Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/1408669.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Choose_Not_To_Use_Archive_Warnings, Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence,
      Underage
  Category:
      F/M, M/M
  Fandom:
      No_Fandom, Original_Work
  Additional Tags:
      Explicit_Sexual_Content, Underage_Smoking, Underage_Drinking, Underage
      Sex, Past_Child_Abuse, Unhealthy_Relationships, Sort_of_kind_of_polygomy,
      whos_the_good_guy_again?, Obsession, Psychological_Horror, Psychological
      Torture, Slow_Burn, Teen_Pregnancy
  Stats:
      Published: 2014-04-03 Updated: 2014-09-07 Chapters: 13/? Words: 55260
****** Schoolyard Games ******
by SnakesAndSheeep
Summary
     Alabaster is everything a man should be. Smart, Handsome, Sweet, and
     an excellent stepfather. Well at least he is on the outside. His new
     stepchildren know better, their new daddy has some skeletons in his
     closet.
***** Charm *****
Kate Anderson sat outside of her trailer waiting for the bus in the chilly fall
air. The minutes seem like seconds, and the fast the clock ticks the more dread
fills her. When she thinks about it, it tares her up. So she doesn't think
about it. In her small hands was a paperback with a slightly bent cover with a
picture of a half naked man with a sultry gaze. She smiled to herself as she
turned the page; it was just getting to the good part. There were no life
lessons hidden amongst the pages, no deeper meanings or abstract thoughts, but
that didn't matter to her. They were her escape.
She pretends that she is the main heroine in her book. When she's reading she
is no longer Kate Anderson, and that's all she ever wanted, to not be Kate
Anderson. In the pages she's no longer awkward and gawky; instead she's smooth
and seductive. In the book she's strong and self reliant, she stands up for
herself. In the book she just smiles and every guy falls down to their knees
for her. Sometimes she wished she could just live in the book forever, and
never have to go out into the real world.
She was ripped away from her fantasy world by the sound of the screen door
slamming shut. October, her brother walked out into the front yard with his
hands jammed into his pockets. Kate tried not to be jealous as he walked by. It
wasn't his fault that it all came so easy to him.
They had the same blood running through their veins, as close as siblings could
be, they were twins. Yet still, it seemed that Kate couldn't compare to her
brother.
He pushed back his messy blonde hair to slide sunglasses over his baby blues.
His clothes were in style, even if he only had three outfits to his name. They
could barely afford soap half the time, let alone decent clothing, but October
spent every penny that ever went to him on clothing. He wore leather and brand
names, torn jeans that cost more money then Kate could even believe. Kate chose
to buy her clothes at thrifts stores and spent what little money she saved up
on books. She wore sweats and baggy t-shirts made for men four times her size.
Some of her clothing was stained and some of it torn.
"It's fucking cold out here" October spat bitterly as he pulled a pack of
cigarettes from his front pocket and lit one up. He still had another year
before he could smoke then legally, but he doubted his meth head neighbors were
going to turn him in. Kate hated that he smoked; it seemed like just rolling up
dollar bills and lighting them on fire. "Shit. It just turned fall, it can't be
getting this fucking cold already"
They were both quiet for a moment, both thinking the exact same thing. They
needed to find some money to buy winter coats. They didn't say anything though;
they both knew that the other knew. They just stood in silence until October's
ride pulled up to take him to school, and the bus came for Kate.
Kate spent most of the day hiding in the pages of her book. It wasn't that the
book was a real page turner or anything, but rather it was because when she was
reading she was no longer in reality. No longer surrounded by her vicious
classmates and trapped by the walls of the school.
She couldn't hide during gym. She was forced to leave her escape method in her
locker and was thrown in with rest of her malicious piers. Luckily she didn't
have to face it alone. Waiting for her on the gym floor was her best friend,
Peter. They began to run there laps around the gym, side by side, even though
she knew that Peter could run laps around her.
They almost made a ridiculous pair. Peter was a monster; he towered over normal
people by at least eight inches, let alone Kate who was towered over by normal
people. He wasn't just tall either, his hands were as big as Kate's face and
the rest of his body matched. At least when Peter was around no one dared pick
on Kate. Peter was the kind of guy who could knock someone out with just one
punch. Though getting Peter to punch someone was a completely different ordeal,
the boy felt bad about hurting a fly.
"Did you read the book I gave you yesterday?" Kate asked as she did her best to
keep up with his normal walking pace. Neither of them bothered to wonder why
they had the time to finish a three hundred page book in a day. They both
didn't see a point in wondering why they didn't actively participate in life;
it didn't seem like a worthy topic.
"Yes, very steamy" He said with a grin, "He spread apart her quivering thighs
and licked his lips, preparing to lick hers". He recited from memory in the
most dramatic voice he could muster and they both broke out into laughter.
"God, that was such a horrible book"
"So cheesy it needed macaroni to go with it" Kate said causing both of them to
laugh at her horrible attempt at a joke. They didn't choose to ask why they
both read it if they both thought it was horrible. It never came up.
"So the dance is tonight…." Peter began nervously as they came around on their
third lap, "I was wondering, are you going?" he finally managed to spit out
after a few minutes. His face was red and slick with sweat after running, he
was panting heavily and looking at her with hope in his eyes.
Kate stared down at her feet for a few moments before looking straight in front
of her, refusing to look at him. She knew exactly what was going to happen
after she answered his question. He was going to ask her out. Kate really liked
Peter, as a friend. He made her laugh and talked to her when she was sad. Kate
just didn't want anything more, she didn't want a relationship. Kate knew that
deep down inside he wasn't asking her out because he thought she was beautiful,
or kind, or funny. He was asking her out because he thought she was obtainable.
The only girl he could get to say yes.
"I was going to go but I can't, my mom is making me meet her new boyfriend
tonight. He's taking us out to dinner" Kate said, content with the fact that it
was the truth and it wasn't shooting him down. No hurt feelings just yet. She
just wanted to push him away until he found another girl to distract him. She
didn't want the confrontation.
"How long as she been dating him?" He asked seeming more interested then Kate
was in the whole situation. Kate's mother was always going out with some pour
sap, sucking up all their money until they were dry and then moving on. Kate
stopped caring a long time ago.
"Just a few months" She said before the sound of the whistle being blown was
heard throughout the gym. It was time to get changed. She swallowed down hard,
her heart felt heavy and it took all the will power she had to push through
those doors.
The locker room was a whole new circle of hell. She no longer had Peter or her
book for protection. She was on her own. She quietly walked up to her locker,
trying not to draw any attention to herself as she began to get undressed. She
felt eyes on her and began to hear the familiar whispers, rumors about her
spilling from their lips. She pulled her shirt off and felt eyes on her, she
closed her eyes tightly and hoped they would just go away.
"Kate, you should get some medicine for those mosquito bites. " Ashley, a girl
above Kate's grade, mocked referring to Kate's small breasts. The whole locker
room burst out into laughter but Kate just kept quiet and dug through her
locker to find her clean shirt. The faster that she got out the better.
"Look at her ribs, that's so sick, she's like a skeleton"
"Look at the scar on her back, that's fucking nasty"
The taunts continued as Kate fought back tears as she searched frantically for
her shirt.
"Looking for this" Ashley's annoying voice rang through the locker room. Kate
turned around to see her shirt in the other girl's hand. In the girl's other
hand was a pair of scissors, and Kate watched as one of the few shirts she
owned was cut into ribbons.
Ashley whose father would buy her anything in the world didn't know the value
of that shirt. She didn't know how bad Kate's legs ached after raking yards all
day and how she could walk for a whole day afterward. Ashley didn't know how
proud Kate was when she bought her clothes.
She didn't know that she hit Kate in the one place that would hurt her the
most.
A sudden surge of violence shot through Kate, her hand turned into a fist. The
girl was looking at her with a smug smile pulling at her lips as she dropped
the ruined fabric to the ground and stomped on it. Kate didn't know what came
over her, she lost control. She felt the other girl's cheek beneath her fist
and heard the scream that was torn from the girl's lips. The girl fell to the
ground and began to cry, screaming something about having a bruise.
"Don't ever touch my stuff again" Kate said bitterly and she pulled her gym
shirt back out and grabbed up her stuff before storming out of the locker room.
On the other side of the school October was having his own troubles.
October and his friends usually spent.
That day was a little different though.
That day October's girlfriend Holly-Beth had a substitute in German and got
permission to spend the hour in the library. But instead of being in the
library, Holly-Beth was sitting awkwardly close to October.
"I heard Danny-Boy is throwing a party tonight, I think we should go" She said
as she leaned her head on his shoulder and wrapped her thin arms around his.
"Danny-Boy wouldn't know a party if it fucking came up behind him and slapped
him on the ass" October said as he took a swig from his water bottle that was
filled with more vodka then water. Teachers could smell it on his breath but
they didn't say anything about it. After all, the whole school knew that his
father died just a few months before. October would like to think that he
didn't drink because of his father, but for the most part he didn't think about
it at all.
"I'll make it worth it for you" She whispered seductively in his ear.
"Can't" The word slipped off his tongue faster then it should have, "My bitch
of a mother is making me and Kate meet her new fucktoy today" He was glad that
it was the truth, he didn't like lying to Holly-Beth any more then he had too.
He wasn't particularly excited about meeting the man. Ever since their father
was kicked out eight years ago, their mother went through every man she could
find. October didn't really care, as long as they didn't take away any of the
little money they had. He knew it bothered Kate though, so he really wasn't
looking forward to that night.
"Alright, we'll just have to get together another time" She said resting her
hand on his thigh.
While she was rubbing his thigh, his mind was elsewhere. He was busy trying not
the stare at a certain basketball player on gym floor. They always practiced
fifth period, doing drills and learning plays. October's mind was only on one
particular basketball player.
His name was Rhett and he was currently pulling his shirt off and tossing it to
the ground. October knew it wasn't right to stare like he was, but he couldn't
help it.
Holly-Beth was the sweetest girl that October had ever met. She knew just what
to say to make him happy, and she told the best jokes. She was his best friend.
The only problem was the fact that she was a girl. October loved her like a
sister, but it was getting more and more obvious that Holly-Beth wanted more.
October wouldn't be able to hold her back forever, eventually she would figure
out his secret.
And then what would happen.
She would hate him. Hate him for lying to her all this time. Hate him for
making her look like a fool. Hate him for having a crush on her older brother.
Then the whole school would know, and eventually his sister would find out and
hate him too. She would call him sick and would tell their mom, and get him
kicked out.
It was like a ticking time bomb, and there was nothing he could do about it.
So he smiled up at Holly-Beth and gave her a kiss.
It wasn't much better for them at home either. They both arrived home around
the same time, both of them looking a little worse then they did that morning.
They don't talk about their day, why bring up something so horrible. Instead
October wrapped an arm around Kate and pulled her in close for a quick hug.
It's unspoken but they both know the rest of the night wasn't going to be much
better.
They both sighed in unison before they walked into the dingy little trailer
they called their home. The place was a mess, which is always was, no matter
how hard they tried to keep in clean whenever they came home it always looked
the same.
The carpet use to be white, October likes to imagine, but now it was a dingy
brown color… if you could even see it underneath all the beer bottles and
trash. On the puke green couch was their mother, in just her bra and underwear
passed out. It looked like she had been watching TV before she passed out, but
now the TV was just colored lines; it liked to choose when it worked. There was
a beer spilled on the coffee table and dripping onto the floor, next to the
overflowing ash tray.
"If you clean up a little, I'll help the cow get ready" October said as he
walked over to where his mom was laying. He took a seat next to her and began
to gently shake her awake while Kate began to pick up the trash.
After a few minutes of this gentle shaking their mother finally opened her
eyes. "Shouldn't you be at school?" She muttered irritably as she began to rub
her eyes smearing the mascara and eyeliner she put on the night before.
"It's three already, school's out for the day" October said quietly, as he
helped her sit up. He had a way with his mother that Kate simply didn't have.
Kate had a quiet exterior and gentler words that seemed to fool people into
thinking she was passive. October had a harsh exterior and used brash words,
but he had a gentler nature then his sister. Though neither of them would ever
admit it. When Kate cared for their mother she would always get angry and start
a fight. October had a way of soothing the beast without ever being offended.
"Shit. He's going to be here in a few hours" She muttered underneath her breath
as October helped her stand. "I have a million things to do" She stood there
for a few moments with the heels of her hands pressed against her eyes.
"Let's start with getting you in the shower" October said guiding her into the
bedroom, "Are you going to wear you're blue dress?"
Anyone would notice a difference in the way October spoke when he was talking
to his mother. His words were softer and littered with far less curse words.
The words were all carefully chosen, each one designed so that it would not
hurt his mother's delicate feelings.
She looked like she was thinking for a moment before she buried her head back
into her hands. " It makes me look so goddamn old, everything I wear makes me
look old"
October's mother was only thirty three, but she felt like she was fifty. What
little money they had was spent on their mother's clothes and makeup. Kate and
October didn't complain because all of the money they had came from their
mother's boyfriends. Their mother used the fact that she was a beautiful woman
to pay the rent.
For lack of a nicer word their mother was a gold digger.
"I think the blue one makes you look very classy, and you could wear your hair
down. Your hair looks best when it's down" October said as he searched through
the closet and pulled out the blue dress in question. He laid it down across
the bed and gave his mother a smile. He didn't know anything about clothes or
fashion, but he knew that the blue dress was his mother's favorite to wear.
Everything that came out of his mouth was a sugar coated lie. There was very
little that was classy about the short low cut blue dress on the bed.
"You should help your sister get ready; I don't know what to do with that girl.
She would wear sweats if I would let her. You should bring her my red dress; it
would at least make her look decent" His mother said as she disappeared into
the tiny bathroom.
October did as he was told to and grabbed up the red dress and brought it into
the living room. Kate was just finished picking up the living room and had a
look of irritation on her face. October didn't want to bring her the bad news,
but it was his job.
"Kate, Mom wants you to wear this dress" He said as he handed it over to her.
"She's really freaking out over this date so I wouldn't fight her over it."
"This is such a horrible looking dress, just because she walks around like a
slut doesn't mean I should have to. " Kate muttered to herself as the walked
into the tiny little room they shared. It was crowded, there was barely enough
room for the little amount of stuff they owned… let alone them.
"Wearing the fucking dress won't kill you, and it'll make the bitch happy."
October said as they turned their backs to each other so they could get
changed. October dressed himself in the dress shirt and pants that his mother
bought him for his birthday. Though he knew the only reason she got it for him
was so that he wouldn't embarrass her whenever they went out somewhere with one
of her dates. "At least you don't have to wear a tie; it feels like a fucking
dog collar"
They both finished around the same time.
Kate seemed almost awkward in her dress, it was way too low cut in her opinion
and it seemed way too high up her thigh. It's what her mother wanted though,
and October was right… it wouldn't kill her. October walked over to her and
pulled her hair out of its messy bun. Her wild messy curls fell across her
shoulders; he ran his fingers through it until it looked decent.
She didn't realize she was a lovely, and that the blush on her cheeks gave her
color and her hair caught the light in all the right ways. She didn't know how
beautiful her eyes were when she smiled. All she noticed was the scar on her
back that must be showing and the bruise on her knee.
"I know you don't like it, but the dress makes you smoking hot, sis" October
said as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Kate would usually say something
about how smoking was bad for him and how he needed to quit, but she didn't
this time. She just wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed his face into
his chest. It was going to be a long night.
At 6:50 the clock seemed to stop working. October was beginning to think that
it was shy and the fact that everyone was staring at it was freaking it out. He
was reclined on the couch working on his sixth cigarette and watching one of
the few channels they had. Kate was curled up in a ball next to him, her head
resting on his knee sleeping off the frustrations of the day.
Their mother was pacing back and forth. October hated to admit it but his
mother looked good. She had decided to wear a long black dress with a slit on
the side that went to her thigh. Her long blonde hair was in a stylish bun and
her lips were painted devil red. He could smell her perfume from where he was
sitting and he wasn't even sure how she managed to walk in her heels.
The sound of knocking at the door made his mother jump a little but as soon as
she registered what was happening she scurried over to the door and opened it.
"Come in, Come in"
October gently shook Kate awake and they both watched as two men entered their
living room.
Their mother's hand almost seemed elegant when pressed to the lips of the
stranger. "You look so beautiful tonight, Madeline" The dark resonant voice of
the stranger filled the tiny room pleasantly as the stranger smiled down at
their mother.
October knew that his mother hated being called Madeline, she preferred Maddie.
But by the look of it she didn't seem to mind, she was looking up at the man
with pure admiration in her eyes. Something he had never seen in his mother
before, it was almost unnerving. She use to look at their father that way.
"You must be October" The stranger was looking at him now, and October saw for
the first time the most startling green eyes he would ever see. They were so
bright they almost seemed to glow. October found that he couldn't seem to look
away as his hand was taken in the strangers. The stranger had warm dry hands
and a firm handshake, October found it almost difficult to pull away.
"And you must be Katherine," He said taking Kate's tiny hand in his own and
pressing it against his lips, "You look so much like your mother." Kate found
herself watching his lips as he spoke, wondering how they might feel against
her own. The stranger had the most wickedly sexy smile, and there was so much
laughter in his green eyes. Those words that left his lips would have usually
offended her, but she didn't even notice them.
"This is Alabaster Bliss" Their mother introduced, finally giving a name to the
stranger. He released Kate's hand and wrapped his arm around their mother's
waist and pulled her to his side. When they were standing next to each other it
was so obvious how out of her league their mother was. The man was wearing a
suit that looked like it cost more then their trailer. Their mother's dress had
a tear in the back. The man was beautiful, their mother was wearing so much
makeup it was probably harming the ecosystem.
"I know, I know, It sounds like the name of an eighties pop singer." He joked
exposing what seemed to be a very friendly nature. Both Kate and October smiled
at his joke, but Kate was too nervous to laugh and October was still sizing him
up. Their mother did enough laughing for them all.
"I love your name, I think it's beautiful" Their mother said placing a soft
kiss on the man's lips. It was the kind of sweet thing that couples did that
immediately made both Kate and October sick. It had a way of making both Kate
and October feel suffocated, and just seeing it bothered them.
"Hyde, Come out here and introduce yourself" Alabaster said stepping to the
side to reveal the other stranger, now identified as Hyde. "I would like you
all to meet my son"
Without being told neither October or Kate would have guessed that Hyde was
Alabaster's son. Hyde had dark tan skin with bright amber eyes and dark black
hair. His hands were decorated in tattoos, symbols and beautiful lettering that
almost blended in beautiful with his dark skin. He seemed only a little older
then Kate and October, but he held himself differently. A mixture of confidence
and stoic poise, completely different from the casual charm that oozed from his
father.
He lacked the charm his father possessed, but he went through the motions
perfectly though.
"It's a pleasure to meet you" The boy said as he shook October's hand almost a
tint of sarcasm decorating his words.
"You too" October repeated like he knew his mother would want him too trying to
swallow down the bitterness that wanted to taint his voice.
The boy then took Kate's hand and shook it a little gentler before repeating
the same line. Then he took a few steps back so that he was almost hidden
behind his father again.
"Shall we go then, we have reservations for seven thirty" Alabaster said with a
smile, his hand clasping their mother's.
In the driveway was the most beautiful car October had ever seen. It was slick
black with black leather interior with tinted windows. It was what October
would imagine the devil would drive if the devil had a car. October didn't know
the different kinds of cars or anything about makers or years. However, he did
know when something was beautiful, and the car was… for lack of a better word,
beautiful.
"Your car is fucking amazing" October said before he even registered the words
in his head. His mother was glaring at him for his foul language, but Alabaster
was smiling.
Alabaster rested his hand on Hyde's shoulder looking proud as he looked over
the car for himself. "I bought it for Hyde when he got his license, my car is
in the shop I'm getting the leather redone, but I'm glad you like it. Would you
like to drive?" He asked as he pulled the keys from his pocket and held them
out.
October stared at the keys with longing for a moment before he shook his head,
"I wish I could but I don't know how to drive stick"
"Then I'll just have to show you sometime"
October was almost embarrassed at how much he would have loved that. He knew it
wouldn't ever happen though, the man would eventually get sick of their mother
and October would never get to learn. But he really wished it would happen. He
didn't let it show, he just looked away and got into the car.
October sat in the back with Kate and Hyde, who were incredibly quiet for the
thirty minutes trip. Their mother was practically talking Alabaster's ear off.
She was drowning him in compliments. She spoke of how nice his suit looked and
how sexy his arms were in it. Her hand rested on his thigh when she spoke of
how much of a gentleman he was for taking them all out to dinner. October had
to hand it to his mother; she knew how to work them.
The restaurant was like a restaurant off the TV, it was almost surreal for the
two siblings. They suddenly felt incredibly underdressed around all the other
people in their most elegant evening wear. They could almost feel their
waiter's judgmental stares. It was almost too much for the two of them. There
was something about being around Alabaster that helped though, everyone in the
restaurant looked at him with respect and the hostess knew who he was without
him saying a word.
"Can I get you all something to drink?" The waitress said with the smile she
was paid to have.
"Water" Both October and Kate said in unison out of habit. Their mother buried
her face in one of her hands and turned almost a scarlet color, but it just
seemed to amuse Alabaster.
"I want you to feel free to order whatever you like, it's my treat after all"
Alabaster said as he gave them a reassuring smile. "Would it help if I ordered
first?" he asked with earned him two identical nods from the siblings.
Alabaster ordered a bottle of wine that neither October nor Kate could repeat
the name of, and asked to be brought two glasses.
It didn't help with October or Kate's nervousness at all. Alabaster gave Hyde a
look and Hyde ordered a glass of soda and it calmed them down a lot. They
ordered a soda too, neither of them looking up from the table as they did.
When the waitress scurried off to get their drinks Alabaster gave them a very
sincere smile, "I'm so sorry that this place makes you uncomfortable, if you
would like you could just tell me what you want for dinner and I'll order it
for you"
They did just that. After twenty minutes or so they brought out their food. The
waitress set a chicken salad in front of their mother, who refused to eat very
much in front of her suitor. Then the waitress set a steak in front of
Alabaster and a strange pasta dish neither Kate nor October had heard of in
front of Hyde. Both Kate and October ordered the cheapest thing of the menu
which was grilled chicken and steamed rice.
About half way into the meal something caught October's eye. A ring was on
Alabaster's finger, it seemed to almost gleam in the lighting. October didn't
have much control out of what came out of his mouth, he regretted speaking
almost as soon as he opened his mouth. "Is that a wedding ring on your finger?"
Madeline took Alabaster's hand in her own as Alabaster looked up from his
plate. "Umm, yes, it is. My wife, Hyde's mother, passed away three years ago
and I still wear the ring."
"Oh shit." More words slipped from October's mouth before he could catch them,
"I'm so sorry"
"It's fine, I have so many wonderful things in my life to take away the pain,
like your charming mother" He said smiling at October before his eyes moved to
where Hyde was sitting, "I'm just glad Hyde decided to come live with me
instead of his real father"
"Your not Hyde's real father?" October said, and suddenly it made a lot more
sense.
"Heavens no, I was ten years old when Hyde was born" Alabaster explained as he
poured himself another glass of wine. Another reason their mother was dating
out of her league, the man was at least five years younger then her.
"Let's change the subject something a little happier, Why don't you two tell me
about your hobbies"
"I don't have very many hobbies" October said simply, "I'm in drama club every
year though… if that counts."
Alabaster seemed pleased with this which pleased their mother who was sitting
there hoping to the gods her children didn't say anything to upset her
boyfriend.
"What plays have you been in?" Alabaster asked actually seeming very interested
in what October had to say. This almost made October nervous because he didn't
want to say the wrong thing. However, if October was good at one thing, it
would probably be pretending to be a cocky bastard.
"I was in Go Ask Alice, and You Can't Take It With You" October said while
stabbing a piece of chicken with his fork, "This year we're doing the wizard of
oz but we haven't had casting yet."
"I'll have to be sure to come see it" Alabaster said before his eyes turned
towards Kate who was trying to blend into the background. "How about you
Katherine, what do you like to do for fun?"
"I like to read" She managed to whisper so quietly that Alabaster almost didn't
hear her.
He smiled charmingly and asked, "What do you like to read?"
Kate swallowed hard and forced out another word, "Poetry."
"I read poetry too, nothing modern, but sometimes I like to read a little
Robert Frost or Dickinson"
Kate's eyes lit up and smiled for the first time since their dinner arrived.
Though she didn't say it Emily Dickinson was her favorite poet.
"Madeline, you have two highly cultured children" The man said and their mother
smiled practically melting in her chair.
She finally managed to look away from Alabaster and towards Hyde, "Do you have
any hobbies, Hyde?"
Hyde was quiet for a moment before he looked up towards Alabaster.
"You must excuse Hyde, he's very shy" Alabaster said his warm voice erasing
every moment of the silence Hyde had created. "He works as a tattoo artist;
some of his work is quite beautiful"
"That's really cool Hyde" Their mother said with a plastered on smile and a
nod, Hyde seemed more interested in staring at his empty plate.
"So what do you do for fun Alabaster?" October said before the silence could
creep in and pull at them.
"Well, not much, most of my time goes towards work" Alabaster said with not an
ounce of bitterness in his voice, it was more of a joke that lingered
pleasantly in the air.
"What do you do for a living?" October asked wondering what could pay for all
of this and how come he looked so casual in his suit. His mother wouldn't have
anything to do with the man if he didn't have at least some money.
"Well I inherited a pharmaceutical company, but it's not as big of a deal as it
sounds" he said modestly before taking a drink of his wine.
"Don't be so modest Alabaster" Their mother said laying a kiss on the man's
lips as her hand rested on his neck. It was a quick chaste kiss that ended in a
laugh. It kind of made Kate and October sick.
"You've taken such great care of us tonight" Their mother said sweetly as she
rested her other hand on his.
"I always want to take care of you, you should move in Madeline, I have plenty
of room for you and Kate and October. I always want to be with you."
Their mother's answer was in her eyes, Yes.
***** Cotton Candy and Chlorine *****
Kate's hand was cold and damp in his own through his cotton glove. When he
gripped it a little tighter it stopped shaking. Kate was staring up at the
house that towered above them while October was staring at her. There was a
look of wonder in her red eyes. It was a bewildered enchantment that only
children seem able to hold. A look that he had only seen in his sister's eyes a
handful of times. It was so beautiful that it almost distracted him from the
new bruise on his sister's cheek and the signs that his sister had cried.
He didn't ask her about the bruise. He already knew what happened; the school
was talking about it. Ashley and a few of her friends attacked Kate in the
locker room. He was just glad Kate made it out of there with only a bruise.
She held her coat tightly shut with her free hand. She found it in the Lost and
Found, and it worked perfectly except for the missing zipper. It made October
feel guilty about the new leather coat that he wore. Even if every time he
moved his left hand he remembered the horrible cut he was hiding beneath his
cheap cotton gloves. It had been just a simple job moving debris, if it hadn't
have been for that jagged piece of metal it would have been fine.
She released his hand and reached in the pocket of her ugly coat. She pulled
out a piece of foil wrapped gum that she placed in his hand. "I can smell the
liquor on your breath, Mom will freak if Alabaster finds out that you drink."
She said it with nothing but care; it wasn't an accusation or an insult. She
was just watching out for him and he knew it.
"Thanks" he said simply as he unwrapped the gum and popped it in his mouth
before stuffing the foil in his pocket. Just thinking about how his mom had
felt about his drinking had a way of pissing him off. She didn't care about him
drinking as long as it didn't spend any of her precious money, as long as her
boyfriends didn't find out. After all, that would make her look bad. He fought
the urge to reach for the water bottle in his backpack.
"I think we should maybe ring the door bell"
October nodded in agreement while reaching over and pushing the door bell. What
followed was the longest half a minute of their life. They were both too
nervous to say a word as they waited; afraid they got the wrong house or
something else as equally horrible. Kate grabbed his hand again and pressed
down tightly and October pretended that it didn't hurt him.
They were expecting Alabaster or Hyde to answer the door; they almost didn't
know what to think when a woman appeared on the other side. "Come in," The
woman said with a quiet and respectful smile, "Mr. Demello is expecting you,
wait right here and I'll get him for you." This was the first time Kate and
October had ever met a maid, or at least that's what they thought she was. She
was wearing a soft pink dress that reached past her knees with a rounded waist
apron and her long caramel curls were in a pony tail. Kate and October only
assumed.
She was gone before they could even ask who Mr. Demello was.
When she was gone they openly gawked at the beauty of the room. They fought
against the urge to run their hands against the beautiful fabrics that draped
from the walls. Mirrors in elegant and intricate frames stared at them, showing
them their own awestruck expressions. Even the floor beneath them seemed to
shine. The idea that they were going to live there was hard to comprehend.
After a few moments Hyde appeared at the other end of the hall by himself. He
looked completely different from how he did the last time they saw him. Instead
of the crisp suit he was wearing before, he was in a white undershirt and a
pair of jeans. Intricate and complex designs littered his well toned arms, the
dark ink seeming to almost blend with the bronzed skin. They almost didn't
recognize him.
"Alabaster had to work a little later than he had planned, so he asked me to
show you to your rooms" he said smoothly, his voice making up for any
informality his clothes might have suggested. Now that he was closer Kate and
October noticed details they couldn't have noticed from far away. Suddenly
things like how brand name his jeans were and how much the watch on his wrist
must have cost were very clear. Even the smell of the man's cologne smelled
expensive.
They both nodded quietly before October remembered the question that had
bothered him a few moments ago. "So you don't go by Alabaster's last name?" He
asked as Hyde began to lead them through the house and up the large staircase
to the second floor. The two could barely take in all the beautiful things
because they were moving so fast.
"I did when my mother was alive, when she died I started going by her maiden
name" Hyde said coolly, not a hint of any emotion coloring the words. October
wanted to ask more but he sensed that it was a delicate subject, something he
would probably trample all over. So he kept quiet as they reached the top of
the stairs.
"There are only three rooms up here, mine is the only one of the left side." He
said pointing at the large oak door on the left side of the hall. "These two
here our yours, the one of the right is October's and the one on the left is
yours Kate."
The door swung open and Kate and October stepped into a completely different
reality.
When Kate was a child they couldn't afford cable, all they had was an old VCR
they bought at a garage sale and a box of used kid's movies they bought for
five dollars. The ones about princesses were her favorites, when she was a
child she always wondered what it would be like to have a room in castle. Her
room seemed modeled after this childhood fantasy.
