A/N: This was a challenge for the James Sutton Forum. It's short because the rules for the challenge was a word count of between 200 and 500 words. I reached the target at 500! lol. Anyway, enjoy...

The Voice Within

Any minute now, he would explode. His heart was racing so fast, he wondered how it couldn't be heard from the other side of the door. He inhaled calmly and raised his hand, stopping only centimetres from the door. He bit his bottom lip nervously, as he always did. Just do it. That was his heart talking. Walk Away, don't let yourself get hurt. That was his head. When push came to shove, which should you really listen to?

So many times, he'd weighed the pros and cons. The good news: The Pro's usually outweighed the cons, The bad: He'd actually managed to find some cons. He squeezed his eyes tight shut, wondering if, when he opened them, he'd find himself somewhere else. Another universe, where the world was perfect. Where his life wasn't built on lies and deceit. He snapped them open in one swift motion. And he was still there. Stood at the front door of the one person's home he wasn't even sure he was welcome at anymore. Heat was rising through his body, despite the chill in the air.

He paced from one foot to the other, shivering, but not sure if it was cold weather or nerves. If you tell him the voice in his head taunted him you have to be prepared for the consequences. He already knew that. You have to expect to be hated. To be punished. To lose people you love more than anything. He knew that, too.

The room was spinning now, or was it just his head? He reached his hand, hoping to grasp hold of something, anything, to steady him. He leaned to far, and accidentally banged his fist against the door. Well, it was laughing at him now. I guess you made your own mind up. He clenched his teeth, petrified of saying something he may regret to somebody that existed only in his head.

In just under 10 seconds, the door opened, and he came face to face with him. For a few minutes, they stayed silent. 'What do you want?' Craig's voice broke the silence and it was the most beautiful sound John-Paul had ever heard. 'I-I came to say I was sorry. Can I come in? Please?' he didn't want to beg, but if that's what it took….

Craig stepped aside, and John-Paul passed, trying to ignore his feelings as their shoulders brushed. 'Well?' Craig asked.

'I never meant to fall for Sarah'

Craig rolled his eyes. 'But you did!'

John-Paul could feel the anger rising inside him. 'No I didn't!' Oh great, no going back now! Craig stopped and looked at his best friend. 'What?'

'It's not Sarah I love. It's……….Hannah' he sadly concluded. A smile spread across Craig's face, and he pulled John Paul into an embrace. 'So…. You forgive me, then?' John Paul asked. Craig nodded. 'Of course. After all' he smiled. 'You can't help who you fall for'
And in those 7 words, John Paul's world crumbled…..