“No...I DO NOT LIKE HIM.” These words echoed in Gowan’s mind. The voice of his parents have also mixed in with his internal voice which made his thoughts even more painful. He walked inside the living room and immediately picked up his phone. He dialed the number of the house owners in haste and fumbled in his typing because his eyes were still blinded by the faintest trace of tears.

Iron noticed his master in distress and asked “Sir Westerly are you alright?”

“I AM FINE.”

The bodyguard retreated sheepishly back on the couch. “Hello? Mrs. Rose? Yes, it’s Gowan Westerly. We’ll be there in 8 hours by midnight. I do not care, be there, I want to get out of this place. Alright, alright. Thank you.”

Gowan placed his phone back in his pocket and started to regain his composure. He placed his palm on his face and wiped his tears away. “I want to forget. I don’t want to even THINK about him anymore.”

As he thought of this, the sliding door leading to the backyard slowly opened. Cliff entered facing away from Gowan, and the black haired man couldn’t bear to look at his face either. “I am not...No, I won’t even think about it.” Gowan said before clutching his fist and stepped heavily to the front door.

Cliff saw him leave and walked over to him. “G-Gowan where are you going?”

“I need a drink. Don’t follow me...Sir Jenkins.”

It hurts. A needle has been stabbed through Gowan’s heart. It hurts trying to create distance between him and Cliff. “This is what I need to do...Indeed...I cannot...possibly fall for that boy…” Gowan took two steps to the front door.

“Gowan, did I do something wrong? I-I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable...please talk to me-”

“No.” Gowan said with a sigh.

“I just need...I just....need space right now. And I have a request for you three.” 

The guards cocked their heads up.

“Don’t let him try to look for me. I know he is overly emotional and I know he will come for me. Don’t let him leave this home.” 

Gowan finally grabbed the handle of the front door and said “Ah...by the way…”

Before he could leave, he turned around and took one last look at Cliff who was at the edge of tears holding the purple T-rex pillow.

“It’s Sir Westerly.”

He slammed the door on his way out. Cliff couldn’t do anything. He wanted to grab his hand once more and beg him to talk but he did not have the strength anymore to oppose the black haired male.

Cliff touched the front door with his palm. He whispered with a cracked raspy voice.

“Tell me...what I did wrong…”

He let his tears dry and calm himself for a moment. His breathing started to slow down and his legs stopped shaking. He felt a hand grab his elbow.

“S-sir Jenkins I’m sorry but this is orders…”

“ I know, Iron…”

As Cliff started to walk up the stairs to his room, he looked at the front door once again. With a sigh and a gulp, he stepped further up the stairway. Little did he know, Gowan was still in front of the door leaning his back against it while he listened.

“STOP CRYING, GOWAN! YOU ARE A BOY!” the voices of his parents won’t stop echoing in his mind. Gowan fixed his coat and pushed back his hair. “I don’t like boys.” he said before walking away from the house and into the dusk.

He wandered the streets of Solace Creek, the smell of pinewood still present in the air. The streets were lit by street lamps that made the town look dull compared to the morning sunshine earlier. After wandering a bit from street to street, he finally found his destination.

“X” marks the spot they say but for Gowan the “X” is a tall vertical pink neon sign. “Finally...a pub…” Gowan said before opening the door.

Cliff lay there on his old bed he grew up in and stared above at the ceiling. “Does he hate me?” “Why did he look at me like...he was disgusted by me…” This thought struck a chord in Cliff. Black smoke started to surround his bed. Dark figures in uniforms formed from the black smoke. All of the student’s faces were painted with a red smile.

Not too long, all of them started laughing all at once and the laughter made Cliff want to rip out his eardrums.

Before he knew it, he awoke on his bed. He was breathing heavily from the nightmare he had. “ Tch. I hate that memory...nightmare...whatever…” Thunder roared from the window which caused Cliff to jump a little in his bed. He looked out the window and white dots started to form. Soon enough, rain poured heavily from once there was a bright clear sky.

Cliff opened his phone and saw that the time was already 7pm. 

“Gowan must be here already…” 

Cliff put on his slippers and walked down the stairs slowly. He took a moment to catch his breath just in case he saw the black haired male again. “Okay...just say...you’re sorry.” he muttered while walking down the flight of stairs.

When he reached the bottom step, all Cliff saw where Iron Nickel and Copper passed out on the couch. Cliff started to worry and panic.

“Where could he be...he left three hours ago...and the rain is really pouring…”

Cliff looked over at the three guards snoozing on the couch and he knew exactly what he was going to do. He grabbed his red sneakers, and his  umbrella and tiptoed to the front door. 

As he was about to grab the handle, Iron opened his eyes a little and drowsily asked with yawns in between “Wha- wha- where...where are you going?” 

“U-um...I am going to… grab some food?” Cliff said with a sheepish smile.

Iron just glared at him for a few seconds and shrugged. He passed out on top of Nickel and started to snore again. 

“Phew that was close.”

Cliff slowly opened the front door and opened his umbrella. “Okay...he said he needed a drink...and there’s only one pub I know in this town…”

He stepped foot into the rain and briskly walked through it with determination to find Gowan Westerly.