CHAPTER 6: A CRACK IN THE WALL

➿ JUST FRIENDS. ➿

DECKER's  POV  ♠️
HOURS BEFORE THE PARTY:

"Wait, are you like mad mad at me?" Vincent asked, as he made his way towards to me.  "I got caught up with something."

"Yeah," I angrily turned, looking at him as he stopped in his tracks, looking confused. "Lu sent me an Instagram story video from that boy's account, and you could have just texted me to say you weren't coming, I'm not gonna stop you from having friends."

It was pissing me off how he was acting like it wasn't much of a big deal, I waited and I didn't even get a call or anything. I was worried to pieces about him because he had told his mother he was going to mine and he hadn't showed up, only for me to get the message from Lu, asking me if that wasn't Vincent partying away in a club.

Since when did he even start going to clubs?

"My phone was snatched out of my hand." He said, and I rolled my eyes.

"I literally cancelled all my plans for you yesterday, only for you to show up today, it kinda sucks that you didn't even think of giving me a heads-up."

I saw the change in his expression once every word came out of my mouth. "First of all," his tone had some force and anger in it. "That boy's name is Tae, and I'm sorry I was not able to send a text, but don't go acting like what I did was...super big, when you do it all the time to me."

I scoffed.

What was he talking about?

"That is not true."

"Really?" His brows furrowed at me, as if asking a question too, his head tilting to the side. "Because last week you didn't hang out with me cause you were always busy. It was always "sorry Vincent, I have Xavier", or 'Lu and I have sex planned today', for two fucking weeks."

I gulped.

"I never said that."

"And this one time that I couldn't show up, you wanna give me that attitude? Talking about you clearing your plans?" He laughed, not a "you're funny" kinda laugh, it was a maniac "you've got to be kidding me" kind, and I knew he was starting to get pissed, but he needed to understand me. "Wow. Wow, rich. What if I always cancelled my plans only for you to never show up?"

"We both know that ain't true seeing you barely have any plans, not to talk of cancelling any." I said and with the way he stared at me, I knew I shouldn't have said what I said.

"Just because I am always home, does not fucking mean I am always in the right headspace to want visitors, Jules." He said, and I knew I had hit something. "And I took my chances last night to go have that fun you always complain about that I don't have. And you fucking have friends, Jules, a lot of them. And I finally have people who are not you, and what? You're mad that I unintentionally did what you been doing to me. Wow."

I swallowed and shook my head, closing my eyes for a second because I had come off like an asshole and I knew that. "I'm not saying you shouldn't have friends, Vincent, I'm just saying—"

"Fuck you, Julian." He said and walked over to the couch, he picked up the bag he had come with and turned to face me, his eyes filled with so much anger that I felt like complete shit.

"Maybe be happy that I went to a fucking club? And that I was, I don't know happy I did? That I don't have to always be around you, so you don't fucking go complain to your girlfriend about how much of a burden I am."

I frowned, confused at where that last line had come from. "What?"

"And let me tell you one thing," He said, taking a couple steps towards me, pointing his finger at me. "If I could go back in time to change anything, I would fucking go to that club again and not come to you. Nothing, nothing will be changed, you fucking hypocritical dickwad." He cursed and stormed out.

Shit.

"V-Vince." I called, but he didn't stop or say anything and just left, slamming the door shut.

"Wow." Olivia suddenly started to clap slowly. "And you are supposed to be the grown up."

I turned to her. "What?"

"Maybe next time, listen? Because you've been blowing him off all week? Remember when I kept asking you about Vincent last week and you said you both would hang out soon but you had plans for now? It's not his fault and honestly if I were Vincent, I wouldn't even come see you for like a year. Okay," she pouted. "Maybe a year is kinda too much but you get the point. And, let me tell you something, brother." She walked up to me and stood in front of me with a smile.

"If you break up your friendship or ruin this with Vincent who I love, I'll murder you in your sleep, okay?" She said, patted my hand and walked away.

She can be scary sometimes.

I looked at the door Vincent had walked out through, was I being a dick? I was only expressing how I felt, but I also did not consider that he must have been hurt from all the times I cancelled.

He would always say "that's okay", "sure, we can reschedule", and I never stopped once to think if he was really hurt by all of this. He was part of my world and I know sometimes we need to hang around our own friends, but I completely pushed him aside and now that he had done the same, I was being stupid and butthurt.

I had to apologise.

But he didn't want that, and it was hard getting to him since he was not answering my calls or my texts. He must have been really annoyed with me for him to ignore me for this long.

"Are you listening?"

"Hmm?" I looked up from my phone and at Luciana. We were on a date at some restaurant she had picked out, and I was struggling to focus because my best friend and I had had a fight, and now he was not responding to any of my texts.

"You've been distracted." She said, looking at the phone in my hand. I looked up at her , she lifted her gaze from my phone to me, suspiciously watching me.

"I'm sorry." I said as I kept it in my coat pocket. "I just had some stuff to deal with." I said and flashed her a smile.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah, sorry. It's nothing."

