Reviews: Big thanks to NiennaAngel, Curtis Zidane Ziraa, Arieru, kris the ninja pirate, Kuro Shinzui and Nkingy. Sorry it took so long to update.

Tala sat in his lounge room with a bottle of whisky in his hand and in the other the pillow that he had torn out of Claude's grip during his fit of rage. He looked at the bottle and took a quick gulp, feeling the hard liquid burn his throat. He doesn't care.

He was feeling annoyed, at what or who, he wasn't quite sure, but he was pretty certain some of it was directed at himself.

He growled and took another swig. He soon realized the bottle was empty and promptly threw it across the room. He watched with a satisfied gaze as the bottle broke into a million tiny shards. He felt his head start to spin and was eternally grateful that he doesn't have to work tomorrow as his head hit the pillow, the same one Claude was clutching before.

… … … … …

"Tala! Open this damn door already!"

Tala was startled awake when he heard several loud bangs on his door followed by an increasing frustrated voice. He rolled off the lounge, his head absolutely pounding, the sound of the hard knocks cutting through his head like razor blades.

He snarled as he flung open the door. "What?"

Kai opened is mouth to say something when he suddenly frowned. He leaned forward and sniffed a little. "You've been drinking." He said.

"Well, no shit Sherlock." Tala sneered, turning to walk back inside. He stumbled into the kitchen, well aware that Kai had followed him. He popped a couple of pills and sat down at the table. He turned his gaze to Kai who was looking at his place with a slight look of disgust.

"Arg, this place is a mess." He muttered. He turned his gaze to Tala who looked like a total wreak. His hair was a total birds nest, his eyes red and puffy, his clothes which he was wearing yesterday were all wrinkled.

"What?" Tala snapped again.

Kai glared at him, then sighed, sinking into a chair across from Tala. "Claude." He said.

Inwardly Tala grimace. "What? Did he give you some sob story?"

"No." Kai said, his eyes narrowing. "There was no story, but there was plenty of sob."

"What?"

"He was crying his eyes out, you fool." Kai sighed again.

"Good." Tala snapped. "Serves him right. He was the reason why I wasn't getting any."

"Yes, that is true, in more ways then one."

"What are you going on about?"

"The reason why you haven't had a decent relationship," Kai said slowly as if talking to a child. "is because you subconsciously 'seeked' out other people when all along you wanted Claude."

Tala immediately stiffen in his seat, turning a heated gaze at Kai. "What?" He said again.

"You want to be with Claude." Kai said firmly. "You've always wanted to be with Claude, but you felt that he was way too innocent for you and that he could do so much better. All those other dates were just substitutes for Claude."

"You're talking nonsense." Tala muttered and climbed to his feet, walking into the lounge room.

Kai got up and followed him. "Am I, or am I a little too close to the truth then you would like?"

"You make it sound like I was the bad guy here!" Tala exclaimed as he spun around to glare at the shorter youth.

"Listen I know what Claude did was wrong and sneaky, but it's no worst then what any of us did in the past now is it? Remember when you hacked into the traffic control centre and cause several motor vehicle accidents? What about the time you-"

"All right, I get the point!" Tala exclaimed, throwing himself down in a chair. "What do you want from me?"

"I want you to tell me how you really feel about Claude. I know how you feel but I want to hear it directly from you." Kai said as he sat down as well.

Silence followed as Kai sat still, looking intently at Tala. Tala leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He let his mind wonder and the main vision that popped into his minds eyes was visions of Claude. He remembered their first meeting after hearing that he and Miguel had moved in rather hastily. He remembered the joy on his face when Tala said that he could clean his place every morning and he'll pay him. He remembers all the small smiles that Claude had worn, the way his eyes would sparkle with amusement when Tala would rant about his day. He also remember the feel of his skin under his fingertips and the raw emotion of wanting to feel more.

It was Claude he always wanted. Not anyone else. He was subconsciously sabotaging his own dates because they weren't the same as Claude.

Tala opened his eyes after hitting his realization and turned his gaze to Kai who was sitting perched on the edge of his seat, waiting for him to answer. "You're right." Tala muttered. "Claude has always been the one I wanted." He watched a small smug smile grace Kai's lips. "How did you know?"

"You talked about Claude more so than your other ex-boyfriends." Kai shook his head. "He's kinda like a wife sitting at home waiting for her husband to return, knowing full well that he had been sleeping around behind her back."

"That's one thing I can say didn't happen." Tala muttered again.

"Huh?"

"I made out with them, yes, can't deny that, but I didn't sleep with any of them." Tala sighed and let his head fall back again. "It didn't feel right."

"And Claude?"

"You have no idea how hard it is not to jump him." He smirked as Kai sniggered. "Oh, and tell him he still has a job here."

Kai nodded and decided to leave, feeling that there was nothing else for him to do. He bid Tala goodbye and left. Tala watched him leave and shut the door. He looked into the lounge room and grimace. He'll clean it up tomorrow, but right now, he's going to bed.

… … … … …

Claude wiped his eyes as he slowly trudged his way over to Tala's. It has been a week since he had seen the redhead and would jump at every single noise he hears when he enters his apartment. Yes, he still cleans up after him, his needs the money. Miguel said he could borrow some money from him, but it wouldn't be right.

He carefully open the door and peeked inside. He heard nothing and pushed the door further open. He quickly glanced around the lounge room and kitchen and saw no one. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He walked into the kitchen to get the dirty dishes done first when he heard a noise behind him. He spun around to see Tala standing in the doorway, blocking his only exit.

He swallowed as Tala gazed at him with unreadable eyes. "Claude." He said, his voice soft, softer than he has ever heard it before. "Come here."

Nah, little cliffhanger.

Tala: Yes, it's so dramatic… that was sarcasm by the way.

What? Coming from you? Never… -.-

Next chapter: It's a surprise.

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