A/N: Dedicates this chapter to MidnightIllumination1222. Thank you for your lovely messages! I hope you enjoy this chapter.

xXx

Chapter 3

The heavenly aroma of breakfast serenaded my senses, rousing me from sleep. I blearily rubbed my eyes. Beside me Crona was stretching, long slender body arching like a cat. He had awful bed head, his normally untidy hair, resembled a birds nest; if the birds that built it had been on meth. That being said my hair was probably just as bad, since my forehead felt cold and devoid of fringe. Shit. I did not wanna think about that. OCD was truly relentless. I had literally just woken up; half an hour without any anxiety inducing thoughts would have been nice.

I settled back down into my bed, tugging the duvet up and over my eyes, not wanting to leave its warmth just yet. I felt a firm softness press onto my exposed forehead. I peeked out from the duvet, a smile on my lips. I wanted to return the morning kiss but knew that I had gross morning breath. I said as much and Crona laughed. He seemed so calm and serene. I think this was the first time I was seeing him like this, almost like I was witnessing the person he truly was underneath all the anxiety.

"We should probably get up," his words were drowsy and slow from sleep. I noticed that for once he hadn't stuttered. "Liz and Patty must have started up breakfast," he added thoughtfully.

Breakfast sounded marvellous right now, I pictured a large fry up with all the works. Until a sudden realisation hit me, the girls were cooking in my kitchen!? Oh fuck. My kitchen I mentally cried. It's going to look like a bomb site! I horrifically pictured grease and butter smeared on wounded cupboards doors. The oven destroyed, its glass hob smashed beyond repair. Dishes piled to the ceiling like a nuclear war head waiting to detonate. A lone critically injured frying pan fallen on the floor, calling for the wife and child it left behind. Visions of war and doom flooded me, "I'll have to spend hours cleaning, restoring everything to exactly the way it should be… It's too early for this," I whined.

Crona interrupted my imaginary war, "Actually it's almost 1pm," he sounded sheepish.

"Too early."

"You normally sleep this late?" Crona asked with a laugh and incredulousness in his voice.

"Crona, time is an illusion."

He burst into laughter high and full.

"I'm being serious." I huffed from under the duvet.

"I know. I think that's why it's funny." He wiped a stray tear from his eye.

He turned solemn unexpectedly, "My m-mother has me up at 6am every morning to perform the daily chores."

I stared, silent. Crona never really talked about his home life but I knew that it wasn't good.

"I c-clean the house every day but somehow it's never clean enough f-for h-her. I-I d-don't understand it at all."

I waited patiently for him to carry on, unsure of what I should say. I noticed that Crona's stutter had returned with full fervour at the mention of his mother. Clearly she was a major factor.

"S-she somehow thinks it's unclean when it's not. I d-don't know how? I-It's just endless. Day after day, the same pattern. C-clean this, clean t-that, go to c-college. Come h-home, sleep and s-start again. I-I think I might go m-mad from it a-all. B-but I have to do it, o-otherwise, she… she…" he trailed off.

I wanted him to continue so badly. Horrid situations were buzzing around in my skull and eating my brain. What would happen if you didn't do as she said, Crona? Was he safe in that house with her? Was she harming him? Was the reason he was so thin because she didn't feed him? Although Crona had always been slim so it could just be the way he was, naturally.

"S-sorry, I didn't mean to d-dump that on you."

I felt weighed down with worry but I tried my best to keep a neutral face. I wanted Crona to be able to confide in me. I shook my head, "No, not at all. Crona I'm glad you felt that you could talk to me about it. I want you to be able to tell me anything," I placed my hand over his, squeezing his fingers gently, "I just wish I could offer you some helpful advice." I paused and looked into his eyes; he looked like he was holding his breath, pained. Gone was the serene boy from earlier.

I tentatively tried to voice my concerns, "If... if you're not…" I needed to put this delicately; Crona was contradictorily protective of his mother despite the circumstances. "If you're not happy there," I felt Crona's hand scrunch up into a fist beneath my own. Not a good sign. Nonetheless I persevered to get my point across, "you are always welcome to stay here."

