Greyfog Manor was the biggest property in the area, and that went both for the city and nearby Laketown which, as its name suggested, was next to one of the biggest, deepest lakes in the country. They were only thirty minutes apart but if you were driving from one to the other, you'd be forced to drive past Greyfog Manor, on the north tip of the lake.

However, ever since the construction of Starmall in the outskirts of the city, the distance between quiet, forested, cattle-herding life of the town and the urban, noisy, fast-paced life of the city was growing increasingly smaller. Especially considering that, at night, you could see Starmall's lights in the distance from Greyfog Manor.

In the last six months he'd visited his manor only once -since he lived at the city now- but every time he went he always stayed for at least a week, supervising the business, and every time, he brought his grandchildren along. That time, however, there was something different: his grandson had brought a friend along.

"Boyfriend," his wife corrected. "He's our grandson's boyfriend."

He looked at the backseat from the rearview mirror. There was his granddaughter on one end, his grandson in the middle who, while small for his age, looked significantly smaller next to the tall and muscular boy whose dark skin contrasted with a white shirt.

"Come on everyone," he said as he drove inside the manor's ground. "I want everyone to unpack quickly, it is almost lunch time." But none of the teenagers behind heard him, particularly his grandson's friend who, as soon as he saw the manor, let out the obligatory wow.

"Good morning, Mr. Grey," the housekeeper and gardener of the manor greeted him as soon as he got out of the car. Grey wasn't in the mood but he did some small talk; after all, the housekeeper and the gardener were the only ones who actually lived at the manor all year round.

"Excuse me," Grey left them and walked towards the teenagers who were still getting out of the car. "You all need to unpack fast if you want us to get lunch at the lake." Grey looked at his grandson's friend. "Sorry, young man, what was your name, again?"

The boy gave him an embarrassed grin. "Lilac," he mentioned. "Like purple."

"Lilac, right," Grey repeated, trying to memorize it. A faint scent of berries and oranges got to his nose. "Purple, like red and blue, okay, got it. My apologies if I forget it so often, it is just... a pretty unusual name."

"History of my life," Lilac replied. "It happens to me all the time, I don't know why my fathers named me like that. But don't worry, it's okay, Mr. Grey."

That caused his grandchildren to start laughing while covering their mouths, a failed attempt at being discreet. Lilac's expression turned into one of embarrassment and confusion.

"My grandpa's name isn't Grey," Blanca mentioned.

"But..." Lilac tried to say.

Orange interrupted him. "Yeah, everyone here and at Laketown calls him that. Mr. Grey, but that's not his real name. I mean, my great-grandfather came from Mexico, there's no way in hell he was called Grey."

Grey watched as his grandchildren laughed, clearly having fun. He took out one of the suitcases from the trunk and, seeing his wife was still talking to the housekeeper and gardener, he indulged the teen's curiosity.

"They call me Grey because of this manor: Greyfog Manor," he explained. "For a long time this was the home of the Greys, the richest family in both Laketown and the city. Those bastards always showed up everywhere with bells on. It was a very dramatic family, lots of infighting, gossip, and all kinds of champagne problems. In the end, the last Grey died without having children."

"Yeah, she gave grandpa the manor in her will," Blanca added.

Lilac looked at them in confusion. "So... everyone in Laketown just calls you Grey because you live here, sir?"

"That they do," that made him smile. "I am not sure they all know I am not really a Grey. When she left me the manor everyone was shocked but a long time has gone by since then and now I bet there are people out there who do think I am one of them as if my skin color was not enough to say otherwise. So, yeah, all their champagne problems are mine now."

"It's funny," his grandson intervened. "Grandpa is called Grey everytime we come here," he then turned to his sister. "We've called you Blanquita ever since you were little, and you are literally named Lilac. I'm the only one here who isn't a color!"

Lilac turned to him. "Well, babe, you may not have a color in your name but you always smell like fresh-cut oranges."

Grey closed his eyes and looked away as soon as he heard the word babe coming out of Lilac's mouth. He had never expected a boy to call his grandson babe. Grey had no problem with his grandson dating another boy -no doubt that was one of the reasons why Orange had even dared to invite Lilac in the first place- after all, queer people had always existed.

