Alin lazily flicked through the channels on the tiny portable TV, not fully paying attention to what exactly he was looking for, or even at, just allowing the colours to swirl and flicker in front of his eyes. Next to him sat a bowl of chips and a six-pack of beers, his only companions throughout the lazy, quiet, afternoon. Outside, the sun was slowly setting behind the grey-brown buildings, orange light spilling in through the window, making the whole room glow in the evening light. Dust particles danced slowly in the beams and obscured his view slightly. A whole afternoon wasted. Not that Alin particularly cared.

He heard the door burst open but didn't bother looking up until a loud, distressed, cry cut through the silence.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Tsvetan bounded across the room and shook Alin violently by the shoulders, "I've been looking all over for you! Seriously, Marianne Bonnefoy- you remember her? Francis' little sister, owns a market stall- anyway- she told me the police were after you and I tried to find out where you'd gone and if you were still safe. I was so scared that they'd arrested you," Tsvetan stood up straight and ran his hands through his dark hair, "I've been round all the bars, clubs, alleys, cafes, just anywhere you would be hiding and asked everyone! No one had seen you since this morning, if at all!" he laughed, overwhelmed with sheer relief, "and you were here the whole time!"

"Course… it's home, where else would I be?" Alin frowned, "now could you move; you're blocking the TV."

"What?" Tsvetan gaped at Alin in confusion, sitting down next to him on the couch, "but I looked everywhere for you and was so worried."

"Why? I was here all along."

"I didn't know that!" exclaimed Tsvetan, "and why didn't you try to find me when the coast was clear? You must've known I'd be wondering where you'd got to! Don't do that to me man!"

"Please, Tsve," whined Alin, voice slurred ever so slightly, "I've had a really stressful day! I was so damn close to going down for a long time it wasn't even funny. I've got the shakes!" he held up both his hands, as if to prove his point.

"Dammit Alin," growled Tsvetan, "you always get into situations like this so don't even try to act like it was overly traumatic for you."

"And I always do stupid shit that gets me into trouble," Alin shot back, glaring at his friend with a mixture of annoyance and confusion, "so don't even act like you were all that worried!"

"I always worry about you!" cried Tsvetan.

"Why?"

"Because-" Tsvetan stopped, looking away, "well, because you're my friend and I care about you," he sighed heavily, once more looking his friend in the eye, a grave expression on his face. "You travel through life tiptoeing along on a tightrope, Alin Radacanu, always one wrong move away from falling into the abyss with no safety net cause- guess what- in life there's no safety net. But you don't see that! Do you never realise how close you are to spending the rest of your life in prison? What am I supposed to do without you?"

Alin didn't reply. He just looked away guiltily.

"Why must you be so insensitive?"

"That's nice," Alin turned the volume on the TV up.

"Fucking unbelievable," muttered Tsvetan, "would you even care if I was hurt or killed? Or would you be happy that I wasn't in your way anymore? Call me paranoid, but I think it's the latter."

"You're paranoid," Alin poked his nose, not looking at him.

"But I get the feeling I'm slowing you down, right? I'm always causing you problems, I can see it. But you cause your fair share too! And I don't mind, much. just try to take my feelings into account sometimes."

He got no answer.

"Alin?"

"Sorry," Alin snapped his head to the side, staring at Tsvetan with a blank expression, "what were you saying?"

"That's it!" Tsvetan shot up, yelling in frustration, causing Alin to jump, "I'm fucking outta here! I can't even look at you right now."

"Good thinking," replied Alin, voice somewhat slurred, "it's been a long day for both of us and we could do with some time apart for a bit to clear our heads."

"Clear? You need your head testing," spat Tsvetan, glaring at Alin in disgust, "and I mean it, I'm leaving for good!"

"Don't you think you're over-"

"I'M NOT OVERREACTING! Don't you fucking say that I am!" screamed Tsvetan, "I've put up with your shit long enough, Radacanu! You just don't seem to care about how you affect others, do you? You just march through each day expecting everyone to love you and do everything you tell them to without question. And I put up with that because I care about you so damn much, you don't even know how much. But no more! I'm through," he shook his head in disbelief, "you're on your own."

He marched into his room, leaving Alin sat in stunned silence.

"What's eating him?" he wondered.

…

"Anything you'd like to say?"

Ten minutes later, Tsvetan stood at the door in his thick green coat and scarf, carrying a backpack full of his possessions and stuffing his gloved hands into his pockets. His eyes were puffy and his cheeks streaked with tears.

He stood up tall, but looked more fragile than Alin had seen him before, had his intoxicated state been able to register that fact. He didn't want to leave. He had nowhere to go and couldn't help but fear the unknown.

He prayed they could make up now before it was too late.

"…There's a documentary on leeches at nine," suggested Alin, still flicking through the channels and still unable to see.

"Why was I even friends with you?" spat Tsvetan, throwing the door open and storming into the hall.

"Hey fine, I'm sorry!" Alin leapt off the couch and ran after him, finally coming to his senses. He truly didn't think Tsvetan would actually storm out. "We won't watch the show if leeches scare you!"

He reached the stairwell just in time to see Tsvetan slam the front door shut behind him on the ground floor. Alin shrugged, returning to his apartment. He wasn't trembling. He wasn't shaking. He swore it.

Why would he be scared of a little tantrum?

"He'll be back," the man reasoned, "I'm sure he will."