Breathe

Chapter Nine - I'm totally single

A/N

Hey guys! As promissed here we are posting our weekly chapter, finally up to speed we can continue our journey with Ava and her friends! Hope you're enjoying so far and hope you continue reading because I promisse we have a LOT of good (and not so good) surprises up ahead!

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"Ok, now I'm serious, is there something going on with you and Ava?" Noah asked, right after Lavinia had left the room, claiming she was going to take a walk.

"No, of course not! We're friends." Decim answered, rolling his eyes. When were people going to stop questioning him about his relationship with the girl?! "And she's gay anyway, there could never be something between us."

"Ohh, ok then." Noah nodded in understanding, his lips opening into a goofy smile after. "So, Ava and Lavinia..."

"There's nothing going on between them either." He laughed. It wouldn't be long until something happened between Ava and Lavinia though. It was obvious they were attracted to each other and got on quite well. "Well, how about you? You're so invested in my love life, it is only fair that you talk to me about yours."

"What love life? I'm totally single."

"Maybe, but what about you and Sam?" As soon as Decim mentioned Sam, his brother adopted a completely different posture, his eyes even sparkled like in the fairytales. But he tried to mask it with a shrug and a confused frown.

"There's nothing going on between me and Sam, I don't know what you mean."

"Come on, Noah, I know you." Decim lowered his voice so Sam, fast asleep in his tank, wouldn't hear them. "You're a good guy but you don't get that protective with just everyone. You clearly like the guy and he likes you too, or at least he's starting to. So why aren't you doing something about it?" He looked him in the eyes, serious but supportive. Sam was nice and after what had been going on in that village, Noah deserved a good thing. Both of them did, really.

Noah looked worried but he didn't seem surprised that Decim had seen through him. They were brothers, even if only by half and they knew the other better than they knew themselves.

"....He likes me too?" He asked, suddenly vulnerable but then shook his head, running his fingers through his hair. "I don't even know if my feelings are real, what if it's just a minor crush? Or it's not and he doesn't like me back? I don't want to mess our friendship up."

"Well, I don't know about your feelings or his besides what I've seen, but the best way for you to know for sure if he likes you back is to ask him." Decim recommended. "But first find out how you feel, don't play with the guy's feelings."

"I wouldn't!"

"I know, you're actually sensitive about that stuff even though you're just a big child." He teased his brother, grinning and his heart lifted a bit as he saw him grinning back. Noah got up from his chair after and gave his brother a big bear hug.

"Thank you." He whispered, squeezing Decim's leaner body. He had missed him, more than everyone else. "But careful, don't forget I'm the older one!" He ruffled his brother's hair as he laughed.

---

Ava was so tired. Travelling to her village, discovering Sam was in the hospital, preparing a speech last minute and then fighting with Quinn had sucked all her energy. Now she just wanted to rest in her bedroom with a good book. But, as soon as she sat down, someone knocked on the door.

"Dad, I said I was gonna rest, we'll talk tomorrow-", she said as she opened it, a grin widening on her lips when she saw that it was Lavinia. "Hey, I'm sorry, I thought it was my dad again."