He looked away from me, eyes unreadable and nodded his head slightly.

"I know." His voice sounded tight.

He turned to face me again, "D-don't misunderstand, th-things may not always be the best but, she is still my m-mother."

"No, no of course, I understand," I kept my voice placating. This subject was always hazardous territory with Crona. "I just wanted you to know that, that the door is always open."

He inhaled deeply and sighed, "Yeah…" He was quiet and the silence was deafening.

I regretted saying anything at all. I was in for a shitty day, wasn't I? This was karma punching me in the gut for all the crap with Justin. Whatever good mood I had woken up in was gone along with any good intentions I might have had for the day. If I could turn back the clock, I would physically stop myself from speaking. Suffocate under the duvet instead. I felt like shit! I'd made a mess of offering comfort to Crona. He'd never trust me with anything again. This was beyond depressing.

The feeling of warm fingers lacing between my own, jerked me out of my despair.

Crona offered me an apologetic smile, "Thanks, I-I know you mean well, it's just…"

"No, no it's fine," I tried to reassure him, "We don't have to talk about it anymore if you don't want."

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

I tried to think of a quick subject change, something to lighten the mood.

"Breakfast?" Crona supplied.

Yes thank God.

xXx

I had wanted to fix myself up before seeing the girls but Crona had abruptly stopped me before reaching the mirror. He seemed nervous about something -more nervous than usual- and more or less pleaded for us to head straight away to breakfast. Even going as far as to link his hand with mine and drag me out of the bedroom. That was perturbing to say the least but I acquiesced and tried not to dwell on his strange behaviour.

In the hallway it was freezing. That was the problem with old houses; they were incapable of keeping in heat. I huddled into myself, dressing grown wrapped tightly around my body. Crona was draped in an identical spare gown. We waddled down to the kitchen together like two penguins braving an arctic blizzard.

It would be impossible for a stranger to find the kitchen intentionally. The entrance was hidden underneath the arch of the stairs, completely obscured from view. Since the house was from the old period, the kitchen would have been only used by the servants and was designed to be out of sight and mind. The master and family would have waited seated in the dining room for the servants to prepare and serve an elaborate meal. They would have partaken in none of the tasking labour of cooking; to them the food merely appeared on the plate before them.

Luckily this was modern times. There were no servants or Masters, just Father and I. The idea of using a huge grand dining table for just two people seemed ridiculous. We left it for special occasions such as birthdays and Christmas, when we might actually have a large number of guests. To combat this Father had a small breakfast table installed in the kitchen complete with bar stools. It was modest and better suited our needs.

My steps faltered and I hesitated under the staircase. I dreaded what I was about to bear witness to on the other side of the kitchen door. Crona however was undeterred and pushed on. The door swung gracelessly open, the smell of greasy breakfast gushing out. It was nauseating when only earlier it had been heavenly.

I was so relieved to see the kitchen was miraculously still intact, war zone negative. I thanked not only God but Satan too. Surprisingly both girls were sat at the breakfast table. Who was cooking then? I could distinctly hear the grizzle and spit of a frying pan at work. Two plates laden with glorious strips of bacon and eggs fried sunny side up sat before them. They were heartily tucking in and my stomach reminded me it hadn't eaten since yesterday.

That was when I saw him, Justin. He had his back to us, comfortably working away in the cooking area like he had always belonged there. Fully dressed, hair coiffed perfectly, he had even donned an apron. Its white strings were tied into a neat bow around his waist. My eyes wandered down. I swallowed, that bow was like a present topper and his pert ass, a gift from Adonis. I quickly averted my eyes all too aware that I had just been staring. I prayed no one had noticed and surreptitiously I glanced at Crona. Thankfully he too was also fixated on Justin except the expression on his face was fear. I had forgotten that the last proper interaction between them had been when Justin had bowled him to the ground. That sparked an ember of rage in me. Protectively I moved in front of Crona, shielding him. I felt his hand lightly touch my back. I looked over my shoulder at him and we shared a look, he understood my intentions. He gave me a reassuring smile.

