If Alex was a color, he would be shiny. Granted, shiny isn't much of a color but that's what he would be. He would glitter and shone and catch everyone's eye, just as he does now.

In comparison, if Charlie was a color, he would be blue. Plain, perhaps, but just as beautiful as shiny if not as vivacious or gaudy about it.

Apart, they aren't much to write home about. An odd boy without much to his name in checkered trousers. A shy boy who sat quietly by himself.

But together, they are something extraordinary.

Alex is calmer around Charlie, less likely to drop a good idea for bunjee-jumping-let's-open-a-restaurant-no-trousers-Tuesday-hey-a-hairless-cat!, makes his best music around the boy who makes him, allows him to calm down and just think.

Charlie is more open around Alex. It's hard to sink into a crowd and go unnoticed when there is someone who genuinely wants to hear what you have to say. He speaks up finally and is shocked when the things he says listened to.

They're housemates, friends and more importantly, brothers.

They are the best of one another, fitting together like a puzzle. Shiny, gaudy Alex and sweet, blue Charlie.

Even of they aren't always like that.

Someteyes Alex panicks, wonders where he begins and of what he is doing is right. Charlie drags him out of it, makes him laugh, grins and beseems everything Alex needs him to be.

They are all they'll ever need. Until everything changes.

Charlie gets very quiet, almost never leaves his room and when Alex goes to shake him out of it, there is someone who has already beat him to it.

A girl.

She is everything Charlie is and everything Alex ever needed to be. They laugh together and make videos and soon it isn't AlexandCharlie but CharlieandBryarly.

He isn't bitter though, not really. She makes Charlie laugh and that's all Alex ever wanted. They still spend time together, still sing and play video games and drink tea and live together.

They go skydiving together.

It's brilliant and terrifying and when Alex lands, he feels like a small part of him, a piece he won't miss, has flown off to be never seen again. And after he is done being sick and is able to catch Charlie's eye, he grins. His friend is happy and talking and put of his shell.

They don't hug.

They walk side by side and Alex catches Charlie with his hip, winks at him and Charlie winks back.

They walk out side by side.