[ Lovers Tiff or Clash of The Titans? ] [AIMEE]

[Serphius de la Ravin]

<sup>Serphius wouldn't let Alexys out of his sight. He had to try and fix this, before it became a huge big drama and everything was a mess. Twice he fell in the Ice Pass, and now his knees and hands were sore and bruised. He'd lost his hat somewhere along the way in his mad dash after his friend, whom was close to flat out running. Finally, when they somehow managed to reach the Entrance Hall, he'd had enough.

"Alexys, stop! Please!" he yelled to the Lioano boy, who was almost about to leave. His quick pace faltered, and he turned to face Serphius.

"Why? Why should I? Isn't your little friend company enough?" he asked, with a sneer. He was struggling not to pant, like Sephy. Those boys weren't made for running.

"Please, Lexi, you're my best friend..."

"Best friend? yeah, right. I could so tell by the way you came to visit me all the time at the hospital wing after the attack..."

"I tried!" Serphius said, his voice strained, "I did! I even begged to stay there with you, but they said I couldn't...wasn't allowed..."

"Mm, yeah, right. I really believe that," Alexys snorted, "You spent the whole time with Cove! Have fun without me, did you? I bet you were glad to get rid of me, so you could spend more time with him! I obviously don't matter anymore!"

Serphius's jaw just about hit the floor. What the fuck was he talking about? How could he not believe him? True, he did spend some time with Cove, but he had been in pieces about Lexi being in the Medical Wing. He clenched his fists as a wave of anger just about bowled him off his feet.

"Yeah. Okay. I admit it. I spent as much time as I could with Cove! I only tried to see you three times! I went places with Cove. I did, and I loved it!" Serphius spat back, his voice a bitter, sharp staccato that echoed through the round room, "And you want to know why I loved it? Hmm? Because I like him! He's actually nice to me! He's not a jealous little boy! He honestly treats me like a real, living, breathing,feeling human being, instead of a toy! He talks to me, he respects me, he listens to what I have to say, and how I feel, and I love him for that! I love him because he's everything you're not, Alexys!"

"You ungrateful little bastard!" Lexi snapped back, "How can you say that about me? After everything I've done for you, and you just throw it back in my fucking face! Have I not been there for you all these years? Yeah, who was it that reached out for you in that corridor? Stopped you from getting your ass whooped for the thousandth time? Who was it that has kept you safe and sane all this time? Who was it that's stopped you doing those stupid things to yourself? Me! It was me! I've poured my everything into you, and all I get in return is this..."

"When we are alone together," Sephy said through clenched teeth, his voice quavering a little, "You can be the most wonderful boy in the world. You're sweet, and gentle, and funny. When I'm alone with you, I feel safe, and special! I do, I really do! You make me laugh, and you make me forget about everything that's happened. That's who done all that! That's the Alexys I fell so in love with! But with other people...it's like you're someone totally different! You're cruel, and loud! You humiliate and belittle me! I hate it! I can't stand it! It brings me straight back home. You touch me then, and my skin crawls. It's like you're showing off who's boss, and god, I can't take it! I can handle things like that! I'm not strong enough to say anything back, and I feel like dying! With Cove...He's not like that, ever. Cove is so kind, and so sweet and beautiful! He makes me feel so warm and happy inside. I could just be with him forever...He would never hurt me like you do..."

The silence that followed Serphius's monologue was crushing for both boys. The elder was taking blows left right and center, and the lanky Intermise was on the verge of hysterical tears. He'd never spoken like this to anyone before, never mind Lexi.

"And I loved you." Was all Alexys said in reply. He felt like breaking something. At the moment, it was Cove's nose.

"Shut up!" Serphius almost shrieked. Apparently, he'd reaching breaking point. From now on, his words were a vitriolic rush of pent up feelings and confusion. He had no idea where it was coming from, "Shut up! There's a difference between loving someone, and fucking them, so learn it! Sure, you say you love me - you tell me every night, in fact, twice if you're feeling frisky! Your version of love is a trite! You don't know what it means! You don't fucking love me! You never have! You've wanted me, you've needed me, but you've never loved me. I'm sick fed up of being your perverted play thing, Alexys, and I'm getting fed up of you! You're nothing but a spoiled child! I want more than that. I want new friends, I want new lovers! All there's ever been for me is you, and you don't know how that feels! You're a liar and a filthy hypocrite. You can do whatever you please, with whoever, but I can't? I don't want to feel this way anymore! I don't want to be in love with you like this anymore!"