"Kid! Crona!" The girls belatedly noticed our arrival.

In my peripheral vision I swore Justin twitched slightly at the mention of our names. He kept his back to us though, music buzzing faintly from his ear buds. Was he trying to play it cool? I couldn't help but wonder what he was scheming now? His declaration to woo me crossed my mind. Was this his first attempt: breakfast? Honestly, he would have to try much harder than that. Not that he could win me over, ever!

I greeted Liz and Patty as Crona shuffled onto a bar stool next to them. The girls were ever impervious to the cold, wearing tiny pyjama shorts and vest tops. My toes were falling off with frostbite just from the sight of them. Were their body temperatures set abnormally to tropical? I noted the small calendar behind them that clearly stated late September, not July!

"Justin made us all a delicious breakfast," tittered Liz, her hand wagged in a gesture for me to join her at the table.

Justin glanced over his shoulder, finally acknowledging our presence, "Morning," he greeted simply, making eye contact with me.

I still felt incredibly irritated with him and didn't feel like encouraging him with a reply. Instead I raised my eyebrows slightly, to show I'd heard him but wasn't terribly bothered.

Then in a tone as smooth as butter Justin said, "Morning Crona."

My face went from cold indifference to what-the-fuck?

"How do you like your eggs?" He gave Crona a seriously handsome grin. He even eyed him up and down. His lecherous gaze resting on Crona's long socked legs peeking out from under the dressing grown. The audacity! I felt my blood boil.

Crona actually seemed flustered! He clasped his hands together bashfully and struggled to hold eye contact with Justin.

I told myself he was just thrown off by Justin's inexplicable behaviour and couldn't possibly be affected by his charm or good looks. I also wasn't feeling threatened by Justin at all or like I'd just been metaphorically slapped across the face. The image of Justin and Crona holding hands and skipping off together into the sun didn't cross my mind either!

"Oh ah m-morning," Crona replied, shyly tucking a lock of his hair behind his ear.

What the hell was that? I stared at Crona in disbelief. Was this actually happening?

"S-scrambled please," he said with a faint blush.

A blush…. Blushing…. BLUSHING!?

I whipped round to give Justin a dirty look. How dare he try to woo my Crona with his seductive smile and cheap breakfast! Was this his new plan, flirt with Crona to make me jealous!? I scrunched my hands into fists, nails digging into the flesh of my palms. I was in two minds to either storm over there, smack the frying pan out of his hand or to haul Crona over my shoulder and march out of the room, breakfast be damned.

Justin caught my death glare and returned it with a pleased smirk, a glint dancing in his blue eyes.

That fucker! He knew exactly what he was doing!

Smashing that frying pan into that smug face of his was becoming very appealing.

Another thing! He hadn't even bothered to ask how I wanted my eggs! He was trying to further rub in the insinuation that he was favouring Crona and ignoring me. Well I wasn't about to let him get away with it!

"I'll have my eggs poached," I demanded my tone taut with fury.

"Poached?" His beautiful mouth pouted into the question.

Oh he was good at this. Blinking his eyes sweetly, playing innocent.

"Yes. That isn't a problem is it? You do know how to make poached eggs right?" my words were challenging, "Don't tell me I'll have to make my own," I shook my shook my head with disdain. "Honestly, imagine offering to make breakfast but being unable to meet the offered people's needs, shameful really."

I was being a dick and I knew it. The atmosphere in the kitchen was changing. I could sense the girls and Crona behind me becoming uncomfortable. The desire to be vindictive and to snap at Justin was overwhelming. I wouldn't admit it but deep down, my feelings were hurt. So I reacted with anger to protect myself.

"Uh Kid," Liz tried to pacify the situation, "Are you sure you wouldn't want some nice fried eggs or maybe scrambled?"

I didn't turn or make any indication that I heard her speak at all. Instead I shot daggers at Justin. He seemed unperturbed, cocking his head to the side, a grin still in place.

