Falling for a mistake | Jeverus

Part 16

Severus tiredly walks in through the front door and sees the fancy dress shoes lining the left wall. He knows James is back, he saw the bedroom light on as Frank pulled into the driveway.

He sighs, delaying the inevitable moment of confrontation and hurt. It's gonna be a whirlwind of pain and he isn't looking forward to it.

" James can you come down here?" He yells up the stairs and he hears footsteps running across the floors upstairs.

James practically runs down the stairs and engulfs him in a bone crushing hug from behind, kissing his cheek with a wide grin.

" Missed you." He whispered and oh god he's just making things harder.

Severus closes his eyes and rips himself away from him, leaving James confused.

" Are you ok?"

" Yes, god i'm ok. Why is everyone asking if i'm fucking ok?" Severus snaps and James looks taken back.

He doesn't move as Severus dumps his bag onto the table and leans against it, hands prints being left on the glossy wood finish. He closes his eyes and feels his chest concave inwards, feels the familiar ache of his condition rise.

He walks to the fridge and gets a water bottle, downing half of it before pulling the pills out of his pocket and taking two more than what was prescribed.

" Is it your heart?"

Severus shakes his head and god he feels terrible. This is gonna be terrible.

" No. My heart is fine." He responds and walks back to the bag.

James follows his direction slowly, bringing a hand up to his neck and stroking the area behind his ear with his thumb.

Severus can feel it, feel James about to lean in for a kiss so he turns his head and fishes into his bag. He brings the large orange envelope out and presses it into James' chest, pushing him back while doing so.

" What's this?" James asked and started to undo the string.

" Open it."

He brings out the stack of paper and reads the first few sentences.

" Is this....divorce papers?"

" Yeah." Severus says blankly and James looks up at him with wide eyes.

" Wha-....why? Why now? I thought things were good."

" Me too...but I can't do this anymore."

" This is about Reggie isn't it?" James asked instantly and just hearing his name made Severus want to leave this house and never come back.

" And Sirius."

" What does Sirius have to do with this?"

" I know James."

That phrase in itself was terrifying for anyone to hear. For someone with a secret it was almost a million times excruciating.

" You....he told you?"

" Yeah. He called me an hour after he talked to you."

" Son of a bitch." James whispers and turns around, gripping the papers so hard Severus is sure they're wrinkled.

" So that's it? You won't even give me time to decide?"

" If you even have to think about it then it's over. I'm not waiting around getting strung along for you to pick someone else."

" But I wasn't going to!"

" Bullshit." Severus hisses and James' eyes widen for the millionth time.

" Don't stand there and act like i was your first option with no hesitation. Don't act like you weren't thinking about leaving me just to fuck around with my best fucking friend." Severus gets in his face and his words spit like venom.