"Hey." A weak voice sounded from behind me and I turned slowly.

It was Scott. I hadn't seen him much the last few weeks - since we'd killed the ghoul.

He was leaning against the the wall just a few steps away from me, and I cursed myself quickly for not hearing him. Then again, it was Scott. He could sneak up on a mouse. I kept my eyes away from his, which I could feel boring holes into me. Instead I let my gaze roam selfishly over his body. His knuckles were bruised, and beaming a bright red. I'd heard him punching the wall in his room only yesterday. He'd been at it for nearly two hours when Alex finally returned home and stopped him. And when Alex had come into my room and demanded why I hadn't stopped him, I could only shake my head. Because I didn't know how to tell him how all I did was sit and stare at the wall, incapable of doing shit.

Because I knew stopping Scott wouldn't help anything. And frankly I felt like punching a wall was exactly what I needed right now.

Along with his ruined hands, my gaze extended up his arms and his uncovered chest - his muscles flexed with just his breathing. He'd taken up an unbelievable exercise regime that took up most of the day - I assumed to keep out of the way of Alex and I. He hadn't been this fit since he was soulless, and the realization made my mouth run dry. Finally, my gaze reached his face. His features had become gaunt, and his eyes housed dark bags underneath them. His eyes were sad, and dark.

"Can't sleep?" I shook my head, lowering my gaze. "Me neither. I can't do much nowadays." I looked up from my mug and met his eyes, intensely focused on mine. And I realized with a pang of sadness that I missed those eyes. I missed the look that seemed reserved for just me. The look that made me feel invincible and happy. I shivered and pulled at the sleeves of the shirt I was wearing, and quickly dropped my gaze from Scott's as a landslide of guilt came tumbling down on me. It was Alex's shirt, and here I was, thinking about his best friend. I pulled at my bottom lip with my teeth, trying to regain control of my emotions. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to cry or scream, but I knew that whatever I did, I shouldn't do in front of Scott.

"Scott." I started but broke off, closing my eyes as Scott stepped forward and his scent overwhelmed my nose. I missed his smell. One of his hands took the mug from me and set it on the counter. He then cupped my cheeks, forcing me to look up at him. My arms instinctually found his chest and his forehead came to rest gently against my own.

"I can't stop thinking about you." His voice broke and I pressed my eyes tightly together. "Mitch..." He whispered my name and it sent shivers down my arms and through my body. I let out a small whimper, trying to keep composed but I was losing it. His lips brushed lightly against my own, as he waited for some signal to stop. I had to give him the signal. I knew it. I had to. But I was so weak. I hadn't been this close to him in days, and it killed me. I missed the way he tasted, his soft lips and the way he kissed me. And then, something happened. Alex's flannel brushed my thigh, and the single motion sent my mind whirring.

I pushed away from Scott lightly, keeping close to him still. "Scott, we can't." I mumbled and he let out a deep breath.

"Please, Mitch."

"He's your best friend!"

"He left you!" His voice rose slightly and I shook my head. "He slept with other men and then flaunted it to hurt you! Demon or not!" I stepped away from him, my arms falling to my sides.

"I don't care. I won't do this to him."
Scott stepped still further away from me and ran a hand through his hair. "This isn't fair. Every time he touches you I want to punch him. And when he kisses you..." He cut off and I tensed in guilt. "I'm in hell without you." I noticed his posture growing tenser, and his shoulders becoming broader. He was getting angry; I'd come to recognize the signs.

"I know the feeling."

"Do you?" He shot back immediately.

"Yeah, Scott. I do." I defended myself. "No one's ever made me feel like you do. A few days away from you and I feel like I'm dying!" He scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I didn't get that message from the moans down the hall."

"What!" I exclaimed.

"Don't act so innocent." He accused me. I glared at him, pushing a finger into his chest.

"You have no right, Scott!"

"You said you loved me! I thought, that maybe this one time, that might be forever."

"We knew this was gonna be hard, Scott. You can't blame that on me! I'm doing the best I can!"

"Do you still love me?" He asked, his voice lowered from the shouting. I froze at the change, surprised by the question. I choked, falling a step back. I began to blink rapidly as tears came to my eyes, but they didn't fall. He was looking at me desperately, waiting for me to either destroy him or save him.

I choked out a sob. "I don't know how to stop." I replied miserably. How could I have tried to hide it? How could I think that pretending everything hadn't happened would work? It never did. It never would.

