Chapter 7

Gin Blossoms

Hey Jealousy

Three weeks. It had only been three weeks since they'd split up, and Howard had never felt worse.

He hadn't meant what he'd said, about wanting to break up. That didn't matter now, though. Vince had stormed out, saying he wanted nothing more to do with him. It had been three weeks, and Howard was still crying himself to sleep every night. He was never going to get Vince back, and that thought broke his heart.

The knock on the door takes him by surprise, making him jump. He considers not answering, but decides that it would be something to do, if nothing else. He gets up and opens the door a little grudgingly, not really looking before he speaks.

"Look, I'm sorry, but I'm a little busy at the moment-"

"Liar." Comes a mutter from just below him.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Howard asks, shaking his head in confusion. He looks down, finally coming eye to eye with his visitor.

"I said you're a liar. You're not busy."

"Vince?" He asks disbelievingly.

"Yes?" Howard looks him up and down, assessing him.

To put it bluntly, the smaller man looks awful. He looks like a complete wreck.

"What are you doing here?" At this question, Vince's eyes go down to his feet. He looks…nervous?

"Um, actually Howard, I wanted to ask a favour. I was wondering if it might be alright for me to just crash here tonight? I'm not really in any shape for travelling. Anyway, I've got nowhere to go. And, you know, it might not be that bad-" Howard puts a hand on his shoulder, trying to stop the words tumbling out of his mouth. "And I came to you, because you matter, and all I really want is to be with you, feeling like I matter too. Howard," Vince looks up at him with wide eyes. "I love you."

Howard stands there for a moment, not really knowing what to say.

"Vince, I…I don't know what to say." The younger man looks instantly crestfallen.

"I knew. I knew I shouldn't have come." He turns to go. "I knew you wouldn't want me back."

"Wait!" Howard almost yelps. Vince turns, a tiny glimmer of hope in his eyes. "I didn't mean that I didn't want you here, I really, really, do, but…are you sure? I don't know if I can do this again if you're not."

"I am, Howard, I swear! Please, just give me one more chance?" Howard smiles and opens the door a little wider.

"Come in."