"Poached," I said with finality. My lips over enunciated the word to get the message across. None of that, 'I can't hear you over my music bullshit.'

"Right, poached it is." He didn't seem bothered at all.

Damn it!

I sat down uneasily on the bar stool, my spine rigid with anger. I watched Justin elegantly reach up and lift down a pot off the rack of utensils. I fixed my glare on him; if only looks could kill! Even though I'd won this egg argument, I didn't feel any better. Instead my blood was smouldering and I still had the urge to break something.

Crona was staring at me worriedly. I didn't meet his eyes. I was too cross and couldn't bring myself to speak or make small talk with the girls either. I knew if I tried, I'd just snap and take it out on them. Which wasn't right, it wasn't their fault. Although for a second there I swore Crona had been charmed by Justin. I felt my stomach sink with dread. Was that possible? Did Crona like Justin? Would I end up alone as the two of them ditched me? My head was starting to hurt. This was why it was better to stay in bed.

Girlish squealing broke the awkward tension at the table. What now?

"Oh my God, Crona!? Is that-?" Liz slapped her hands down on the table in excitement.

"-Are those hickeys!?" Patty squealed in glee.

Crona and I met each other's eyes, our faces horror stricken. Oh fuck. In our haste to head downstairs, we'd forgotten to cover up the love bites. Blatant marks, red and eye catching adorned his throat. I noted the new darker shades of purple at the edges. Last night I had likened them to beautiful roses, now they just looked like large bruises.

Crona flapped his hands haplessly trying to calm down the over excited girls, their giggling reaching a higher volume. His face, neck and ears had flared scarlet.

My own complexion had gone pale from mortification. It was one thing to mark Crona in the heat of passion and alone to our own intimacies but in this normal environment with friends I felt horrifically embarrassed.

Crona tried to hike the dressing gown up higher around his throat to conceal the marks but failed helplessly. I cursed myself for not having the hindsight to lend him a turtle neck jumper or a scarf.

The girls joined their hands together and in a sing-song voice Liz cried, "You know what they say, Patty!"

"I do Liz," Patty sang back.

"If you're sucking, you're fucking!" They chorused.

I clutched the rope of my dressing gown. I'd hang myself on the pot rack. Yes now was the perfect time to die. They'd hold a crisp autumn funeral for me. The reddening leaves would billow and pile on top of my grave like bloody handprints. My tombstone would be a symmetrical cross, perfect in its simplicity. Father and the girls would cry. Crona would mourn for me but hopefully move on and meet someone else. Everyone from college would attend, teacher and students alike. All dressed in black, wonderful.

A strangled yelp and clatter cut me loose from my death fantasy.

The girls were oblivious, fussing around Crona's throat. Their bizarre joy radiated from the notion that Crona and I had apparently, "done it." They were so crude, it was unbelievable. Crona like myself, was dying from embarrassment. He had clamped his hands over his face to hide his shame, "T-This is so humiliating."

A hiss and continued clatter caught my attention. I looked to see what the commotion was. Justin hand his wrist clamped in his other hand. The flesh was red and sore looking. The pot for the poached egg lay haphazardly on its side in the sink.

I put two and two together. The girls' outburst detailing the apparent sexual exploit between myself and Crona had shocked him so badly that he'd dropped the pot of boiling hot water and scalded himself.

The spiteful side of me was delighted. The caring side was alarmed.

His misfortunate was also the perfect excuse for me to escape the girls' questions. They had quit squealing and were now begging Crona for all the dirty details.

I tried to gain control, "Girls, please calm down and pull yourselves together, honestly you two can be so crass sometimes."

"Aw kid we're only messing!" Patty joked.

"Justin has scalded himself." I tried to enforce some seriousness.

"What, really!?" Liz hopped off the bar stool, hurrying over to him.

I stood back, unsure if I should help or not.

"Patty grab the first aid kit!" Liz called. She sounded uneasy.

His wrist couldn't have been that bad, could it? I felt the niggling sensation of guilt. It was kinda my fault, I had demanded he make poached eggs. Fuck.

