Daniel was in his room with a huge lump in his throat. Not that he was particularly interested in pleasing Alex -- or perhaps yes, a little, but that wasn’t the point -- he just couldn’t understand what the guy had against him. He took a deep breath before lifting his bag and putting it on the bed, then he opened the closet.

Maybe he should find another place to stay. Yes, it was a wise decision. Better to leave this place before being hurt.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Daniel, thinking that it could only be Kevin or Gabriel, replied without turning.

“Come in,” he muttered, pulling off the pants from the hanger.

“What ... what are you doing?”

Daniel’s head jerked up quickly when he heard that voice because he didn’t expect to see Alex there, standing in the doorway. His green eyes were wide and his hand still on the doorknob, his lips parted, clearly surprised. Daniel nervously brushed his hair from his forehead and then returned to focus on the clothes scattered on the bed.

“I’m leaving, it’s the best solution for everyone,” he replied quietly.

Alex was silent for a moment and then he just said, “No.”

Daniel looked at him. Alex had his hands in his pockets and his head sunken between his shoulders. Daniel blinked.

“No?” he asked opening the suitcase. “Why?”

“Because, well, you can’t leave like this, okay?”

“Sure I can. You know, Alex, even if something tells me that you’re not as bad as you seem to be, I won’t stay here to be insulted at every chance. I know you helped me yesterday and I’m really grateful, but that doesn’t mean that I’ll stay here to tolerate being teased for what I am. I’m sorry.”

“No.”

“Again? Can’t you say anything else than no?”

“No. Yes! It’s just ... shit! I’m sorry, okay?”

Daniel noticed that Alex’s cheeks were flushed, and that he kept shifting his weight from foot to foot.

“You ... are sorry?”

“Yes, I’m sorry. I know what I said but it came out wrong. Kevin said that it was shit and he’s right. I didn’t want to offend or insult the rainbow ... or the gay world ... or you ... ” he said, in a whisper.

This time Daniel felt that there was nothing offensive in his words, despite the fact that he kept on insisting on that rainbow.

“I meant that not everyone is lucky, that’s it. And since you do like men, it came out like that- the rainbow thing -- but I didn’t want to offend anyone.”

Daniel’s jaw fell open. Alex had never said so many words all at once, and certainly Daniel would never have expected such an explicit apology.

“Oh,” he whispered without knowing what to say. For a moment he thought back about what Alex had said earlier when they mentioned love:not everyone is lucky ... but Alex seemed happy with Kate, didn’t he?

Daniel realized that his roommate was looking at him and that, after that enormous effort, perhaps he was expecting something more than just an ‘oh’.

“Hmm, okay.” Daniel nervously ran a hand through his hair. “I guess I’ll stay, then.”

“Okay. Good.” Alex nodded with a hint of a smile. “‘Night, then.”

“‘Night, Alex.”