Grey remembered his wife had a friend who was into her. It was awkward because he found out when they were dating. Still, what was messing with his head was the fact that Lilac looked nothing like a gay boy. The boy was big, muscular, and not the smallest bit effeminate. Lilac clearly wasn't very smart, either, but in the short time he had known him, Grey could tell the kid had a good heart.

"And you also have that ugly orange sweater," Grey pointed out. "I do not know which dumpster you took it out of."

"Grandpa!" His grandson opened his mouth. "It's not ugly, I like it, besides, Lilac gave it to me today."

Blanca bursted into laughter, barely containing herself. Grey looked at his sides, he had been honest, too honest even. "Today? Is today an important day or...?"

"No, no, sir," Lilac intervened. "It is t just that he's always doing these big gestures so I thought that, for once, I should be the one being indiscreet."

"Big gestures? That does sound like him. Although believe me, my grandson is very useful when planning parties," he then pointed at the sweater. "Well, you now have a color, kid. We are like that board game... What was its name? Clue!"

"That's what I told you!" Lilac let out, looking at his grandson. "Let's just hope no one gets murdered."

***

Grey and his grandchildren smiled as Lilac was looking around in awe. The size of the manor was unbelievable, how big? Stupid big. Actually, in Grey's mind it was less of a manor and more of a hacienda, like the ones in Mexico.

The teenagers unpacked, running to their usual room while Mrs. Grey took Lilac to one of the empty ones. Grey, in the meantime, got everything ready for their picnic.

Lunch by the lake was almost like something out of a fairy tale. Orange juice, sandwiches, muffins, chips, and a large bowl of enchiladas Grey had made himself. Everyone loved them. Although his grandson -in another of his big displays of affection- made four enchiladas meant especially for his boyfriend. They didn't look so great but, according to Lilac, they were delicious.

As soon as the teens were done eating, they asked to go swim in the lake. Mrs. Grey had warned them about having to wait half an hour so they were just sitting by the shore, skipping stones, counting the minutes. In the meantime, Grey took out two chairs for him and his wife, overlooking the lake.

"This is beautiful," she mentioned. "There's just one thing missing."

"What is that, love?" Grey turned towards her and saw her sneak out a pair of wine glasses next to a bottle of a full red Dom Perignon. "When did you... Is that champagne? Are we celebrating something?"

"Every day we spend together is cause for celebration, my love," she replied, filling his glass. "But that aside, yeah. We are celebrating doing a great job raising those kids."

Grey turned towards his grandchildren and Lilac, skipping stones on the lake. "You think we did?"

"Well, of course!" His wife filled her glass. "Don't you see it, Mr. Grey?"

He closed his eyes in pain. "Mr. Grey? It has been years and you have never let that tease go ."

"And I never will," She gave him one of those looks. "Oh, don't look so grim, maybe it's time you realize being a Grey isn't such a bad thing."

"If you had been there for the crazy things that family did you would want nothing to do with them. We are no Greys," he said, taking a sip. "Although, I suppose taking champagne by the lake does make us look more like a snobbish Scrooge McDuck."

"Champagne problems?" Her wife raised her glass.

"Champagne problems," he agreed, raising his glass, making them clink. "Although, why did you say we did a good job raising those kids?"

She scolded him with her eyes. "Look at your grandson." Blanca and Lilac were by the lake, playing while Orange had water up to his knees, talking to himself, as always. "He brought his boyfriend here. He introduced us to him without a shadow of doubt. He even made those ill-looking enchiladas for him."

"He's always making a big deal out of everything."

"That's him, yeah, but do you know how rare that is for a boy to trust his family like that? Especially people of our age, his grandparents?"

Grey lowered his head. He hadn't thought about it like that before. "He really trusts us."

"He really does," his wife complemented.

Then, in the distance where the kids were, a phone alarm went off. The half hour had passed and the three of them jumped to their feet before starting to get ready to get into the lake. The afternoon sun shone brightly over the crystal waters of the lake, yet the sheer amount of trees around them and the lake, made plenty of shadow so as to not to feel the heat. It was a perfect autumn day.