A loud rattling and clanging told me Patty was wracking the cupboards. Great more mess.

"Oh she'll never find it," Liz sighed, "Here Kid, sort out Justin for me, I'll be right back." She strutted out of the room before I could protest, my mouth left hanging open slightly.

Justin had his back to me, shoulders hunched up. He somehow looked smaller.

I looked at Crona for some sort of advice. He was biting his nails and looked unsettled. I could hardly ask him to help. Also did I really want any excuse for him to be up close and personal to Justin? Hell no. I would just have to take the fall.

Here goes nothing. I unwillingly made my way over to him and stood awkwardly at his side.

"You need to run that under cold water."

He didn't look over at me and made no acknowledgment that he knew I was there.

"It'll help the pain," I tried again to get his attention.

Nothing. No response.

Fine if that was how he wanted it. I stood behind him and placed my hands on both of his upper arms. I physically manoeuvred him towards the sink. He was complacent and moved easily. I reached around him, lightly brushing against him as I turned on the cold tap. I let it run for a minute.

"Justin, you need to put your wrist under the spray."

He had to be able to hear me, even if those earphones were in. I knew he had heard the girls' illicit conversation and that had been from all the way across the room.

Still nothing. Fuck my life.

I settled my hand onto his arm just below his elbow, mindful of the scald. His skin felt soft beneath my palm but I tried not to focus on that right now. I carefully moved his wrist under the spray. He hissed in pain and leaned back. His back pressed flush to my chest. I was trapped behind him, my arm wrapped around his side. I jerked to release his arm but his good hand caught mine, holding it in place.

The spray from the cold tap was freezing. Beads of water splashed and flowed along our combined skin. It soaked into the hem of my dressing gown, numbing my arm but my hand was warm beneath his.

This close to him, I could feel him breathing, our heart beats syncing. I felt in that instant the connection he talked about. The odd rapid jolts of electricity that ran through my body seemed to slow. Being this close to him it was like we were connecting; an electric circuit becoming complete.

Despite the circumstances -that Crona was most definitely watching and that the girls would return any minute- I actually felt relaxed. My breath fluttered the hair beside Justin's ear and he shivered. I felt the motion ripple through him to me. It was like we were one complete being. His head rested onto my shoulder, his hair softly brushing my neck. He tilted his face and our eyes met. From his glittering expression I could tell that he was experiencing the same sensation as me. His thin and chapped lips captured my attention. The urge to kiss him, to properly link this connection, was almost overwhelming.

"Let's see, let's see, burn cream, burn cream." Liz returned to the kitchen, first aid kit open in her arms, searching through its contents. Patty was hot at her heals, sauntering playfully behind her.

Their arrival slapped me back to reality. I ripped my hand out from his and jerked away as though burned. I clutched my chest, my heart suddenly sore; it felt like I was missing something. The electric current within me was erratic again. I looked at Justin, confusion written all over my face. His good hand clutched his chest, his hand fisted in the material of his apron. The pained expression of his face caused me to stumble back. I felt heavy; my dressing gown sleeve sobbed and clung to my skin.

"I got bandages but where's the burn cream?" Liz looked up from the kit. She eyed the two of us and looked puzzled at my sopping dressing gown, "Everything all right?" She placed a hand on her hip, meaning business.

"Ah no, no everything is fine," my voice sounded anything but fine. I looked between her and Patty, "Thee uh, burn cream should be in the fridge actually since it needs to be kept cool," I backed away from her, "I'll get it, hold on."

I opened the fridge, my back to everyone and took a second to just breathe. My chest still hurt. What the hell was going on? I wanted nothing more than to run back and jump on Justin to recreate that feeling, to make my heart stop constricting. That look on his face, he had been clutching his chest as well. Whatever I was feeling, he had too. I needed answers from him. There was no way this was normal.

Patty popped up at my side, making me jump.

"Kid did'ya get the cream?" she asked.

Cream? Oh shit right, the cream. I reached up to the top shelf and lifted out a small tube. I handed it to her and she bounced off.

