The fight had been short due to the siren of a police car getting louder and louder with each punch of the boys fists. Vince had made a distraction so Howard could get away to call the police, this distraction however was not entirely planned. But it had left the bullies slightly disturbed, and leaving Vince gob smacked. The wind had been blowing rapidly and Howard's shirt was very loose, Vince did not even want to think about what he had just seen on the young boys chest. The boys were put in the car and had been driven away, Howard and Vince sat on the bins at the end of the alley where they had been cornered watching the red and blue sirens disappearing away through the fog.

Howard's house was warm, which was more than could be said for the horrible weather outside. The rain hammered against the window and the smell of Hot chocolate was making it's way to Vince's nose. He clasped the cup of hot chocolate in both hands and took a relieving sip of the warm beverage. Howard smiled as Vince let out a "mmm"

"Oh yeah I nearly forgot!" Howard jumped up excitedly and handed a bag to Vince

Vince pulled out the jacket in wonderment his eyes sparkling as he felt the soft material of the jacket paying close attention to the detail of the jacket

"Genius! Thanks Howard I owe you one!" Vince drew his eyes away from the jacket for a split second to notice that he hadn't emptied the entire contents of the bag. He reached inside and retrieved a green T-shirt with two white lightning stripes at the front. He stared at it in awe and wonderment

"I-is this for m-me.." He looked at Howard

"Yeah.." Howard blushed, Vince hated it he could see it in his eyes he knew he did!

"I love it! I never saw this in the shop!" Howard looked at him, his face lit up and he wore a big Cheshire cat smile.

"Thanks Howard!" he hugged his new friend tightly but pulled away quickly noticing his error.

"sorry… I was just so excited.." Vince trailed off as he ran to Howard's bathroom his face a scarlet colour.

Howard giggled to himself but couldn't help wondering why Vince got so excited. Howard was excited when he passed his grade 1 for his trumpet but he didn't feel the need to hug someone. Vince's hug was warm but how could he say it.. Inexperienced? Had he ever been hugged.. before?

"What do you think" His thoughts were interrupted by Vince's catwalk

"They look brilliant on you!" "Just…"

"Just what?"

"The trousers don't really go…"

Vince looked down at his tack suit bottoms which his mates had insisted he bought, then he looked at his shoes, his trainers really didn't go

"Tell you what, when the weather clears up we can go and find you some trousers and shoes" Vince soon perked up and went straight to the window

"I'm just gonna get changed"

Vince waited till Howard was in the bathroom to explore his room. Howard's room was quite plain, his walls were beige and his carpet a creamy colour. A picture hung on the wall above his bed it was a picture which read "The greatest Jazz musicians of all time!" with lots of funny men's faces on there. His bed was blue with imprinted jazz instruments on the duvet. But Vince felt so ashamed about the hug he gave Howard.. Where did it come from? He never hugged anyone. Howard must think he is a right girl now! But it had got Vince thinking why his mum had thrown him out, he wasn't a bad kid, usually quiet around his parents. Why would they never hug me? he thought to himself. Was I an embarrassment. Why would his dad never take him to have a game of football Vince didn't enjoy the sport all that much but it would have been nice.. Just once. A tear escaped his eye. Why would they just kick me out like that? Did they hate me all that much? Question after question was battling in his head, he was frantically trying to come up with answers but every time he tried another question would appear and somehow the answers never seemed to fit the question. Why would dad never take me to the park when I was little? He frantically searched for an answer.. He was always busy with work.. But he had so much time off why didn't he even speak to me then! He broke down into tears, and collapsed onto Howard's cushion sinking his head into it, and weeping while the questions looped around over and over in his head. Howard rushed in one he had heard Vince crying

"Vince? Vince what's wrong?!" He clambered over to his friend tightly hugging him "It's ok Vince we'll work it out, it's all going to be fine!"

"T-thanks- H-Howard " he sniffed

"Hey no problem little man" they both looked at each other, there was that name again, little man… they stared into each others eyes trying to find an answer to the nickname but instead it wasn't answers they found in each other's eyes.. It was friendship.