Jesse sat at the edge of the bench, pressing the strings of the acoustic guitar and strumming. He played a slow tune, his mind wandering as he tried different chords and arrangements.

He was so... lost.

Jesse closed his eyes. It was only yesterday when he and his boyfriend, Lukas, was involved in the car accident which fatally killed him.

His dying words still echoing in Jesse's mind as the brunette kept playing the guitar. How could he have been so careless?

Lukas was someone good. Someone he'd always admired and loved. But it was just torture that fate greedily decided to change its mind that day.

The two had been crossing the road together, making their way to a candy store which sold their favourite sweets. Jesse could even remember Lukas's laugh as they excitedly talked about what type of candy they were going to get.

Jesse was never going back to that candy store ever again without remembering Lukas. After all, it was how they even met in the first place. The blonde was working there, bored out of his mind until Jesse came along.

Lukas has always been the cool, confident guy, with a cute accent and his laughter... it was something Jesse wasn't going to hear ever again.

"Don't give up," Jesse whispered, opening his eyes to find that his vision was clouded with tears, "Live on for me. Move on."

If he kept repeating Lukas's last words... he'd never move on.

Lucky for Jesse, he managed to escape the accident without a scratch, since Lukas had pushed Jesse out of the way in the last second. And that final gesture was his... final act.

"Excuse me."

Jesse looked up, his fingers nearly slipping off the fret as he stared up at the tall guy, standing in front of him.

"Uh.." the boy looked at him, "Are you alright?"

"Fine." Jesse immediately replied, feeling annoyed by the sudden interruption. If this guy didn't interrupt him... he could've continued his daydream of him and Lukas.

The boy sat beside him on the bench, tilting his head down to look at Jesse. "You don't look alright... do you need someone to talk to?"

Jesse sighed, holding his guitar close and purposely looking away from the guy. Why was he so annoying?

"It's okay if you don't wanna talk," Jesse felt the bench move a little when the guy stood up, "I'll get going now, but just saying, I hope you feel better soon. My name's Axel by the way," he held out a hand, which Jesse looked away from, feeling upset.

"My best friend died." Jesse muttered, still holding the guitar close.

At the corner of his eye, he saw Axel freeze, one hand on the bench and his outstretched hand falling limply by his side. "Oh."

"Look," Jesse started to stand, "I appreciate you noticing and possibly trying to comfort me but I'm-."

He didn't get to complete his sentence when the boy pulled him in for a hug. Jesse stared at Axel, who let him go after a few seconds.

"Why did you just freaking hug me?" Jesse asked, completely shocked as the guy rubbed the back of his neck bashfully.

"My mom says that hugs makes people feel better, to be honest. But sorry, if you didn't like it. I mean, we're strangers but-."

Jesse stepped back a little more, staring at Axel, who had turned red with embarrassment.

However... something about that hug felt... strangely familiar. The same feeling he had whenever Lukas used to hug him.

"Look," Jesse repeated, holding up his hands, "I appreciate.. whatever this is, nice meeting you, but just.." he glanced at the sun, which was slowly starting to sink.

"Thanks." Jesse muttered, pulling his scarf over his mouth to keep out the cold and dashing off, leaving Axel behind.

That was so weird.. who.. hugs people out of nowhere? Especially some stupid crying guy sitting on a bench with a guitar.?

Jesse placed the guitar in his case and scowled, rubbing his arms as everything became slightly colder.

Winter was here... but this was going to be his first christmas without... Lukas.

How could he celebrate a time of the year when his best friend wasn't around.? It wouldn't be the same. Nothing would ever be the same without Lukas. Nothing-

Jesse gasped when he slipped on a slippery patch of ice and fell, right while he was crossing the road.

Crap- he was so busy thinking about Lukas, that he forgot to check both ways before crossing the road-

Jesse grabbed his guitar and tried to stand but a sudden flash of light nearly blinded him, making Jesse shield his eyes to see a truck, heading straight for him.

He quickly tried to stand but Jesse knew he wasn't going to make it to the other side fast enough-

"Gotcha!" Someone pulled him back, out of the road and back to the pavement.

"Ow-!" he winced when he landed on his arm, but he looked up just in time to see the truck flash past, avoiding him by just a couple of seconds.

He turned, to see that guy again... that big goon who hugged him awkwardly.

The two regarded each other for awhile, the taller male waiting for something as Jesse stared up at him.

"Aren't you gonna say something?" The guy asked, a small smile on his face as Jesse continued to stare at him.

"O-oh.. right.." Jesse glanced at the road again, and back at Axel who held out a hand for him to stand.

"Aren't you gonna say something?" Lukas laughed as he handed Jesse a piece of free candy, waving it in front of the shorter brunette's face. Jesse smirked and snatched the candy out of his hand.

"Thank you." Jesse grinned, pulling Lukas into a kiss, and making him blush so badly, his manager had to send him to shovel the snow out of the path as punishment.

Jesse wasn't sure he could ever make anyone blush as badly as Lukas did anymore.

But this guy...

Jesse took his outstretched hand, feeling something familiar in that simple gesture.

"Thank you." he told the taller guy, who smiled.

Made Jesse feel like Lukas was still around.

-End