"Besides, let's face it, that Lilac boy is a real catch, especially for our grandson."

Grey looked at his wife, shocked in his face. "Especially for our grandson? What is that supposed to mean?"

His wife tilted his head to the left, a knowledgeable look on her face.

"Okay, I admit that it's weird that our grandson talks to himself that much," Grey conceded. "And he's not the smartest, or fastest, or the most good looking guy out there, not even as hardworking or determined as Blanquita but he's good at putting on a show. He's also a good kid!"

"Oh, that's what boys these days want in a boyfriend, a good kid, sure," his wife pointed at the teens with her glass. "But I admit, that kid does know how to put on a show. But Lilac is... okay, just look at them!"

Grey turned towards the teens. Blanca had gone to the goods to put on her swimsuit but both his grandson and Lilac were getting changed in front of them, not an ounce of shame. Grey was used to seeing his grandson with little on and had never thought anything of it but when he saw Lilac...

"Oh," he gasped, suddenly understanding his wife.

Under his shirt, Lilac had the most amazingly firm, chiseled body. His dark skin was perfectly smooth in all places, his muscles were well defined and not an ounce of fat could be seen on his body. When the boy took off his jeans, and shoes, Grey could see his legs were toned too. In comparison, after his grandson took off that ugly orange sweater and stood there in his briefs, he could tell he was skinnier, smaller, and overall still possessed the body of a young boy.

"But looks are not everything," Grey argued, looking at his wife. "Else you might never have talked to me."

"Very true," she winked, standing up from her chair. "I'll go finish my painting, can you watch the kids, love?"

"I will," he replied before moving his chair closer to the water.

His wife's words had made themselves a nest in his mind. Watching his grandson and Lilac put on their swimsuits and play in the lake was a weird experience. For the most part, they looked like any other pair of boys playing in the water but every so often, one of them would give a sofly touch to the other, would say babe, or even plant a brief kiss on the other's mouth.

"Blanca," he called her when she saw her. Her granddaughter had her swim gear on and was ready to go to the lake. "I have a question. Well, your grandma and I do. See, we would like to know how..."

"How was my brother able to catch a boy as cute as Lilac?" She grinned. "Well, you know him, thick as a rock, always making a big fuss, indiscrete, obvious, doesn't know the meaning of the word discreet..."

"Blanca, do not talk about your brother like that."

"But I'm serious, he was everything but discreet! He made a banner, showed it in front of the school and asked him to Homecoming while singing You're too good to be true," she responded immediately, amused by his grandfather's blank stare. "It isn't the first time I've had to tell the story. But in case you are wondering, grandpa, I saw the whole thing and it was really sweet, really his style. It all happened after the first or second game of the season."

"Game?" Grey asked. "Football game?" Blanca nodded. "Oh, so I was there!"

"Yeah, you were waiting for us in the car when the whole show happened," Blanca replied. "Actually, I thought you might recognize Lilac, he is..."

"He is on the team!" Grey suddenly realized. "Yeah, he is that big guy, I remember him, he is a hell of a defenceman. So... wait, are you saying my grandson is some football star's boyfriend?"

Blanca let out a little giggle. "Yeah, pretty much."

Grey looked back at the boys, splashing and swimming around. An old memory of the lake came back to his head, like an old film running through a screening machine at the movies. The smell of the woods, the sound of running water. But then, another thought interrupted him.

"So," he started. "If that Lilac boy is a star on the football team, he must have lots of suitors following him..."

"Grandpa, just stop, please," Blanca leaned on. "I know what you've saying. Actually grandma has also suggested the same thing. So let me tell you: no. Lilac does have his fan club following him around but... I've seen him with my brother these last few weeks and, he's really into him. No longing stares at other guys, no inappropriate behavior, nothing. I actually think Lilac is a pretty cool guy."

Grey had to meditate it for a second. "He may be a cool guy and an awesome player but if he breaks my grandson's heart..."

"Grandpa!" Blanca cut him. "I honestly don't think Lilac would ever break his heart. If I had to bet, actually, I would say the opposite: it's true. My brother is more likely to break Lilac's heart than the other way around."

