Chapter: 2: Mr. Brightside

Author's Note: So I was just going to update once a week, and I think after this I'm going to continue to do so, but I think I'm going to start updating on Tuesdays vs. Thursdays, so here, have an update. =D

"No way. Not gonna happen." Heath objects the moment Justin tells him about the situation.

They're walking back to the locker room after their training session. Justin turns around, walking backwards so he can look Heath in the eye.

"But, Heath, he doesn't have anywhere else to go!" he tries, hoping Heath will see how desperate he is.

"I don't care. He's not staying with us. He's such a tool!" Heath spits back, and Justin's eyes narrow.

"That's rude." he says, his face full of disappointment.

"No, it's freaking true." the redhead replies, pushing the door to the locker room open so Justin doesn't run into it. "He got up here and started fucking Mike-"

"Hey! They were in love, Heath." Justin snaps. At least, he'd like to believe they were. Alex was at least, and he'll be damned if he lets Heath talk about the younger like that.

"Started fucking Mike," Heath just talks over him. The high flyer rolls his eyes. "And got a big head. He's been stomping around here like he owns the place with Mike ever since. Yknow what? Maybe a blow to the ego will do him some good."

"That's messed up. You saw how upset he was. He really loved Mike, even if Mike didn't love him." Justin defends his friend. He pulls his shirt on, still glaring at the redhead. "And now, he's got nothing. No one. He got kicked out of his house, for God's sake."

"Justin, he's not your problem." Heath says exhasperatedly.

"No, Heath, he's my friend." the older snaps, standing up abruptly. He slings his bag over his shoulder. "And I'm going to help him. You're just going to have to get over it."

With that, Justin turns and storms out of the room, letting the door slam shut behind him. Heath lets out a sigh. He can't believe Justin has just, just moved Alex Riley into their house. He tugs at his hair, exhaling slowly before dropping to the bench. He drops his face into his hands. What the hell is he supposed to do now? He's so frustrated he could scream. The only problem is, he can't pinpoint exactly why. All he knows for sure is that he'll be damned if he's going to share Justin with Alex Riley. He's not sure why that thought makes his stomach squirm.

XXXXX

Mike slumps down on the couch, looking around the room almost dejectedly. The house has never felt so empty. It's so quiet he can hear his own thoughts for once. He hates it, and immediately feels a need to fill the space. He pulls out his phone, dialing the only person he can think of.

"What can the Shaman of Sexy do for you today, Michael?" the voice on the other end doesn't brighten his day as much as he thought it would, but it definitely helps.

"He did it. He came and got the last of his stuff today." Mike explains simply.

"And how do we feel?" John asks almost like a therapist.

"How do you think? Like shit." Mike snaps. He lets out a slow breath. "And it's so empty in here. He was right. This place really is too big for one person."

"I told you that, too, jerk." John objects playfully.

"Yea, well, it meant more coming from him. And now he's gone." the younger sighs.

"And now he's gone." his friend repeats. "So what are you gonna do now?"

"I really don't know, John." Mike pouts. He knows John can see it through the phone. "This sucks."

"Well, you can always take it back if you think it was a dumb idea." John suggests.

"No I can't. You know I can't. No, I decided I was going to do this, and I'm going to stick with it. It's the only way they'll leave him alone, John." the younger mutters.

"But is it really worth it if you leave him alone, too?"

The question makes Mike ache.

"I guess we'll just have to find out." he grinds out.

When he finally hangs up, he tilts his head back to stare at the ceiling one again. He lets his phone drop to the floor, thoughts of Alex running through his head. He was wrong before. Now the house has never felt so empty.

XXXXX

Alex lets out a quick whoosh of air, flopping onto his back on the bed, his hands splayed out towards the head and the foot. Justin kicks off his shoes, sitting down on the other side and pushing himself back up against the headboard. He pulls his socks off, throwing them in the floor before turning to Alex with a smile.

"What I want to know," he begins, stretching his legs out in front of him. The bed's so large, they still don't reach Alex. "Is how you've managed to acquire so much shit? Seriously, we travel so much, when do you even have time to shop?"

"What can I say? Mike really knows how to treat a guy." Alex replies, a bittersweet smile on his face.

Justin wants to put his feet in his mouth.

"I'm so sorry, Alex." he mutters, pulling his legs up under him and leaning down towards the younger.

"Nah, man, don't worry about it. I'm starting over, remember? Brand new Alex Riley." Alex says proudly, turning over to prop up on his elbows. He changes the subject as quickly as he can. "What I want to know is, are you sure you don't want me to sleep on the couch?"

"Are you serious? This bed is huge! It makes no sense for you to sleep on the couch." Justin reasons, spreading his arms as if to annunciate his point further.

Plus I'm not entirely sure what Heath would do to you, he adds silently.

"As long as it doesn't make you uncomfortable." Alex responds, smiling just a bit.

Justin leans forward, dropping onto his stomach and propping up on his own elbows. He reaches out and half ruffles Alex's hair.

"Like you could ever make me uncomfortable." he jokes.

