No matter how much N avoided him, Ravi didn't seem to change. At least not until yesterday. He'd come home last night earlier than N had expected. A first N had felt relieved. But the look on Ravi's face had terrified him. His dark eyes had glittered with unmistakable excitement and fear. Where did Ravi go at night? Who was there with him? N wanted to pull his hair out at the thought of it.

Leo abruptly entered their room, headphones in ears, not paying attention.

"Leo, you scared me!" N complained, placing a hand over his rapidly beating heart. Leo didn't respond as he flopped onto his futon. N was used to silence with his stoic roommate but sometimes he would try to get a reaction from the quiet boy by teasing him. Though whenever N would stick to his side, Leo would get annoyed. N sighed, mind roaming back to Ravi's date. Any distraction from thoughts of Ravi would be welcomed right about now.

N stood up from his futon. He wore fitted jeans and a fashionable graphic T-shirt Ken had bought him. Feeling uncomfortable in the tight clothes, he decided to change into some sweats. He peeled off his T-shirt with a sigh of relief. After becoming an idol N had worn things that even he considered too tight. He began ing his jeans, unaware that Leo's eyes were on him.

"Are you worried about Ravi?" came Leo's soft voice as he pulled out his headphones. He startled N a bit. Though they'd know each other for years, N still wasn't very used to the sound of his voice. He decided to play dumb.

"What do you mean?"

"Last night... you looked scared."

N couldn't stop the dread from rising up his throat. Why did Leo care anyway? He coughed a bit. "Leo~ah, seriously. What would I be scared of?"

That tone had always irritated Leo. How could N pretend that nothing was wrong when it was so obvious? He may have been able to hide his troubles from the oblivious— like Hyuk— but Leo was could see through him. N looked hurt, broken even. And Ravi seemed to be the cause. It was annoying knowing that this could hurt their group. When Leo didn't reply N laughed awkwardly.

"I'm really okay," he said abnormally quietly. "I just haven't been feeling well."

Leo decided he had heard enough and grabbed N's arm, pulling him onto his futon. N gasped in surprise. Leo initiating any kind of physical contact was rare. And yet there they were, inches apart on the blankets. There were no words, only Leo's intense eyes boring into N's soul. He was beyond uncomfortable and wished he had put on a shirt. N wasn't used to other people touching his bare skin.

"W-What?"

"I don't believe you," Leo muttered. "Will this effect the group?"

"I don't want it to. That's why I haven't said anything. Just... it's okay." N felt odd confiding in Leo. He was so used to Ravi being by his side. Even if it was just as friends... N wanted so badly to be someone special to Ravi. He longed to know what it would feel like to be held in his arms. Though he knew Leo hated being touched, N leaned his head on his shoulder. He needed support so that he wouldn't start crying.

xxx

It was Hongbin that woke Ravi from his sleep this time, using a heavy hand to smack him in the face. Ravi jerked from the blankets, arms flailing. Why did it seem that the only way for s to wake him was to use abuse? He wasn't that heavy a sleeper, was he? Ravi managed to find Hongbin in the dim light, staring through swollen eyes. The light grew brighter as he woke.

"Did you decide on whether or not you'll be here for N hyung's birthday? We've gotta start planning," Hongbin said in a hushed tone. Ravi tried to stop himself from groaning but failed.

"I won't be here, Hongbin."

Hongbin blanched, not bothering to hide the shock that invaded his expression. He thought that Ravi would be there no matter what. Not too long ago he and N had seemed like best friends.

"Just... tell him I said 'sorry'," Ravi muttered, keeping his eyes down. He knew he was disappointing Hongbin (and N for that matter), but what else could he say? Things were different now. There was a definite feeling of him and N growing apart. The room was silent for a few minutes and Ravi wondered if he'd just lost another friend.

Hongbin sounded angry when he finally spoke. "Why aren't you coming?"

"I have somewhere else I need to be."

"What could be more important than this?!" Hongbin was practically shouting. It was so odd to see his face twisted with irritation. Ravi was used to seeing his charming dimpled smile, not this. "This is our leaders birthday! Don't you realize how much we've all been through together? You're never even around anymore. It's like your throwing our friendship away! Where do you even go—?"

