Nerezz hid under his covers. He wasn't going to go to university. Axel would mock him, James would mock him. His mind... would mock him.

A laughing stock.

His phone pinged and he blindly reached for it.

'Scar said you were sick. Get well soon! ~ J'

Nerezz silently thanked Scarlett for covering for him. He also wondered how long before Axel told James.

"Maybe I can starve here, in bed", Nerezz sighed.

The walls of his apartment contained many secrets and memories. They had seen so much, yet they stood firm. They had seen sleepless nights, hungry days and Nerezz's frightful thoughts spill onto the carpet.

In absence of thought, Nerezz gently lifted his sleeve. The wrist where Axel had grabbed him yesterday had an angry cut - irritated from the force. Nerezz's mind hyper-focussed on Axel's face when he saw the blood.

Blue, shocked eyes.

Nerezz groaned in embarrassment, some of his blood had even landed on Axel's hand. He threw the heavy blanket up over his head, hiding under the covers like a scared child.

"Maybe I should apologise to him", Nerezz realised, "It was my blood on his hand..."

But he knew that would require seeing Axel again, and he was too mortified to even consider the possibility. Nerezz closed his eyes, letting the all too familiar death of sleep consume him.

*****

James enjoyed texting, Nerezz scowled at his phone once he woke up from a dream that featured the various chiming of his phone. He scrolled through the thirteen messages, updating him on the developments of English class, pictures of James' notes - Nerezz rolled his eyes.

He was about to toss his phone aside but saw a text from an unfamiliar number.

'I'm sorry about yesterday. I know you're not sick... Sorry ~ Axel'

Nerezz's eyes widened, had Axel actually apologised? He felt...dirty. Despicable. He should be the one apologising, not Axel.

The sun had set a while ago, but it wasn't too late yet.

'No, I'm sorry for the- I'm just sorry - N'

Nerezz shook his head in frustration as he sent the text, he couldn't even type coherently. Yet, Scarlett said he held a world of words in his eyes? Was she mocking him?

His phone dinged, 'I feel like a jerk...I really am sorry. Did you'

"Did I what?" Nerezz asked his phone. The text was incomplete.

His phone then rang and Nerezz got such a fright that he dropped it. He scurried to the floor and saw that Scarlett was calling him.

He answered, "Yeah?"

"Hey, so James invited Jenna and I to go to this restaurant he likes and I wanted to know if I should say you're still sick but Axel suggested he invite you?" She spoke quickly, Nerezz could hear the surprise in her voice.

"Axel wanted to invite me?"

"Apparently. Jenna and I are on the way there... Are you in?"

Nerezz sighed, he should apologise to Axel properly, "Sure, which restaurant?"

"I'll text you the address, see you in a bit."

*****

It had been years since Nerezz had actually gone out on a Friday. He had forgotten how absolutely terrifying it was. Everybody seemed to go out on Fridays.

He had never even heard of the restaurant James wanted to go to, but he found it after nearly forty minutes of walking in the blistering cold night.

'Dagny' was its name. Nerezz supposed it was meant to be quirky and attract customers, but despite its bright signage and it being a Friday, the parking lot was mostly empty.

He opened the door and the bell dinged like that of an old diner.

There were two groups of people in the entire restaurant, one he recognised as Scarlett, Jenna, James and Axel. The other four people he didn't know, but they looked at his arrival regardless.

"You made it!" James cheered, ushering a slightly shivering Nerezz to their table.

Scarlett moved over so Nerezz sat next to her.

"Did...you walk here?" Axel asked stiffly, his eyes fixed to the menu on the table.

"I did", Nerezz replied awkwardly.

"Anyyyyway", Scarlett echoed awkwardly as well, "Shots. Who's in?"

"Scarlett we have to eat at least", Jenna scolded.

"What will you have Jenna?" James asked happily, but Nerezz heard the nerves in his voice. And Nerezz saw the smirk on Scarlett's face which meant she heard it too.

Nerezz smiled softly, so James liked Jenna.

He didn't see Axel's eyes flicker to him then away again.

"Boo! Nerezz? Shots?" Scarlett grinned.

"I, uh, I can't really drink..."

"Oh, you're on medication?" Scarlett blurted without thinking.

Nerezz froze again.

"For your flu! Flu medication, right?" She added quickly.

Axel seemed to stiffen and Nerezz noticed, he wanted to be swallowed by the red booth.

"Fine, Scarlett, I'll have shots with you", James relented.

"Just one", Jenna conceded as well.

"Yes! Axel, you seem like the typical frat boy who gets drunk every night, shots?"

"Piss off, no", Axel grumbled and it caused Scarlett to cackle.

*****

The three of them were absolutely drunk. Nerezz watched cautiously as they played pool and stopped to sing the chorus of a random song playing on the radio.

He then stared at his chocolate milkshake that Scarlett ordered for him. He didn't want it, but now he had it. He hadn't eaten the whole day and he could feel the milkshake would be hard on his stomach.

"Are you?"

Nerezz's head shot up at Axel's question. The blonde stared out the window with an unreadable expression, but his voice carried his uneasiness.

Nerezz felt uneasy as well, "Am I...what?"

Axel seemed to be searching for the words, "On...medication?"

Nerezz looked away. He didn't like talking about it. He didn't like talking in general. And now, he had to do so with Axel of all people.

