Despite Alistair being weird and randomly hugging Everett awkwardly over the table for no a reason that Everett was unaware of, Alistair was having a good time. A great one even.

After their meal, Everett had insisted he pay, notwithstanding multiple protests from Alistair, and the two were currently walking back to Alistair's house.

A warm silence had enveloped them before Everett spoke up.

"Hey Alistair, what exactly do you do with the money that comes from the stuff you-" Everett paused, sharply inhaling. 

"The stuff you steal," he pushed out, lip curling as if it hurt him to say those very words.

They had been avoiding talking about Alistair's stress or the fact that Alistair was a damned criminal or the fact that the person Alistair hated the most in the world was Everett's father.

But to avoid something forever is painful, every sentence you hear, you close your eyes and hope they don't mention it, and let out a breath when they don't. The fear, however, the tension in your heart, remains.

Alistair knew that Everett would start with the easy questions first. Like this one.

But avoidance hurt, so Alistair answered.

"Charities, mostly. Orphanages too, and the rest, I keep. To survive."

Everett hummed in response, wrapping his arms around himself. Alistair watched as Everett nibbled on his bottom lip, every once in a while letting out a sigh, his breath condensing into a cloud.

"Your house is beautiful," Everett commented, as the two-story penthouse came into view,  "But it looks expensive. How'd you afford it?"

Alistair swore under his breath. Everett went from a harmless question to a heavy one in a record of 30 seconds. Fucking great.

"I," Alistair began, the rest of his words drowned out by the turmoil in his heart. He wanted to share, he really did, but- Everett, oh sweet Everett.  

Everett stared up at him, eyes curious, sparkling with the dusty colours of the fading light. Alistair grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the curb of the rain- kissed sidewalk to sit. 

Alistair turned his head up, staring at the canopy of luminous stars illuminating the velvet night. 

"My father, he's, he's a member of the Government. The minister of wellbeing. Donny Rockwood," mumbled Alistair. "I was um, disowned after something happened."

Everett, froze, stunned. 

"What? I mean no, you don't have to," Everett stuttered.

"Fuck it honestly."

"How dare you! You of all people should know. Family over everything!"  Mummy screeched, hands frantically typing on her phone, make-up smudged. 

Alistair stood in the corner, facing the wall, a punishment she had set for him. His tears fell onto parched lips and stuck on his eyelashes. He reached out to hold the blurred lavender-painted wall for support but was stopped by Mummy. 

"Alistair Rockwood, don't you fucking dare to touch the wall when there is blood on your hands!" she screamed, eyes bulging.

Already her tall and muscular frame frightened him, and the added loud noises made more tears drip down from his cheeks.

"Mummy, you're scaring me, there's no blood on my hands," he mumbled, staring down at them.

What had he done wrong? Was it the man? Was that what Mummy was angry about? 

"Mummy, are you angry because I called the police? I'm sorry, I just wanted to help the girl! She was screaming. Mummy, I'm sorry," Alistair rambled, hands shaking.

"You idiot! I told you so many times. Never call the police. Never." she ranted, walking menacingly closer and closer to him.

She gripped his hair, tugging on it painfully, her vanilla-scented perfume curling around Alistair like a demon, choking him. 

"Now, because of you, Daddy might go to jail. Your brother might go to jail. Do you know what that means, my darling Ali?" she cooed, stroking his cheek.

Alistair leaned into her palm with a happy sigh, melting from the affection that he had many a time been deprived of.

He didn't expect the slap that came next. 

Alistair inhaled in a shaky breath, prompting Everett to wrap an arm around him, wiping away his tears, leaving only the tell-tale wet tracks trailing down his cheeks.

"You know, not that I'm not happy you shared that with me, I um, didn't ask for it. But if its any comfort to you, um, Alex seems to love you a lot. And I have many questions that I won't ask, but soon. Oh fuck, I don't know how to comfort people I'm so sorry," Everett rambled, concerned hands swiping over Alistair's eyes.

"My mum used to do this thing, like she would hug me and sing to me, to make me feel better and I don't know, I'm going to try it now," Everett whispered.

He paused, before enveloping Alistair into his arms.

Fucking hell. This hug was much better than the one over the table.

Alistair sighed into Everett's neck. Everett's arms around him were stronger than anything he'd ever remembered, every ounce of him was pressed into every ounce that was Everett. In this embrace, it seemed like the world stopped on its aid, leaving just the two of them, in a dark world.

 Everett started to hum a lullaby long-forgotten softly in his ear, stroking Alistair's hair.  Alistair felt like a caterpillar, snug inside its cocoon, safe, protected.

And when Alex returned to a smiling Alistair, he clapped Everett on the back and sent him on his way, with Everett vowing to return the next day with the demand of a Q and A session. 

Alex noted the watery sunshine-like aura surrounding Alistair, the grin that was akin to one of happiness growing, like a spring flower opening,  and commented: "Careful. Your smile."

"What?"

"Your smile, Alistair. It looks like you're about to fall in love."

---

a/n: hey everyone, yet another update :D okay, I know this book isn't the best, and my writing is pretty much fucking crap, but I don't appreciate non-constructive criticism, such as: Your book is.. hm. / your book is boring. I don't really like it and borderline hate it. I appreciate feedback, but not this kind. 

On a happier note! this chapter is dedicated to the ever-amazing @Nicoismysenpai because he has been an AWESOME supporter of this book since the very start. his comments always make me smile. he's one of the nicest people I've met on this site, basically because he's so supportive and encourages everyone. And I mean everyone. He has more friends on here than I have in real life. not only that, his writing is incredible. please go check out his books sometime? 

xx sky