When I woke up, I was strangely comfortable. My bed was a cheap IKEA number, with a thin mattress and an even thinner duvet, so most mornings I woke up either freezing or aching. Or, on occasion, a combination of both. Yet today I was nestled into something warm and comfy. Needless to say, it was an enjoyable change.

And then the images of last night flooded my mind. Mashed up images of hospitals and tidy bedrooms and parents and... Jay's arms around me.

"What the-"

"Boys? Are you up yet?"

My mum's voice interrupted my would-be cursing. I shot up, suddenly alert, jerking Jay awake. We could both hear my mother's footsteps getting louder and louder. Getting closer and closer to my door... When the faulty stair creaked I knew she was half way up the stairs and jumped into action. I mean, she'd jump to all the wrong conclusions if she walked in and saw her surly son and her perfect godson wrapped up in bed all limbs entangled.

"Jay!" I hissed, roughly shoving him down the other end of the bed, top and tail style. "Get your ass down there. Dude!"

He hurriedly complied, obviously sharing my thoughts. Yet I felt strangely cold without his arms around me...

But I was saved from these embarrassing thoughts when my door swung open to reveal my mum, dressed in her usual Sunday get up of a formal blouse and skirt. Her attire could only mean one thing. I groaned.

"Are you ready to get up for Mass?"

"Mum, think back to yesterday," I snorted. "What bombshell did I drop on you?"

Mum frowned. "Um... I was slightly preoccupied yesterday, Ash."

"Whatever, my answer's still no."

Mum rolled her eyes, just blowing off my grumpiness as typical teenage morning issues. Because I was a single child I don't think she realised that I was much grumpier than most kids my age. A hell of a lot grumpier. But I was also kinda miffed that she'd forgotten as well. Or rather, than she hadn't even been paying attention to me in the first place. I know that she was stressed out because of Linda, and we'd always had an estranged relationship, but you'd think you'd remember your only child telling you that they don't believe in your religion.

"What about you Jay? Do you have some formal clothes you could wear? Because I don't think Ash has any..." Her voice trailed off as she got lost in thoughts of tailored trousers and bowties.

"Um, no thanks," mumbled Jay, surprising everyone. Mum looked at him, slightly shocked.

"Sorry?"

"Um, I mean, thanks for the offer, but Church isn't for me. Sorry."

Mum looked a little shocked, but shook her head and smiled at us brightly. "That's ok. I'll light a candle for your mum, eh? Help yourself to breakfast; me and Steven are on coffee duty today so we won't be back for a few hours. Ash will look after you, yeah?"

I responded with a noncommittal grunt and pulled the covers over my head, exposing Jay's torso in the process. Mum sighed, said her goodbyes and went back downstairs calling on my dad to get the biscuits from the cupboard. Two minutes later I heard the door slam, leaving Jay and I alone in the house.

"Have fun!" I called after them, not caring that they couldn't hear me. "Enjoy serving coffee to crabby old people!"

Maybe they couldn't hear my sarcastic comments, but I could hear Jay stifle a laugh.

"What?"

"N- Nothing."

"Nothing my ass. What're you laughing at?" I probed, poking him with my foot repeatedly until he sat up to face me.

"You're just, um, really sarcastic. That's all," he replied shyly, then realised what he'd said. "Oh, sorry! I didn't mean it in a bad way or anything. Um, sorry..."

 I shuffled over on my knees to sit beside him and clamped a hand firmly over his pink lips.

"Stop. Apologizing. Ok?"

He stared at me, an unreadable expression in his eyes, but nodded all the same. I let out a deep breath and released him from my hold.

"Cool."

The conversation died away after that. After a few moments of sitting staring awkwardly at each other I decided to get dressed. Jay opted for a shower, while I raided my room for the clothes that I'd hidden yesterday. It took me nearly ten minutes. That was exactly why I didn't tidy my bedroom on a regular basis.

My stomach growled as I was attempting to tame my scruffy black hair. I had that stupid kind of hair that never behaved no matter what I did to it. I'd have it cut and styled and cut again, only for it to continue growing out in tufts at odd angles. Sighing, I gave up and decided to follow my natural instincts and devour a bowl of cereal.

When I opened the kitchen door, Jay was standing there, dripping wet only half dressed in a pair of raggedy jeans and trainers. I stared at his chest for a few seconds before mentally slapping myself. What was up with me today?

Jay didn't notice me come in, and simply stood there scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. I didn't bother to greet him – I was already slightly embarrassed from waking up this morning. I brushed by him and opened the cereal cupboard, startling him.

"Oh, um, sorry. I mean, uh..."

