Charlie walked back to his room after a nice long shower. He noticed that Mike wasn't there at that present time. A part of him missed being able to just walk into his room and curl up in Mike's arms. Though he convinced himself that his desision was for the best.
Mike came in as Charlie was changing. Charlie quickley covered the cuts on his arm so Mike couldn't see. His ex just raised an eyebrow at him suspiciously, wondering why Charlie was so intent on hiding his body from Mike, who had seen it enough anyway. Shrugging it off, he lay down on his bed and just stared at Charlie from behind.
"Mike, can you please stop looking at me?" Charlie asked, feeling Mike's eyes wander on his back.
"Don't flatter yourself." Mike replied bluntly. "Besides I've seen it many times before, what's one more."
Charlie sighed, hating that him and Mike had become what they had. Unable to have a conversation, keeping secrets and barely able to be in the same room with each other. Everything that had seemed so perfect two weeks ago, now felt so awkward.
"So how is everything with you anyway?" Charlie asked, slipping a long sleeved shirt on.
"Same stuff different day." Mike told him. "Nothing I can stand, but nothing I can't handle."
"I'm glad it's going so well for you then." Charlie whispered in reply, secretly envious that things were going so easily for his ex and not for him. "So are you still planning to move out?"
"Sounds like you want me out." Mike stood up and walked over to Charlie. "Do you?"
"I don't know, Mike. I can't say." Charlie bit his lip and lied. "Things have been really awkward lately."
"I guess things can't go back to the way they were." Mike shrugged, grabbing Charlie's hand and giving it a squeeze. "A shame, because we were great together while it lasted."
Charlie pulled his hand away. "Yeah, I guess we were. Though I need someone to fit my needs. Mike we were a dream come true, but we have many dreams left. Sure the dream didn't end so well, but it had to end before someone gets really hurt."
Mike sighed, letting some of his true self shine through. "Though aren't we hurting now? Does it make a difference?" He lead Charlie over to his bed. "Listen, I know I say things I don't mean, it doesn't help that I've had a really bad start to the year. I'm sorry if it hurt you. This situation is hopeless, we obviously care about each other."
Charlie turned to him, putting some distance between them. "Sure we do, but as friends. Come on Mike, we wouldn't have made it. We're too different so there really is no point trying. I've been thinking that for awhile."
"What's happened to you? I know you've been through some rough patches but you've changed and for the worst. Where's your faith and why are you pushing me away. Trust me Charlie, I've been down that road and it cost me someone I love." Mike closed the gap between them. "Tom spoke to me before. He made me think and I realise that breaking up with you doesn't solve anything because I'll just come right back to you. Don't you feel that way?"
Charlie just shrugged in reply. He didn't know what to say to that. Mike was clearly opening his heart, but Charlie knew that he shouldn't open his, it would just lead to more tears and more problems for Mike. He didn't want to be the burden on Mike anymore and since he was leaving anyway it was a lot easier to push him away. Charlie kept reminding himself of everything that Mike said when they broke up, it helped to avoid looking at him.
"I'm telling you the truth here, the least you could do is reply. I've tried to replace you and fill the void that you've left in my life for the past two weeks, but I can't figure it out at all. I need you and I'm man enough to admit it." Mike grabbed Charlie's arm gently. Charlie jerked it away, causing his sleeve to run up and reveal what he had been doing to himself ever since Georgina's funeral. Mike looked down at the cuts, pulling back the sleeve despite Charlie's protests to reveal more.
"Leave me alone, okay. You didn't want to know my problems, so therefore this is none of your business." Charlie stood up and walked to his side of the room, staring at the wall.
"Charlie, why didn't you tell me? You know I didn't mean what I said. I love you and I don't want you doing this to yourself." A tear rolled down Mike's cheek as he turned Charlie to face him. "I could have helped you and despite what you think I wouldn't have pushed you away."
Charlie walked to the door, angrilly. "I'm going for a walk. Please don't follow me"
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Mark saw Charlie walking away and decided to follow him and see what was up. He and Tom had been trying to get Charlie and Mike to reconcile, but the situation seemed very hopeless. He caught up with Charlie halfway to the front gate.
"Come on, I just want to be alone." Charlie told him. "Nothing personal."
"Like I'm going to let you walk around alone. Seriously, what's wrong?" Mark asked him, walking along beside him.
"I just had another fight with Mike. I don't know what's up with him. We get together and he closes up and when he's about to lose me he figures it's the perfect time to reveal everything to me." Charlie explained. "I know it's not going to work, he's known all along. Now that I finally say it, suddenly everyone wants it to work."
"I think you need Mike around more than you care to admit. Seriously, do you think I haven't realised that I'm Tom's silver medal?" Mark told him. "He basically gave up on Mike because of you. You're the only one that can get through to him."
"Well, how's that going to help when he goes back home?" Charlie replied, looking at Mark with questioning eyes.
"I give up, there's no winning with you. I didn't know you had a stubborn streak in you." Mark smiled at Charlie as they kept walking around the school.