Her eyes ran over the room slowly, across the cream-colored walls and the giant
windows that filled the room with light. On one of her walls was several dozen
mirrors all placed in different frames of all shapes and varieties, all of them
as white as the snow-white carpet beneath her feet.
The thing that really stole her attention was the bed. It was like something
out of those movies. It was a queen sized bed covered in a large comforter, it
was a shade of pink that Kate could imagine a baby swaddled in. Hanging above
the bed was a beautiful canopy of pure white sheer fabric tied back with long
lace ribbons. It was beautiful, everything so pristine that she didn't want to
touch any of it. She felt like she might dirty it.
"I'm sorry if it's a bit much, if he's anything Alabaster's extravagant. I hope
it doesn't put you off or anything." Hyde said the words came out of his mouth
beautifully but they didn't sound like his words. In Kate's opinion, nothing
Hyde ever said sounded like it was coming from him. Every word that left his
mouth sounded dead as soon as it came out. It reminded her of some of the bad
actors that sometimes tried out for the plays October was in.
"It's beautiful" She said quietly with a soft smile and a simple nod.
"Okay, that door over there is to the bathroom" Hyde said as he opened up the
door and led them inside. "You have to share a bathroom, sorry, hopefully it
won't be too much of a problem"
"That's not a problem at all, we've always shared a bathroom" Kate said being
as polite as possible, knowing that's what their mother would have wanted. How
could they be anything but grateful when surrounded by such beautiful things?
Hyde offered a small smile before leading them through the large bathroom and
through the door on the other side.
"This is your room October"
The sweet smell of cinnamon grasped him before the colors ever could. While
Kate's room seemed to represent all that was innocent and childlike , October's
room portrayed a completely different opinion on the world. It was all black
and red fabrics draped from the walls in complex knots and patterns. It was
almost surreal how the light bounced off the shiny surface of the fabrics and
cast itself down on to the floor.
"Your bed is back here" Hyde said leading them across the room to an opening in
the wall covered by a long black curtain. Hyde grabbed up the curtain and held
it aside while Kate and October walked through. October almost forgot to
breathe. The four walls around him were of glass, and he could see everything
around him. The miles and miles of trees and the blue lake staring at him
between the cracks of the branches. He could feel the sunlight trickling in and
landing on his skin in the best way. His bed was in the middle, a large king
sized bed covered in a thick heavy blanket the color of cream. The heavy frame
was black and the fabrics that hung from the canopy were blood-red. It was
perfect.
"I hope the walls don't unnerve you, you're too high up for anyone to see into
them and we don't have any neighbors for miles" Hyde said and though the words
were dead there was the smallest bit of sincerity in his eyes.
" I don't see why it would be a problem, the views gorgeous and if I'm feeling
watched I can just put down the canopy on my bed" October said as he slid off
his shoes and crawled on the bed, collapsing on it without an ounce of grace.
He sprawled out of it and pressed his face into the pillow before muttering
into it. "Kate you have to try this bed, it's so soft"
Kate was much more graceful about it; she bent down and untied her shoes before
lying down next to October. She spread out her arms and let out a sigh of
content. "You're right" She said suddenly realizing just how tired she was
after such a long day.
Hyde smirked as he looked down at them, "Well I'm going to go see if Alabaster
needs anything, you can just get settled until dinner which will be at six." He
said smoothly as he began moving towards the opening, disappearing before the
last word ever left his lips.
They lay on the soft blankets that covered October's new bed, curled up
together like they did ever since they were children. The blankets underneath
them have changed over the years and so have the words that spilled out of
their lips. It was the same though, the comfort that they got from each other.
Though it isn't spoken, neither of them deal with change well. They didn't like
that they didn't know what they were up against, they would rather stay with
their familiar monsters.
"This place is beautiful" Kate said softly as she buried her face in October's
shirt. She didn't mind that his shirt smelled like cigarette smoke or that his
shirt costs three times the amount her whole outfit did. She was just glad that
her brother was there, because if she didn't have him there wouldn't be anyone.
She could smell the vodka still on his breath, only now there was an
overpowering mint smell mixed in with it. It didn't smell bad to her, it
smelled like her brother.
"It will be great while it lasts" He said with a short laugh that was supposed
to hide the bitterness in his voice. It didn't quite work.
It most certainly would be great while it lasted. They would have a place to
stay and food in their stomachs. They would be able to stay in the gorgeous
rooms and be surrounded by beautiful things. They would be fine for as long as
their mother could hold Alabaster's attention. A few days, a few weeks, a few
months at the most in this paradise. It wouldn't last forever.
Nothing seemed to last when it came to their lives. Everything was scrambled,
unglued, ready to fall apart at the seams every time there was a strong gust of
wind. October closed his eyes and pressed his face into the pillow. The smell
of fresh linen came over him and soothed the things boiling under the surface.
Sleep came over both easily. The stress of a long day and the uncertainty in
both of them caused a need to escape. Sleep was the only place they could
really go. It was an uneasy sleep that they both came in and out off
consistently. They awoke long enough to realize they were awake only to fall
asleep again.
October was woken up by the vibrating of his phone, which it did every few
minutes to remind him that he still was neglecting to check the messages in his
inbox. He finally bothered to fish it out of his pocket and sleepily looked
through the messages. One missed message from Holly-Beth and one from her
brother Rhett.
He opened up the one from Rhett first, he told himself it was just because it
was the first on in his inbox but he knew better than that. It was just a
simple little message telling October that there was a party the next night and
that he should come. It was littered with the curse words that decorated his
everyday speech and it amused October. He actually entertained the idea of
going.
Holly-Beth's was a lot more simple. A short sentence, I love you, glaring up at
him from his phone. The way his stomach turned when he looked at it couldn't be
the response the girl was looking for. He suddenly felt sick. He bit his lip
and forced out a, you too, before snapping his phone shut and switching it off.
He couldn't get back to sleep after that, he just laid there and stared out
into the thick forest that surrounded them. He began to think about how it had
been years since he had been to the lake, long before his father died, long
before his father was even in jail. He wondered if they would be there long
enough to go to the lake during the summer.
He shrugged the thought off when his mother came through the curtain into the
small space. She was wearing another nice dress and had her hair up in a bun.
She would look beautiful if she wasn't speaking. October could tell they were
going to get yelled at as soon as their mother showed up.
"God damn it October, Is it so fucking hard to stay sober for one fucking day?
do you know how bad this will make me look?" She had a hold of the collar of
his shirt and was practically screaming in his face as soon as she caught the
sent of the liquor on his breath. He bit his tongue and waited for her to tire
herself out or run out of things to scream. He stared down at his hands that
lay passively in his lap. They both knew that if October wanted he could take
his mother down, that he was stronger, that he was bigger.
They both knew that October never would.
The yelling woke up Kate who after she understood what was going on was staring
at their mother with hatred in her eyes. Their mother turned on Kate and began
to bitterly spit out more, things about how ugly her clothing was and how her
hair was a rat's nest. She kept spitting out this nonsense until October
finally had enough.
He stood up and grabbed his mother by the shoulders so harshly that she stopped
everything just to look at him. "Stop" He said and it was enough to cause her
to shake, in that one moment he wasn't her gentle son, he sounded just like his
father. He pulled her into his chest and held her there until she began to sob.
"Mom, you're beautiful, Alabaster won't even look at us he'll be so stunned by
you. Now go reapply your make up and go down there and charm the hell out of
him"
Their mother looked at him for a moment wiping the tears from her eyes before
she nodded and walked through the curtain again. She was suddenly changing from
the monster that Kate hated to the mess that Kate pitied.
Kate envied her brother's gentle patience. The way he really knew what was
going on behind the surface and didn't let anything else bother him. He was so
great with people that it made Kate almost feel bad. She didn't have his
patience or his understanding. When he was working to figure out what was wrong
she was busy getting angry.
They both sat in silence as they waited for their mother to return. They were
still kind of tired from their naps and their minds were occupied with their
own problems. Their mother after a few moments came back for them in a better
mood. It bothered Kate that their mother acted like things never happened, but
if it bothered October he certainly didn't let it show.
They ate dinner in the breakfast room, which baffled both October and Kate.
Alabaster seemed endlessly amused by how little they knew of his world. He
calmly explained that the formal dinning room was used when entertaining
guests, and that when he was eating he preferred the much more casual breakfast
room.
They sat at the dark wooden table and stared at their hands as they waited. It
confused them both because they were all sitting around the table but there was
no food. Neither wanted to ask about it because they knew they would just look
ignorant again so they sat in silence. They didn't have to wait long though,
after just a few moments a woman walked out of the kitchen carrying platters of
food.
All of the food was strange to both of the two and they often had to ask
Alabaster the names of the various items they placed on their plates. If they
weren't endlessly amused by the things Alabaster had to show them they were
amazed at how good Alabaster made them feel. No matter what question they asked
he had a way of answering without making them feel stupid.
Their mother just sat beside him with her hand resting on his thigh looking at
him with the most pleased smile on her face. Hyde was watching with interest as
he quietly ate his food, not bothering to ever add anything to the
conversation. Now that Alabaster was by his side he didn't speak a word.
Towards the end of the meal their mother finally spoke. "I'm so sad that I
won't get to spend the day with you tomorrow baby. I know you only get the
weekends off but I can't reschedule my appointment." Their mother said so
sweetly that sugar seemed to drip from every syllable, even her children almost
believed it.
"It's alright honey, I'll find something to do" He said giving her a quick kiss
on her lips before turning towards where Kate and October were sitting. "What
about you guys, what are you doing?" He said before lifting his wine glass to
his lips and taking a sip of it.
For a moment words got caught in Kate's throat. She knew exactly what her
answer was going to be. Nothing. She was doing absolutely nothing that day.
Normally that wouldn't bother her, but it didn't seem good enough now. Seeing
Alabaster there surrounded by beautiful things and dressed in his thousand
dollar suit made her feel nervous. He probably did exciting things and hung out
with interesting people. She planned on spending her Saturday in her room
reading.
"Nothing" She finally managed to choke out and it stung her as it entered the
air. The truth was painful.
"There having casting tomorrow morning, but after that I'm not doing anything"
October said in a way that made Kate envy him. He didn't feel bad about his
tomorrow. He had friends, hobbies… a life.
"Well how about we spend the day together, we can do some bonding. I'll take
Kate out for breakfast and then we'll go shopping. Then I'll pick October up
after his casting and take him out to teach him out to drive. Sound alright to
you guys?"
With a nod Kate suddenly had something to look forward to the next day. She
hated shopping and had no desire to spend her day in a mall… but the idea that
she wouldn't be spending it home alone filled her with excitement. October
tried to hide the smile on his face. Someone was actually going to do what they
said they would do.
They both went to bed happy.
Kate woke up nervous. After her shower she went through her whole wardrobe
twice… nothing but baggy sweats and old t-shirts. Everything she had she knew
would embarrass Alabaster. Eventually she settled on the only pair of jeans she
owned and borrowing one of October's t-shirts. She combed out the tangles in
her hair and debated asking October to help her put makeup on.
She eventually settled with what she had and made her way down stairs.
Kate soon learned that she actually had something in common with Alabaster,
neither of them were morning people. Nothing but yawns left Alabaster's mouth
for the twenty-minute drive into town. Kate didn't care much because she kept
dozing off in the warm comfort of his car.
"Where do you want to eat breakfast?" Alabaster said finishing his sentence
with another yawn as he rubbed one of his eyes with the heel of his hand.
It was surprising how young he looked. She must have been too tired to notice
it before they left but now she couldn't help but notice. His dark black hair
was slickly styled before, but now it was messy in the most delightful of ways.
Instead of a stylish suit like he was wearing before he was wearing a grey t-
shirt that showed off the lean muscles he must have hidden underneath his suit
. He was even wearing blue jeans.
He looked approachable.
"Well… there's this diner my dad use to always take us. It's probably not what
you would like." Kate stumbled over her words, blushing as she spoke though she
knew there was nothing she should really be embarrassed about. After all
Alabaster did ask.
"That sounds wonderful, just give me directions"
Kate tried her hardest to give him decent directions for the next twenty
minutes, but after getting him lost for the fifth time she finally just began
pointing him left and right. By the time they reached the restaurant Alabaster
was laughing and Kate thought she was going to die of embarrassment.
"I thought we'd never get here" Alabaster said with a gentle laugh as he held
the door open for Kate to step inside. She mumbled her quiet thank you as she
tried to hide her blush with her hand. She thought she was going to die of
humiliation.
The waitress smiled and waved them to an empty booth in the back. Alabaster
thanked her with a friendly smile and Kate muttered another quiet thank you.
She was beginning to wonder if all day was going to be this awkward. She wished
she was like Alabaster, he practically oozed confidence.
An older waitress with graying hair and tired eyes came to take their orders.
Alabaster didn't even pick up his menu, "I'll have a sausage biscuit with egg
whites and a cup of coffee, please." The waitress jotted down his order quickly
before looking towards Kate before Kate even really had a chance to look at her
menu.
"Pancakes and milk please" She said offering the waitress a flimsy smile that
was returned as the waitress wrote down her order.
They made gentle small talk as they waited for their food. They spoke about the
weather and other trivial things neither of them cared about. They spoke of
anything to keep their minds off the hunger building in their stomachs. It was
casual and pleasant, Kate was almost beginning to clam down.
The waitress returned with their plates and they were quiet as they began to
eat. Alabaster quietly sipped his coffee for a few moments before even touching
his food. Kate dived right into pouring syrup all over her pancakes until they
were buried completely underneath the sugary treat.
"Pancakes were my favorite food when I was a kid," He said as he watched her
eat, "That or cotton candy"
"I've never had cotton candy before" She said as she cut off another bite, "Is
it really good?"
"It's super sweet and fluffy, and when you put it in your mouth it melts" He
said with disbelief in his eyes, "You've never had it, not even at an amusement
park?"
"Nope never, and I have never been to an amusement park either. My dad told me
he would take me, but he never did." She said with a shrug, not seeing what the
big deal was about but liking how much Alabaster was talking. She was afraid
that she would bore him.
"Well I know what we're doing today, this is top priority" He said with a
childish smile as he took another sip of his coffee. "Clothes can wait till
later"
She stared at him like he was crazy, because only someone insane would think of
spending that much money of just a random whim. Only someone mental would spend
that much money on a complete and total stranger. Even though it was crazy she
wanted to go so badly. All the kids at her school would always talk about
amusement parks and carnivals, about the rides, the food, and the prizes. She
was always jealous of them. She needed clothes though, all this money could be
going towards things she needed. It was childish of her to want to go so badly
when she needed so many other things. Alabaster and his money wouldn't be
around for ever, she needed clothes…. Not fun.
"It's expensive" She said quietly, wishing that Alabaster would somehow get all
the information she wanted to give in those two words.
He smiled at her as if he was looking at some poor pitiful animal out in the
cold. She knew that maybe she was in comparison to him. He never had to worry
about money, probably had never experienced hunger or the cold in his whole
life. He had the sweetest look in his eyes, so kind and gentle that she didn't
get upset.
"I want to spend it on you. Come on we'll have fun" He said so genuinely that
Kate couldn't say no.
Kate felt herself turning into a child again. The closer they got to the
amusement park the more excited she got. There was nothing more exciting than
seeing the tops of the roller coasters in the horizon. She knew she was
annoying Alabaster with her excited chatter, but he just smiled and laughed
good-naturedly with her. She kept asking him all the different things they
could do and wouldn't stop until he told her in detail. He spoke of roller
coasters and rides, delicious food, and all kinds of games. Kate was nearly
shaking she was so excited.
Her excitement didn't die when she got there. All the colors, the people, the
smells… everything seemed to blur together. She couldn't even think straight
let alone decide what she wanted to do first.
"What's first?" She asked him as she looked at all the colorful chaos.
"We could ride a roller coaster." Alabaster suggested as he watched her with
amusement in his eyes. He seemed to be getting more amusement out of Kate then
he was the theme park itself. Kate hung close to him, pointing at a variety of
objects so that he could admire them with her or explain them. Her excitement
seemed contagious, because with every word she spoke his smile seemed larger.
When they first got in line Kate was excited but the closer they got the larger
the roller coaster seemed. Soon the screams of the riders seemed less like
screams of joy and more like screams of terror. Kate was beginning to think
this wasn't such a good idea.
"Getting kind of nervous?" Alabaster asked with a good-natured grin as he
looked down at her.
"That obvious?" She asked with a weak smile as she stared up at the towering
coaster. She wondered for a moment if there was any chance of surviving a fall
from that height. She doubted it.
"Well, you are as white as a ghost" He said as he rested his hand on her
shoulder, "Don't worry, it'll be fun. Nothing bad is going to happen."
She wanted to know how he knew that, but before she could ask he was pulling
her along. They were getting further and further up the line, and it seemed
like they were going to be the ones to go next.
"I'm not so sure about this" Kate said as she swallowed hard and rubbed her
sweaty hands on her jeans.
"You know that feeling you have? With the butterflies in your stomach, the
wobbly knees, and the hairs on your neck standing on end. Whenever you have
that feeling, you know what's coming next just has to be good" He told her as
they walked up to the line and were seated on the ride. She really hoped he
knew what he was talking about.
As they climbed higher and higher Kate began to really question whether this
was a good idea or not, but it was too late. She couldn't do anything now,
there was no way to call for help or get off. So she wrapped her arms around
Alabasters and held on for dear life. He smelled good, like clean cotton and
spice, and his skin was so warm she found it comforting. She could feel him
move slightly as she heard his light laughter. She didn't care if he was making
fun of her; he was the one that got her into this mess he was going to at least
offer some comfort.
"Okay when we go down a hill you have to scream as loud as you can" he said as
they neared the top of the giant hill.
Kate got a glance down at the park and felt herself swallow hard. "Why?" She
asked as she gripped his arm even tighter.
"Because it's fun"
Before she could respond they began to go down the hill at an unbelievable
speed. She took a breath and screamed as loud as she could along with the other
riders. She couldn't help herself she broke out into a fit of laughter as the
swung around corners and jerked down hills. There was some exhilarating about
going so fast and having not an ounce of control. The speeding winds against
her face and through her hair, stealing away her breath only for her to take
another and begin laughing again.
She tried to think of experiences that even came close, but she couldn't, and
she told Alabaster so. She talked his ear off about how much fun it was as they
walked across the park. Alabaster said that he was glad she liked it so much.
They came across a food stand, where Alabaster bought them both bags of cotton
candy. Cotton candy was always pink in the movies, but Kate's bag had all kinds
of colors in it. She pulled off a tiny piece of it and put it in her mouth. She
smiled as it melted in her mouth; it was so sweet that she licked the rest from
her fingers. She could definitely see how this was Alabaster's favorite food as
a child.
"My parents use to take me here all the time when I was a kid" he said with a
soft smile, "Actually come to think of it; I took my first date here"
Kate tried not to be jealous. She tried not to be jealous of the fact that his
parents took him places. She wondered if her dad would have taken her if he had
the money when he was around. She doubted it, he would probably waste it on
liquor and drugs.
She was even jealous of his next line, because he must be good with women…. So
good with everyone. She has never even had a first date before.
He had the perfect life. She decided that it would just have to be content with
being in it for a while. Until her mother ruined it.
She managed to shake off the thought and enjoy the rest of the afternoon. They
rode plenty of roller-coasters and ate all kinds of treats. They played games
and talked. It was a wonderful afternoon. Kate couldn't help but be upset when
the day had to end.
Towards the end of the afternoon they were leaning against the car and Kate was
telling him just how amazing the morning was for her. High off the excitement
of the day and the confidence she got from him she leaned over and kissed him
on the cheek. She meant it as a childish show of appreciation, but as she
pulled away she felt her cheeks burn.
She looked into his eyes; they were so beautiful that she found herself staring
for a moment. Were they always so beautiful? Was she so careless that she
didn't notice the way they burned?
She felt his warm hand cup the back of her neck as his soft lips pressed
against her own. Her eyes closed as she parted her lips for him. There was
something thrilling about feeling his tongue against her own, tasting sweet and
sticky cotton candy on his tongue. She couldn't breathe and her heart was
beating so loudly she was sure he could hear it. He had her panting as he
pulled away. What they had just done hadn't quite hit her yet.
It seemed to hit Alabaster almost immediately.
"Oh shit. " It left his mouth like an accident, "I'm so sorry. I don't know
what came over me. You're just so beautiful. Please, please don't tell your
mom. I promise nothing like that will ever happen again."
Oh course it was an accident, how could it not be, she thought as she stood
there watching him. He seemed so upset, so sorry for the thing that he had
done.
"I understand, it was just an accident, I won't tell my mom"
She could still feel him on her lips and it was all she could think of on the
way home. She thought of how she wished it wasn't an accident. How she wished
she was Alabaster's girlfriend instead of her mother.
October's afternoon was different.
The restaurant seemed like a completely different world. The warmth and the
laughter in the air washed over him making him fight off the comfort that
seemed to be setting in. He had to be careful not to make Alabaster upset. For
the next few hours he would have to carefully choose and select his words. He
couldn't let his guard down. The last thing he wanted was for Alabaster to
break up with their mother just because of him.
He took a seat across from Alabaster at a far table in a corner feeling lucky
that it was so easy to find the man in the dim lights. He would have died of
embarrassment if he had to walk around the restaurant for too long. The smile
that graced Alabaster's face when he took a seat was worth all the discomfort
he suffered. He had never seen anyone so openly pleased to see him.
They chatted casually for a moment or two. Alabaster still was as charming and
warm as ever while October fought off the profanity that naturally littered his
speech. It didn't feel as stressed as October thought it might, it flowed so
easily from his lips that he thought he might actually have fun.
"I know I'm a pain in the ass, but will you order for me again?" He asked as he
watched Alabaster passively flip through the menu with little interest, as if
it were a book he had already read before.
As the words sunk in the older man just smiled softly. "What would you like?"
"Whatever's cheapest"
"Don't worry about money when you're around me." Alabaster said with a warm
smile, "I think I'm going to order steak, do you like steak?"
"I've never had it" October said as he wondered if his face turning red in
shame would show up in the dark lighting. He tried to reason that it wasn't his
fault, and that plenty of people can't afford things like steak. It didn't
matter though, because Alabaster could without even thinking about it. He felt
under the man, like he was of a different class, like he didn't belong there.
What was the man getting out of it anyways? They didn't have to like him for
their mother to date him, when did the bitch ever care what he thought? It was
so hard to think that Alabaster might have ulterior motives. The way he smiled
lit up the whole room, how could a smile like that ever be fake?
"Well then my mind is made up, you have to have steak."
October watched quietly as Alabaster ordered for them both. He was expecting
some weird exotic side to go with the steak but Alabaster ordered French fries
for them both. He let out an audible sigh of relief, he was sick of things he
couldn't pronounce. Twenty minutes of small talk later and their food was set
in front of him.
October did his best to mimic the way Alabaster cut up his steak before he took
his very first bite. It was delicious. It was so much heavier then chicken. It
was as soft as butter and with every chew it filled his mouth with the most
delicious juice. He let out an audible sound of pleasure as he swallowed. He
could get use to his.
"So I take it that you like it" Alabaster said with an amused look as he took a
bite of his own steak.
"It's fucking delicious" October said as he cut off another piece, it didn't
seem like he could cut it fast enough to keep up with his hunger.
They were quiet for a few minutes, the silence was comfortable and the food so
good they forgot to talk.
"So what exactly does your company do again?" October asked as his thoughts
once again turned towards Alabaster's money.
"We manufacture and sell pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. Nothing too
absurd, I don't know where I would be without it. "The older man said as he
looked off for a moment, as if thinking, "Business is just my calling, I
suppose, what do you want to do when you get older?"
"It's stupid" October said as he stared down at his plate, fighting between the
desire to say how he felt and the fear of being made fun of.
"Please tell me"
"It's really stupid, but I've always kind of wanted to be a doctor. I just
really want to do something that matters. "He said not once looking up from the
table, "It doesn't matter anyways, I'll never be able to get enough money to go
to college.. As soon as I turn eighteen I'm going to work in a factory... and
that's probably where I'll end up my whole life"
"You're too smart to end up in some factory" He said with a smile that made
October's heart beat a little faster, "You hide behind those cuss words of
yours, but I can tell by the way you respond to people and your surroundings.
You always know exactly what's going on"
October couldn't help but smile at this; it felt good to be complimented even
if he knew the man was wrong. Surely October's grades were proof enough of
that. He wasn't like Kate, who just had to show up to class to get good grades.
"Do you have any siblings?" October asked as he thought about Kate, and how he
would give anything to be intelligent like she was.
"I have an older brother named Brian, and a younger sister named Ally. Brian's
just a few years older then me while Ally is two years younger then you"
"Do you get along?" October asked wondering if they were close like he was with
his sister. He would do anything for Kate. He was wondering if Alabaster
thought much about his little sister.
"I'm not very close to them. Brian and I just don't get along, and I was in a
boarding school when Ally was born. The first time I saw her was at my dad's
funereal a couple of years ago" There was no tone of bitterness, just a soft
look of longing in his eyes as he picked at his fries, "How about you, do you
get along with Kate?"
"Yeah, I don't know what I would do without her. She's kind of my common sense;
she keeps me from doing stupid things. Sometimes I think I shouldn't leave the
house without her" he said suddenly feeling nervous about his words, if his
classmates ever heard him talking like this they would beat the shit out of
him. He had his reputation to keep up, but he couldn't help it. The words were
fighting constantly to get out. "I don't know what I would do if she was
suddenly gone, I don't think I could move on"
They talked casually for awhile, about simple and silly things. It had been a
long time since October laughed so freely. When it was finally time to go it
was storming outside, the rain falling so hard that they could barely see.
Alabaster made his apologies and said that he would have to teach October a
different time. October truly believed that he would.
When he got home he searched for Kate, he found her sleeping on his bed curled
up with her childhood blanket. He laid with her, wrapped his arm around her and
pulling her close, his own security blanket. He wasn't tired, but the mixture
of warmth and good thoughts lured him into sleep and kept him there for hours.
When he awoke he was alone, and the numbers on his phone told him it was
midnight. He decided he would go to the party as soon as he checked his
messages. Staring up at his was a message from his girlfriend, "Heard that you
were going to the party, I'm gonna be there, maybe we can finally take this to
the next level" it was littered with spelling errors and hearts, and just
staring at him.
He quickly sent a text to both his girlfriend and Rhett that he couldn't come.
Then decided that he definitely needed some air. He walked as quietly as he
could downstairs and left though the back door. He walked around for awhile,
taking in Alabaster's beautiful yard. Something caught his attention though, a
glowing blue light coming from the ground across the yard.
He approached it, suddenly he realized it was a pool and that steam was coming
off of it. He walked to it and stared into its depth, but the lights didn't
illuminate the whole pool and the steam made it difficult to see.
In the soft blue glow of the lights October saw something move beneath the
water. He leaned in a little closer to be a better view wondering if he just
imagined it. He was beginning to think it was just a trick of the eye when the
figure flashed beneath the lights again. He could feel his heart beating fast
in his chest as he stared down at the water wondering what was beneath the
surface. He felt his heart jump when the figure suddenly broke through the
surface of the water. Alabaster's dark green eyes and his wicked smile took the
place of the creature in October's imagination. The man made smooth circles
with his arms keeping him afloat as he smiled up at October.
"What are you doing up?" Alabaster asked with an amused look on his face.
October thought about telling him the truth. Telling him about the party he was
planning on going to and about Holly-Beth. He shook it from his head; this man
was a stranger and should be treated as such. The way the man smiled though was
contagious and October couldn't help smiling back.
"Couldn't sleep" October lied with a shrug as he watched Alabaster move around
in the water. The water ran down Alabaster's bare chest and October found
himself staring. Water trickled down a lean body with muscles that made October
lick his lips. The kind of body October would like to feel above his own. He
wondered how those strong arms would feel pinning him down.
"Come swim with me then, I could use the company and the water feels amazing"
The older man said as he leaned against the pool wall. There was something so
inviting about the whole thing. October was almost embarrassed by how much he
wanted to.
"I can't swim and isn't the water cold" October said casting his eyes down, he
swallowed down his embarrassment as the look in Alabaster's eyes softened
slightly.
"It's heated, and It'll be alright, I'll hold you" And though the older man's
words made him self-conscious but the sincerity in his eyes stopped him from
declining.
"Alright, but you better not fucking drop me or I'll haunt you till you die"
October said with a nervous laugh as he stripped off his shirt and his pants.
He stood there in the cold shivering in his boxers as Alabaster held out a hand
for him to grab. As he grabbed onto Alabaster's hand he felt a nervous smile
play on his lips, it was hard to deny the feeling he had in his stomach. He
felt like one of the girls in Kate's stupid novels, all giddy and childish.
"It feels really good" October said as he lowered himself into the warm water.
Alabaster laughed as he pulled October deeper into the water. He clung to the
older man out of fear and out of love for the feel of the smooth muscles
against his own bare body.
"Lunch was fucking amazing, thank you" October said as he wrapped his legs
around the man's waist trying his best to feel secure when the water kept
getting deeper and deeper. "It must be nice to go out like that all the time"
A sad smile played on Alabaster's lips and he cast his eyes away for a moment.
"I know it's childish, but sometimes I wish I didn't have all this money. I
feel so alone sometimes. I can't tell who's here for the money, and who's here
because they care about me"
October tried to hide just how hard that hit him but he couldn't. He rested his
hands on Alabasters face and gave him the kindest smile he could manage.
"You're fucking amazing, and I would still want to be around you even if you
didn't have a dime"
Alabaster held him close as their eyes connected for a moment. October never
realized how gorgeous Alabaster's eyes were. They were the most hypnotic shade
of green. He looked into them and glanced down at the man's sexy smile, those
gorgeous lips that were only inches away from his own. The urge to connect
those lips was almost unbearable, like fire on his skin as their slick bodies
slid against each other.
Their lips touched softly at first but the kiss grew with every moment, until
it was almost rough. Their tongue slid against each other as their bodies
pressed together. October felt himself being pressed against the side of the
pool as Alabaster's hand explored his body. It was sinful the way Alabaster
kissed, a careless roughness that made October feel completely owned. He was
sure he was going to die if Alabaster kept touching him like that, but he
didn't know what to do when Alabaster stopped.
