Another drink, another smoke. He let it burn deep inside his throat.

Whiskey couldn't cure his pain, it could only numb it temporarily. No one saw the hurt inside; they only saw the drunken stumble, the fake smile and forced laugh.

Even his best friends were unaware of the internal battle raging in his mind. All they did was roll their eyes and wave him away. They didn't take the time to look and see he was breaking. He wanted one thing and it would never be his.

He was unable to say it out loud. Unable to say that after all, he only wanted Awsten.

-

Twenty five judging pairs of eyes followed one tall, sad boy as he moodily trudged through the door and halfway across the classroom.

At the front of the room, the bald music teacher stood with one arm crossed and one finger poised against his lips, staring at the boy worn a half amused and half disappointed expression at him.

As Geoff plonked himself down into his usual seat and hunched his shoulders over to avoid the looks of the class, Mr Fysh cleared his throat.

"Right, as I was saying, you have until Tuesday to get your music piece finished. Each person must play an instrument or be in vocals as each piece needs to be completed with lyrics."

Geoff's weary eyes quickly widened. Shit! It was Thursday and they had until Tuesday. Five days. Awsten still hadn't spoken to him and even Otto hadn't been replying to his texts or answering all his calls.

He zoned out for the rest of the instructions and was still in his bleak dreamland when everyone rose and gathered into groups.

It wasn't until Otto stuck his face in front of Geoff's and poked his eye that he finally snapped out of it.

"Argh! Dude what the fuck!?" Geoff yelled, one hand cradling his throbbing eyeball. Otto shrugged and turned away from him. "It worked, didn't it? Stop dreaming and grab your guitar. We don't have long." The smaller of the two started to walk off before the other stopped him.

"What have I done?" Geoff asked, lowering his hand from his face.

"What are you talking about?"

"What have I done to piss people off? You especially." Geoff clarified.

"I know what you meant, I just meant which incident are you unsure of?" Otto raised an eyebrow. "There's been several."

Geoff groaned and let his head roll back. He stood for a few moment before looking forward and locking eyes with his friend. "Ok. If I promise to drink less-"

Otto looked at him pointedly. "Ok, a lot less," Geoff corrected himself earning a look of approval from the other boy. "Will you talk to me again and come over this weekend to finish the song?"

He stuck his hand out and closed his eyes. Otto grinned and spat on his hand before shaking Geoff's. The older boy grimaced and pulled his hand away. "Ew. Ok, it's a deal then." The two of them grinned and began to busy themselves with their respected instruments.

Meanwhile, outside in the corridor, a certain blue haired boy leant against the wall and closed his eyes with a sigh. In his hand was a phone and in his ear with the voice of an angelic devil.

"Baby please. It's almost Christmas and then New Year. I don't want to go into next year with any regrets. If I'm going to start from rock bottom I'll need something - or someone - to be my ladder up." The Devil said. Awsten couldn't see her expression but he tried to envision it. Her soft smile, gleaming eyes and sharpened tongue.

"You said you have no regrets." He replied, unaware of the message behind her words. "My one regret was letting you go. You're my world Awsie and I can't live without my world."

If anyone else had uttered those words, Awsten knew his lunch would be splattered all over the floor at the disgusting nickname, however his head was on cloud nine and the mark on his wrist was stained with the wrong name.

Colourful ink flowed across his pale flesh, weaving in and out of itself in a everlasting pattern of pain.

"What are you suggesting Ciara?" Awsten sighed, pulling his bleeding lips between pearly teeth.

"I want you back. I want to be yours. All yours. I'm sorry. I messed up. I love you." The blonde simpered down the line. A hot wave of happiness and a sickening wave of coldness washed over him, mingling together to make a cooling wave of confusion. "Ok. I want to be together too." He smiled to himself.

"Great. Pick me up at seven and take me to our usual restaurant." Ciara said. "Yeah, great. See you then. I love y-" the call ended. "-you." Awsten finished to himself. Something in his chest twisted and shifted but he ignored it. A clear, oceanic blue popped into his head but he shook it out. Awsten had Ciara back. No one else mattered.

Sliding his phone back in his pocket, Awsten pushed the classroom door open and slid inside.

"Awsten! Where the Hell have you been?" Geoff called over to him. Again the same calming blue appeared and again, Awsten pushed it aside.

"Sorry guys, had an important call." He apologised, placing his bag on the floor.

"Someone better have died otherwise I'll be pissed." The tall brunette growled. For the past twenty minutes a sinking feeling of dread had been steadily building until it became overwhelming.

A scowl settled upon Awsten's features. "No one died, Geoff." He spat the words like venom. "If you must know, it was my ex."

Beside them, Otto's head snapped up from his drum kit and his gaze went straight to Geoff. "Oh yeah?" Geoff crossed his arms protectivly across his chest. "And what did she want?"

"None of your business." The other boy scoffed. "Anyway, I've got the majority of the lyrics down, I'm still testing them and ironing out the kinks." He said, directing his words this time at Otto.

"Um we're not finished. And it is our business as a band because if this is something that could become an issue we all need to know." Geoff continued.

"Fine. You really wanna know? She wanted to get back together. And we did. Is that gonna be a fucking issue?"

Silence fell over the trio. A boiling pit of fury rose from the pit of Geoff's stomach. It rose and rose until it reached his chest where it burst into a volcanic eruption of hatred and betrayal. "No. It won't be a problem." Otto said, sticking his head inbetween the two boys that were stuck in an intense staring competition.

"Actually, it will be." Geoff eventually said. "Don't bother coming over Otto. And don't bother talking to me either." He couldn't exist in the same place as the blue boy in front of him without wanting to rip his clothes off and then rip his face apart.

Unable to stay any longer, Geoff gathered up his things and left.

"What about the project?" Otto yelled after him. "Work it out yourselves!" Geoff yelled back, the door slamming shut behind him.

A few students turned around to look but none actually cared. The once pleasant burn on Geoff's skin faded away. As did the vibrant colour it once had, leaving a dull shine behind.

What's this? An upload? Wtffff. Merry Christmas bitches xox