They say I'm like clay

I will erode away

- taken from my poetry book "A boy in this f***ing world".

The sun ached through the shutters, sprinkling into the bedroom like droplets of light. Shari's head rested gently on Justin's chest, her fingers gently tracing the muscle of his abdominals, causing his tiny invisible blonde hairs to turn up on his skin. He still remained in his slumber, breathing up and down lightly and giving an occasional sleepy grumble.

Shari hadn't been with a guy for a long time. Of course, she had had relationships, but as soon it got into the serious six month milestone, she would cut them out. For that meant they would have to really know her. And that was too much for Shari. But Justin already knew her. Justin understood her, and that somehow was enough.

For a while, Shari laid on his chest, staring at the streams of morning sunlight in the silence, basking in the peace. She had slept dreamlessly last night, for the first time in a long time, feeling as if she could actually relax in this moment in time.

Eventually, Shari slid out of the bed and pulled on her clothes, sliding through the bedroom door and descended the staircase.

She pulled on her jacket and gave herself a once-over in the mirror. Her red hair was frayed all over, big and bushy, still ruffled from sleeping. She shrugged.

As she placed her hand on the door handle, she heard a voice and almost screamed in fright.

"Leaving so soon?" Justin said from the staircase. He was wearing nothing but a pair of shorts.

"I, um, I can't live out of my savings account forever. I need to go job hunting, gotta pay my board somehow." Shari said quickly. She didn't fully lie, but she had already done the job hunting on her laptop.

"No breakfast?" Justin asked, raising a dark eyebrow in question.

Shari bit her lip. "No thanks... but coffee? Yes."

Justin flashed her a grin and sauntered into the kitchen, simultaneously stretching his arms into a morning stretch.

He fetched them up some coffee and he made some toast for himself. They sat at the table together.

"What made you come over here last night?" Justin asked, biting into a slice of toast.

Shari took that opportunity to take a sip of her coffee, constructing a reasonable reply in her head. "Erm, I thought it was pretty obvious."

"So what am I? A booty call?" Justin joked.

Shari let out a small laugh. "Look, you know my life is way too complicated for a relationship. I've got too much baggage. I've always told you that, Justin."

"Doesn't stop me from wanting you. It never has." He gave her a wink. "But, in all seriousness, you deserve to be happy."

Shari tensed up and placed her mug on the table. "I don't. Because when I'm happy, it gets taken away from me."

Justin sighed. "You need to let yourself try, even if it's not with me. I just hate to see you so broody all the time."

Shari got to her feet. "I'll see you around."

And she left him at the table with the toast and two cups full of coffee.

Scott Davenport felt horrendous. His head pounded and the painkillers hadn't yet kicked in. He dressed himself, his hair still wet from the shower and trudged into the kitchen.

"How's Gracie this morning?" He asked Gia, who was scrolling through her usual check up on the trending hashtags on Twitter.

"She's been fed. Her coma is still deep, but she seems calm. Her blood pressure is fine." Gia explained, not taking her eyes from the screen.

Scott grabbed a slice of toast and slid into the chair next to her. She almost winced as he placed a hand on her arm, jumping back a little.

"What's wrong?" He asked her, putting down the toast.

"Nothing." She retorted quickly.

He sighed. "Yes there is."

Gia finally looked at him and placed her iPhone on the kitchen table. "You were irresponsible last night. After everything that happened, Gracie's coma, Prue's death and funeral, you go and get wasted."

"I know, I'm sorry. I just needed some sort of release. I messed up." Scott confessed.

Gia slowly nodded, acknowledging his apology.

"Okay. I understand. I just need you, as an equal partner. We need to both be there to support each other." Gia said, her voice soothing and understanding.

He kissed her cheek and cupped her chin. "It won't happen again, I promise. The next time I'm drunk will be in celebration."

Gia smiled. "I can't wait."

She kissed his lips softly and left the room to go check on Gracie.

After eating, Scott got in the Volvo he shared with Gia and drove to the Rivers' household.

He knocked softly on the door, and when no answer came he knocked a little louder.

After a minute or so, he found the door was unlocked, so entered the house.

"Ryan?" Scott called out. The kitchen was abandoned, dirty cups and plates left on the side, which had attracted a few flies.

He entered the living room to see Ryan, sprawled on the floor, in his funeral suit, his eyes sore and staring blankly at the wall, which held a photo of him, Prue and Bennie. A photo of happier times.

"Ryan." Scott stated, unsure of what he actually was going to say. Ryan didn't acknowledge him, only continued to stare absently at the family photo.

"C'mon man, let me in." Scott said, taking a seat beside him, patting his shoulder in comfort.

"She's gone." Ryan said simply. His voice was scratchy and sore from crying. "S-she's gone, Scott."

Scott wasn't sure of what to say. He couldn't imagine losing Gia, so he found it hard to relate to Ryan. He did understand what it was like to lose those closest to him. And all he could do was be there for him.

"I know what it's like to lose someone." Scott said. "I am here, anytime for you. If you need me to take your mind off of it, if you need a shoulder to cry on, mine is free. I'm your best friend, Ryan. Don't be scared to reach out."

Ryan nodded absently. Scott could see his arms, they were shaking.

"Are you hungry?" Scott asked. Ryan shook his head.

"I'll make you something." Scott said, regardless, hoping that in any case Ryan was hungry, he'd eat.

Scott made him a ham sandwich and placed it beside him on the floor. He washed the dirty plates and mugs and tidied around the house. Ryan remained on the floor, drowning in his suffering.

"I'm one call away, okay?" Scott said. Ryan nodded slowly. "We're going to destroy the thing that killed Prue and all those kids."

"Thank you." He replied, his voice cracking.

And then Ryan began to cry, tears of heartbreak chasing each other down his pale cheeks. Scott put his arm round Ryan, and let his cling to his other arm. All he could do was understand. And that was okay.

Shari Davenport parked her truck outside of the boarding house and made her way towards the front doors.

She entered the lobby to find Lorelei Devereux sorting through paperwork, her glasses resting on the edge of her nose.

"Hey." Said Shari. "I have this month's boarding rent."

She handed Lorelei a check, from her savings account she had been left my her grandparents.

"Keep it." Lorelei said, not taking her eyes from the paper. "You've been through a lot. Take this month's free rent as a gift from me."

Shari placed the check on the pile of her papers. "Thank you, you've given me too much, but I refuse to not give you the money, you can choose whether to cash the cheque in or not."

Lorelei smiled. "You're a wonderful young woman, Shari Davenport. In this short time that we've known each other, it seems you're like the granddaughter I never had."

Shari threw herself forward and embraced Lorelei, missing the feel of a mother's caring touch. They parted and Shari gave her a smiling nod.

She then left the old woman with her paperwork and entered the kitchen, to fetch herself some coffee.

She opened the double doors and strode in, to see two people jump apart from each other.

Tobias and Logan stood, frozen, wide eyed and the essence of guilt struck on their face.