“Everything I say is bullshit. Why don’t you understand that?”

“It was real to me! You said–you told me you liked me!”

“As a joke. How gullible can you be?”

“You…you…”

“Look, you’re nice and all, and I feel kinda shitty that you got caught up in this, so I’m just gonna say this: you deserve better than someone like me, and I think you knew that.”
“I didn’t KNOW anything. I wanted you…I liked you, and I was so scared you weren’t gonna like me….now I know I was right to be so afraid! You’re a piece of shit!!”

“Aw…you shouldn’t use that kinda language. It doesn’t suit you.”

“This conversation…is over. I’m done with you.”

He stomped away, never looking back, never letting that douchebag take residence in his mind.

****

Jay grumbled as the cold air hit his face. He hated winter, despite being born in December. Wind whipped around as he walked in the darkness toward his apartment. His feet hurt, his lips were chapped and his face felt dry and flushed. He just wanted to curl up by the space heater and read a book after a full day of work. The days always seemed to drag on and on in these desolate months of cold and ice. Snow was the only part he kind of enjoyed, and even then, it was a pain to drive in. Winters were worse now that it was just him. He sighed as he saw trash littering the walkway. He and his neighbors all tried their best to keep the area clean, but drunks and careless people would come and mess it up all over again. As he fumbled in his pockets for the keycard to the building, he heard a muffled sound, almost like a cry. His eyes darted around to see where the noise was coming from. The sound emerged again, louder this time, and longer. It definitely sounded like someone crying. The noise was getting closer now, and Jay spun around to see the source of it. A man was sitting in the snow, his head in his hands, crying like a child. Sobs racked from deep within his chest with an occasional heave of breath. He looked so small and helpless compared to Jay. He approached the man with caution, a concerned nervousness settling in his stomach.

“Hey, dude, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? Do you need me to get you help?”

“G-go away! I’m fine.”

Jay huffed irritably.

“You’re crying in the snow. You’re gonna get sick if you stay out here, man. Do you have a place to stay? Should I call someone to come get you?”

The man looked up from his hands, his features gleaming in the moonlight. Pale blonde hair, olive skin rosy from the cold, light hazel eyes full of tears. He was wearing a sweater, a thin coat and ripped jeans, clearly not dressed for the weather. He didn’t have shoes on, and his white socks were soaked with melted snow. He looked like a being that came from the snow and ice and manifested itself out of the flurries.

“Dear lord, you’re chilled to the bone already. Come on, let’s go,” Jay extended his hand, “my place is right up here, we can go inside and you can tell me what’s going on, but I’m not gonna have us freeze out here.”

The man scowled, reluctantly taking his hand and getting up.

“Ugh, fine.”

“Jesus, your hands are freezing.”

“Then don’t touch them,” he snapped, jerking out of Jay’s grip.

Jay overlooked the outburst, grabbing his keycard and he unlocked the main door to the building. He gestured for the man to come in.

“I live on the second floor.”

“Ok.”

They walked up the stairs and Jay unlocked his apartment door. The space was small, but Jay tried his best to make it homely with plants, furniture and art. He had fuzzy carpeting and throw rugs. He also hung fairy lights around various rooms to make it more cozy. Jay’s cat, Vivian, came out to greet them.

“Welcome to my humble abode. This is Vivi, she’s a ragdoll cat. Hope you’re not allergic.”

“I’m good.”

“That’s a relief.”

“This is nice,” the man whispered, his expression softening, bending down to pet the kitty.

“Glad you think so,” Jay clapped his hands together, “now then, the bathroom is the first door on the left. I’ll bring you a change of dry clothes and run a bath for you to get you warmed up, why don’t you play with Vivi while you’re waiting.”

He nodded earnestly, petting her fluffy fur. Jay went to the bathroom and began prepping the bath for him to use. While he did this, he couldn’t help but wonder where this man came from. What led him to be out in the cold with no shoes like that. What made him so sad. And, more so, why was there something so weirdly familiar to him about this guy? His eyes, especially. He’d definitely seen them before, but couldn’t recall where. Or when. He got clothes out of his closet that he thought would fit. Thankfully, they were around the same size, and he was only a little taller than Jay. He put the clothes in the bathroom and came out to check on him. He was on the couch with Vivi laying in his lap. He smiled down at her, stroking her fur gently.

“Wow, she really likes you.”

“She’s cute.”

“For a good reason. She gets up to all kinds of things.”

He got up from the couch, setting her down on one of the cushions.

“The bath is all set up and everything. Let me know if you need anything else.”

“Thank you. You could’ve just left me out there. I was a dick to you.”

Jay shook his head.