"So anyway, how are things with Louise?" Charlie asked. "Your parents still keeping you two together?"
"Actually, they're angry at me. They say I am not being co-operative with this merger. Louise wanted out and as you can see with her and Mike, she's never been told the word no in her life. They're still comprimising, but I may be off the hook since she likes Mike." Mark sighed after saying it. "Though it doesn't make me feel better. I'm going to get blamed for it, and possibly shunned from my family, not that they cared about me anyway."
Charlie touched Mark's arm at the realisation. "I'm sorry for misjudging you then. Once again another of Mike's influences over me. Plus people here are very rude."
"Don't blame Mike, I put up a front and it's my fault." Mark replied, squeezing the hand on his arm. "Thanks for being here though, you're a great friend. Mike was lucky to have you."
"Well, we better go back to the dorms." Charlie said. "It's getting a little cold. Still winter after all."
"Not to mention a week until Valentines Day. Just think about it, okay." Mark replied. "I'll catch up with you in a minute. I like the cold."
Charlie was a little unsure, but Mark insisted that Charlie go back. Finally Charlie agreed, thinking that Mark just needed a little fresh air and was taking the time to think as well as give Charlie time to think. Though by the time Charlie was back at the dorms, Mark hadn't caught up with him. He made his way up the stairs, wondering what was going on, then he had a gut feeling he should go back.
Unable to ignore it, he headed back towards where him and Mark had been talking. In the trees nearby, he could hear a couple of voices. Charlie felt a little scared, but walked closer to see if Mark was one of the voices. He couldn't hear Mark, but instead heard Mark's name being shouted by none other than James. Charlie nearly threw up at what he heard next. He couldn't believe it.
One of the group had obviously heard him and warned the others that a guard was coming. Charlie could see the group scattering and heard them all run back to the boys dormitory in order not to get caught. Waiting a few seconds to make sure they had gone, Charlie went to check on Mark.
"Mark, what happened? Why did they do this?" Charlie asked, barely able to hold back tears.
Mark sat up, leaning on Charlie for assistance. "They found out. They saw me with you." Mark coughed slightly, gulping in some much needed air. "They didn't see you though and they don't know about Mike or Tom."
"Who was it, besides James?" Charlie asked. "Who does this?"
"A bunch of guys." Mark could barely speak, so Charlie decided to stop with the questioning.
"You don't have to answer. We should just get you to the nurse's office." Charlie tried to sit Mark up as best he could. "Can you stand at all?"
"I'll be okay, but just take me back to the dorms. No good can come from telling anyone about this." Mark replied, on his knees.
Charlie looked at him shocked. "That's terrible! They beat you up, we have to tell someone about this. They can't get away with this just because we're different."
Mark looked at Charlie seriously. "Listen, James is the richest guy in this school. He wields a lot of power. All his dad has to do is donate a new wing or hall or whatever and he gets off scott free. I know, I've been there. The stories I could tell you would shock you."
"It's not fair. This shouldn't happen." Charlie whispered, wishing Mike was there with him. "I hate this place, I really do."
Mark tried to stand, but ended up falling back down. "I know, but I don't know anything else. I wish that James had killed me."
"Don't say that, please don't say that." Charlie answered.
Mark smiled at him. "It's nice to see you care, but you can't say stuff like that when you cut yourself in the bathroom. You can understand how I feel though."
Charlie nodded, trying to ease Mark's pain. "How did you know about that? The cutting I mean."
"You think Mike doesn't see things that you do? He's known for about a week now. You should know how observant he is." Mark touched Charlie's arm. "He came to me about it, because you wouldn't talk to him. Despite what you think Charlie, he wants to take care of you because he loves you."
"Though what about when he leaves, we may as well get it over with." Charlie whispered. "I don't want to get hurt."
"Listen, Tom is worth getting beaten up over. I only wish he felt the same about me. I know you feel that way about Mike. Besides, it will hurt more seeing him everyday, wanting and needing him more than you care to admit. Charlie, where did your faith go?" Mark asked.
Charlie didn't have an answer and couldn't answer the question anyway because Mike and Tom showed up. Tom ran over to Mark, worried out of his wits. The concern in his eyes showed that he really did care about his boyfriend, probably more than he ever realised before. Tom was whispering a few things in Mark's ear. Seeing them together, Charlie realised him and Mike weren't needed.
Together they began to walk back to the dorms. Charlie still had a few tears running down his cheeks at the thought of how hopeless everything was. Niether of them spoke until they reached their room. Once Mike shut the door, Charlie threw his arms around him and cried. Thinking about the possiblity that it could have been him, thinking about everything his new friend was going through. Mike lead Charlie over to his bed, allowing him to cry himself to sleep in his arms.
A/N: Chapter 14 will be up later, hopefully a lot more happier than the last two chapters. It seems Charlie and Mike have reconciled, but what about the other problems facing them, Mark and Tom? What will the aftermath of this nigt be? Chapter 14 has all those answers which should be up about a week after this one. Thanks for reading.