"Oh shit, I'm so sorry" Alabaster said almost tripping on his own words,
"You're so beautiful that I just couldn't help it, I don't know what came over
me. Oh shit. Please don't tell your mom, I promise I'll never let something
like that happen again. I'm so sorry."
He was so sincere that October didn't have the heart not to forgive him, and
wasn't he just as guilty. He never pushed Alabaster away or told him no. Maybe
he was tempting the older man, he shouldn't be in his boxers pressing himself
against his mother's boyfriend. Alabaster's secret was safe with him.
"It's alright, your secret's safe with me, I won't tell anyone. "
***** Jewelry *****
A week had passed and it felt like some kind of beautiful dream.
They slept in their wonderful beds inside their cozy rooms. They always had
electricity and water, and when they showered the water was always hot. They
always had heat. They were fed every morning and night. It was perfect.
They soon learned the biggest rule of the house, Stay out of Alabaster's way.
Though Alabaster never said that, their mom barked at them if they even came
within ten feet. Staying out of his way was easy enough seeing how he was very
rarely there. He was always working, morning, noon, and night. Even when he was
home he was working from his office. He was always on the phone, and when he
wasn't on the phone he was buried in files. He always smiled as he passed by,
but he never had a moment to spare. Sometimes in the middle of the night he
could be seen running across the house while buttoning his shirt. He was busy
all the time.
Their mother was always gone as well. She had new friends, high class women,
the kind of women that would have looked down on their mother just a few weeks
before. Alabaster's money was spent endlessly on all kinds of useless things.
Dresses, shoes, jewelry, perfumes… the list was endless. At times they almost
felt abandoned, but they understood the glamour their mother must be blinded
by.
They were taken care of and that was all that mattered.
Sometimes though, late at night, Alabaster would fall asleep on the futon in
his office while waiting for a phone call. October would see him through the
big glass walls and feel something pull at him. He would slip into the office
and gently shake Alabaster awake. Alabaster would softly open his eyes and just
lay there, dazing sleepily at October.
They would talk and it made October feel free. Alabaster just listened
contently without an ounce of judging in his eyes. October talked about how
much he hated pretending to be something he wasn't at school. With tears in his
eyes he would tell Alabaster how if he didn't act tough they might figure out
he was gay. Sometimes he talked about how he was afraid he was going to be
working in a factory all his life. Other times he talked about how weak he felt
sometimes and how he would give anything to be strong like his sister.
Alabaster would always say the same thing, in his warm masculine voice, "You
can always be weak with me"
It would always end the same way. Alabaster would move over and October would
lay down beside him, then the older man would hold him close until that phone
call finally came.
Sometimes whenever Kate couldn't sleep she would wander outside, and sometimes
she would find Alabaster sitting on that patio furniture staring up at the sky
with a glass of wine in his hand. They would talk pleasantly about all the
things she absolutely detested about the people from her school. She would talk
about the things that she should have done during the day, or things that she
wished she was brave enough to do.
He would sip his wine and laugh softly, always saying the same thing, "Next
time you feel like doing something do it, what are those high school brats
going to do to you that they haven't already done. "
She would laugh and think about it seriously, always responding with a, "If
only it was that easy"
For the most part he would just change the subject, but one night he said
something that Kate just couldn't get out of her head. "Most people walk around
like sheep just waiting for someone to follow, just act like you know what
you're talking about and they'll follow you to the ends of the earth"
The week went by like a blur, and at the end of it, they were in love.
Rose petals fell from the sky as the shadows around the room flickered from the
candle light. Alabaster's smooth mouth lay the softest of kisses down her
throat as he breathed the words "I love you" against her silken skin. Her
fingers tangled in his dark locks as she let out a breathy sigh, a gentle smile
playing on her lips as his mouth moved downwards. He peppered her breasts and
smooth stomach with kisses, resting his head gently on her stomach for a
moment. "You are so beautiful" he whispered but it seemed to fill the whole
room with its meaning.
The silk moved beneath them as he ran his hands down her smooth thighs. He
hooked his fingers around her panties and gently slid them down. His hypnotic
eyes connected with hers for a moment as he smiled softly, "You look just like
your mother"
Kate awoke with a start. It was all just a dream. Dreams usually meant very
little to Kate, they were just silly things the brain occupied it's self with
when she was sleeping. But she was having trouble shaking this one off. She was
feeling guilty for having feelings for Alabaster when he was dating her mother.
She wanted so badly to be in her mother's position. It wasn't right for her to
think that way. She needed to keep her distance.
She needed some air, she glanced down at the time on her cell phone, and it
glared 3:00 a.m up at her. She wondered if Alabaster was awake and outside, it
bothered her enough that she had to go check. She carefully crept down the
stairs making sure not to wake up a soul and snuck out one of the back doors.
She expected the lonely yard and the solitary moon; she didn't however expect
Hyde to be lying at her feet.
His dark tan skin seemed to almost sparkle in the light, his intricate tattoos
climbing up his arm making her wonder where they began and just where they
ended. A cigarette was in his fingers and thin tendrils of smoke escaped his
lips. His dark amber eyes were closed and when they opened it almost gave Kate
a heart attack.
The feeling seemed mutual.
"Fuck." he spat loudly as he jumped up and shoved his cigarette into the
ground, "Please, Please, Please, do not tell Alabaster I smoke. Shit."
Kate threw her hands up as if to say she was harmless, "I promise I won't tell
him, don't worry"
She took a seat a few feet away from his, sleepy enough that her shyness was
gone for a moment. She rested her elbows on her knees and her chin in her
hands, she couldn't seem to get Alabaster's kiss out of her head or her strange
dream. She just wanted a moment where there wasn't a thought in her head. Just
one. Hyde was watching her carefully as if he wasn't quite sure what to make of
the situation.
"How long has Alabaster been your stepfather?" She asked remembering that
Alabaster said three years but she wanted to hear Hyde speak for himself for
once. Hyde watched her for a moment as if trying to figure out just why she
wanted to know. He rubbed his arms to keep them warm and stared up at the sky.
"Alabaster likes to say three years, but they got married six months ago and
she died three months ago. " Hyde said as he stared up at the stars instead of
at her, after a moment of silence he turned towards her, "Is it alright if I
smoke?"
She nodded as she processed the new information. She wondered if her mother
knew the truth, but she really doubted her mom cared. It wasn't like her mom
was actually there for Alabaster.
"Does it bother you?" She asked quietly, but all she received was a shrug for a
response. She wished she had never asked, after all it was none of her
business. Hyde looked at everything except her, lighting up his cigarette and
pressing it to his lips with shaky fingers. She wondered why he didn't bring a
coat outside but it was something else that had nothing to do with her.
She watched as he took a drag and let the smoke slip from his lips. "Do you
like it here?" She asked softly, wondering if it was an appropriate question to
ask.
He shrugged again, "its better then my dad's."
"Why?" She asked knowing she was being nosy again but couldn't help it. Hyde
wasn't making it easy to get information.
"Everyone has flaws, my dad lives in his" he said flicking the ash to the
ground with another shrug. Kate wanted to ask more about his dad but knew it
was a sensitive topic she should avoid.
"So you don't like it here?" Kate asked trying to get a straight answer,
fiddling with the edge of her shirt as she did. She didn't want Hyde to get
upset at her.
"Do you like it here?" He asked turning the question towards her, his cold eyes
turning towards her for a moment as he took a long drawn out drag.
"I don't know yet. Alabaster seems nice" She said thinking about the kiss
again, she wanted nothing more then to get it out of her head.
He shrugged again and she gave up, standing up and moving to walk into the
house. He gently grabbed her by the leg, "Thank you, you're the first one to
ask"
She wondered if this was what the real Hyde was like. Avoidant and quiet. She
wanted to know if he was sad or if that was just how he always was. She wanted
to ask Alabaster about it. When she fell back asleep she didn't dream of
Alabaster, she dreamt of Hyde's cold eyes and his gentle shrugs.
October was somewhere very different.
October let out a soft groan as he was shoved against the brick wall. He tilted
his head to the side submissively so that mouth could do whatever it wanted to
his neck. It was a vicious attack on his throat, hard sucking, brutal bites,
and teasing licks. He couldn't help but moan because it felt so damn good. He
could hear Alabaster's laughter, feeling the warm breath against his slick
skin, he was being taunted. October didn't care as long as those hands kept
stroking his chest.
The voice was deep and rough in his ear, "I'm going to fuck you", it sent a
shiver down his spine and he couldn't help but moan again. He felt his jeans
being pulled down and a warm hand massaging him between his boxers. A string of
moans left his lips as the man's tongue and hand teased him. The man's mouth
stopped and he pulled away, those magnetic green eyes connecting with his own.
A sudden knocking ripped October out of his dream and into the real world. When
he realized it was a dream he groaned, Alabaster was a fucking tease, even in
his dreams.
"Come in" He shouted, firmly intent on hiding his erection beneath his thick
blankets.
After a moment or two Alabaster appeared through the curtain. He smiled, "I'm
having a party this evening and we have to go shopping for some outfits, so you
should go take a shower and get dressed."
He said it so pleasantly that October had no desire to talk back or argue. He
just nodded and said okay, waiting for the sound of the door closing before he
got up.
A quick shower and a change of clothes later October was seated in the back
seat of the car with Kate. Hyde sat in the front with a pair of headphones in
his ears, the music playing so loud that October could actually make out the
beat. Alabaster seemed to be off in his own world, that or really concentrating
on driving.
Kate leaned against his shoulder and let out a yawn, "Are you feeling alright?"
he asked her because she never acted tired this early in the day.
She smiled up at him and nodded, "I'm fine; I just had trouble sleeping last
night. I kind of miss sharing a room with you"
October nodded, because he knew exactly what she meant, he missed having
someone to talk to when he woke up in the middle of the night. She leaned
against him and napped on the way to the mall. October leaned against the
window and kept his eyes closed, pretending to nap but in reality was just
thinking.
He thought about how slick and beautiful the black leather looked but how it
wasn't as comfy as his dad's old truck.
When they arrived Alabaster handed Hyde his credit card and told him to take
October shopping for casual clothes while he went with Kate to pick out a
dress. They separated, and both of the siblings felt a sudden nervousness. Kate
frightened of the awkwardness that was bound to appear now that they were
alone. October was nervous of trying to keep a conversation with Hyde.
Kate's fears didn't seem justified, because Alabaster was as kind and charming
as ever. He talked about how he hated shopping and if he had his way he would
never get out of his pajama pants in the morning. She laughed along with him
and as he guided her along by pressing his hand against her back she could feel
his warmth through her shirt. She felt childish because of how fast her heart
was beating in her chest.
When they reached the store they were immediately spotted by someone. Alabaster
talked casually for a moment, before he mentioned looking for a dress for Kate.
The salesclerk nodded and asked for Kate's dress size, which Kate gave softly.
Kate was led into a dressing room and told to wait in there, while Alabaster
was given a chair outside the room.
Dozens and dozens of dresses her brought to her, all beautiful and elegant,
some short and others long, some smooth and others with lots of flow. She
wasn't sure what she was looking for and she was almost in a panic. She tried
on them all and gave most of them back to the salesclerk, but one caught her
eyes. It was such a simple dress, it was made of real light material and it
flowed around her knees beautifully. It was powder blue and had a ribbon that
tied into a bow in the back.
She stepped out of the dressing room nervously; terrified that Alabaster
wouldn't like it. When he saw it he smiled gently and stood from his chair. He
smoothed out the edges of her dress gently, running his hands down her waist
and hips. She felt herself moving slightly into his hold as her hands rested on
his shoulders. Their eyes met for a moment, and she was once again enthralled
by the shade of his eyes.
"You are so beautiful" he said softly and it brought her back to her dream. She
let go of his shoulders and took a few steps back, her heart beating in her
chest so loud that she swore he could hear it. She didn't notice her shoes
behind her and tripped on them. She fell to the ground in an ungraceful heap on
her back. She could hear Alabaster's laughter as he asked if she was alright,
she just nodded feeling incredibly stupid and embarrassed.
October and Hyde were having their own awkwardness.
October was quick about choosing his clothes, as if he had waited for this day
to come for a long time. Hyde followed him around dutifully, not speaking much,
except too occasionally complain about how hot it was inside the mall. It
wasn't that Hyde seemed miserable, but he just seemed kind of out of it. As if
he was just going through the motions of everyday life, an actor. October
didn't like the older boy, but was pleasant if only for Alabaster's sake.
After the finished up at the third store they had been at, October turned
towards Hyde and said the first thing they had agreed about the whole day, "I
could really use a fucking smoke." He could practically see Hyde's eyes light
up at the mention of nicotine. They went around to the back of the mall,
leaning against a wall. They both pulled out their own cigarettes and lit them.
The first thing they had in common.
"Shit, I didn't ever peg you for a smoker. How does Alabaster feel about it?"
October asked as he took a drag, the nicotine swimming in his system
pleasantly. Hyde seemed like he was in ecstasy, his eyes closed light and his
cigarette pressed against his lips.
"He would slit my throat if he ever figured out that I still smoke "He said as
he let the smoke leave his lips, "I'm assuming your not going to tattle tell"
"I'm not a fucking rat or anything, it's just hard to picture Alabaster mad"
October said as he took another drag. "The man's got like one emotion, happy"
Hyde shrugged slightly and casts his eyes down to the ground, "You don't know
him quite as well as I do." He looked as though he was going to say more but
was cut off by the sound of his cell phone ringing. He answered, listening
quietly and occasionally making a soft sound to show that he was listening. He
ended the call with a soften spoken, "Yes, Sir"
"Alabaster is ready to trade off now" Hyde said as he tossed his cigarette to
the ground and put it out with the bottom of his shoe.
The siblings felt a whole new round of nervousness as they were traded off.
October couldn't get the image of Alabaster in the pool out of his head. His
slick muscles and that devilish grin that was on his face. It made his blood
hot just thinking about it. He wanted to tell the poor man that his mother was
just using him for his money, because it was the truth. Then the man wouldn't
feel so bad about letting him taste those lips again.
"I need a new dress shirt, so if you don't mind I'm going to share a dressing
room with you" Alabaster asked with a gentle smile, and October nodded quickly,
anything to see Alabaster shirtless.
October tried on countless things. He wasn't quite sure what he was doing, but
he listened very closely to Alabaster's offhanded comments. He went by the
occasional, "Very classic", or "you might need one a little smaller." He wasn't
willing to tell Alabaster that he had no idea what he was doing, but he made
sure to listen to every tiny bit of advice Alabaster said.
"Alabaster does this look alright" he asked gently as he adjusted his tie in
the mirror. Alabaster walked over, his shirt completely unfastened, his chest
bare and so close that October could feel the heat off of him.
"You look incredible" Alabaster said softly as October's hands rested on the
older man's hips. He could see Alabaster's intense eyes linger on his lips; he
couldn't help but lick them and watch the desire in the man's eyes grow. Their
eyes connected, and Alabaster's were so smoldering that October couldn't seem
to look away. He pressed his body against the older man's as if trying to meld
them together into one.
"I want you" The words fell from October's lips, and though he was ashamed of
his words they thrilled him. "I don't give a fuck if your dating my mom" he
truly didn't, he had seen plenty of men used by their mother without a second
thought. He saw nothing wrong with getting a little something out of this one
too.
He leaned up to kiss the older man, passionate and dirty, not a gentle thing
about it. Their lips clashed and their tongues slid together. October's hands
burying themselves in Alabaster's hair and Alabaster busied himself with
October's neck.
As the Alabaster's slick tongue trailed its way up October's neck his nimble
fingers quickly dealt with the button and zipper to October's pants. His pants
were pushed down out of the way along with October's boxers. In the back of
October's head he knew he should protest, but the idea of Alabaster touching
his cock completely erased any feelings of guilt.
Alabaster's nimble fingers started gently stroking and touching October's cock
as his mouth connected with October's. Their tongues slid together lazily as
Alabaster's other hand began to gently touch October's balls. Alabaster sucked
on October's bottom lip as he ran his nails lightly down the boy's cock.
October was almost ashamed that all this light touching got him so aroused.
The very tip of Alabaster's finger circled around October's sensitive head
causing him to gasp sharply. "Sensitive?" Alabaster asked teasingly as his
whole hand wrapped around October's cock and began to stroke him. October's
breathing became a little harder as he pressed himself against the wall for
balance. He never wanted it to stop. Alabaster was kissing him again but he
couldn't focus enough to kiss back, all he could focus on was the hand stroking
and squeezing him.
He felt like he was going to cry when the hand stopped. He watched with half
lidded eyes as Alabaster spat on his hands. It was disgusting, and so unlike
Alabaster, but it had to be the kinkiest thing October had ever seen. And when
Alabaster's newly slicked hands began to twist on his cock his appreciation for
Alabaster's spit came out in the form of a moan.
One of the hands started stroking him again as the other started pulling gently
and softly massaging his balls. October tossed his head to one side and then
the other, grasping as the wall with his hands, wanting something to hang onto.
He settled for wrapping them around Alabaster's neck and burying his face into
his chest. His legs were shaky but strong enough to keep him standing as
Alabaster began to quicken the pace of his strokes.
"Fuck" October mumbled into Alabasters chest as the older man kept squeezing
and stroking, harder and faster. He could feel his toes curling inside his
shoes. His bit down hard on Alabaster's chest as he felt his legs tensing, he
was almost there, just a little more. "Close" he managed to mumble, knowing
that Alabaster probably wouldn't appreciate cum all over his expensive pants.
One of Alabaster's hands kept stroking while the other one pulled a
handkerchief out of his pants pocket. All October could think about was how
good it felt when he came. Later he would be embarrassed about how much he
came, and how hard he came, but for a moment all he could think was how it felt
so good he could cry. He leaned against Alabaster for a moment, gently panting
in the other man's ear as the older man ran his fingers through October's hair.
Hyde wanted to die, from the looks of it. He never said a word about it to
Kate, but Kate knew. He followed her around with a grimace from store to store.
Asking like a gentlemen to hold her bags while she shopped, which she allowed
him too after he persisted. After they finished shopping Hyde took her to get
her makeup and hair done, which Kate loved and Hyde hated.
After Kate got her makeup and hair done she was walking on clouds. Every time
she passed by a mirror she couldn't help but smile at herself. She felt
beautiful. Her hair was done in stunning ringlets and her face done with very
natural colors. Hyde walked along side her, seemingly in a worse mood then
ever.
"I don't see why girls wear makeup, it's not like guys actually look at your
face anyways" Hyde said with a bitter look on his face as he slid his hands
into his pocket. He was obviously not enjoying life at that moment.
"I don't see why boys get tattoos" Kate said irritably, not seeing why he felt
the need to rain on her parade. After a few moments of frowning he just
laughed. It was probably the first time she had ever heard his laugh and it
made her smile. She wanted to make him laugh some more but she didn't have
anything more to say. So she just committed the sound to memory, to remind
herself that it is possible.
"What are Alabaster's parties like?" Kate asked as she walked along, no longer
bothered by Hyde's horrible mood but no longer excited about her hair and
makeup. She was nervous, terribly nervous; she could feel the anxiety crawling
through her. She knew it was going to be a bunch of rich people in their best
clothing and makeup, speaking beautiful things to each other that Kate wouldn't
ever understand. She felt like throwing up. She didn't want to embarrass
Alabaster.
"Just a bunch of rich drunk people kissing Alabaster's ass. It's really not
that big of a deal." Hyde said just as they spotted Alabaster and October
walking towards them. "Just don't worry about it"
Kate did worry about it though; it was all she could think about all day. When
it finally came time to go downstairs she stood in front of the mirror looking
at herself. She felt beautiful, as if there was no way on earth she could ever
look better then she did in that moment, but she still didn't feel good enough.
She had seen the women her mother hung out with now, boob jobs and tummy tucks.
They were gorgeous.
When her brother walked into the bathroom she smiled. He looked wonderful too.
Though it was so strange to see him in a suit with his hair combed so neatly.
He looked in the mirror and smoothed out his suit.
He was thinking the same thing that Kate was; did they look good enough for
Alabaster? They didn't know how closely related their feelings were. The
anxiety and pure adrenaline rushing through their bodies as they thought about
the way Alabaster held them. The mixture of disgust and pure happiness. The
urge to confess all their sins and the urge to keep it their own little dirty
secrets.
"Do you like my dress?" She asked as she played with her hair, as if moving a
few strands would really make a difference.
"I love it" October said with a gentle smile, trying to hide his own
insecurity.
They walked out into the hallway together, where they just caught Hyde leaving
his own bedroom. He was in a beautiful suit of his own, his dark hair combed
and the irritation on his face even more clear. When Hyde spotted them he put
on his best fake smile and walked with them down the stairs. He mumbled
something like, "Please kill me", under his breath as they reached the bottom
of the stairs.
The great room was decorated beautifully, and filled with beautiful men and
women in gorgeous dresses and suits. Striking music filled the room but they
couldn't find the source. There was dancing and laughing, drinking and talking.
They suddenly felt so out of place they felt like they might die.
"The game is simple, always stay in Alabaster's sight and if anyone approaches
you just talk about really pleasant things" Hyde said as he looked around for
Alabaster, " These are the people that make Alabaster rich, their all fucking
snakes and bitches, but they're the reason Alabaster is so successful so just
be nice"
They followed Hyde's advice and stayed in a group within five feet of
Alabaster, close enough that they could hear every word that Alabaster said.
Alabaster was being as charming as ever to the dozens of people that came to
tell him what a wonderful party it was. Hyde would whisper things about ever
single one of them, like whether they were an alcoholic, or if they were gay,
or having an affair.
It was a lot of fun until a certain man showed up.
They spotted the man from across the room; he stood out like a sore thumb.
Surrounded by thousand dollar suits, this man was only wearing jeans and an
unbuttoned black over shirt. His muscular chest was on display as though he was
at a rock concert instead of a surrounded by the riches people in the state.
The whole room was staring at him but he didn't seem to notice. Kate and
October kept watching him, knowing that the man looked incredibly familiar but
not being able to place where they saw him before.
The man strolled straight up to Alabaster so unlike the dozens of other people
who politely greeted Alabaster before even coming close. He flashed a grin and
rested his hand of Alabaster's cheek, "It's good to see you, it feels like it's
been forever" The man's voice was deep and resonant and so very much like
Alabaster's own, except there was a dark tint to this man's. The voice of a
predator. Alabaster smiled gently before taking a half step back to give them
some distance. Never once being unpleasant or acting as if it bothered him.
They suddenly realized why the man looked so familiar; he was almost a carbon
copy of Alabaster. Though his hair was longer, and while Alabaster's was
carefully slicked back the other man let it do as it liked. It was in their
eyes though; they both had the same startling green eyes.
"Hello Brian" Alabaster said smoothly with that same smile, slow and lazy,
gentle as if trying to put the other at ease.
Hyde turned towards Kate and October, who were watching carefully, "That's
Alabaster's older brother" He whispered quietly.
"Hyde, Kate, October, come over here for a moment please" Alabaster said very
pleasantly, and though they didn't want to they all did as they were told and
came along beside them. All of them hidden partly behind Alabaster as if he was
a barrier between them and the new stranger. "This is my brother Brian, Brian
this is Kate and October, you already know Hyde"
Brian shook all three of their hands but held onto Hyde's a little longer, "Of
course I know Hyde, your getting older every day" he said with a kind of
malicious glint in his eye that gave his perfectly harmless words a hint of
bitterness. A look of irritation quickly played on Hyde's face.
"I could say the same for you; don't you think it's about time you get a job?"
Hyde said bitterly causing the other man to laugh. Alabaster rested his hand on
Hyde's shoulder gently, and as if it were a code, Hyde immediately stopped
tensing and uncurled his fists.
"My old man made my life a living hell, might as well milk his money dry now
that he's gone" Brian said as he cast his eyes towards Alabaster, "After all we
couldn't all be daddy's favorite"
Alabaster smiled softly as he cast his eyes down at the floor and then back up
at Brian, not an ounce of irritation coming off of him. "Father loved us
equally, he just saw a little bit of himself in me, and he didn't see it in
you"
Though Brian's irritation was clear he smiled the same exact smile that
Alabaster's did, it was eerie, "Water under the bridge little brother," His
bright green eyes then turned towards Kate and October who were standing
quietly trying to blend into the background, "Let's talk about your
girlfriend's beautiful children instead"
"I get along with Kate and October wonderfully" Alabaster said smiling tenderly
at them as he spoke. Kate could feel her heart beating rapidly as she blushed
at the comment. October couldn't help but smile as the words slid across him,
though he was no where as near affect by them as Kate was.
"I can see why" His eyes resting on Kate's chest with a dirty smile and then
looking over towards October, "No wonder your dating their mom"
Alabaster's smile died on his face and for the first time they saw a genuine
look of irritation. He grabbed Brian's wrist roughly and turned towards them
and said in a calm tone, "We'll be back in just a moment." They watched as
Alabaster dragged the other man through the crowd, still flashing a smile with
anyone that met his eyes. Brian laughing the whole way.
Both Kate and October turned towards Hyde, who always seemed to know exactly
what was going on. Hyde just sighed irritably, "I hate that man so much. If he
keeps fucking with Alabaster like that one day Alabaster's going to snap"
"Do they fight a lot like that?" Kate asked feeling worried for Alabaster; she
didn't want him to go in the other room with the man. Especially if he caused
that much stress. October was interested in what Alabaster was like when he was
angry. Hyde kept talking about Alabaster if he was something to be feared,
October wanted to see it. The curiosity was killing him.
"If they didn't fight they wouldn't ever talk to each other"
"What's the story between them?" October asked watching as Brian and Alabaster
disappeared down a hall on the other side of the room. The man's word rang
through his head, borderline offensive, but he shook them off the best he
could. The man was clearly insane. He had never seen Alabaster that upset
before. Kate was thinking about the same thing but she kept remembering what
the man said about Alabaster's father. She wanted to know if she would ever get
to hear the full story from Alabaster.
"Not my story to tell" Hyde said as he cast his eyes down to the ground and
shoved his hands in his pocket, "You'll have to ask Alabaster later"
The curiosity was killing October to the point where it was all that he could
think about, so he excused himself to go to the bathroom and set out looking
for the two. He went down the hall he had watched them escape down earlier,
knowing in the back of his mind that this hall led to Alabaster's bedroom but
he had never gone down it before.
It started out as mumbling but the farther down the hall he went the clearer
the words were. Until he was right in front of the door, the only thing
separating them was several inches of thick wood.
A loud bang against the wall almost scared the shit out of him; he could feel
his heart beating rapidly in his chest. "If you fuck this up for me I swear to
god I'll slit your throat" It was Alabaster's voice but in a way he had never
heard it before, it was almost a whisper and spoken so coldly October felt
chills down his spine. He swallowed hard and felt fear gripping at him even
though he wasn't even the one in trouble.
Gasping could be heard as if Alabaster had been choking him the whole time.
Finally Brian managed to catch his breath and muttered bitterly, "Sorry to mess
with your new toys"
Alabaster voice could be heard again, and the deep masculine tone that had once
come off as sexy came off as terrifying. "Get Out"
October scrambled back down the hall terrified that he would get caught ease
dropping. He made it a new goal to never make Alabaster mad, because the man
was fucking bloodcurdling when he got upset. He rejoined Kate and Hyde, trying
to act normal while all he could think about was how scary Alabaster had
seemed. He knew it should be a character flaw, but all he could think about was
how thrilling the whole thing was. Alabaster was terrible sweet, but the power
that he had shown a few moments ago seemed to add a whole new level of sexiness
to him that October couldn't quite understand.
They talked casually for a while, all of them noticing when Brian left the
party and Alabaster appeared again. He seemed completely normal, just as smiley
as ever, if anything was bothering him he didn't seem to show it. There mother,
who had been missing for most of the party, was standing by his side. She
looked beautiful in her evening gown, practically sparkling, and her smile
seemed right at home with Alabaster's.
"Can I have your attention for a moment" Alabaster smooth voice cut through the
chatter like a knife and suddenly there wasn't a word being spoken. Alabaster
smiled charmingly before laughing gently, "This woman is my world, I can't even
find the words to describe how much I love her"
Their mother laughed softly as a blush colored her cheeks. The look of pure
surprise and joy completely overtook her features as he got down on his knees
and pulled a ring box from his pocket. He opened it exposing a beautiful ring
that shinned underneath the lights, "Will you marry me?" he asked as he looked
up at her.
"Yes, oh god yes" She said as he slipped the ring on her finger, the ring box
fell to the ground as he stood and captured her in a kiss. The whole room
erupted into claps and cheers. October and Kate just watched in shock, not
quite sure what to make of the new information. They were suddenly filled with
so many emotions they weren't sure what to feel.
They were happy for a moment for their mother, because they had never seen her
so happy in their entire lives. Then for a moment they were disgusted with
themselves. October horrified at the action he had just committed a few hours
ago. Kate guilty of the thoughts she had. Then for a moment they were happy,
because they would be able to spend more time in this house where they were
always warm and fed. Where they never had to wonder where the next dollar was
coming from.
And when they were done feeling all of this they both felt something they
didn't think they ever would. They felt hurt, as if they couldn't understand
how Alabaster could love their mother enough to marry her when they thought he
loved them. They didn't realize that they shared these feelings, and for a
moment in time they both felt alone. Because the biggest secret they had they
couldn't share with the only person in the world they trusted. They were alone.
The party passed by in a blur, everyone congratulating the happy couple and
drinking themselves stupid. Alabaster who was usually the life of the party
stepped down to give their mother a few moments of fame. She was glowing as
they asked her questions about how she met Alabaster and if they planned on
having children. Alabaster stood next to her with his hand on her shoulder, so
loving and supportive.
Kate and October didn't say a word the rest of the night. They didn't notice
each others silence because they were both caught up in their own heads. They
were nothing but glad when Hyde told them that they should probably retire for
bed.
They both went to their separate beds, thinking that if this was about anything
else they would curl up together and cry.
October stripped off his suit and hung it up in his closet before crawling in
his bed. He had retrieved his water bottle of vodka from his back pack and
drank it slowly as he curled himself in his blankets. He drank more of it then
he should have. He had never in his life thrown up because of drinking, but he
felt so incredibly close. The world was spinning and he felt sleepy, his
blankets so warm and comfortable he couldn't fight their pull.