Then, Alex is almost right in his face, smirk firmly in place. "You sure about that?"

Despite being said in a joking tone, Justin swallows thickly.

"I-I...Alex..." he manages.

Suddenly, the front door slams open, and Heath's loud angry voice rings down the hall.

"Dammit, Justin, that had better not be Alex Riley's truck in the driveway! And...goddammit, these are his shoes, aren't they? Justin Gabriel, get out here right now and tell my why his shit is here!" the redhead yells.

Justin groans, rolling his eyes and pushing himself off the bed. Alex follows closely behind him, almost running into the smaller when he stops at the door.

"I thought you said he was-" Alex tries, guilt painted across his face.

"Wait right here." Justin cuts him off, not particularly ready to deal with this oncoming storm just yet.

He slips out the door, shutting it behind him. Right as he gets to the living room, Heath screams his name again, evidentially having missed him. He cringes against his friend's shout.

"Jesus Christ, Heath, shut up, I'm right here." he grinds out, walking over and dropping onto the couch. He kicks his feet up unceremoniously on the coffee table.

Heath storms over, knocking Justin's feet down and standing in front of him, hands on his hips. Justin is extremely proud of himself for not laughing. Heath has never looked more like an angry girlfriend, he thinks.

"Justin Angel, you have ten seconds to explain to me what Alex Riley's shit is doing in our apartment, and it had better not be that he is staying here, or so help me God-"

Justin stops his friend before he has a chance to finish his threats.

"Look, I told you he was going to be staying here, with me, for a little while." the older says, all nonchalance.

"I said I didn't want him here!" Heath objects, evidentially exhasperated.

"And I said I didn't give a shit." Justin counters. "Dammit Heath, Alex is my friend, and has been for a long time, and right now, he needs my help-"

"And you really think he would do the same for you?" the redhead snaps.

Truth be told, Justin really doesn't know. He's pretty sure Alex wouldn't have, is the thing. He shakes his head. That's not where they are right now.

"It doesn't matter if he would or not. What matters is that I'm helping him out right now. What matters is that he's staying here, and you're being a total dick." Justin almost growls.

Heath's argument dies on his tongue. He seems to visibly deflate right in frontof the high flyer. Justin immediately feels bad, even as Heath lets out a low breath and nearly collapses onto the couch next to the older, the fight seemingly kicked out of him. The redhead takes a moment before he turns to look at his friend.

"You really think I'm being a dick?" he asks, his voice smaller than normal.

"You've been kind of a massive one over this whole thing." Justin can't exactly lie to him.

Heath sighs.

"I'm sorry." he finally mumbles. "It's just...it's Alex Riley, man."

"And he's not that huge idiot he was a couple of weeks ago. He's different. He's...broken, almost. He's really hurt, Heath." the high flyer tries to get his point across this time.

Heath finally seems to cave, staring at his feet for a moment before pushing himself up off the couch.

"Alright, fine. Where is he? Back in your room?" the redhead asks, turning and heading down the hall.

"What? Heath, wait, what are you doing?" Justin questions, jumping up and rushing after his friend.

It's too late, however, for Heath has already knocked on the door, and Alex is opening it slowly, almost hiding behind it. He finally steps out from around it, looking at Heath sheepishly, as if the rehead is taller than him. He speaks before Heath gets a chance.

"I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to impose. I just needed someplace to crash for a few days. I understand if that's not cool or whatever." Alex murmurs, and Heath's eyes widen slightly before his face falls. He feels like an asshole.

"No, dude. I'm the one who should be apologizing." Heath returns, ducking his own head a bit. "I was really rude, and I'm sorry. You can stay here as long as you need to."

Justin nearly chokes. Alex's eyes snap open as well. They're both completely floored by Heath's sudden change of attitude. It's like he's a new person. Justin is instantly skeptical.

"A-are you serious?" Alex asks breathlessly.

"For sure, man. It wouldn't be right of me to just turn you out. You are Justin's friend, after all." Heath mutters, still not meeting either of their eyes.

"Wow, Heath, I...thank you." Alex replies, grateful smile spreading across his face. He reaches out as if he's going to hug the other, but Heath backs away, putting his hands up as if to shield himself.

"Whoa there, none of that touchy feely crap. Save that for Gabriel...or someone." Heath grinds out.

Alex just laughs. "Alright, okay. Seriously, though, I really appreciate it."

"Yea, yea. Just don't wear out your welcome." Heath nearly threatens.

Justin scoffs just loud enough for the redhead to catch it. Heath rolls his eyes, tossing a dismissive hand gesture over his shoulder as he heads off down the hall once again. Justin hears Alex exhale like he'd been holding his breath for a long time, and he looks at him curiously. Alex looks at Justin shyly.

"I was so scared he was going to kill me, you don't even know." he says quietly, leaning in like it's a big secret.

Justin throws his head back, laughing loudly. As he pushes Alex backwards into the bedroom, stepping in behind him and closing the door, he thinks, maybe this won't be so bad after all.