I was alone again with Mr. Fridge and I was reluctant to leave his cool company. I pretended to fumble around with the contents of his stomach. I needed to get back to reality. How was I possibly going to sit down with everyone at the breakfast table and act like nothing had just happened? To make matters worse, Crona had been in the bloody room. There was no denying anything this time! He had to of seen everything! How the fuck did I explain that?! 'Oh sorry I was just having a weird electrical connection with another dude. I know it looked like he was draping himself over me and I was breathing intimately on him but I swear it was innocent!' Yeah right.

Patty popped back to my side, returning the burn cream.

"Hey Kid?"

"Hmm yeah, Patty?" I closed the fridge door.

"What happened to your hair?

"My hair?" I asked baffled.

Her eyes roved rapidly over my head. I brought my hands up to my scalp, feeling along the locks. Sure I had bed head but what was so wrong about that? My fingers travelled along the top of my crown down to the nook behind my ears. Everything seemed fine, maybe in need of a brushing but… abruptly my fingers grazed bristly patches.

What. The. Fuck?

I felt my eyes bulge in terror. Flashes of last night and my panic attack hit me. I realised with horror that I had literally ripped out chunks of my hair!

There was a clatter as Crona fell off the bar stool.

Crona had known! He had stopped me from seeing my reflection. Why didn't he just tell me?! Did I look that horrific!?

"Kid you need to breathe," Liz was suddenly at my side. A steady arm around my waist, she tried to help walk me over to the breakfast table.

I lost my footing, my legs shaking. She held fast to me, lowering me down slowly. I slumped face first to the floor, my whole body now trembling.

"How bad is it!?" I cried. I couldn't bring myself to look up at them, burying my face in my arms, the dressing gown sleeve soggy and damp on my cheek.

"It-It's not that b-bad." Crona tried to placate me; his hand rubbing my back in gentle circle motions.

"Why didn't you tell me? Why did you try to hide this from me?" I felt prickly tears start to fall.

"I-I-I didn't- I-"

"Don't lie to me Crona!" I interrupted him, my voice a muffled wail.

"I-I just didn't want you to be up-upset."

"It's a bit late for that now, isn't it!?" I screeched. The hand on my back stilled and withdrew.

"Kid! It is not Crona's fault!" Patty said in such a firm tone that it shocked me silent. She was never serious like this. It was actually frightening.

"If it makes you feel any better, I didn't even notice. So it can't be that bad," a smooth voice added which I figured had to be Justin's.

"Really?" I sniffed, peeking out from my arms. Liz and Patty were sat beside me on the floor. Crona was nowhere to be seen. That fact should have worried me but at that moment I couldn't care less.

"Yes." Justin smiled and I believed him. His voice was genuine and honest.

He extended his hand out. I took it in mine and he hauled me up. My palm tingled with little sparks. I stood before him and wanted nothing more than to bury my face in his chest and sob but I restrained myself. I noticed his wrist was now bandaged; Liz had done a pretty good job.

He reached out and felt along the bristly patches behind my ears, "I'm sure this can be easily fixed." His voice was so reassuring, I took a step forward. It was becoming harder to restrain myself from hugging him. I wanted to be flush to him, chest to chest like earlier. I think he felt it too for he leaned closer to me, his fingers threading into the good locks of my hair.

A hand clamped on my shoulder. I barely glanced back to see what it was, I didn't want to look away from Justin. The intruding hand shook me slightly. Justin's fingers withdrew from my hair but he still held my hand in his.

It was Liz; her mouth in a tight line, "Kid!" I could tell by her tone that she was not happy at all. Shit. Her eyes flicked down to my hand in Justin's pointedly. Her expression was subtly screaming: what the hell are you doing!?

I came back to my senses. I was standing in the kitchen outrageously holding hands with another guy in front of the girls. I yanked my hand away. The sensation of tightness bloomed painfully in my chest again and I gasped. It was not as severe as the first time though. Justin clutched his chest again, breathing heavily feeling the same thing.

"Maybe you should go freshen up, Justin" Liz's tone and fixed look stated that she was not asking.