"I'm sorry about yesterday", Nerezz deflected, looking out the window as well.

Axel finally looked at Nerezz, "I- I shouldn't have grabbed you... James said I should apologise- I didn't know you- then there was a little blood and... Are you?"

His sentence was a frantic jumble and it occurred to Nerezz that it might've been a traumatic experience for Axel. He felt terrible, he should never put anyone through what he put Axel through.

"I am... on medication. I'm fine, everything is...fine", Nerezz reassured, but he could hear the neutrality - the grey - in his voice. Little Nerezz didn't see Axel's clenched fists under the table. Little Nerezz was oblivious to how angry the grey in his voice made Axel.

"Drink your milkshake", Axel eventually shot, but it was...soft. It was gentle - and that surprised Nerezz.

"It's too heavy..." Nerezz confided in shame.

"What do you mean?"

"I...haven't eaten yet", Nerezz whispered. He kept his eyes trained on the table, focussing on the dark and light hues of the wood. A plate was steadily slid over to him.

"Have my fries", Axel mumbled shyly, looking out the window.

Nerezz wasn't hungry, but he didn't want to be impolite. So he gently picked up a fry and put it in his mouth. It burst with flavour, his first bite for the entire day. It actually hurt - but he didn't show it. He kept chewing and then took another one, soon enough he had finished the fries Axel had left for him.

"Should I- Do you want more?" Axel asked.

Nerezz shook his head, "No thank you", he whispered. He felt uneasy, Axel was being too nice and it was making him uncomfortable.

"Welp, I'm drunk", James flung himself beside Axel.

Scarlett and Jenna plonked themselves on the same booth as Nerezz, chuckling blissfully.

"It's basically midnight, they're going to close soon", Scarlett squinted at her phone.

"Axel-" James spoke teasingly.

"No", Axel shot.

"Ugh, whatever. I'll call a cab", Scarlett rolled her eyes.

She noticed the obvious confusion on Nerezz's face, "Axel doesn't let anyone into his car that could possibly make a mess - which includes his friends when they're drunk."

"Oh", Nerezz said, "I better start walking then. Thanks for inviting me guys", Nerezz thanked them politely.

"It's the middle of the night, you can't walk home alone", Axel shot, still looking out the window.

"I might throw up from saying this but, I agree with Axel", Scarlett then playfully gagged. Axel scoffed in annoyance.

"You can share our cab", Jenna hiccupped adorably.

Nerezz didn't want to say he didn't have any money. And he didn't want Scarlett to carry on paying for him.

"I-" Nerezz began uncertainly.

"I'll give you a ride", Axel stated stiffly.

There was no room for argument, Nerezz could see that. Everyone looked at Axel in drunken amazement.

"What? He's not drunk", Axel snapped at them.

Scarlett paid with her black credit card, James paid for himself and Jenna - although the latter had already fallen asleep - and Axel paid for himself plus a tip.

The group made it outside and the cab was already waiting, "See you guys on Monday!" James cheered as he and Scarlett carried Jenna into the cab. The car then drove off leaving behind a tall Axel and slight Nerezz.

"I really can walk, I'll be fine", Nerezz insisted as a gust of icy wind blew past them.

"Just come", Axel walked to a flashy white car. He took out his keys and pressed a button, the doors unlocked.

Nerezz gently opened the door and sat down, the car was much warmer and was clearly well looked after.

"Where do you stay?" Axel asked as he turned the key, starting the car.

"Shrill lofts", Nerezz mumbled, tugging desperately at the seatbelt.

"That's nearly an hour away! You walked here from there at this time?!" Axel barked.

Nerezz flinched, ready to jump out of the car, "I'm sorry, I'll just-"

"Dammit... Sorry, I'm sorry", Axel apologised quickly, "I didn't mean to yell. That's far and you can't walk through that neighbourhood alone and at night."

Nerezz sat dead still, unsure of what to say and what to do. Axel sighed and leaned across Nerezz to reach the dark haired boy's seatbelt. Axel smelt like pine, Nerezz noticed.

"You have to really tug on it", and with a quick tug that made it look easy, Axel freed the seatbelt and strapped Nerezz in.

"Thank you", Nerezz whispered.

Axel reversed out of the parking lot and started driving toward Nerezz's apartment. The drive was quiet and tense, there was something in the air - a question. Nerezz didn't know what it was for certain, but he had a hunch.

And he didn't want to talk about it.

*****

Axel pulled into the apartment building's parking lot, he looked around sceptically.

"Should I...walk you to your door?" He asked uncertainly.

"No, I'll be ok", Nerezz spoke quickly, undoing his seatbelt.

"Did you at least bandage it?" Axel finally asked. The dreaded question that had been hanging in the air the entire night. It felt like a bullet had been fired, the atmosphere grew serious.

"Thank you for the ride", Nerezz thanked Axel and opened the car door. Axel's hand shot for Nerezz but he stopped himself quickly.

"Nerezz, you have to bandage it", Axel spoke softly, quickly.

Nerezz found it funny. Why would he bandage it? It wasn't that serious of a cut, it only bled because his sleeve had caught on the scab when Axel grabbed him.

"Good night Axel", Nerezz spoke politely and closed the door, walking up the stairs to his apartment.