"She cheated on you?!"

Gladion winced at Megan's shrieking, adjusting the blanket he had wrapped around him that was generously given by the girl's brother.

"A little louder please, I think there's a guy in Russia stuck in a coma that didn't hear you." He muttered, not making eye contact.

Megan pursed her lips together "I'm sorry, I just... I knew she was a lying hoe but... This is a whole new level of bitchy!"

Gladion scoffed "Believe me I noticed."

Luke exited the kitchen area, before placing two cups of hot chocolate on the coffee table and giving Gladion a solemn smile "I know it's not much, but please make yourself at home. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask."

Gladion nodded his head politely, watching as the man gave his sister a quick kiss on the forehead before retreating to his room. The two teens were silent for a bit, not knowing what to say or whether to even look at each other. However, Megan was the one who broke the silence.

"You should really try some," She began, taking one of the mugs off the table "Luke's hot chocolate is the best!"

Gladion raised an eyebrow, watching as the girl's body relaxed after one mouthful. His eyes travelled over to the other mug, and curiously he reached over to wrap his hand around the handle. He took a whiff of the scent, his mouth watering immediately from the chocolaty aroma and his curiosity increased. He placed the mug to his lips, taking a small sip, and--

"Holy shit, this is good!" He exclaimed in awe, glancing over to the girl who was grinning at him.

"I know right!" She giggled "It's his own recipe, too~"

"It's amazing!"

Megan rolled her eyes playfully at his smile "You look like a child on Christmas."

Gladion pouted, bringing his mug up to his lips for another taste.

"So..." The girl began, her voice changing to sad which got the boy's attention "How did you find out Natalie's been cheating?"

Gladion's grip tightened around the mug, his expression darkening as he pursed his lips together. Megan noticed, and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder "Gladion if you don't want to tell me it's fine, I won't--"

"No, no. I'll tell you." he cut her off, placing his hand on top of hers and sighing "It was after I came home from the cinema on Saturday. I had phoned her up on Video Chat, like I usually do, and everything seemed normal. But a few minutes later, she moved her hair behind her ear and" - His grip on her hand tightened - "There was a damn hickey on her neck."

"Did you ask about it?"

"Of course I did! But she just kept denying it, and after a bit she... She just ended the call to avoid the question altogether." Once again tears began forming in his eyes. He wrapped his fingers around Megan's hand and brought it to his chest, clutching it firmly but gently so he didn't hurt her "And today, outside that cafe I saw her making out with another guy."

Megan gasped "That's why you guys were fighting?"

He nodded "So I guess you saw, huh...?"

She averted her eyes, looking to the side and taking her lip between her teeth "Yeah..."

"Well... I broke up with her after that. I didn't want to be in a relationship when the affection's one-sided. We're done."

"You did the right thing." Megan agreed, giving him a sad smile "I would've done the same if I was in that situation."

Gladion glanced at her, before returning the smile. He looked down at the warm drink in his lap, sighing deeply and finally letting go of Megan's hand "Sorry..."

She raised an eyebrow "What for?"

"For bumping into you, hugging you without permission, invading your home, and dumping my problems on--"

Megan cut him off, placing her hand over his mouth and smirking "It's whatever, dude. I don't mind."

Gladion pulled her hand down "You don't?"

"Why is that so hard to believe?"

The blonde snorted "No offense but... You always look like something's pissing you off."

"That's just my face!" Megan whined "Its default expression's a scowl, and I don't know when I look like I want to kill someone."

"A lot. You look like that a lot."

She puffed out her cheeks, forming a pout "Whatever. As I was saying, I may seem heartless sometimes. But I'd never leave someone during their time of need, especially not in the rain!"

Gladion chuckled slightly, running a hand through his damp hair "That would be pretty bitchy."

Megan snorted lightly.

"Hey, uh, Gladion?" Luke called, popping his head through his doorway "If you want you can stay over for the night, it's getting pretty late."

"Oh, I don't want to intrude-"

"Nonsense!" The man laughed, waving a hand in dismissal "Any friend of Megan's is welcome in our home!"

"Uhhhh..." The teens glanced at each other "We aren't really-"

"Then it's settled!" Luke clapped his hands together "Gladion can crash in Megan's room, and Megan can sleep in Laura's room!"

"OH HELL NO!" Megan shot up, startling Gladion and causing him to fall back on the couch "That's my room and no one else is allowed inside, especially boys! Second, Laura's room reeks of alcohol, I'd get drunk from the fumes alone!"

"Well, would you rather you two sleep in the same room?" Luke asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

Both Megan and Gladion's faces turned bright red, and they were quick to shake their heads in denial.

"Then we're doing it this way."

"Oooor, Gladion can sleep on the couch?" Megan suggested.

"Oooor, you can sleep on the couch?" Gladion shot back.

"Hey since were you given rights to decide where I sleep?!"

"Since I was invited to stay!"

"But this is my house!"