"Then go! Go back to Cove! Go back, and snuggled up to your precious Fina boy! I don't care, and I don't need you! Lets just see how long he'll put up with your stupid issues!" Alexys yelled, furious tears threatening to run down his cheeks. He stormed away, rubbing his eyes. He didn't cry. Only babies cried! With a loud bang, he kicked open the door, and brushed out of the Entrance all, leaving Serphius alone to bathe in the resounding silence. Serphius felt absolutely drained, both emotionally and physically. With a choking sob, he dropped to his knees with his head in his hands. And to think he'd followed to sort things out...</sup>

[Cove Bentley]

Cove was on his way out of the hall, heading up to his dorm first. He wanted to relax for a bit -- and also steer clear of Lexi and such -- before he found something to occupy him. However, it seemed that Fate had yet another cruel little joke to throw at him. Voices entered his ears, but they didn't entirely register... That is, until his name entered the mix. Oh no. He had just walked into Lexi and Serphius's arguement! His eyes widened, and he froze, pressing himself up against the wall. All he had to do was turn the corner and he would be there, but he didn't. He couldn't move. Oh man. What was he going to do? This was not good. Not good at all. He felt himself cursing his luck. Figured. He always has to walk in on the worst moments ever.

His eyes widened still more as the arguement progressed, and he heard the words that were spoken... from Serphius. He never knew... He never knew the Intermise felt that way... He slid down the length of the wall, coming to land a little more roughly than intended on his butt. He winced, but he was quiet. His knees were against his chest, and his arms wrapped around them as his head rested against his arm. He didn't want to hear this... He kept his eyes closed and rocked a little, thinking back to the childhood arguements of his parents. It took him back, and it frightened him to no end. He half expected to hear some cry of pain from the other room from when his dad would hit his mom... But then he realized he was confusing the two. He was not little anymore, and Lexi and Serphius were certainly not his parents. Thank God.

Then Lexi had stormed off, and he heard Serphius fall to the floor on his knees. He heard the sob, and he leaned around the corner, peaking at him. The Intermise was on his knees, his head in his hands, and Lexi was gone. Uh-oh. Cove was having an internal battle. After hearing that... Should he go in? He hesitated, his teeth biting into his lip, having flitted around behind the corner again. After a minute or two, making it seem as if he had just come up from breakfast, he rose to his feet and dusted himself off. Then, putting on a smile, he entered the room and slowed his pace when he came to Serphius. He hesitated, and his voice held worry as he crouched down beside Serphius. A hand reached out gently to find Serphius's shoulder as he softly asked,"Serphius?" His stormy eyes were a mass of confusion, a real storm tonight, but he forced them to clear, leaving only worry in its midst. He was getting better at this acting thing...

((Bleh. Le crappy. -.-;; But I am le tired. xD *thinks of this video online she watched* Oh man... *dies* Night. *drags self off to bed before she completely collapses and doesn't wake up in time*))

[Serphius de la Ravin]

<sup>Oh no, oh no. What had he done? Why did he have to go and say all those horrible things? Serphius was feeling gutted. He had no idea what had made him do that, but he felt like it had been someone else screaming at his best friend...well, ex-best friend now. But what was said was said now. He'd seriously fucked things up, for sure.


And then there was a soft hand on his shoulder, and a warm voice filling him up. Serphius pulled his trembling hands away from his flustered face just enough for the gentle features of Cove to swim into view. The poor Intermise just about choked on his own tongue. Oh no. No! He preyed to every God he knew, and some he didn't that his friend hadn't heard what he, or Alexys had said. He panicked, and began to cry even harder, clamping his hands back to his face to hide himself away again. There probably wasn't a soul in the school that didn't hear them, the way they had been bawling at each other. Serphius wanted the Entrance Hall floor to open up and swallow him whole. He wanted to lock himself in his room, and never say another word to anyone ever again.

"I-I-I've ruined eh-everything!" he wailed, trying to not cry so much and just making himself sob and splutter even more. Alexys was right. Cove wouldn't never like him. It was a miracle that the Fina boy had put up with his continuous blubbering so far, "I-I'm so s-soh-sorry!"</sup>

[Cove Bentley]

Cove sighed softly and said,"Serphius, look at me." His voice was firm, his eyes determined. He would not have this! "Look at me, okay? You haven't ruined everything, whatever it is you are talking about. If it's Lexi, then it's his loss. He shouldn't be angry with you for having other friends. If he is, then that's just messed up, okay? And you have nothing to be sorry for. So stop crying and look at me. Everything is going to be okay. I promise. Somehow, everything will be okay..." He then lowered himself completely to the floor, sitting on his butt and stretching his legs out a little. He leaned over and pulled Serphius closer to him, resting the younger Intermise against his chest as he gently ran his fingers through his hair.

