Hold Me Like a Lover (1/3)
The boy was running once again, running as fast as his calloused feet would allow him to go.
He looked behind him, checking, then kept running forward; pushing with all the strength left in his frail body.
The air that he tried to grasp into his lungs seemed dry and helpless; he couldn't breathe even with its aid.
He felt a sick twisting in his stomach, and he came to a halt, clutching his chest as he heaved onto the pavement below.
And his mind sputtered with a million thoughts, prying themselves into his head all at once.
Why was this happening to him?
He wiped his mouth, then looked around, finding the streets empty, the moon shining over head; the only source of light in the dull nighttime.
He suddenly felt the weight of a hand resting gently onto his shoulder, causing his head to whip around and stare up at the boy with wide, fearful eyes.
He stood above him, his hand now rubbing circles into his shoulder comfortingly, as he continued to stare in shock.
“W-Who are you?” The golden haired boy managed to squeak out, huffing out breaths that left a white mist over the cold air.
The boy standing above him kneeled down so he was on eye level with him. "The more important question is ‘who are you?’”
“I-I'm A-Alex.” He muttered, wide eyes glinting with tears.
“Jack.” The taller of the two said, stretching out his hand for Alex to shake.
Alex stared at it, not sure of what to do. He wasn't used to contact like that. Jack dropped his hand after a few moments of awkward silence.
"Are you okay?" He asked, his voice comforting Alex in his most fragile state.
Alex bit his cracked lip gently, shaking his head slightly; almost too slightly for Jack to even catch the action.
“What's wrong?”
"N-nothing." The boy whispered as a strong gust of wind blew past, and he shivered violently. Only then did Jack look down at what the strange boy, who sat curled in a ball, was wearing.
His clothes were tattered, nothing short of rags hardly thin enough to be able to keep out the cold. Jack frowned, eyes filling with sympathy as he studied to boy. “Why are you-- why are you so out of breath, if you don't mind me asking? Were you running from something?”
"N-no." He mumbled, avoiding Jack's strong gaze. Jack lifted his chin, their eyes meeting. He could see the hurt, the pain, the absolute terror.
"You're lying." He stated, as a fact not a question.
Alex's heart dropped as the stranger before him spoke the simple words that held nothing but the truth.
“Why are you lying to me?” He asked, looking at Alex with friendly eyes. “You can tell me, you know. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
"B-but, I don't k-know you." He said, his voice wavering.
"That doesn't mean I won't listen." Jack whispered, stroking Alex's cheek. How could such a beautiful boy hold so much sadness?
Alex looked into the stranger’s eyes which held an emotion that was so unfamiliar to Alex, he almost couldn't detect it; care. The dark golden eyed boy bit his lip and nodded, gaze directing to the ground as he spoke. “Okay. I'll tell you.”
Jack grinned warmly and Alex smiled slightly. It was only a small curving of his lips, but it was there nonetheless and it made Jack happy. Alex shivered again, his teeth chattering quietly in the silence of the street. "Let's get you somewhere warm first."
***
Jack set the warm drink he had ordered in front of Alex, slipping in to his own seat and watching as the boy took a sip of the frothy liquid.
“T-Thank you.” He said, almost inaudibly over the voices that could be heard in the coffee shop.
“Don't mention it,” Jack said, smiling at the boy in front of him. “Now let me know when you're ready to talk, okay?”
Alex nodded, taking another sip and savoring the warmth coursing through his body. Jack watched the boy, desperate for some answers. There were so many questions running through his head. Eventually he couldn't hold it in. "Where do you live?" He asked. Alex looked up from his drink, startled.
He looked into Jack's eyes for a few seconds before directing his gaze towards the floor, “I uh-- I-I d-don't have a place to l-live.”
Jack's eyes widened, biting his lip as the broken boy in front of him sighed.
“I'm so sorry.”
Alex looked back up at Jack, "It's not your fault." He took another sip of the hot drink.
"Whose fault is it?" He knew he was asking too many questions before the other was ready, but he was so curious.
Alex gripped the cup, his fingers turning white from the pressure he was applying. "My mom's."
Jack raised an eyebrow at the boy, studying his face for any kind of answer he could possibly make out, “Your mom's?” He asked, “Did she kick you out?”
Alex tensed at the words, tracing the lid of his drink before nodding, “Yeah.”
“If you don't mind me asking,” Jack started, lifting his elbow onto the table and resting his head on his hand, “Why?”