He was in a state somewhere between asleep and awake when a figure appeared
through the curtain. It was enough to make him slowly open his eyes and close
them. A part of him knew that he should get up and hide his vodka but he was so
tired and he just didn't care anymore. He felt the figure crawl into bed beside
him. He could smell the figure's cologne and it was so familiar, so inviting.
"Alabaster" he mumbled softly as he rubbed his eyes a little, "I'm really
fucking upset at you" he said, but his words were so filled with sleep and hurt
that they didn't come off as angry. It sounded like he was about to cry.
"I know" Alabaster said tenderly as he brushed the hair off of October's
forehead, "But I had to do it" October turned so that he was facing Alabaster
fully, half irritated that the man thought he had an excuse good enough and
half hoping that he did. "If I had broken up with your mother she would never
let us be together, and all she wants out of me is my money we're not really in
love, if I marry her then I can be with you"
October's cynical nature was keeping the words from sinking it, but when
Alabaster pulled a jewelry box out of his pocket he felt his heart jump.
Alabaster opened it to reveal a beautiful watch; he gently lifted it out and
slid it on October's wrist. "To help you remember that I'm always thinking
about you"
Alabaster kissed him gently, and the pulled October into his arms and held him
there until October fell into a deep slumber.
Kate had crawled into bed as well but without any liquor to sooth her pain she
sobbed quietly in the dark. Eventually she cried herself into a light restless
sleep. She awoke every ten minutes or so, frustrated and irritated, and just as
upset. She curled up in her blankets until they were so tight she could barely
move and stared at the wall wondering why she was so devastated.
In the middle of the night she was a figure slowly walk into her room. She
already knew who it was by their walk and by their quiet footsteps. "Alabaster"
she said gently, her voice raspy from sleep and crying.
"Kate" He said gently as he sat down beside where she laid, "I came to explain"
"You don't have to" Kate said gently as a few tears slid down her cheek, "You
don't owe me any explanations, I just let myself think that you might like
me…like a girlfriend or something. I'm sorry it was just a stupid girlish
crush"
"Oh no baby, I do like you like that" He said gently and she felt a few more
tears escape, "I did this for us. If I broke up with your mother we could never
be together, this way I can be with you. All your mother wants from me is my
money, she doesn't love me and I don't love her"
"Really?" She asked as she looked up at him with hope and tears in her eyes.
"Yes" He said as he pulled out a jewelry box from his pocket, he opened it and
pulled a beautiful necklace from it. He pushed he hair aside and kissed her
neck gently as he fastened the necklace around her neck. "To help you remember
that I'm always thinking about you"
Their lips collided in a kiss and Kate felt truly happy for a moment.
Everything was perfect.
***** Pain *****
Another two days past by before their eyes. So fast that all they wanted to do
was grasp at their days and hold them close. Every day felt like the best day
of their lives and all they could think about was being this happy forever.
Monday came before they were ready for it. They both reluctantly got ready for
school, prepared to miss Alabaster all day long. However a kind of thrill was
rushing through them as they wore their brand new clothes. They felt as though
somehow these new clothes made them better then they were before. October had
spent hours thinking about what it would be like to have the same clothes the
other kids had. Kate couldn't count the times she walked home in the winter in
a t-shirt and shorts. October would never be teased again, and Kate would never
spend another day cold.
They walked out into the hall together to find Hyde exiting the door at the
very end of the hall. They never really thought much about the door before. It
was just there. Unused. They thought it was probably a linen closet or
something equally uninteresting, but now it had their attention.
"Hey, Hyde, what's in that room?" Kate asked as he took a key out of his pocket
and locked it up.
"Nothing Much, just stuff from Alabaster's work, nothing that would interest
you." Hyde said as he shoved the key back in his pocket,"It's off limits to
everyone except Alabaster and I"
Disappointed by his boring answer they turned their attention to him. He was in
nothing but a wife beater and jeans again, but they both found that the look
suited him better more and more. Every time October saw Hyde he tried to find
the time to count all of his tattoos. Kate seemed more interested in trying to
figure out what they meant, if they meant anything at all.
"Alabaster asked me to drive you guys to school this morning" Hyde said with a
shrug and a yawn, looking like he could use a couple extra hours of sleep. Kate
felt sleepy just looking at him. "Let's get some breakfast first though, or I'm
going to starve to death before I ever get you there"
Both Kate and October were finding that they liked Hyde a little more each time
they spoke to him. He was quiet and bitter sometimes, but they still found
themselves growing attached.
They walked to the breakfast room together, where they knew their mother and
Alabaster would be. However they seemed to have another man with them. He was
sitting across from Alabaster in a suit and holding several large folders of
papers.
When Alabaster saw them come in he motioned for them to come in and sit. "This
is my lawyer, George Hurst, George these are my new children Kate and October.
You of course have already met my son Hyde"
The man now called George Hurst stood up and shook all of their hands. "Good to
meet you Kate and October, and good to see you again Hyde"
Alabaster took a bite of the biscuit on his plate and then a sip of his coffee
before speaking again. " After all the trouble I had adopting Hyde after his
mother died, I decided I would be better off getting all of this done now
instead of waiting until it's too late"
It felt so official and permanent that the two children couldn't help but
smile. For the first time in their life something seemed like it wasn't going
to disappear. It was going to happen. They ate their breakfast with a smile as
they watched Alabaster and the lawyer talk about wills and stepparent
adoptions.
Their mother leaned in towards October and Kate, a large smile on her face. "We
choose a date last night, we're getting married exactly a month from next
Friday."
"That's really close Mom, I thought weddings took like a lot of planning and
stuff" Kate said quietly knowing how busy Alabaster was there was no way he was
going to have time to do it in a month.
"Alabaster told me that I can make all the preparations" Their mom said with a
look of joy, they could practically feel the excitement off of her. "I already
got permission to fly to France this afternoon with four of my friends to go
wedding and bridesmaid dress shopping. We're going to stay until Friday."
A part of them was really excited for their mother. Kate however could feel
something pull at her, because shouldn't a mother want their daughter to take
part in something like that. October could feel anger pulling at him, because
their mother never thought to say something to them. If they would have ridden
the bus like they had planned they would have never been told until it was
already too late.
They just smiled though and ate their breakfast. Whenever Hyde was done eating,
he drove them to school in his beautiful car and suddenly they felt the amazing
in their new clothes again.
Kate actually talked to her piers. They all complimented her on her new clothes
and she thanked them all. She would always compliment them back in some way and
they would talk about where they bought it and how much it costs. She never
picked up her tattered paperback book, because she was so busy talking and she
never once missed it.
Boys smiled at her in the hallways and for once she smiled back.
Everything was wonderful until Gym. She walked into the gym and everyone was
staring at her and whispering to each other. She thought for a moment it was
just her paranoia but after a moment people started coming up to her. They
always said the same thing, "I'm sorry to hear about Peter."
She would always ask what happened and they would just leave without a word.
They kept doing this until she felt like she wanted to scream. Finally she
practically begged a girl to tell her what was going on.
"Didn't you hear" The look on the girl's face was pure awkwardness, as if she
hated the fact that she was going to be the one that had to tell Kate. "Friday
night Peter tried to commit suicide, he's in the hospital right now"
It took a minute to hit her; she walked back a few feet and just stood there.
Feeling absolutely nothing for a moment except shock. Then slowly it started to
sink in. She thought about Peter's kind face and his sweet nature. She thought
about all the people who teased him and excluded him. Suddenly the image of him
lying on the ground in a puddle of blood came to mind and she thought she was
going to be sick.
With tears in her eyes she asked the gym teacher if she could use the restroom.
The gym teacher nodded knowing exactly what was going on. Everyone knew before
Kate did. She ran into the locker room and hid in one of the bathroom stalls.
She curled up into a ball and started sobbing. How could a day so perfect be
ruined so quickly?
She tried to tell herself that it was okay because he didn't die but she
couldn't help but think that she wasn't enough. She wasn't enough to make him
want to stay alive. She didn't bother trying to wipe her tears away.
She stayed that way all hour long.
Towards the end of the hour all the girls swarmed in the locker room doing
their best to get dressed before the bell rang. She debating leaving her hiding
place, and getting dressed but she just couldn't find the strength. All she
wanted to do was not exist, just for a moment or two, just long enough to
breathe.
She just wanted to pause life for a moment, as if it were a movie or video
game. She needed a break.
Amongst all of the chatter of the girls Kate heard one voice that seemed to
stand out. Ashley's. "I would try to kill myself too if I was that ugly"
Ashley's friends cackling could be heard and Kate saw red. For a moment she
thought she was actually capable of murder.
She stormed out of the stall and came straight up to Ashley. She saw the fear
flash in Ashley's eyes as she remembered what happened the last time Kate had
that look on her face. It didn't stop her from punching the girl in the face as
hard as she could. The tiny girl let out a cry as she held her now bleeding
nose.
"You narcissistic little cunt," Kate spat out bitterly,"I hope you burn in
hell, you fucking whore"
Ashley looked up at her with anger and tears in her eyes, but she swallowed
down anything she wanted to say. The girls around her just stared, not saying a
word.
Except one.
A senior that only had one class with Kate,Kate didn't even know her name. Her
hair was bleach blonde with lime green streaks. Her make up matched her hair,
just as lime green and bright. It captured attention. Her lip was pierced and
so was her tongue. Kate wondered if she would ever have the courage to look so
bold.
"You look like you could use a cigarette sugar" The girl said as she wrapped
her arm around Kate and pulled her gently in the other direction. Kate didn't
smoke but she just nodded and let the girl take her away before she did
something she would regret.
They went behind the gym and into the baseball field behind the school. They
hid in the dugouts. If it had been any other day Kate would have been worried
about getting caught, but at that moment all she wanted was to never go back to
school again.
"My name's Erica by the way" The girl said before biting her lip and pulling
out two cigarettes from the pack in her pocket. She handed one to Kate and slid
the other between her fingers before pulling out a lighter. She looked up at
Kate with dull green eyes as she lit the cigarettes up.
"Kate" She said with a nod as she pressed the cigarette to her lips like she
had seen her brother do a thousand times. One cigarette never got anyone
addicted and she just wanted the calming effect her brother swore they had.
She took a drag and wondered if she was doing it right for a moment. She opened
her mouth and watched the smoke escape. She didn't feel anything at all. So she
took another drag.
"That was pretty bad ass back there" Erica said as she took a drag herself, she
closed her eyes and let out a sigh as if it were the most relaxing thing she
had ever experienced.
"Thanks" Kate shrugged and wondered if she was sounding rude. She decided she
really didn't care. Her heart was still pounding and she couldn't get Peter off
of her mind.
"Do you wanna just cut class? My house is like a block away from here and we
can just chill out there" Erica said as she took another drag. Kate nodded
because she wanted nothing more then to leave that god awful place. She didn't
think about the consequences.
Erica's house reminded Kate of her old trailer. Broken windows with cardboard
taped over them, beer bottles thrown around,and overflowing ash trays. She
wondered if her trailer had smelled the same way Erica's house did.
"Where are your parents?" Kate asked as she watched Erica walk into the kitchen
and pull two beers from her fridge. It was freezing cold as it was thrust into
her hands but after a moment it became bearable.
"A couple hundred miles west, I live with my boyfriend David" The girl said as
she plopped down on her couch and opened up her beer. Kate opened hers up and
just stared down at it, thinking about how her mother got when she drank and
wondering if she would be the same way.
Kate took a drink of it, wanting to gag at the taste, she wasn't sure if she
was going to be able to finish hers. She must have been quiet for a minute
because Erica seemed uncomfortable. "Do you have a boyfriend?" Erica asked with
a smile as she fiddled with a loose string on her shirt.
"Yeah" Kate said before she could stop herself, "But he's married." She had
been holding it in so long, wanting to badly to tell anyone, it just sort of
slipped out. It felt good though, even though she was terrified of what this
stranger thought.
"Forbidden fruit" Erica said with and laugh, and Kate laughed too the
nervousness making almost everything funny. "Is he sexy?"
"Unbelievably so" Kate said thinking about Alabaster gorgeous smile. "His wife
is gorgeous though, I can't even compete with her"
Erica looked at Kate for a moment, and Kate was glad she was wearing her new
clothes that actually fit her body properly. "I think you've got the candy, you
just need to find the right wrapper"
Erica sat up and walked into the other room, after a moment she came back with
something in her hands. She tossed it to Kate and Kate smoothed it out to see
what it was. It was a skirt and the fabric felt smooth and soft on her fingers.
"Try it on, I promise not to look at you until you've got them on" Erica said
as she sat back down and began drinking her beer again. Kate slipped off her
jeans and slid on the skirt. She felt so insecure. It barely covered her butt
let alone her legs.
"That'll get his attention, he won't even be able to think about his wife"
They talked until it was time to go back to school. Kate had never felt so
young in her whole life. She always felt like she was a little older then her
piers but she suddenly felt like a teenager when she was with Erica. And for
the first time she had a female friend.
If she would have remembered Peter, she would have felt bad about how easily
she forgot him.
For once October was the one at school.
Though no one would ever accuse October of being a good student. October and a
couple of his friends spent all of their last period in the bathroom drinking
and smoking. They were teasing Rhett mercilessly over him not drinking and
mocking Danny-Boy's new hair cut. It was all in good fun, and Rhett was
laughing just as hard as they rest of them. October could tell that it was
getting to Danny-Boy though.
It was unbelievably boring.
"Hey October," Rhett said with a little irritation in his voice, it took
October a second but he realized that Rhett had been trying to get his
attention for a while.
"What?" October said as he took another swig of vodka, trying to play off how
distracted he was. He couldn't get his mind off Alabaster.
"You should come over to my house today, Holly-Beth is dying to see you, and I
have something to show you" Rhett said as he took a drag from his cigarette and
gave October a smile that seemed to set him on fire.
"Alright, I'll just walk home with you guys after school" October said as he
took another swig, suddenly knowing that he wasn't going to make it through
unless he was drunk. If it was even possible for October to tell Rhett no, he
certainly couldn't turn down Holly-Beth in front of all of his friends.
The day went by fast, every second of it October worried about Holly-Beth and
how she was going to act. He knew that she was going to want to fool around. A
part of him wanted to just break up with her and get it over with but another
part of him couldn't do it. He knew how sad she would be and how the whole
school would wonder why he broke up with such a beautiful perfect girl. They
would figure out about him.
He made a plan. He was going to go through with whatever she wanted to do but
be as drunk as possible during. A part of him felt guilty, but another part of
him knew there was no other way he could go through with it.
He walked home with them that afternoon and they talked about everything.
Mostly though, October's new house and family. He didn't talk much about
Alabaster,because he was afraid his words might reveal something. He described
Hyde though, and talked about his new room and his maid.
They went past their mom, who was rolling cigarettes on their kitchen table,
and into their tiny room. Holly-Beth and Rhett took a seat on the bed while
October took a seat on a cooler that doubled as a chair.
October never really realized how much a like Rhett and Holly-Beth looked like
until he saw them so close together. It wasn't like Kate and October, who were
twins but didn't really look that much alike. No, there was no denying Rhett
and Holly-Beth were related.
Holly Beth was gorgeous, but there was no denying she was a teenager. Her
blonde hair was cut short and had her bangs were dyed black. Her eyeliner was
on thick and her eyeshadow dark, it took away from her green eyes. Her boobs
were practically spilling out of her too tight shirt and every time she moved
her shirt lifted up to show her bellybutton piercing.
Rhett was the same though in a more masculine fashion. His hair was dyed all
the way black. A black t-shirt hugged his form, displaying some band October
had never heard of. October couldn't stop staring as Rhett pulled his leather
jacket off. His arms were gorgeous and decorated with all sorts of tattoos. His
eyes were what really got to October though, something in them just screamed
sex. It reminded him of Alabaster's eyes in a way.
October took a swig from his vodka bottle, trying to figure out how much he
could drink without getting sick. He had been drinking little bits all day,
though he felt almost completely sober. He liked the warmth in his chest
though, and he could feel his cheeks getting flushed.
Rhett pulled out a bottle of vodka from beneath their bed, there was barely any
in the bottle but it was enough for Holly-Beth to get a swig. Rhett didn't
drink much, he didn't like the feeling of it.
They smoked and talked, about pretty much everything. Holly-Beth was debating
getting her nipple pierced and Rhett wanted a new tattoo. Both spent a good
hour trying to convince October that a tattoo on his arm would be sexy. The
more they talked to the more October drank.
It seemed to all blend in together. He wasn't quite sure what time it was. It
felt incredibly late, but he knew it couldn't be as late as it felt. He was
feeling a little sick to his stomach. However everything Holly-Beth and Rhett
said was hilarious and he suddenly didn't feel so self-conscious.
October got up towards the middle of their conversation because he had to pee.
He tripped on the way out of the room and had to catch himself on the wall.
Rhett laughed and October was too drunk to be embarrassed. "If you drink much
more October, I'll just have to take advantage of you." Rhett laughed and
October laughed, but Holly-Beth didn't laugh she just glared at her brother.
The whole world knew that Rhett was bisexual. He openly flaunted it. Rhett was
the kind of guy that could get away with just about anything. October equally
hated and loved him for it. While October would be openly shamed and humiliated
for being gay, Rhett could be whatever he pleased. October once saw a guy make
fun of Rhett and end up bleeding from the mouth by the time Rhett was done with
him. Rhett had respect.
One time when October was drunk and high he confessed to Rhett that he had
thoughts about boys sometimes. Rhett had been looking at him a little different
ever since.
Holly-Beth did not appreciate these looks.
When October got back from the bathroom they were both sitting on the floor
smoking. Rhett held it out for October, and it took October a moment to realize
it wasn't a cigarette. He laughed a little too much before pressing the joint
to his lips and taking a drag.
October never really liked weed all that much. He only smoked it when he was
around Rhett. Holly-Beth however would choose to spend her whole life high if
she could.
After a good twenty minutes of sitting around talking, mostly about what he
missed at Danny-Boy's party, Rhett's phone rang. He answered and after several,
"fine"s, "whatever"s, and "what the hell"s he shut his phone.
"I'll be back in like fifteen minutes, I have to go drive Danny-Boy to the
store." He said as he stood up and grabbed his wallet and car keys off the bed.
"Make sure October doesn't drink too much more, he's already drunk off his ass"
Whenever Rhett disappeared October was left vulnerable and at Holly-Beth's
mercy. Holly-Beth climbed onto his lap and October laughed awkwardly, his head
spinning so much that every little movement felt like he was falling.
Holly-Beth kissed him and for a moment he didn't even realize what was going
on. After a few seconds he started kissing back, his tongue sliding against
hers, all he could think about was how Alabaster kissed better then her. He
ignored the sickening feeling in his stomach that told him this wasn't right.
She pulled his hair gently as her mouth traveled down his throat, sucking and
licking gently. Her hips slowly rocking against him creating a pleasant
friction. He closed his eyes and pretended it was Alabaster who was grinding so
sweetly against him.
As she moved back up and their tongues collided again her hand went between
them and started rubbing October through his jeans. It was Alabaster's hand on
him, and behind his closed eyes all he could imagine was the smoldering look
that would be in Alabaster's eyes.
He opened his eyes at the sound of the button on his jeans popping, but he
closed them after a second. He giggled obscenely at the feel of her cold hand
inside his boxers. She just shook her head and laughed too, "you're so drunk"
She said but it didn't stop her from grabbing onto his cock. He closed his eyes
even tighter as if it would somehow make her shut up, it pulled him out of his
fantasy every time she spoke.
It was Alabaster's hand stroking him, gently teasing him, because that's all
that could describe the hand job in comparison to Alabaster's. A mean tease. He
laughed out loud at this thought, and could hear Holly-Beth snicker at him. The
more she stroked him the more into fantasy he became, he could practically hear
Alabaster's resonant voice whispering in his ear.
"Holly-Beth get your ass in here" Holly-Beth's mother screamed from somewhere
else in the house. October was quickly ripped out of his fantasy. Holly-Beth
stopped her stroking and stood up.
"I'll be back in just a minute, sorry" He opened his eyes and watched as she
left. As soon as she was out of sight he grabbed his vodka bottle a took
another swig. He was so dizzy and he felt like any second he might vomit, but
he still drank.
He didn't exactly know what was going on but he started to cry. Big fat tears
fell from his eyes and landed on his arm. He felt so pathetic as he cried.
Nobody was doing him any harm, Holly-Beth was just trying to take something
from him that he should be eager to give. She sensed his distance and thought
it was her fault, so was trying to become close to him again. He knew she never
meant to hurt him.
Rhett entered the room and looked down at October. October thought he must look
like a pathetic mess. Crying on the floor with his pants unzipped. Rhett walked
over to him and helped him stand up, he sat him down on the bed and took a seat
next to him.
He held October rubbing smooth soft circles onto his back. October stopped his
crying and just let himself be held. Rhett placed kisses all over October's
forehead and slowly they trailed down October's cheek. One was placed on his
lips, after a moment Rhett was kissing him full on. October kissed back after a
moment, not really knowing what he was doing but knowing what was expected out
of him.
Rhett pushed him down on the bed and October felt his head spin at the sudden
movement. He felt his shirt being pushed up and Rhett's tongue on his stomach.
Kissing, licking, and sucking. It sent a warmth through October's body.
"Don't worry, Holly-Beth is going to be another twenty minutes" Rhett said as
he pulled October's pants off of him with a few less then gentle tugs. October
just laid there, confused and dizzy, trying to catch up with what was
happening.
When he finally did he was struck with a sudden urge to get away. "No, Rhett,
we can't, no" October said as he started crying again, trying to keep Rhett
from taking off his boxers with no luck. "Holly-Beth" he said not managing to
voice his thoughts.
"She doesn't have to know, don't worry, no one has to know" Rhett said as he
wrapped his hands around October's cock and began lightly stroking it. The
warmth of arousal flooded October's body along with a feeling of disgust. He
felt so dirty, no better then a whore. He was suddenly aware that he was so
drunk he couldn't think straight and Rhett was completely sober.
Warm tears trailed down his face and he muttered his "No"s and "please don't".
Rhett ignored them as he grabbed October's cock with one hand and lowered his
mouth down on it.
October wished it didn't feel as good as it did. However, He couldn't count the
times he had imagined this very same scene in his mind. He had lusted after
Rhett for so long, but it just felt dirty now.
He felt like a whore.
He watched through tear filled eyes as Rhett stayed between his legs, licking
and sucking, spreading those lips around October's cock. He was so turned on
that he could barely stand it. He rested his hands in Rhett's hair and tugged
on it. His words of protest dying on his lips.
It must have been an eternity like that. October torn between the desire for it
to never stop and to come. Eventually his breathing started coming fast and
hitching. His hands tightened in Rhett's hair and he began thrusting his hips
upwards against his will.
Rhett stopped his sucking and moved away, October's finger released Rhett's
hair and watched with a whimper on his lips. Rhett leaned down and pulled a
sock off his foot before he began to stroke October hard and fast. October came
with a sudden jerk, all of his cum being caught in Rhett's dirty sock.
After a few pants he realized what he had done and began to cry again. Rhett
tossed the sock in the trash before looking at October. The younger boy
scrambled to put his boxers and jeans back on, but he was so drunk that he
could barely stand up straight. Rhett helped him and as soon as October was
dressed he reached for his vodka bottle and took another swig.
"Take me home" October said as he held his vodka bottle to his chest, it was
almost empty. He rested his hand on his stomach, he felt like he was going to
throw up at any second. He wanted to throw up and wallow in his guilt at his
own house.
October didn't say a word the whole way to his house, he just stared out the
window. Not a thought in his head, except for an extreme desire to hide in his
bed. Rhett left as soon as October was out of the car, and October stumbled to
the front porch. He had a sudden thought, his mom would kill him if Alabaster
saw him in this state.
So he stumbled into the back yard taking another swig from his bottle as he
did. It suddenly hit him, he grasped at his stomach as he suddenly bent over
and threw up. It burned horribly, but it felt much better now that it was over
with. He began to sob though, the pathetic noises coming from him smothered by
his own hands.
He stumbled a few feet and laid down in the cold damp grass. He suddenly
remembered that he had forgotten his coat at Rhett's. He wasn't cold though,
but he knew he should be. It looked like it might snow. He laid there crying.
He held his limbs close to his body trying to think of what to do. All he
wanted to do was just lay down and die.
He felt gentle hands on his shoulders and he opened his eyes. A dark silhouette
was bent down over him, he couldn't quite see who it was because of how dark it
was and his blurry vision. The voice was unmistakable though, "October?" the
voice asked softly, Alabaster's resonant voice.
October wrapped his arms around Alabaster's neck and pressed his face into the
man's shirt. "I didn't mean to" he sobbed into Alabaster's shirt not quite
knowing what he was saying. " I'm not like my dad"
Alabaster made a gentle hushing sound as he smoothed down October's hair. "It's
going to be alright, you're skin is so cold, we should get you inside"
He held onto Alabaster's shirt so tight that it hurt his hands. "I'm so scared"
He whimpered as he pressed his whole body against Alabaster. The older man
wrapped his arms around October and held him close.
"It's alright, you're mine now, I'll take care of you" Alabaster smoothed down
his hair again and kissed him on the forehead. He got October to detach from
him long enough for him to pick the boy up like he might a sleeping child.
October stayed as still as he could as Alabaster carried him into the house.
October buried his face into Alabaster's chest so he wouldn't have to see Kate
and Hyde's stares. Alabaster smiled gently at both of them as he passed. It
didn't do anything to calm Kate down. It made October cry even harder now that
he knew Kate was worried about him too.
October thought Alabaster was bringing him upstairs to his own room, but
instead they went down the long hallway that only led to one place. Alabaster's
room. October always wondered what Alabaster's room looked like, it looked like
he was going to find out.
It wasn't anything like he had imagined.
October could smell Alabaster's room from the hallway and as they stepped
through the door it overcame him. It smelled wonderful. Though not overpowering
the rooms scent was undeniable and ever changing. In one part of the room he
would catch a hint of ginger in the air, but in another he might catch a whiff
of mint or eucalyptus. On beautiful dark shelves were candles of all shapes and
sizes, all of them in elegant white holders, none of them were lit.
Mirrors covered the walls, each in a beautiful intricate frames, complex and
breathtaking designs carved into every one of them. There must have been
dozens. As Alabaster carried him through the room he did his best to avoid
looking at the mirrors, he didn't want to look himself in the eye. They were
beautiful though, he just wanted to reach out and touch one.
In the middle of the room was Alabaster's bed, the rich black canopy tied back
to show the smooth black fabric covering the bed. Alabaster gently set October
at the bottom of the bed. The comforter felt so soft against his skin that
October couldn't help but bury his face in it. It smelled good too, like spices
and flowers. He couldn't help but imagine what it must be like to sleep under
it every night.
Alabaster untied October's shoes and pulled them off and set them in the
corner. October felt bad, because his shoes were muddy and Alabaster's carpet
was as white as fresh snow. He hoped they didn't damage the carpet. Alabaster
then pulled October's shirt off of him, which October tried to help out with.
He took off October's pants and boxers as well, getting absolutely no fight out
of October. He then folded the clothes and set them in the corner with the
shoes.
"I need to pee" October said as he rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand.
Alabaster laughed at how brash he sounded and pointed at a curtain on the other
side of the room. "Just go through the curtain, there's a toothbrush still in
it's package in the medicine cabinet, you're welcome to it"
October got a little dizzy as he stood up but it went away after a moment. He
walked quickly across the room, feeling almost like he would sink in the plush
carpet if he stayed in one place. He pulled aside the curtain and walked
through the opening expecting to immediately be in the bathroom.
Instead he was in another room. The walls had built in bookshelves in them and
were filled with all kinds of books. There was an elegant little table and two
big chairs. A game of chess seemed to be half way finished on the table. There
was another little table on the other side of the small room, on this one was a
bottle of scotch and two glasses sitting next to a cigar box.
There was another curtain, and he brushed this one aside and walked through the
opening. This time he was in a hallway. There was three doors, two on the right
side and one on the left. He tried on on the right and it was just a huge walk
in closet filled with Alabaster's clothes. He tried the other one of the right
and found a closet filled with his mother's things. Finally, he tried the one
of the left which revealed October's object of desire.
As October urinated he looked around the bathroom in wonder. It was gorgeous.
What caught his attention the most was how big it was. When he finished up he
washed his hands and began searching for toothbrush. He eventually found it and
Alabaster's toothpaste. He brushed his teeth as hard as he could, trying to get
the taste of vomit out of his mouth. He brushed his teeth three times in all.
He felt a lot better as he walked back into the part of the room with
Alabaster's bed. He still felt drunk, but he was starting to sober up. He could
actually move his head without the world spinning. A part of him felt weird
walking around naked, but another part of him could care less.
When he got back Alabaster was sitting on the bed untying his shoes. He smiled
as he slipped them off and slid them underneath his bed. He stood up and undid
his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. They slid off his arms easily and were tossed
in a pile on the floor.
October had forgotten how gorgeous Alabaster was underneath his work clothes.
He finally registered how easily those arms carried him just moments ago. He
could feel his heart beating faster just thinking about it.
"I'm sorry I'm so crazy" October said softly, barely above a whisper, it
slipped from his lips without his permission. He blamed it on the liquor.
Alabaster walked over to him slowly and smiled at him gently, "You're not
crazy." He rested his hand on October's cheek and leaned in and kissed him on
the forehead.
October had thought that he was done crying, but a tear slipped out. He pressed
himself against Alabaster, resting his cheek against Alabaster's chest. "Yes I
am, I really am." He said it quietly , as a reflection more then an insult.
They slid into bed together, underneath Alabaster's silken red sheets. October
rested mostly on top of Alabaster, his whole upper body sprawled across
Alabaster's torso. His arms on either side of Alabaster as if hugging him
closer. Their legs were intertwined.
It was completely innocent and it made October's heartbeat slow down to a
crawl. He felt so peaceful and safe. Nothing could ever get to him in
Alabaster's arms. It felt nice, so guilt free, it washed him away of the sin
from earlier. Purified.
He slept through the night.
Kate however did not. She tossed and turned all night thinking of the look on
her brother's face as he was carried in. She smelt the liquor on him as he
passed. She wished with all of her heart that he would just stop drinking. With
every bottle she saw him become their father.
The next day passed by without them really noticing.