He bit his lip for a moment before he stopped, looking down at Serphius. Ah, geez. He definitely couldn't leave him now. He was a wreck... He held Serphius to him. There was no way he was going to let him get away this time. He was going to hold and comfort him until he was no longer crying and was able to wipe his cheeks, stand up, and walk off in a slightly better mood. His left arm was around Serphius, holding him to him, and his right hand was now gently smoothing itself through Serphius's hair as he whispered words of comfort. "Now dry your tears, Serphius. There will be plenty of other chances for you to cry, but today is not one of them, okay? I know you're stronger than this. Sometimes... Sometimes you just have to dry your tears, put on a smile, and go about your life, even when everything is falling apart..." His eyes were distant, his hand slowed, but still he tried to comfort his friend as best he could, pushing aside what he had heard. To Serphius, he hadn't heard a bit of it...


((Okay. It's crap, but yeah. xD))

[Serphius de la Ravin]

<sup>Serphius pressed himself into the warmth of Cove, letting his encouraging, firm voice wash over him in waves. His red-rimmed eyes flickered up at Cove's face, but he couldn't bring himself to meet his friend's kind eyes. The crying took a while to calm down, but eventually, it slowed to a half-hearted sob. Serphius felt truly disgusted with himself at that moment. Crying, crying, and crying some damn more - it was the only thing he was good at. He was a self-pitying wreck, and now he was dragging his friends down too.

Serphius was paler than ever, all energy and will spent. His skinny chest was rising and falling rapidly, and he was completely as limp as a doll draped in Cove's arms, except from his hands, one of which was clinging onto the Fina boy's shirt, the other balled into a fist. He was staring blindly at the floor, barely feeling the warm, and faintly comforting fingers running through his mussed, jetty hair. When he realized Cove had spoken again, he nodded weakly.

"Everything f-falling apart..." he echoed, tensing a little. Serphius went silent again for a moment, looking up at his comforter. He looked away quickly, and felt his cheeks warm again, "I-I'm sorry, Cove. Y-You d-don't need this. I kn-know you don't...."</sup>

[Cove Bentley]

He cried for a while, but Cove was patient. Afterall, he had been in this position many times, though for varying reasons. Sadly, though, he was always left to cry on his own. There had never been anyone there to comfort him and protect him. But now was not the time to think of his problems. No, now was the time to take care of his friend in his time of troubles. Serphius was pale now, and much weaker than before, and he supported his weight easily. The boy didn't weigh much, afterall. He found himself thinking back to the past, remembering his own breakdowns. Only, he had been okay lately. Ever since he met the others, he had been okay... Heh. That sounded strange even to him. Being okay had never been his strong point...

He looked down as Serphius spoke, feeling his hand clenching his shirt in his fist. He had echoed Cove's own words before looking up at him, his cheeks faintly reddening before he looked away and spoke up. Cove shook his head. "No. Don't even start that. I don't want to hear you saying things like that, okay? I'm not going to desert my friends, no matter what, especially when they need me. I'm not going anywhere, Serphius. Not any-damn-where, okay? I'm going to stay right here with you, because that's where I should be." He tried to smile a little as he said,"Besides, someone has to look after you. Otherwise you'll end up hurting yourself even more..." His smile faltered before falling, more because the situation was hard to find anything remotely happy in it...

[Serphius de la Ravin]

<sup>"Otherwise you'll end up hurting yourself even more..."

The words held a startling sense of deja vu for Serphius. It brought back a string of shady memories from months and years ago, and only confirmed what he had already guess. Cove had heard their screaming match. His usually pert rosebud mouth was a tight line, and the red dots on his cheeks flared again. He turned his face so cove couldn't see it, and squeeze his eyes shut tightly, enjoying the blank darkness.

"If you h-h-heard me...us, I-I mean..." he murmured, loosening his white knuckled grip on his friend's shirt. His breathing had slowed down a little, though his pulse was still jackhammering away. Serphius opened his eyes, and looked directly at Cove with lucid eyes, "I swear t-t-true to ever damned word of it...An-and I'm s-sorry...."</sup>