"Are you wishing them ill?"

"I said if I have to bet," Blanca let out.

Grey looked at the boys and, between all the horsing around, he thought he saw his grandson grabbing Lilac's crown jewels though his swimsuit, squeezing him for a second before Lilac moved away, embarrassed.

"Although, honestly, both of them seem rather happy," Blanca continued. "Well, now that I think about it... after Homecoming he said that Lilac had asked him out on a date. I was happy for him but my brother was more... confused."

"Confused about nailing a date with a football star?" Grey asked.

Blanca gave him a devilish look. "Look at you, grandpa, all up to date and into a gay romance. You really are a modern grandfather."

"Kids today," Grey rolled his eyes. "Who would not be into a sports guy?"

Blanca laughed with that. "Okay, so, he didn't tell me what was going on but... I don't know, my brother seemed rather surprised that Lilac had asked him out beyond Homecoming to be honest. A little uncomfortable even."

"But he said yes?"

"Yeah, he said yes and then they became official," Blanca winked an eye. "Just don't tell him that I told you that."

"As long as you do not tell them I asked," Grey said pointing at the kids. Blanca nodded. "Okay, go play. Just be careful, the lake is one of the deepest in the country. And, thank you, Blanquita. You are my special little one."

"Grandpa!" She let out. "Don't say that in front of Lilac, he's going to think I'm a child."

Grey made a grin, watched her go and took a long sip of champagne. He spent the rest of the evening watching the three teens playing at the lake.

***

"Grandma, please!"

"I already said no and that's the end of that," her grandson was about to open his mouth but she was faster. "If you want to talk, talk in the living room. Complain once more and you'll sleep in a sleeping bag in our room."

Orange opened his mouth but the battle was lost so he turned around and walked away. Grey, who was just entering the room, raised an eyebrow and looked at his wife. She scoffed.

"He wanted to sleep with his boyfriend in the same room," she explained. "Ha, like that is ever going to happen."

"You think they are going to fool around?" Grey asked.

"Love," his wife took off her glasses. "They are two sixteen year old boys. Of course they are going to fool around, God. What question is that? Like I don't know teenage boys. And you know what he said? Even if we do, we can't get pregnant, the nerve of that young man!"

Grey couldn't help but laugh. "Well, he is right about that." She gave him a warning, Grey raised his hands, giving up. "Your house, your rules, Mrs. Grey," he said, joking. "Now, if you allow me, I am going to watch the game."

"The game? But it's almost midnight!" She complained looking at her clock.

"I know, I know, but this is international baseball," he replied, taking his favorite pillow down to the TV room.

"Don't sleep too late," his wife shook her head. "And it won't hurt if you try to play it instead of watching it once in a while, love!"

A nice chair, a beer, and a back pillow were everything Grey needed. Well, that and the internet for watching his game. Originally his grandson set up the TV so he could watch the games. Grey didn't know how it worked but as long as it worked, he didn't care.

She may be right, Grey thought as the game started. Playing could not hurt. He, for as long as he had remembered, loved watching sports -particularly baseball, which had a special place in his heart- but it just so happened that he wasn't great at them. He wasn't bad, but never great. Oddly enough, Lilac came to his mind. Is my grandson dating a football star for the same reason?

As the game went on, his thoughts disappeared. Grey even forgot he was at Greyfog Manor, being captured by the baseball match and, when it finished, it was already two in the morning.

As Grey walked back to his room, he looked at the hallways and decided to check on the children. Opening Blanca's room he saw her granddaughter asleep on her side, her night light on, one of her secrets no one outside the family knew. Grey smiled and careful not to wake her up, he closed the door.

He then headed to his grandson's room but when he opened the door he found an empty bed, perfectly folded. Where is...? Oh, Grey's eyes went directly towards the room his wife had given Lilac. Grey walked towards it, not daring to open it, but was relieved when he heard voices coming not from the other side of the door but from downstairs in the living room.

"...maybe a little but not that much anymore," the voice of his grandson reached him. "We were lucky we had our grandparents, they... shit, I've never heard them complain about having to look over us, not once. And yeah, sometimes they are too old to understand our lives but they make an effort."

