affection

twenty

friday

sappy love songs travel through happy ears, everybody seems to be drunk at this point and kai's eyebrows furrow as he watches people. half are people he only vaguely recognises, the rest are total strangers.

his mother is here, along with eric, they look happy. his dad is sat an another table, silent as he peers around the people on his table, as if he knows none of them, kai wouldn't be surprised. it's not like his father had spent years getting to know his family.

he feels the hand entwined with his squeeze, he knows the boy is trying to comfort him in some way. maybe he can see the sour look kai is sporting, and has been sporting, since this morning.

elliot stands, dragging kai's hand with him as a man who looks shockingly similar to kai approaches the two.

"oh my god, you two are like, the same person." elliot whispers before the man comes close enough to hear.

kai shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot, he scowls at elliot's comments, but the boy continues whispering about just how alike the two look.

he also mumbles that it looks like they're avoiding each other, as he hadn't met kai's brother the entire time they've been here. but soon cycles back to their very similar appearances.

"it's crazy."

kai sighs, "stop." his fingers fiddle nervously with elliot's who smiles at the stranger now in front of him.

the man, who stands just above kai in height, reaches the pair with a grin.

"thank you for coming." kai's brother says, it almost sounds genuine. but kai knows him enough to know it isn't, and a lump forms in his throat as the sound of the man's voice.

the memories quickly come flooding back, he doesn't look up noah, instead he keeps his eyes on the details of his suit. a part of him wants to reply, to pretend to ignore the past and be happy for him. the other part won't let him speak.

"can't even look at me on my own wedding day?"

kai lifts his eyes, glaring daggers at his brother who gives him the very slightest smile, one so small it's as if it's just for him to see. it's patronising, taunting and kai feels the urge to strangle the man.

"did something happen between you guys?" elliot asks after noah had left.

kai avoids eye contact, "no, just brother stuff. i'll be back in five, i gotta pee."

when he returns, he finds elliot sitting at their table alone and suddenly feels guilty for leaving him all alone.

as he approaches the scruffy haired boy, he stands up and takes a small step back with a smile.

"you good?" kai asks, his smile looks forced.

elliot shrugs, and kai moves closer to him so he could grab his wrist and lead him over to the food table.

something is wrong, as soon as he got closer to the boy, he waited just a moment before moving just the slightest step away. kai wouldn't have seen it if he hadn't been so conscious of his behaviour.

he takes the hint with a frown, and distances himself from elliot. "what'd he say to you?"

he looks shocked kai was so quick to guess what had happened. "do you even care?"

"what? of course i care. tell me what he said."

elliot's face flushes, "he asked me why you even bothered to show up, i didn't say anything because i don't know."