Colin had a hard time getting out of bed this morning. He had spent the previous night at the skate park with his friends, who had managed to bag a ridiculous amount of weed. He couldn't actually remember doing anything that made his head pound this bad in the morning but here he was, dealing with invisible gremlins that took turns hammering away at his head.

It was after took he some Tylenol and had breakfast that he felt a little better. But he swore the headache was coming back after looking through the number of shoots he had to do this week.

He loved his job, no questioning that fact, but taking gigs where he had to travel long distances to get to was a bore. It was tiring and almost always drained him, but the scenery of the shooting locations seemed to make up for it. Lately though, more work was piling up on him and he wished he could take a break, especially from the teenage girls who tried to bribe him to give them free shoots in exchange for pics of their barely-there boobs.

That part, he could do without.

He was putting away the plates and mug he had used when he heard it.

The beautiful singing-- even though the tone accompanying it was high and rather aggressive. The words were emphasised and punctuated with what sounded like irritation with a side-dressing of hate. Colin had first heard it while he was taking a shower. He hadn't been sure of whether was was actually hearing the singing or if it was just a hallucination from his previously exhausted body.

"We. Are. Never. Ever. Ever. Getting back together!"

As he listened on, Colin realised the hate was more than a side-dressing. It's the main damn course.

Hard strumming came, then a couple of cuss words that followed a yell, and then more of an annoying buzzing sound before more loud singing.

"You go talk to your friends. Talk to my friends. Talk to me. But we! Are never ever ever! Getting back together..."

Colin had no intention of interrupting Peter's pity-party-or-whatever-it's-supposed-to-be-called session, but the boy was making the windows rattle and Colin was sure he heard someone groan from downstairs. He and Peter were sort of a talking-but-not-quite-talking level now so he decided to take his chances with him.

Against his better judgement, he went to Peter's door, knocked once, and pushed it open. Peter was on his bed, facing the window while his fingers alternated from delicately plucking at the strings to maddeningly twanging the cords.

The singing took an even brasher and louder turn.

"We clawed, we chained, our fucking hearts in vain. We jumped, never asking why the fuck we did it! We kissed, I fell, under your spell 'cause you were like a fucking siren with your little mermaid hair!"

At this point, Colin didn't know whether to laugh at the crafted lyrics or to cry for the poor boy's pathetic performance. He did neither, instead he just spoke out.

"I don't think Miley would appreciate that little remix you're doing..."

"Who asked for your opinion?" Peter replied, looking down at his fingers which were still going hard on the acoustic guitar.

"No one. But I figured you'd stop this display of-- I dunno what the fuck you call it-- but I figured you were over the whole break up thing."

"I am over it!"

"And that's the reason why you're singing and trying to beat Taylor Swift in her area of expertise?" Colin held back a chuckle by pressing a fist over his mouth.

"It's because my ex thinks I'm some kind of dumbass who's gonna take her back after she let Kyle beat the shit out of me for something I was right about."

Colin's forehead creased when he heard the new development. "Oh?"

The guitar was propped against the wall before Peter spun around on his butt, facing his roommate who was still a few feet away.

"Yes. She called me to tell me that Kyle tried to make a move on her after they got wasted last night, and they got pretty far before she realized what was happening."

"Then I guess 'tried' isn't the right word to use if something went down," Colin commented, fingers poised on the seam of his lips.

Peter sighed, head bent. "I guess it's not."

A period of silence passed between the two.

"So..."

"So?" Peter echoed.

"Did you let Kayla know you think of her as a mythical creature that seduces people?"

"No." Peter frowned. "But I did let her know I'm not willing to get into a relationship with her again," he added, sticking the fingers he was playing with in his mouth.

"And why's that?"

"I've found someon- thing!" Peter's eyes widened at the fumble. "I have found some things I'd rather be doing than getting into a pointless relationship again."

"Does it include starting a singing career that's doomed to fail?" Colin rested his head against the wall, a small smile crawling up his face.

"Ha, funny." Peter mused dryly.

"Despite your very, very horrible talent of writing lyrics, you sing pretty good."

"I'm not that good..."

"Dude, you are. Like, I'm secretly praying you get with Kayla so she breaks your heart again just so I can hear you sing."

"You don't mean that."

"No, I don't," Colin admitted, making his very famous goofy grin Peter had seen too much of. "But you seriously sound amazing. I don't mind hearing you sing... or play. You're gifted, Pikachu."

"Too bad I don't have a new pick... you won't be hearing anything for a while." Peter lifted his hands, wiggling his fingers which were now sore and throbbing. "I really need to find work soon, so I can buy a new pick, warmer clothes, a phone case, textbooks-"

"Okay, I get that you're poor at the moment."

