Anwar

I run after him but it's no good. I eventually lose him among the crowd. The taste of Maxxie's lips still lingered on my own and it was still unbelievable. I didn't know what to think other than…well, it wasn't that horrible. That kind of surprised me, actually. Not just the kiss but the fact that I wasn't nearly as disgusted by it as I thought I'd be…as I should have been.

I thought I didn't have to worry about shit like this happening when I came to London with Maxxie. He had James and I was okay with that. But then the arsehole cheated on him and I had to unleash my martial arts skills on the fucker. I got him with a real nice kick, too! And then all was well. Maxxie got over James eventually and we had never been tighter.

But then something changed. It was a very subtle change but damn I noticed it. Maxxie and I started looking at each other oddly. I even caught him staring at me a couple of times. Though, that may have been because I sometimes looked at him funny too. I can't really describe the look or what emotion was behind it. I think it was something like sympathy, though. Maxxie had been through a lot what with the whole stalker thing back in Bristol and then James left him (after getting a thorough ass-beating, of course!). How could I not feel bad for him?

So I started inviting him out more, introducing him to some really cool friends of mine down at the bar I now work at, and I even started going to his play rehearsals even though I don't much like musical theatre…at all. I ruffled his hair and cheered him up with my dumb jokes and batshit insane adventures in my attempts to get laid. And hell it worked! Maxxie got over James faster than I thought he would and in about two month's time, he almost always had a smile on his face. He sure did smile a lot at me…

Oh bloody hell. So that's what that was! All that smiling and staring and the fact that he got over James quickly and…oh bullocks. Maxxie fell in love with me! No, it's worse than that. Maxxie fell in love with me and I've been leading him on! Or at least, I made it easier for Maxxie to like me. It all makes sense now.

Well, that's just fantastic, Anwar! First, you accidently lead on your best mate and then you let him kiss you and run away, possibly ruining your entire friendship!

Well, maybe it isn't as bad as I thought. The kiss wasn't that bad and Maxxie was drunk off his arse. It was just one little mistake. All I had to do was tell Maxxie that it wasn't a big deal and to forget that it ever happened. It was no use to lose each other over something like that. Yeah, that should work. I'll just tell him that.

Knowing Maxxie, he probably just went back to the apartment so, after leaving the party, I trail down the busy London sidewalks. I desperately wave to any cab that drives by but none of them pick me up. Three of the seven or so drivers I tried to hail even rolled down their windows and screamed, "Not a chance you Iranian terrorist!" or some variation of that.

"I'm Pakistani you twat!" I scream. This was getting ridiculous. Maxxie and I were never perfectly identical but if there's one thing we share for sure it's our hatred for being treated like crap for being a minority. Though, Maxxie always took it in total stride. I just kicked their asses. He and I would often "argue" over which method was better until we laughed our arses off.

After another ten bloody tries, I finally land a cab and ask to be taken to my apartment. The cab driver was a young, 20-ish something looking guy with an optimistic smile and short, curly brown hair. He was pretty nice, driving me to my desired location without making a fuss about me being Paki or trying to talk to me when I'm clearly just in the mood to get where I want to be. He seemed like the kind of guy that Maxxie would like…why would I even think about that?

The thought kind of disturbs me, actually. The idea of Maxxie being with another guy just seems so…wrong to me. It was especially weird since, being in London for a few months, I've grown used to seeing gay couples walk around holding hands and shit. That never bothered me all that much but Maxxie was different. Maybe it's because he's my best mate and I'm just naturally protective of him? No, it's deeper than that.

I think back to the time Maxxie first introduced us to James and how it made me feel uncomfortable. Maxxie was with some random guy I never even knew and it just made me feel…I don't know. Even when we moved to London it still felt kind of odd but I pushed it aside for Maxxie's sake. Over time, I eventually became okay with it all until that fucker cheated on my Maxxie.

I rest my head on the window of the still moving cab. Ugh, just how far away is this apartment?

"Sorry it's taking so long. London traffic today is bloody brutal," the cab driver says. For a moment I thought he read my mind but I brushed off the thought. I've been yawning throughout the whole drive home without even realizing it till now and resting my head probably gave me away. The party wore me out and so is all this thinking.

"It's fine. We'll get there soon enough," I say patiently.

