*****

Sweaty, and very naked, Xander cuddled up to his lover.

"Hmmm, this is the best part of the day. Cuddling up with you."

Spike planted a chaste kiss on his boyfriend's head. "Yeah, pet."

In an effort to draw his lover closer Xander moved higher up on the mattress. Spike silently declined the offer.

Moving away from their empty embrace, Xander sat up straight. "What's wrong?"

With a heavy sigh, Spike replied. "Its. its us."

"W. what about us?" Xander's bottom lip trembled.

"Look, don't take this personally but I think we should break it off." Spike let go of the brunette's hand, unaware he had been holding it until that moment.

"What? Why? When the hell did this happen?" Anger rising up in him, Xander wiped furiously at the tears that were emerging.

"I don't know. Gradually, I suppose. Maybe moving in together was too quick." Spike didn't dare to look Xander in the eye.

"You know why I moved in! I didn't have a fucking choice! What? You wanted me to stay at my parents? How the fuck could I do that after I came out? Did you forget how my father decided to voice his opinion?" Not receiving, or expecting, an answer, Xander continued. "He beat the shit out of me. You know that. You saw what happened."

The whispered reply came. "I know. I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" A short laugh escaped its way past Xander's lips. "You're fucking sorry? What was I? A quick fuck? Just a way to get your rocks off?" Xander rolled his eyes heavenward. "And I fell for it."

Alarmed, Spike grabbed Xander's arm. "No! You were never that!"

"Get the hell off me." Spike let go of Xander's arm. "Why the fuck should I believe you? That's sure as hell what it looks like. Explain to me how I wasn't another quick fuck, and now you're just throwing me out, now that you're done with me. Go on. Explain."

Spike stared at the mattress, suddenly finding the white sheets very fascinating.

Xander let the single tear roll down his cheek as he picked up his clothes.

*****
Part 2:

Not once. The phone next to his bed, in his parent's basement, hadn't rung once. Not that he wanted it to. No.

But his thoughts couldn't help drifting back to that night when his life had decided that he wasn't miserable enough. When Spike had left. But he couldn't help thinking about one particular part of that night. When Xander had first suggested that he was just a 'quick fuck', Spike had caught his arm with inhuman speed, and vehemently denied any such accusation. But then why hadn't he denied the same accusation a second time?

At least there's one thing going right, Xander thought. I haven't seen my father since I told him I'm gay. He hasn't come home at all. Mom might care if she gave a shit about him. Divorce had been on the cards for years now. Guess he finally left.

But, honestly Xander couldn't give a fuck about his father. Trying to keep his mind off of Spike, Xander decided to get out of the basement and..just so anything that doesn't mean staying here.

When Xander walked out of the back door, he didn't hear the phone ringing.

*****
tbc