Kate was once again complimented by all of her classmates. Her clothes made her
confident enough to talk to people, confident enough to make friends. She had
somewhere to sit at lunch. Erica and a few other people kept her busy with
constant chattering. Yet, every time she smiled she felt guilty, because Peter
wasn't there smiling with her. It made her sick to her stomach, because the
more she talked to people the more she found reasons to like them. She realized
that she didn't like Peter, he was just company. It made her feel guilty.
October's day wasn't any better. He avoided Holly-Beth and Rhett for as long
possible. Eventually Holly-Beth caught up with him wondering why he left in
such a hurry the night before. He faked a laugh and made up some lie about
getting sick. Later As they drank and smoked in the bathroom he could feel
Rhett's eyes on him, and for a moment Rhett's hand lingered on his spine. It
reminded him of how pathetic he must have looked the night before, sobbing and
drunk in a ball on Alabaster's lawn. He would fiddle with the watch Alabaster
gave him and think about his smile and it didn't hurt so bad.
That night Kate stood in front of the mirror as she shimmied into her skirt.
She smoothed down the dark material, looking at her long legs in the mirror.
She felt sexy. She turned around to look at her ass in the mirror, she was a
mixture of thrilled and embarrassed about the fact that the skirt barely
covered it. She hoped Erica was right about the skirt, she didn't Alabaster to
think she was slutty, she just wanted to be wanted.
She walked through the halls with her eyes set on Alabaster's office. Everyone
else in the house was asleep, so she didn't have to worry about them seeing.
She saw Alabaster sitting at his desk though the glass walls. He was leaned
over a file writing something down on a legal pad on one side of him. She
almost didn't want to bother him, but he looked up after a moment and saw her
standing there. Their eyes met and that sexy smirk tugged at his lips, she
couldn't help herself.
She walked into the room and could see his eyes lingering on her thighs. She
felt a blush settle on her cheeks as a thrill ran through her.
"You look very sexy" Alabaster said as he set his pen down, "But you didn't
have to get all dressed up for me"
"I didn't" Kate said defensively, Alabaster looked almost threatening in his
leather office chair. Even with his tie unfastened and his hair messy, it was
something in his eyes. It made her spine tingle. Thrilling.
"You weren't wearing that skirt before" he said with an all knowing smirk as he
motioned for her to come closer. She walked over to him trying to hide the
blush that was now burning her cheeks. He rested his hand on her leg, right
where her skirt ended, the warmth of his hand and closeness was distracting.
His hand slowly moved underneath her skirt resting on her ass, the tips of his
fingers just barely running against the lace fringe of her panties. He stood up
his hand still resting on her, he leaned in closely and whispered into her ear,
"Let's go to my room, we don't want your brother or Hyde to see us on accident"
Kate followed him to the bedroom, she had never been in it before and she found
herself entranced. She looked at all of the mirrors, catching glimpses of
herself in them. She reached out gently and touched the cold material, when she
pulled away she saw that she left a smudge and felt bad for ruining something
so perfect.
She didn't think about it long. She felt Alabaster's hand rest on her side and
felt his warm breath on her neck. His gentle fingers brushed aside her hair and
he said in his smooth voice "You're so beautiful." His lips pressed teasingly
soft against her throat just enough to make a shiver go through her body. She
wanted that mouth all over her.
He laid her down on the bed and captured her lips in a kiss, it felt like he
was taking all of her. A little rough and demanding. His fingers dug into her
hair and pulled her into the kiss, she could feel the power off of him. It
rolled off him in waves. Primal and vicious, like an animal. Lust. It made her
warm all over, her whole body tingle. She pressed her hips against his as she
kissed back, dizzy with desire. She wanted him badly.
His hand rubbed circles on her stomach as his tongue explored every inch of her
mouth. He broke off from kissing her long enough to pull her shirt off of her.
She felt exposed, a mixture of self-conscious and turned on. He began kissing
down her throat, a mixture of sucking and licking, and occasionally biting. He
kept at it until their wasn't a spot of Kate's throat that didn't feel touched.
He licked and bit down her throat to her chest. The black fringe on Kate's bra
was traced oh so delicately with his tongue. Her fingers curled in his sheets
as she looked down at him with lust in her eyes. She felt selfish because she
was just lying there, but she was afraid If she did anything he would stop. She
never wanted it to stop. His fingers reached behind her and unhooked her bra.
It was pulled off of her and set to the side out of the way.
His warm hands kneaded her breasts, squeezing them lightly. He leaned down and
took one of her soft nipples inside of his mouth. She whimpered softly at the
feeling of his sucking gently on it while kneading her other breast with his
hand. He pulled her into a fog, all she could think about was how good it felt.
The rest of the world didn't matter.
One hand supported his weight as he leaned in and kissed her deeply, his other
hand moved down his stomach and beneath her skirt. His fingers pressed against
the front of her lace panties, she could feel the material sticking to her
wetness. She knew he could feel it on his fingers. She couldn't help but blush
as she felt a thrill go through her. Just as his fingers slipped underneath her
panties he bit her lip causing her whimper. He smirked as he sucked on it
gently, making it all better.
His fingers massaged her clit as his tongue entertained her mouth. She felt it
building inside her, pleasure, waiting to push her over the edge. She panted
open mouth against his parted lips, his lust filled eyes connected to her own.
She moved her hips, grinding up against his fingers as their tongues played
against each other. Slick and consuming. Her hand went down between her legs to
press his hand even harder against herself.
She lost track of time. The only things in her world were Alabaster's tongue
and fingers. It all blurred together. She was torn between wanting it to go on
forever and not being able to handle it for much longer. She panted fast as the
pleasure built, her fingers digging deep in the sheets and she had to close her
eyes. Pitiful sounds escaped her lips as her orgasm ripped through her causing
her body to shudder. She laid there and let the world put itself back together.
All she could think about was how beautiful Alabaster's eyes were.
Another few days passed. All they could think about was Alabaster. He took over
their every thought. The day became nothing but anticipation, impatient waiting
to arrive home. When they were home it was impatient waiting for him to get
finished with his work. They spent every moment they could with him. Sneaking
kisses behind closed doors even if it was just for a moment. Suddenly he was
their whole world.
They felt themselves growing cold to each other. The secret so large that it
was driving a hole between them. October felt the pulling urge to confess his
every sin to her. While she wanted to keep this one secret to herself, the one
thing that makes her life exciting. The awkward silences between them kept
growing, until they just seemed to sit in silence with each other.
October laid on his bed staring at a math problem, fighting for enough
concentration to tackle it. Usually Kate helped him, but she was just sitting
on the corner of the bed chewing on the lid to her pen. He looked at her torn
between the desire to throw his math book on the ground and begging her to help
him. Something caught his eyes, the shine of her the necklace around her
throat.
"That's a beautiful necklace, Where did you get it?" he asked as he fiddled
with his watch not understanding why he was so nervous talking to the person he
was closest too.
"It was a gift" Kate said with a gentle smile as she touched it lightly with
her finger tips.
"From Alabaster?" He asked not knowing why he did, he gripped onto the watch
hard when he saw her eyes light up. Pure happiness. Their mother's boyfriends
have showered them in gifts before, but he had never seen that kind of
happiness. It suddenly clicked in his head, it made him almost sick.
"Yes, How did you know?" Kate asked a little confused but the light was still
in her eyes, she enjoyed talking about her favorite possession.
"So you'll remember he's always thinking about you?" October asked feeling
disgust and hurt crawl into him, the words burned his tongue. The expensive
watch on his wrist seemed to almost burn his skin, he took it off his wrist and
set it down on the bed.
"How do you know that?" She asked a kind of awkwardness in her voice mixed with
the confusion. Her eyes settled on the watch and he could feel the uneasiness
in the air.
"He said the same thing to me about my watch" he said quietly, hoping that he
wouldn't have to explain it all. Hoping that his intelligent sister would be
able to fill in the blanks by herself. He expected questions though. Questions
on his sexuality, or how long this had been going on, but no questions left her
mouth.
"That son of a bitch" She said quietly,"What are we going to do?"
***** Surprises *****
The hours past by as October lay in his bed, sleep was refusing to come. He
couldn't get Alabaster out of his head. It was proving to be a long night. He
glared up at his clock that screamed neon numbers at him, it was four a.m and
he had school in the morning. Alabaster flooded his mind, the one he had loved
and the one that frightened him. It was all he could think about as he tossed
and turned in his sheets. Eventually he couldn't stand it anymore, he had to go
talk to Alabaster.
His bare feet hit the floor softly as he wandered about, it had been warm in
his bedroom, toasty even, but now in the great halls and long hallways it was
chilly. He crossed his arms in front of his bare chest as he made his way to
Alabasters room. He came upon the door and knocked loudly, hoping that it would
wake Alabaster from whatever peaceful slumber that held him.
The door opened revealing Alabaster. October suddenly felt nervous, just being
around Alabaster caused his confidence to disappear. He was good at faking
though, if anything, he wouldn't let Alabaster know how nervous he was. "We
really need to have a talk" October said, aggression and conflict in his voice,
angry sounded so much better then afraid.
Alabaster stood on the other side of the door frame. He was as handsome as ever
draped in a black robe tied sloppy, his bare chest exposed gloriously where the
edges of the fabric did not meet. His dark hair was messy and there was a sort
of spark of interest in his green eyes. Cradled in his hand was a glass of
scotch and pressed between his lips was a cigarette. October had not known that
Alabaster smoked or drank; apparently he didn't know much about the man at all.
Alabaster took the cigarette from his lips and let the thick smoke escape
through them. "Come in" He said coolly, as he turned and walked inside the
room. October followed him through the curtain that separated the bedroom from
the backroom. It was how October remembered it. The two big soft looking
leather seats and the table with a game of chess on it. However Hyde was
sitting in one of those seats and was staring down at the chess board with a
look of determination. The table with the bottle of scotch on it was missing
the glasses from it and the cigar box was open.
"Hyde, go get October a soda from the kitchen" Alabaster said calmly an edge of
authority to his tone. Hyde stood up, took one look at Alabaster and then
disappeared through the curtain without a word. Alabaster took a seat in one of
the leather chairs, taking a slow drink from his scotch as he watched October.
As he pulled the glass from his lips he spoke, "What did you want to talk
about?"
"I don't know really-uh, just everything I guess." October stumbled out as he
looked around awkwardly, not taking a seat until Alabaster pointed at the chair
across the table from him. He took a seat and felt incredibly small in the
other sized chair. "Mostly about Kate. I know you've been seeing her too"
"What about it?" Alabaster asked as he took a drink from his glass.
"Why would you fucking do that to me?" October asked angrily as he stared down
at his folded hands. He was put off by the other man's apathy, as if the man
thought it was as ordinary as anything else. He hoped Alabaster had a really
good answer, that or one bad enough that October could quit him without a
second thought.
October watched nervously as Alabaster put his cigarette out in the ash tray
and set his drink on the table. Alabaster stood up and moved smoothly over to
where October was hiding in his seat. The confidence dripped from him, and
October found himself addicted to the taste of it. He couldn't tear his eyes
away from the older man.
Alabaster rested his warm hand on October's face, a gentle smile playing on his
lips as he traced October's bottom lip with his thumb. "What horrible sin have
I committed?" October didn't speak he just looked up at Alabaster's bright
eyes; the words were caught in his throat. "I've never spoken a word about
monogamy, so am I to be held responsible for your delusions of it?" The words
were soft and almost warm yet they held enough bite to keep October quiet. "Am
I guilty of neglect? I've given you everything you need, I share my home, my
food, and my money with you. I give you my love. I love you both, and the
thought of living without either one of you hurts me. I can care for you all,
so let me, all I want to do is love both you and Kate."
October searched for an argument, but could not find one. Alabaster's words
made him feel stupid and childish, and a little bit selfish. He couldn't summon
any anger either; he just looked in Alabaster's eyes and found the desire to
fight died in him. "sorry" He said quietly. He felt out of place and
embarrassed, and he couldn't help but wonder how angry Alabaster was at him.
Alabaster leaned down and kissed him gently at first, the gentleness
disappeared as the passion grew. Soon October felt a hand buried in his hair
and had his breath stolen away by Alabaster's agile tongue. Their tongues
tangled together messily, wonderfully, October's hands grasping loosely at the
front of Alabaster's robes. They kissed until they had to break off, October
had forgotten to breathe. He looked up at Alabaster fervently, a mixture of
adoration and obsession in his bright blue eyes as he panted breathlessly
against the older man's lips.
Alabaster rested his hand on October's cheek, cupping it lightly, as he looked
down at him. "Go get some sleep baby; if I wasn't waiting for a phone call I
would join you. but you need some sleep, you have school tomorrow"
October nuzzled his face into Alabaster's hand almost instinctively; it felt
warm and dry against his soft cheek. The thought of his lonely bed bothered
him, almost frightened him. "Could I just lie in your lap for a while?" October
asked quietly, afraid of the answer," I promise I won't bother you, and as soon
as you get the phone call I'll go up to my room and sleep- it's just that my
rooms really cold and it's nice and warm in here"
"Okay, just this time" Alabaster said as he kissed October on the forehead
ignoring October flimsy excuse. He stood up and took a seat in the other chair;
October followed him over and climbed into his lap. He rested his head on
Alabaster shoulder and curled his legs up into the chair, making himself as
small as possible. Alabaster's arms wrapped around him, cradling his body
closer.
It was a safe haven. He could smell the spice of Alabaster's cologne as he
buried his face into the crook of Alabaster's neck. The older man's robe felt
silky soft against his bare chest, and even the way Alabaster's hand was to
tight on his leg was perfect. He basked in how breathtaking everything was as
he let sleep carry his off. He didn't even notice he was falling under, the
last thing he remembered was Alabaster's warm voice, the gentle words "I love
you" whispered into his ear.
He awoke in his bed, surrounded by his blankets, he could smell Alabaster on
his clothes.
The day went by without any real development, October and Kate were both too
far in their minds to really interact with their surrounding. They were like
the walking dead. The people around them noticed, but couldn't manage to shake
them out of it. They couldn't pull themselves out of thoughts about Alabaster.
They sat on the bus waiting for it to deliver it in front of their home; both
snuggled underneath October's jacket. They both stared out the fogged up
windows as they thought about what they were going to do. It was Kate who
finally made a decision, she leaned in close and whispered quietly, "We have to
tell mom"
October had always valued their mother more then Kate did, and he felt guiltly
just thinking about what they were doing behind their mothers back. However,
the very thought of telling on Alabaster made guilt eat at him. So he searched
his mind for excuses.
"We'll get it trouble too, mom will be pissed and she'll know I'm gay." He
whispered back.
"We won't tell her about you at all, and we'll lie. We'll say Alabaster has
been really inappropriate, grabbing my ass and saying dirty things, trying to
get me to have sex with him. He'll be out of our lives and we won't get in
trouble." She said with anger in her eyes, it was obvious to October that she
was out for blood. He didn't want to be involved, he was sure that she would
end up hurting him without realizing it.
"What about Alabaster?" October whispered back, feeling his sister tense at
just the man's name.
"What about the jackass?" Kate asked bitterly, "He's the one that hurt us, not
the other way around… he deserves whatever he gets"
"I don't know if I can do that. He lied, but he's not the devil" October said
with a shrug, hating the way his sister was glaring at him.
"We've always been together October, don't let this bastard get between us, do
this for me... Please."
That night October called their mother. His hand was shaking as he held the
phone to his ear, his heart beating rapidly in his chest as his stomach turned.
He felt guilty, bad for betraying his mother, and equally bad for doing this to
Alabaster. It had to be done though. It couldn't be helped. He would loose his
sister if he didn't.
"Hello" his mother's voice seemed old and tired over the phone, but it was
laced in a false cheeriness. He could tell she was drunk with just that one
word. He wished he was drunk with her, a shot of gin or vodka might make the
nervousness go away. It could make him stable.
"Mom, umm, something happened…that I think you should know about" His words
were butchered, awkward pauses and slurred words; he almost dropped the phone
when he heard her annoyed sigh on the other end. He breathed in hard and
summoned some of his fake confidence; he could at least act like someone
competent. "It's about Alabaster"
Suddenly she seemed to care, her voice going from annoyed to worried, "What's
wrong with him?" She asked. Her worry over him was causing October's stomach to
turn. He was regretting his decision to do this.
"Mom, I know you don't want to hear this, but Alabaster isn't quite who you
think he is" He managed to say, he looked up at his sister's face for some
strength, but all he saw on her face was anger. His sister wasn't worried about
their mother and felt no guilt, she was just angry at Alabaster. This didn't
make him feel any better. " He's been harassing Kate ever since you left,
grabbing her ass, making inappropriate comments, and he even kissed her. "
Their mother was quiet for a full minute; October had almost thought she had
hung up when her cold voice filled his ears again "I'll talk to Alabaster about
it"
October heard a click on the other end as his mother hung up, he felt like such
a horrible person. He wished he could take everything back, that he had never
gotten into the pool with Alabaster, that he never kissed the man. It wasn't
worth it.
Kate wasn't feeling much better. She sat up in her bed for hours, staring at
her necklace as she thought about Alabaster. She really thought she had
connected with another human being. Her necklace shined beautifully in the
moonlight that streamed through her window. Alabaster had hurt her, but she was
done crying about it. All she wanted to do was get even. She thought she had
grown up, that it wasn't possible for her to get hurt anymore then she had
already.
A steady knock at her door tore her away from her trance; She stood up and
walked to the door. On the other side was the maid, holding a phone in her
hands with a nervous look on her face. She handed the phone to Kate whispering
quietly, "It's Ms. Anderson."
"Hello" Kate said gentle, afraid of what was waiting for her on the other end
of the line.
"You fucking bitch," The slurred words of her mother hit her, her mother had
been hitting the liquor that night," You just can't let me be happy can you."
"Mom I-"
Kate's attempt at defending herself was cut off by her mothers screaming, "No,
don't fucking talk, Kate, I don't want to hear it. Alabaster told me how you
came on to him and how he turned your slutty ass down. You've been out to get
him ever since. But bringing your brother in this is low. You know he would do
anything for you. "
A stinging formed in the back of Kate's throat, her mother didn't believe her,
she believed that stranger over her. "Mom, I swear he came on to me"
"Why would he want to touch a thing like you? You don't wear an ounce of make
up and you wear those ugly clothes. You aren't exactly a catch Kate. He's got
me, why would he ever want you."
Kate heard a click as her mother hung up, she swallowed down hard and wiped the
stray tear off of her face. If her mother wouldn't believe her, she would just
have to prove it.
That night October lay sleeplessly in his room for three whole hours, tossing
and turning, the only thing he could think about was Alabaster. How this was
just as much his fault as it was Alabaster's… the seed of guilt was planted in
his mind and kept growing at an alarming rate. The more he thought about it the
less he blamed Alabaster and the more he blamed himself. Eventually he couldn't
stand it anymore. He had to go apologize to Alabaster.
The search for Alabaster was a long one. He was not in his room or his office,
nor was he in the other dozen or so rooms that made up the house. He was no
where to be found. October eventually had only one more place that he could
check. The pool.
Underneath the blue lights in the dark water October saw a stirring, he watched
intently, waiting for Alabaster to expose himself. He didn't have to wait long.
Eventually Alabaster appeared in the water, smiling up at him softly, water
dripping down his face and his hair sticking to his forehead.
He was the epitome of temptation. His smile was a gentle tease, a quiet
beckoning, a childhood game of tag. It wasn't fair, paired with eyes that
screamed of the best kind of sin and a body slick and wet that could make
angels fall. Half hidden by steam and the depths, it made him seem almost
unreal. October didn't stand a chance. He forgot his intentions entirely, and
lost himself in Alabaster's bright green eyes.
"Join me" gorgeous lips formed the words as he motioned towards October.
October stood at the edge of the pool staring into the depths of the dark
waters. October's childhood fears gripped at him violently, he never felt safe
around the water. He could conquer it on his strongest days, but he was at his
weakest and in his reflection he saw his crippling fear. " I can't swim" He
clung to the fact like it was his savior, it sounded so much better on his lips
then 'I'm too afraid'. He cheeks burned red as he cast his eyes down to the
ground.
"I know you can't, I'll just hold you again" Alabaster said looking up at him
with knowing eyes. October could feel it tearing him apart. He couldn't fight
against the feeling of obligation; he gave up and began to pull his clothes
from his body until he was just in his boxers. The bitter winter air helped him
gain the courage he needed as he slowly lowered himself into the dark depths
and Alabaster's awaiting arms. He kept his eyes shut tight.
October looked down and tried to find his feet in the dark water but had no
luck, it terrified him, but Alabaster kept pulling them deeper in the water.
Alabaster could stand in the water with it just reaching his shoulders; October
experimentally reached out with his feet but could not touch the bottom. He
clung even tighter to Alabaster. When the reached the middle of the pool, far
enough that October was sure he couldn't make it to any edge without drowning
first, Alabaster stopped.
Something happened to Alabaster's warm smile, it died almost violently on his
lips, it was suddenly very apparent to October that it was just a façade. It
wasn't possible for a person to change so suddenly with no clear trigger. It
suddenly didn't feel comfortable to be so close to Alabaster, but he was
surrounded by dark water. He couldn't escape. He was trapped there.
"Did you really think she was going to believe you over me?" Alabaster said
coldly, his voice taking a completely different tone. It wasn't the warm voice
he was use to, it was pure ice. October lay completely still in the man's hold,
terrified of the water and the man. His heart was beating fast in his chest; he
felt another panic attack coming on. He felt something was terribly wrong, he
needed to escape.
The man's words were confusing but October eventually figured out what they
meant. It meant that their mother didn't believe them, that Alabaster managed
to convince her that he was lying. That's the thing though; he really did
believe that his words held more weight then this stranger in front of him. He
was the one that had taken care of his mother the past few years. He nursed her
when she was sick, fed her, worked his hands to the bone when she came up short
on rent. Alabaster did that now, but October didn't think it would erase the
years he had sacrificed.
He had betrayed Alabaster, and it had not worked. He cast his eyes downward and
expected the consequences he deserved. After all, he made Alabaster out like he
was a monster, when all he had been was unfaithful. He deserved anger. October
swallowed hard, and prepared himself for a verbal onslaught. He expected
screaming and yelling, but all he ever got was that cold tone, dark and quiet.
Worse then any screaming October had ever heard.
"After all she didn't believe you about your stepfather George" The dark
whisper was warm against his ear, and if it was any other words it might have
turned October on. These words stabbed him though, sharp and vicious, they
preformed their duty well. They stole away October's breath and October felt a
stinging in the back of his throat. Tears threatened suddenly to break free.
"How do you know that?" October said in a hushed tone, confusion and pain
decorating his voice. He swallowed hard, looking away from Alabaster and back
down into the black depths that surrounded them. Anything was better then
staring into those dead eyes.
"Your mother told me everything, she says you were a lying little bitch then
too" His voice was still a whisper, just loud enough to be heard, he held
October close as the words stabbed through him. There was malice in Alabaster
eyes, something about his soft touch and his brutal words; it gave away his
cruel intentions.
October stared in confusion for a moment, as if the words had never reached
him, then a look of almost panic took over his face. He fought for his words
but he could feel it in the back of his throat. If he spoke he would begin to
cry. He looked up at Alabaster's cold eyes and then it didn't matter anymore.
Tears began to escape and he chocked out a few words, "I wasn't lying."
His gentle crying turned into violent sobbing as he hid his face in his hands.
The only thing keeping him from a death in the water that surrounded him was
Alabaster's steady hands on his waist. "I wasn't lying" He said again and
again, no longer talking to Alabaster, instead he was talking to his mother.
Alabaster had opened up a very old and deep wound that had never healed
properly.
Alabaster released October, causing immediate panic from October, the boy
quickly wrapped his legs around Alabaster's waist and grabbed onto the older
man's shoulders. Alabaster rested his warm hand on October's cheek; October
looked into the man's eyes and saw warmth again. The warmth and love, the pure
acceptance that was normally found in those soft green eyes.
"You're a good boy, I know October, you wouldn't lie about that and you felt so
bad about lying about me that you came here to apologize." Alabaster said
warmly before kissing October on the corner of his lips, the chaste kiss of a
parent rather then a lover. "I believe you."
October rested his head on Alabaster shoulder, his whole body shaking
uncontrollably his eyes wide and sightless. Alabaster rested his hand on the
back of October's neck gently, and kept whispering the words, "I believe you.",
as if they could undo the damage of years of abuse Eventually October stopped
his shaking and just laid still, his hands gripping onto Alabaster so tightly
his knuckles turned white.
"George is why you're so afraid of water, isn't he?" Alabaster asked softly as
he smoothed down October's hair soothingly. Memories flooded October, flashes
of screaming and cry, of strong hands holding him under. The way October tensed
was all the answer Alabaster ever needed. "It's okay October, I've got you"
Alabaster leaned down and kissed October on the lips gently, " I love you so
much, next time, keep things just between the two of us, like it should be."
Hyde spent most of the next morning in the upstairs bathroom.
Hyde's world was controlled by two things, addictions and Alabaster. The two
often fought with each other for power. The drugs whispered their sweet
promises of escape while Alabaster brought him to his knees with guilt and
shame. He didn't know how much longer he could take. He would say rehab, and in
the same breath talk of leaving Alabaster forever.
He needed it, as he tried to explain to Alabaster multiple times. He wasn't
like Alabaster; he couldn't handle the stress and the eyes of the people around
him. Cocaine made him confident and gave him the strength to get through the
day. He needed it, and as much as Alabaster fought with him about it at the end
of the month he always put the money in Hyde's hands.
He truly thought he was alone as he snorted cocaine in the upstairs bathroom
the next morning. He thought he was by himself in the huge house, everyone busy
with their responsibilities for the day. He was focused on preparing his line
as he caught a glimpse of something in the corner of his eye. It was October,
standing in the doorway, watching him with a blank look on his face.
"Shit, why aren't you at fucking school?" Hyde muttered quietly as he rested
his hand on his forehead, his brain searching for what to say. Alabaster would
kill him if he figured out October had seen him snort. Hyde felt disgusting,
like Alabaster was embarrassed of him. He could hear Alabaster's speech
already, about being irresponsible and how a real man could face the world
without the drugs. He would do anything in order for Alabaster not to call him
pathetic.
"I wasn't feeling good, so Alabaster said I could stay home" October said
simply as he stood at the doorway. Hyde looked at him, trying to figure out why
Alabaster was so obsessed with them. Hyde didn't see it. Sure, October was
attractive, but not worth half the trouble Alabaster went through. Not worth
the pretending and the lies.
He resorted to bribery, " If you don't tell Alabaster, I swear I'll owe you
one, any favor you can think of"
October grinned and turned to leave, "I'll hold you to that."
Later that evening after dinner Kate looked down at her digital camera; it was
just a tiny little thing, a gift from October she had gotten for her sixteenth
birthday. It could also take video, it didn't have the best quality, but it
would work for what Kate had in mind. She didn't want to think about what
October did to get enough money to pay for it. She was almost sure that he
shoplifted it. That was how he got half of his clothing before they moved in
with Alabaster, she was sure that he couldn't afford something that nice.
She set it down on her nightstand and made it face her bed. She surrounded it
with other useless junk so it wouldn't look suspicious. She didn't think
Alabaster would figure out what she was doing even if it was just sitting there
by itself. She needed to get him on film. Then her mother would believe her.
She couldn't even begin to rationalize her anger. She saw red, the anger
gripped at her, refusing to let her think of anything other then her betrayal.
Her pride had been injured. She thought finally someone loved her. That someone
loved her more then they loved October. It hurt that the one time she felt
special was all just a lie. Then the cold words her mother spoke would fill her
mind and make her even colder. She was out for blood.
She had lured Alabaster up with the promise of an explanation and an apology.
She had told him to meet her in her room after dinner.
He stood in her door way looking at her with eyes that burned through her. She
could feel the anger radiating from him, tainting the air, causing her to
regret her decision entirely. It was in the way he walked towards her, she felt
like she was being stalked by a wild animal. There was violence in his eyes.
She shook off the fear that was slowly building inside her and focused on her
goal.
"I'm sorry, Alabaster" She said quietly, softly enough that the camera wouldn't
pick it up as she looked into his dark eyes, "I don't know why I did it. I'm so
sorry, Baby" She could still feel the anger off of him. Still see it on his
face. Her brain quickly searched for the words to turn him back into the sweet
man that she fell in love with, even if she had the coldest of intentions. "I
don't know I just felt so jealous. Everyone loves October, I thought that maybe
you could just love me…. I was heart broken"
Alabaster placed his warm hand on her cheek, and she rested her head against
his palm. "I love you both so much" She closed her eyes at his warm heart felt
words and felt guilt pull at her. His soft lips pressed against hers and she
felt her heart beat faster. "You really hurt me Kate" he said quietly against
her lips. She opened her eyes and they connected with Alabaster's soft green
ones.
It was hard to hold onto her anger, but she searched deep in her and clung to
it. Alabaster's romantic words were not enough to erase the pain of her mother
believing him over her own children. It might have been enough to dull her pain
about Alabaster cheating but it wasn't nearly able to satisfy her need to get
back at her mother.
"Kiss me?" She asked quietly, hoping she didn't look as angry as she felt.
It wasn't what Kate expected. She was expecting one of Alabaster's story book
kisses, something that belonged to Cinderella or snow white. Kate heard her
breath hitch as Alabaster grabbed her by the hair. The gentleness that she had
come to associate with Alabaster's touch was gone. It was rough, and somehow
just as captivating. Their lips clashed as their tongues fought. Alabaster
pressed her against the edge of the bed as his hands slowly went up her shirt.
She wasn't sure how something so wrong could feel so good, so perfect.
When Alabaster broke off from the kiss she felt herself panting. She leaned
back in to kiss him again but he pulled away. There was a smirk on his lips as
he looked down at her, she felt rejected and suddenly self conscious as he
pushed past her.
She watched with horror as he picked up her camera from the nightstand and slid
it into his suit pocket. "I can explain", she said, as her brain searched from
excuses. She expected him to scream and yell at her. After all she betrayed his
trust, lied to him, and was caught in the middle of all of it.
Alabaster just laughed as he strolled towards the door, tossing out an "Apology
accepted" as he disappeared into the hallway.
***** Love *****
October could feel the violence in the cool winter air. There was something
wrong. He could feel it all around him and it was making him unsettled. The
loud chatter of those around him told him that he wasn't the only one.
He pressed his bottle of vodka water against his lips as he watched Rhett storm
around the parking lot. They were waiting for the offender to arrive. Some punk
from another school had the audacity to call Rhett a 'pussy' or something else
equally offensive. October didn't care, and he doubted Rhett did either. It was
just another reason to fight, something to break up the endless monotony.
