Aren't you happy for me?

12) You have to tell him

Ant had an amazing birthday at home and it really took his mind off things. That was until his sister Sarha came into his room when he wanted to go to bed.

"Ant, you now tell me what's wrong" she said and sat down beside him on the bed.

"Wrong?" Ant asked.

"Well, where is Dec for a start?" Sarha asked knowingly. Ant only lowered his head and she spoke on. "I know something is off about you two, I am not stupid. And talking about it helps, you know?"

"I know" Ant sighed. Actually, he was desperate to talk to someone about it. Keeping it inside was killing him. So he took a deep breath and when a little tear made its way down his cheek Sarha immediately pulled him into a hug.

"You now take a deep breath and tell me everything" she said lovingly once Ant pulled away again. Ant nodded and then he started to talk.

"You have to tell him, Ant" was her first reaction. Ant had really told her everything, every last detail about his feelings and he was quite relieved.

"I can't, he is happy" Ant said and sighed loudly.

"But you aren't" Sarah stated.

"It doesn't matter" Ant explained.

"Of course it does!" Sarha said and put an arm around her brother. "Even if you only explain to him why you can't be that close to him at the moment. Ant, I know Dec, he is such a sensitive lad, I am sure he senses that something is wrong. You said he even came to you to talk about it, that's normally not like him, is it?"

Ant shook his head. "Normally, it's the other way round" Ant said and smiled at the memory of numerous times where it had been like that. Then he lowered his head again. "He was so angry, Sarha."

"Well, he has every right to be when you've been so withdrawn because of no apparent reason" his sister explained and Ant nodded. He knew she was right. But it was hard.

"I can't tell him, sis" Ant sighed.

"Well, if you want to stay friends I think you have to tell him" Sarha said and hugged Ant again. "Honesty is always the right way, pet."

Ant nodded, of course he knew she was right. "I'll think about it."

"Good" Sarha smiled. "You'll see, it's all going to be alright."

"I don't know, he is so happy with him, Sarha" Ant sighed. "And what the hell shall I do without him? But I can't go on like this, I just can't..."

"God, you really fell for him, didn't you?" his sister sighed and smiled at him pitifully.

Ant only reacted with floods of tears and Sarha hugged him again, rubbing his back soothingly. "I promise you, it's all going to be fine. I don't know how, but it's going to be fine."

Ant nodded against her chest, although he really wasn't so sure about it.

Dec had thought a lot about what he could get Ant for his birthday. He was so happy they were good again, so he wanted to treat him.

He thought about how Ant had said he wanted to spend time with him and so he had organised something that only the two of them would do together. And as they were meeting up for golf on Saturday, Dec thought he would just give Ant his present then.

But things turned out otherwise. Ant called on Friday and said he couldn't make it to golf, he would stay the weekend in Newcastle. Dec had told him it was alright, but of course it wasn't and he was devastated.

He thought they were good again, but apparently, they weren't. Ant had sounded so distant again and he would never break his promise if they were really good again.

So Dec couldn't help but be extremely sad about it and he just didn't understand Ant anymore. He had never acted so strangely before and Dec really feared that this whole thing of seeing each other only occasionally would start again. Little did he know that it would be even worse this time.

"You talked to him, what more do you want to do?" Stephen asked annoyed. "If he doesn't want to be friends like that anymore, you have to accept it. Dec, it's ridiculous to run after him like you do."

"No, you don't understand" Dec said slightly frustrated. "I want him to be happy, he is not happy. If he is happy without me then that's fine. But I know he is not."

"Dec, once again. You aren't responsible for him" Stephen sighed and rolled his eyes. "If he wants to act out, then let him."