"If he stays, I'm afraid I might have to go."
☆

"Say that again?" Tashen now sounds very much awake on the other end of the phone. 

"I said, he doesn't exist!" Jude repeats. "He's invisible. He's not there." 

"What, like he never existed, like an imaginary friend?" Tashen questions. 

Jude thinks back to what he knows. To what Milo had spoken about with regards to Hester. "I have seen a picture, It was of them together, but it wasn't recent. They looked like teenagers. Milo also said that Hester just disappeared years back and he didn't really know the exact reason why." Jude adds. 

There is silence down the line before Tashen utters the next sentences. "Jude...do you think Hester might be...you know...dead?" 

Jude tightens his grip around Jojo's lead as he processes the possibility. "I guess, or maybe he's just living his life somewhere else in the world, where he doesn't want to be found."

"What does Milo say about it? Does he know you didn't see anything? Tashen asks warily. 

Jude shakes his head, even though Tashen cannot see. "He thinks I just left in a huff. Tash I had to get out of there." 

Jude breaths out a heavy sigh. If Jude felt confused before, his thoughts had now just multiplied. 

"Do you want to see Milo again?" Tashen asks a little warily.

"Yes, no, I don't know...Tash...what do I do?"

***

"I'm not sure about him." Hester says, as he lets his weight fall on the sofa next to Milo. "He completely blanked me!" 

"I'll need to speak with him." Milo sighs, drinking up the remainder of his coffee, before placing the mug on the floor, by his feet. 

He didn't really understand why Jude had acted the way he did. Hester is a good guy, Hester is his best friend. There was a time Milo wanted more, but he was most definitely over that now...definitely! 

"You know Milo I'm a little worried." Hester suddenly says. 

"Worried? Why?" Milo turns to face Hester a little more head on. 

"Well, maybe you should just leave it. Jude obviously can't handle our friendship. You can't let someone like that get in the way of us. I mean, we were best friends." Hester looks Milo straight in the eyes.

"Were?" Milo questions.

"Are...I mean, are best friends... If Jude starts interfering, things between us will change. I guarantee it." Hester gets up from his seat and heads to his room, turning one last time before saying a few last words. "If he stays, I'm afraid I might have to go." 

Milo just stares as Hester disappears into his bedroom. He rests his heavy head back on the couch, rubbing his eyes with one of his hands. "I need a smoke!" He says just to himself as he hoists himself up from the sofa, making his way to the double doors, pulling them open and stepping out onto the balcony. He lights up his cigarette and closes his eyes as he inhales his first drag. 

What was he going to do? It seemed clear to Milo that he couldn't win whoever he chose. Does he side with his friend, who had been absent for so long? The friend he missed so much over the years. The friend whom he was scared to lose like he had done once before? Or Jude? Beautiful, kind, sexy Jude. The guy who was a breath of fresh sweet air in his life. A new chance for romance, a chance for happiness, a future! 

He couldn't do it. He couldn't say goodbye to either of them. Milo would speak to Jude. There was sure to be some kind of resolution to this...yes he would talk to Jude and if Hester was any kind of friend, he would be sure to understand...wouldn't he?

He finally stubs his cigarette on the rail and makes his way inside. For the first time in a while the apartment strangely feels empty. Milo suddenly feels very alone. 

He heads for Hester's bedroom door, knocking a couple of times. "Hessy...hey, Hessy. Are you there?" 

Milo is met with silence. He slowly reaches for the door handle, pushing down on the lever. The door slowly creaks open. "Hessy....I've decided..." but the room is empty.