If if you haven't guessed by the chapter titles, this is going to go on for a few days. As the chapters are quite short I'm updating pretty much daily! As per usual, I hope y'all enjoy and let me know what y'all think should happen between Stef and Lena: (make or break?) ❤️

"So I thought Daria was mad at you?" I say in an inquisitive way. Right now I'm at Connor's, his Dad's out so we have the place to ourselves. We're on minecraft building a dystopian city. Connor has always been better at building structures with red-stone so you can operate sliding doors et cetera. Due to this I've redeemed myself by building several roads that infiltrate the gaps between each architectural success. As its survival mode and Connor's avatar is being attacked by a skeleton on his decent down the mine looking for more ore to smelt, he's to preoccupied to see my fed up expression. It's not that I didn't understand the whole situation, it's just I had hoped they'd split up soon. The idea of him holding her hand and doing stuff, hanging out and everything was not a good though. With Moms arguing over disloyalty I hardly wanted the same to happen for him.

"Oh, yeah, well you know how she is." He brushed off.

"Um, not really. You know, seeming as I don't spend time with her like you." Pausing the game Connor wriggles in his spot on the coach.

"I thought you were cool with that."

"I am, I just…nevermind." Connor looked curious.

"Nah, come one, you have to tell me now." Shaking my head and looking back at the screen I stare until the pixels blur and I have to refocus my eyes. Puffing out an annoyed breath, he presses play. We continue, not saying much, each to our own thoughts.

"How's your Moms, they alright now?" Maybe it's me not saying anything or the fact I seem so tense when he brings it up but I can tell he knows the answer as soon as he's asked. "I'm sure they'll get back to normal after today, like it won't go on much longer.." Sure. If only.

"Yeah…I guess." Once again Connor pauses the game. It's actually inconvenient this time because I was just surprised by a creeper. I needed to run away before it blew up the makeshift port-a-loo I'd just designed. In fairness, it would probably be a blessing if it had blown it up. "Hey!" I start to complain.

"Come here." I raise one very intentional eyebrow.

"Why?" I draw it out longer than necessary. Just a little bit fearful.

"Just come here." Fine. Crunching my stomach so I can sit forward I then position myself on his side of the faded leather chair. Like the night that Connor and I went to the rock and he placed his shoes down then mine, he repeats the motion yet this time with our controllers. Swallowing a little I am not sure what he's planning so I just wait. When he then umbrellas me into a hug I'm rigid. Eventually I koala his neck in similar fashion to his arms round my middle. Ear to ear. Burrowing my head into his shoulder I mould into him. His arms squeeze me tight for a millisecond as he whispers: "Everything will be alright." I believe him. Whether it's because of the certainty of his voice or the trust I have in him, I believe his words. Nuzzling my nose into the base where his neck joins his body I give a speechless thanks. If I were more confident I probably would've kissed him. Tucked my head up and given him a token more cumulative then my simple connotative snuggle. However, I'm not that brave, I much prefer to let Connor lead our physical conversations so instead I hold on. This is enough. I think to how we began, Connor and I, how much things change. Depressed by the sense of change I can detect brewing at home this just makes me more unsteady than ever. So much so that I unknowingly dig my nails into his back to the point where he shudders a little. I'm about to apologise when the door opens.

Connor has one of those houses where the front door opens into the living room with a door separating the kitchen on one wall and another dividing off the corridor in which the stairs are concealed in. The problem with no hallway is that when Adam comes home at unexpected times, like now, Connor and I have no way of getting ourselves into our rehearsed 'friend' positions. The look on his Dad's face is priceless as he sees us separate. He clears his throat.

"Umm, boys." He tips his head in our direction and then gallops to the exit to the rear of the room. Splendid. Connor's wearing his 'Oh shit' face.

"Give me a sec?"

"Sure." I reply tightly. He gets up and follows his Dad into the kitchen. Then the rowing begins.

"What the hell was that?" Adams voice peaks. I don't think he cares if I can hear.

"What was what?" Connor is asking with mock confusion. Adam isn't having it.

"You know bloody well what, why were you two…you know?" He shouts. I can imagine Connor shrinking down and saying nothing (I know I would've). He doesn't though.

"It's called hugging, Dad." Sarcasm wasn't really the best approach in my opinion and judging by the slurs of almost profanities, Adam didn't appreciate it much either. Amungst all of the anger an imploring 'why' must have been asked. "Because, that's what mates do to comfort the other when they're having a rough time!" Connor is yelling back. The syllabl 'mates' all I concentrate on.

"What do you mean, rough time?"

"It's home stuff, so I can't say. He's worried about it so I was doing what any decent friend would." He insists with a daring patronizing air. There's a pause from Adam.

"Oh, well…that's good of you." He manages.

"What did you think was going on?" Connor says, pretending like he has no idea what it's about.

"Well, I thought, I mean…" There's coughing and muttering.

"Dad, be serious. You realise Jude's a guy, right? Plus, I have a girlfriend remember." He's so good at lying to his Dad he almost has me convinced. Almost. It was what he said next that reminded me. "Besides, Jude's going out with Taylor." I was what?! Okay, I was fine if he wanted to lie about Daria so as to pretend he was the perfect son but who the hell said he could drag me into this? While I fume about it, Connor and Adam finish up they're conversation. He comes back in. "Sorry about that."

"It's, um, okay. I have to go now anyway." It was only two and I didn't much fancy going home to find Lena crying but I didn't want to argue with Connor. If I stayed then it would happen. Not noticing anything off, Connor says okay and walks me too the door. Before I leave he gives me a quick kiss on the cheek, winking. I smile because, you know what, I'm not sure why. I'm mad at him. Even so, I can't always help it. It is Connor after all. "Bye."

"Bye."

(-.-)

The house is beige. No one wants to talk. Mom hasn't come home. Momma is now sitting in the front room with a glass of wine. She's been crying. This has got to be over tomorrow, right?