Chapter 9 A.K.A CAKE,dedicatedto Babblepomms and the the rest of the people that have been waiting and commending for this. The title and some of the text is a referents to a song, but from who?

Chapter 9 : In Between

Altaïr was having a hard time.

He wanted to do something, anything at all.

He wanted to apologize, but he couldn't find the words, he didn't think there were any words he could say to make it better.

He was caught up in between who he was and who he wanted to be.

In between what he had said and what he had meant to say.

So instead he just sat there, only half listening to Maliks words about how the find X by adding 5 on both sides of the problem.

Malik looked at Altaïr, waiting for the other man to respond on what he just explained to him.

His eyes wandered of to the other side of the table, where Desmond chuckled at something that Shaun said. Their love was so must easier. Both to much of an idiot to admit their feeling, yet they found a way to show it without noticing. Not wanting to notice, because maybe it was just their imagination.

Maybe he was imaging everything that had happened as well. He wanted it to be his imagination. That would be one reason less that might keep him in the States. Preventing him from running after his dreams.

"Are you alright?"

Malik was startled by Altaïr voice and looked around, wide eyed.

Altaïr looked down to him maths problem. "I sorry, I didn't mean to scare you like that." He muttered.

Malik was even more surprised by those words.

He knew Altaïr and he knew what all the freshmen heard when they first ask about him.

Altaïr is not the kind of guy that apologizes, not for anything.

He is not sorry for all those girls whose hearts he broke or all those boys whose self-esteem he dragged down by a mile.

But when he does, he knows he made a mistake and hurt someone or said something he shouldn't have.

"No," Malik answers. "that, that's alright. I was just lost in my thoughts."

Altaïr looked up again. "Can I ask what it is that is bothering you or is that something that is none of my business? "

Malik rested his face in his hands, letting go of a big breath he notices his was holding.

" Is it something I said, last time we talked." Malik peaked through his fingers. Altaïr looked genuinely bothered by the fact that he might have said or done something to cause Malik any mental distress.

Malik closed his eyes, smiling slightly. "No, Altaïr. It is nothing you said."

"Something someone else said?" Malik opened his eyes again, facing a now angry and worried looking Altaïr.

"Altaïr would gladly kick them in the balls for you." Malik turned his head to Shaun. Him and Desmond had gone silenced and were listening to their conversation.

"I don't think that's a very good idea." Malik turned back to Altaïr, only to find the other man violently nodding his head, agreeing that he would gladly hunt those bastards down and make them beg for mercy.

Malik chuckled at Altaïr's childish enthusiasm.

Sadly, Altaïr kicking people wasn't going to solve any of Malik's problems.

It's wasn't going to make Altaïr less atractive and it wasn't going to make Malik like him less.

Neither was it going to make Kadar change his mind about how he felt about Malik leaving.

The only thing Malik could hope for now was that he could leave without feeling guilty and then try and forget about Altaïr.

But now, looking over the table, seeing Altaïr's worried face with Kadar's words echoing through his mind he knew that that wasn't going to happen.

Malik had a soft spot for his brother and he rarely forgot something. Or someone.

Now he was caught up in between who he was and who he wanted to be.

In between what he had done with his life up till now, and what he wanted to do with his life from now on.

He wanted to do something about it.

But instead he just sat there, only half listening to Shaun and Desmond discussing if it was or was not, a good idea to let Altaïr kick someone it the balls.

Is my grammar ok? I don't know, my sister wasn't here to check...