"Well I'm the guest!"

"Alright, hold up, Raji Shenazard, you can't just kick a girl out of her room!"

"I can if her brother has the same idea!"

"Yeah well I don't have to listen to shit he says!"

"Guys, cool it!" Luke commanded, pushing the two away by placing a hand of each of their shoulders "If it's so hard to decide, I'll sleep on the couch and Gladion can crash in my room!"

"Okay."

"What? No argument? No 'Oh Luke you don't have to do that'?"

"Nope."

Luke stared at the the two, dumbfounded "Wow, thanks guys."

They laughed, giving the man a quick pat on the back as he walked past them towards his room. Probably to get a pillow and warmer for the couch.

"You think we were too harsh?" Gladion asked, turning his head to Megan.

"Nah. He's pretty familiar with the couch." She waved her hand "Sometimes he finds it more comfortable than his room. And besides, I saw through his facade!" She said the last part a little louder so her brother could hear.

"Screw you!" He yelled from his room.

"Anyway." She clapped her hands together, hiding a snicker behind her side fringe "You might want to let your mom know you're here, so she doesn't get worried. Bathroom's the door at the end of the corridor, there's a few extra toothbrushes in the cabinet to the left of you as you walk in, and Luke will set you up with sleepwear and of course his bed. Any questions?"

"Um, no. I think I'm good. Thank you."

Megan nodded, and began to walk towards her room, but stopped as she felt a pair of arms embrace her from behind.

"I mean it, Megan." Gladion spoke softly, resting his chin on her shoulder "Thank you for everything you've done for me tonight. You've made this day- dare I say it -Not as bad as I felt it was turning out to be... Maybe you aren't as bad as I thought."

Megan's lips parted, her heart melting at his words as she placed a hand on his arm, smiling kindly at him over her shoulder "I suppose you aren't such a stick in the mud, either."

Gladion chuckled, giving her one last squeeze before letting go. She turned to him, a small smirk on her face.

"So, like, are we friends now, or just two assholes hanging out?"

Gladion shrugged "Both?"

"Both's good too."

They stared at each other for a moment, just taking in how they no longer wanted to rip one another's heads off, and instead shared a newfound respect.

"Well," Megan reached forward, patting the boy's arm "Goodnight, Gladion."

"Goodnight..." He replied back, bowing his head at her.

The girl turned on her heel, walking into her room and closing the door behind her.

Gladion stared at it for a moment, before lifting up his palm and examining it. It's not like he hadn't touched her before. But this time it felt... different, in a good way. It was like a feeling of trust, if you want a description, and he no longer had the desire to end the blood circulation in her body as soon as his hands came in contact with her.

Now, he had the desire to protect her. He wanted nothing more than to ensure his new friend's safety.

He smiled slightly "Friends, huh? Never thought that would happen, not in a million years."

---

*BANG*

"GLADION I AM SO GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Megan shot up after hearing the front door to her apartment crash open, and a feminine voice scream through the house. Her eyes nearly burst out of her sockets when her bedroom door swung open.

"I SWEAR TO GOD, IF YOU GET MY BEST FRIEND PREGNANT I'LL-- Oh."

Lillie stared at Megan, scowl leaving her face as she realised the girl was in fact alone in bed. Megan stared back awkwardly, but nonetheless lifted her hand up to wave at her friend.

"Morning, Lils."

Lillie pursed her lips together "Um, hey... where's my brother?"

"Well I'd assume he's in Luke's room," the blonde-brunette stated simply.

"Guess again..." A low raspy voice could be heard from the corridor, and soon a messy haired Gladion had appeared in the doorway. He yawned, rubbing his sleepy half-closed eyes, and leaned against the doorframe. "Lillie, you are some alarm clock..."

Megan took a moment to take in what she saw. Gladion's hair was messy, and wasn't yet styled so it fell flatly over his face. His eyelids drooped slightly, causing the emerald colour of his irises to stand out more. The clothes Luke had let him borrow hanged loosely over his body, the tank top exposing his arms and part of his chest while the bottoms seemed to be held up to his waist by a hairband.

She couldn't lie to herself. He was fucking cute.

"Uhhhh... hey, Gladion... sleep well?" Lillie asked, smiling sheepishly while playing with her fingers.

"Yep," The boy yawned again "Well, until you bursted in here, threatening to kill me for some reason..."

"Yeah about that..." The girl giggled nervously "After mom told me you were staying here I, kinda got the wrong impression."

"How so?" Megan asked.

"Well I... thought by staying over she meant..." Lillie placed her two indexes together, watching her friend and brother to see if they would catch on. Unfortunately they both still looked half asleep, which made her sigh in defeat "I thought you guys slept together..."

...

...

"WHAT?!" They screamed. Megan stumbled backwards, falling out of her bed and landing on her ass. Gladion was frozen, but had the exact amount of shock on his face that Megan did.

They didn't look so tired anymore...