I ignored him, intently scanning the shelves for the large colourful cereal boxes. Personally, I was hoping for some sort of chocolaty, unhealthy breakfast.

"Ah shit. We're all out of cereal," I moaned, slamming the cupboard door shut. Just to taunt me, my stomach growled again, this time much louder.

"Uh... I can cook..." Jay offered, looking away. His voice was so low I almost didn't catch it. For some reason, he seemed embarrassed.

"Seriously?" I asked. "Awesome! Can you make, like, breakfast then? So we don't starve...?"

Jay blushed a little, but smiled all the same. It was a silly little thing, just the beginnings of a smile really, but it was the first time I'd seen him genuinely grin.

"Um, yeah. If you don't mind. I'm not that good though..."

Once again, my stomach rumbled. "Dude, I don't care. I just need some food in me. And some tea..."

While Jay looked through the fridge trying to find something he could make, I headed straight for the teapot and switched the kettle on. I opened the teabag tin. Fuck.

"There's no fucking tea either!" I yelled in exasperation. "Fuck off! We're going to the shops. Or a café, since I hate shopping."

Jay looked at me. "Um, ok. I don't have any money though."

I waved a hand in dismissal. "I've got it covered. You so owe me a breakfast though. And put some clothes on!"

Jay obediently went upstairs to get dressed while I sat at the island counters, twiddling my thumbs impatiently. I'd actually offered to pay for him! Seriously! But I was only being nice to him because I had to be. You know, with his mum and all. Yeah, that's it. Because I had to be...

"I'm, um, ready to go now," said Jay, a tell-tale blush on his cheeks informing me of his embarrassment. I ignored it, instead looking at his outfit. A designer jumper and a V-neck... The girls were gonna crawl all over him in school. God help him. If you do exist...

"Yeah, whatever. Tesco breakfast sound good?"

"Um, yeah."

Fifteen minutes later we were sitting facing each other, a small plate of toast and scrambled egg placed in front of Jay and a full British fry-up facing me. I was completely devouring it, munching every last scrap with relish. And of course, guzzling a piping hot mug of sweet, milky tea.

Jay watched me with an amused expression.

"What?"

"Um, nothing," he muttered, gazing down at the remains of his breakfast. I raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, yeah. What're you looking at?"

Jay looked embarrassed (that seemed to be his permanent expression) and shrugged. "Nothing really. You just... I mean, uh, I'm guessing you really like tea, huh?"

I nodded, eagerly gulping down the last dregs of liquid. "Hells yeah! Food of the Gods!"

And then, for once, I thought about what I'd just said. "Oh, uh, I mean, sorry to offend you if you're a religious nut or anything... Shit, that sounded better in my head... Uh..."

"I'm not religious," Jay assured me, cutting me off. For some reason, I was pleased he'd interrupted. It meant he was opening up, even if only a little.

"I'm, um, a recently turned atheist," he told me, absently twirling his fork. "That's why I didn't want to go to Church with your mum..."

"Oh," I mumbled, slightly embarrassed now. "Well, I'm a proud agnostic atheist type thing, if that's worth anything. Have been since I was thirteen..."

Jay smiled and nodded. We lapsed into silence again, until curiosity got the better of me.

"Uh, sorry if this is kinda nosey, but I'm a nosey guy," I started, not meeting his jade-coloured eyes, "but you said 'recently turned'. Why'd you stop believing?"

Suddenly Jay dropped his fork and clenched his fists, turning his knuckles white. When he spoke, his voice sounded scratchy, like he was trying to keep it together.

"It's because of my mum. I mean, she followed every rule in the fricking book, and look what she got... Chemotherapy and six months to live... I mean, she went to Mass every Sunday with me and prayed and all that. And she's gonna- she's gonna die. If God did exist, why won't he save her?"

Instead of raising his voice at the end like I would have done, his tone only got quieter and quieter until I was struggling to make out his deep words. I stared at him, unsure of what to say, until I saw tears gleaming at the corner of his eyes. Instinctively, I reached out and grabbed his hand, shocking the pair of us.

"Eh, um, not that it's worth much," I murmured, half-hoping that he couldn't hear me, "but, you know, if you like, um, need a shoulder or something..."

I trailed off. I wasn't good at touchy-feely crap. But Jay gave me a wide watery smile.

"Thanks," he said, and squeezed my hand. Blushing furiously, I stared at my plate for a few seconds, before abruptly jerking my hand out of his grip.

"I've, uh, gotta go to the, uh, bathroom!" I announced, standing up. "Yeah, the bathroom! That's it! Um, I'll, uh, be right back..."

And I ran to the bathroom, thoroughly embarrassed. For once, I was grateful of my unruly black fringe...

It hid the furious blush spreading across my face.