Unicorn Hair

It wasn’t easy, but I decided not to go to theater. Not that I wouldn’t want to, but I don’t want to have so many eyes on me. Arnold wasn’t happy about that, but he didn’t push me into it, that’s my choice and if I don’t want to go, then I won’t. Also, Jack seemed to look happier when I decided against going.

When we stumble back in to the House it’s starting to get dark and House actually looks beautiful from the outside; windows filled with warm lights and looking welcoming, but at the same time it looks dark and mysterious, which is kind of true. It is warm and welcoming to those who are welcomed, but to the other part it is dark.

I feel like I would be drunk, but I’m sure I’m not because we didn’t have anything like that. By the look in Jack’s eyes I can tell he feels pretty much the same. We’re drunk of each other’s company and of fresh air. We spent all day in our little paradise, the one with the little pond and beautiful flowers, but we can’t stay there forever, especially when our minds are set to some other things. Things, that shouldn’t been seen outside of the safe walls of the House, so that’s why we’re here again.

His hands on my hips and lips attached to my neck, he’s guiding me towards stairs, but it’s not going by plan. Firstly, because none of us is looking were we’re going. Secondly, because someone stops us.

“Alex, sorry to interrupt, but I think you should change your plans for a while.”

“What? Why?” my voice breaks as Jack bites down on my collarbone, ignoring that someone.

“There’s someone at bar waiting for you. He’s been waiting for almost three hours, said he won’t leave till he meets you.”

“You know I’m not working, you can tell him to leave,” I manage to push Jack’s lips away from my neck, “where’s Arnold anyway? Can’t he just throw him out?”

“I don’t know, he had some stuffs to do and he left. He was here when he came and told him to wait you at bar.”

“And he’s waiting?”

“Mhm, I told you, he said he’s not leaving till he meets you.”

“Jesus, why now! You’re coming or you’re going to room?” I look down at Jack, who’s hiding his beautiful face in my neck.

“I’m coming, not gonna let some guy to steal you from me.”

He grabs my hand and turns towards the bar, pulling me with him.

“Oh, he’s sitting at your usual table and his name is Tom.”

I stop dead in my tracks, ignoring Jack’s attempts to pull me closer to bar.

“Alex, come on!” he tugs on my arm, but I turn away from him.

“His name is what?”

“Tom. Is there some problems?”

“N-no, I guess… no there’s…”

“Alex? What’s wrong?” Jack squeezes my fingers. I slowly turn back to face him.

“My brother’s name was Tom, but…it can’t be…he couldn’t…no, he can’t…”

“Come on. Don’t worry, I’ll be right next to you, okay?” he looks at me like I would be some lost puppy. I nod my head and let him drag me to bar.

I see someone sitting at my table, but his face is turned to stage so I can’t make if it is really my brother. Some part of me prays to all possible gods for him to be my brother. The other parts dreads it. I mean, if it is really him, then why is he here? What does he wants and why now?

I let Jack to pull me to the table and when I’m finally able to see the man’s face I almost faint. Thanks to Jack, who’s been standing so close to me so I can lean against him unnoticed. Well, unnoticed by everyone else here. Jack’s grip on my hand tightens as he feels me pressing my back against him.

It feels like hours. We just stare at each other, not knowing what to say. I notice how his gaze travels down to look at my and Jack’s hands. I’m scared to not say more. Seriously, why is he here? What does he wants from me?

“Alex, I…” he starts, but I guess, he wasn’t ready for this either, even if he was the one to find me here.

“Maybe, we just sit down?” I hear Jack quietly say behind me. I nod my head, not sure if I understood what he said, but I follow his actions and sit down.

“So…I guess, you’re Alex’s brother?” Jack asks him.

“Yeah, I am,” it’s been so long since I heard him talk. We were so close, but now I’m scared to say something and it looks like he’s scared too.

“You want something to drink?” I turn to Jack and he looks at me surprised.

“No, I’m fine.”

“Well, I want,” and with that I jump up from my seat and almost run to get something to drink, leaving them both to stare at me.

“Give me your best,” I say to the bartender.

“And that would be?”

“I don’t know! Think of something!”

“Will do,” he takes some bottles out and mixes them together in my glass, “with ice or no?”

“With,” I say, not tearing my gaze away from the glass.

“Who is that? He’s been sitting here for hours.”

“No one,” I grab my glass the moment he places it in front of me and take few sips without thinking.

“Really? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Something like that. Could you make another one and bring it to me?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Thanks,” I take a deep breath and return to the table.

I sit down, placing the glass on table, not looking at them, but staring at ice cubes.