His eyes never left mine. I felt Liz squeeze my shoulder slightly.

"It's alright Justin." I said quietly.

"Okay." He gave me a last look before he pulled the white apron off over his head. His jumper riding up along with it, exposing a line of firm stomach muscles, my eyes were riveted to the spot and I stared blatantly.

Patty hit me a gentle whack on the arm and gave me a look and hissed, "what are you doing? You have a boyfriend!"

I averted my gaze, rubbing the spot on my arm.

Justin hung the apron up on the hook behind the door. I heard him call 'goodbye" and the sound of the kitchen door creaking open but I couldn't bring myself to look or answer.

The door clicked shut and the spell holding the girls still, broke.

Liz yanked me round and bended down till we were about face to face, "Kid what in the hell are you doing!?" she hissed under her breath. I got the feeling she was afraid that Justin was still standing just outside the door, listening.

"I don't know what you mean." I hissed back.

She pursed her lips and gave me her best, 'don't you give me that crap!' look.

I rolled my eyes in response. I decided it best to ignore her. I pulled out of her grip and started collecting the cold breakfast from the table. Scraping the leftovers onto one plate and piling them together. The motion was repetitive and calming.

"Don't play dumb Kid! You had hearts in your eyes when you looked at him, and your face was all goo-goo when he held your hand!" Patty added, her hands on her hips.

"I did not!" my voice was screechy with indignation.

"Shhh!" Liz warned, nodding towards the door.

"Oh to hell with that! Let the whole world hear! I have nothing to hide!" I marched over to the sink carrying the plates. Settling them in the bottom and scraping the leftovers into the small bin in the cupboard beneath.

"Fine then!" Liz threw her hands up in the air in exaggeration, her voice growing in volume. "but don't you dare try to lie to us!"

"Not that you could, we know you inside and out." Patty added confidently, she had followed me over and added the used frying pan to the sink.

"Turn that off, would you?" I pointed to the hot ring on the stove. She did as asked and I flipped on the tap, waiting for the water to run hot. Liz sidled up beside me, leaning her hip against the sink.

"You like him, don't you." Liz said in a matter of fact voice.

I sighed. The water still felt lukewarm. Oh well. I applied the plug, and added washing liquid. The sink slowly started filling, concealing the dirty dishes beneath clean bubbles.

Patty nudged me and gave me an expectant look.

"Yes," I admitted it.

It was quiet in the kitchen apart from the sounds of dishes clinking together as I scrubbed away the filth. I handed a freshly scrubbed plate to Liz; she rinsed off the suds and passed it to Patty who was equipped with a dishcloth to dry. Minutes passed by like this. We were all absorbed in our own thoughts.

xXx

I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, my eyes screwed shut. An old towel tied around my shoulders.

Liz was fussing behind me, dangerously wielding a pair of scissors.

Patty watched excitedly from inside the clawed foot bathtub, arm draped over the rim, swinging back and forth, her fingers just barely touching the tiled floor.

"Just don't make me look ugly."

"Please Kid, give me some credit," Liz said faux dramatically, her high pony tail bobbing with the shake of her head, "Patty, comb please," she asked like a surgeon requesting a tool from their nurse.

Patty handed it over, from the collection of hair accessories piled around her in the tub.

Liz hummed as she combed, teeth sliding into the strands of my hair. "Hmm it seems to be that most of the patches are along the back of your neck and just behind your ears."

"Is that bad?" I had yet to look, terrified of what I'd see. "Can you work with that?"

She played with the layers and strands of my hair, running her fingers along my scalp. It felt really nice to say the least.

"I think we're going to have to shave it."

"Shave it off! Shave it off! Shave it off" Patty started chanting like a drunken frat boy.

I shook my head free from Liz's fingers, "What!? No, no! Patty don't think I won't come over there and drown you in that tub!"

Patty squealed with laughter and Liz chuckled, "Relax Kid, trust us."

