Hollow | BxBxBxB

-26- Becoming The Fourth

Connor sobbed on his bed curling in on himself like a cat would to sleep. He felt so bad for all that had happened, for not telling anyone about Riccardo's self harming until it was too late, then kissing Alex, then listening in on a conversation he shouldn't have even been around to hear.

If there was a worlds biggest douche award, in that moment Connor felt like he deserved it.

As if he wasn't stressed enough a knock sounded at his door, assuming it was Simon Connor went silent, he didn't want to have to explain any of this to the old doctor, he'd seemingly been absent most of the morning only being present at meal times. So he'd really missed a lot at this point.

Connor held his breath trying to contain his soft sobs but being unable to so letting it all fizz out again. His door then opened and someone softly stepped inside. That definitely wasn't Simon then.

Opening his eyes and sitting up Connor came face to face with Riccardo.

"Hey Connor, shhh" Riccardo whispered sitting beside him, this scene was eerily similar to the time Connor had found Riccardo crying in his room except the roles were now reversed.

"I'm sorry Riccardo. For everything I'm just- I'm so sorry" Connor blurted out continuing to cry into his shirt softly dampening it with his tears.

Riccardo put a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "Nothing to be sorry for Connor, I promise" He whispered soothingly easily melding into the role of comforter, something Connor found challenging to do himself.

Connor leaned into Riccardo's skinny chest crying bitterly as Riccardo embraced him rubbing his back softly.

"Just take a breath Connor, in then out slowly. Yeah?" Riccardo instructed his voice as sweet as candy and his chocolate brown eyes unwavering.

Connor managed to eventually control his breathing with Riccardo guiding him using mock breaths to help calm Connor down, eventually they were both sat up on the mattress together breathing slowly.

"Can I explain to you what's been happening, why it was so complicated when you confessed you were into me, why we were talking about you just then, why Liam snapped when you asked about him and Alex?" Riccardo requested quietly, Connor nodded smiling half heartedly. They'd obviously sent Riccardo up as the mediator. Good choice.

"So... err" Riccardo paused struggling to find the words. "I'm dating Alex, and Liam... Liam's dating Alex, and me, Alex is dating me and Liam" the Italian explained quickly. Connor cocked his head in confusion wiping a stray tear from his still damp cheeks.

"What?" He asked in confusion.

"We're all together, like-" Riccardo paused again the worlds clearly eluding him.

"So like, you're a three person couple?" Connor asked quietly.

Riccardo nodded glancing at the ground shyly. "Yeah pretty much, sorry that was a super long winded way of me explaining it"

"How's that possible?" Connor asked in confusion, how could three people be dating each other at the same time? Surely that was being unfaithful? It all made no sense to him.

"It's... complicated. Do you know what being Polyamorous is?" Riccardo queried calmly.

"No" Connor replied, he'd never heard that word before. It sounded like a complicated maths equation or something.

"It's like... you love more than 1 person at once, and want to be with more than 1 person at once, it doesn't have to be all of the same gender, it can be boys and girls, just boys or just girls" Riccardo told him still looking uneasy, as if he expected Connor to laugh in his face.