The heat of summer was starting to get unbearable, in Kaide’s opinion. The trees, bursting forward and generously offering shade and life, did little to reduce the humidity that permeated every inch of the town. It crawled along sidewalks and slid under shirts and kissed necks, pulling brows tight against the sun’s glare. Kaide trudged up the street, sweat making his tank top stick to his back. If he had a choice, he would be at home, sprawled out on the bathroom tiles, instead of going to Wren’s bakery, where he knew for a fact that Trace was working. But Wren had forgotten his planner at work, and had promptly fallen into his necessary 11 hours of sleep before his early shift tomorrow. There was no way Kaide was waking Wren up from that and leaving him miserable the next day, when he can just as easily go for a walk and be a good friend.

It was really tempting to turn around and be a bad friend when Kaide walked up to the bakery door and could hear the music Trace was blasting inside. Of course, it was fifteen minutes after closing, so Trace could sing and dance all he wanted while he closed up, but it also meant that Kaide could bang on the door all he wanted for Trace to let him in and he wouldn’t hear a word of it. Grumbling, Kaide used one hand to wipe sweat from his face while the other struggled to pull his phone free from his pockets. Wren needed that book- with someone as forgetful as him, it was important he be able to reference it any time of the day.

K: let me in.

T: say please ;p

K: get fucked.

Trace barked a laugh from inside, audible even through the glass. Kaide struggled to hold back the proud smile that pulled at his lips. The music was soon shut off, and Trace’s shadowed form moved through the empty store towards the front. Kaide quickly turned that smile back into a scowl, and shoved his phone back into his butt pocket as Trace approached from inside. Trace took his time making a face at Kaide through the glass, which didn’t make Kaide’s task of trying not to smile any easier. Eventually, though, Trace got tired of Kaide’s glare, rolled his eyes, and unlocked the door. Kaide shoved the door open, largely ignoring the other as Trace went back to counting up the cash in the drawer.

“Why are you here, anyway?” Trace asked, as Kaide vaulted the counter to head toward Wren’s office.

“Wren forgot his book,” Kaide said shortly, shuffling through stacks of unorganized papers and notes to look for where Wren’s book was hidden beneath it all.

“Aw, I could have dropped it off.”

“It’s fine. I needed a walk anyway.”

Purple pleather book in hand, Kaide turned to leave the office. Trace had abandoned the cash register, heading into the kitchen. Kaide stood there for a moment behind the counter, looking at the book, thinking over what Wren had said to him. Even if Trace was going to leave again, they could still try to make up, still try to be friends again. We all leave, one way or another, Kaide reasoned with himself. The past was behind them, right?

Kaide entered the kitchen. Trace was loading trays onto a set of racks, but he paused when he heard Kaide approach him from behind. Trace turned to look at Kaide, and Kaide nearly took a step back from the hostile expression from someone who had been lightly friendly only seconds before. When Trace saw Kaide’s surprise, however, he relaxed, and the defensiveness was replaced with guarded curiosity. Kaide stared, processing the emotions that had just swept over Trace’s face, then closed his mouth with a click.

Maybe Wren was wrong. Maybe Trace wasn’t ready to forgive Kaide.

---

The jail was cold and uncomfortable, harshly lit by fly-spotted fluorescent lights. Kaide huddled close to the phone, trying to ignore how badly his hands were shaking. He could only stare at the chipped paint and worn away numbers on the telephone, but he could picture the fury in Trace’s face clearly as he was scolded.

“I can’t fucking believe you,” he hissed, voice crackling and jumping through the wire.

Kaide stayed silent, bruises on his hands throbbing. As long as he stood still and breathed slowly, his ribs didn’t hurt that much.

“Vanessa gets hit by a car and you fucking- you fucking go after the guy? What were you planning to do, Kaide! Beating the shit out of him doesn’t make Vanessa better! Getting your petty fucking revenge won’t give Vanessa her eye back! Do you know how worried she is about you!”

Kaide bit his lip as tears welled up in his eyes, and the dried blood he hadn’t been able to completely scrape away melted against his tongue. The guard pretended not to be staring, but Kaide did his best not to let his shoulders hitch in a sob all the same.

“I’m not helping you with this bullshit. You’re reckless, you’re stupid, and whatever you get, you fucking deserve it. Maybe it’ll teach you to grow up for once. Good fucking luck, Kaide.”

Trace slammed the phone down, and Kaide stood there numbly for a moment longer before hanging the phone back up, terrified of what the future held.

---

“I’m sorry,” Kaide says softly. Trace’s brows furrow slightly. “You’re right. What I did was reckless and stupid. I knew it wouldn’t fix anything, but I was just so fucking pissed that Vanessa could get hurt on a night that important to her. I should have been there for her instead of making you guys worry about me.”

Trace shifted, turning completely around. He crossed his arms, leaning back against the rack and looking down at Kaide. “..Don’t you think I was angry too. I wanted the whole fucking world to suffer for what happened to her, and… Yeah, you made it worse, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you like you did. I’m sorry.”

Kaide looked up at Trace, drawing in a shallow breath. “Hey, man, it’s fine… I had to grow up sometime, right?” He cracked an uneasy grin. “I’ve been trying to see the world differently. I mean, the shit I saw in prison, it didn’t make me any less angry, you know? But I decided that I didn’t want to use my anger to get anyone hurt. I’d rather be spending my energy taking care of the people I love. It can’t really make up for not being there for Vanessa after the accident, but… Maybe it can make things better now.”

Kaide stared off to the side, feeling despondent after reliving his worst days. What kind of shit friend was he? No doubt Trace thought that Kaide came into the back room to jump him for abandoning him before. He was so stupid, so quick to anger; no one could expect better of him. Kaide balled his hands into fists, bolstering himself against his own self criticism and Trace’s calculating stare. The other seemed to be evaluating Kaide closely, weighing each word for their sincerity.

“..Anyways. I’ll stay out of your hair, okay.” Kaide turned to leave.

“Wait.” Kaide kept walking.