“I can tell you’re struggling. I’m sorry for whatever you’re dealing with. We’ll talk more when you’re out, but you need to get into dry clothes. You’re lucky you didn’t get frostbite.”

Jay gave him the clothes in his hands. The man quietly thanked him and entered the bathroom.

“What the hell have you gotten yourself into this time, Jay Stevens?”

He sighed to himself. Vivi leapt off the couch and meowed to be fed.

“Well, you certainly know what time it is, don’t you girl.”

He got a can from the cupboard, opening it up and emptying it into a food dish. He set it down on the floor.

“Here you go, baby.”

She scarfed it down, and Jay felt his own stomach growl. He could only imagine how this stranger he found in the snow felt. He didn’t even know his name, let alone when he’d eaten last. He set off to making dinner for them both, hoping he would like it. Once the soup he had prepared was simmering in the pot, he slumped down onto the couch. A few minutes later, the man emerged from the bathroom, his hair still damp.

“Thank you for the clothes.”

“No problem. Dinner’s almost ready. You can just relax in the meantime. I’m sure you need it.”

“Why are you helping me, anyway? Why are you being so nice to me?”

“I already told you why. I have a hunch you’re going through something really rough.”

“BS. No one does good things without getting something in return.”

Jay cocked his brow.

“Is that so? Well, in that case, tell me what’s going on. Tell me your name. Tell me what I can do to help you.”

The man rolled his eyes, sitting down next to him.

“Tell me your name first. You’re a weirdo in the first place for letting some guy into your house.”

“Maybe I am, but you’re weirder for following me into my house. I’m Jay.”

“Oscaar.”

“Your name suits you.”

“How’s that?”

“I dunno, it just does. Now, are you gonna tell me what’s up or do we have to sit here all night while I pester you?”

Oscaar chewed the inside of his cheek, fidgeting with the sweater Jay gave him.

“You really wanna know?”

“I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t.”

“Ok…so basically…my boyfriend of 2 years was secretly engaged to someone else…he didn’t pay his half of the rent on our apartment we lived in, and because I couldn’t afford to pay full rent, I was evicted. On top of that, he stole all of my shit before running away to be with his fiance. I woke up to an empty apartment and an angry landlord banging on the door. I left with the clothes on my back this morning and I’ve been wandering around all day. I lost my shoes in the river….”

“Shit. That guy sounds like a bastard.”

“He was,” Oscaar’s eyes welled up again, “I’m so stupid. I should’ve seen what he really was. I’m just useless.”

“Hey, hey, you’re not useless, you’re not anything like that, ok? You thought he loved you, and he turned out to be a douchebag. That’s his fault, not yours.”

“He took all my stuff…I don’t even have a phone.”

The timer dinged.

“The soup’s done. Let’s get you something to eat. Do you want tea?”

Oscaar nodded shyly.

“Ok, well, I’ll put the kettle on for us and we can eat our soup while we wait.”

Jay motioned for Oscaar to sit at the table. He got the bowls and set them down, sitting across from him. Oscaar tentatively took a bite of the soup.

“Oh, wow, this is really good.”

“Thanks. It’s my mom’s recipe. Perfect for a winter night like this. Eat as much as you want.”

They sat and ate in comfortable silence for a while, neither one quite sure what to say to the other. Jay was the one who finally broke the silence first.

“So, I’m guessing you need a place to stay for a while.”

“Um, yeah. I’m not even sure where to start. Everything…happened so fast.”

“Well, the rent’s going up in this place at the end of next month, and me and kitty get lonely here sometimes. Maybe you could stay with us.”

Oscaar’s eyes darted around the room nervously, and he anxiously picked at his clothes.

“I couldn’t put you out like that! I-you’ve done so much for me already, and I don’t wanna burden you with my problems.”

Jay shook his head, “No, if anything, you’d be helping me out. I need more friends, and it would be nice to split the rent with someone. Besides, I don’t think you’re a burden at all. If I did, I wouldn’t have brought you in.”

Oscaar blushed, trying to cover it up with his hands. Jay couldn’t help but notice how cute he was. He was a genuinely good looking guy, after all.

“I guess…if you’re ok with it, I can stay here…I have a job, by the way, so I can make money! Oh! But I’ll need a few weeks to get paid again. I’m sorry.”

“You have no reason to be sorry. You haven’t done anything wrong. I want to help you. I can tell you’re a good guy.”

“How? Have I done anything noteworthy?”

“Do you need to?

The flush in his cheeks grew.

“I guess not,” he mumbled.

Jay chuckled, gathering the dishes. He felt his chest lighten a little since he let Oscaar in. Maybe winter nights wouldn’t be so bad.