“Alex, I’m sorry. I should’ve said something. I was old enough to say something to father.”

“Don’t be. My life’s been amazing,” I mumble still looking at ice.

“Really? This place doesn’t look bad, but have your life really has been amazing?”

“You don’t believe me, huh?” I look up to him, meeting his eyes, looking deep into my own, “of course, not every day has been great, but I have everything I need so…yeah, my life’s amazing.”

“Well, good then,” he says, looking away from me and towards the stage, where some band is about to start their evening performance, “that old man said that you’re not working today, when I asked for you. At town I heard some things about this place. Are you one of those who…well, you know. You do that for money?”

“Yes. Father will get a heart attack when he hears about this,” I smirk, catching Tom’s gaze.

“He died few years ago.”

“Oh. Well, then he’ll probably turn around in his grave when he hears about this.”

“Alex!”

“What?! He threw me out of the house, it was nearly winter! I could’ve died out there! You want me to respect his death or something?”

He stays quiet, looking down at his hands.

“What about mom?” as much as I hated her the moment my father threw me out, I couldn’t blame her for that. She couldn’t say anything against my father so that wasn’t her fault. She begged him and that was the most I could’ve asked from her.

“She’s here,” he looks up at the bartender, who brings my second drink. I look up at him and realize I haven’t even finished my first one.

“What do you mean, she’s here?”

“I couldn’t leave her alone there and she’s sick. I don’t know what’s wrong, so we sold the house and left that place, after father’s death.”

“And why did you left, why couldn’t you just stay there and help her? You know it might’ve been better for her to stay there.”

“I know, but when I told her, that I’ve been thinking about finding you, she wanted to join me. I couldn’t say no to her.”

“So, you’ve been looking for me…like two years?”

“Mhm, something like that. This town is weird, by the way. The moment they heard your name and when they realized that it must be you, from this House, they stopped talking to me.”

“That is not weird, that they stopped talking to you. What is weird is that they know my name.”

“They know your name,” Jack’s quiet voice breaks into our conversation. I almost forget that he was here.

“What do you mean? How?”

“My father and the rest of these super homophobic guys know all of your names. I wouldn’t be surprised if they even know your age and birth place. They even know about this knew guy.”

“What? How? It’s not like we would put the posters around the town to tell them everything about us! How could he know this! This means he might know the names of our clients! He might know about you!”

“He doesn’t know about that. Arnold can keep it in a secret.”

“How can you be so sure about this?”

“I know my father. He would’ve already skinned me alive, if he had known about this.”

“Well, good to hear that,” I chuckle.

“Oh, so now we know what you dream about,” he laughs.

“Yeah. So, what about mom?" I turn my attention back to Tom,"you can find a doctor here, get some help, maybe.”

“We don’t have money for that. Most it we have spent looking for you and paying for some hotels to stay at.”

“I can give you some. I don’t need it all here.”

“Alex, no. I can’t take your money.”

“Why does no one wants my money? Because I get in inappropriate way or what?”

“What do you mean, no one wants your money?” Jack asks.

“That’s different story.”

“It’s not because of the way you earn it, I just can’t. It’s yours.”

“Well, then at least think about it. You know where to get it.”

“Okay, I’ll think about it.”

“Ask mom, she might be smarter than you,” I smile at him for the first time this night.

“I will. She might want to meet you.”

“Mhm, that would be nice.”

“I should get going,” he stood up.

“I’ll walk you to doors.”

“You think I won’t be able to find them?”

“You might find some wrong doors and believe me, you don’t want to see what’s happening there,” weak smile playing on my lips, “wait here?” I ask Jack who nods his head in answer.
We walk out of the bar and outside the big doors of the House.

“I really didn’t believe I’ll find you and when they said that in this House there’s Alex, I didn’t believe it is you.”

“Mhm,” I can’t think of anything normal to say.

This night is surprisingly warm, slight breeze messing up with my hair, no cloud in the skies, stars shining bright.

“Who is he?”

“Who?”

“That guy you were with.”

“Jack? I don’t know. There can’t be anything between us, you know. He’s kind of my client, but not really. He’s something more, I guess,” I answer, looking up in the skies.

“Well then, see you around.”

“Yeah,” my voice just above the whisper as I watch him leave.

Notes

yeeyyy for this chapter!!!! I like this one!!!
I just changed my laptops screen saver to bubbles and now there's bubbles everywhere - pink, yellow, green, blue and purple!!! bubbles everywhere!!! and they're changing colors, and now there's red and orange!!!!
yeah, don't leave me home alone for too long.... ;D

sorry