"-a new book bag, boots, couple of coats-"

"Alright... I understand that you are extremely poor at the moment."

"- and rent. I forgot to mention that I haven't even paid my share of the rent and I'm living in this sweet apartment with a-"

"Geez, I get it, Pikachu. You want me to take the photos for your portfolio so you can submit it."

Peter's face lit up in triumph, his eyes turning to slits when a wide grin pulled up his lips. "Oh, I didn't say that, but I appreciate you mentioning it. You know what, lemme get dressed so you can do it now and not waste your time."

Before Colin could put in a reply, Peter was already scurrying around the room, slipping on a t-shirt and holding up his jeans-- which looked too big for him and had started sliding down his thin hips as soon as he jumped off the bed-- with a belt.

In no time, the pair were down the flight of stairs, heading to the parking lot. Colin couldn't help but notice the excitement that radiated off Peter. It was in his stride, the way he seemed to bounce on the balls off his feet right before he slid into the passenger seat. It was also in the smile he tried to hide by looking out the window and breathing in deeply every few seconds. Colin was sorry he had to disappoint the boy, but just this once.

It was after Colin indicated a turn signal and took a left that Peter realized there was something off. "This isn't the way to Snapshot, is it?"

Colin shook his head.

"Then where are you taking me?"

"Grocery shopping. There's only like, half a carrot and a jug of milk in the fridge that's fast approaching its expiration date."

"Oh, okay..." His voice was heavy with dismay.

"Don't get so bummed, I'll let you strip for me tomorrow, Pikachu. It'll be here sooner than you think." Colin reached out a hand which landed in Peter's hair, his long fingers dug through the thin dark strands, ruffling it. His teeth bit onto his bottom lip as he alternated glances from the road ahead to his roommate, fighting a snicker.

"Hey, don't do that," Peter complained, pulling down the sun visor. Colin saw him patting his hair down from the corner of his eyes.

The next thing he knew, Peter's fingers were also messing up his hair. The act took Colin by surprise and the car veered a little too far to the left. Colin's reflexes kicked in and he stabilised the situation before he could run into a tête-a-tête with a tree that was right off the sidewalk.

"God, you already want me dead just because I'm not taking you to Snapshot?"

Colin's comment received an eyeroll. "I can't kill you even if I wanted to. I already told you I need you alive right now... but maybe, after I get a job I won't mind." A shrug followed.

"Damn, he's not even shy about telling me he's using me for benefits," Colin mumbled. "What a cruel world I live in."

"Hey, I heard that," Peter said with a laugh. "Don't talk about me like I'm not even here."

Colin pulled up at a supermarket and they both got out of the car. He handed Peter a list and his action was received with a very confused expression.

"Just get what's on that paper, nothing more."

Peter nodded, eyes flitting to the bottom of the sheet in his hand. "I'm not going to talk about the fact that you wrote a list but okay... Grandma."

It took all the strength in Colin not to end that ugly sound Peter was making with his laughter. The boy could sing, he'd give him that, but cute laughter was definitely not his strong point. Instead, he took a deep breath and held down any urge to shut Peter up.

"Good boy," he said right as a hand dishevelled Peter's hair one last time before he left, the guy glaring after him.

He walked into the store and combed through the aisles, grabbing small bags of brown rice, frozen vegetables, canned tomatoes, meat, fish and carton of milk.

Once he had checked off all the items on his list, Colin got to the checkout the same instance as Peter did. He noticed the box of popcorn and a six-pack of something he couldn't read the label of in Peter's basket. Along with some other items he knew were nowhere on the list he handed over.

"Seriously, did you not hear what I said?"

"I did but like... we need these."

No we don't. Colin pointed to the packet of Sour Patch Kids candy. "And this is something you need?"

"Yes, it helps my vocals."

Colin didn't even get started on the toaster snacks before the person ahead of them had grabbed their stuff. Peter began to set out his items and he couldn't do anything to stop him. The cashier scanned a bunch of the things and there was a build-up of customers behind him, Colin couldn't stop anything at this point. The damage had already been done.

He only looked on and tried not to groan when Peter turned and waved his fingers in a subtle taunt.

It was in the car that Colin could finally air out his thoughts. "You're never pulling a stunt like this again. Ever."

Peter made a fair point that had Colin thinking. "I didn't ask you to bring me here."

Colin tucked his tongue in his cheek as he placed the bags in the back seat and started the car. "You're cooking dinner tonight by the way."

Peter looked down at the bag placed on the floor where he sat. "Good thing I bought these pop tarts then."

~~

You've made it to the end of another chapter! I hope you liked this one :)

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