Please not that this continues from chapters 1 and 2 of this story. If you have not ready chapters 1 and 2, i reccommend that you read them before you read this. Thank you.

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First lesson of school was over and it was now break time. Tom was on his way to the 6th form block with his friends Paddy and (a different) Alex who were both in the same Media studies class as him. They were having a good time and joking about mocking their teachers as usual.
They arrived at the 6th form block and some of their friends were already there, including Alex. As Tom walked towards where Alex was sat, Alex quickly and sharply turned his head away from Tom and looked at the floor. Tom, who was now slightly ahead of his friends from media studies, took a seat right next to Alex. He looked at his friend, who was still looking at the floor.

“Are you ok?” he asked.

Alex remained quiet.

“Alex?” Tom said questioningly, “What’s up?”.

“I’m fine” replied Alex in a short, sharp tone.

“Are you sure, ‘cos if you need to talk, you know you can talk to me don’t you?” Tom said in a friendly tone of voice.

At this point Alex stood up and began to head for the exit.

“What’s up with Alex?” asked Paddy puzzled.

“Dunno” said Tom, “I’ll try and find out-wait here”.

Tom began to hurry towards the exit after his obviously hurting friend, who he cared for more than anyone else knew. He reached the exit and looked around. Alex was nowhere to be seen. He stepped outside and had another look. He wasn’t there. Tom was about to turn around and go back inside when he heard the sound of sobbing coming from around the corner. He walked to the far corner of the 6th form block and swung his head around the corner. There was Alex, leaning up against the wall crying his heart out. Tom had never seen him like this before and the sight of Alex this upset began to make Tom feel sad himself.

“Alex” he said as he approached his friend.

He walked up to Alex and placed his hand on his shoulder.

“What’s up mate?”

“Leave me alone” Alex sobbed as he grabbed hold of Tom’s arm and threw it away from himself.

“Come on Alex, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what the matter is”.

Alex said nothing and just continued to cry into his arm.

“Ok, you don’t have to tell me but I’m not gonna leave you until you tell me what it is” Tom demanded in a slightly firmer tone. Tom sat down on the floor next to Alex.

A short period of time passed and eventually Alex’s cry calmed into a gentle sulk. Alex turned around and sat down on the floor next to Tom. After some more time passed he removed his arm from his face and looked at Tom’s bright blue eyes. His eyes were red and swollen.

“So...?” Tom asked gently, “are you going to tell me or not?”

There was a pause as Alex searched Tom’s eyes for a sense of calmness. Tom was relaxed, he always was and Alex took comfort from this.

“I can’t take it any more Tom, I have to tell you”

“Tell me what?”

“I-I...I”

“Alex come on, don’t worry about it just say, whatever it is we can sort it out”.

Another pause. Tom looked deep into his friends big, beautiful brown eyes. He could see that he was struggling.

“Ok, take your time” Tom said patiently.

Immediately after Tom had finished speaking came a very short, quick and very unexpected response.

“I love you”.

A long pause.
Tom was in shock. He didn’t know what to think, he knew that he loved Alex too, but he had never contemplated this moment before. He was stuck. Not thinking of the effects, Tom stood up and slowly walked away.

*** End of chapter 3. (to be continued)