A/N: Thank you for the reviews, such kind words.
"Ste! Just the man," Mitzeee called, trying to run over in her over-sized heels.
"What are you after?" Ste asked, walking in to work. He'd slept in again, third day in a row.
"I need you and your little friend to knock the best food you ever have," she fussed with her hair. "And I mean the best."
"D'pends who it's for and what for," Ste acknowledged Doug with an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry" he whispered taking off his coat and getting straight to his customers.
"It's for Riley, well his team. They won the league or whatever it is you call it, and we need to put a party on for him."
"You know Riley's not big on parties," Doug chipped in.
Mitzeee rolled her eyes, "of course he his. He's going to love it." She pulled out a piece of paper with a list on it, "this is what I want you to rustle up."
"You know we'd normally say yeah Mitzeee, but it's right full on in here." Ste said, in between taking orders.
"Jesus, you are getting paid for this!" She stuck her bottom lip out, "please."
Doug and Ste looked at each other and knew this woman wouldn't back down, so they agreed.
XXX
It was heading on 6pm, the party started at 7. Panic set in when things weren't going as easy as they'd liked; or as Ste liked.
"Oh, we are never gonna get all this done!" Ste moaned, putting the sixth smoked turkey pizza in the oven.
Doug just smiled, "we will, we've only got the sandwiches' to do now." He patted his shoulder, "just relax, Ste."
"Aww isn't that cute."
Ste and Doug both turned around, their necks almost snapping, "Brendan."
"The one and only," he said. "Ye miss me?" He asked, only looking at Ste. His tone jokingly, but his eyes baring nothing but seriousness.
"What do you want? Doug asked after silence that felt like hours.
Ste couldn't look at Brendan, his hands were shaking stupidly, his brow heating up, a weird feeling in his belly. One he felt when he'd been away from Brendan when they were…something, and he was getting ready to go round to his flat so they could 'fuck mindlessly', as Brendan would call it. A feeling so strong he couldn't go control.
He had missed him.
"Mitz' is worrying over this shite party for Riley. Sent me round to see what the holdup is."
"There isn't one," Doug replied. "It'll be over in five minutes, tops."
"Seen as I'm Mitz's slave, I'll help ye carry the stuff over to the club."
"No you won't," Ste mumbled. "We can do it."
"An extra pair of hands-"
"I said NO! Is that so difficult to understand?" His knuckles turning white, the grip on the work tops getting tighter.
"Well I wasn't asking," Brendan retorted. Annoyed that this was how he was being treated, especially after keeping his distance from the lad. "So stop ye moaning."
"You've got a fuckin' cheek, do you know that? You proper…. ffs, do whatever. I'm outta here."
"Ste! You can't just walk out," Doug shouted after him.
But he was gone.
"Who's put his undies in a twist?" Brendan asked, but he knew. He knew it was him, of course it was, Ste hated his guts.
Brendan shoved a handful of peperoni slices in his mouth and shook his head.
"I expect to see ye at the club in half an hour."
XXX
The party went great, the food went down great. And Ste had turned up an hour after the party started and worked his butt off, he felt awful leaving Doug like that. His behaviour stupid, but with a few pints of lager after the party ended and hundreds of 'I shouldn't have done that, me' later, Doug forgave him.
They were both worse for wear returning back to Carter & Hay to put away the cutlery and trays they had used. They hadn't even had many, or maybe they had, who was counting?
"You sure you'll get home okay? Doug asked, slouched against the phone box.
"Yeah, mum I'll be fine. Now shh, and get home."
Doug laughed, "text me when you get in! Na night."
Ste walked home, God it was called. And his head didn't feel all that good, too. He hadn't touched a drop of alcohol in ages, not that he'd ever been able to handle his drink. Oh, and he felt sick. Like really sick.
"The youth of today," Brendan stood beside Ste looking on as Ste emptied himself over a row of small plants.
Ste spat and wiped his mouth. "You again, not in the mood for you, yeah, so just go away."
"I'll walk ye home."
"Err no," Ste totted. "I've got legs you know," he pointed at his legs. "See these? They work perfectly alright, so do one."
Brendan laughed, "I've just seen ye walk Stephen, I'd say ye legs aren't 'alright."
"Staking me now, are you?" Ste slurred.
"Of course, it's my favourite hobby."
"I thought hitting your…lovers was your favourite." Ste pointed at him, "I can't believe I thought you loved me-" he stopped; he was going to be sick again.
XXX
Surprisingly, Ste woke up on time for work. Thankfully the morning had started off slowly, and his hangover was subsiding. He tried to fit together what might have happened last night, but he couldn't remember anything after 10pm. He didn't know why he was worrying; it wasn't as if he'd have done anything anyway.
Then the pain in Ste's head returned as he watched he came in to Carter & Hay. Why was he suddenly making an appearance again? Yesterday was enough.
"Chicken burger with extra BBQ sauce please, Stephen." He grinned.
"What you so happy about?" He moaned.
"I'm always happy."
Ste gave the order to Doug, and he overheard. They couldn't help but look at each other in confusion, Brendan Brady, happy?
"Okay, what have you done with the real Brendan?" Doug asked before leaving to the kitchen.
"That hurts!" Brendan claimed, placing his hand over his chest, "right there."
Ste wasn't sure whether to stay where he was, and talk to Brendan. He'd made a prat of himself in front of him less than 24 hours before. Ste thought Brendan was probably just laughing at him, realizing that he still had an effect over him and that he could still push his buttons. And if that was the case, Ste had to seriously get himself together again. Cracks were beginning to show, old feeling were beginning to surface, it was pathetic and old.
Thoughts were interrupted when Brendan's meal was ready.
"I'll see you two kids later." He turned to leave, and turned back again. "Oh, and Stephen,"
"Yeah," Ste was still feeling pretty curios of Brendan's behaviour.
"Ye still snore like a donkey."
A/N: Yay? Nay? Not entirely happy with this, if anyone has ideas of where they'd like this to go please say cause I'm not sure myself. Thanks for reading/reviewing.