There was a slight creak of his bed as Ceres rolled to look at his clock. He hobbled to his feet, still half asleep. He accidentally overslept, so he couldn't be bothered to go to school. "Man, I had that dream again." He only planned on a short nap which somehow turned into the better part of the day. He'd just be getting out of class, had he gone. His hair stuck out more than normal. He looked in the bathroom mirror. Loose sweat pants and a crumpled t-shirt. Today was the day Shea found out if she made the team, meaning Alex was coming later on. He smiled softly at the thought then scrutinized his shabby get up. "He can't see me like this!" He started the shower then went to pick out the perfect outfit. After today he would no longer be coming over daily, so Ceres needed to leave a lasting impression. He stripped down and stepped into the water. He carefully and thoroughly washed all over. He pressed down on the tufts of hair in the back until they laid flat, heavy with moisture. Once satisfied, he stopped the water and wrapped a towel around his waist.

KNOCK KNOCK

"There's someone at the door?" he threw another towel over his dripping hair as he tried to guess who would come over at this time of day. A quick glimpse out the window confirmed it wasn't Shea or his parents. None of them owned a burgundy sweatshirt. “One of dad’s men?” The presence felt familiar. He tousled his hair in the towel and opened the door.

"Yes?" he greeted reflexively, his eyes obscured by the towel. Silence. "Who?" He tilted his head back. Teal eyes and dusty brunet hair. Alex. His eyes wide as he looked at Ceres's wet, mostly exposed body. Panic set in. "M-M-Murasa?!" Ceres stammered and stepped back. His face flushed bright red as they exchanged surprised glances. Alex's eyes unintentionally scanned Ceres's body in awkward silence. Across his toned abs was a scar. Ceres staggered back and slammed the door in Alex's face. He ran back to his room consumed by shame. "Why him?!" He grasped at the towel around his waist, the only thing that preserved his dignity. "Why is he here now?" He hung his head, feeling lewd. Dispiritedly, he began to dress himself. "Bollocks, he's still outside!" Ceres ran to the end of the hall. The deep red sweatered boy still stood at the door. "I-its open! C-c-come in!" his loud voice wavered. After a moment, the door knob turned.

"Sorry for intruding." Alex said sheepishly. Ceres slunk back to the bathroom, ashamed that he slammed the door in Alex's face after indecently exposing himself to him. Alex sat at the dining table also flustered by what happened. Ceres combed out his hair and began to blow dry it. As Alex calmed down he returned to sulking. With the moisture gone, the tufts of his hair sprang back into place. Feeling humiliated, he walked out to properly greet his unexpected guest.

"S-s-sorry about that..." Ceres mumbled and played with his fluffy hair. Neither of them looked at the other.

"N-no...it’s fine." Alex timidly replied. "I shouldn't have come so early...my bad." he hung his head, clearly upset about something different. Ceres's shame faded at Alex's unusually depressed mood.

"Everything ok?" he anxiously looked up. Alex averted his gaze. Ceres rushed to the kitchen and prepared a drink. He placed it down on the table in front of Alex. "What happened?" he pulled out a chair and sat next to Alex, before he finally spoke.

"I got into a fight...with my father." he reluctantly answered. Ceres's eyes grew wide with concern.

"Will you be ok?" he reached to pat Alex on the arm but hesitated then pulled back.

"It's stupid really..." Alex said mockingly, aimed at himself. "I have no right to complain, my parents are rich after all." He grabbed the cup before him and took a sip. Almost choking in surprise, he looked over to Ceres and flicked the tab hanging from the side of the cup.

"That's rubbish!" Ceres growled. "Whoever told you that is a moron!" Alex stared back in awe. "Is he angry?"

"Wh-what...no, it’s true." He turned away unsure how someone he'd barely spoken to could be so certain. "I never have to worry about anything. If I have a problem, my parents just throw money at it and expect me to be happy with that." He sighed and took another sip, without choking. Ceres frowned. "I want them to be home more cause I'd get lonely, so they hire a butler. I get in trouble at school so they bribe the faculty. I can't make any friends like this!" Alex continued to rant. "They all think, no matter the effort I put forth, that everything I have, everything I've accomplished was paid for." His body quivered with a mixture of anger and sorrow. "For my effort all I'm met with is hostility and insults. No matter how hard I try, they all hate me." Alex inhaled deeply, fighting the urge to cry. "The only friend I have left would rather hang out with some fucking asshole than me!" he gritted his teeth. "Well, he used to." Ceres laid his hands firmly on the table.

"Fuck them!" his normally smooth voice grated roughly in rage.

"Huh?" Alex gave an astonished look.

"If they refuse to see how great you are then they can jump off a bridge for all I care!" Ceres balled his hands into fists. "They don't deserve your company."

"ME, GREAT?" Alex laughed at Ceres's words. "I'm far from it..." Ceres stared straight into Alex's eyes.

"Anyone who says otherwise is blind."

"N-no..." Alex turned his face down again and blushed slightly. "You don't know me that well."

