In the days that followed, Kevin spent as much time as he could away from the apartment, coming home only when it was very late, and going straight to his room.
In the meantime, he hung out with his friends, or went on pretend dates with Anastasia, all the while making his position of not wanting a relationship clear. But she still kept trying.
And in the daytime during school when everyone else was in class, he wandered about the town just trying to waste time. The money his parents had given him was going to run out before long, and it was time he thought about finding a place to work.
But more than anything else that was on his mind, he thought of Lisa, his childhood sweetheart, and his oldest friend.
He came to a shop window, pausing to look at the TV’s and computers behind the glass, and then his vision focused on his own reflection staring back at him.
How did things get so fucked up…………how am I supposed to face Justin after this?
He decided to meet Christina after that, who had left school early to tend to her job.
He met her in the coffee shop, where she worked most of her hours. She also had a job in a restaurant, but only worked a few hours a week there.
‘Hey’ Kevin waved at her as she hurried past him.
‘Oh hey’ she replied flustered, carrying a tray of dirty glasses. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Can I go around to your place with you when you’re finished?’ Kevin asked her.
‘Is everything alright?’ she shot quickly back.
‘Yeah yeah’ Kevin answered hurriedly. ‘I just want to talk to you about something. Everything’s fine I swear.’
‘Ok, I finish work in a few hours, can you wait until then?’
‘I’ve got all the time in the world’ Kevin smiled warmly at her, leaning forwards with his arms folded on the table. ‘I don’t mind hanging around. I like to watch you work.’
‘Right’ she sighed, taking the menu from him. ‘Can I get you anything? My manager is watching me.’
Kevin glanced over her shoulder to see a tall man standing behind the counter and working at the till, the man was indeed watching them.
‘A cappuccino’ Kevin said. ‘And another one in an hour.’
Christina looked tired as she walked away, heading back behind the counter.
Kevin’s expression dampened as he watched her.
Poor girl he thought. She works so hard all the time…
She brought him his order and went away quickly afterwards. It was comfortable in the café and Kevin liked it here very much, even more so that he could watch Christiana work. Almost every time she appeared, his attention would drift towards her, but she was too busy to notice.
Kevin smiled to himself, taking another sip from his third cup. He had left to go to the bathroom several times but ordered several more cups by the time Christiana had finished her shift.
She hung up her apron when she was done, moving groggily through her exhaustion.
‘I can’t wait to get home and rest’ she sighed.
‘Are you sure you don’t mind me staying with you?’
‘You’ve hung around for hours in the café’ Christina said giving him a tired smile, ‘I could hardly change my mind now could I? And besides’ she added turning to him and stroking his face, ‘I would never do that to you. You are always welcome at my place, you know that.’
Kevin caught her hand as it fell.
‘I know’ he whispered, holding her hand to his cheek.
*
Christina’s place was a short walk and a short bus ride away. It wasn’t an entirely pleasant place to be and was situated in a bit of a rough area. But despite Kevin’s initial concerns and protests when Christina have first some here, she had managed this long here.
Kevin glanced about him as they headed towards the flats, graffiti was everywhere, rowdy gangs of youths hung around late at night, and there was often a lot of noise in the area. But despite first appearances, this was not as dangerous a place as many assumed, and Christiana had never experienced any trouble, and for that Kevin was immensely grateful.
This building itself was run down and neglected, inside Christina’s apartment was far more appealing, and she had done with it what she could.
‘Can I get you anything?’ she offered him, unlocking her front door and holding it open for him.
They had travelled in silence, Christina too tired to speak, and Kevin not wanting to push her.
‘I’m fine’ he said to her heading straight for the kitchen, ‘let me get you something though.’
Christina turned on the heating as Kevin began to fill the kettle up, moving around the kitchen he knew exactly where everything was. He had been here many times and was almost as familiar with the place as Christina was.
‘Why don’t you have a bath?’ Kevin suggested. ‘It might help you relax.’
Christina who had flumped back on the sofa turned to him with a glower.
‘Not before you talk to me.’
‘What do you mean?’ Kevin asked her, pausing to glance around.
‘You’ve been acting different for a few days, don’t think I haven’t noticed. So, what’s happened?’
Kevin groaned then, putting the pot of sugar down and facing her.
‘You didn’t mention it before’ he spoke quietly.
‘I didn’t want to pester you’ she replied, ‘but it’s clear you’re not going to say anything…. or maybe you wanted to come over to tell me now. Either way I think it’s time you told me.’
