I am as busy as ever, and I am sorry if you guys are tired of my apologies. I am sorry though! I hope you guys like this chapter. Something is going to happen soon, so anticipate to have your feels under control. Review and enjoy!

Sebastian's POV

After much coaxing from Bard, I do what I must as a CEO. I do my duties without fuss, without thought, and without heart. My friend follows me, alerting me to anything that comes my way, all with an aura of sympathy. He knows how hard it is to be denied by Ciel. It is when we are heading out of the building when he addresses the issue that weighs me down.

"I know he declined, but cheer up, okay? It's not the first time."

"Your pep-talks are as peppy as ever." I remark while I sit in the back of the car. I find his lips quick in the mirror.

"You know what I mean. He always turn you down, so don't think too much into it." Telling someone not to think is like telling someone not to breathe. It is impossible, but I keep that to myself. I shouldn't go on worrying Bard over something like this. Something so trivial.

"I won't." A clear lie that he sees through, and it makes me wonder how he could read my thoughts while Ciel couldn't. Matter of fact, why couldn't I read him? My eyes see everything, so Ciel should not be an exception. Why is he the exception? Why? "Bard, call Finny."

Ciel's POV

I do not want to go home today. I am not looking forward to going back to my empty place. I already feel hollow, and my condo has a tendency to amplify that to a higher degree.

Finnian has been ignoring me all day, or I have been ignoring him. It is probably me that is pulling away. I didn't like the words he said to me, nor do I appreciate hearing him kiss Sebastian. So with him out of my office, I am alone. Until the door barges open, revealing the treacherous being that has been raging war on my thoughts and feelings.

"What do you want?" My question is filled with barely contained hostility, and I am sure my tone would make him rethink his decision on entering my office. It does not. In fact, there seems to be an anger of his own in the tightness around his eyes, and it makes me slightly panic to think that it might be directed at me. He is hardly ever upset with me.

As I sit in my seat, waiting for his response, my thumb fiddles with my ring that adorns my ring finger.

Sebastian's POV

How can he remain so calm when my heart threatens to beat out of the poor thing I call my chest? Do I have any power over him that he has over me? "You." I guess I have a little bit of hold over him. I mean, being able to agitate him has to count for something right?

"What?!" I don't need to hear to know that he is surprised by my answer to his question. His expressions says it all.

"You heard me. I want you!" He is blushing. "I don't know if you forgot, but we are engaged. Fake or not, we are supposed to be a couple, and how is anyone going to believe us if we don't have dates? You can't just shooting me down when I invite you to have dinner with me, Ciel. You have to stop acting like…You have got to stop saying no."

His eyes turn down. I expect him to either yell at me to get lost or ignore me altogether, but after a long pause, he slowly nods his head. He grabs his jacket, stands, and walks over to me. "Let's go then." He starts a brisk walk out of his office, and I follow hesitantly. No protest? No reluctance? He is willingly coming out with me? It baffles me, but I let it go for a moment. I got what I wanted, so I shouldn't try to find fault in his acceptance because I am sure there is one.

I catch up to him until I am by his side. He is not talking to me, so I don't have to worry about missing anything he is trying to say. We are quiet as we make our way through the company. Though I am used to silence, Ciel's is making me think something is wrong. I reach for his hand and hold it in mine. He doesn't pull away immediately or at all. It makes me wonder what has made him so lenient to my actions. Then again, he did hug me on his own freewill, so maybe he is warming up to me.

Bard is waiting for us by my car. He is smoking a cigarette. It is a filthy habit that I wish he would drop since I made him start in the first place. Being my caretaker has taken a toll on him, and the tar-filled vice is a way that relaxes him. Maybe one day, he will quit, but I have a feeling that will be when I am able to take care of myself, or when I die. I hope it is the former.

Ciel's hand tightens around mine. I glance to him, and his mouth is moving fast. I catch a few words, but the sun is setting, making it a bit harder for me to really see his lips. What I can read from his expression, the exchange that he is having with Bard is not going well.

Ciel's POV

I let him hold my hand. He wants for us to seem like we are dating, then fine. I am not going to fight him. I will enjoy this as much as I can. As much as I let myself enjoy it. I will let him do what he wishes, so I can see if he can change how I feel about him. I'll see if he will be able to make me forgive him and myself.

I unconsciously squeeze our interlocked hands as I see our blonde friend. I may have apologized to Bard about my behavior last night, but I did not mean it. I am still wary of him, and after being told that my best friend had kissed Sebastian, I am more defensive. I shouldn't be. Sebastian is not really mine, but for now, he is.

"Bard. What are you doing here? I thought Sebastian and I would be dinning alone. I don't mean that in a mean way, but I didn't expect for you to be here is all. I hope you take no offense," I steely direct at my friend whose eyebrows have settled in an upward direction.

"Had a bad day, did you?" I don't give him a visible reply. "I'm just here as a driver. Let's get going." He puts out the cigarette with his shoe. He begins heading for the driver's seat.

"No. That's okay. Sebastian can drive us," I chime. I know it is bad to admit this, but I don't want Bard to join us. It seems that Bard did not want to leave us alone as he eyes Sebastian.

"Umm…It really is no problem. I will take you to the restaurant. I won't even go inside, so hurry up and get in the car, will you." He insists. The same anger and hurt from yesterday's occurrence hits me again with more strength.

"I don't want you to come with us. We can hang out another time, but today, I want Sebastian to drive me." Bard has a strained smile on his face, and he is giving Sebastian a long stare. Pissed, I strut over to Bard and grab the keys from his hand. I return to Sebastian's side and give him the keys. He looks at them, and for the first time since we been outside, his expression shifts. He looks sick.