"Hey," Ravi interrupted him. How could Ravi have let things get this out of hand. He had only been trying to escape the dorm for a while, not abandon his best friends. Even Ravi didn't know why he suffocated in their dorm. It wasn't as though the people around him were bothersome, right? Ravi pulled Hongbin into a hug even though he could feel the angry boy was resistant. "I know I haven't been a good friend lately. And I'm really sorry. It's just that... Well I..."

"What?"

"I got a girlfriend."

Hongbin pulled back in bewildered surprise. The VIXX members had pretty much decided that dating would be too difficult as idols. Though they loved their fans, they knew how crazy jealous they could get. The six boys had practically taken an oath. But rather than being angry with his friend, Hongbin felt a certain curiosity. After all, he had never dated anyone before. The whole idea of it was exotic to him.

"Wait, what? Who?"

Ravi hesitated. "Nicole. Kara's Nicole." Again the room was quiet. There was nothing but the sound of silent awe and Ravi's heavy breathing. Hongbin seemed to connect the pieces.

"So that's why you've been so busy lately... But I still don't understand why you can't just reschedule your plans for another day."

I don't understand that either. Ravi dreaded seeing N's face after last night. He still couldn't believe how N had avoided his eyes. He felt that if he were to look into those sad dark eyes, N would break into pieces. He probably doesn't even want a birthday party, Ravi thought dismally. I bet he dreads seeing me everyday at practice. What happened between them? That was the only question that seemed truly important to Ravi.

"Please, let's not talk about it anymore. I promise I have a really good reason not to be here, I just can't put it into the right words." Ravi said. It was clear that Hongbin had a million things he wanted to say to that. But instead he quietly nodded. The look on his face was pitiful. "Hey, cheer up. Let's go get some ice cream." That seemed to cheer him up.

"Only if you pay," Hongbin grinned playfully. Ravi rolled his eyes but complied. He glanced over at his desk where he usually put his wallet and noticed it was missing.

"Where's my wallet?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. While you were asleep Leo borrowed some money." That seemed abnormal. Leo always paied for things himself, whether or not someone offered to treat him. "Apparently Ken kept bothering him for cash and he said 'better your wallet then his'."

"Ugh, seriously?" Ravi groaned, lazily pulling himself to his feet. "So it's in Leo's room?" Hongbin only chuckled and nodded. Though Ravi was glad to see him smile, anxiety bubbled up inside his stomach. Leo shared a room with none other than their crazy leader. And just when I was thinking about never seeing him again... Ravi thought about asking Hongbin to get it for him, but he didn't want him to think him and N were fighting. It was better to downplay their problems.

Hongbin bounced out of their shared room with Ravi at his heel. "I'll wait outside. Hurry up," he said and rushed out the front door. Ravi took a few deep breaths to steady himself. It shouldn't be that hard to open a damn door. All he had to do was push it open, grab his wallet, then leave. It should be simple. But why wasn't it? Ravi stood in front of Leo's room until he heard footsteps coming from behind him.

"What're you standing there for?" Ken asked, rather loudly. Ravi tried shushing his obnoxious hyung but it was no use. "Move, Ravi, I need to get inside." He threw the door open, making a spectacular entrance. Inside the room was something Ravi never would have expected.

N, who was half , was curled into Leo's chest. Leo's arm was draped around the smaller boy's waist, his thumb rubbing circles on tanned skin. N's head rested comfortably on Leo's toned shoulder. The expression on his face was peculiar. Something between bliss and helpless sorrow. Both boys looked up, startled, when Ken walked into the room. Ravi couldn't move. He felt as though someone had shoved his quickly pulsing heart into his dry throat. He couldn't even manage to cough.

"What are you guys doing?" Ken quizzed, oddly sounding amused. Didn't he think it was strange that N was practically in Leo's arms? "I wanted to thank you for the money but..."

"Where's my wallet?" Ravi croaked, eyes still wide like a deer caught in headlights. N's head whipped in Ravi's directed. He pushed Leo away, trying uselessly to cover his bare chest with his arms. Ravi wanted to look at anything but N and his skin. When looking at Leo's blank expression irritated him, he settled for staring at the floor.

"It's on the cabinet," Leo replied softly. The sound of his voice was like nails on a chalkboard to Ravi. He resisted the urge to lash out on him. Quickly he swiped his wallet from the cabinet and turned back to the door.

