"Noooo," a low groan as the warmth of his friend peeled away and left him cold. It wrapped around him and prickled gooseflesh along long arms as Zach curled into himself. He hated when Alois left him, teeth chattering -- though he really was just being dramatic at that point -- as he shivered in their small, forlorn little fort. There was no love lost with the omega it seemed, the boy already up and heading towards the kitchen, grumping at the alpha to raise from the dead. Zachary wanted to do anything but that, groaning once more. The need to be by his friends side at all times drove him out of bed as always, sluggish steps dragging towards the kitchen. "It's so early Lo," Zach whined, voice low and rough from his less than happy day. Crying had taken a lot out of him, shoulders slumped as fatigue still clung to every inch of him. The last thing he wanted was to be awake, arms looping around the omega's middle, face tucking into the curve of Alois's neck to block the bright fluorescent lights of his kitchen. They were starting to worsen his headache and the topic of his ex was the last thing that he wanted to speak about, let alone think.<br/><br/>Of course Alois would bring it up, only doing what a good friend would. He was supporting him, being open and honest and taking care of the less than logical boy that called himself an alpha. The soft clink of glass on a granite countertop had Zach flinching, eyes peeking open to peer at it as Alois peeled away to raid his refrigerator. "Yeah...I know," Zach rasped, grasping the glass in his hand to take a long, much needed, sip. The water was cool on his raw throat, puffy eyes closing in bliss as he took several gulps before setting it down. Arms folded, weight bearing on his forearms as Zach hung his head. He felt the urge to cry welling inside of him again, like a bubbling sensation that rose from his gut to his chest. It clogged his throat and contorted his face as he took in a rattling breath. He didn't want to do this, not now, not with Alois here but it<i>hurt</i>. It hurt so much, like his heart had been punched through and his breath stolen no matter how many of them he took.<br/><br/>"I just....I don't get it Lois," Zach choked out, sniffling as he clapped a hand over his face to scrub away the tears that begged to fall. It was surprising he had anymore to give after yesterday. It had felt as if he'd cried himself several rivers and yet there was still more to give. This was the worst part of relationships, when they didn't work out and one was left a shattered ghost of who they'd been before. Zach felt like a shell of himself, fingers brushing back into his mess of brown hair, curling tight as he tugged with a hard trembling sigh. "I don't....I gave him everything. Everything! And he...god I don't even know how many times," Zach vented, slumping against the counter. He really wished his water was vodka right now. "I don't even<i>want</i>to know how many times," He whispered with a soft laugh devoid of any humor. It was dry, dark and spiteful. He was broken and hurt and<i>angry</i>. "And you know what's worse? He blamed<i>you</i>. He blamed our friendship for it, like us being close forced him into bed with those oth-...." The word broke off with a trembling breath. He couldn't say it....couldn't verbalize what his ex had done to him.<br/><br/>"I thought he....I lo-..." again the words broke into a shaking breath as those bubbling emotions threatened to spill over. "I....I loved him," a broken whisper of a word that hurt to speak. It was as if it was wrapped in barbed wire the way it scratched up his insides. It tore through his throat with the softest of utterances. It was a lie, that much was clear now in the aftermath of this mess. It had all just been a lie and Zachary had fallen for it without question, without anyone there to catch him.