As usual I thank all those who have Reviewed/Alerted/Fav the story. I know I said I would not update until the 17, but I think Chapter Ten would be more fitting for that update (Wink Wink). Think of this of a early Valentines chapter and Chapter 10 will be a late Valentines Chapter (Wink Wink). Reviews also help me better myself as a writer and it also helps me know what you like and don't like about the story, so I can tweak it.

Disclaimer: Still don't own anything

Warning: Some swearing and a wee bit of fluff. Fix some spelling and grammar mistakes. I am starting to think of getting a Beta.

"Damn it, I have to repair the door jamb." Henry looked up from his work to watch Alex try to fix the door. It took the handy man a half hour to figure out what he needed to do. 'That's what you get for kicking my door in.'

"Most people just bang on their walls until I wake up," Henry stated. Most of his former neighbors didn't give a damn what happened with, all they cared about was themselves. Most people moving into the apartments knew about the incident.

"I'm not most people Henry." That ended the retort that Henry wanted to say. He was wrong in his thinking that Alex would find him a bore and leave him alone. After what happened early that morning, they cemented a friendship.

It was a fragile bond that formed on some truly horrific things. Even though both knew that the other was involved with the town, only one story was out in the open.

Henry did not want to speculate what happened to the other. He didn't want to come up with something that was worse than the truth. To hear the truth coming from the source would put Henry's mind at ease.

"I'm going to have to find a hardware store to get a few things." Alex was getting frustrated. Finding out that the door was not an easy task made both parties grown, causing Alex to apologies again.

"Very well, let's go." Gray eyes looked questionably at him. "Do you know where one is?"

'Don't question, just let me try to help.' It was not that Henry was annoyed; it just was getting sick of be pegged as unsocial. He was very selective about the people he associated with and Alex was one of the lucky ones.

"I think that would be a good idea." Alex understood why Henry offered to take him. He had not fully grasped the layout of the town. He only had the knowledge of getting to and from the college campuses, everything else was complete and utter mystery.

Making sure that the front door was closed enough to look like it was locked, the two men headed down to the lobby. They passed some occupants while they were on the second floor, making them whisper in their wake.

"Isn't that the man who lives in 302?" asked a middle age woman, Henry for the life of him could not think of her name.

Her friend, a woman around her mid-twenties, looked their way. He could just feel her eyes on him. "I don't know, but who's his friend? He's really cute."

"Just ignore them, Henry." Alex took his hand and started to walk faster towards the double doors leading to the ground floor. Alex gave an annoyed scowl at the woman that promptly shut them up.

"You know woman like that was the reason I ignored girls in high school." This tidbit of information from Alex made the photographer smile. It was getting very easy for them to start dropping little things about themselves.

"It's okay, I just ignore them." He was used to people whispering behind his back. It did not help that before the incident he was a reclusive person. Rumors ran ramped within weeks of his escape; they got worse once Eileen moved away.

They were almost out to his car when he realized Alex was still holding his hand. His face burned when he finally realized how the situation looked. His heart started to thud in his chest, having the other hold his hand felt nice. "Alex, you can let go of my hand."

The younger man blushed and quickly took his hand back. He looked like he didn't want to remove his from the others.

"What part of town is the store at," Trying to get over an awkward moment that only Alex was feeling; he was trying to get a conversation started.

"It's on the east side." Henry knew this would be a good time to teach the younger the layout of the town. Being a handy man for an apartment complex, it would be a good idea to know where a store was so he would be able to get supplies.

"Man, you have a beat up car." Not the best thing to say, but his mind was running on empty.

"Yea, but it was the cheapest car I could afford," Henry was not one to drive a car when he was young. However, the subway didn't feel safe to him anymore. "I don't like the subway, it has too many people."

The car ride slowly went into random chatting, nothing to deep or going in direction of what happened early that morning. Both didn't know how to bring it up, not wanting to upset the other by the issue.

Henry slowed the car down and found a parking spot in front of the small hardware store. Alex got out of the car first while Henry stayed in his seat. Leaning into the car Alex asked why he was not getting out.

"I think I'll stay here and wait for you." Disappointed washed over Alex's face. He seemed that he really wanted to spend time with him.

"You're sure?" The look was starting to make Henry feel guilty. "I could use the company."

It was the look that broke him. He got out of the car and went to the others side. His faced light up with happiness. Henry only shook his head trying to hide a smile at the other antics.

The store was not a big one, a resemble size for a private business. The man behind the counter gave the two a greeting and asked if they needed help. Right away Alex took out a list he made of all the things that he needed. It took twenty minutes for Alex to get the supplies that he was missing.

Once they were back at Henry's apartment, the handy man set to work on fixing the door. Grumbling on how stupid he was for breaking the door jamb.

Henry, on the other hand, could not concentrate with all the noise the other was making. He came to the conclusion that he would not be getting any work done. Giving up on the photos of the new fountain in the city park, he headed to the kitchen to start on a late lunch.

"Alex," the addresses stopped what he was doing, "Would you like something to eat?"

"Yes, please." He put down his tools and walked into the kitchen to wash his hands. He managed to bump into Henry while he was trying to get lunch ready. Causing both men to mumble a quick apology and separate from the other.

Sitting down at the counter, Alex watched Henry started to make some sandwiches for both of them.

"I am almost done with your door; just have to reattach some trim."

"That's fine." Henry was starting to revert back into his reclusive self. He was not sure what to make of Alex.

"Look, I understand that last night was awkward, I am sorry, but I do not want to lose you as a friend." Alex shot him a serious look, one that put Henry's negative thoughts at ease.

"Sorry, I just don't know how to deal with this." Henry moved to sit beside Alex, letting out a defeated sigh. "I have never been good at interacting with people."

"I know what you mean." Alex starting to fidget with his hands, "I don't know how to tell you about me, it's complicated. You told me about your experience in that town. I think it is only fair to tell you mine."

"I don't think now is the right moment." Alex lifted his head so he was looking at the other, "I mean, I think it would be best if we just deal with my story being out in the open. For now isn't easier just to be friends"

"I think I like that idea," Alex smiled at Henry as he started to head his lunch. "Keep life sane for a while."

'Wonder how long that will last?' Henry thought to himself.

A/N I am thinking this story might be around 15-20 chapters, I'm just estimating.