"Don't take my money without asking me," he called over his shoulder before hurrying off to meet Hongbin.

xxx

N was mortified. He felt as though the whole room was spinning around him. How could it be that Ravi decided to walk into his room at that moment? Had fate played a trick of him? N was barely aware of Leo's light voice calling out to him. All he could do was stare at the closed door in horror. What did Ravi think of what he saw? What could he think? This situation was bad for N in several ways.

"N hyung? Are you okay?" It was Ken's voice that managed to break through N's trance. "What was that about? What were you guys doing?"

Ken might've been strange, but he was no idiot. It wasn't normal for two boys (especially if one was half ) to embrace like that. Not unless they were— Ken didn't want to jump to conclusions. But he watched as Leo's guilty eyes trailed to N. As if he decided he'd lost interest in the situation at hand, Leo rose from his futon and left the room. N managed a strangled sigh. Leo wasn't any kind of help.

"Hyung?" Ken called again, determined to get N's attention. He reluctantly looked at the younger boy, studying his expression. When he didn't see any judgment in Ken's smooth brown eyes, he relaxed.

"He was just comforting me," N said, surprising himself when his voice didn't shake. The steadiness of his voice seemed to raise Ken's suspicion.

"About what?"

N rose, looking for a distraction. He decided that now was probably a good time to find a shirt. "I've just been a little stressed." He pulled a soft oversized sweater over his head. "Leo noticed and wanted to help me. I was surprised too," he added when he noted Ken's expression of disbelief.

"And you were because..."

"I was in the middle of changing when he decided to have a therapy session." Even though what he said was true, N couldn't help but feel guilty. It was like he'd cheated on Ravi without ever having dated him in the first place. "I know it looked weird. Let's just... forget about it."

Ken nodded slowly, deciding to play along. "You could've told us you were feeling stressed. I feel a little left out."

"You guys usually don't seem interested in what I say," N retorted, surprising himself again. Though his fellow VIXX members did tend to ignore him, they were usually joking. A look of sadness passed Ken's face.

"I'm sorry hyung. I won't do that again, okay~?" Ken said, releasing a bucket of aegyo. They hugged and made up easily, considering they've never fought before. N knew how important s were to him. And he knew that he couldn't afford to screw up their friendship...

xxx

Ravi stormed out the front doors of the dorm, face flushed and angry. He still hadn't managed to control his expression after walking in on... whatever that was. Hongbin, who had been patiently waiting for him, regarded Ravi with surprise.

"Ravi, what's wrong?"

"Huh?" Ravi struggled with an answer. "Oh, nothing. Leo just took more money than I was expecting." Sadly, the dimpled boy was easily fooled. He chuckled and slung his arm around Ravi's shoulders.

"Let's go get some ice cream~!" he paraded. Ravi laughed along with him, trying to push thoughts of N far from his mind.

"Out of all the things you've said to me, that is by far the manliest."

Hongbin only laughed again as Ravi's phone began to ring. He answered it as they walked, gesturing for his friend to wait a minute. It was Nicole again, which didn't surprise him.

"Ravi~ah," she called when Ravi put the phone to his ear. "Are you free right now?"

"Not right now, going to get ice cream with Hongbin."

"Really?" She sounded slightly annoyed. "I wanted to know if you could hang out." The way she had said hang out made Ravi shiver. Her voice was thick with double meanings. Ravi wasn't sure if he was ready for that. He glanced at Hongbin, who was staring at him curiously, and shook his head.

"I can't. Not tonight at least. I've been going out a bit too much lately." Ravi could almost hear her pout.

"But we're still on for the 30^th, right?" she quizzed, a hint of worry coloring her sweet voice. Ravi couldn't help but wonder why she kept asking that. Nicole had even texted him earlier the same day to confirm their plans. He wasn't that unreliable.

"I'll be there," was all he said. He didn't want Hongbin to know what they were talking about. He didn't want to see the disappointment on his face again. 

A/N Hey, VIXX lovers~! That is a wrap on this chapter! Did you like it? I wonder if I should cut back on the drama since it's only the beginning... However, give me your thoughts! I'm now thinking about when to add in a little Hyukbin ;)

Thank you for reading~ mwa! Until next time!