Hello! This chapter is a bit of backstory about John and Ezra and their relationship. It's not all 'lovey'dovey' stuff here, but it'd still cute.

Please enjoy!

-0-

Ezra scowled as he scrambled out of the way as a couple walking hand in hand nearly trampled him.

Cursing the two lovers, Ezra carried on, dark hair covering his equally dark eyes. The twelve year old boy was not in a good mood. In fact, he felt quite shitty.

His best friend, John, had just announced he had a boyfriend.

Ezra found himself wandering into the grassy plains outside Capitol City.

"Stupid Johnathan Nova." The twelve year old mumbled, kicking clumps of dirt out of his path. Feeling satisfied watching the sand scatter and be lost in the wind, he began picking up handfuls of the loose soil going on a angry rampage.

He chucked a rock to his left, screaming "I HATE YOU!"

Ezra ripped a poor flower from its bed with a yell, "AHHHHHH!"

He charged at a small mound of sand, not realizing a large boulder sat underneath. "DON'T LEA-" He began to yell, getting cut short when the wind was knocked out of him. He fell to the ground, wheezing in pain. "Uhh...Don't leave me..." The boy groaned, sand sticking to his sweat and tears.

He was slow to get up, grunting at the dull pain in his stomach.

He wouldn't hear or see John for two months.

Ezra had been trudging through a street, looking for a garbage can that looked like it had something of value in it when he saw John. Ezra barely recognized him. He was, of course, the same older lanky teen. But his hair was neatly styled and he was wearing his school uniform. His hand was laced in that of another boy's. The boy was about the same height as John, skin and hair like clouds. He reminded Ezra of everything he was not.

To avoid confrontation, Ezra dove behind a shrub, watching the couple pass by.

John was laughing and grinning. "Did you see the look on Mrs. Tsue's face? Oh God it was priceless!"

The boy returned the smile. "That poor teacher."

"Ah I can't wait for summer." John cooed, a loving look upon his face.

The other boy leaned his head on John's shoulder. "Me too."

Ezra shrunk back as they passed, soon out of earshot. Ezra sat against the wall of the building next to him. Everything hurt. His chest felt like a ship had parked on, his heart beating faster than ever. He couldn't feel his limbs or his face. The messy lines of tears began pooling on his shirt, but Ezra couldn't seem to care. John was in love, and it wasn't with him.

It was another two months before Ezra saw John again.

He was so hungry. He hadn't eaten in days and his water supply was low. He had tried to steal from a small shop on the edge of town but was caught and beaten. Luckily they didn't turn him in to the Imperials, probably because they didn't want attention on some of their less than legal merchandise.

So Ezra was left at his tower. Everything hurt to move, his stomach because of hunger, his head from dehydration, his skin because of the bruising, and his heart because of John.

John. John. John. John. John. John. John.

All he could think about was John. John was the reason he was in this situation! If it hadn't been for John...

"What?" Ezra asked himself, surprising himself with his hoarse whisper. "If John hadn't made you fall in love?" Ezra licked his peeling lips. What he wouldn't give for anything to eat...

His eyes looked around his home for something he could sell...But he had sold and traded everything of value within the years and months. His heat generator, the utensils, all his medicine, even his parent's old clothing to a thrift shop. He had nothing left.

Feeling inspired by a sudden jolt of pain from his gut, Ezra began searching his hidden pockets for something. Anything. A single credit, a piece of gum, anything of value... His hand found something small and cold. Quickly pulling his treasure out, he was disappointed to find that it was a key. The key John had given him to his house.

"There's food in there." He whispered. He shook his head angrily. "I could never break into his house! I might see him and...I can't see him. Not now."

But the key itself was made of silver. That could be worth something. Shrugging, Ezra pocketed it and started slowly trudging towards the pawn shop where he sold the key to be melted down for just enough credits to made a quick supplies run. Ezra never made it to the store.

John was standing outside the front of it, a cigarette in his fingers.

Ezra was more than confused. John didn't smoke. He actually had hated smokers, joking that he'd never end up a toothless loon. But there he was in all his dreamy glory, a smoking stick in his teeth.

A pang of hunger reminded Ezra what he was doing. Food. Water. Medicine.

But John was standing right next to the only entrance and this was the only store that'd be open at this time. Ezra shut his eyes for a moment. Maybe he could somehow use his 'abilities' to sneak past John.

Ever since Ezra could remember, he could do things others couldn't. Jump farther, have small visions, know what would happen ahead of time, even float things with enough effort.

Ezra decided to focus on the cigarette. Closing his eyes and focusing on the object, he blocked everything else out. His pain, John, the sounds, the smells...Everything was gone except for that cigarette. And with a small inhale, Ezra asked for the object to be thrown to the ground about fifteen feet away. Quickly opening his eyes, Ezra was delighted to see the teen chasing after his runaway cigarette. Ezra laughed, something that hurt but felt good at the same time. He headed inside the store, almost clearing the entrance when a warm hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him back out.

Getting ready to claw his attackers eyes out, Ezra stopped himself when he realized he was looking up at Johnathan Nova.

"Ezzy? Is that you?" He asked, breath smelling of burnt paper and plant.

Ezra immediately pushed away. "Get off me."

John's face crinkled. "Ezra? Are you okay?"

"You don't have the right to ask me that!" Ezra suddenly bursted, attracting the stares of a couple people walking by. The older boy blinked owlishly and led his younger companion to sit down in a small meadow behind the store. Ezra was too tired to even protest, letting his friend push him like a sick sheep.

"You don't look so good...Here, have some water." John decided with a huff, pulling a water tin from his backpack. By this point Ezra was barely awake, everything seeming to fall on him at once. Using his 'powers' used what little strength he had left, and he just wanted to shut his eyes.

John gently pulled the younger boy into his lap, cradling his head into the crook of his arm. He lowered the water to his parted lips, finally giving Ezra some sort of energy.

Ezra gently hummed a sigh of content. The soft stroking in his hair felt nice, and he found himself drifting.

A few hours later when he awoke he immediately knew where he was. The Nova family couch. He remembered when he first woken up there, when he had first been so confused and terrified. Then he remembered all of the times he and John had had sleepovers, telling secrets, playing games, watching movies...years of friendship all in one room. Everything seemed blurry but suddenly someone was shoving a tray of hot soup, fruit, and milk into his lap. Eating slowly, Ezra's pounding headache lessened into a dull throb. After the food was eaten, someone took the tray away without a word. And soon Ezra was laying back down, slender fingers rubbing his back as he drifted back to sleep, a woman's voice singing to him as someone washed the dishes in the background.

-0-

Thanks for reading! Please leave a review I read everything!

(Fixed the update mistake!)

-Shelby