Oswin narrowed his eyes, burrowing deeper inside his woolly jumper. Across the workshop, Selander stood with the dancer, what was his name? Oh yes. Oswin's lip curled. Masahiko.

With his perfect posture and wavy locks, he looked like some kind of fallen angel. And it didn't help that his cheekbones were as sharp as a blade and his eyes an alluring shade of hazel - Selander's type as much as alchemy.

But Oswin knew that appearances couldn't be deceiving. In fact, he'd heard rumours about this boy and none of them painted him in a particularly selfless light. And from what Oswin had been told, Masahiko was downright self-serving. And now, worryingly enough, he was spending time with Selander.

But Oswin wasn't jealous of the time Masahiko had spent with Selander, no matter what anyone said. He was just being cautious. They didn't really know who Masahiko was, or what his motives were for joining their little band of criminals. And nor did they know how he was planning to help them.

But Oswin knew that if Masahiko kept brushing Selander's shoulder like that he was going to scream.

'Oswin!' Selander waved him over. 'Hiko's just had this amazing idea.'

Oswin fought to keep his face expressionless.

So Sel's calling him Hiko now? When did that happen?

Selander was grinning from ear to ear, pointy teeth on full display, as he waited for Oswin to join them. But his eyes kept flitting back to Masahiko.

Oswin bit his tongue. Hard.

'Listen to this,' Selander continued, completely oblivious to Oswin's internal turmoil, 'I think Hiko's just solved our problem.'

And he tried to listen, Oswin truly did. But he'd had a long day of running and hiding and he was just about sick of Masahiko's stupid smug face that he snapped.

'We don't need him!'

Selander's face dropped, his expression a terrible combination of shock and hurt that made Oswin's heart ache to know he'd caused it.

'Well I've got him,' Selander countered, looping his arm through Masahiko's, 'and last time I checked, I don't answer to you.'

Oswin was speechless. In the six years he'd known Selander he'd never raised his voice like that. Then Masahiko darkens their doorway and suddenly Selander shouts at Oswin?

He jutted his chin out, trying to look braver than he felt.

'Then maybe it's time you listened to me,' Oswin returned, crossing his arms over his chest, 'we don't need him.'

'Well, good luck getting past the guards without him,' Selander sneered.

'What's that supposed to mean?' Oswin scoffed.

Selander actually had the audacity to roll his eyes. 'Just that you're not exactly subtle.'

Masahiko chuckled softly.

Oswin's mouth opened, but no words came out.

How dare Selander say that! And in front of Masahiko!

Oswin felt his cheeks growing hot, but he would be damned before he let anyone see how close that barb had struck him.

He just had to look at the lovesick way Selander gazed at Masahiko and he knew, oh he knew his friend was lost.

'You two deserve each other,' he signed, not trusting himself to speak through the sob clawing its way out of his throat. Then he ran from the tunnel to find somewhere quiet to cry his heart out.