"Wish I could stay longer," he whispered in her ear. Her face was buried in his shoulder as they embraced.

"I wish I could stay."

Malcolm took each step up the stairs with patience towards his little brother's room. Sleep had hardly paid him a visit last night and he was sure his brother was completely languid. Normally a Saturday was a banquet in the desert to the two boys but today was only a heartache.

The hallway was dark and cold from the distance to the vents at the front of the house. A silence fell over it as well. Only the running faucet in the kitchen made the slightest noise, with the occasional feminine sigh and juvenile cough. His path seemed to narrow the closer he came to the door.

"Is there any way I can write to you?"

"You know the address," he answered stepping away. "Course with the band gettin' bigger I don't suppose I'll be there forever."

"Has Angus' band kicked off?" the girl asked, her hazel eyes glistening. Malcolm cracked a sympathetic grin, tapping his fingers on her shoulders.

"Hasn't even started, tell ya' the truth," he chuckled. "He's still savin'. Hey, if he ever makes it big you ought to go see him. He'd like that." Hannah glanced down and murmured,

"I'd like it too."

At last he reached the end of the hall , Angus' door right across from his own. His fist rose up to knock, but hesitation held him back. What would he say to Angus? What would Angus say to him? He might not even be up for talking, especially if the fate of sleep spared him. One hand rested on the doorknob, the other hand rapping softly. With a turn of his wrist the door was open. Angus was still in his bed, one arm draped over the side while the other lay hidden. His eyes were closed, his hair a tangled mess, and his face no better. The tissues had continued to accumulate on the floor and there were now three glasses of water on his nightstand.

Malcolm didn't want to wake him up. Angus could be cranky with a full eight hours and he was not sticking around should he wake up with less. Turning on his heel he sneaked out of the room. "Mal..."

He turned to the croak behind him. Angus' red eyes were open and he shifted so both of his arms were visible. His curls fell in his face refusing to stay when he moved them. Surely their mother would have him get it cut. "Yeah?"

"Could you snag me a couple of smokes?"

Malcolm scoffed. "Does it look like I'm made of money?"

"No, go get some of Dad's."

"That's the worst idea, if I get caught I'm dead, if he notices they're missing, I'm dead. If he catches you you're dead."

"I'm dying right now without a smoke, Mal, this cold is killin' me."

"Which is why you shouldn't be smokin' at all," the older boy reasoned. Angus sighed and collapsed back on his bed. Malcolm's hands found his pockets and he raised an eyebrow at his brother. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to do one nice thing for him. Just one. Looking over his shoulder he saw no one listening and no one to cut the plan short. "Tell you what." Angus gave a sidelong glance. "I'll go down to the store an' get some for ya'. How's that?"

"What's the catch?"

"Nothin'. As long as you keep yer mouth shut, I think we'll both be okay." Angus closed his eyes.

"Sure."

"Anythin' specifc, or..."

"Whatever looks the best."

"Well, it might have to be second best," Malcolm said pulling a small sum from his pocket. "Maybe third."

"Whatever you buy."

"You feelin' any better today?"

"Do I look any fuckin' better?" Angus asked pulling the blanket over his face. Malcolm smiled to himself.

"Dunno, can't see you. I'll be right back, Ang, we can talk when I get back."

"No hurry," Angus said his voice slow. Closing his bedroom door, Malcolm trotted down the stairs and grabbed his coat from the table. Dark clouds had recently covered the sun and it looked like rain. If he was quick, he might be able to light one of his own cigarettes on the way home.

"Is this a new job she's got or..."

"It's uh-sort of a family thing, my mom left America to get away from her parents always scratching at her heels I guess, and now she misses her old life," Hannah explained. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and rubbed her wrist. Both children were seated on the front steps of her house talking while they still could. Malcolm's knees were pulled up to his chest while the girl swung hers off the step. "Guess she doesn't care about mine," she muttered.

"Maybe she doesn't know," Malcolm suggested. "Maybe she doesn't realize how much Australia means to you or how much Ang means to you." Hannah wiped her eye and sighed. Malcolm watched her a bit before he asked his question. "Was anything going on between you two?"

"I have no clue," she admitted. "You've known him longer, you've seen him this week. After the dance he took me home...that's all that happened. Oh, and of course the accident." The word spilled out like venom from her lips. A venom that felt worse coming out than going in. Malcolm frowned as well.

"He didn't say anything to you? Admit anything?"

"When does Angus ever admit anything?" Hannah laughed. Deciding the confession laced with delirium to be a mistake, she refrained from divulging anything. Malcolm sighed and glanced at the sky.

"Denial is his strongest profession."