"Is it really nothing? Or is it another girl?" She asked, titling her head to the side. "You barely paid attention to anything I said.

"That's not true," I said as I reached for her hand on the table but she pulled it back.

"What did I then say about my hair two minutes ago?" She questioned and I went silent.

"Who is she?"

"It's not any girl, Lu. You know it's you that I love and wanna be with."

"So, what could be so important that you can't just have a fucking date with me and listen to me?" She asked, her tone filled with anger.

I sighed in frustration, giving up. "I was just waiting to see if Vincent sent me a text, okay?"

"Vincent?" Her face turned into distain . "What for?"

"We got into a small fight earlier, I mean I didn't mean to but—, it was bad I guess and now he's not talking to me."

Lu scoffed. "Is it about him going out yesterday with Tae and that succubus?"

"I may have confronted him about it in a....not so good way, and he got mad."

"If he got mad that you confronted him about it, that's not on you, my love." Lu said as she threw her hair back. "That is on him, so never forget that." She said and held my hand, flashing me a smile. "I think it's good he is taking some time off, you should probably do the same. He's not your boyfriend, or your brother, so you shouldn't have to over worry about him. Maybe you both need a break from each other and this is what's best. For you all to think and have space." She said and I felt a bit irked by her response.

"He doesn't have to be my boyfriend for me to worry about him and be sad that he didn't text me. He is like a brother to me, so let's be careful what we say, Lu." I said, a bit irritated.

Luciana swallowed. "You know I didn't mean it that way. I just think, you both need some time off away from each other and I know I'm not wrong." She shrugged. "But anyways," she pulled her hand back. "I was just trying to help my boyfriend, but thank you for calling me dumb."

I sighed softly. "Babe, I didn't call you dumb."

"You technically did."

I shut my eyes for a split second. I really did not have time for some argument that might spiral out of this, so I had to take the first step.

"Babe. I'm sorry you feel that way, that was not my intention, and I didn't mean it that way. You know I love you and I think you are the smartest girl ever." I said, beaming at her.

"Flattery will get you nowhere." She said, but what she didn't know was that she was already slowly smiling.

I smirked. "That doesn't seem true since it's working on your sexy self."

"Go away." She said, covering her face with the menu.

I laughed.

She laughed.

"You are such an amazing girlfriend, you know that right?" I asked as I took her hand in mine and kissed it.

"I know, and you are such an amazing boyfriend too."

"I try. I try." I said and leaned back on my chair.

"Don't look at your phone till we are done. I don't want you worrying about Vincent, he has friends now, so focus on me cause he is not thinking about you right now. He's probably hanging out with Tae and Maleficent."

"She has a name though," I said with a chuckle.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Rachel Berry."

I laughed. "I think she's more badass and would be Santana instead."

"Don't correct me." She sneered. "I know what I said and she's that."

I chuckled. "You just hate her guts."

"I do." She nodded. "And nothing can change my mind."

I just smiled, but then I thought of what she said and about Vincent being with his friends and not thinking about me. Would I eventually lose my friendship with him?

"Okay so, look at this, what do you think about this dress?" She asked and handed me her phone with a big grin.

I forced a smile as I took the phone. "Hmm. It's beautiful."

"I might get it and wear it tomorrow night"

I frowned. "Tomorrow night? What's the occasion?"

"Xavier's throwing a party? How didn't you remember?"

I chuckled. "We are in our last year, I don't think Xavier should be throwing parties every week."

Lu grimaced. "You're almost sounding like your best friend. There's nothing wrong with having fun, besides you're also one of the smartest and intelligent kids at school, so you don't have much to worry about." She beamed.

"You stay the smartest by reading, my love."

"If you get a bad grade, just....fix it with money." She shrugged. "It's easy."

"Well, I'm not that kind of a person, thank you for the offer."

"I'm not either." Lu shrugged.

I was bored.

♦️JUST FRIENDS♦️

VINCENT'S POV
SUNDAY NIGHT

"Lower your voice, will you? We not the only ones here." I said.

"My voice wasn't loud, Vinnie, you are just paranoid. But, I apologise, Narnia." He said and I rolled my eyes at him, smacking his arm and he laughed.

"Vincent?"

I turned with a smile to the voice calling me and standing some feet away from me was Julian with a confused expression on his face, and my smile slowly disappeared.

"You are...here?" He seemed shocked, honestly a week ago me would be shocked too.

"Why shouldn't he be? It's a party." Katherine shot. "You're here."

"Um, oh! I uh...I was just s-surprised." He stuttered.

"Why? Expecting him to die in his bedroom?" Tae asked, while I just stood there.

This was getting.....tensed.

"Um, no not that." Julian nervously chuckled and looked at me for help, but I just looked away. "Um, if you guys don't mind, can I have a couple minutes to talk to Vince?"

"I do mind." Tae gave him a smile. "We do mind."

"You can say what you wanna say to him," Katherine shrugged. "Here."

"I—"

"Guys," I turned to them. "It's okay, it'll just be a couple minutes."

"Seriously?" Tae gave me a disappointed look.