The noise of the shaver buzzing to life was terrifying. I dug my fingers into the porcelain bowl of the sink, my knuckles bone white. I felt Liz's fingers tilt my chin down and I held my breath.

"Okay, now don't move, or I'll mess this up," Liz said right as she pressed the shaver to the back of my neck.

"What!? Don't say that right as you're about to massacre my hair!"

Liz shushed me. I fell silent as the shaver moved along the groove of my neck. It felt surprisingly tickly.

The shaver clicked off and clattered into the sink before me. I still had my eyes screwed shut, "Can I look?"

"Nope," Patty called.

"I just need to neaten up the layers on top. Okay? So stay still. You're such a wiggler Kid."

I grumbled that I was not. The clicking of scissors was frightfully audible as Liz lifted different strands of my hair, snipping and trimming away delicately.

After our little tiff in the kitchen, the girls' thankfully hadn't brought up the Justin thing. We had settled into our usual fun-friendship easily and I was really grateful for that. I had admitted that yes I liked him but I was totally confused as to what that meant. After all I was in a relationship with Crona and I loved him. That being said, this connection I had with Justin was almost insane and unexplainable. I wanted to tell the girls about it but at the same time I was afraid they'd think I was crazy. Still I knew they understood that I'd talk to them about it whenever I was ready.

A lighter clatter alerted me to the scissors being dropped into the sink.

"There done!" Liz fluffed up the sides of my hair, "Are you ready to see the new you?"

"No," I deadpanned.

She patted me playfully on the shoulder, "Oh go on! I did a great job"

I screwed my eyes up, mentally preparing myself. I had no idea what I was going to look like. I'd always had the same hairstyle for practically my whole life. I tried to think positively that sometimes a change was good.

Patty started up a drum roll, batting her arms on the rim of the tub.

"Not helpful, Patty."

It was best to get it over with. I told myself that in the worst case scenario I could always just wear a hat until my hair grew back.

I opened them, blinking furiously; my eyes had to adjust after being shut for so long.

Well. I stood in shock and found that the fierce grip my hands held on the sink had gone slack.

It somehow wasn't that bad looking? It somehow looked ok?

Liz had actually done a really great job. Clearly she was very skilled and multi-talented; I had a strong feeling of pride for her.

"What do you think?" Liz cheerfully asked.

"It's actually great." I said shock evident in my voice.

She snorted, and said to Patty, "Actually great, he says," She turned back to me, her voice playful "Of course it is. Like I'd end up making my best friend look hideous!" She ruffled my newly shaved nape.

I laughed and shook my head, "What would I do without you two."

"You'd look like shit!" Patty commented ever so helpfully.

"Thanks."

Liz wrapped her arms around my waist like a human belt and put her chin on my shoulder, she had to really bend since she was so tall, practically a giraffe, "Wait till Crona gets a look at you now with your smexy new undercut."

My face dropped. After I had snapped at him earlier during my kitchen tantrum, we hadn't seen Crona since. His pyjamas were in his room so we had assumed he had changed and left. To believe that he had walked all the way home without so much as a goodbye made me feel like shit. It was doubly shitty to think that he would rather go home to his Mother than stay here with me.

Liz pulled a sympathetic smile, "You'll have to apologize to him, Kid. He really meant no harm and he truly cares for you."

"Yeah," I placed my hands over hers, "You'll have to help me think of a good way to make it up to him"

"No bother," she smiled and pressed a friendly kiss to my cheek.

"I'm I interrupting something?"

The three of us nearly jumped out of our skin. Justin was standing in the open door way, a grin on his face. He eyed Liz's arms around my waist.

Trust him to mistake a simple gesture between friends for something else.

Liz rolled her eyes, and slammed the bathroom door in his face.

"No boys allowed!" Patty yelled.

I wondered if I should mention a very obvious problem with her statement. Nah.

Liz stood with her hands on her hips. Glaring at the spot where Justin had only been moments before. Then she leaned over and whispered in my ear, "You'll have to sort out what you're going to do about him soon."

I met her eyes in the mirror and whispered back, "I know."

xXx

Chapter 3 End

xXx