A few drops of water peppered his face right before he entered the corner store. It wasn't busy in the slightest and for that he was thankful. Being sixteen was already a hassle getting cigarettes but his height was in no favor of his either. The man at the desk smiled warmly at him and Malcolm increased his odds at a sale by smiling back. The shelves were high and concealing. He decided to have a quick look around before he began his mission.

Comic books and newspapers livened up one half of the store while frozen goods and alcohol supplied another. He wouldn't mind bringing home a beer or two. Course his mother would smell it before he even walked through the door. Then she'd search his other nooks and crannies in case he smuggled anything else. Angus would kill him for blowing it. He made his way to the candy aisle where he took Angus all the time as kids. Just to look, he would say.

A large bag of Smarties lay on a shelf. The only one left, surrounded by plenty of smaller ones. Angus didn't do small when it came to candy. Especially his favorites. The boy was rather upset the last time he was denied a trophy like this. Malcolm felt a little bad about it ever since, but would doing something about it now take away the guilt? Smarties instead of cigarettes was a much safer purchase yet he knew Angus would find something to get upset about. Malcolm really didn't have enough money for both anyway.

"I bet your new school will be better than our old one," Malcolm encouraged. The bark of the tree behind him poked through his shirt but he didn't have time to care. "You'll make a hundred new friends, you'll graduate top o' the class-"

"I wish the rules here applied there too," she sighed with impatience. "Can't do anything without a diploma and you can't just leave at fifteen."

"Angus would have no choice but to self-destruct," Malcolm laughed. "You really have to go back?" Hannah nodded. "Going to uni at all?"

"No way in hell. I'm not graduating just to get stuck in more school, I'm leaving first chance I get."

"That's the attitude," he smiled. "Real proud of ya'."

Hannah smiled and unashamedly went in for another hug. The bark pressed more firmly but he didn't notice. "You're like the brother I never had," she said into his shoulder. The boy's smile grew three sizes and he kissed her head. Her smile shrank after a fashion when she thought of something else. "I guess that makes Angus the boyfriend I never will have."

His fingers fiddled with the coins in his pocket as he stared at the bag of candy. He would have one left if he bought it. No one else had wandered into the store, and Malcolm was wondering if he could really get away with it. If he would really dare...

He picked the bag up and carried it to the front. It was a loud little thing the whole journey. Lucky for him, cigarettes were much quieter.

"Wish I could still eat these," the cashier said taking Malcolm's attention. "My teeth ain't so good anymore, an' choco gives me heartburn."

"That's too bad," the boy consoled. "They're for my brother, he loves the stuff."

"He gonna share any with you?"

"Not willingly." The man laughed. As the price tag was searched for, Malcolm's eyes searched down at the miniature shelves bolted to the counter. Rows of smokes and matches filled them up. His left hand reached over and drew one pack out, nimbly storing it in his coat pocket. Quickly he looked up to see the man hadn't noticed. In return, Malcolm hadn't noticed he was still talking to him.

"...since 1954, and the whole time he'd be yellin' at me, jumpin' on me, an' it was all I could take not to send him back to the hospital." Malcolm blinked in response, uncertain of the true context.

"Oh," was all he said.

"Yep, brothers are a handful. Three ninety five, please." His right hand clenched all the coins he could and in his haste they sloppily clattered all over the counter.

"Sorry about that," Malcolm admitted.

"No trouble at all." One coin by chance rolled off the counter inciting the man to pick it up. Malcolm's hand again reached for a pack and quickly stored it in his other pocket. He wasn't going without a little treat for himself too. "Still need five cents," the man said after they had been counted.

"Oh." The boy reached into his pants pocket for any more money but found that not a single coin was left for him. Apparently he didn't have as much as he thought. He recalled when Angus "forgot" to pay him back after being lent money for a gumball a few weeks before. One little gumball instead of a whole pack of Smarties. The man noticed the trouble in his search.

"You seem like a good fella, I'll let you have it for less," he said.

"Really?" Malcolm asked. The man collected the coins in his palm and smiled.

"Sure. Not many people have the decency to return a smile, an' you're good to talk to, on a day like today when no one's in your store."

"Well, thanks a lot."

"Tell your brother they're a gift from me."

"Will do." The bag was hoisted into Malcolm's arms and carried home. In the back of his mind he knew sneaking two packs of cigarettes for two underage boys was not a sign of a "good fella", but in the front of his mind he didn't care.

No one at home troubled him as he carried the bag of sugar up to his brother's room. No offer to help, yet no interrogation either. The second trip up the stairs was much less stressful. He knew what he was doing this time.