That's why they were standing in a park at two in the morning. They were there
to drive some of the boredom away, to destroy some of the anger inside of them.
He crossed his arms against the biting wind, his leather coat was warm but it
couldn't match the vicious brutality of the winter weather. He looked around
the park; all the shadows were becoming people when he wasn't looking straight
at them. He shook it off; it must be the weed, that or the liquor. His leather
covered fingers shook as fumbled for a cigarette in his pocket. He really
needed to chill out.
He got a cigarette lit up and smoked while he let himself get carried away by
thoughts. He mostly thought about Alabaster. What happened between Alabaster
and October should have been changing. It should have caused him to adjust the
way he thought. That's not what happened though. It was so easy to ignore, to
let it sink into the cracks of his memory. The money made him passive. The
first winter where the cold could not touch him. That and Alabaster, charming
Alabaster, pretending it never happened. How could he reject the soft kisses
that were given to him? He knew it was all a lie, but it was such a beautiful
one. He didn't want to let go of it.
October felt defeated. All he could think about was Alabaster and all it led to
was confusion. He wanted to think about anything else, but he couldn't, it was
driving him mad. Thoughts of Alabaster's gentle touches and sweet words made
his heart ache when he remembered the brutal way his childhood abuse was thrown
in his face.
There was doubt in his mind. His brain was making excuses for the man. How
could Alabaster know that he wasn't lying about George? It was probably an
accident. It had to be an accident. Maybe he interpreted his words wrong; it
wouldn't be the first time. Alabaster was just angry, of course, just angry,
after all October called him a molester. And what about the gentle words spoken
afterwards, and the way he was held.
It didn't make sense. Alabaster didn't make sense.
"Would you guys shut the fuck up?" Rhett's voice cut through the air like a
well sharpened knife. October tried to ignore the way it made him feel. A
mixture of confused and cold. He didn't even know why he was here. Everyone
else was here to back up Rhett in his fight, but October refused to fight, he
didn't see a point in it. Rhett knew that, but still he approached October in
the hall and asked him to come. They hadn't talked since Rhett had forced
himself on October. October didn't know why but he felt guilty for it, so he
said that he would.
Occasionally Rhett would look over at him and October would see something in
his eyes. Maybe it was just the weed and alcohol in his system, or maybe it was
just the way the street lamp's light landed on his face. October saw something
dangerous in Rhett's eyes. It made his blood run cold, something just didn't
feel right. Maybe the others sensed it too because Danny-Boy kept going up to
Rhett and saying words of encouragement. It just seemed to irritate Rhett
though, but he thanked Danny-Boy and they both took swigs of their beers and
laughed about how they were going to kick this guy's ass.
Rhett looked towards October and they locked eyes for a moment. October didn't
know what he was feeling, but whatever he did feel he felt it strongly. His
heart practically skipped a beat as Rhett started walking towards him. October
never looked away, and as Rhett got closer he wondered if he even could.
"I have to tell October something private in the bathroom, come get us if the
fucker gets here before I'm done" Rhett said while looking straight into
October's eyes. After a few of the other men responded Rhett and October took
off to the bathroom. They didn't say a word the whole way there, and when they
went inside October kept his distance.
The bathroom was what one expects out a male public restroom in a park. It
smelled pretty rank and the walls were covered in all sorts of graffiti.
October leaned against the sinks while Rhett stood in the middle of the tiny
bathroom pulling one of his cigarettes out of his pocket.
"Fuck." Rhett muttered quietly as he pressed the cigarette against his lips.
October looked over at him but Rhett was too busy looking up at the ceiling.
The smoke escaped his lips as he finished his thought, "You know, man, I really
didn't mean to go all rapist on you last time we hung out." He shoved one hand
in his pocket before he walked a little closer to October. October couldn't
tell if he was agitated or self conscious.
"I know." October said quietly as he pressed his drink to his lips and took a
swallow, the vodka burned down his throat, but it made everything alright. They
locked eyes again; Rhett's eyes were such a bright blue that they completely
consumed all of October's thoughts. The intensity of Rhett's stare got to be
too much though, October had to look away.
"Fuck, I don't why I do this shit. I know you're with Holly-Beth. You just
looked so sad, and fuck October you are nothing like the shitheads outside.
Your smarter then all of us put together. You're kinder too. "He tripped over
his words as he took another drag from his cigarette. His eyes dancing across
the room, never looking straight at October.
October just shook his head and stared down at his feet, he took a quick swig
out of his bottle full of vodka before shoving it in his coat pocket. "I'm not
fucking smart, and I'm not fucking nice. But I forgive you; it was just a
mistake anyways. No hard feelings"
Rhett tossed his cigarette down to the floor and stomped it out with his boot.
He then rested his hands on October's face, making it so that October couldn't
look away. He looked October straight in the eye and kissed him. The world
stopped for a moment. The kiss must have been filled with sweet poison,
something thick and heavy that made it difficult to breathe. He broke off from
the kiss and found he couldn't catch his breath, his lips tingled and he
couldn't help but lift his fingers to them.
"It wasn't a fucking mistake" Rhett said quietly, "I'll just keep doing it
again and again. I know you're unhappy with her, and I see the way you look at
me when you think I'm not looking. You may want to hide and fucking pretend to
be someone else, but I can't October."
His rough callused hands grabbed October's smooth leather covered fingers and
slid between them. He pinned October's hands to the wall and moved in closer,
their whole bodies so close he could feel Rhett's body heat through his
clothes. Rhett's lips found October's again, their lips moving together
seamlessly and their tongues slid together like it was a romance rather then a
tragedy.
A pounding on the outside door tore them apart, both of them startled enough
that they separated immediately. "The stupid jackass is here, and he brought
his friends" Danny-Boy's grating voice could be heard through the thin walls.
October was pulled back into reality, and it felt like ice water on his face.
He pulled his bottle of vodka out of his pocket and took a swig.
He silently followed Rhett back into the real world. He allowed his lips to
stop tingling and the thought of Rhett's lips to disappear from his head. It
was time to be a different person. Rhett no longer needed a Juliet; he needed
someone with a knife in his pocket and a quick trigger finger. He took his
place next to Danny-Boy and Hunter.
They all watched as the four older men climbed out of a truck. It was easy to
spot Rhett's opponent amongst them. Most of them had a kind of calm violence
about them, something about their walk or the way they sized them up.
Threatening but not aroused, ready to draw blood but not emotionally involved.
October wondered if it was a mirrored perspective.
Then there was the one that stood out. Everything about the man screamed
violence. The lack of lighting in the park took away everything that might have
made the man a person, and created a nightmarish monster in October's impaired
mind. October didn't see someone's son or someone's lover, all he could see was
the violent gleam in the man's eyes and the way his hands were curled into
fists.
October glanced over at Rhett and the sight was just as blood curdling. Whoever
the man was, he certainly wasn't the October's best friend. Rhett glanced back
at October as he walked over towards the stranger, when there eyes locked a
shiver ran down October's spine. He wanted nothing more then to be at home in
Alabaster's arms at that moment. Everything around him screamed malicious
intentions.
"I thought you were going to pussy out" Rhett said as he closed the distanced
between the two of them. The other man turned stiff at the words nothing but
aggression showing on his face.
October was use to a little more dialogue, a little more back and forth.
Apparently this man didn't want anything to do with that, because with almost
no warning he threw the first punch. The rest was difficult to make out in the
dark of the park. They threw punches quickly, and in moments the other man had
Rhett in a hold and was slamming his fist into his stomach over and over again.
October was sick of this, and could barely hear himself think with the noise
around him. He watched with a grimace hoping that the only thing he would have
to bandage that night would be Rhett's ego. After a moment of struggling the
two were on the ground. It was a mass of limbs rapidly moving, October couldn't
tell what the hell was going on until the man managed to get on top and start
pounding into the Rhett's face.
October watched, disgusted but never turning away, oblivious to his friends
around him. He continued to watch as the man slammed his fist over and over
into Rhett's face. October could smell the blood in the air. The man got one
more good punch in before he stood up and looked down at Rhett. As the man
wiped his hands on his jeans he spat on Rhett.
October shook his head as he pulled a slightly bent cigarette from his pocket;
he lit it quickly and pressed it to his lips. The calm of the nicotine never
came, and the monster in front of him seemed to catch his stare. The man walked
over to October and stood close enough that the smoke from October's cigarette
licked up his skin.
Danny-Boy and Hunter rushed to help Rhett, and the man's friends kept their
distance smoking and talking in the distance. Nobody seemed to be paying any
attention to them.
Bloody fingers pulled October's cigarette out from between his gloved ones.
Eyes the color of champagne caught October's baby blues and for a second
October had trouble breathing. The man pressed October's cigarette to his lips
and took a long drag, never breaking eye contact until he exhaled. October
could feel the stirring in the air, something happening, he slid his hand in
his pocket and gripped his pocket knife. He didn't like the way the man was
looking at him.
"Slade" The name slid from the man's lips like a curse word, quick and cut
short, like he didn't want it to linger in the air too long.
"October" He said as he let go of his pocket knife and took the cigarette back
from the man and took a drag from it. He decided whatever it was in the air, it
wasn't violence.
"Next time we meet I hope it's on better terms" The older man said as he turned
and left with the rest of his friends. Leaving October to help his battered
friend into his truck.
Kate sat at her vanity, a mixture of entranced and possessed by her reflection.
She ran a brush through her hair and watched as her normally ratty curls
smoothed down. She then ran her fingers through it; it felt like silk with all
the expensive products in it. She grabbed a comb and fixed it in her hair, it
took her a few tries, but whenever she finished it shined beautifully in the
light. She examined the comb in the mirror. It was delicate, beautiful leaves
and flowers whose jewels sparkled and incredibly intricate ivy that wrapped
over them. Another one of Alabaster gifts.
Kate was not like her brother. She let the anger fester inside of her making
her even colder and more distant. She played along with Alabaster's game
though. She acted the same in public, but in the hidden spots they found
themselves in everything was different. When he reached in for the kisses she
once loved she would pull away. She could see something form in his eyes,
getting stronger every day. Something new, something that she had never seen
before. She began to crave that look and with each day that she treated
Alabaster cruelly, his gifts become more beautiful and expensive.
She carefully did her makeup, more like an artist then a teenage girl. She
applied a pink gloss to her lips as Alabaster appeared in her mirror.
Alabaster's presence was impossible to ignore behind her, even if her feelings
have grown dark, her every thought was still about him. His cool fingers
brushed gently against her warm neck, and she did not move away from them.
Despite her new found hatred, she still missed his touch.
"Shouldn't you be with my brother?" She asked coldly, as she picked up her eye-
shadow brush and began to work on her eyes.
"Don't be spiteful Kate," Alabaster's voice was quiet, but he could have
whispered it and she still would have heard every syllable. His fingers toyed
with the ends of her curls, as he watched her in the mirror. "Would you believe
me if I told you that I missed you?" He asked and for just a moment their eyes
connected in the mirror. She looked away after a moment, choosing to stare at
the floor instead.
"No" She said quietly, barely above a whisper, "I wish I did believe you
though"
"What horrible sin have I committed Kate?" He asked quietly, his voice was sad,
and had away of making Kate feeling guilty that she was the cause of these
emotions. The anger was still in her though, and it fought its way out.
"You told me you loved me" She spat bitterly as she fumbled through her jewelry
box, looking for her earrings. She needed something to do with her hands as she
held her breath waiting for Alabaster's response. She didn't know what she
wanted to hear, but her whole body was tensed with anticipation.
"I thought you were more intelligent then this Kate." Alabaster said as he ran
his hand down her cheek, his skin was cool against her cheek as she swallowed
down the bite of his statement. Though she swore that she was angry at him, she
still cared deeply about his opinion of her and the last thing she wanted to be
was stupid. She didn't think she was pretty, she didn't think she was nice, but
she thought she was smart.
"I love you so much; can't you feel it whenever I touch you?" He asked quietly
as his thumb rubbed soothing circles against her skin. Her breath hitched as
his honey coated words seeped into her brain. "But I love October too, I love
you more then I could ever love him, but he needs me too. I know you love him,
and you know better then anyone the horrors you both have suffered through. I
can't save you and watch him drown Kate."
Kate thought about her brother. She did love him; he was the only constant in
her life. Her life had been a blinding blur of chaos, everything constantly
changing and moving, and he was there through it all. She felt tears come to
her eyes when she thought about how damaged her brother was. There was no
denying that her brother couldn't even get through the day sober.
Tears streamed down her face as he reached in her jewelry box and pulled out
the necklace he had given her. He fastened it around her slender throat and
placed kisses on her warm neck. He whispered as he kissed her, she could feel
his lips move against her skin, "I love you so much baby, please don't ever
forget that"
She looked into the mirror at their reflections, and whispered softly, "I love
you too"
October was drunk again. The night had been stressful and sleep refused to take
him so he found his solace inside his familiar bottle. Rhett's confessions were
stuck in his head, looping in his mind and refusing to give him a moments rest.
The more alcohol that was in his system the quieter Rhett became. In the end,
Rhett was the last thing that October yearned for. October lay in his bed as he
tried to ignore the day dreams that assaulted him. They were silly and
illogical. Things that could never happen, at least not for someone like him.
Thoughts of what it would be like to wake up and see Alabaster's face plagued
his mind. He wondered what Alabaster sounded like when he slept, how heavy his
breathing was and did he hog the blankets. October wondered what Alabaster
looked like before he got the chance to shave in the morning. He thought about
what Alabaster must smell like after a good night's sleep, without the cologne
and scented soaps.
He fought against the thought of what it would be like to hold Alabaster's
hand. It made him a little sick to his stomach. He wasn't a fucking house wife,
or Alabaster's girlfriend. He didn't know what he was but he knew he could
never have something like that. Even if he wasn't gay. Alabaster was of a
different breed. He was intelligent, rich, and powerful. He didn't deserve to
breathe the same air as Alabaster. Let alone claim him as his own.
These thoughts began to plague him more than thoughts about Rhett. Eventually
he couldn't stand it anymore, so he slipped on a pair of pajama pants over his
boxers and wandered out into the hall. The house was dead; it's inhabitants all
in a deep sleep. It was four in the morning; he didn't expect anyone to be
awake. He wandered around for a few minutes, bored and restless, until
eventually he made his way down to the bottom on the stairs.
He didn't realize where he was going until he reached there. He stood in front
of Alabaster's door for ten minutes, debating whether or not to bother him so
late into the night. He took a deep breath and decided that he shouldn't wake
him. Alabaster was always busy and needed his sleep. He began to feel guilty
for even thinking about waking up Alabaster.
He sat down in the middle of the hallway. He pulled his legs close to his body
and hid his face in his hands. He felt pathetic. He sat there for what felt
like hours, sobbing to himself. His mind filled with all kinds of self
destructive thoughts. He was pathetic. He wasn't worth Alabaster's time. He was
a whore. He would never be as good as Kate or his mother. They looped in his
head until he felt like screaming.
All of the sudden Alabaster's door opened and October had been caught. He
looked up at Alabaster with blurry tear filled eyes and all that he could think
was that no one should look that good at four o'clock in the morning. Alabaster
eyes were always so bright, never dull with sleep, never dim with disinterest.
October decided that it was a weird thought to be having while crying in the
hallway.
Alabaster looked down at him for just a moment before kneeling down in front of
him. Alabaster's hand felt cool against October's feverish cheeks, heated from
the crying and the alcohol in his system, it felt good. It felt right. His
fingers slowly wiped the tears from underneath October's eyes. "What's the
matter?" He asked softly as he pushed October's hair out of his face and tucked
it behind his ear.
"I didn't mean to, I'm so sorry" October said quietly, his tongue was loose
from the alcohol and he knew it made him sound crazy but he just couldn't stop
the words from escaping. "I'm so sorry, I swear I kept telling him no, but he
just wouldn't listen. I should have fought him but I was just too drunk. You
deserve someone better, I'm so sorry" The words jumbled together and didn't
even make sense in October's head and the confusion in Alabaster's eyes hurt
more then anger ever would have.
"What happened?" Alabaster asked, and the genuine concern in his eyes broke
October's heart. He wrapped his arms around Alabaster's neck and buried his
face in his chest. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, all he wanted to do was
disappear. Alabaster pulled him completely into his lap and held him like a
child. His warm embrace was enough to calm October down enough to answer his
question.
"Do you remember the night you found me out in the snow?" October asked quietly
as he tried to swallow down the sobs that kept trying to resurface. October
didn't wait for a reply, he didn't think he could tell the story if he paused.
"Well before that Me, Rhett, and Holly-Beth, his sister, were sitting around
drinking at his house. I got really drunk, and whenever his sister left the
room he started kissing me. I was so confused I didn't know what was happening
until he started taking off my pants. I told him no, I swear I did, but he
didn't listen. I should have fought him off; I just was so confused and so
drunk. I'm sorry."
October didn't know why he felt so guilty. Alabaster was fooling around with
his sister and his mom, and didn't seem to feel the tiniest bit of guilt about
it. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he had always said he would
never be like his father. He said he would never hurt people by sleeping
around. He felt like scum, like father like son.
Alabaster gently held October's face in his hands, and kissed him on the lips.
"I forgive you, "Alabaster whispered against his lips before kissing him even
harder. October melted into it, dissolved into the approval and the comfort.
"Go lay down in my bed, I'll go get you something to drink"
October did as he was told and slipped inside Alabaster bedroom; he laid down
in the heavy blankets that were still messy from when Alabaster himself had
been in them. He laid his head on the pillow and could smell Alabaster on the
fabric. It was comforting enough that he fell asleep before Alabaster even got
back.
***** Him *****
October woke up in a haze, he couldn't believe that he didn't have a hang over
after the night he had. He was use to waking up alone, but found himself
wondering if he was still dreaming when he felt Alabaster's arm wrap around his
waist and pull him against his warm body. Alabaster lips were pressed against
his neck, and the gentle kisses and light sucking sent warmth throughout his
body. "Good morning baby" Alabaster said as October turned around in his hold
and pressed his face against Alabaster's chest.
"You're still here" October said quietly against Alabaster's chest.
"Of course" Alabaster fingers combed through the back of October's hair, "This
is the only place I want to be."
October leaned up and kissed him, the only way he could respond, all the words
that were circling his head didn't make any sense. They weren't good enough.
Not strong enough to stand up next to Alabaster own. Alabaster kissed him back,
and what started off as an innocent kiss quickly heated up. One kiss quickly
became more. Hands roamed October's body, warm and steady, over October's naked
torso and slowly rubbing his thighs through his pajama pants. October didn't
feel brave enough to touch Alabaster like he was touched, his hands fell limp
to his sides as he let Alabaster do whatever he wanted.
October let his neck fall to the side as Alabaster licked up it. October didn't
even realize he was moaning until he felt Alabaster's warm laugh against his
heated flesh. Embarrassment quickly left him as Alabaster's mouth moved
southward. Warm hands rubbing his thighs as an even warmer mouth sucked and bit
at his chest.
Alabasters fingers gently began to pull October's pants off as he sucked on one
of October's nipples. October let out a moan that sounded even pitiful to him
and he grabbed Alabaster's hand and held it. He was too nervous to let
Alabaster keep on, but too embarrassed to actually say it out loud.
The older man seemed to know exactly what he meant though, because he stopped
what he was doing and looked October in the eyes. His lips very gently brushed
against October's own, as the words "I love you so much" covered October in
warmth. The boy's hand was trembling as he pulled his pants downwards.
Alabaster kissed him again as he pulled them the rest of the way off of him. As
he looked over October's body he smiled gently, "God, your so fucking
beautiful. "He said which was enough to make tears try and fight to escape.
Brave hands rubbed October's warm thighs, as a confident mouth followed;
leaving kisses everywhere the fingers danced over. Nervousness filled October,
but it was nothing in comparison to the warmth that tingled through his body as
Alabaster licked up his legs. As Alabaster's hand wrapped around October's
cock, October couldn't help but jump and swallow down an embarrassing moan.
Alabasters eyes locked with Octobers, and it set October's body on fire. His
eyes screamed a mixture of sex and hunger, and those hungry eyes were wandering
down October's body. October gasped for air as Alabaster's lips formed around
his cock. His fingers dug into the sheets as his body arched. Alabaster's mouth
was wonderful. As he licked and sucked, October felt a blush rise to his cheeks
and he began to loose control of the noises that escaped his lips.
It didn't take long for him to come, his whole body jerking upwards in pleasure
as his knuckles turned as white as the sheets he clutched. He laid there
panting as he slowly noticed the world around him again. He was suddenly very
aware of how naked he was and how beautiful Alabaster was. How could his pale
lanky body be underneath someone as handsome as Alabaster?
Alabaster pulled him into his arms and held him. The warm safety he found in
Alabaster's arms lured him back into sleep, only for it to be torn away from
him by his cell phone ringing. October didn't even remember taking his cell
phone to Alabaster's room the night before, but now it was being shoved into
him by a half asleep Alabaster. Alabaster was still very much asleep, but he
was muttering something under his breath as he kept pushing the ringing phone
against October's stomach. As if hitting it might make the phone call stop.
October laughed softly as he took the phone from Alabaster's hand, he moved
Alabaster's arm off of him and slid out of the bed. He took the ringing phone
through the curtain into the other part of the room. He answered it and put it
up against his ear, he still felt like maybe it was too close and that he might
wake up Alabaster but he was afraid the phone was going to stop ringing.
"Hello," He answered quietly, wondering who in the hell was calling him so
early anyways. He didn't recognize the number. He rubbed his eyes with his
hand, deciding he was way too tired to be up.
"October," It was Holly-Beth, he could hear her voice, and could tell that she
had been crying.
"What's the matter?" October asked, a lump getting caught in his throat, he
knew that he had done a thousand things to make Holly-Beth cry just the day
before. He couldn't help but wonder if today was the day that all of his
failures as a good man would catch up to him.
"Rhett," She barely got his name out of her mouth before she began to sob
again, "The cops came and took him this morning. They found cocaine in his
locker, a whole lot of it. He doesn't even sell cocaine." She was crying again,
and he didn't know what to say.
"Why were they checking his locker?" October asked as he swallowed hard, he
felt something that felt like relief, than he felt sick for feeling it.
"They said an anonymous tip; you don't think this has something to do with that
guy Rhett fought last night do you?" She asked, her crying was lessening but
she was still hard to understand.
"No, probably not, the other guy won and won hard, I think he proved his point.
It was probably just some other asshole who has it out for Rhett." October said
with a sigh, but his mind already had a suspect in his mind.
"I'm sorry October, I have to go. I'll call you later and give you more
information when I get it." She said it quickly, not even waiting for his
goodbye before she hung up.
He wasn't entirely sure what the emotions that flooded him were. They were
strange and frightening. Pain? Pain that his best friend was going to go to
jail, there was no doubt in his mind that that's where this was headed. Guilt?
Guilt that he treated Holly-Beth like complete and utter shit, and couldn't
remember the last time he had a full conversation with her. Guilt that he
wasn't all that sad that Rhett was being locked up. Rhett was making things
difficult to navigate, and though he lusted after Rhett, how could he keep such
a thing secret from Holly-Beth and the rest of the school for very long. Fear?
Fear because something inside of him screamed at him that this was Alabaster's
doing.
He wasn't sure, but it made his brain swim and all of his common sense left
him.
He stormed through the curtain back into the main part of the room, not caring
if he woke up Alabaster. Alabaster was up though, and watching October with
cold analytical eyes. October was the twin without the aggression, October was
the one who could take shit and not scream back. October was the one with the
thicker skin. However, October was so close to yelling that he had to dig his
nails into his palms for him to stop it.
"What did you do?" October asked trying his best not to yell, so it came out
practically a whisper.
Alabaster didn't try hiding it; he just shrugged lightly, "I have to protect
you."
"This is too much, this wasn't right." October said quietly, because how could
he scream at someone who was just trying to protect him.
"Whenever you told me he touched you against your will, I wanted to fucking
slit his throat. I think what I did was pretty reasonable." Alabaster said as
he stepped out of bed, "And I would do it again if given the chance."
October was hit with a sudden realization. This was all his fault. Alabaster
thought Rhett had rapped October. October swallowed down hard, maybe Rhett had.
Alabaster didn't do it out of jealously, no; he did it to get rid of October's
rapist. Alabaster wasn't acting out of anger; he was taking out things that
were harming October. October didn't even know what to do about this. He was so
use to people hurting him; he wasn't even sure what to do about someone who did
radical things to keep him away from harm.
"You might be able to take getting hurt by everyone you know, but I can't watch
you get picked apart like that." The anger was dripping from Alabaster's words
as he looked October dead in the face. "If you won't protect yourself, I'll do
it for you" Alabaster said as he shook his head, October couldn't speak as he
watched Alabaster walk through the curtain into the other part of the room.
October didn't even realize he was crying until he felt a tear fall onto his
arm. He sloppily wiped them away and he thought of what to do. He wasn't angry
anymore, just sick to his stomach, he felt pathetic. He swallowed down his
pain, and tried his best to smile. It was too late to do anything about Rhett
now, but not to late for him to fix things with Alabaster. After all, what did
Alabaster do besides try and protect October?
October walked through the curtain, Alabaster was not waiting for him but he
could hear the sound of the shower running in the other room. October walked
down the hall and into the bathroom, feeling awkward walking in on Alabaster,
but feeling even worse about the confrontation.
The shower was huge, about the size of a king size bed, and as October pushed
back the royal blue shower curtain the stone work always took his breath away.
The only thing more fascinating then the intricate work of stone that made up
the shower, was the gorgeous creature in it. October had never seen anyone
beautiful before, not really, not until he met Alabaster. People in magazines
and movies were just that, fantasy, nothing close to reality. Alabaster
belonged in a fantasy. Smooth muscles and eyes that captured everything that
was inside of October. He wasn't of this world…. And it terrified October.
Alabaster was watching him with cold eyes, soap covered his arms and chest, and
in his hand he held a wash cloth. Alabaster never took his eyes off of October
as he ran the washcloth over his abs and down his stomach. October took a step
into the shower, towards Alabaster, towards the arms that he wanted to surround
him. He reached out and took the washcloth from Alabaster, which Alabaster
released easily. He then ran the cloth over Alabaster's broad shoulders and
over his muscular arms.
"I'm so sorry," October said as he began to wash down Alabaster's hips and his
thighs. Alabaster was smiling now, and October couldn't help but smile himself
whenever those smiling lips pressed against his own.
Later that morning the breakfast table was full of tension, though no one cared
to acknowledge its existence.
Alabaster didn't notice their burning eyes. He went on unaffected, slowly
drinking his coffee and reading the paper. He spent his whole life being
watched by others, today was no different. The table watched him, a mixture of
every passionate feeling a person can feel felt towards him in that single
moment. He turned the page of his paper and took another sip of his coffee. It
was just a normal day.
He didn't notice them, but he was being picked apart by them. It was a good
thing that he was perfect, because they were going to tare him into shreds. His
dark black hair was combed, not a hair out of place. His beautiful green eyes
never once moved from his paper, they sparkled with interest as he read about
the world around him he was too busy to see for himself. His lips were pulled
into a smirk, taunting and teasing, and so completely unconscious. He was in a
private world where no one was watching the way he moved his lips. His shirt
was black, which added levels to his attractiveness that white shirts never
seemed to be able to match with. His tie was the color of red wine, and October
was having trouble resisting the urge to reach out and run his fingers against
it. He was perfect.
Kate ate her bowl of cereal in silence, every once in awhile casting a glance
at Alabaster. She wanted to say something but she swallowed it down and faked a
smile. There was no way she didn't notice that October wasn't in his bedroom
this morning. She swallowed down her jealousy. She pushed around her soggy
cereal and hoped someone would say something.
October drank his coffee slowly, both his hands holding the mug to his lips. He
avoided eye contact with everybody, trying to almost blend into the background.
He felt like if he made eye contact with them, they would all figure out what
he was doing with Alabaster. He wondered how Alabaster did it. He just read his
paper like this was the most natural thing on earth. He couldn't help but
notice Kate was wearing Alabaster's necklace again, just as much as she
couldn't help but notice he was wearing his watch. They didn't talk about it
though, it just went unsaid.
Both Kate and October were relieved when Hyde walked into the breakfast room.
Hyde was in a way in the middle of things. He was the bridge. He was part of
Alabaster's world, he understood it, but he also was from their world. He
wasn't flawless. He was moody, and cursed a lot. He was covered in tattoos and
his father was an alcoholic. October liked knowing that someone so close to
Alabaster could be flawed enough to have a cocaine addiction. Kate was almost
convinced that Hyde was on her side, that he really wanted to help her. Hyde
had grown on them.
They both noticed that Hyde looked better than usual. His dark hair was tamed a
little today, and his bright amber eyes were hidden by sunglasses. He was
wearing a black dress shirt, but the sleeves were rolled up to show his
intricate tattoos. He was wearing dark blue jeans, but no one failed to notice
how good he looked in them. It was weird to see him in anything other than
pants and a wife beater. It had been a long time since they had last seen the
silver rings on his fingers or expensive Italian leather on his feet.
Something was terribly wrong though…
He had a black eye, though it was more purple and red than black. Even
underneath the sunglasses October and Kate both knew that it must be hurting.
Quite a lot like Alabaster he wasn't very talkative in the morning, he did
however grunt towards October and Kate, acknowledging their existence with the
wave of a hand. He walked up to Alabaster and Alabaster immediately looked up
from his news paper. Apparently he had been paying more attention then either
of them had originally thought. Alabaster looked over Hyde for a moment, eyes
roaming over the slick Italian leather and the dress shirt. "You look really
nice this morning."
"Thank you," Hyde said as he eyes looked anywhere but at Alabaster himself, "I
was just in a good mood this morning. I thought I might dress nice. I was
wondering if I could have my…"
"Allowance?" Alabaster cut off as he reached into his suit pocket and pulled
out his wallet, He opened it up and he pulled out three hundred dollar bills
and held it out towards Hyde. Hyde reached out to take the money, which
Alabaster didn't release as he tried to take it from his hand. Hyde looked up
at Alabaster in way that almost seemed like pleading, but Alabaster's eyes were
cold.