‘Alright’ Kevin relented. ‘You’re right. I think it’s time I told you…I would never tell anyone else…. there is no one else I trust more.’
A few moments of silence passed as they waited for the kettle to boil. Kevin poured each of them a tea and brought the two mugs over to the sofa. He put the mugs down on the low table and sat next to Christina.
‘Aren’t you tired of drinking?’ Christina asked him, ‘you’ve had so much today.’
‘No’ Kevin mumbled offhandedly, scratching at his side, ‘…no.’
His hand went to his mouth absently, as beside him Christina waited.
‘It’s about Justin’ Kevin began nervously.
‘Oh, what’s he done?’ Christiana groaned tiredly.
‘It’s not something he’s done’ Kevin continued, hunching his shoulders.
‘Hm?’ Christina narrowed her eyes at him then, her expression fixed. ‘You’re tense’ she told him shortly. ‘Why?’
‘Well…’ Kevin hesitated, ‘how do I say this….?’
*
Christina’s first reaction when Kevin had finished was to laugh.
‘H-hey it’s not funny!’
‘Are you kidding?!’ she cackled, ‘that’s the best story I’ve heard in a long time… especially coming from you!’ She stopped laughing abruptly, expression turning serious, though the wild look was still in her eyes.
‘So what was it like?’
‘What was what like?’
‘Anal?’
‘You’re asking me that?!’ Kevin spluttered. ‘Haven’t you ever tried it yourself?’
‘What are you kidding? No freaking way!’
Kevin flushed as she continued to laugh at him.
‘Please’ he begged her, ‘please don’t…’
She fell silent then, watching him closely out of the corner of her eye, relenting.
‘Alright’ she sighed, ‘I’m sorry. You’re right I shouldn’t laugh.’
Kevin groaned miserably to himself. He felt so frustrated and confused.
‘So why did you do it?’ Christina asked him seriously, ‘you’re not gay are you?’
‘No’ Kevin answered, ‘I just…. thought I’d try it out.’
‘You thought you’d try it out?’ Christina repeated flatly.
‘Oh, it’s stupid’ Kevin grumbled to his lap, balling his fists together. ‘I didn’t think…I just thought…’
‘Go on’ Christina urged. ‘I’m interested.’
‘I mean there’s nothing wrong with being gay and I thought…...why should guys like only girls? It was kinda confusing’ he added with an awkward laugh. ‘He had me so convinced he was a girl…and then I saw…’
‘Was it nice?’ Christina asked him seriously. ‘Did you enjoy it?’
‘I…. yeah, I mean….it felt good, a bit weird but….’
‘I guess girls and a boys mouths don’t feel much different when it comes to head’ Christina said, leaning back on the sofa. ‘So, what are you going to do now?’
‘I just need to stay away for a while’ Kevin spoke quietly. ‘He probably doesn’t ever want to see me again…’ he groaned again, furious at his own mistake. ‘Alicia just swept me off my feet’ he told her, ‘I was caught up in the moment.’
‘Oh you…’ Christina sighed, closing her eyes. ‘I just love having you around…’
She opened her eyes then.
‘When are you meeting Lisa?’
‘Tomorrow’ Kevin breathed, feeling his heart skip a little in trepidation, and excitement also. ‘I see her tomorrow…’
‘Are you nervous?’
‘More so the closer the moment comes’ Kevin smiled turning to her.
‘Well as least the bruises on your face are nearly gone’ Christina smiled. ‘You can hardly see them at all now. If she asks how you got them…you can tell her something innocent like you fell off your bicycle. If you tell her what really happened you’ll probably make her worry.’
‘I’m not a child’ he scowled at her, ‘and neither is she.’
Christina smiled warmly at him, flopping on her side away from him and hugging a pillow to her.
‘You must really like her’ she spoke with sincerity, ‘I’ve never seen you blush like that before.’
Kevin flushed further.
‘I’m not blushing!’ Kevin protested loudly.
‘So, when are you going to get married buy a house and have thirty-three babies together?’
‘Shut up’ he said, grabbing a pillow by his side and throwing it at her.
She caught it in the air, hugging it too and snuggling up.
‘I’m going rest for a while’ she said to him. ‘Ok? You can watch TV if you like, just keep the volume down.’
‘Sure’ Kevin mumbled, watching her. ‘No problem.’
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