Sammy didn’t hang around. He flew out of the door and raced up the stairs. Ryan bit his lip, trying

not to smile. Ginger went to pick up the phone again, then slammed it back down, muttering to

himself. Ryan watched him closely, noting the tension in his shoulders had increased tenfold.

It wasn’t difficult to notice, as his shoulders were usually on display. Ginger’s hair was swept to

one side, and he wore one of his classic t-shirt choices: an old band tee, with the sleeves and collar

lopped off. As always, one bit of material had slipped down Ginger’s arm, revealing the tattoo on his

right shoulder; a blue line sketch of a mermaid with a spear, sitting upon a red heart.

Breathing in, Ryan grabbed a clean glass from the shelf. He held it under the bottle of Jack

Daniel’s, pressing it to the plunger. One shot, then he picked up the mixer tap and pressed C, for cola.

He filled the glass.

JD and Coke, in a tall glass with no ice, because he liked to taste the whiskey. Ryan knew it off by

heart. He braved the three steps into the back bar, where Ginger was still glowering down at the phone.

Ryan reached out with his free hand and gently touched Ginger’s arm.

“Hey.”

Ginger looked at the drink, then at Ryan. “You read my mind.” He smiled briefly, accepting the

drink. Ryan watched him demolish half the drink in one swift gulp.

“Um...are you okay?”

Ginger set the glass down. When he didn’t answer, Ryan moved in closer. He put his hand over the

note pad with the angry looking scribbles Ginger had jotted down. “Why don’t you take a break? Let

me chase those idiots about the plumbing.”

“It’s not that.”

“So what’s up?”

“There’s just...everything feels...” He didn’t finish. The glare in his eyes intensified as he scowled

at the telephone.

“What?” Ryan urged gently.

Ginger blinked, then glanced at him, confused, like he’d only just realised Ryan was there. He

seemed mildly surprised at how close Ryan was, and took a step back. The gesture was minute, maybe

not even a conscious effort, but Ryan was hurt all the same.

“What’s bugging you?” he asked, more direct than he meant to be.

Ginger’s blonde eyebrows drew together. He didn’t look at Ryan as he said, “I don’t like things I

can’t fix.”

“Like what?”

“People, I guess.”

“People?”

Ryan was surprised. His heart started beating expectantly. He was about to ask another question,

when Ginger said, “I don’t think Fizz should be spending so much time with Ash.”

Oh, Ryan thought. His hopes sank, but he asked anyway, “Why not?”

“Look, I know Ash is your friend, but what’s going to happen when he gets bored? I don’t think

Fizz can handle that kind of setback.”

Ryan felt irritation flare through him. “Dan, isn’t that a bit pessimistic? You’re writing them off

before they’ve even started.”

Ginger smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Don’t get me wrong, Ash is a good kid. He’s also very

charming, and I haven’t seen him settle with anyone.”

“Point taken,” Ryan said. “But I know Ash better than you, and I think, this time, he has good

intentions.”

Ginger shrugged again, slipping his t-shirt back into place as he did so. “I just –” He huffed out a

breath. “It’s not that I mind Fizz being here, I want him to have some sort of life. God knows he needs

it, after living with his parents...but I never know if I’m doing the right thing for him, you know? I

haven’t got the patience for this sort of stuff.”

Ryan so badly wanted to make Ginger feel better. His natural instinct was to wrap both his arms

around him, and squeeze him tight. But he couldn’t do that. He knew could only get away with

hugging if they were both really, really drunk.

Ryan tried to focus. “It’s a tricky situation,” he said carefully. “I think you’re dealing with it just

fine. You’re bound to worry. It’s great that you do. Fizz is really lucky to have you.”

Ginger snorted. “Yeah, lucky him. I feel like a bully just asking him to eat, or interact with people.

I don’t know if any of it’s even helping him.”

“I’m sure it is,” Ryan said. “He’s getting on so well, and it’s only been just over a month. If you

compare him to how he was when he first arrived. And have you seen him with Ash? Seen them

talking, I mean?”

“Yep,” Ginger said tightly.

“Well, he seems to like spending time with Ash. And I’ve never seen Ash act like this before, so

maybe it’s good for both of them. Ash should be a good listener, after all. You know what he studies at

Uni?”

“I thought it was drama?”

“It’s drama therapy. His little niece is slightly autistic. She’s the one who made Ash want to study

drama therapy, because he wants to be a counsellor.”

“Drama for counselling?” Ginger frowned in confusion. “You’ve lost me.”

“There’s lots of different types of therapy,” Ryan said. “You’ll have to ask Ash about it, he only

told me the basics. They’ve realised now that there’s different methods of getting through to people

who can’t communicate in normal ways. They do it through physical movement, and interaction,

rather than the old method of, like, lie on a couch and tell me your problems.”

“Physical movement?”

“Yeah.”

“Like, what?”

“Dancing, I guess. Drama, singing. I dunno, Ash can explain it better. It makes more sense when he

does.”

“So, what? They do a little sing-song, and everything’s all right?”

Ryan smirked. “You know, you’re quite witty when you’re cranky, Dan.”

That finally earned him a smile.

“Maybe Ash could tell you more about it?” Ryan suggested.

“Sounds to me like he’s using Fizz like some kind of experiment.”

“Daniel, you know that’s not true.”

“Do I?” Ginger looked at him.

Ryan held his gaze, feeling slightly annoyed on Ash’s behalf. “How could you even think that?”

“I don’t know what to think,” Ginger said, then downed the rest of his drink. “All I know is that Ash

is a bit of a player. Sorry, I know he’s your friend, but it’s true. And Fizz is vulnerable.”

“What, and people can’t change? Ash hasn’t done anything wrong. All they’re doing is hanging out,

enjoying each other’s company.”

“Hn.” Ginger snorted, fiddling with his empty glass.

“That’s all they’re doing,” Ryan repeated. “Two adults enjoying each other’s company.”

“All right, so say they get on...”

“Which they are.”

“Yeah, all right,” Ginger muttered. “So, what happens when it all falls apart? What then? Fizz

won’t know what to do with himself.”

“I think you’re underestimating them. And why worry about something before it happens?”

“Because we know what will happen.”

“Not for certain. I think you should give them a chance.”

“I am,” Ginger replied. “What do you think I’m doing down here, while they’re upstairs doing God

knows what?”

“I’m just saying there’s no point in worrying for the sake of worrying.”

Ginger shook his head. “I can’t bear the waiting. It’ll all go wrong soon.”

Ryan jabbed him in the ribs, making the other man jump. “Stop jinxing it,” he said shortly. “I’m

telling you, it’ll be fine.”

“Well, I wish I shared your optimism.”

“Even if it doesn’t work out in the long run, they’re having a good time, right? They’re up there,

right now, enjoying their time together.” Ryan heard the tremor in his own voice, heard the plea there.

“Isn’t that what people do? What we’re supposed to do?”

Ginger almost looked at him, then seemed to change his mind. He bolted from the spot.

“Daniel?” Ryan followed him out to the stairwell. “Daniel! Where are you going?”

Ginger paused on the first step.