"I'll be okay." I told him.

"Don't let him gaslight you, that's all men do." He said to me, and I nodded.

"If you say so, love." Katherine said and looked at me. "Come find us when he's done." She said and began to leave, she stopped in-front of Jules and said with a threatening smile.

"Hurt him and I'll hurt you too, it's my field." She said and walked past him, while Tae gave him a look of distain and just walked past him.

"Wow." Julian's brows flew up. "Um, they seem really nice."

"Cause they are."

"And protective of you."

"Because they are. They are my friends," I said, not sparing him a glance. "What do you want, Decker?"

"You weren't answering my calls or replying my texts." He said and this time I looked at him.

"Gee. I wonder why."

"You've never been mad at me for this long." He said, his voice low. "I'm sorry."

I said nothing.

"I did not mean to be an asshole, I just miss hanging out with you and nothing can excuse me being a dick." He said, not taking his eyes off me. "I miss you."

Now, I was biting my inner cheek because I knew I was gonna betray myself and forgive him. I missed him too, and I really couldn't be mad at him for long. I grew up with this boy, most importantly; I love this boy, and so I was fucking done for.

I looked at him and he had a soft smile on his face, his eyes filled with guilt while I just stared at him. I hated seeing him sad, especially because of me. I was so in love with this boy, and I knew the next thing that was gonna come out my mouth was-

"I forgive you." I said. "I'm not....like...okay, I was mad mad, because you just didn't wanna listen and all I do is listen when it comes to you. And, I cannot exactly stay mad at you for long anyways." I smiled at him.

Julian smiled widely and pulled me into a tight hug. "I'm sorry I was a dick."

"You owe me lunch for like a month."

"Eat the rich, huh?"

"You know." I said with a laugh as we pulled away from each other.

"Besides, Olivia said she would kill me if we breakup as friends."

"And I believe her. She loves me more than you sometimes." I said with a shrug.

"True." He said and looked at my cup. "What are you drinking."

"Chocolate flavoured vodka."

"Ooooouuuu." He grinned. "Look at you."

"Shut up." I smacked his chest.

"You do know this is Xavier's party, right?" Julian asked with a frown.

I sighed. "I know."

"You hate hate his guts."

I sighed again. "I know. I'm crashing his party."

Julian laughed. "This not how to crash a party."

"Well, I don't go to parties, you know that." I shrugged.

"You crash by doing things you shouldn't be doing."

I frowned, confused. "Like what?"

"Dancing.  Come on." He said and held my hand, pulling me along with him. My eyes were about to bulge out of their sockets as he pulled me with him.

"Wait—"

Julian pulled me to the floor were everyone was, dancing their asses off. Wobble up was blasting through the speakers and Julian was in front of me with a big smile busting some good ass moves while I just watched and laughed, cheering for him. He did have a lot of rhythm and of course he had to, was black.

Julian twirled and turned to me with a smile on his face and then pointed at me and I laughed at him.

"You expect me to top that?"

"Maybe not, but I know you can bust some moves. So give them to me."

He wasn't wrong. I did know how to do some moves and only because he used to teach me. Growing up, he'd show me every new dance move he learned because of a day some kids would challenge us to a dance, all thanks to the step up movies he used to see.

I looked around. "Uh, no." I chuckled. "There are so many people here."

"And they are all minding their businesses, Vince. Come on." He said, arms stretched.

And so, I did so.

And no, they did not mind their business. They started to focus on Julian and I dancing and laughing, pausing for the other to take over.

And then under the influence by Chris brown started playing and it was a bit of a slower pace. "Ooohh, this is a good song for a sexual scenery or dance."

I chuckled. "It is?"

He nodded. "Of course. You wanna dance to it?"

I blinked, ready to say yes, but then I spotted Xavier watching us with a red cup in his hand and my heart stopped. I looked back at Julian with a small smile and shook my head.

"I think I'm gonna be at the back for a bit."

Julian nodded. "Sure. Don't go into the pool, you know you can't swim, that's one thing you and Lu have in common." He said and I rolled my eyes.

Julian chuckled. "I'll get us some drinks."

"Yes, sir." I genuinely smiled and made my way to the backyard.

I looked around at the people who were either standing and talking, making out, or swimming. Also, the making out was also happening in the pool, and I really hope that was all and nothing more was happening underneath.

I stood, hugging myself and taking in the air. It might have seemed like I was watching everybody, but honestly I wasn't, I didn't even wanna be here surrounded by people I didn't know or talked to. My anxiety was eating me up slowly, but I couldn't take Xavier's creepy stare anymore.

"Vincent! Fancy seeing you here." I heard behind me, I took in a deep breath before turning to the voice, knowing who it belonged to.

"Lu!" I faked a smile. "Lovely running into you."

"Hmm." She faked a smile as well, holding a beer cup. "You don't look bad." She said scanning my outfit.

"Hmm. Thanks." I said and turned away from her and at the pool.

"So, why are you here?" She questioned, standing beside me and also looking at the people in the pool.

"The same reason you're here. Cause there's a party, Lu."

