Unconditional

He Got Himself Into It

That night both of them didn't get any sleep. When night became heavy and whole pressure of the day fell upon him, Dec whimpered, prompting Ant to turn around to face him "Are you alright?"

Dec : "I... I feel sick"

Ant flinched at that "Like you are going to be?"

Dec: "No.. not that. I feel heavy and I don't know... I trusted him and put you in danger. I can never forgive myself"

Ant realised what Dec needed. He wanted to let it all from his chest and Ant was nervous whether he is the right person to listen to that.

Ant: "I won't say I understand you. But I can relate to your situation.so, it's okay"

Dec sighed "Why?"

Ant: "Why what?"

Dec: "Why do you care?"

Ant hesitated a bit "I Don't. It's just that, what you are going through, is ironically because of me. Andrew, Piers, Robbie everyone is behind you because you are my roommate... it doesn't mean I feel responsible or anything but.... I don't know.Maybe I don't want them to win again. Andrew actually put you in grave danger you know? Robbie is really on the edge"

Dec: "I am in your watchlist"

Ant: "Now you know why. But still you managed to hide from us. Not a brilliant move that"

Dec: "Why won't you tell this to your friends? Why save me?"

Ant: "I am not saving you. I... I argued with them the day when he.. he hugged you. I said you could be trusted and I... I was wrong but.. then you rescued me"

Tears stung Dec's eyes. I have let him down "I... I am sorry"

Ant: "Get some sleep"

Dec: "Anth... do you trust me?"

His voice was so broken that Ant bit his lips. Then in a smaller voice , without any emotions, he replies "Not Anymore"

Ant turns around and crunches his eyes hard, to block the noise of tiny sniffles coming from the other side.

In the morning, both boys were rather silent when they sat at their usual place. Ant crumpled his fourth attempt to sketch a tree and threw the paper aside. Slowly he became aware of a weight on his left shoulder and looked to see Dec's sandy brown hair. Ant knew he didn't get much sleep and found it hard to wake him up. Why do I care about him?I have never felt this with anyone.Not even with my friends.It's just been a month since I met him but why do I feel like he was always here? Maybe because I grew up as a single child and had no one to take care of? Everyone cared for me and looked after me . But this guy, why do I want to protect him from others and well, myself? Why am I hiding him from Rob and Si? Why Ant?!

He sighed, prompting Dec to wake up "Anth..oh I am sorry.. I ..."

Ant: "Call me Anthony or AntMcpartlin. I thought you knew that. Only my friends call me Ant"

Dec: "I called you Anth! for Anth-ony . Who will call anyone Ant, anyway?!"

Ant looked at him in surprise, not knowing what to say . He knew he should not be so friendly with Dec "I allowed you to sit with me and look through my sketches ONLY because I didn't want to sit with Andrew ! Don't take the freedom you don't deserve"

Dec but his lips and nodded

Ant : "Good. And again, no one should know what happened. You got it?"