Grey stayed still on top of the stairs, as quietly as he could.

"They seem very cool," Lilac mentioned then, his voice warm and somewhat tired. "I thought they might judge us for... you know, being together but they didn't even bat an eye. I don't know if my grandparents could handle that."

"Told you they wouldn't mind," Grey heard his grandson chuckle followed by a small moment of silence and then, "What about your parents?"

Grey raised an eyebrow. That question seemed somewhat random but by the weight his grandson had put on it, the silence before, and the silence that followed, he got that it was a serious, personal question.

"I..." Lilac started but soon felt silent again.

Grey realized the boys were in the living room not because they wanted but because his wife hadn't let them be together in a room. That made him smile. Even if they were up late, even hours after Mrs. Grey had fallen asleep, they were still following her orders.

"They... they got divorced a few years ago," Lilac let out with heavy, paused words, not a hint of humor in them. "I think I already told you that."

"Yeah, you mentioned it at Homecoming."

"Well, they..." Lilac sighed. "I hate when things become just hollow stereotypes instead of real life, real people and the whole being bi and having gay parents thing, yeah. Well, this is something similar to that."

There was another silent moment. Grey leaned against the wall, next to the top of the stairs, and sat down on the floor, as slowly and quietly as he could.

"My father..." Lilac started. "Well, I call them father and dad to differentiate, you've met my dad, so, anyway. My father... about two years ago, when I was fourteen, I... got home after school and, as soon as I crossed the front door, I knew something was wrong. My parents were in their room but their shouting could be heard all the way from the street, and as soon as they heard me enter they tried so hard to pretend everything was right."

"But you didn't know what was going on?"

"I didn't. I mean, I did know something was off and guessed it had to do with their marriage but nothing more," for a second, there was only the sound of the crickets outside. "They prepared a full meal for dinner in complete silence, not even looking at each other, and yeah, I'd seen them fight before but never so... petty. I don't know if that's the right word. I just felt the kitchen was filled with all these unsaid things and I just walked away, out of the house."

"Just like that?"

"Yeah, just like that," Lilac affirmed. "I went to watch a movie, alone. I sent them a message that I was going to sleep at a friend's house so they could talk and... they agreed. Like, they weren't happy about it but they both agreed. I don't know what happened but I guess they argued all night."

Grey leaned his head against the wall. He hadn't stopped for a second to think there could be anything more in Lilac's life beyond being a football star. A broken home, two fathers, he never imagined something like that.

"When I went back the other day my father was gone, which is weird because no matter how badly they fought, my dad was always very understanding and my father... he always had a way with words, almost like a salesman. But this time... he was just gone, my father had left."

The silence after that phrase felt thick, a trap that once you breathe it you'd choke instead of getting fresh air. The scent of berries and oranges filled the air. Just by his words, Grey could tell the boy needed a hug, and hoped his grandson was perceptive enough to realize that.

"I'm sorry," Orange let out in a quiet, sad voice.

"Thank you," Lilac's voice gave away the tears he was holding back. He wasn't crying but he wasn't far away. "My dad told me that... he said that he had found a letter from the bank that mentioned a loan for an apartment. Which was weird because we lived at our house, we had no apartment. So, dad told me that he went one day to check out the place, and found it mostly empty. But, as he was leaving, he saw my father's car arrive."

Both Grey and Orange stayed quiet, awaiting the punchline. Every second felt like a dagger in Lilac's voice, and even though they wanted to tell him to stop, something in them felt grateful the football star trusted Orange enough to share something so personal.

"My father wasn't alone," Lilac couldn't hold it any longer. Grey couldn't watch but heard the noises of Lilac's breathing going and coming with his tears, the sound of his grandson hugging his boyfriend. "H-he was w-with... some boy, barely legal. He didn't tell me more, only that my father had always been bold and stupid. That's when their fight started."

Grey imagined his grandson patiently hugging his boyfriend, holding him tight in his arms as Lilac melted in the memories he shared. Grey felt the urge to go downstairs too but he didn't dare interrupt them, not at that moment, not ever.