"I-uh. I-I'm not sure. She, she chased me out." He whispered, tears filling his eyes.
Jack scrunched up his eyebrows. "Well, did you do something before that? Maybe it made her mad?"
Alex sighed. "Yeah."
“And what would that be? What did you do?” Jack asked, inquistively looking at the boy.
Alex nervously played with his hands in his lap, flustering slightly under Jack's gaze. “I-I t-told her I was um-“ He started, blushing a deep shade of pink as he spoke. “I told her I was g-gay.”
"She kicked you out because you were gay?!" Jack stared in shock. "That's horrible."
Alex chuckled darkly. "It is, but she doesn't seem to care."
"But that's so harsh. You can't help it!" Jack stated.
"She's drunk; she does lots of stuff when she's drunk."
Jack folded his hands onto the table, looking up at Alex as he spoke. “D-Does she get drunk a lot?”
Alex nodded softly, taking another sip of his drink. “Ever since my dad died.”
Jack pouted, sympathy washing over his being. “I'm so sorry.” He said, causing Alex to offer a sad smile.
“B-But why were you running?”
"S-she chased me out; she tried to throw a bottle at me. Then, there was a k-knife." Alex broke down, tears washing over his face.
"Alex, Alex, don't cry, please."
"I-I don't want to go h-home." He sobbed, rubbing at his eyes, drink long forgotten as it sat on the table, losing heat.
“So don't.” Jack stated simply, causing Alex to look up at him through tear filled eyes.
“W-What do you m-mean?” He choked out, sniffling from time to time.
“Stay with me. I mean, I don't exactly have the nicest house out there but it's big enough for you to stay for a while.”
Alex's eyes widened and he shook his head, declining the offer politely. “I-I couldn't impose like that. I-I don't even k-know you well enough.”
Jack gave the boy a reassuring smile, “Well I can assure you that I’m not going to hurt you. You're welcome to stay at my house for as long as you'd like.”
"B-but your family... And I'm gay, surely that disgusts you or something." Alex sniffled quietly, thinking about what awaited for him at home. Maybe his mother would hit him just as he walked in or maybe she would be passed out, drowning in her guilt and hate for her son. Perhaps she would kill him once and for all. Alex shivered, but it wasn't from the cold.
“It's just me; it would just be me and you. Alex, I'm not trying to force you but I just want you to be safe and if you went back to your house I would be worrying all night.”
Alex's heart started to flutter at the strangers words. No one ever worried over him, he wasn't good enough to stress over.
“Y-You would?”
"Of course I would!" Jack exclaimed. Alex's eyes filled with hope. "I know I just met you, but the fact that you opened up to me, I found it sweet."
Alex blushed and Jack felt happy that he could make the broken boy, who had just an hour earlier, been crouched on the cold cement, throwing up, feel something other than sadness.
"I'm hardly anything to care about." Alex whispered, fingers playing with a loose thread on his shirt.
Jack shook his head. "That's bullshit Alex."
“N-No, really.” Alex assured him, “There's nothing special about me, there never will be.”
Jack frowned, wondering to himself how someone so beautiful could have such little confidence. “You seem pretty damn special to me. I mean you're so cute and you seem like a really nice guy, I would love to get to know you.”
Alex's jaw dropped. Really dropped; so the whole cafe probably had a good view of his tonsils. Jack just watched with amusement.
"Y-you don't mean that!" Alex said.
"Yes. I do Lex."
"No, no, no stop lying to me! Was this your plan? To get the idiot to think someone actually cares about him for once? It won't work. It's won't!" The golden-haired boy yelled as he slammed his fists on the table.
“Alex, Alex please calm down.” Jack said in a calm voice, reaching across the table to fold his hand over the boys fist. Alex froze, looking down at Jack's warm hand and ignoring the curious eyes looking in their direction.
“You're not an idiot and this wasn't some plan. I'm telling the truth, Alex whether you believe it or not. Please come home with me tonight?”
Alex unclenched his fists, letting his hand rest on the table, Jack's hand still on top of his. Jack flipped their hands over, and intertwined their fingers. Alex looked at their fingers, trying to ignore how right they felt together, how perfectly they fit. He couldn't. He let go of Jack's hand, then stood up and ran outside, wrapping his arms around himself as the cold winter air hit him.
TELL US WHAT YOU THOUGHT :---)