"Last I remembered, wasn't your scenery."

I flashed her a smile. "Someone's been stalking me."

"Oh please," she scoffed. "You're not that interesting. Everybody just know you're not a party person."

I chuckled. "Actually people who just don't mind their businesses, let's be specific."

"Did Julian call you here?"

I sighed, frustratedly. "Why do you care, Lu?"

Lu glanced over her shoulder, then smiled at me with a smile I'd label as mischievous. "I just want to make things right between us, Vinnie."

I frowned. "Don't call me Vinnie."

She cleared her throat and nodded. "I'm sorry for what I'm about to do to you."

I raised an eyebrow, confused. "What do you mean?"

But before I could press her for answers, she wrapped me in a tight hug, catching me off guard. I stood stiff, not reciprocating the embrace.

"You'll see," she whispered, her grip tightening.

"Okay, that's enough now. Let go, we are not friends." I said, starting to feel uncomfortable. But she only squeezed harder, making it difficult to breathe. "Lu, stop." I said but she didn't and I started to feel uneasy.

"Lu seriously, that's enough!" I pushed her away slightly, yet she flung herself into the pool with a small smile on her face that was there for just a second, her scream echoing through the air as she fell.

Lu surfaced, gasping for breath, and began flailing her arms wildly. That's when I heard him scream her name, his voice echoing across the water.

"'LU!!' Julian's scream made me flinch. I turned my gaze to him to see him thrust the drinks in his hand into the chest of a bystander, not even noticing the splashing liquid. With a desperate leap as if he would lose her in a second, he launched himself into the pool, the water splashing everywhere. I watched Julian stroked through the water swiftly, his eyes fixed on Lu's struggling form.

Julian reached for her, then wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to safety, lifting her out with the help of others. Water streamed down their bodies as he held her close, his face filled with relief.

"Hey, are you okay?" He asked her. "Someone get me a towel!" He shouted.

"Vince, what the fuck? I told you she couldn't swim!" Julian's yelled, his voice in a mix of anger and panic as he glared at me.

His eyes were blazing with accusation.

I stood there, m, my frown deepening in confusion at what was happening right now.

"W-What are you talking about? I didn't push her." I protested

"You did." LU's tears contradicted me. "I just fucking came to give you a hug and I don't know what beef you have with me but I didn't deserve that. I don't blame you because you probably didn't know I couldn't swim." She said, her voice trembling. Her words trailed off, a mix of pain and betrayal etched on her face.

What was happening?

"What the hell?" I was shook.

I knew she was a demon, I just didn't know what was in her sleeves.

"No," Julian said. "He knew. I literally told you she couldn't swim before I went to get drinks. Why the fuck would you do that?" He asked as he got up, glaring daggers at me.

"I did not fucking push her, Julian!" My voice was rising with desperation.

"We know what we saw." A girl said and I turned to her.

I turned to the girl. "And who the fuck are you?" I asked, angrily. But as I looked behind her, I realized with a sinking feeling that everyone was staring at us, their faces filled with judgment.

Julian's voice was laced with disgust and disappointment. "I know you don't like her, but I never thought you'd be this careless." His words felt like a punch to the gut, and I could feel my chest cracking under the weight of his doubt.

"Julian....."I begged, my voice cracking. "I didn't push her. You have to believe me."

"This is definitely not the Vincent I know."

A girl helped Lu get up, the towel wrapped around her.

"Julian, let's just go." Lu sniffed, her voice trembling. She was holding onto Julian's arm. I watched him hold her, kiss her forehead with so much love and worry, and then turned to me, his demeanor changing and going dark.

"Julian," I called softly.

"Vince?" I heard Tae call. I turned and saw him and Katherine running to my side.

"Vin, what's going on?" Katherine asked, appearing beside me, her voice laced with concern as she grasped my hand.

But I couldn't tear my gaze away from Julian's accusatory stare. The fact that he thought me capable of such a heinous act cut deeper than any knife.

"He pushed Lu into the pool knowing she couldn't swim. That's snake behavior!" the girl beside Katherine sneered, her words dripping with venom.

I turned to Katherine and Tae, my eyes welling up with tears as I protested, "I—I didn't push her."

But the blonde girl snarled, "Stop lying, we all saw you!"

Katherine's grip on my hand tightened as she snapped at the girl, "Hey! I'd advise you to shut the fuck up right about now, or you'll be the one who drowns tonight."

"He said he didn't push her." Tae said. "So, he didn't."

"I saw him do it." Julian said.

"Wow, Vincent." Xavier sighed, while I just stared at Julian. "I mean, I knew you were weird. But we all didn't know you were this fucked up." He scoffed.

"She was fucking squeezing me tight and I..I tried to pull away but she wouldn't let me go and I didn't push her t-that hard into the pull. I didn't. She fell o-on her own!! " I yelled.

"'STOP LYING!" Julian's voice thundered, making me recoil as if struck. He caught himself, swallowing hard, and turned away, his chest heaving with emotion.

