Summer ~ Jegulus

Chapter 9

As the day went on James just felt more and more guilty. He avoided the younger all day, only time he left his room was to grab food or use the restroom. He still didn't know what was making him feel worse, the guilt or separating himself from Regulus. The younger knocked on his door many times throughout the day, even brought him tea, but once evening reached it stopped. There was nothing. No footsteps, no knocking, nothing. Just James alone with his thought.

He couldn't take it any longer, where could Regulus have gone? Did he just give up? James felt even more guilty now for a new reason. He got out of bed, softly walking out of his room to the others. He heard sniffles. Without even knocking he burst in the room, "what wrong?"

"Fuck off."

James heart sank, "I'm so sorry."

"No, you don't get to be! You're just like everyone else, you use me when my brothers not around then ignore me. Go ahead and walk out of my life." Regulus cried, trying to hide his face.

"Regulus.. I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that."

"Then how?! How else could you mean it?" He demanded.

"I-I love you and I feel guilty, cause I feel like I'm hiding it from Sirius! Cause last night meant more to me than you think and now I feel like I just used you last night. I-I didn't I promise I guess it just made me realize how I actually felt about you." He paused sighing, "I really like you, no one has ever made me feel how you did last night. And I don't want to lose you."

"I.. James." Regulus looked up, his tear stained face looking into the foggy hazel eyes. James turned away, "I understand, I can go back to my room. I'm sorry." Regulus wanted to call out to him to cry his name, but he couldn't. He was frozen in place.

The rest of the week was silent Regulus spent all his time in the painting room or his room. James was either outside or locked away in his room. Anytime the two crossed paths both ended up in tears.

"JAMES, Regulus I HOPE YOU TWO DIDN'T KILL EACH OTHER!" The voice entered the house, both lads wanted to run towards the voice and fall in his arms, but neither left their rooms. Wanting the other to have their moment with Sirius. This just left the excited boy confused, he walked up to James room just walking in. "..jamsey?"

Regulus heard this, he wouldn't admit it, but it hurt. His own brother choosing his friend over him. At least James had someone with him right now.

It went on like this. Christmas Day was just awkward, Sirius dropped a plate and presents off at the youngest door while him and James celebrated downstairs. Regulus opened his presents softly, a note laying on top of it all.

"Meet me at the creek at midnight."

He tore the note up. Sirius hadn't even tried to talk to him since he got back earlier that day, and why would James want to talk to him? Regulus cried opening the gifts. All the stuff from Sirius and family were paint supplies, a never-ending notebook from Zaire, and candy from Remus and Peter. He still thought it was weird they got him gifts, but he got them one too so he didn't say anything. The last one was a small box, inside was a necklace, it was a picture locket. Inside the locket was a picture of him and James. Both were smiling brightly.

He broke down with the locket in his hands. He cried for hours, his mind filling with regret. He knew how he felt about James, he just didn't want to admit it. He couldn't. He couldn't take that from Sirius.

Knock. Knock.

"Reggie..?"

Nothing.

"Regulus, I don't know what happened. James won't tell me, but just know I love you and I'm right here when you want to talk. Please just let me in."