It's awkward between the two boy's as they both get ready for school. 

The rain is like the static of a broken TV as nothing but the sound of its dull patter encompasses the gloomy room. Taehyung pulls on his uniform and adjusts his tie while Jungkook lazily slides on his shoes. In normal mornings the room would usually explode with grumpy complaints and meaningless dialogue. 

Today is different. There's no chatter. There are complaints.  Instead, there is a thick tension that grips the throats of both boys and prevents a word from spilling past their lips. 

Taehyung stands up straight and then brushes off his uniform but his attention diverges to his peripheral vision. He sees the way that Jungkook is looking at him. The ravenette looks hesitant before he straightens his figure and slowly starts walking towards the smaller boy. Before he can make it, however, Taehyung hurriedly grabs his bag and rushes out the door. 

The timbre rattles a miserable sound as it slams shut. And there behind both doors stand two boys with their heavy hearts. 

And it's strange really. 

It's strange to think how easily things can change. 

One minute you know someone and the next minute you don't. 

~

The day drones on and on and on. Taehyung feels like he's walking through a dark tunnel and is trying to find the goddamn light at the end. He doesn't find the light. 

Taehyung has endured four whole subjects while blatantly ignoring his roommate but it seems that fate is bound to bring him to misfortune. 

Choir. 

The one subject where he can't just pretend Jungkook doesn't exist. 

I mean how can he? When the boy is standing right in front of him, dull eyes staring blankly into his own as he waits for him to start singing. 

"You going to start?" 

Taehyung is taken aback by the coldness in the other's tone. It feels like its back to day one. Stangers. Taehyung feels his heartstrings pull at the thought but he brushes it aside. 

No, he thinks. No this is good. This is what needs to happen. The more distant they become the easier it will be. 

Taehyung looks up and notices that Jungkook is staring at him impatiently, waiting for him to start. The smaller clears his throat before shuffling to the back of the room, away from the other. He takes a small breath before finally starting. 

Fire on fire

His voice is barely above a whisper; the melody soft and shy. 

Would normally kill us

Jungkook's voice doesn't hold its normal flare as he sings. It sounds weak; Fragile. But it's devastatingly beautiful. 

Their voices slowly ease together. The room is ever so silent as they sing along to the dull throb of their hearts. 

With this much desire, 

together, we're winners. 

The irony. Because as they sing together within the scorching moulds of unbound tension they are anything but winners.  

They feel like losers. 

"That was... bloody horrible," Mr Tay speaks, causing the two boys to spin around in shock. Is this man a spy, like damn. 

They both frown as the teacher marches into the room. "I need to get my ears cleansed after that, Jesus Christ." 

Taehyung stutters, "u-uh what did we do wrong this time, sir?"

The man frowns, eyeing the to boys with annoyance. 

"Same as last time."

"But...what?" Taehyung asks with furrowed brows, desperately wanting to know what they're doing wrong. 

The teacher sighs, his sharp eyes staring analytically at the two males. "Figure it out," he grumbles before stalking off. 

Taehyung's eyes subconsciously meet Jungkook's and just as fast as their gazes meet, they diverge. Looking anywhere else but each other. Just like strangers would. 

And the now silent room begs to know; 

Where did that blossoming friendship go?

~

Jungkook stares at the soap suds sticking to his hands as he scrubs the grime off the dishes. The restaurant had to close late that night due to a dinner reservation which left Jungkook working over-time. 

Usually, the ravenette would be agitated over working any more than he is supposed to but today he doesn't mind as much. More time working means less time having to see Taehyung. 

Not that he doesn't want to see the boy. That's not the case at all. He very much wants to see Taehyung but the thing is; Taehyung doesn't want to see him. Clearly. Jungkook still doesn't fully understand what happened to make the boy distance himself all of a sudden but he has an idea. 

Taehyung realised that Jungkook is bad news. I mean, he's involved with the mafia for god sake. Taehyung is the definition of a model student; He doesn't have a blemish to his report cards or a detention to his name so why would someone like him want to be involved with someone like Jungkook. Jungkook means trouble. Taehyung doesn't want trouble. This is why the boy is avoiding him. The further he is from Jungkook, the less likely he is to get in trouble. 

At least that's what Jungkook thinks. 

Jungkook shouldn't be this affected by it. Only a few weeks ago, this boy meant absolutely nothing in his life. He was someone that Jungkook would avoid or make fun off. But now? Now there is this dull throb in Jungkook's body that tells him that maybe over these few weeks, the boy that once meant nothing to him started to mean something more. Something important. 

Jungkook humourlessly snickers at himself. He should know by now. He should know that everything important in his life turns against him. 

"Kookie's dads are faggots, Kookie's dads are faggots," The group of kids sing-song as they tie the rope around the crying boy. 

"P-Please stop this!" He screams, his tiny voice going unheard as the kids around him start laughing. 

"Shut up, fag," a boy from the back shouts, laughing along with his friends at the new word. 