But before the tension could dissipate, Tae stepped forward, his eyes blazing with fury. "Hey!" he barked. "You don't get to yell at him like that! He's not your servant, not some inferior being you can belittle. If he says he didn't do it, then he didn't fucking do it. Maybe you should question your precious girlfriend, since you seem to be the only one oblivious to her true nature - that girl with her crocodile tears is nothing but devious, manipulative, and evil.'" Tae's words hung in the air like a challenge, his gaze daring Julian to deny the truth.

"Hey!  Take her name out your mouth." Julian glared daggers at Tae.  However Tae stood his ground, his voice unwavering.

"Then don't ever yell at him again. You're not his father, and your condescending attitude won't fly here." Julian's face reddened, his fists clenched, as Tae continued, "I speak the truth about your girlfriend and you get defensive? That's rich. Do you even know the girl you're dating?" Tae's gaze shifted to Lu, his expression twisting in disgust. "She's a toxic manipulator, a user, and a fucking cunt,"he spat, the word dripping with venom.

Katherine rushed forward, her voice shrill with urgency. 'Julian, fucking stop!' she yelled, but Julian's rage seemed uncontainable. I'd seen him fight before, and it was a sight to behold - his skills were almost superhuman, like he belonged alongside the Avengers. Tae, on the other hand, was no match for Julian's ferocity, and I feared for his safety as the beating continued."

Julian instantly struck Tae's face with a punch. I gasped, recoiling in horror as the two boys erupted into a fierce brawl. "Tae! Julian, stop!l I screamed but they weren't paying attention to me but to their anger.

Julian pinned Tae to the ground, unleashing a flurry of punches that Tae struggled to deflect. Tae punched back, hitting Julian just as hard.

Katherine rushed forward, her voice shrill with urgency. "Julian, fucking stop!"she yelled, but Julian's rage seemed uncontainable.

I'd seen him fight before, and it was a sight to behold - his skills were almost superhuman, like he belonged alongside the Avengers. Tae, on the other hand, was no match for Julian's ferocity, and I feared for his safety as the beating continued."

"Julian!" I shouted, and rushed to him. I tried to intervene and pull him off Tae, but Julian was angry. He turned his gaze back for a second and the next thing I felt was a sharp pain. His fist had connected with my face like a sledgehammer, sending me to the ground. The world around me seemed to have gone dark, and all I could hear was the sound of my own ragged breathing.

"Vincent!" Katherine's voice pierced the fog, her words laced with panic. "Oh my god, baby, are you okay?"

I tried to nod, but the motion sent a wave of agony coursing through my face. I felt a warm, sticky liquid dripping from my nose, pooling on the floor like a crimson stain. My fingers trembled as I touched my face, and when I looked at it, I saw blood, mine. The taste of blood filled my mouth, and I knew I was staring into the abyss.

Was I dying?

Fuck.

"'Fucking get off me!" Tae's voice echoed as he struggled to break free from Julian's grasp. He landed a solid punch, sending Julian crashing to the ground and then, he sprinted towards me, his face etched with concern.

"Hey, are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with urgency.

I tried to speak, but the words caught in my throat as I fought to hold back tears. Julian's voice cut through the chaos, soft and laced with shock.

"Vince...."

But I refused to acknowledge him.

Katherine and Tae helped me up, and I clutched my nose, trying to stop the flow of blood. "Okay, that's enough for tonight," Katherine said gently. "Let's take you home."

"Vinnie, I'm sorry, I—" Julian took a step forward, his eyes pleading for forgiveness, but I unleashed my fury.

"No! Stay the fuck away from me!" I yelled, my voice cracking with emotion while he halted. "Get the fuck away!" I repeated, my eyes welling up with tears as I fought to hold them back."

"Vincent," he called, softly.

"Fuck. You. Julian." I said, my throat tightening. "Fuck you."

"'Come on, Vince," Tae said, his voice low and even, but his eyes blazing with fury as he glared at Julian. "He's not worth it. Some best friend he turned out to be. Clearly, he doesn't know you."

Tae wrapped his arm tightly around my waist while Katherine stormed over to Julian, her finger jabbing into his face like a dagger. "You better stay the fuck away from him, you hear me? Or I swear to God, Julian, you're gonna know why everybody doesn't want to get on my bad side." She snarled, her voice venomous. Then, she spun on her heel and marched back to us, her eyes flashing with anger.

We left.

The ride to my home was a silent , at least for me. Tae's voice raged on in the background, he was furious and kept talking about Julian's betrayal and how he hated him, but I tuned it out, lost in my own thoughts. Katherine's gentle touch was a comforting presence, her hand wrapped around mine, a tissue pressed into my palm to stem the flow of blood from my nose.

But I didn't need words or comfort right now. I just needed the quiet, a space to process the shattered remains of my friendship, to wonder how things had gone so wrong, and to try to make sense of the pain and anger swirling inside me.

"Tae," Katherine whispered softly, interrupting Tae's rant. From the driver's seat, Tae looked at the rear view mirror and caught her subtle glance, he seemed to understand the unspoken message. I, meanwhile, gazed out the window, my head resting against the glass as the city lights blurred into a kaleidoscope of color and sound. I lost myself in the quiet of the night.

