When I opened the door, I had almost expected it to be Ellis, what I hadn't expected was those fat tears that were trailing their way down his cheeks. My greeting died in my throat and for a moment we both just stood there, then all at once that distance between us was closed and Ellis was wrapping his arms around me sobbing quietly into the crook of my neck. This took me by surprise as well, but when I recovered my arms were around him.

My hands worked on their own sliding up and down the expanse of Ellis' back in an attempt to calm him, my head leaned down to mummer quiet words into his ear. What's wrong El? why are you crying? shhh it's ok, I'm here, just tell me what's wrong and I'll make it all better.

The door was closed by a quick kick of my heel as I lead us deeper into the house Ellis clinging to me every step of the way. We eventually settled down on the ratty old sofa I had sitting in the living room, it was an ugly blue thing full of holes and dust, and who knows what else but it had been my mom's so I didn't have the heart to get rid of it. When we had both settled down on it was when Ellis finally lifted his head up to look at me, his puffy red ringed eyes glistened with unshed tears and I couldn't help but wonder if I'd even seen his eyes look so blue before.

I was broken from my train of thought when Ellis whimpered something to me, and I felt pretty bad about it but I had to ask him to repeat it since I didn't hear him the first time.

"It's gone.." he whimpered again

"what's gone?" I questioned curiously

"everything!" he exclaimed suddenly, like I was stupid for not knowing.

"Ellis.." I countered with a frown "what happened?"

"there was a fire. That girl I'd been dating started it."

When he stopped to sniffle I frowned even more, this already sounding bad and if that bitch was involved I'm not sure I even wanna hear the rest, but Ellis is speaking again and my attention is drawn back to him.

"T-the house, the truck, my clothes, all the stuff from the infection, our shit from when we were kids..."

Yep not good at all.

"What am I going to do? e-everything important, e-everything that.. that mattered is gone."

I didn't even stop to think, didn't stop to second guess myself, I just brought one hand up and gently wiped away the tears from both eyes then took a light hold on his chin making him look at me now even if he didn't want to.

"K-Keith?"

My response was only the smallest, most lighthearted of smirks.

"I'm still here Ellis..."

that's when I brought my face forward, and locked our lips in a kiss.