Just to let you know this carries straight on from the last chapter.

D/C: Not mine - but I've got a 10 step plan on how that can all be changed (This chapter is step 5 of the plan. You have been warned :P)


Vince spun around. There was the familiar face of Howard. Vince blinked a couple of times thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him again. He'd seen Howard's face everywhere since they'd split up but a second look would usually reveal it to a homeless man with a moustache or a business man with tiny eyes - but not this time. This time it was definitely Howard, he seemed sort of gaunt and unhappy and he was thinner than Vince remembered too but it was Howard and Vince couldn't stop the grin spreading across his face.

"Hiya." smiled Vince coyly.

"How are you?"

"You know… I'm okay."

"Yeah" Howard said awkwardly "I'm… okay too."

An awkward silence engulfed the two men as they racked their brains for something too say.

"So" Vince said after the silence had become too much for him "Ummm… You seeing anyone?"

"No, no. Nobody. No one will have me" Howard chuckled at his feeble joke. Vince smiled too.

"Ah, don't be stupid. Someone's bound to want you. You're funny, thoughtful, kind. Who wouldn't want that?"

"You." Howard replied bitterly. Vince looked directly at the floor. They fell silent again and Howard cursed himself for making things more awkward than they already were.

"Umm… how are things with Kris?" he asked, not really wanting to know the answer but desperate to avoid the uncomfortable silence that had started to take hold of them again.

"Uh, yeah. They're good. I'm happy." Vince gabbled a little too quickly.

"Well, that's good." Howard lied.

"mmm…You still working at the shop?"

"Yeah. Naboo keeps me employed… I sold my first jazz record last week."

"No way!" grinned Vince excitedly "Well done."

"Thanks."

"How much did it go for?"

"Ummm… €1" Howard admitted embarrassedly

"Well, it's a start." Vince said encouragingly. "I might pop in, you know, see how you all are."

"Yeah, I'd like to see you sometimes. I mean we were best friends."

"Well, Kris didn't really want me seeing you. He thinks that I still love you."

"But you don't?"

"Uh... I uh,…um" stuttered Vince "I mean you're Howard, I'm always going to lo-"

"VINCE!" yelled Kris interrupting. Vince turned to see his boyfriend storming down the road towards them. "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN? 5 MINUTES YOU SAID. Oh" he said, suddenly noticing Howard "I might have known."

"We just bumped into each other." Vince explained feverishly, his voice quiet and panic stricken. Howard noticed that Vince's whole aura had changed dramatically. He suddenly looked weak and withdrawn and Howard had to fight the urge to put his arm around him. But no, that wasn't his place anymore, so he waited for Kris to do it. Kris didn't have any intention of putting his arm around Vince, he was too busy yelling at him.

"You expect me to believe that, do you?!"

"It's true" Vince whimpered

"Well, we all know that you have no problem cheating on people." Kris sneered "Don't we Howard?" he turned to the taller man a smug expression playing across his face. Vince's stomach twisted sickeningly as he saw Howard's face crack with sorrow.

"Yes, well…" Howard trailed off.

"I don't think you'd cheat on me though." smirked Kris returning his attention to Vince "Not with this ugly old thing anyway." he laughed cruelly, waving his arm in Howard's direction.

"He's not that ugly." Vince whispered.

"Ha! You are joking, aren't you?" Kris scorned. "Anyway, where's my money?"

"Here." Vince said holding up the notes. Kris snatched it and counted it quickly.

"Excellent. I can buy the suit now."

"Is that why you returned that hat?" Howard asked Vince.

"Yeah." replied Vince, who ever since Kris had arrived, had found something very interesting on the floor to study. "Kris wants this suit but it was expensive so, you know…"

"The hat had to go. It was ugly, made him look ridiculous."

"I doubt that." Howard retorted angrily before he could stop himself, "Vince looks good in all hats." he was so used to sticking up for Vince it just happened naturally Howard tried to convince himself but Kris was nearer to the truth when he sniggered.

"You still love him… after what he did to you. Oh, how pathetic!"

Howard blushed which would have cheered Vince up had he not been too busy examining his boots to notice.

"Well, he's with me now" continued Kris "and I've got to buy a suit. Come on Vince."

"Right, yeah" Vince sighed "I'll see you soon Howard."

"No he wont." smirked Kris and then seeing Howard's miserable expression he grabbed Vince and kissed him hard. Vince felt uncomfortable but he didn't stop it. He kept having to remind himself that however he felt about Howard, the taller man would never take him back now and who could blame him? And he did like Kris. So Vince relaxed into the kiss, after all, it wasn't as though the kiss wasn't very enjoyable. When they finally broke apart Howard was gone.


If you want to review, well I wont complain. In fact I'd probably smile - go on review (make my day :P) you know you want to.
Okay that's the end of my begging.
Thanks for reading (and reviewing(?))! :D
Sisi...xx