Tae's voice trailed off, and an uncomfortable silence fell over the car. But it was a silence I needed, a stillness that allowed me to breathe, to think, and to process everything that had happened earlier.

♦️JUST FRIENDS♦️

As we reached my front door, I turned to face them. "Thank you, guys," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. But Katherine's expression was resolute.

"What? We're staying with you tonight," she said, her tone firm but gentle.

I tried to protest, but Tae's words cut me off.

"We need to know you won't bleed to death," he said, his brows furrowed. "And I know you need us," he added, his eyes searching mine.

I shook my head, feeling a lump form in my throat. 'Actually, I just...I just want to be alone, please,"I said, my voice cracking with emotion. The words felt like a betrayal, but I couldn't shake the need for solitude, for a chance to process the pain and hurt that threatened to overwhelm me.

Kat's eyes searched mine, seeking reassurance. "You sure?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

I nodded, trying to appear more convincing than I felt. "Yeah."

Katherine's expression softened, and she nodded slightly. "Okay, baby. I'll see you tomorrow?" she asked, her tone gentle. I murmured a reply, my voice barely audible. She crossed the distance between us and gave me a warm hug. "I am so sorry about tonight," she whispered.

I forced a smile, trying to downplay the pain. "It's okay,"

I lied.

Tae's came to me and hugged me as well, tighter. "I'll call you, okay?" He said.

"Okay,"

"And, call me if you need anything...or anyone." He added.

I nodded, knowing I wouldn't. "I will."

I lied again.

Tae pulled back, his eyes locking onto mine, "Goodnight, V." He said softly.

"Goodnight." I replied, my voice trembling as I struggled to hold back tears. I turned away quickly, escaping into the solitude of my home, the door closing behind me like a shield."

As I walked into the house and began making my way to my room, Victor came out of the kitchen in just a bathroom, holding a bowl of popcorn and some drinks. His eyes widened in surprise, his eyebrows shooting up.

"Oh, you're....home."

It was obvious he had company.

"So tell me," he smiled. "How was the party?"

"Fine." I faked a smile.

Victor frowned. "What happened? You don't look—"

"It was fine." I said as I began making my way up the stairs.

"Holy shit, Vince, did you get into a fight?" Victor asked, his voice laced with concern.

But I was beyond reason. I spun around, my emotions boiling over. "I said it was FUCKING FINE!!" I screamed, my voice echoing off the walls. "I had the best fucking night of my life, Victor! It was FUCKING FINE, so LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!l I screamed, my words dripping with anger.

Victor's eyes went wide, he had that look on his face that said you're not doing as good as you said you are.

Then, the dam broke. The tears I'd been holding back burst forth like a torrent, streaming down my face. I turned and fled to my room, slamming the door shut behind me. I leaned against it to block out Victor's worried calls. My back against the door, I let the tears consume me, my throat constricting as I sobbed, the pain and hurt finally unleashed down my cheeks, my throat hurting as it tightened.

"Vince?" Victor called softly, from outside the door.  "Do you wanna talk?"

I shook my head and sniffed. I wanted to speak but I couldn't, and just remained silent. I walked over to my bed and laid on it, cuddling myself as I cried into my pillow.

It hurt.

It did. That Julian did that to me. Didn't believe me. Hurt me.

I would never have thought.

Lu had a mission, and she definitely got an A+ on killing it tonight. The rift she wanted, she got it. And it was not my fault.

Or was it?

Just then, a knock on my door came again.

I remained silent.

It continued.

"Victor, go away!"

It continued.

I got mad. I got up and marched towards my door, I pulled it open in annoyance.

"I SAID—"

I swallowed back my words once I saw Tae standing in front of me, a small smile on his face, and a hand in one pocket.

"I was gonna go home but you looked like you were gonna cry any minute and I couldn't just walk away because I knew you wouldn't call me even though you needed me."
My smile was upside down.

"I'm fine Tae, really."

Tae smiled. "If you were, you wouldn't be crying." He said and wiped a tear off my face.

I stared at him, unable to say a word because my throat was tightened and I knew more tears were about to come. My heart arched.

"I'm not fine." I said, my voice cracked. I sniffed and wiped my tears immediately.

"I know. Can I come in?" He asked, his brows raised.

I nodded and went in. He came into my room, closing the door behind him.

"I just," I looked away from him, pausing as my throat closed. "I didn't push her, Tae."

"Hey," Tae walked over to me and placed both his hands on my cheek softly. "I know. I know you didn't. I believe you, okay? You might act all mighty and tough but I know you wouldn't hurt a fly and definitely not try to drown someone."

"You believe me?"

"Of course, stupid. And whoever doesn't is more stupid." He pulled me into a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around him and sobbed into his chest while he gently patted the back of my head.

♦️ JUST FRIENDS ♦️

3AM.

"Why do you love him?" Tae asked out of the blue. He was cuddling me as we both had laid in silence on my bed for a while.  I couldn't get myself to fall asleep, and it seemed he couldn't get either.