"I-I'm not a fag," Jungkook cries helplessly, squirming against the tight rope. 

"My mummy said that boys who kiss boys are faggots!" A girl says to the group. "Kookie kissed Chan so Kookie is a faggot!" 

The group burst out laughing as Jungkook screams against the ropes."I-I d-idn't. Please let me go!"

The group of kids ignore his pleas and continue to mock him. "Kookie must have got the fag disease from his dads. Oh my god, what if he gives it to us!"

The group of kids squeal with laughter before running off, leaving behind two boys. 

Jungkook cries softly, feeling the rough material of the ropes digging into his fragile skin. He looks up at his best friend with tear-filled eyes. Chan stares at the helpless boy; The boy who he's known since diapers. The boy who's always made him laugh and held him when he's cried.  The boy who he'd promised to be friends with forever and ever. 

"C-Chan, h-help me. Please." The small ravenette begs in desperation. 

His best friend leans down slightly so that their heads are in level. They wordlessly stare at each other's eyes. One is filled with tears while the other is simply blank. The sky rumbles with thunder, announcing the storm that is about to take place. Chan stands back straight and pulls the hood of his raincoat over his head. He looks down at his friend and simply shrugs,

"Why would I help a fag like you?" 

And with that, he walks off. Taking away the one thing he promised to keep; Their friendship. 

And for a second, Jungkook's sore body stops aching. For a second he no longer feels any more pain. He feels nothing. 

He feels numb. 

Jungkook jolts back into reality at the sound of the wind causing havoc outside. He sighs as he looks at the clean pile of dishes and then picks up his bag and grabs out his shirt. He quickly changes from his work clothes to the casual t-shirt and then heads towards the front. His coworker nods at him in acknowledgment as he heads out the door.

Jungkook steps outside and is instantly met with a harsh slap from the frosty air. He shivers slightly as the breeze brushes past his exposed arms, causing him to fasten his pace. 

The restaurant is only a few minutes from campus and if he runs, he could probably make it before curfew. He feels a surge of anxiety rush through him when the sky grumbles with a warning. 

He starts to slightly jog as he sees the entrance of the school near his sight. He's metres from entering the school. The gates are right in front of him.

But then a hand grabs his wrist, stopping him from entering.

"Jungkook."

~

"C'monnnnn," Jimin whines as he drags his best friend to his dorm. "It will be fun!"

Taehyung huffs, "okay okay!" He agrees. 

Jimin had been bothering him all day about having a sleepover with him since his roommate had gone to visit his parents. Initially, Taehyung didn't want to. He wanted to stay in the comfort of his room and sleep his problems away. But then he realised something. The less he saw Jungkook, the easier it would be. And what better way to stop seeing him than by sleeping in another room. That and the fact that Jimin is practically begging him is what led him to begrudgingly agree.  

"I saw this dance on tik tok-"

"Absolutely not!" Taehyung exclaims as he pushes his best friend away. Jimin pouts, "C'mon, Tae. It will be fu-"

"I am not dancing to tik tok dances even if it's in the middle of a zombie apocalypse." 

Jimin huffs and stomps into his dorm, leaving Taehyung to amusedly follow him. 

"Woah!" Taehyung looks around at his friend's dorm, fascinated by how messy it is. 

Jimin chuckles, "not everyone is as organised as you, Tae. Both me and my roommate are as lazy as shit."  

Taehyung laughs while shaking his head, "Jimin, the other day you were literally boasting over how organised you are."

Jimin gasps, "so you're the toxic type that brings up past events, huh?"

Taehyung playfully rolls his eyes before jumping onto the bed next to Jimin. Jimin pulls out his laptop and then opens up Netflix, causing Taehyung to grin. 

"What do you want to watch?" Jimin asks while browsing through the movies. 

Taehyung smiles, "can we watch-"

He's cut off by the ear-shattering sound of thunder. Both boy's yelp in surprise at the sudden noise and startle when the lights suddenly go out. 

"Shit," Jimin curses. 

Taehyung furrows his eyebrows while he looks out the window. 

He watches as the rain plummets down chaotically, crashing against the ground like bullets in a battlefield. The sky roars in rage before it cracks with a firey blue, lighting up the dark room with its electric hues. Taehyung watches as the storm intensifies slowly but surely. 

And that's when a thought runs through his head, causing his heart to drop. 

Jungkook is scared of storms. 

-

A/N: Guys I'm sorry I keep talking about this stupid storm. 😂 Also, I was studying my ass off for a chemistry and psychology test this week so this chapter is brought to you by post-test depression ✌️

Anyways, I want to be more interactive with you guys so let's play a game. 

It's called "guess which country I live in": 

Winner's get a cookie sent to their PM's. 

Hahah I'm stupid, anywayssss. I adore you guys so so much. 

Thank you so much for this: 

I legit screamed when I saw that HH reached 1K votes. I cannot thank you enough for this. You genuinely make me so happy and I say that from the bottom of my heart. 

I love you 💗💖