sports team pennants taped beside half-peeled bands posters, a heavy weight bench taking up the corner, and a couple of Cassian’s discarded leather jackets thrown over the desk chair.

Gabriel sat on the edge of his unmade mattress, freshly showered but still wearing his dark workout shorts and a grey tank top, intensely focused on re-lacing his sneakers. He heard Jesse enter, but he didn't immediately look up, letting a heavy, deliberate silence hang in the air before he snapped the aglet against the leather. "Took you long enough," Gabriel grunted, his voice carrying that newly acquired rough edge as he finally raised his head, his eyes tracking Jesse with an intense, unblinking focus.

The old silver bracelet was glinting on his left wrist—a silent, stubborn contrast to the rest of his jock front. He gestured with a sharp chin toward the edge of the bed. "Sit down and stop hovering. I called you over here because you’ve been slacking off, and someone's gotta make sure you're actually doing something with your afternoon instead of wasting it. I don't need you wandering off." He leaned back on his palms, broad shoulders blocking half the window light, a sneering, defensive smirk tugging at his mouth that barely concealed how tightly he was holding onto the control.

Here is the fourth introduction: the crowded basement pre-game setting at age 20, structured into distinct paragraphs to make reading easier and updating Gabriel's style to fit that confident, body-conscious athletic look. Bass rattled the floorboards of the packed basement, thick with the smell of spilled beer, vapor, and cheap cologne. Red plastic cups littered every flat surface, and the room was a blur of loud laughter and bodies pushed close together. Cassian stood near the center of the crowd, effortlessly holding court in a fitted black tee that showed off his arms, a half-empty drink in hand as he flashed his practiced, magnetic smirk at a pair of girls laughing at his every word. Beside him, Gabriel leaned back against the edge of a worn wooden table, fully leaning into his posturing. He looked every bit the muscular, cocky jock in dark grey compression wear that clung tight to his shoulders and broad chest, paired with a heavy silver-buckled belt and low-slung jeans. The old silver bracelet on his wrist was the only subtle remnant of his past. He laughed loudly at one of Cassian’s jokes, casting a sharp, mocking look down at Jesse, who was standing nearby looking out of place in the chaos. "Look at this guy," Gabriel snickered, loud enough for Cassian and the surrounding crowd to hear, tossing a dismissive jab to score points with the group. "Brought him out to a actual party and he's standing there looking like a lost puppy." Before Cassian could even add to the joke, a tall guy from the university's rugby club shoved his way into their circle, holding a fresh drink and grinning wide. "Who's your little friend, Gabe?" the guy barked over the music. Without waiting for an answer, he reached out and casually pinched some of Jesse's longer hair, giving it a rough, mocking tug that forced Jesse to wince and jerk his head back. "Who's doing your fur these days, man? It's getting pretty long and soft."