Chapter 92 Chapter Eighty-Eight

Chapter 92 Chapter Eighty-Eight

Omniscient Narrative 

\[A week later\]

Alex stood just inside the doorway, a small bag slung over his shoulder, he looked uncertain, so out of place.

Like he wasn't sure if he was actually allowed to be there.

"You can come in” Chris said gently, stepping aside, he wanted Alex to feel welcome. I mean he is still his friend. 

Alex nodded. "Yeah...thanks” he followed Chris. 

Demi hovered near the kitchen, arms crossed loosely, trying to act like this wasn't affecting him as much as it clearly was.

It had been a week since the hospital.

A long, exhausting week filled with paperwork, quiet conversations, and a tension that never really eased.

They had agreed not to let either of their families know about the incident. 

Alex had begged, he didn’t want his mother to force him back home. 

Alex was in their house now, in their space, he’s now in their life after Demi had pleaded with him to stay away a few months back. 

Demi swallowed as he felt chills on his body. 

"This is your room” he said, nodding toward the Chris’s bedroom.

Chris had volunteered to give his room up and stay with Demi. After all they needed to act like the couple they were portraying as. 

Alex glanced at him, then at the hallway. "You didn't have to-“ 

"We know” Chris cut in calmly. "But we want to” he offered him a warm smile. 

Alex didn't argue again, he just nodded and walked toward the room, footsteps quiet against the floor.

Demi watched him go, he felt something twist painfully in his chest, he didn’t know if it was pity or something else. 

‘This was a mistake’ Demi couldn’t help but think as he watched him enter the room. That thought came fast.

Not because he didn't care, but because he cared too much.

"You okay?" Chris asked quietly, stepping beside him, he brought his arm around Demi’s shoulder trying to calm the shorter boy. 

Demi didn't look at him. "You didn't have to offer that” 

Chris leaned against the counter. "I know” 

"Then why did you?"

Chris hesitated for a second and then answered honestly.

"Because you were going to say yes anyways” 

Demi exhaled sharply, he hated that Chris was right. He couldn’t watch Alex suffer, yes he has told the other man timeless times that he doesn’t feel anything for him but even he can’t believe it. 

If he could take the pain Alex had to go through in the hospital-and the one he’s going through right now- he would. 

.

Alex walked into the room, the room was simple.

There was a bed, a desk and a wardrobe. It wasn’t big but it was okay. It was big enough 

It was also clean but unfamiliar and as weird as it sounds. It felt safe.

Alex set his bag down slowly, running a hand through his hair as he looked around.

He shouldn't be here, he knew that.

This wasn't just a place to stay, it was their space. Demi and Chris, and now he was in the middle of it.

The thought made his chest tighten, but the alternative?

Being alone? That felt worse.

A soft knock pulled him from his thoughts.

"Yeah?" he said.

The door opened slightly.

It was Demi.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Demi stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

"You can tell me if this is too much” Demi said quietly. "We can figure something else out” 

Alex shook his head quickly. "No. It's not that” Demi nodded.

Silence again.

"Thank you” Alex said finally, his eyes soften as he stared at his ex lover. 

Demi looked at him, waiting for him to continue. 

"For...coming to the hospital” Alex added. "For this, helping me out, thank you” 

Demi's expression softened, just slightly.

"You scared me” he said honestly, quieter this time.

Alex swallowed. “I didn't mean to."

"I know” Demi replied even though he could feel his heart clench, he still put on a pretence face. 

His voice carried something heavier than just understanding.

“I’ll get going” Demi said as he walked out of the room. 

Alex wanted to reach out for him and ask him to stay but he knew that would be a stupid idea, so he just let him walk away. 

.

The First Night

Dinner was awkward, it was not tense, not hostile.

It was just awkward. 

Chris carried most of the conversation, filling the space with small, normal things, like classes, schedules, random stories that didn't mean anything but kept the silence from settling too deeply.

Demi responded when he had to.

Alex mostly listened.

Every now and then, their eyes met.

And every time, something passed between them.

Chris had noticed, of course he did, he wasn’t stupid nor blind to their love. 

But he didn't call it out, instead he just pretended to not see it. 

.

Later the apartment quieted down as the night settled in.

Chris disappeared into the room that he and Demi would be sharing first, giving them space without saying it out loud.

Alex lingered in the living room, sitting on the edge of the couch, staring at nothing.

Demi stood in the kitchen for a while before finally walking over.

"You should get some rest” he said as he swallowed his saliva

Alex nodded. "Yeah” 

But he didn't move.

Demi hesitated, then sat down across from him.

"You don't have to pretend you're okay” Demi said.

Alex let out a quiet breath. "I'm not pretending” he lied. And that made Demi frown slightly, he knew his best friend. 

"I'm just trying to figure out what 'okay' even means right now” Alex added.

That made more sense so Demi nodded slowly.

"Same” he admitted.

Alex glanced at him.

"You still don't want to talk about it?" he asked carefully.

Demi's expression tightened.

"Not like this” he said.

"Like what?" Alex feared to ask but still asked. 

"Like nothing changed” Demi replied.

Because something had, everything had.

.

There was distance. Alex felt it constantly.

In the way Demi didn't sit too close.

In the way conversations stayed surface-level.

In the way Chris seemed to be the bridge between them, whether intentionally or not.

And yet, sometimes late at night Alex would hear movement in the hallway.

A door opening, soft footsteps.

And he'd wonder ‘is it Demi?’ 

Was he thinking about him too?

Demi wasn't sleeping well, not with Alex there.

Not with everything so close again.

He'd lie in bed beside Chris, staring at the ceiling, thoughts spinning in ways he couldn't control.

Because hearing Alex's voice again, seeing him every day, It brought everything back.

Feelings he thought he had buried.

Questions he never got answers to.

"Talk to me” Chris said one night, voice soft in the dark.

Demi turned slightly. "About what?"

"You know what” Chris replied.

Demi hesitated, then whispered

"I don't know how to stop loving him Chris” 

The words hung in the air, it was heavy and honest .

Chris didn't respond right away.

When he did, his voice was quiet.

"You don’t have to stop though, Demi. You can always just accept your feelings for him and you two will be happy” 

“What if I don’t want that?” Demi sniffed 

“I’ll help you, didn’t I say that before. Im here for you” he moved closer to kiss Demi’s head. The two went to sleep after that

Alex still in Demi’s mind.