Alabaster released the money and watched Hyde with cold eyes as Hyde put it in
his wallet. "You smell like cigarette smoke." The statement was cold, and laced
with bitterness. Both Kate and October began to think about the times they had
seen Hyde sneak cigarettes when Alabaster wasn't around. Kate remembered how
terrified Hyde had been when she caught him outside that one night. He had
begged her not to tell Alabaster.
Hyde became rigid, as if Alabaster had spat in his face. He stood there for a
moment like he didn't know what to do. As the seconds went by October and Kate
both began to feel bad for him. Alabaster didn't say anything as he pulled four
hundred dollars from his wallet. Kate had never seen that much money in a
wallet ever in her life. He set it down on the table and looked up at October
and Kate, "This is your allowance; you get it every two weeks, when I'm
reminded."
October took his part of the money but he was deep in thought. He remembered
smoking outside of the mall with Hyde, and how the boy said Alabaster would
slit his throat if he caught him smoking. He remembered how he said Alabaster
couldn't get mad, and how Hyde said October didn't know him quite as well as
Hyde did. He then remembered the way Alabaster brutally verbally attacked his
brother, and the night in the pool when Alabaster showed a completely different
side of himself. October was thoroughly convinced that Alabaster had hit Hyde.
Kate on the other hand hadn't seen anything of that sort. The only aggression
she had seen out of Alabaster was when she was trying to get evidence that he
was cheating on her mom. Otherwise Kate considered Alabaster to be practically
harmless; he had few moods and mostly just smiled at confrontation. She however
had a feeling there was something up with Hyde. He kept to himself so much,
talked to them but very rarely actually told them anything about himself. She
had images of him fighting with strangers in streets over drugs and alcohol
flashing in her mind.
"I was wondering if you would take Kate to school this morning, I have to pick
up Madeline from the airport. October's not going today, he's not feeling
well." Alabaster said shortly before taking a drink of his coffee. Though
disguised as a question, every single person in the room knew that nothing
about this was going to be Hyde's choice.
October was sure that not a person in this room was glad to hear that Madeline
was coming home.
***** Forever *****
When was the last time Kate had been to church? She felt the weight of her sins
as she stared up at the high ceilings and beautiful stain glass windows. She
felt tiny and sick to her stomach. Her mother had worked so hard on all of
this. The tiny blue and white flowers were everywhere, and the white silk
ribbon seemed to drape everything her eyes landed on. It was gorgeous and pure,
and should have been for another couple. For someone other than Alabaster and
her mother, for people actually in love. The happier her mother seemed the
farther Kate sunk into depression. She was beginning to think her mother might
have actually fallen in love with Alabaster. How far-fetched of an idea was
that, after all, didn't everyone fall in love with Alabaster. Her mother was
sharing his bed the same as Kate was. She knew where she should be, at her
mother's side, gushing over make-up and hair. She couldn't even get near the
room her mother was being made up in. She felt sick when she even got close.
She caught a glimpse of herself in a window. She stopped for a moment to look.
She was beautiful. Who was this person in the window? It couldn't be her. Kate
had frizzy curly hair and didn't wear makeup. Kate didn't look beautiful. This
creature with her hair decorated and pinned with one of Alabaster's gifts and
eyes that sparkled was not her. Kate must have died somewhere along the way.
When was the last time that she read a book? This was not her.
She looked at her mother's door, and sighed to herself. Would she ever forgive
herself if she didn't try to convince her mother not to go through with it at
least once? Would she ever forgive herself anyways?
Kate was becoming increasingly aware of who Alabaster really was as time went
by. He had a tongue dipped in honey, and he used it to paint images of the
future. Fantasies that Kate thought were deep down in her soul. His hands were
warm when he touched her and they wrapped around her like they wanted to keep
her there forever. There was nothing she could want from him that he did not
give. Except being genuine.
Kate and October were talking now. Expressing their feelings and Alabaster's
tactics. It didn't matter now though, they both loved him, and they didn't care
that he wasn't genuine because they both hoped maybe he would fall in love with
just one of them. Alabaster was something completely different then either had
ever experienced. They had never possessed something, without ever really
possessing it. The endless cycle of attention and then inattention had them on
their knees willing to do anything to tip the scales in their favor. Their
relationships were becoming a competition rather than anything out of warmth
and love.
Alabaster was their way out. They were living in a dirty trailer park wearing
ripped clothing and making box mac and cheese every night. They both were
intelligent but didn't have the grades to get into college without paying for
some of it. October would end up in the many factories in the town and Kate
would end up pregnant and hopefully working at a restaurant for tips. Maybe
together they could keep clothes on their backs and food in their stomachs.
Hopefully they could keep away from drugs, but who was October really kidding.
He was already an alcoholic, he was sure the stress of a loveless relationship
with a woman he couldn't stand to have sex with and four kids would push him
over the edge.
Alabaster was their way out and both of them knew it.
She stared at the door for a long time; finally the guilt inside her grew so
large she was willing to sacrifice a life of safety and security for her
mother. Even though her mother had reacted so badly the first time, she knew
she had to try again. Just one last time, then she would never say another word
about it. She would let her mother live with her decisions from that point on.
She walked through the door and watch from a moment as her mother stared at
herself in the mirror. Her mother was beautiful. She always was. It was that
beautiful that had paid for plenty of Kate's meals growing up. Her mother had
never been very intelligent, and couldn't ever handle stress. Kate's
grandparents were wealthy but extremely religious, and had kicked out Madeline
when she was only fifteen because she was pregnant with Kate and October. Their
father was eighteen at the time, and did his best, but he never wanted to be a
father and didn't love Madeline. He worked full time in a factory, and drank
himself into a coma the rest of the time. She made it though. Madeline had
survived.
"You look beautiful Mommy," Kate said without realizing it was leaving her
lips, she thought maybe Madeline didn't want to be reminded that she was a
mother at a time like this but Madeline glowed at the words. She patted the
bench she was sitting on, inviting Kate to sit next to her. Kate did so, but
didn't know whether to be happy or further upset because of what she had to
tell her mother.
Her mother put her hand against Kate's face and smiled at her, "You look
stunning baby, beauty and brains, the whole package." Her mother said with a
laugh as she pulled her hand away. Kate loved her when she was like this. She
loved her when the stress and the booze had yet to get to her. When she was
still her mommy and loved her.
"Don't go through with this mom," Kate said softly, "Everything he says is a
lie, he doesn't love you."
Madeline's face grew heavy but there was no look of shock, as if she knew this
is what her daughter had come in for in the first place. "Who would baby?" She
said softly now, barely a whisper, "I'm so cold Kate, and so full of hate and
anger. I hate myself Kate, every moment of every day I regret what I did to my
babies….what I did too myself. "
"The only man I have ever loved hurt everything I have ever held close to me,"
tears streamed down Madeline's face now, " I loved him and he hurt my babies so
bad, I knew it, I saw it, but I made up excuses in my head. I let him hurt my
babies. I told myself you were lying because I just couldn't take it. I was
supposed to be your mommy. I'm supposed to hold you and protect you. And even
now I pretend it didn't happen because I can't say sorry enough to make it all
better…to get his hands off of your skin. "
Kate was crying too now, all of these emotions of hate, betrayal and hurt
coming into the surface. The feelings of being a child alone in the world
surfacing again. In moments it was no longer Kate there, but rather the seven
years old child with bruises and a mother she thought didn't love her anymore.
"I see the way he looks at you and your brother how could I not when he flashes
it in front of me as if I were some stupid bimbo. As if I couldn't feel the
hairs stand up on the back of my neck every time one of you entered the room"
The anger was obvious in her mother's voice, her voice slowly rising in volume,
and her tears flowing down her face were slow and heavy.
"If it wasn't for the money Kate I wouldn't go through with this. I've done so
much harm to my babies; I can at least do this for them. I didn't sign a
prenupt, I will make sure we consummate the marriage, and I won't even look at
another man. He'll get sick of me, he will and then he'll want a divorce and
I'll take everything I can from him. I will get you and October into college,
and then maybe we can get somewhere in this world. "Her tears stopped falling
and she looked at Kate with determination in her eyes, "I've seen the gifts
he's given you, if he wants to shower you in things for your affection let him.
Don't ever feel like you are stuck doing anything you don't want baby, don't
let him take anything from you. Tell me if he ever gets forceful and I'll get
us out of there. If I can just do this then we will be set and you won't ever
end up like me."
Kate didn't know what to say she just cried softly ruining her makeup, she let
her mother pull her in close and suddenly things didn't seem so bad anymore.
October spent the day not really there. Hyde helped him dress in his suit with
little conversation. The older man didn't press for conversation and as they
got close October smelt cigarette smoke on his breath. As if Hyde sensed what
he was thinking he put his hand on October's shoulder and looked to the side.
His black eye was finally starting to go away, one could only really see it if
they were looking. October wondered if it was still sore to the touch, but
didn't dare ask. He didn't allow himself to think much, everything he thought
made him anxious. It was odd that this man who never spoke and when did was
never very kind, was the most calming thing in October's world.
Hyde turned towards him after a while and sighed softly, "You know you are too
good for him, October." Hyde shook his head softly, "You are so amazing, if I
had anything to offer I would rescue from him. I just want you to know he's
looking for something that will make you dependent on him forever, and he'll
find it. Don't let him own you"
October didn't quite know what to say. It was out of character for Hyde to
speak like that, and he wouldn't know what to say if it wasn't. "I didn't know
you felt that way," October said quietly, swallowing hard as if the other words
he might want to say were trapped there, chocking him. He wanted to beg for
information, more information on what Alabaster was capable of. He wanted to
know how Hyde got that black eye and if what happened to Rhett was an isolated
incident.
"That doesn't surprise me," Hyde said with a short laugh, dark and sad but with
just the lightest touch of irritableness, "Do you ever know how anybody feels
about you? Did you know how Alabaster felt about you until he kissed you? How
about Rhett? And I'm sure they are both a lot louder about how they feel about
people."
October looked down, his cheeks coloring; he was kind of oblivious to the
attention he got from people. He didn't understand why so many people saw so
much in him. He was an alcoholic, he wasn't that smart, and surely his
attractiveness paled in comparison to that of both Alabaster and Hyde. "I don't
see what you see in me."
"Of course you don't," Hyde said with a sigh, "I know that you belong to
Alabaster, and that he would kill me for even telling you this. After all, look
what happened to me when I told him how I felt about you." He didn't motion
towards his black eye but October knew what he was talking about. He felt a
sickness sort of rise in his stomach. This was all because of him. Hyde felt
pain because of him. The guilt began to set in, eating at him. If it wasn't for
him Rhett wouldn't be in jail and Hyde wouldn't be fighting with Alabaster.
This was all his fault, just because he was with Alabaster. Anger hit next,
Hyde wasn't like Rhett, Hyde didn't force himself on October. Hyde came to
Alabaster as a man and confessed that he had feelings. Alabaster's anger was no
longer justified.
"I don't belong to anyone," October bit irritably, the thought of Alabaster
staking claim on him made his blood boil. Alabaster could fuck his sister, his
mother, and lord knows how many other people and Hyde couldn't even have a
harmless fucking crush on him. He looked down at the watch on his wrist, so
he'll always remember him. October wanted to buy Alabaster a fucking chastity
device.
Hyde looked down at the ground now, "I didn't mean to make you mad. I'm bad
about talking to people. Never picked up any charm, apparently it isn't
contagious, if it was I would have caught it from Alabaster at some point in
time."
October gave him a reassuring smile, "It's not your fault Hyde, I'm just mad
because I feel like I'm not even a person to Alabaster. I'm just some type of
prized object. "
Hyde slowly touched October's face, his hands were cool on October's heated
skin, and it felt nice and way too intimate. Hyde shook his head slowly,
"Alabaster isn't a good man, and it's not your fault. I don't even know if
Alabaster can love people. "He gently lifted October's chin upwards, "It's not
your fault, if it was, there would be no way my lips would burn this badly to
touch yours. If there was ever a person someone could love, there is no
question in my mind why Alabaster would hurt me for even laying my eyes on you.
"
"I can think of no better reason to die," Hyde said as his lips brushed against
October's before pulling him into an even deeper kiss.
Something pulled October in, and he felt his hands reach out to touch Hyde as
his bottom lip was gently sucked on. He wasn't sure whether or not it was
passion or anger that caused him to continue to kiss harder and harder. He
pushed himself against Hyde, feeling their bodies press together and the heat
of them together grow. Hyde kissed down October's throat, catching the
sensitive skin between his lips and making October pant. It felt good, felt
even better when he was shoved against the wall none to gently. October was
nervous, would say stop if he could manage to speak at all. He couldn't think
between the kisses, could barely breathe, he gasped for air as Hyde released
his mouth once again. Hyde's leg was between his own now, and he was
embarrassed by what was pressing so eagerly against it.
It was good to be caught up in this energy; it sparked something inside of him.
There was something inside of him that needed to be taken, controlled, and
owned. Hyde did just that. Alabaster was controlled and polished, good
breeding, and though he was definitely skilled it had none of the fire that
Hyde's touch had. Hyde didn't seem to care if he broke October. Where Alabaster
noticed everything, Hyde seemed in the moment.
Hyde was not gentle as he explored October's body; nothing was sacred as he
touched wherever he pleased. He didn't ask permission. October wasn't quite
sure when the sweetness disappeared, but there was not an ounce left as Hyde's
hand traveled over the front of his pants and began to rub the straining
erection there. October whimpered lightly, embarrassed by the noises he was
making when Hyde continued to remain dominant as he continued his attack.
October was dizzy; he didn't quite understand how he went from standing against
a wall to on Hyde's lap as he sat on the small couch in the dressing room.
Everything was pulling and jerking, and hot biting kisses. He couldn't think
anymore, his thoughts flew by in a moment, only stuck around just long enough
to be noticed. Too hot, feels good, and hurts stuck around just long enough for
Hyde to relieve them. Anytime Hyde even made a noise that sounded like
laughter, October's face burned. He didn't care though; Hyde could laugh and
mock him all he wanted as long as it still felt like this.
They didn't even notice when a door opened behind them. The sound of his voice
was like ice water to October. If Hyde had made him drunk, Alabaster sobered
him up instantly. "Hyde, why don't you go get October a drink" This was not a
request, and before the last word was even spoken October was already off
Hyde's lap and Hyde was walking towards the door. October was beginning to
think he wasn't going to see Hyde for awhile. It seemed that whenever Alabaster
spoke about drinks, Hyde left without returning. October swallowed hard, he
could probably really use a drink right now.
His face burned red, he put his hands in his lap, hoping to somewhat hide his
erection. The burning in Alabaster's eyes, the anger, had an unsettling effect
on his body. He must be sick, he thought to himself, in order to like the
violence that seemed to surround the man. He did though, and though he was
terrified, and sure that Alabaster was going to literally murder him, he
couldn't help but wish that Alabaster was doing those same things that Hyde had
been before they were interrupted.
"I'm sorry Alabaster, I promise I have no idea what happened." October said as
he stared down at his feet. He couldn't handle the look of disgust in
Alabaster's eyes. "We were just talking, and he kissed me. I don't know why I
kissed back. I'm so sorry" He didn't know whether or not he should actually
feel sorry, but October was always one for trying to make people feel better,
and he couldn't help but ache to make Alabaster's anger go away. He also didn't
want to push Alabaster by saying why it's hypocritical that he couldn't fool
around with Hyde.
"It didn't look like kissing," Alabaster said looking down between October's
legs, his type of anger was one that October was no familiar with. He had seen
this look in Alabaster's eyes before. In the pool, when he said those terrible
things, when October was afraid Alabaster was going to let him drown.
Alabaster's anger was slow and smoldering, less like a fire and more like
melted steal. It would hurt you, but slowly, structured attacks. Alabaster was
out for blood.
"So this sweet little virgin thing you have going on is just an act, I wonder
just how many men have you had in your mouth?" Alabaster asked in a bitter
tone. October stood up, not liking how small he felt; he backed up away from
Alabaster. He wasn't quite prepared for it when he was slammed against the
wall. It scared him more then it hurt. Alabaster had never been violent with
him before. October swallowed hard as he shrunk down inside himself, he wasn't
a fighter, and he would just take whatever Alabaster felt like giving him. He
couldn't fight the tears building in his eyes.
Alabaster's face softened and he pressed his hand against October's face, "God,
you are so beautiful. Why do you hurt me so much?" He wiped one of October's
tears away with his thumb as he leaned in close and kissed October gently.
October didn't fight it but he didn't kiss back. He didn't know what he was
supposed to do. He began to cry harder, and he just barely managed to whisper,
"Everything hurts so much, even when it feels good it hurts"
Alabaster pulled him in, wrapped his strong arms around him and held him close.
"Everything is okay; I'm here for you, after today I'll be with you forever.
You don't have to be alone anymore."
***** Honesty *****
The wedding was beautiful, but Kate couldn't help but feel like she was
watching the climax of a horror film whenever they said " I do." Everything was
so amazingly gorgeous and beautiful for such a shallow event. After the
wedding, when everyone was being seated for the reception she saw Brian again.
He was actually in a suit, but most of the front buttons were undone and his
tie was haphazardly hanging out of his pocket. He winked when he saw her, and
she couldn't help but smile. Even though he seemed to bring trouble when he was
around, there was something playful and honest about him that amused her. She
was actually a little bit bummed that he would not be seated with her, because
if she knew anything about Alabaster, Brian would be kept as far away as
possible. She knew he had secrets about Alabaster to tell her, they were in his
every smile. However, she also knew that she was going to sit next to October,
Hyde, and a girl by the name of Azalea who she had never heard of before.
Everyone was up watching the cake being cut, but Kate complained about her
heels hurting her feet so no one objected to her sitting down. It's not like
they could even spot her in that huge crowd of people. She wasn't the only one
sitting. The elderly and some teenager texting were also sitting. Along with
mothers and their children who didn't feel like they could watch their children
in the crowd.
Brian walked up to her with a smile and mischief in his bright green eyes, he
put a finger to his lips as he took Azalea's name plate and switched it with
his own. He came back after putting hers where his was with a look on his face
like he had just pulled off the perfect crime. "You wouldn't like Azalea, she
is so dull, and I swear she'll put you to sleep in minutes." He said as he
pulled his seat out and sat next to her. "Alabaster always likes to keep me
away from the fun anyways" He said as he put his feet up on the chair across
from him.
Her eyes caught the expensive looking watch on his wrist and she couldn't help
but ask him about it. "Aren't you worried that your father's money will run
out?" She asked, looking a little brattier then she intended. What was it any
of her business what this man did with his money? Did she somehow think that
just because Hyde was rude to the man that she could be too?
He laughed a little at how offensive she was, "Mind your manners little girl,
what a terribly ill-mannered gold digger you are" There was something about his
smile though that gave away that he really didn't care about how she behaved,
she might even venture far enough to say that he found it amusing. "Hyde was
just being unkind. I have a job. I am an artist, writer, and playwright.
Whatever people want me to be. I make good money, about half as much as
Alabaster. I never had a head for business. I am much more interested in
creating then I am stealing"
He had Kate's attention now, and it was a little fucked up that he seemed even
more attractive now that she knew what was in his bank account. She shook her
head slightly in order to dislodge such a nasty cold thought. He reached up and
touched the pin in Kate's hair, "Is that what you see in my dear younger
brother?" He stroked it gingerly, "Generally it's the mothers that are more
concerned with money, and you should be focusing on all the pretty things he
says to you."
"I'm not like that," She moved away from him, and looked at him with cold eyes,
"The precious metal in his gifts is a hell of a lot more genuine then those
pretty things he says"
"No need to worry, I like it when people are open about things. It's the one
thing I can't stand about my brother. I think he would be tolerable if he
didn't pretend to be a saint all the time." He shrugged slightly, as if not
quite sure where he was going with his sentence, "He's a semi-decent person
underneath it all, if you get pass the games and the lies. He's got a bit of a
temper, but what would you except of someone who came from our father. You are
doing it right though, he's always liked his women a little bit coquettish."
She looked at him angrily, "I'm not playing some game with him, I am genuinely
upset at him. What can I do to make him know that?"
"If you want a genuine relationship you are looking in the wrong place. If you
want a few pretty toys and some money for college, Alabaster is your man." He
said quietly as he smiled up at one of the servers who were filling up wine
glasses. He pressed the glass against his lips, and smiled like a true
hedonist.
He offered his wine to her and she drank at least half the glass in a few
uncivilized gulps. He smiled at her softly and she drank the rest of it.
There was commotion again, the customary flinging of the garter. Brian stayed
seated though, apparently not caring about how it would look that Alabaster's
brother wanted nothing to do with the festivities. Another glass of wine was
brought to Kate, and she quickly drank that one too.
October was not fairing any better then Kate. He stood by his mother's side the
whole event for the most part. She was beautiful and looked half her age, but
the look of worry on her face never seemed to go away. She held her son's hand
for most of the events that Alabaster's hand could not take his place. He felt
like he was lying to her, even though he hadn't said a word. He hoped that she
could somehow feel all the love he had for her. There relationship was rocky,
but he knew his mother tried.
Madeline was in worse shape then both of her children. She held her son's hand
and hoped that he could not feel how sweaty her palms were through the delicate
gloves on them. She watched her handsome young husband flirt and shake hands
with senators and famous artists. She wondered if he ever had spoken something
real in his entire life. However, when he came to her side she let go of her
son's hand, and took Alabaster's.
"Are you feeling alright honey?" He asked softly in her ear and he gently
kissed right behind it. What a snake charmer he was, she was sure that he could
charm the devil himself. If he was not himself, the devil. She reminded him of
her first husband that way, he charmed a rich beautiful young girl out of her
dress when he didn't even have a penny or care in the world. He also gave her
the gift and the curse of her beautiful twins. The ones that got her cast out
of her family, and now the only ones she lived for. Things would have been
different if she had said no, if she would have stayed home that night when she
was just fifteen years old. Her first husband was a drunk and a cheat, but he
wasn't a bad man.
It was the glint in Alabaster's eyes that reminded her of her latter husband
that frightened her. She had a strange feeling all day that she couldn't seem
to shake off. There was a way that he looked at her that made her worried, a
certain way he talked. She smiled at him though, as if it was the most natural
thing in the world. "Wonderful," She said, "Though a little dizzy, have you
seen Kate?"
Kate was busy talking to Brian. He was so gorgeous looking down at her.
Everything that Alabaster has without the layer of good breeding that made him
almost insufferable. It was like looking up at Alabaster with his tie gone and
his hair messed up. It was like seeing that venom that was always there but now
it wasn't hidden. There was a little bite to him. Something about how he held
his wine, and smiled like he already knew what she was going to say. He was
cruel, brutal, and tactless, but it was entirely his design and it was
enthralling in the same way Alabaster's near constant perfection was.
"I want him so badly," She said it like a confession; like it wasn't so clear
in everything she said and did. She wanted Alabaster so badly, she ached for
him. She hated him for it. When she thought about him it was never good
thoughts. She thought about a monster he was, and how she wanted him, and of
little else.
"Take him then, though I'm sure you don't have any idea what you really want,"
He said as he took a sip of wine, "Sweetheart, He only wants you when you are a
challenge. Give him what he wants and you loose. So be mean, order him around,
and demand his gifts. He may hate you for it, but he won't leave until he has
you."
***** Death *****
Kate and October sat at in the breakfast room waiting for their meal like they
always did about that time in the evening. They were both very relaxed, and
chatted carelessly about school and such, catching each other up. Their mother
and Alabaster had been gone a week now on their honeymoon, and both Kate and
October were extremely relaxed. Even the awkwardness between Hyde and October
had dissipated.
The maid, who they had just recently discovered was named Claudia, brought
there food in with Hyde walking just a few steps behind her carrying a bottle
of wine. "Mr. Demello, that's very inappropriate of you." Claudia said, a small
smile playing on her lips as she set there plates in front of them. Kate had no
idea what the conversation was about, but she could tell both Hyde and Claudia
were enjoying themselves thoroughly. She was glad to see it too, Hyde always
seemed so down. He would spend most of dinner just picking at his food, and
then would spend the rest of his time in his room. Hyde was always like that
though, it was nothing new, but it still worried her.
"Come eat at the table with us," Hyde said as he sat down and watched her pour
their wine for them. Kate looked down at her food and felt her mouth water,
though the dishes were always exotic, each one seemed better then the last. She
had even grown a taste for wine, which was such a strange idea, seeing how much
she use to hate wine or the idea of alcohol in general.
"You know that Mr. Bliss doesn't like me to," She said as if scolding a young
boy, she set the bottle of wine down and took a good long look at the food,
"What a beautiful meal you have prepared Mr. Demello, are you sure you would
like to share? My taste buds aren't quite refined enough to truly appreciate
the delicacy of your cooking."
"You cooked this Hyde?" Kate asked, she knew that Hyde spent a lot of time in
the kitchen, but she thought that he just liked talking to the cook. He had
never spoken about it before, and Alabaster had never mentioned it.
"Mr. Demello fixes all of the meals." Claudia said with a smile, as if she was
genuinely proud of Hyde. "Mr. Bliss has had all kinds of chefs come prepare
things in his kitchen, but I have never had better food then the meals prepared
by Mr. Demello."
"Join us," Hyde said ignoring all of her compliments and Kate's questions.
With a huff and a sigh, Claudia went back into the kitchen to grab a plate and
silverware and then sat herself at the table with them. Her eyes lit up when
she took a bite of the food, she then giggled softly as she washed it down with
wine. She was beautiful like this, when not bogged down by so much formality;
Kate hated the way she always seemed to look down when Kate looked at her. She
found herself a little more attracted to Hyde, if only because he could make a
friend out of a servant.
"I don't know why you spend your time with tattoos and Alabaster's bidding,
it's obvious that the kitchen is where you belong." Claudia said smiling at
him, and then looking at Kate and October a little nervously, unsettled by
their silence
Hyde's ringtone broke the silence; he pressed his cell phone to his ear and
answered, "Alabaster?"
His volume was up loud enough that the rest of the table could hear Alabaster's
voice over the phone; it would have been a comfort to hear if it wasn't for the
panic in it. "There's been a real bad accident."
"Are you okay?" Hyde asked, sounding genuinely concerned the emotion in his
voice unsettling to October and Kate who both had never heard him seem to care
about anything at all. He suddenly had the attention of the whole room.
"I'm alright, my driver is dead though, and Madeline is in the hospital," He
was panting, like he couldn't quite breathe, "They hit us on the drivers side-
"There was another pause, before he continued, "They say she's lucky she's
alive at all after the crash, but she's not breathing on her own and they think
she has some really severe brain damage. Please tell the twins for me, and make
sure they know I love them and that I'll call as soon as they give me any more
news. I love you Hyde" He hung up before Hyde could get a word in and he looked
up at the twins and knew that he didn't have to relay Alabaster's message.
Kate curled up in her chair and cried, and October's eyes were down cast and
wide, and they said nothing. The exotic food Hyde had spent so much time
cooking stayed untouched on the table. Hyde's phone was placed on the table, so
they could watch it, because they were all worried that maybe they just
wouldn't hear the ringtone. Claudia got up and slowly took the plates from the
table and brought them into the kitchen, her eyes downcast, how awkward it is
to be in the middle of a tragedy you have no stake in. Hyde was in a difficult
place, clearly he was upset, but he had none of the same feelings the twins
did. The one he loved was okay; a woman he wasn't particularly fond of that he
met a few months ago was not. They sat like that for twenty minutes.
The phone rang and Hyde had answered it before the first ring had finished,
"Alabaster? What's going on?" He said his voice hushed though he wasn't sure
for what reason.
"She died." Alabaster's somber voice was heard and it cut like a knife, it was
filled with pain and sounded distant, as if Alabaster was in a completely
different world. "There was too much damage in the brain, she just
stopped….there was nothing they could do. " There was almost a full minutes of
silence before Alabaster spoke again,. "I'll take a plane, and I should be home
by3 A.M, please take good care of October and Kate tell then. This is so fucked
up, This was all supposed to be so good…"
"I'll do what I can for them, I love you" Hyde said before hanging up, he
looked up at the two sobbing teenagers and didn't know what on earth Alabaster
wanted him to do for them. They had just lost a mother, and Hyde was just a
stranger.
The twins sat at the table for a very long time, not saying anything just
crying. After awhile October took Kate by the hand and led her up to her
bedroom, and they curled up together. Kate sobbed into his chest, with his arms
wrapped around her. October drank, he had slowed down a lot lately, but now
there seemed no reason to not drink. The only thing keeping him from getting
black out drunk was his sister, she needed him. She got comfort from him, just
like she had all of her life. They had lived through their absentee father
together. They lived through their mentally unstable mother. They lived through
their abusive stepfather together. They would live through this.
The both slipped into an uneasy sleep together. They were awoken by the sound
of the door opening. Kate began to cry again when she saw Alabaster's bruised
up face. He took off his shoes and climbed into bed with them, something
fatherly about the look on his face. Kate curled up against his side and cried
into his shirt. October curled up on Alabaster's other side, and felt Alabaster
pull him in close. They fell asleep like that.
***** Hyde *****
Kate and October slept through the first two days, waking for just a few hours
to eat and drink when forced to, and then going back to sleep. At some point in
time Alabaster helped Kate into her soft cotton night shirt and a pair of
pajama shorts. He helped her take off her make up and brush out her hair. She
docilely did whatever he asked, as long as he helped her. He also helped
October into a pair of pajama pants and kept him away from the alcohol he
seemed to ache for. October didn't fight much; he was much too tired and much
too dependent of Alabaster for that.
They all lay on Alabaster's large comfy bed for days. October curled up on one
side of the man and Kate the other. They had no thoughts of jealously, they
were both trying to keep themselves together and they wanted the only people
they had around them. They watched endless children's movies, for those were
Kate's favorites, and October got some comfort from them.
Alabaster was their whole world for that week. His flaws were completely
forgotten as he wiped away tears and stayed up reassuring them that things
would be okay. There was something genuine in his eyes, something paternal in
his touch. It helped soothe the anxiety that went through them. They had
assumed Alabaster was going to kick them to the curve, he spoke of forever, but
neither had actually believed him. They thought this arrangement would end now
that they had been tainted by their mother's death, because surely they were no
good as playthings when they carried around this much sadness.