"What?" I played dumb.

"Julian," he replied. "Why do you....love him? I mean, I get he's hot, but, there's got to be more, right? With the way he treats you." He said, sounding concerned.

"He's not a bad person," I said softly, staring into the darkness. "I grew up with him. He is the sweetest person I know."

"I don't see it."

I cracked a smile. "He used to be so caring and I used to be his number one. He became the man I always went to bed praying I would find and would be happy with. He checked all my boxes and I just found myself falling for him. For his laughter, his smile, his walk, the way he talked. Everything."

Tae remained silent for a bit. "I think the greatest sin and abomination a gay guy can commit is falling for a straight man. It never ends well." Tae paused. "Julian doesn't treat you right, and I don't think you deserve that." He softly said, his finger gently brushing on my hand continuously.  "Even as a best friend."

"It's all because of her."

"I mean, you can't exactly blame her for his actions, Vinnie. He's a grown man that can make his own decisions, and even if she's a conniving bitch or whatever, he still is a grown ass man."

I said nothing.

"I know I don't know him like you do, but if someone came up to me to tell me you wanted to drown them? I'd laugh, because you couldn't." He paused for a while and I felt the tears coming.

"You couldn't hurt a fly, Vincent. I mean, you'd think about hurting it but you wouldn't hurt a fly. You're too good for this world, and that's why I worry about you."

I turned to look at Tae, his eyes boring into mine. "The world hasn't always been kind to me anyways, so it's just another challenge I'd overcome."

"The world really is an asshole."

I huffed. "Just this once, Tae, just this once I want everything to fall into place."

Tae stroked my cheek. "It will be now that you've got me.....and Katherine."

I smiled, resting my head against his chest as I didn't want him to see me cry, but he seemed to already know because he held me closer.

♦️ JUST FRIENDS ♦️

MONDAY

I slowly opened my eyes, staring at the wall before me until I felt a hand around my waist and heard a slight snore beside me. I gently took Tae's hand off and sat up, turning to look at him.

How could someone look so good while sleeping? I smiled softly and got out of bed as quietly as I could. I opened my wardrobe and looked into it, taking out a shirt, black pants and my towel.

I took my shower in our shared bathroom and walked back into my room all dressed up. Tae was still asleep and I would have let him sleep but we had school.

"Tae." I called but he didn't wake. "Tae, get up." I shook him.

"Hmm." He gripped my hand and pulled me down, I gasped as I fell beside him snd he held me tightly.  "Five more minutes." He grumbled, his voice hoarse.

"Tae, we have school." I said, unable to move.

"Fuck school."

I frowned. "Not to me." I struggled to get off his grip, my face buried in his chest, but he wouldn't budge. 

I sighed. "Tae, I have a good record and I plan to keep it that way, get the fuck up and go home and get changed."

"I don't wanna go home, we can skip today." He murmured.

I sighed again. "Tae, we need to go to school."

"Fine." He let go off me and sat up. "Where do I shower?"

I frowned, confused. "What do you mean? Your house?"

"No, we're going to school together." He said as he scratched his head, looking so tired.

"Tae, I—"

"Do you want us to go late? And do you have a spare toothbrush?"

I bit my bottom lip. I hate to admit but I was embarrassed of having Tae get to comfortable at my place knowing where we both were financially.

"V, I will lay back on this bed if you don't direct me."

I sighed and got out of bed. "Come on, and yes, I have a spare toothbrush." I said as I walked to my dresser, opening it.

"Why do you have a spare toothbrush? Whore." He said and I gave him the middle finger. Tae smiled in response while I took out the new toothbrush in my dresser and handed it to him.

"Thank you, V." He said as he took it and yawned.

"Now come on." I said and walked out of my room with him following closely behind.

"What's for breakfast?" He asked.

"I don't know. Cereal?"

"Cereal?" He sounded disgusted. "Is that what you eat every morning?" He asked while we walked down the hall.

"Not every morning, jus some morning." I said as I stood in front of a door and turned to him. "Here's the bathroom."

"Thank you." He rubbed his eyes like a child and walked in. "Next time, don't shower without me." He said before closing the door.

"So unserious." I huffed and walked back into my room. I fixed my hair, packed my bag and went downstairs.

"Good morning, Vinnie. How was the party last night?" Victor asked from the kitchen, a cup of coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other.

"I don't wanna talk about it." I sighed. "What's on today's news?" I asked, referring to the newspaper in his hand.

Victor gave a heavy sigh. "Nothing important, really. Same old, we are all doomed as humans."

"Ah. Same old." I said as I walked to the cabinet and took out two cereal bowls and spoons.

I was nervous about going to school, I was going to see Julian and his girlfriend and people probably thought I was a murderer or something. Fuck, I hated Luciana.

"You look a bit disturbed." Victor said as I walked back to the counter.

"I am disturbed, I live with you." I replied.

"Funny. But that's not it." He said and I looked up at him.

"I'm fine. Just had a tiring night from all the partying, so yeah." I shrugged.