I am sorry, Grey though for the kid. I am sorry you had to live through that.

"Told you it was cliché," Lilac laughed, his laugh drowning in tears. "Gay guys always cheat, right? Two men in a relationship, twice the chance of cheating. People always see them as promiscuous. Good for sex, never for relationships."

"Of course it isn't," his grandson stopped him, Grey imagined him looking straight into his boyfriend's eyes. "We are not like that. I would never do that to you, never."

"Thank you," Lilac replied, barely holding it. "You are awesome, you know? I'm so glad you asked me out."

Grey smiled at the wall in front of him, realizing her granddaughter, Blanca, was right. They did seem happy with each other and, suddenly it didn't matter if Lilac was a football superstar, -maybe it was because of his scarred past or the trust he had displayed- but Grey could never imagine that boy ever breaking his grandson's heart, not in a thousand years.

"By the way, there's something I wanted to show you," Lilac said suddenly. Grey heard what surely was a piece of paper being unfolded. "Here."

"What is this?" His grandson replied followed by a few seconds of silence. "You are really good, wow but you drew... us? Is this us?"

"Yeah, this is... well," Lilac's voice was suddenly shy, almost vulnerable. "I told you before, my dream is to go out of the city, out of the state and play football in college. I need to get a scholarship for that but that whole... experience: the dorm life, college, the field and the scouts. I want that for my life."

"And..." Orange was going slow. "You want me there? That's why I am in the drawing?"

"Of course I want you there! I... none of my previous relationships have been like you. None of them have done what you or made me feel like you do. So I thought..." there was an awkward pause. "Lilac," Orange interrupted. "You know my grandpa... he isn't a Grey but he wants me to run the business after him. The Grey business so I won't... I can't leave here. I like it here. My family, the business..."

"No, no I... understand," Lilac was terrible at hidding his dissapointment. "I... sorry."

"Don't be. It's... sweet," Orange replied, followed by a moment of silence. "I'm sorry but yes, it's sweet."

After a moment, Grey started to feel the quiet grow larger and larger so, against his better judgment, he took a peek through the stairs only two find the two teenagers, sitting on the carpet on the floor, their backs against the couch, making out, their hands exploring their young bodies.

Grey almost rolled his eyes when he saw his grandson taking Lilac's shirt off, exposing his dark-skinned body to the night. Oh, grandma did not let them do it in their room so they are going to bang in the living room. For a moment, Grey thought they wouldn't go further but, suddenly, both of them started taking off their jeans, and the rest of their underpants.

Looking away, Grey tried to stand up and leave. Yeah, young boys are young boys, of course they wanted to fuck, that wasn't surprising anything but, what surprised Grey the most was that, instead of standing up, he found himself peeking down at the living room again.

There is a moment in life, certain things actually, that one is never supposed to see and, definitively, one of them is watching your grandson having sex. Yet, Grey had to admit there was something in watching their young bodies pressed together, one black, one latino, their hands touching and feeling every corner of their bodies. Then, a question arose: I wonder what... North Dakota or South Dakota?

Soon enough, his question was answered when Lilac pushed his grandson against the couch, raising his legs upwards. In that moment, that brief moment, Grey could see the crown jewels both boys were packing. And, even in that sense, it was fairly obvious his grandson was the smaller of the two.

It had been years since Grey had seen his grandson naked and, to his surprise, he wasn't very hairy down there. Although, seeing him reminded him of his own body at his age. Smooth, soft, barely touched by the sun.

On the other hand, Lilac was on the bigger side down there. Even his dick seemed as if it had been worked out into growing, thicker, precum dripping from the tip and into his grandson's torso. Even from atop the stairs, Grey could feel the heat of the moment, the sensations, the lust.

Naturally, it all came together when Lilac inserted his large specimen into Orange's rear entrance. Grey stayed there for a minute, maybe two, before leaving but even as he got into bed and closed his eyes, the first image that popped into his head was that of his grandson taking a dick up his ass.

***

Several months had passed since that encounter. Now, Grey was on a cab, heading towards Greyfog Manor for the second time in those six months. Albeit, this time he was doing it alone.

