Chapter Four

"I hate you."

Stephano looked away and blinked rapidly. He stood taking breaths and staring at the floor, he hadn't moved since the barrel said those words.

The barrel wondered if the demi-god was going to try to weaken him with tears. To cry on him, make him feel sorry, and to make him apologize.

If so, he wouldn't fall for it.

He waited for those sapphire tear filled eyes to turn on him. He waited for a soft voice to plead with him.

Stephano closed his eyes and took in a slow deep breath. Then opened his eyes and walked toward the door without looking at me.

"Hey!" The barrel yelled into the silence as Stephano got within touching distance.

The golden man stopped, but wouldn't look at the barrel. "W-What?"

The barrel blinked in surprise. Stephano's voice was filled with pain and anger.

But it was restrained, like the demi-god was trying to hide those emotions.

"Look at me." He said reaching for a golden hand.

But the demi-god backed away turning his head so the barrel couldn't see the tears slowly filling his eyes.

He couldn't let the barrel see him like that. No way, he could show weakness again. Not ever! But even as he thought it the barrel was closing in on him. Trapping him against the bed.

"Hey…. Hey…. Look at me?" The barrel took hold of the golden man's chin and tilted his face up.

But Stephano closed his eyes. Can't let him see, can't let him see.

The barrel frowned feeling his anger come back full force.

"Oh. What? You can only look at that damn chair now? Is that it?"

Stephano shook his head, shoulders starting to shake a bit from hold back the tears.

"So why won't you look at me? Huh?" It hurt to have the demi-god, his God, refuse to look at him.

Stephano was so frustrated with the damn man he could scream!

"BECAUSE I WILL NOT LET THE LIKES OF YOU SEE ME CRY!" He pulled his face from the barrel's hand and turned his back on him.

The silence stretched out, making the barrel step away from his God.

"I…. I'm sorry."

Stephano opened his eyes. Surprises, surprises. He never thought the damn barrel would apologize to him!

He wiped liquid gold tears from his sapphire eyes and looked up to meet the barrels own brown eyes.

"For what?"

The barrel swallowed the lump in his throat and shrugged, "For saying I hate you. I-It's not true you know. I just…." He couldn't finish his sentence but he didn't need to.

"I was just getting back at you." Stephano whispered crossing his arms over his chest.

The barrel frowned slowly and stepped forward. "Getting me back? For what? What did I ever do to deserve seeing you like that with my roommate?!"

Stephano shifted to his other foot and cleared his throat.

"Well we had a date tonight."

The barrel looked confused, "We did?"

Stephano snorted, "Yeah. And you're the one who set it!"

Barry had no response he just stood there like a fool, with his mouth hanging open.

"The park? At 4?" Stephano prompted with a bored tone.

Barry winced, "Ah…. Yes…. About that…."

Stephano cut him off, "I waited til 6:30…. Then Jennifer told me she'd seen you with Piggeh. So I went and had a look…. I saw you two."

Those brown eyes narrowed for a moment then the crossed his arms.

"You better not be saying the reason you cheated on me was because I was having coffee with my friend?!"

Stephano shrugged and was suddenly interested in his shoes, "Maybe. You two just looked so… couple-y."

The barrel crossed his arms and sighed in frustration.

"You're such a jealous boyfriend."