One afternoon Alabaster has just managed to get Kate to take a shower, and was
now helping her brush out her long hair as she watched T.V. "I've been
renovating my father's old home, and your mother and I decided that we wanted
to move you guys there before she passed," He said as he worked on a
particularly frustrating knot in her hair, "It's about an hour away from here,
just a five minute walk from my brother and a very nice school. Would you be
interested in going to look at it? "
"I'll go if October and Hyde do," She spoke softly, never moving her eyes from
the TV screen. She didn't care, what would it matter if they were there instead
of here? She was just pleased that he was asking her, and that he had
intentions of taking her with him. That's all she cared about. She had lost so
many people; she didn't want to loose him.
He kissed her on the head very gently before turning to October. He laid just a
few inches away on his side, eyes half open and staring sightlessly at
Alabaster's pant leg. Alabaster reached over and tucked October's hair behind
his ear. "Will you go with us?" He asked gently, and October nodded. October
didn't care either. Rhett was locked up, and he couldn't seem to look at Holly-
Beth without feeling pain and shame. He didn't care if they moved an hour away
or all the way to Alaska. As long as Alabaster and his sister were there he
couldn't care less.
They were all dressed and in Hyde's car in under an hour. Alabaster said that
he just simply didn't feel like driving. He said it in such a solemn way that
Kate wondered if it was because of the accident. She didn't say anything about
it though. Hyde was as usual, very passive, but his light sarcasm and complete
nonchalance had a way of putting everyone in a good mood. With the music
blasting through the car, Hyde's choice, everything started to feel normal.
It was a beautiful farmhouse on the outside of a large city surrounded by acres
and acres of land. It was even bigger than Alabaster's last home, and while
looking over the place Kate and October felt themselves relax for a moment. It
was beautiful. Even the dirt road that led to the home was charming in its own
ways. October and Kate had never really been out of the city before.
Alabaster's other house was in the woods, but they were still surrounded by
manicured lawns and pools. There were seven bedrooms in all, and they walked
through every one. They adventured into the attic and the basement, imagined
eating in the breakfast room and stared out into the fields from the balcony of
the master bedroom. They both gave it their blessing.
They were ready to be moved in a month, and Alabaster other house was put on
the market. Things were completely different. Alabaster worked all day and
night, as per usual, running out in a half buttoned shirt with his shoes untied
at three am. However, Hyde was now right beside him, dressed in suits and
always coming and going with a smile on his face like he had just found
something he had lost. There was never a conversation about it, and the twins
never asked, it was like Hyde had always been like this.
They were not made to go to school, and Alabaster never mentioned it when they
didn't. They were given beautiful gifts, even October who had never received
very many before. They enjoyed their alone time with him; however physical
affection and touch were no longer frequent. Sexual touch had been eliminated
all together. It was odd and confusing, and made no sense.
One day when Kate and October were alone for the day they decided to go
exploring. They were starting to get more like themselves. They rarely
separated and their continuing friendship helped them get through the darkness.
Since they very rarely went to school anymore they had way too much free time.
They would be moving the next day, and they thought this might be their last
chance for a while. They decided to search inside Hyde's room for some form of
entertainment; they thought they might find some type of porno magazine
underneath his bed or some romance novel on his bookshelf. Something to amuse
themselves with.
Hyde's room was very clean, almost annoyingly so. On his bedside table there
was a book, but it was written in Spanish. Kate didn't even know he knew
Spanish, but there it was sitting, with a book mark clearing indicating where
he had finished his reading the night before. "Did you know Hyde spoke
Spanish?" Kate asked as October looked over Hyde's bookcase for anything to pop
out at him. Just a bunch of text books and classic literature, plenty of titles
in Spanish though. October shook his head, before getting down his knees and
looking underneath Hyde's bed.
There was a small shoe box and October just knew that it has all kinds of
goodies in it. No porn magazines. There were a lot of letters in the box
though, all on light pink stationary and smelling of vanilla, and every single
one very disappointingly written in Spanish. There was a driver's license
inside. Hyde Demello written, and then the part that really confused them. The
birthday was wrong, it was written so that Hyde was only two years younger then
Alabaster himself. It was the best fake I.D October had ever seen, absolutely
nothing out of place. October turned towards Kate, and Kate just shrugged.
The last thing in the box was a photograph. There was a woman in it, probably
in her early thirties. She had long black curly hair and dark tan skin; she had
beautiful brown eyes and a warm mysterious smile. She had a small boy, probably
three or four attached to one of her legs. Dark hair and skin just like his
obvious mother. Attached to her other leg was a boy of about five or six, pale
white and smiling shyly, and with such startlingly green eyes. They turned the
photo over and saw written in a very beautiful hand, "Alabaster, Hyde, and Mrs.
Demello. Hyde's fourth birthday"
"Why would Hyde lie about his age?" October asked out loud as he turned the
photo over again, "And this means they story about Hyde being Alabaster's step-
son is total bullshit."
"We will just have to ask him," Kate said as she took the photo from October's
hand.
***** Flaws *****
Kate and October put their plan into action. They knew they should feel
betrayed, hurt, frightened that someone so close to them so deliberately lied
to them. They weren't though, and for one simple reason, they hadn't believed
him originally. Well they believed him about his age, and about being
Alabaster's step-son, but everything about him was so cloaked in mystery that
they were expecting something like this. They were curious, and amused, and for
once since the time they met Alabaster, actually felt like they were catching
up.
They had plans to go to a dinner party with Alabaster that night, and they knew
that Hyde was going to spend his evening at the house. They had overheard him
talking to Alabaster about it. It was Kate's idea to play sick. She knew that
they had to tackle Hyde alone, smooth talking Alabaster could lie his way out
of anything. Hyde on the other hand was a completely different story, she could
tell that he just blandly said what Alabaster told him too, and when he didn't
know what to say he just stayed quiet and let Alabaster answer for him. So they
played sick and let Alabaster kiss them both on the forehead and go to his
dinner party by himself.
When he left they crept from the bedroom and went straight to Hyde's room. Kate
was in her silk nightgown and her hair was still damp from her shower. She
smelt clean and looked even younger then she was without the make up or
clothes. Her feet were bare and they wiggled as she waited impatiently behind
her brother at Hyde's door. October was in pajama pants and a baggy t-shirt,
his hair messy and his socks crooked. They didn't have even a little bit of
intimidation between the two of them. They were just kids.
October knocked on Hyde's door and they both jumped when they heard Hyde's
voice yell, "Come in." October almost lost his courage but Kate pushed him
through the door. Hyde laid there in nothing but boxers, in his hand the book
that was on his nightstand before. Both Kate and October had trouble looking
directly at him, even though he was so casual about it, his body was very
exposed and they were both uncomfortable about how it made them feel. His
muscular tanned body covered with intricate designs. It made their hearts beat
a little faster. "Can I help you?" Hyde asked looking at them both with an
eyebrow crooked at their odd behavior.
October bent down and grabbed the box from underneath Hyde's bed, and Hyde
watched him with confusion painted all over his face. It was quickly replaced
with anxiousness when he realized what was going on. He didn't try to stop
October though; he just sat back with a look of fear, his book forgotten at his
side. "We know you've been lying to us." October said as he opened up the box
and pulled out the photo and handed it to Hyde.
Hyde didn't try to lie, he knew that he was surrounded; he just let his
shoulders fall and shook his head, "Alabaster's been my best friend since I was
born. Lying for him is nothing. Don't take it personally. " He sighed and sat
up, pushing himself up against the headboard to hold him up. "Feel free to take
a seat; I'm guessing you guys aren't going to be satisfied with just an
apology"
He was very much correct, October and Kate were after answers, and weren't
going anywhere without at least a few.
Kate asked the first question, and even though it was very simple it summed up
everything the two of them were thinking, "Who are you?"
"I've never been asked that before." He shook his head to the side, "I'm fairly
older then I said I was. My mother was Alabaster and Brian's nanny when I was a
child; I haven't left Alabaster's side since."
"Why did you lie to us?" October said but looked over towards Kate; he saw his
own confused and upset face mirrored at him.
This made Hyde a little bit flustered, "He asked me to, he thought it would be
easier for him to understand what you guys were thinking if you thought you had
someone to confide in. His plan was to have me create this sense of conspiracy
so that you would think I was against Alabaster, so that you would tell me
about him. I know it doesn't make sense to you, but this is always how
Alabaster has been. Talk to him about it"
They had plans to do just that in the morning. They curled up in Kate's bed,
neither wanting to separate long enough to sleep on their own. They shared the
same bed more and more since the death of their mother. October hadn't had a
full nights sleep since her passing. He always got up sometime late at night
and smoked for a while. Kate just slept through the night, her troubles not
extending into the night. They let her have a moment's peace.
It didn't take Kate long at all to escape into slumber; October however could
barely even stand to close his eyes his brain was working so fast. He wondered
what else they had been lying about or even what had he not been lying about?
He wandered about the house and wasn't entirely surprised when he found himself
at Alabaster's door with the man standing over him with an almost cold look in
his eyes.
"Why do you lie so much to me Alabaster?" October said sadly as he shrugged his
shoulders and looked down at his feet as Alabaster stepped to the side to let
him inside the room. Alabaster didn't say a word as he followed October into
the room.
October loved Alabaster's room, all the candles were lit and the room smelled
amazing, like mint, eucalyptus, and spices. The flickering lights reflected in
the mirrors and it was like being surrounded by shadows and dancing flames.
Music was playing through the speakers, something dark and soft, and in an
entirely different language and it was so sad that October didn't need to hear
the words to it. October caught Alabaster's gaze in one of the mirrors, and a
shiver traveled down his spine. He didn't like the look in Alabaster's eyes.
Alabaster walked up behind October and pressed his chest to October's back, and
October formed into him perfectly. Alabaster's hand rested on October's waist,
and the younger boy could feel the heat off of it. Everything about Alabaster
was making October's body react. October could see Alabaster's eyes in the
mirror, and they met with his own, those brilliant greens seeing into him like
they knew his every fear and weakness. He swallowed hard.
"What is it that you are looking for?" There was bitterness in Alabaster's
tone, but it did nothing to damage his smooth dark voice, "What truth in the
place of my lie will lead you out of my arms forever?"
Alabaster's fingers gripped October's waist possessively, "What is it that I'd
have to be lying about? If this was not my home? If I had no penny to my name?"
These words had bite to them, deliberately out for blood, and they hurt October
like they had intended.
"You know I'm not with you for the money," October said as he looked away from
Alabaster's eyes.
"Then what are you waiting to discover?" Alabaster relaxed his hold as he said
this, "That I don't love you?"
October couldn't help but flinch at those words, and he tired as hard as he
could to keep the tears from falling down.
"Is that what this is about?" Alabaster turned October around, and October
looked up at him with tears in his eyes, "I love you, you silly creature.
Please accept my faults, I know I'm secretive and controlling, and generally
just a big mess. I love you though, so much"
Alabaster kissed him and everything felt okay again, though Alabaster had a way
of shattering everything he could always put it back together.
Things went differently when it came to Kate.
"Do you think I'm an idiot?" She yelled at him, "That I'm some dumb ass bimbo,
who wouldn't eventually figure out that everything you do you lie about. What
kind of psycho lies about his best friend being his son?"
They were in Alabaster's bedroom, in the small curtained area where he drank
and played chess with Hyde. Alabaster had brought her there, so they could have
some privacy while they argued, but the way Kate was screaming everyone in the
house could hear them. He sat in his chair, his suit perfectly ironed and the
glass of scotch in his hand already practically empty. Kate was standing a few
feet in front of him, looking down at him with enough aggression to rival her
mother. She was beautiful though, and it didn't escape him how she had dressed
up for this encounter. Her make up perfect and her hair elegantly pinned with
one of his gifts, and the dress she had bought with his money made her chest
look bigger.
"Just wanted to make sure you were behaving is all," He said calmly as he took
a sip of scotch, "There was no real harm in it." He said it so smoothly and
calmly, that it made Kate want to pull his hair out.
"How could you possible think there is no harm in this Alabaster, you lied to
me, and this isn't like someone lying about their weight or their penis size.
This is a big fucking deal." She was no longer yelling, her voice softening but
she just couldn't understand why he didn't seem to get it.
"You love me right?" Alabaster asked, and something about his smile made her
know that he already knew the answer to the question.
"I shouldn't, but you know that I do." Kate said as she looked away from him,
her cheeks coloring with a blush. She was still angry, but Alabaster didn't
seem willing to fight back, and she found no pleasure in fighting by herself.
"Then can you not live with some of my faults, I am possessive and controlling,
and entirely too secretive, but surely there are worse men than I?" Alabaster
said, and the smug smile on his face made Kate's blood boil. As if he could
tell, he just laughed and took another sip of scotch. "I understand what you
are trying to say, you want me to promise not to lie to you, or some other
bullshit. Thing is though, I am going to, so why play this game with you?"
He reached out and grabbed her by the legs and slowly pulled her down and into
his lap. She struggled for balance for a second but steadied herself on the
chair and felt her heart beat quicken as she settled herself on his lap. Her
dress was pushed up high from the position, and she felt exposed having her
barely covered private parts against Alabaster's own. He was kissing her within
moments, his lips biting and sucking her own, making her whimper against his
mouth. She could taste the scotch on his tongue, and could feel what it was
doing to his inhibitions as his
Hands traveled over the front of her dress as massaged her breasts through the
thin fabric.
Alabaster was all 'take' and no 'ask', as he pulled Kate's hair from its
elaborate bun and dug his fingers through the curls. He grabbed a handful of it
and pulled Kate's head to the side so he could pervade her neck with the same
primal kisses and bites. She could feel his erection against her and it sent a
primal lust through her, she found herself kissing harder and her hips moving
against his, mimicking sex through their clothes.
She hid her face in his neck and panted against him as his hand went underneath
her dress and rubbed her clit through her wet panties. She was blushing hard,
and would be overcome with nervousness, if it wasn't for the constant pleasure
coming from his fingers and mouth. Things were moving so fast, too fast, and
Kate didn't feel in control of any of it. She wanted him inside of her though,
something inside of her ached for it, ached to feel him completely inside her.
She helped him pull her panties off of her body and down her legs. She kicked
them off nervously but she didn't have much time to miss them, because
Alabaster's fingers were already inside of her stroking the part of her that
made her shake and whimper.
With his other hand he unbuttoned and unzipped his pants, pulling himself out
and stroking himself. He was hard and big, and it entirely embarrassed Kate how
slutty she became at just the sight of it. Surely she shouldn't be that way,
she was a virgin, weren't they supposed to have to be coaxed into it by the
man? She was embarrassed, but couldn't get herself to care enough to stop
because Alabaster's fingers were still inside of her and she was leaking enough
that she would be humiliated by it later.
He lined himself against her opening and withdrew his fingers, replacing them
with himself. He was warm and hard, and the stretch around his girth was
uncomfortable. It didn't take long however for his to start thrusting up into
her, and it was only a moment or two before she was moaning against his neck,
holding onto his shoulders and keeping her eyes closed. It felt amazing. She
didn't even think about him not wearing a condom until later.
***** Family *****
Hyde walked up the stairs to the attic, hoping that he would find Alabaster
there. That was the worse thing about this giant new house, Alabaster had all
new hiding spots and they were all even more difficult to get too. Hyde pulled
his keys out of his pocket and unlocked the attic door; he let himself in and
then locked the door behind him. No need for anyone else to see what he had
too. He shoved his keys deep into his pocket as he rounded the corner to see
Alabaster seated in a rather nice sitting chair, legs propped on an ottoman.
Alabaster's new hiding spot, Hyde was expecting something a little more then
this cold attic with nothing more then two chairs, a table, and a dozen
monitors he refused to look at.
"Buenos días, ¿cómo estás?," Alabaster said with a soft smirk on his face as he
turned back to what he was doing.
"That was terrible," Hyde said as he plopped down in the chair that was
obviously put there for him," I'm alright though, how are you doing?"
Hyde observed what Alabaster was doing a little closer. On the table was a box
of condoms all out of the box, and they were separated into two piles.
Alabaster was taking each one, one by one, and strategically shoving a needle
into them. Hyde almost said something as he watched the man, but Alabaster's
dark eyes flashed up at him, and it was enough for him to swallow down his
words. He scratched his head a little and turned away, just like he did from
the monitors…it wasn't as bad when he didn't watch.
"I'm doing well, but apparently something went wrong with the shipment last
night, so I figure we should probably go down there this morning." Alabaster
said with a smirk, "Brian already agreed to take the twins to school"
"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Hyde said when Brian was around there
was always trouble.
"He promised to be good; he has to go there anyways. He's volunteering as
director of the drama club again. The only charity work he's good for."
Alabaster said with a sigh, his older brother always giving him some sort of
headache. "I should go wake October up."
Kate had a goal in mind. She was going to have Alabaster. She had her mother's
and Brian's words echoing in her head. Her mother said not to give Alabaster
anything that she didn't want to. Brian told her that taking and taking was the
only way to get Alabaster. Well so be it, Kate could be a cold bitch.
Could her skirt be any shorter? Never one for exhibitionism, the simple idea of
going out in a skirt like this was enough to make Kate blush. She was hoping it
would make Alabaster get jealous; maybe think that she was trying to make
someone other then him drool. Erica had made her buy it; she was at Kate's side
a lot lately, always pushing Kate into doing things that Kate just joked about.
This skirt was once upon a time a joke on some random shelf. Erica told Kate
that if she had it, she might as well flaunt it, and that she was going to have
to work to get someone with that make zeros at the end of his bank account. The
thong underneath the skirt was also Erica's idea.
Kate couldn't pretend that she didn't feel incredibly sexy in her new heels and
push-up bra. All of it was paid for by Alabaster of course, including her
perfume, hair supplies, and make-up. She would feel bad if it wasn't for the
fact that she was doing all of this for him.
Though part of this was because she had some odd aching feeling that almost
felt like love for the man. She craved him, everything he said got her heart
beating fast. She had darker intentions as well. She was also in love with this
huge house, and all of the food that they ate and the nice clothes. She didn't
know if she could go back. Knew for a fact that she didn't want to go back. She
wanted to go to college, she wanted her brother to go to college, and she
wanted them well taken care of. She wanted Alabaster to do what their parents
never could. She didn't care if he lied about everything, she wanted him to
love them, to take care of them...she was sick of fighting so hard.
So she would wear her tiny skirt and she would act coquettish. She would work
hard, and secure their future. For her and her brother.
A knock on her door ripped her from her thoughts, she yelled for who ever it
was to come in, expecting her brother. She was surprised to see Hyde instead.
He was well dressed; as he had been it seemed like ever since her mother's
death. His white dress shirt's sleeves rolled up and the smell of his expensive
cologne always made her want to come closer. He seemed nervous though, and it
made her nervous. Hyde, holder of all of Alabaster's secrets, she was beginning
to think that in his words were hints about her fate.
"Hey, I'm sorry to interrupt; I just wanted to ask you something in private."
He said, as he took a seat on her bed. He looked so out of place around the
white and pink lace.
He had certainly peeked her interest even if she was busy getting ready, how
could she say no to a private question. "Sure, ask away" She said never looking
away from her vanity though; she was too busy carefully putting on eyeliner.
She was putting a little extra work in everything because it was her first day
at a new school. She had a fresh start. She was rich and hot, and wanted people
to know it. She had spent her years as a bookworm, she could use a few years of
being a teenager.
"So Alabaster told me you guys had sex." He said awkwardly not really looking
in her direction as he scratched his head, "I know that you don't have anybody
to take you, so if you want I can take you to the health department, so you can
get some birth control and stuff. Or whatever you girls do. I won't tell
Alabaster, anything, I just know your mom isn't here to do it."
Kate was really touched by Hyde's more then awkward attempt at a good deed. She
held off from telling him that her mother wouldn't have done it anyways. She
thought for a moment on taking him up on the offer, the last thing that she
wanted to happen was for her to get pregnant. Things were complicated enough in
her life.
However….Erica had gotten birthday control a few months ago, and Kate had seen
Erica one to many times shirtless in front of the mirror complaining about how
fat it made her. Kate was tiny, too tiny, but she didn't like the idea of a big
swollen belly underneath her expensive clothes. She had never had to worry
about dieting before, she didn't want to do anything that might change that.
She didn't use to care, but now her future was at stake. She would make
Alabaster start using condoms, it would be enough right?
"I appreciate the offer, I really do, but I'm good." Kate said sending with the
most genuine smile that she could. "Are you taking us to school?" Kate asked,
as she put the finishing touches on her makeup. She looked herself over in the
mirror, she looked great. There is no way that she wouldn't make Alabaster a
little nervous to send her to a school full of testosterone filled young boys.
"No, I have things to do today, and Alabaster is in a meeting this morning.
Brian however agreed to take you guys." Hyde said with a sigh, "Against
Alabaster's better judgment he asked."
Hyde looked over on Kate's nightstand to see a pack of cigarettes, unopened and
looking particularly girly in their bright blue package. He sighed to himself,
he had only been awake for like an hour and a half and already his day was more
then stressful. "Kate, I didn't know that you smoked."
She looked back at him and watched as he picked up the pack of cigarettes and
looked it over. "Yeah, I just started." She said as she sat on the bed and put
on her new heels, bought with Alabaster's money, and their was no way he was
going to approve on how long they made her legs and how little of those legs
her skirt was covering. She didn't tell Hyde that she picked up smoking just to
bother Alabaster, because she knew how insane that made her sound.
"Just don't let Alabaster find out," Hyde said as he rubbed his tired eyes,
"He'll freak."
October spent more time then he should in Alabaster's bed. Holly-Beth was an
hour a way and swept in her own wave of sadness and pain, no time for October.
October couldn't handle looking at her knowing what he had caused. Rhett was in
jail. Danny-Boy was only good for parties and October took no comfort in
Hunter's company. He preferred to hide in Alabaster's comforters, and watch
endless TV. Kate, the only person that really could offer him anything was busy
with her new friends. He couldn't ask for her, couldn't tell her that he just
needed her to stay with him. So he bitterly watched her leave everyday.
Alabaster was rarely home. He had this, and that, and everything else to do.
October liked to imagine that his planner was filled to the brim with dark
black ink. When he was home though, he would wrap his arms around October, and
whisper words of love and comfort. The lies and the violence didn't matter; all
that mattered was how much October just didn't want to be alone. Alabaster
always knew what to say and what to do to keep October from falling apart at
the seams. The world was not crumbling when he could smell Alabaster's cologne
and feel those warm hands on his thin frame.
October looked in the mirror at the outfit that Alabaster had bought him, a
gift, and October could never say no to any sort of sweetness given to him from
the distant man. It wasn't him, the outfit belonged on someone who made
straight As and had doctors for parents. The jeans were designer and fit him
perfectly, dark in color, but still jeans. He wore a white dress shirt, button
up and plain, and then over that a baby blue sweater. He smoothed the collar of
the shirt over the neck of the sweater, and looked at himself in the mirror. He
looked good, handsome even, his blue eyes looked even bluer and his blonde hair
was well kept.
It wasn't him, but he wasn't sure what was anymore anyways.
He didn't turn around when he heard the door opening, didn't react to Alabaster
until those warm arms wrapped around his thin waist. "You look perfect,"
Alabaster whispered in his ear. Part of October ached to hear those words.
Wanted to be perfect and loved, and cared for. Though as he looked at his
reflection in the mirror he couldn't help but wonder, if this reflection in the
mirror was Alabaster's perfect…what was October to him normally. There was
nothing farther from October.
Kate and Hyde walked down the stairs together, they were chatting about what
Hyde knew about the school. Something about the school system and how Hyde went
there. Kate wasn't paying too much attention; she was trying not to die on the
stairs in her heels. Hyde held out his arm though and she used it for balance,
and tried to ignore how his knowing smile made her warm. "I don't understand
why girls where such silly shoes, it's not like we are looking at their feet."
Hyde said with a wink, and that same phrase would have upset her so much just a
few months back…now it made her laugh.
She didn't know what happened but suddenly she was struck with the sudden urge
to cry. She hid her face in Hyde's chest, and Hyde wrapped his arms around her
awkwardly. Not suave like Alabaster, Hyde had trouble when it came to emotions.
She felt that he cared though, could feel his heart beat through his dress
shirt. "Am I a bad person?" she whispered against the fabric of his shirt, and
she felt his fingers move through her hair.
"Don't go to the devil to ask if you are a sinner," Hyde said as he continued
to play with her hair gently, "Ladron que roba a otro ladron tiene cien anos de
perdon." She had never heard him speak in Spanish before, and had no idea what
he was saying but it was soothing despite it all.
She nodded gently, and just lay against his chest for a few moments before
finally picking her body up and walking down the rest of the stairs.
"We are having breakfast in the conservatory," Hyde said with a smile as he led
Kate to it, always proud of his skills in the kitchen. October and Alabaster
were already out there. She had to look at October's outfit for awhile; it was
definitely different then usual. She smiled at him, as if to tell him it looked
good. Alabaster, as always, was in a very attractive suit. Kate was beginning
to get to the point where she would be surprised if he wasn't. They were
sitting together on a wicker bench that was covered with a soft looking
cushion.
Kate had expected the conservatory to be freezing, seeing how it was winter,
but it was nothing of the sort. The heater did a perfectly fine job heating the
room. If she was chilly at all, it was because her skirt barely covered
anything. Alabaster certainly noticed it. He was no longer looking down at his
newspaper, he was looking at her. It wasn't lust in his eyes, just cold…Kate
didn't know what to call what was in his eyes, she just knew she wanted nothing
to do with it. He didn't say anything though; he just held on tighter to his
coffee cup and took a sip from it.
"Mr. Bliss is here," Claudia said as she stood at the doorway, standing behind
her was Brian. Kate was glad for the distraction. Brian was looking good. He
was wearing designer blue jeans, dark and fit him just right and a royal purple
dress shirt. Everything about him oozed sex, his walk, him smirk as he looked
at Kate's skirt and cocked an eyebrow at her. Even his cologne as he walked
past was sexual.
"You look good Brian," Alabaster said as he set his newspaper down beside him.
He was actually being friendly, his voice not carrying any of the bitterness
October and Kate would expect. '
"Thank you, Ally, You always look good." Brian said in his normal flirtatious
way, October could feel Alabaster actually stiffen at his new nickname. "I
always try to dress up a little bit, otherwise they might think twice about
letting me teach their children."
"They should think twice anyways," Hyde said from his spot in the corner, where
Kate hadn't noticed was a cart. There were five plates, each with the largest,
most delicious looking cinnamon role Kate has ever seen. Hyde passed them out
to everybody except for Alabaster, who lifted up his hand to say no thank you.
Brian took it gratefully though, and took a seat on a wicker chair, "You make
the best sweets," Brian said as he took a bite of it. Hyde couldn't hide the
smile he had at the compliment. Brian smirked as he licked the icing from his
fingers as he looked over at October for the first time. "You look
uncomfortable October, if you want; there is still time for you to change."
Brian said this as he set down the plate on the long table in front of them,
and fished his cigarette case from inside his pants pocket. He lit one casually
and took a long drag from it.
October could feel Alabaster tense beside him, and he smiled at Brian, "I'm
just fine,"
Kate took this as a chance to get Alabaster all riled up. She pulled her light
blue pack of cigarettes out of her purse and lit one with her bright pink
lighter. She pressed a cigarette against her lips and took a long drag, very
aware that the eyes of eye on in the room were on her. They were only on her
for a moment before everyone was looking at Alabaster.
October suddenly recalled Hyde telling him that Alabaster would slit his throat
if he saw Hyde smoke. He watched Alabaster close his eyes tightly for a moment;
every muscle in his body seemed tense. October wished he knew something he
could say to make him feel better.
Hyde was staring down at his feet, not looking at anybody. Brian seemed to be
mimicking the same action; he was staring out the window into the yard. His own
cigarette burning needlessly in his fingers.
"Kate, I would like to talk to you in the other room." Alabaster said as he set
his coffee cup down on the table and stood up.
"Alabaster, I have to take them soon, or we are going to be late." Brian said
in an assertive voice, even though just moments ago he gave October the chance
to change. Kate made a mental note to thank him when everything was all over.
"It will only take a moment," Alabaster said and Kate followed quietly,
everybody watching her as she nervously stayed a few steps behind. Hoping
someone would make another rescue attempt. She didn't know how much trouble she
was actually going to get into. She just wanted Alabaster's attention.
He opened the door for her, and she cautiously walked into the next room. She
almost screamed when he slammed her against the wall by her shoulder. It had
happened too quickly, Kate didn't know what to do or what was even happening.
He grabbed her by the face with his hand and forced her to look at him. "You
know that I don't want you smoking, so why are you flaunting it in front of
me." He asked, and it wasn't her Alabaster. This wasn't the man that soothed
her or talked to her about her dreams. Those eyes were way too cold and the
hand on her shoulder hurt so badly.
"Get your hands off of me," Kate yelled, "Who are you to tell me what I can and
can't do, a piece of paper doesn't make you my fucking father" She didn't even
want to smoke, what was she doing getting in a screaming match with him over
it. She had used that line of her alcoholic mother all the time, told her that
just because she shoved her out of her cunt didn't make her a mom. If anybody
could claim to be her dad it would be Alabaster, nobody else fed her, gave her
shelter, and soothed her like he did. She didn't want a father though; she
wanted him as a lover.
"I may not be your father but I own you, spoiled little brat" he said with such
venom it was like a slap to the face. The words were so cold that Kate was
worried that he was going to hit her. She tried her hardest not to cry, she
wanted to seem strong, but the tears filled her eyes anyways. She fought to get
out of his hold, struggling as hard as she could. She only weighed 110 pounds
though, and there was muscle beneath Alabaster's dress clothes.
He held her still though, and then suddenly he was pulling her into a hug, and
though she struggled for a moment, it was so easy to give into him. "I didn't
mean that, you know I would never say something like that and mean it. I love
you so much. "His fingers were moving through her hair now.
"Why would you say it then?' She yelled in his shirt, it was soft and smelled
like his cologne, and the comfort of it only made her cry harder.
" I don't know, I don't know what I'm doing." Alabaster said as he continued to
smooth down her hair, "You are so beautiful, and young, and I don't want to
loose you. I don't ever want to loose you. I know that there are going to be
younger boys and that skirt is going to drive them crazy. People your own age.
The cigarette just pushed me over the edge."
She had no idea why she kissed him when he pressed his lips against hers.
She went upstairs and changed into some jeans and decent shoes, and then went
out to meet October and Brain in the car.
She curled up in the backseat and began to sob, refusing to answer October when
he asked her what was wrong. Brian never bothered to ask.
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