It was near the winter school-break and Grey had joined Blanca on the last football match of the year but after his granddaughter left to look for something, everything had gone to hell. Grey's wife took care of Blanca while he was tasked with finding his grandson who, after the shitshow, had run away from school.

After an hour, Grey had had no luck when, suddenly, a text arrived. It was from his grandson saying he was on his way towards Greyfog Manor and would meet them there. So, Grey stopped looking and headed there himself.

Grey took a cab to the train station before buying a one-way train ticket to Laketown. Grey would've gladly taken the cab all the way to Greyfog Manor but cab's weren't allowed to leave the city since the train had a permit that made it the only public transport allowed to go -to the dismay of almost everybody at both places- between Laketown and the city. To Grey, however, it only meant a comfortable fifteen-minute train ride.

Grey had always loved the train. He remembered when the train was the only way to get to Laketown. Wonderful long gone times, the station ornamented with golden gates, the blue uniforms, and flags hanging from the arches. Good memories.

Grey got in the train from the back and started walking his way to the front, a young boy -possibly Korean or Japanese- checked his ticket before letting him go any further. Grey thanked him, remembering the long gone days of yore.

Most of the seats were empty, and those that weren't had only business people on them. He walked past the closed cabins and made his way to the front where, in one of the seats, he spotted a big old, ugly orange sweater.

Grey took a mouthful of air in his lungs before letting it go in a single, big sigh. His grandson was murmuring something, surely talking to himself again. He looked so small inside the old train, in his face he could see all the shame, all the wounds he had endured, sitting alone in his hurt.

"You know, whenever shit hits the fan with your grandma, I always come and take a ride but I never know which is worse," Grey took a seat next to his grandson. "Bustling crowds or silent sleepers."

A noisy, crowded world or silent, empty one, which one is best when your heart sinks to the bottom of your chest? Even through all his years, Grey had never found the answer to that question; his grandson seemed just as lost.

"How did you find me?" His grandson didn't even look at him.

"I would like to say I am the best grandfather in the world," Grey looked away, staring at the station on the other side of the window. "But, being honest, kid, I was just heading to Greyfog, I did not know you would be here."

"But... Blanca..."

"Your grandma picked her up, they are probably already at the manor," neither Grey nor his grandson said another word when the train whistled and started moving on its tracks. Soon, there was forest on the other side of the windows. Grey glanced at Orange, the kid was feeling like shit, he knew he had to say something. "Listen, kid, what happened at the gym..."

"How do you...?" His grandson looked at him. "You know?"

"The whole school knows," Grey replied, passing a hand over his grey hair. "For better or for worse, kid, you always had a way of making even the smallest things into something big. Also, someone did a twitter, at least that's what Blanca said."

His grandson closed his eyes and grunted, letting his whole body fall over the seat, melting with the cloth. That's when Grey realized his grandson was crying while taking out his phone, opening Twitter. Over his shoulder, Grey saw the words of hate, disappointment, sadness, and support for Lilac. On the top, Grey managed to read one of them: They made a lovely couple, what a shame he's fucked in the head.

His grandson abruptly closed his phone. "I fucked up, I fucked up," bitter, salty tears were rolling down his face. "I fucked up."

"You did," Grey replied, his grandson glancing at him, wounded. "Hey, you did. I think there is no point in lying, kid. What you did was... the kind of garbage the real Greys used to do. Although, unlike them you are not crazy. Fucking a classmate at the gym may seem as a stupid thing to do, especially when your boyfriend is at a match and eventually will need to pass through the gym to get to the lockers but... it is not crazy, it makes sense."

"It makes sense?" His grandson almost shouted, his voice broken. "What part of it makes sense?"

"Blanca said you did that because you wanted to get caught," Grey said honestly. He was not sure his grandson could handle such a straight conversation like that but, after what had happened, the last thing he needed were more lies, more confusion. "Sometimes people want to get caught cheating, you know? Sometimes people do that when they feel there is no good reason to break up -or there is one they would rather not face- so they make one up. See? What you did makes sense. However... the real question is why did you feel you needed to break up?"