"So? You've gone out of your way to help my sister while expecting jack all in return. You're also kind and respectful to our parents." Ceres met Alex's gaze as he attempted to cheer him up. "I may not have known you as long but I have never once doubted your character."

"N-n...really?" Alex doubtfully looked up. Ceres nodded. After a long pause a small smile came to Alex's face. "Thanks, Kaarlo sempai." Ceres bashfully looked away once he realized all he'd confessed.

"N-no problem." he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Uh...why do you care so much?" Alex covered his mouth with his hand. Ceres gasped. "I can't tell you that!" He felt the room spin as he panicked.

"Ha?!" He panted in horror. "I...uh...I-I c-can relate..." he choked out.

"Oh...?" Alex looked to the panicked Ceres dubiously.

"Y-yeah! My family never listens to anything I say." He nervously grinned. "They all just assume I'm broken, traumatized even, despite me saying otherwise." he blurted out. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Totally needed to bring 'that' up. Good job idiot!" Ceres began laughing awkwardly. "But enough about me! You feel better?" Alex let out a short laugh at Ceres's antics.

"Sorry..." he sighed. "You have enough to worry about without my bitching."

"What? No!" Ceres waved his hands frantically. "I insisted, remember?" Alex nodded and shrugged in response. "OH! Hold on!" Ceres stood and walked into the kitchen. He returned with a piece of paper and pen. He scribbled something down and passed it to Alex. "I-if you ever need someone to talk to, give me a ring." He smiled. On the page was a phone number. Alex involuntarily smiled.

"S-sure." as he reached to put it in his pocket his hand brushed against the now empty cup on the table. He looked to Ceres timidly. "How did you know I like tea?"

"Oh, I asked Shea." he answered skittishly. Alex blushed, feeling absolutely mortified. "I never told her the exact way I drink it; how did he prepare it perfectly?" After a brief period of the boys looking at each other, "So...uh." Ceres spoke up, interrupting the silence. "Do you play video games?"

"Eh?" Alex was taken aback by the randomness of his question. "I guess?" he uttered. "Like a loser with no friends wouldn't play games." He thought mockingly, "Well, I have ONE friend." Ceres smiled lovingly.

"We still have some time before Shea gets home." he urged suggestively. "Wanna play?" he blushed. "With me?" He turned away to avoid his tasteless thoughts.

"Absolutely!" Alex stood as he declared. "Ah!...I mean s-sure..." he backtracked awkwardly. "Gods, what am I doing?" Alex tensely followed Ceres to his room at the end of the hall. It was surprisingly cluttered despite his usually calm demeanor. A computer desk to their left, across from the bed. Next to it a decent sized flat screen TV and various gaming consoles. Along the adjacent wall were shelves of books, games and trophies. To their right was a dresser with video game paraphernalia on top. Above the window over his bed was a rack holding a skateboard. "Woah!" Alex looked around in wonder until his eyes landed on a particular art book displayed on his shelf. “Oh no.” Ceres walked over to the shelves and pulled out a few cases. With a cheeky grin he started it up. "So, this is what you do in here?" Alex uttered, impressed at the sight of it all. Ceres confidently boasted about his skills, having placed in the top 8 at an officially sponsored tournament a little over 2 years back, which provoked Alex into challenging him. He looked down at Ceres’s hands, perplexed by how he crossed his arms to play as they started up their first round. After countless matches in various fighting games, all of which Ceres won, Alex pulled off a ludicrous combo, finally defeating him.

"H.u.h...?" Ceres stared at the screen stunned. Alex looked over, grinning wide. "What?"

"I won." Alex declared boldly. Ceres blinked in disbelief.

"That was so..." he paused, and his mouth hung open. "STUPID!" he roared. Alex burst into laughter as Ceres motioned hysterically at the screen. "HOW DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE? WHY DID IT DO SO MUCH DAMAGE?!" Tears began to fill Alex's eyes as he laughed harder. "THAT'S NOT FUNNY!" he scowled in frustration. Alex slid over and leaned on Ceres as he laughed even harder. He gripped Ceres's arm for support. Slowly Ceres turned to face Alex beside him. His face flushed and his eyes wide, peering through his bangs. Alex gasped for air as his laughter calmed. His breathing was heavy.

"I can't believe that w...or...ked." Alex slowly realized he had fallen over onto Ceres. He turned to face him. He jumped back and stumbled to his feet. "S-s-sorry!"

"It's o-" Ceres was cut off as he tried to assure Alex.

"Sheshouldbegettingheresoon!" Alex spoke quickly as he gestured wildly to the door. "I-I'mgonnagowaitforher, YEAH!" he stammered on and walked backwards out the door to Ceres's room. Once he reached the hall he dashed away flustered.

"No...wait." Ceres futilely tried to beckon Alex back in a weak tone. He looked to the part of his arm where Alex laid his face. He reached over and gently caressed the spot, tracing it with his fingertips, in a daze. An amorous smile on his face.