Jack

I walked away from the young guitar player, his tousled caramel brown hair and shocked look when I gave him the twenty still etched into my mind’s eye. I put my hand in my pocket and walked down the familiar path leading out of the park. I emerged on the main street, the traffic moving slowly in the after-work rush, and people bustling everywhere, their voices a faint chatter of background noise.

A few cafes dotted the road, in between some of the more expensive boutiques. It was obvious just by looking at the store fronts that the area was quite well to do. I sighed and walked past, seeing quite a few of my father’s associates gathered around tables in the restaurants, champagne in their hands. I moved on quickly, hoping no one would notice me. A few streets away from the wealthier part of society were the more well-known shops. No strange Italian names ready to twist your tongue into a gigantic knot, no short, snappy yet boring restaurant names such as “The Brook” that had no thought put into it whatsoever. I walked into Gloria Jeans, grabbing a plain coffee – anything to delay my trip back home. A few minutes later and it was ready, the barista’s number written on the side of the cup and an apple-cinnamon muffin in my hand. I walked out and continued on my journey home, sipping the coffee slowly, trying to not burn my tongue.

- - -

I walked through the gate, looking at the perfectly manicured lawn and hedges bordering the property. A few roses were planted in neat boxes and there were no fairy lights strung around the place. Everything was neat and tidy, there wasn't even a leaf lying discarded on the pristine, bright green grass. I snorted. Unlike my family.

I put the rubbish in the bin – dusting off a few crumbs left from my late snack – before going into the double storey house.

When first entering the Barakat household, a large cavernous entry awaits you, with a few side tables pushed against walls and expensive vases of roses placed on delicate lacework taking up most of the table space. There is two staircases either side of the door, leading to the bedrooms. It’s a very neutral space, with light furnishings and off white walls. There were a few muted artworks on the walls, but nothing too eye catching.

I walk through the entrance to the dining and living rooms, the kitchen off to the side. There’s nothing to impressive about these rooms either. We don’t have many visitors as my father decides to hold meetings and social functions at his office rather than let his work come home. My mother often attends these functions with him. What I do notice though is that May, my older sister, is sitting at the table, idly scrolling on her laptop. I say hello, before walking over and kissing her cheek.

‘Jack,’ she greets me, waving her hand at the kitchen, ‘Mum left a quick dinner in there for you. You’re late. Again.’

It was no surprise for me to be home at eight, some might even say it was early. I rarely showed up for our family dinner, which happened at seven on the dot. I heated up the meal Mum had left for me, watching it rotate in the microwave. It beeped and I retrieved it before the machine decided to harass me with its piercing sound again.

‘What are you doing?’ I ask, sitting opposite her at the table, a fork and the Chinese food in front of me. I dig into the spicy noodles, dodging the menacing green vegetables they’ve thrown into the meal to fatally harm me.

‘Looking for a job,’ May answers, her tapping the only sound filling the room. ‘Do you know where there might be any openings?’

I raise an eyebrow at her. ‘Why would I know?’ She rolls her eyes at me and goes back to searching. I finish my meal in relative silence, neither of us speaking a word to each other. May looks up at me, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She pulls out a familiar looking device from her handbag.

‘So, who’s this “Alex” chick?’ She asks, smiling.

‘What?’ I say, looking up from the stray noodle I’ve been chasing around the container for the past few seconds.

‘She’s only been texting you for the past hour or so.’ May unlocks the phone, going straight to my messages.

I knew I should have put a lock on there.

‘“Hey Jack, it’s Alex!”’ She read, glancing up at me quickly. ‘“You gave me your number at the park, just checking if you remember.”’

‘I get it, May.’ I said, cutting her off. She smiled cheekily at me, locking the phone and placing it on the table in front of her.

‘I didn’t think you were into girls, Jackie.’ May observed. ‘She must be really special.’
‘That’s the thing, May, Alex isn’t a girl. He’s a guy.’

Ring… ring… ring

My phone’s shrill ringtone cut through the air like butter, putting an end to May’s teasing. Her eyes widened as she looked at the caller ID, lunging for the phone at the same time as I did.

‘May!’

Notes

c0l0urfultears
Title credit: Lullabies - All Time Low

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