Scott leaned down, pressing his lips to my own. His fingers gripped my hips tightly and I pulled myself closer to him, latching my hands behind his neck. I kissed him back, my lips melding with his, as the two of us searched dangerously for some escape in each other.

I was breathing heavily. I couldn't think of anything but Scott in the moment — of Scott and how his body felt against my own, his lips on mine.

"Don't mind me." I immediately pushed myself away from Scott, my eyes widening as I realized my mistake.

"Alex, it wasn't-"

"Don't you dare tell me that wasn't what it looked like, Scott." Alex's gaze was sharp, and his eyes were on fire. I'd never seen him this angry, but I had seen the look on his face before. My eyes flickered to the mark and he caught me. "I don't think the mark's your biggest worry right now, Mitchell."

"Just leave him alone, Alex. It was my fault, I kissed him first."

"How long has this been going on?" He asked, his tone low and threatening. I looked down, not answering. When Scott said nothing either, Alex slammed his fist on the counter. "HOW LONG?" I flinched roughly, still staring at my shoes.

"This isn't fair, Alex." Scott started, stepping forward. "All you left was a damn note and we hadn't heard from you in weeks—"

"Months?"

"Alex, I'm sorry." I whispered.

"It's a little late for that." He sneered. "How could you do this to me?"

"You didn't even leave me a note! Scottie — let me go. Not, Mitchie, Scottie — let me go. What was I supposed to think! Even as a freaking demon you didn't seem to give a shit about writing my name on the damn paper."

"I was a demon!"

"But Alex, we didn't know that! You said you loved me, so how was I supposed to act like that didn't kill me inside?" I grew more and more unrestrained and frustrated, trying to make him understand that I didn't know how to explain any of this. That I couldn't control it.

Alex grabbed his forehead in irritation, hearing the struggle in my voice. I let out a deep breath, trying to calm the heart I could hear beating erratically in my ears.

Scott stepped forward in an attempt to calm his friend. "Alex—"

But the action only angered him more, as Alex's fist swung around and knocked Scott in the face, sending him off balance. I screamed in surprise.

"What the hell!" I shouted. "Scott!" The younger of the two had jumped up and attacked his friend. The play wrestling matches were no longer for play. Each friend sent one punch after another, always landing on its target.

"Stop it!" I screamed, moving forward to try and separate them. But Alex punched Scott's jaw, sending him to the floor. I stopped in front of Alex, holding your arms up. I could hear my heart beating inside of chest, and I felt light headed as Alex and I stared at each other, waiting for someone to make a move.

Alex's body relaxed and he stepped back. I turned around to look at Scott, who coughed into his fist. My eyes widened at the crimson liquid on his hand.

"Some friend, Scottie." Alex fumed, glaring darkly at his best friend. I clenched my fists tight, silently begging Scott not to fight back.

"You left him, Alex!"

"I think I get a damn pass on that one, being a friggen demon and all."

"That doesn't make it okay!" He argued back, spitting out the blood in his mouth.

Alex paused, taking in his brother's words. He knew, even though he never meant it, that he had hurt me. His eyes wandered down to his arm, the red mark almost glowing through his anger. But in the next second he was looking at me.

"You have to make a choice, Mitch. This isn't fair - to anyone."

"I already did!" I yelled as tears streamed down my face "I chose you, Alex!"

"But why, Mitch? If you love him, why?" Alex  pointed roughly at Scott, who was looking at me with a lost expression. My tears burned hotter as they raced along my cheeks and down my neck.

"Because it's the right thing to do."

"Damn it, Mitch!" He shouted, and I took a step away from him. His eyes were burning, but I refused to be afraid of him. It was Alex. He walked closer to me, until his face was right in front of my own. "Does it feel like the right thing now?" He stared me down, waiting for me to answer him. But I couldn't say anything, my throat closed. Alex swallowed sharply before turning around and leaving the kitchen.

"Mitch..." Scott started but I shook my head.

"Please...leave me alone, Scott." I whispered. I could hear a sigh before his footsteps faded away down the hall.

I tried to turn around, to speak up. But I could barely breath. I let out a choking sob, covering my mouth and falling to the floor.

Because no, this definitely wasn't right.

And suddenly, I felt as if I was drowning and there was no one there to pick me up. And there was no one to blame, but myself.