Title: Why?

Rating: PG (nothing more that you'd see on the screen)

Word Count: 836

Spoilers: for the recent Ch4 Episode (the one with the football game)

John Paul was relieved to find the house empty when he got home. The last thing he needed right now was to explain his injuries to his family. Of course that would come, but not yet, first he needed some time to calm down.

John Paul looked at himself in the bathroom mirror as he slowly began to wash away the mix of blood and tears from his face. The bruises were already beginning to show. His hands shook as he continued to clean his face. He wasn't sure if it was grief or anger that was making them tremble, more likely a combination of the two.

He turned from the mirror at the sound of a knock at the door. For a moment he considered ignoring it, but something inside him made him answer the insistent knocking.

"Can I come in?" Craig looked just as battered as John Paul, blood hastily wiped from his face, his eye beginning to darken.

It took a moment for John Paul to reply.

"You really want to come into the house of a poof?"

"I'm sorry, please, we need to talk…"

John Paul shrugged and stepped back to let Craig inside.

"So?" despite the turmoil he felt inside John Paul stood tall, he deserved better than this. He knew it, and he was pretty sure that Craig knew it as well.

"I'm sorry… about what happened… things just got out of hand and…"

Craig sighed, turning away from his friend, "I just don't understand why."

"Which WHY is it this time?" John Paul tone was of barely controlled anger. "Why did I tell you how I felt? Why did I kiss you? Why did I tell them I was gay? Maybe I have a few whys of my own now Craig."

John Paul gripped Craig by the shoulders slamming him against the wall he looked into his friends' eyes.

"Why would you turn on me like that? Still I suppose I know the answer to that one… it was more important to have those morons approval than to stand up for your best mate. Why would you ask me to be something that I'm not? Something else to make life easier for you right?"

John Paul moved closer to Craig. "One why I don't have an answer for though," he continued, "Why did I ever think you were worth it?"

John Paul shook his head and turned away.

"Don't say that," Craig's voice was barely a whisper.

John Paul spun around, his eyes flashing with anger. "What? Now I've upset you? OK then… here's another why for you, maybe you can answer this one… If you're not gay…"

"I'm not."

"OK IF you're not gay – then why did you kiss me back."

"I didn't."

"Come on Craig, I might have had a few drinks, but I still know what happened, after all this time do you really think that's something I would forget?"

"Well if I did…"

"You did…"

"It was because you confused me… I didn't realise what I was doing… as soon as I did I stopped it…"

John Paul leaned his hands against the wall behind Craig's head.

"So if I kissed you again you'd stop me?"

"Of course I would."

John Paul leaned closer, "You sure?"

"Certain," Craig's voice trembled as he spoke.

John Paul swallowed hard; if he pushed this much further it would either be the best or worst decision he ever made. But in the end he had to know the truth.

Craig tensed as the sudden pressure of John Paul's lips against his, but despite his words he made no move to push his friend away.

A voice screamed through Craig's head telling him to stop this now, but his body betrayed him, his hands sinking into John Paul's hair, pulling him in closer, returning the kiss with a passion he did not know he could feel.

John Paul sank into the kiss he had been longing for. The brief encounter in the school had in no way prepared him for this. His body ached as Craig's lips parted welcoming John Paul's tongue inside, his hands pulling the hot body tightly against his. For a little while nothing in the world existed but for them and the embrace they shared.

Finally John Paul pulled away, his face flushed and his breathing coming in hot panting gasps. He wanted nothing more than to take Craig upstairs and show him just how much he loved him, but he was afraid to push Craig too far, afraid of scaring him away.

Craig had slumped back against the wall his head was spinning and his body shook.

"What happens now?" Craig's voice was heavy.

John Paul shrugged, "That's up to you."

Craig paused for a moment before reaching out to take hold of John Paul's hand, his fingers trembling as they interlaced with his friend's.

Without a word Craig lead John Paul to the stairs, it was finally time for them both to be honest.