NovaHD ~ [AU OneShots]

Shine [2/2]

A/N: Due to popular demand...here's part two. It turned out a lot longer than anticipated (almost 3000 words!), so enjoy, and let me know what you think!

Somehow, after that devastating day, Aleks and James managed to remain friends.

At least, Aleks pretended they were. It hurt too much to think about their earlier memories, to dwell on their joined past, so Aleks distanced himself when they began their junior year. He often thought of excuses to avoid hanging out with him, not allowing himself to spend any time with him. It hurt too much.

Fortunately, James never confronted him about his aloof behaviour. High School often forced strain on the closest of relationships, and Aleks was grateful to use that as an excuse to stay away from him.

It had been six months since James had humiliated him, but Aleks was still haunted by the memory, unable to forgive his former best friend for the way he'd spoken to him, for the way he'd trampled all over their friendship and crushed Aleks's heart.

And in those six months, Aleks had never been left alone with James. He still talked to him, but only if they were surrounded by their other friends. He kept their conversations light and his smiles forced, unwilling to fall back into their old routine.

But his heart always splintered when James tried to prolong their time together, the light in his eyes dimming every time that Aleks rejected him.

~

One evening, after a particularly stressful day at school, Aleks decided to go to the beach, wanting to watch the sunset. It used to be their beach, but he hadn't thought of it like that in a long time – he refused to reminisce about the times he'd shared with James there.

He strolled amongst the pebbles, pausing occasionally to pick up new stones for his ever-growing collection, enjoying the reddening sun and the calm tide of the waves.

Unfortunately, James plagued his thoughts, especially when Aleks found an onyx-coloured pebble. He picked it up, running his thumb over the smooth, cracked surface. He couldn't help but be reminded of him...of his vibrant smile, of his dark, vivid eyes, of the tender way he used to look at him...

...Aleks shook his head in an attempt to clear that train of thought. If it hurt to think about their friendship, it pained him even more to think about his feelings, feelings that he'd buried underneath his agony. He couldn't even bring himself to think of James as a friend...let alone his first love.

He stared down at the rock, torn between keeping it and tossing it into the ocean.

"You still do this?"

Aleks didn't think he could feel any worse...until he heard James's voice.

The hollow ache in his ribs grew, his anguish threatening to consume him. "Sometimes." He replied evenly, masking his emotion. Reluctantly, he turned to face the reason for his heartache.