Hollow | BxBxBxB

-25- Hushed Conversations

Sitting alone in his room exactly where Alex had left him Connor wasn't sure what to do. He'd kissed Alex, he'd told Alex he had a crush on every single one of the boys here. He might as well of told Alex he was a desperate little boy. What the fuck had he done?

Despite what he'd said Alex had taken it well, if it was one of the other boys Connor wouldn't have trusted their reaction, but Alex had no filter, so surely that meant Alex liked it? If he didn't he'd have said so as bluntly as a sledgehammer. Surely not go in for another kiss instead?

Thinking fast Connor decided he needed to speak to Alex again before he told the other boys, he couldn't have everyone laughing at how absolutely desperate he was for any sort of male attention.

Scrambling up from the compromising position the blonde had left him in Connor slipped out of his room tiptoeing along the corridor, he needed to get Alex before anyone else did.

Creeping down the stairs Connor stopped half way down, he could hear faint whispering from where he was perched on the steep, carpeted stairs.

Crouching down he peered slowly over the banister trying to remain as stealthy as possible, scanning the lounge below he spotted the other three boys huddled together on the couch talking quietly, the television was on playing a shitty comedy which made their voices harder to hear. He kept picking out words but not the full conversations. One word in particular that kept cropping up was his own name, Connor. They must be talking about what he'd told Alex...

Riccardo was also with them though! That meant he was at least okay, and he was back out of his room again, he also seemed fine. He wasn't in any noticeable pain despite still wearing a sweater. He wondered whether or not Riccardo had voluntarily come down or been asked to by Alex because of his and Connors kiss. Maybe they were all gossiping about how fucking desperate he was right now and how much of an easy whore he was. Letting Alex overpower him so quickly without even saying a word. Without even acknowledging it.

Carefully plodding down the rest of the stairway Connor dipped behind the wall listening in, he could hear much better now though the loud noise of the television still drowned out some of their muffled words.

"I don't know dude, how would he take that?" Alex was whispering quietly.

"There's only one way to find out" Liam replied pointedly.

"If he says no, it'll be awkward as fuck" Alex commented nervously.

"But if he says yes. That chance makes it worth the risk surely" Riccardo countered evenly.

"He seemed to want it, from what you said Alex he's already into us all, so now we've got to be sure we all want this" Liam told them both logically his calm voice cutting through the anxious edges of the other twos words. "We're happy as just us three, right?" Hums of agreement filled the air as Riccardo and Alex agreed, what were they talking about?

"So, would a fourth hinder that, or would it make us closer?" Liam speculated posing the question to the three of them.

"Closer" Riccardo immediately answered.

"I think so too, it's a risk, but we should try" Alex answered.

"What if he tells Mercury?" Liam warned gruffly.

"He wouldn't" Riccardo whispered back. "I know he wouldn't"

"I opened up to him this morning about my parents, he was really nice about it. I've also had episodes and ended up in his room a couple times. He's never told Simon" Alex added nodding his head.

"Plus we all like him, so what's the point in not asking him?" Riccardo pointed out fairly.

"Okay" Liam agreed quietly. The boys went silent for a moment the comedy tv show candid laugh track filling the void.

"So how do we ask him?" Alex questioned saying what had seemingly been on all their minds. Connor wasn't sure if he was just being thick or if genuinely it didn't make any sense, ask him what? The fourth what?

"I don't know" Liam replied with a shrug.

"Initiation, we get speedos, candles and wait till the clock strikes midnight" Alex suggested making the other two laugh. "As much as I'd love that, don't think he'd be too thrilled" Alex added also laughing at his own joke cutely.

"No" Liam replied nudging Alex fondly. "We don't have to figure it out right now, we can wait a bit" Liam added.

"I just don't want him being scared about why I kissed him, especially since he's on too me and you being together already" Alex pointed out gesturing to Liam and himself.

"And whose fault was that?" Liam hissed mockingly making Alex sigh.

"Mine" he said in resignation. Connor remembered asking Liam about it and how defensive he'd been, were they actually together then?

"Well let's just wait then" Riccardo finalised leaning back with a yawn, Connor wondered if he'd just gotten up from bed the way he was acting.

The boys then rose from their quiet conversation beginning to move away, to Connor's horror they began heading his direction. Quickly he attempted to scuttle off back up the stairs but was caught half way up by a sharp cry.

"Oh- hey Connor" Alex shouted out his face turning as pale as a ghost.

The other two boys turned from where they were stood looking up at the staircase equally mortified.

"H-hi, was- was about to come downstairs to p-play a game, w-want to play... Monopoly or something" Connor stammered out nervously trying his best to think on his feet.

"How much did you hear?" Liam answered stonily cutting through Connors excuse immediately like a knife to butter.

"If you're gonna lie at least make it believable, ain't no way you'd be the one to suggest playing a game and socialising" Alex pointed out smiling at Connor whilst folding his arms. That was a very good point actually, Connor would be the last of the group to engage first. Alex also seemed to be enjoying the way Connor was squirming under the pressure, Connor certainly wasn't enjoying it. It felt like he was a kid who'd just been caught with his hand halfway into the cookie jar.

"Everything" Connor muttered back wishing he could just sink into the floor then and there, why did he have to get caught. As if he wasn't in hot enough water already he'd now been caught eavesdropping on their private conversation.

"Connor listen-" Liam began but Connor wasn't listening, he hastily stumbled back up the stairs and into the safety of his room. His mind was absolutely frazzled at this point.

He couldn't fully get his head around what he'd heard, all of it just didn't add up. None of it. He didn't understand anything, were Liam and Alex together? What did they want to initiate him into? Why was Riccardo even involved in that conversation? Happy as three? Wanting a fourth?

Crying softly Connor curled in on himself shutting his eyes and covering his face, he was so extremely overwhelmed. He'd fucked up big time. If it felt like he'd fucked up before, this was ten times worse...