Ant looked around the busy meeting room as Stephen stood uncomfortably in front of him. He'd gone over with a plan, trying to find out what he had to contend with for the week of filming they'd soon have ahead of them. Dec had been unimpressed, probably – Ant hadn't looked over his shoulder as he wandered over to Stephen, not sure if he wanted to see the look on the other man's face.
"From the way Dec's acting I'm guessing you haven't talked properly." He couldn't help but sound frustrated, unhappy that he'd have to keep the peace and break the awkwardness all week.
Stephen's eyebrows raised slightly, looking uncharacteristically fed up. "I thought you two told each other everything."
"We're not 10 years old," Ant retorted immediately.
"Yeah? Well, someone hasn't got that memo and if you hang around here much longer, Dec's probably going to think you're my friend now."
Ant glanced behind him to meet the poorly hidden gaze of Dec and rolled his eyes, unable to stop himself from feeling a little fond.
"He's probably glad someone's checking on you," he said matter of factly.
"Your lot are obviously still on his back," Stephen swiftly changed the subject, continuing when Ant looked uncomprehendingly at him. He nodded over at the small entourage stood with Ali.
"Well, Declan hasn't exactly been enthusiastic about the idea of getting a fake girlfriend," Ant replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Hearing Stephen poorly mask his concern only reinforced his view that everything had been a misunderstanding. "And judging by that look, Stevie, you're pretty relieved he feels that way."
"I don't want him doing anything he's been pressured into." Stephen sounded as if he thought this was perfectly reasonable and it would have been if it didn't feel a little hypocritical.
"Should you have taken your own advice?" Ant quipped, careful to keep his tone lighter, more joking. It was the first time he'd decided to broach the topic, still unsure of whether or not he was right. And he didn't know where the pressure had come from; unfortunately, when it came to Stephen there seemed to be an almost endless list of possible options.
Stephen laughed humourlessly, something painful about the sound. He didn't answer but scuffed his shoes together with the same sort of embarrassment as before. They didn't often do serious conversations; Ant had left a lot of that to Stephen and Dec; but he knew Stephen's behaviours well enough to sense he didn't want to talk about whatever had happened.
"So, you did talk?" he asked eventually, reluctant to push but still trying to gauge how much damage control he'd be doing.
"We talked alright," Stephen said drily, "I'm surprised you couldn't hear it halfway across London."
"I meant since March, but you obviously haven't," Ant replied, glancing back over at Dec who was now pointedly trying to look busy. "He has got a temper."
"I was hardly any better," Stephen said sheepishly, surprising Ant slightly, "I got fed up with him acting like he thought I'd done something terrible..."
"And told him you had?" Ant finished wearily.
"No, I just didn't convince him I hadn't," Stephen said resignedly, now wearing the unhappy expression Ant had expected to see. "Look, I'm just going to keep out of his way for this week and probably keep out of your way too. I don't want to step on anyone's toes."
"You're my mate as well as his – ex," Ant said firmly, remembering everything Emma said about how he'd been, "If I want to talk to you, I'm going to. Getting a death stare from Declan is not going to put me off."
YOU ARE READING
As we fall apart
Fanfiction"Maybe it would be best if..." "What's that supposed to mean?" "I don't think I can do this anymore." It felt like it came out of nowhere. They'd had a lot to contend with for a long time but still, after it all, they'd had each other. Until they di...
