Knuckles // Tradley AU

13. Never Guess - Tris

"McVey, you're never gonna guess who I just woke up next to." I teased down the phone, feeling much more uplifted than I typically would in the morning.

"You didn't." James sighed "Brad?"

"Hell yeah." I smirked

"Tris." James sighed heavily "Do you realise how much danger you've put us all in by doing that?"

"It's fine." I rolled my eyes, shrugging him off "I'm untraceable."

"You're not subtle though." James sighed "You've gotta send him back to Ryan."

"And let him get beaten to a pulp? No way, I'll just call the police and have them sent to Ryan."

"Oh yeah, because he's definitely still at the house." James rolled his eyes "You're the dumbest person alive."

"I'm not!" I argued "Everything is fine and dandy in this household, I'm out of bed and showered, all before two!"

"Yeah, you can't let a boy be the source of your happiness, especially not Brad." James sighed "Would've thought you'd learnt your lesson."

"Don't even try and ruin this mood for me." I sighed "You're just bitter 'Cause Brad is hotter than Con and I'm shagging him."

"Man." James sighed "That's so wrong. You also haven't forgotten that I'm out of town this weekend have you?"

"Uh...why?" I frowned

"Con and I are looking at houses in Birmingham. Remember? We're moving away."

"Fuck...But I need you here, just in case." I explained.

"Hm, well I can't, sorry." James shrugged "Hotel is booked, anyway, I've gotta go, my lunch break has just finished."

"Alright cool." I nodded "Have fun."

"You too, stay safe."

"Mhm, Whatever." I sighed "I'm not gonna catch an STD from him if that's what you're implying."

"You never know, especially after Ryan." James  replied "And I'm not taking you to the clinic."

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes "I'm going now, goodbye."

James didn't even say goodbye before he hung up. I sighed and put my phone in my pocket, going to see if Brad was awake.

I knocked on my bedroom door and pushed it open, seeing the brunet still sleeping peacefully, a soft frown on his face.

"Brad?" I whispered, gently shaking him to wake him up "Brad."

"Mhm?" He hummed, turning away from me.

"Come on, time to wake up, it's nearly two." I whispered "You can shower and-"

"Fuck!" He whisper-shouted, sitting up-right and immediately regretting it, wincing harshly "Fuck! Ow!"

"What? What's wrong? What hurts?" I fussed, desperate to make him okay .

"Yeah, I just can't sit up like that." He nodded breathlessly "Especially after last night, I'm fragile."

"Awh." I teased "Sorry."

"Nah it's fine." He brushed off "Anyway, I was in a fuss because I have a hospital appointment at 3."

"Ah." I nodded "...Does Ryan know about it?"

"He's the one that booked it." Brad said quietly

"Well then I can't let you go." I explained, sitting on the edge of the bed and putting my arm around him "He'll be waiting, I know he will, you can't risk it."

"...oh." Brad sighed "b-but I need to go."

"I know, I know, I'll make you a new appointment, Alright?" I assured him "It's all gonna be alright."

"Okay." Brad nodded quietly "Thank you Tris."

"Don't worry about it." I assumed him, kissing his temple comfortingly "It's all gonna be alright."

"I hope so." Brad nodded "I really do, I'm sorry about coming on to you last night, I didn't mean to, I just get weird when I'm drunk and I hadn't been in so lo-."

"It's alright." I interrupted "I didn't mind."

"...But I do." Brad whispered "I shouldn't have gotten so carried away...I'm sorry."

"You don't ever need to apologise to me, Alright?" I reassured him "If nothing else, it was fun."

"...I guess." He nodded sheepishly. All the talk of drinking reminded me of what I had been fighting to not do all morning, just to prove a point to James, but I knew it was useless fighting against it, and it would just lead to worse consequences than being a little drunk.

"Would you like some?" I offered the 3/4 empty bottle to the brunet, he declined and I threw back a couple of swigs, at this point the burn didn't even bother me, it was comforting.

"You drink a lot." Brad noted quietly "Are you Alright?"

"Yeah." I nodded "I'm fine now, especially now I've had a drink."

"Are you sure?" He asked me "you don't Really see- I'm sorry- this isn't any of my business- I'll shut up- sorry, sorry." He interrupted himself, staring at the floor.

"It's alright." I reassured, taking another swig.

"...can-" Brad started but I interrupted him by passing him the bottle. The metal of his rings making the glass ring out.

"Any time." I smiled softly "It numbs everything down." I explained, leaning back against the wall, both of us still sat on the bed.

"It does." Brad exhaled, as if he were letting out his innermost secret by admitting it "It makes the world all rose coloured, not so bad anymore. I feel invincible, I don't feel like the weak one for once. I feel stronger, but I'm also more fragil-"

"You're not fragile. You're one of the strongest people I know." I smiled softly to the cross-legged boy in my bedroom. I felt 15 again, I felt young for the first time in years.

"I'm not you." He blushed "You've gotten through all of this- and probably more and you're still here. I don't know if I want to be."

Shit would be an understatement. I completely forgot the white lie I told. All I wanted was to comfort him, and here I go, having to perpetuate a lie for the sake of keeping someone around. Perpetuating the mistake.

"...yeah." I smiled brokenly, taking the red-topped bottle off of him and having another large sip "The heartbreak is unimaginable, but look at me, I haven't gotten through anything, Brad, look at the mess I am."

"A gorgeous mess." He blushed, you could tell he was tipsy- drunk almost- but I didn't care, I just wanted him.

"And you're just gorgeous." I whispered, sitting up and leaning in to kiss him, it felt so real. His lips conveying all the words he'd never be able to say because they're feeling emotions you could never put into words, even if you tried. Unimaginable fear. Unforgettable anxiety. Crippling pain.