"I- Jesus, I never even thought about me wanting to get caught until Blanca said it," his grandson passed his sleeve under his nose. "She was right... She was right. God, why is she always right?"

"Forget your sister," Grey squeezed his shoulder. "Were you not happy with Lilac?"

Orange didn't reply immediately. The train kept marching, the shapes of the trees outside were barely visible as a wall of fog started to form over the forest. Inside, the warm light rumbled with the tracks, rocking the passengers into a deep sleep.

"I don't know," the boy finally replied. "I wasn't, I guess? I wasn't happy, but I... do like him, I do. He's amazing, I never get tired of talking to him and for some reason he never gets tired of listening to me. He's funny, always sends me a good morning text, and in bed he..."

"I understand," Grey stopped him. "It is okay. I know that is an important thing, not the most important but important nonetheless. You think I would have married your grandma if she did not know a couple of moves under the sheets?"

"Grandpa! Gross," and for the first time that evening, his grandson smiled, even if just for a fraction of a second, he was that giggling, happy, sunshine kid he always knew. "But yes, Lilac also knew how to move."

Without intending to, the image of his grandson sitting -no, mounting- on the football star's large black dick came to his mind. He was amazed his grandson could take on something that large. Yet, by the sound of it and taking into account the fact that both came in under five minutes, it must've been amazing.

"Then, if he was so perfect, why did you want to break up with him?"

"He's perfect... but I'm not," his grandson scoffed as if it was something obvious. "I don't want a boyfriend, grandpa. I... I don't want a girlfriend either, that's not what I'm saying, I- I am into boys, I am, very much, but I... shit, I think I don't want a relationship right now. All the pressure, the rules, I don't want any of it... maybe someday but not now, not yet. But... Lilac's perfect, grandpa. He's perfect and I'm just the asshole who broke up with the perfect guy."

Next to him, his grandson hid his face in his hands, his elbows resting on his knees. His wailing was quiet, muffled by his palms, but even that didn't stop some curious glances from falling over them. Grey gave him a minute. He knew that, no matter what he did, what came next, nothing could spare the kid from what he was living. After all, fucking up was part of beein young.

"Kid, you are sixteen," he said, raising his grandson's head. "Of course you do not want a relationship yet, heck, you are not supposed to get into long-term commitments at this age, you are young, you are meant to run, and jump, and cause trouble, give me headaches, all that stuff. You are still a kid, it is okay."

"But, the gym..."

"That... what you did... definitely... could have been handled better," he was searching for the right words. "You hurt Lilac, bad. You probably owe him an apology but, what you felt, that was not wrong, okay? If you feel you are not ready for a boyfriend, if you do not want one, then do not have one. Never date anyone just because you feel you have to. Your feelings are not wrong, they are never wrong, just the way you handled them."

"I know," his grandson nodded. "Everyone at school must hate me."

"Who cares about those knuckleheads? I bet every single one of them punks has made a big mistake before too. And if they have not, then they have never lived," Grey put his hand on his grandson's shoulder once more, holding him. "We all make mistakes, you made one. It is not the end of the world, kid. As long as you know that it is okay to feel whatever you are feeling right now. Maybe a weekend at Greyfog away from everyone could help. Just... remember I am here for you, okay?"

"Okay..." His grandson nodded, looking in the distance before turning and staring at him. In Orange's teary, lost face, Grey could've sworn he saw the flash of a brief, half smile. "Thank you grandpa... I know Blanca and I always joke saying you are the voice of reason but, honestly, you really are."

Through the foggy window, the distant, blurred figures of the trees started to become more defined as the train began to slow down, nearing the Laketown station. Grey glanced at his grandson not crying anymore but staring at the floor when, suddenly, Orange took off his sweater, giving it to his grandpa.

"Are you sure?" Grey asked. His grandson nodded and, reluctantly, Grey took it. For some reason, that ugly orange sweater wasn't as ugly anymore.

"The Greys really did stuff like this all the time?" His grandson asked suddenly as the first passengers started to stand up, heading towards the door.

"Oh, this and far worse," Grey said, exaggerating his tone. "Nothing but drama with them. Champagne problems, kid. But they were a lost cause. You are not. You are my special little one."