"Come in," Angus answered as Malcolm knocked. The door swung open to reveal Angus in the exact same spot as he had been left in.

"Hey, Ang."

"What's that?"

"A little somethin', from me to you." The bag was placed on his lap. Angus sat up to get a better look.

"Smarties? What'd you do, ransack the place for the biggest one?"

"Snagged the last one," Malcolm replied with a smug face.

"You didn't chicken out on my smokes, did you?" Angus asked raising an eyebrow. Malcolm took a seat in a nearby chair. The two packs were pulled out from his pockets.

"One for us both." One pack was tossed at Angus and he caught it swiftly.

"Maybe you are made of money," Angus marveled.

"Nah. I paid for the candy, that's it." His brother's eyes widened.

"You mean..." Malcolm grinned. "You won't steal from our own house, but you'll rob a convenience store?"

"I'd feel worse cheating Dad out, ya' know. And hey, I'm robbin' the rich to feed the poor, we need 'em more than they do. Yeah, I paid for those Smarties all right, but I was five cents short." Angus paused opening the package to glance at Malcolm.

"Oh, sorry about that," he blushed. Coughing into his hand he finally tore the bag open. Smarties spilled all over his bed. "Shit. Wait, how'd you pay for these then?"

"Guy let me have them. Five cents short of course." Angus let a small grin slip through his lips. "For bein' a good guy. An' not stealin' a couple cigs."

"You're a real trooper, Mal."

"Damn right, be thankful."

"Thank you, mister." A handful was popped in his mouth, a few handed to his brother's outstretched hand. Both boys chewed their candy in silence.

"How're you doin'?" Malcolm finally asked. Angus shrugged.

"Not great."

"You miss her?"

"The fuck do you think?"

"Okay, sorry I asked," Malcolm sighed. "You goin' to school Monday?"

"Mum says so."

"Maybe she's changed her mind?"

"There's no changing her mind. My eye isn't as noticeable, my hand is fine, an' I've already had my fair share of vacation." Angus took a few more candies.

"I won't lie, goin' back will be rough. I wish I was goin' with you to help with any trouble Johnny deals ya'. I don't care how much he hates you, now is the last time for a scrap."

"I don't want you there, Mal. I'm not a baby, I can take care of myself."

"I know that, but supposin' you need help-"

"Supposin' I can hike up my skirt and throw a punch if I need to. Supposin' that if anyone there's got somethin' to say to me they better bite their damn tongues off first." Angus wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. His breathing grew heavy. "She's never fuckin' comin' back, I hate her!"

"No you don't!" Angus didn't answer. Malcolm's heart burned and broke when he saw fresh tears rolling down his face. "You never have and you never will!" Angus covered his face in his arms bringing his knees to his chest. His body shook with silent sobs. Malcolm stood from the chair and approached the bed, moving the bag of candy aside. A hand reached out to rub his back and Angus didn't fight this time. Malcolm in an instant would trade all the happiness he had ever felt to take Angus' pain away. He would do it every day if given the chance. "Susan might be interested in all this."

"I don't want Susan!" Angus yelled before covering his face again.

"I meant she might be interested to know where Hannah's gone off to."

"She already does," Angus hiccuped. "Everyone on this fuckin' planet knew before I did, and no one told me..."

"Angus, I'm so sorry," Malcolm said giving his brother a hug. "I'm so sorry. I should have said somethin' at the first, I didn't know this mess of shit would happen." Malcolm wiped his eyes and saw something in the corner of the room. A ball of paper crumpled and tossed. He'll never know why he was so drawn to it, but he stood from the bed and picked it up. His eyes darted back and forth after he flattened it out. "Ang, what-what is this?"

"Give it to me!" Angus shouted grabbing it from his brother's hands.

"Did Hannah write that?"

"It's nothing!" The paper was shred into several pieces and tossed aside. Grabbing the bag of candy and cigarette box he burrowed his way under the covers and threw a blanket on his head again. Malcolm stood there, the sound of Angus chewing amid the silence being the slightest bit amusing to him. He couldn't laugh though, not having just witnessed the murder of a love reciprocated. It was clear Angus was finished talking. His cigarettes in his pocket, he headed for the door.

"I'm so sorry, Ang." With that, he closed the door.

"Hannah!"

"Oh, I guess I'd better go." Hannah's face fell when her companion stood up to leave. "Don't want your mum waitin' for ya'. Lovely day for a walk, isn't it?" Malcolm took Hannah's hand and pulled her up. With a smile he attempted to cheer her up, but it didn't even work for himself. The girl's eyes searched the area for any sign of that certain young man scheduled to show up. Malcolm took notice and squeezed her hand. "You'll see him again," he said. "I promise."