Brendan woke up the following day after having possibly one of his best sleeps in a while. It was very rare he'd go to sleep without getting drunk first, so waking up without a hangover was some what refreshing in a way. What else made him release a little smile was the fact he was kind of close to Steven, obviously not as close as he'd like to be, but closer than he had been in the last few years.

A knock interrupted his thoughts, to which Brendan called them to enter after a minute, quickly getting dressed beforehand.

"Sleep well?" Mitzeee asked handing him a cup of tea.

"Yeah, thanks for letting me stay Anne."

"It's no problem seriously; Riley's pissed off on this football trip for god knows how long. Nice to have a bit of company."

Brendan huffed. He didn't think Riley was any good for Anne; he took this football stuff too seriously in his opinion and it actually surprised him that she'd stuck by him this long. Love. That was the reason why and Brendan knew that feeling only too well...

"Any food going?"

"Ah so you've still got the same appetite I remember then? And no I don't actually. I've gotta wash my locks and then I'll pop to the shop."

"I'll go…"

"Brendan what if you're seen?" Mitzeee scowled at him, obviously worried about her friend. She was the only one that fought Brendan's corner back in the day, everyone else had turned there backs on him.

"It's 10 in the morning Anne. Cheryl will still be in bed. Don't rise before midday that one. I won't be long promise."

Brendan knew exactly what he wanted as he walked to Price Slice. Bread and bacon. Lots of bacon. He said to Mitzeee that he didn't think Cheryl would be awake yet, but he was still wary. The wrath of his sister was something to be very scared about and boy he knew it. The way she'd kicked off back when Brendan said he had to leave for Steven's sake, it would give him a new start to life, a new break. He believed it back then, of course he did. It broke his heart to leave but it was something he had to do. He'd known all along that Steven could do ten times better than himself but seeing him lying there in his hospital bed, dosed up to his eyeballs in painkillers, bandages and slings in place, he knew he had to go. He had to go because he blamed himself for what happened to Steven; so he had to let Steven go…

He made his way inside the shop, quickly glancing at the person minding the till. Teenage kid, never seen her before in his life. That was handy, imagining Frankie the local gossip being there had crossed his mind, and he knew before he counted to twenty Cheryl would know that he was lurking around. Brendan swiftly picked up all the items he required, stopping at the coffee machine while the checkout girl scanned his other items. He'd grabbed a few treats for Anne too, for her hospitality and that. The girl placed them in a bag for Brendan, too slowly for his liking; he paid and then sped out of the shop, not exactly looking where he was going, crashing into a passer by and ending up dropping all of his shopping to the floor anyway.

"Fuck sake, look where your going will you?!" Brendan shouted, dropping his coffee down his shirt, and seeing it drop to the floor alongside his shopping bags.

"Woah sorry there mate, didn't see you there…" the stranger said. That voice, boy did Brendan recognise it. He didn't even want to look up, he just couldn't believe he was this near to the person he wanted, yet he couldn't touch him. The urge was there, of course it was but to Steven Brendan was just a stranger, that was all. A weird man who he'd ultimately never met before in his little world. He couldn't look at him so he just mumbled.

"It's fine."

"Here, here I'll help ya" Steven started to pick up the items, brushing his hand with Brendan's accidently, causing Brendan to pull back.

"I said its fine St… It's fine okay." He'd started to say Steven's name, then remembering he couldn't. That would be weird and Ste would probably have been a little scared, put back; a randomer knowing his name. His Steven was in front of him and he hadn't even recognised him at all. He had no idea who Brendan was and that hurt. That hurt like a bitch basically deep down. Brendan looked up then, unable to resist. What he saw made him shine inside. Steven was there, infront of him...

He'd hardly changed at all really since he'd last seen him. Yes, he didn't have any plasters, cuts etc. And yes he was no longer in a hospital bed, but the real Steven under all of those barriers was there, and he looked more or less the same. It's just the fact he may have got a little bit older, but he still had the same baby face Brendan remembered, the one he'd fancied all those years ago. Steven's hair looked a little different though, darker perhaps Brendan couldn't put his finger on it but it suited him and the style was exactly the same as back in the day. He remembered how he'd like it when he brushed his fingers through it after having an intimate moment together, how it brought Steven comfort realising Brendan was still there and hadn't ditched him after sex like he used to when they'd first started 'seeing' eachother. His eyes were still that same shade of light blue staring back at Brendan, staring back as if to say what the fuck you looking at actually...

"Sorry..."

"Are you.. are you checking me out?" Steven whispered, obviously unsure what Brendan was doing. How would you feel if somebody you didn't even know was looking at you in such a way? Freaked out.

"No just thinking what a twat you was really.. walking into me.." Brendan didn't even know why the fuck he said that. Steven wouldn't even look at him twice now again would he? Blown his chances.

"To be fair you wasn't exactly looking where you was going either..."

"Spose."

"Better get back, said I'd only be gone a few minutes to get some supplies" Steven replied, lifting up his own carrier bag from the cafe maybe?

"Yeah sure, see you around." The tone of Brendan's response came out somewhat more of a question than a statement.

"Yeah, sure you will. Small village this."

Brendan smiled, walking a little distance before Steven's voice stopped him in his tracks.

"I owe you a drink by the way Freddie Mercury!"

Brendan chuckled to himself, fanning his moustache. Cheek of it.

Thanks For reading again :) Love you all xx