Unspoken Love

9: BOYFRIENDS

"What happened?" Albus asked warily as he heard wretching noises echoing from the bathroom down the hall as he entered the Longbottoms house. 

"He came into the pub last night," Neville said quietly, though he didn't think Scorpius could hear over his vomiting anyways, "Said something happened with someone he was dating." Neville looking at Albus with raised eyebrows, who looked up sheepishly, his cheeks burning pink, "You know something about this, right? I mean, you're best friends after all."

"You know...don't you." Albus breathed as he eyed the knowing glint in his Herbology Professor's eye. 

"Go on." Neville said in response, gesturing to the bathroom. Albus began setting off to the hall immediately, "And Albus?"

"Yes Professor?" Albus asked nervously. Neville smiled with kind eyes.

"I won't tell anyone." He said. Albus blushed and nodded appreciatively before entering the hallway. He held the doorknob, deliberating if he should go in or not for a moment but ultimately he pushed open the door and closed it tightly behind him.

"Scorp?" He said shakily, kneeling beside Scorpius who had one arm propped on the lip of the toilet seat, his forehead against his forearm as he gasped for air. He looked up at Albus's voice but the sudden movement caused him to lurch forward and vomit into the toilet again. He groaned and Albus moved forward to rub his back soothingly.

"Don't talk." Albus whispered as Scorpius whimpered. Albus wondered if the tears seeping from the corners of his eyes were due to the painful throwing up or from last night, nevertheless he stayed rubbing circles on Scorpius's back until the blonde boy sat back and leaned against the side of the bathtub. Albus grimaced as he reached up to flush it and close the lid before he sat criss cross in front of Scorpius, wringing his hands nervously.

"You're staring and I look disgusting." Scorpius groaned, blinking in the florescent lights of the bathroom which seemed even brighter now that he wasn't bent over, facing the inside of a toilet.

"No you don't." Albus said quietly, looking up at Scorpius's hair which was a wavy mess, matted upon his head, there was sleep dried in the corner's of his eyes along with the dark circles under them, with the addition of his healing bruises and sickly complexion, Scorpius did look like an utter mess...but Albus didn't mind...except the dried tear streaks on Scorpius's face made his heart churn.

"Scorpius..." Albus said, his voice was strained by the tightness in his throat, "I'm so sorry." he choked, his head hung and he continued, but now was talking to the floor to avoid Scorpius's gaze in case it turned cold. He didn't want to see that, "I'm really sorry Scorpius, I didn't want to do it." he exclaimed, deciding not to say the word 'kiss' so as not to remind Scorpius, but the blonde boy was already picturing it all over again as he watched Albus shake in front of him.

"But..." Scorpius began in a small voice, "You let him kiss you...you let him get close enough." he said, drawing his legs up to his chest before wrapping his arms around his knees. Albus looked up, seeing the tears already glistening in Scorpius's eyes.

"No, Scorpius please you have to believe me," Albus said imploringly, "I don't know how much you saw or heard-"

"All I heard was him say that 'It'll make you feel better'" he held up air quotes, "And then he kissed you. And you let him. And you didn't pull away, he did."

"Scorpius I was waiting for you in the tower and-"

"So this is my fault?" Scorpius exclaimed. Deep down he knew he was being ridiculous, but he was almost too afraid to hear the real story in case it was what he feared.