Just then the front door opened and mom walked in with a sigh. She took off her scarf and closed the door behind her, her bag in one hand. Her hair was in a very mussy bun.

"Hey, boys." She walked over to us.

"Mommy." I walked to her and gave her a hug.

"Hi, baby." She kissed my cheek.

"How was work?"

"One of my best night shifts, I'd say." She said as she walked to the kitchen.

"You should take some days off." Victor advised.

"Oh, that's okay. I've got tomorrow off, so I get to rest as much as I need to today and tomorrow."

"Oh dear, let me make you both some breakfast before you both head out."

"Ma, we are good, really." I stopped her.

"You just got home, get your ass upstairs , take a shower and sleep. We are fine." Victor said. "And I need you to stop working two shifts, I already said I'd handle it."

"Well, we need as much as we can get."

"Then let me work."

"You know I can't, love. We need you focused on your studies to get a scholarship into a good school and come out great." She said and I looked at Victor who was already looking at me.

Sometimes I felt suffocated by the pressure that it scared me not do so well. It felt like it was my duty to turn everything around and Victor never got into college because he didn't receive an application letter and Mom decided not to make "mistakes" with me.

"V, you have very poor fashion sense I have to say." We all turned to the voice coming from the staircase and there he was, coming down and looking at what he was wearing. "Your clothes need to be burn—ed." Tae froze once he saw all three of us looking at him.

He was wearing a black shirt of me that seemed to fit him perfectly and almost was cropped on him. Tae looked at me and I shook my head, embarrassed.

Shit.

Tae walked over to us with a smile. "Good morning, Lockharts."

"Kids, who is this?" Mom asked.

"Mom, this is uh....Tae. He's a friend of mine from school and um...Tae, my mom." I introduced.

"It is lovely to meet you, Mrs. Lockhart." He said as he shook her hand. "You are very beautiful."

Mom chuckled slightly, seeming unsure of how to react. "Um, thank you, Tae."

"We uh, had a study session and so he stayed the night yesterday."

"Oh, well lovely to meet you then, Tae. Since you are in my home, let me make you some breakfast."

"Ma, that isn't necessary." I shook my head.

"Wait, are you the one with the car parked in-front of my house?"

Tae nodded. "That would be me." He said with a nod. "And do not worry about the breakfast, you seem really tired and should get you some rest. And tell me, ma'am, how is it that you are stunning and your son Vincent is the exact opposite?"

Victor snorted, stopping himself from laughing. I glared at him while Mom chuckled softly.

"My son is very handsome but thank you very much." She grinned.

"You know what? We are gonna leave now." I said and grabbed my bag. "See you guys later." I said and left first.

"Um, lovely to meet you guys." I heard Tae say.

"Bye, Tae. Visit again." Victor said.

"Sure will! If you'll have me."

I turned to them.

Mom nodded. "Of course. And when you come next time, I'll make you a delicious meal."

Tae grinned. "I'd like that. I'll let Vince let you know when I'd be around then."

"Very well then." Mom smiled. She looked pleased with him and I felt a sense of relief.

"Let us go!" I yelled.

"What's wrong?" Tae asked, closing the door behind him. "Are you mad that I said you weren't stunning?"

"Tae, as a matter of fact I actually do not care." I said as I walked over to the passenger's side of the car and waited for him.

Tae grinned and walked to his car, resting on it to look at me with a taunting smile. "You know you are so beautiful."

"I really don't care."

"I was joking, babe. I just needed to win your mom over, but you're prettier."

I sighed heavily. "Tae, we are gonna be late. And stop calling me babe, stupid."

"Okay, babe." He unlocked his car and got in. I rolled my eyes in annoyance and got in as well.

"You know, I kinda like this shirt." He said, looking down at my shirt which he had on. "Who is it?"

My brows knitted, I was confused. "Who is what?"

"The designer?" He asked as he started the car and began to drive

I blinked at him. "Designer? I don't know. It's....thrifted."

He frowned, looking confused. "Like....it cost a hundred bucks?"

"What? Why would I buy a shirt for hundred bucks."

Tae huffed. "I was gonna ask."

"It was like....two dollars or so?"

Tae smile slowly faded. "Two dollars?? That can get you a shirt? Damn, you're broke broke."

"Fuck you, Tae."

"I didn't mean it in a bad way. The point is it's cheap, way too cheap, but it looks good." He shrugged. "It also explains why you always dress like a die hard catholic."

"What? I dress fine." I looked down at my fit.

"Yeah. But like you are going for some evangelism and want to win souls so you can get thanked by the pastor or priest."

"Tae, I don't like you right now."

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding." He chuckled. "Kinda."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Let's just get to school."

"Can we stop for breakfast?"

I gave him a look. "Tae, we are gonna be late."

"School doesn't start until the next thirty minutes, Kurt Hummel. We can stop for some breakfast."

"I can't afford to be late."

"Well, I can, but I'll make adjustments." He winked at me.

I shook my head at him. There was no winning an argument with Tae.

Stupid.