I think back to the kiss again. I was going to ask Maxxie for advice on how to present myself to one of the Russian belly-dancers that was so definitely eyeing me. I've specifically been described as a "high-class sex god"… or something like that (I was a bit busy at the moment! My imagination picked up the rest), but either way, I have no problem when it comes to the actual deed. The journey there, however, has always been a weak spot of mine that I always had Maxxie to help with and rely on. He'd help me look presentable, give me the confidence to grow a pair, and bring out the girl's more adventurous side by using his social charisma. I always envied that gift of his.

But today, Maxxie was drunk and barely understood a word I said to him. He seemed more preoccupied with my hands on his shoulders and eventually my own bloody lips. He came on to me before I could really react but he seemed to linger there for a while.

I could've pulled away I guess…in fact, I probably should have. Why didn't I, as a matter of fact? I was never up for kissing him before or during. So what happened? Maxxie was sure taking his sweet old time about it. He kept gently nibbling at my upper lip until they were swollen and then he moved to the lower one. The taste of booze was obviously there but there was still another distinct taste alongside it. It was just Maxxie's wet lips, sure, but it still stood out to me. I can actually still taste it just a little bit. It's literally right on the tip of my tongue and I had let it get there in the first place. Why didn't I just move away when Maxxie practically pecked my mouth off-

Wait a minute. It can't possibly be…shit. I look down at my loose, black sweatpants, not happy with what I'm seeing.

"You okay back there?" the driver asks, looking back at me.

I quickly put my arms over my legs and say, "Wha-what! Yeah! Keep driving!"

The driver obviously noticed how frenzied my voice was but I don't care. I have every right to be freaking out right now. I mean…what the fuck!? Why am I liking this? These thoughts reeked nothing but gay and here I am covering my sweatpants and making it very obvious what I'm trying to do. And worst of all, it's Maxxie! That's just…that's just…weird-ish…huh.

Come to think of it, it's not that weird. I mean, it's still incredibly gay but…it wasn't bad. No, it really wasn't that bad at all, actually. Maxxie's lips were kind of like a girl's or at least they felt like it. The only weird part about it was how sudden it was but otherwise it wasn't gross at all. I bet I would have even liked it if I knew it was coming and prepared for it…wait what am I saying!? Where is all this coming from!? I'm not gay! I love girls! I love girls and knockers and flowing blonde hair kinda similar to Maxxie's only longer and…wait. Ah, shit.

Maybe I am a bit gay for Maxxie (or bi or whatever the bloody term is). I mean…there was that one time he and I went on that trip to Russia and I got a boner while he was sleeping on my shoulder. I tried to blame it on the vibrations of the airplane when Maxxie noticed (even though there weren't any at the time) but Maxxie made a joke of it. I decided to change the subject, growing uncomfortable, and the moment passed. I didn't know what gave me that hard-on at the time but now it seems kind of clear to me now. Maxxie did look somewhat cute sleeping on my shoulder so peacefully like that, even though I tried to ignore him most of the flight.

"We're here, sir," the driver says cheerfully, breaking me out of my thought train. I thank him and exit the car. Walking up to the sidewalk, I silently thank the driver for interrupting my thoughts. All this thinking was getting mentally exhausting. I reach the front door of the apartment building and make my way to the staircase, where I climb eight or so floors until finally reaching mine.

With the door to the room now in my line of sight, I decide to think about this whole bloody mess later. Maxxie is probably asleep by now since it took me so long to get here what with taking the time to try and hail a cab and then getting caught up in traffic. I don't see much use in waking him up since I'm about ready to collapse too. I walk through the door, ready to just glide on over to my bedroom and lay there like a rock. I'm only two steps through the door and I instantly stop.

I can tell that my shoes just stepped in a puddle but my brain takes disturbingly longer to process what I see when I look down and see that the puddle is red. I notice how quiet the apartment is and panic shoots through my spine in a matter of seconds. I storm through to Maxxie's room, fearing the worst possible scenario.

I get there and he's gone! I search throughout the rest of the apartment just to be sure but he's nowhere to be found. He just vanished. Maxxie is gone! Fuck! Fuck! My best mate is gone and I don't know what the fuck I'm going to do. I can't lose him. I just can't. Not Maxxie!

I turn back to the kitchen near the front door and scramble for the phone. I dial the police.

Thanks again to anyone who has read this fic. I apologize if you feel that Anwar is a bit too OOC but I'm trying my best to make it seem plausible. Please Review!