Part 1
It was day like every day, nothing special. The afternoon sun spreading around the aura last days of summer, inviting inhabitants to rest and forget about all responsibilities with which they're grappling with on in a daily basis. Groups of workers in dark suits lazily waving their suitcases, left their damp offices located on the summits of buildings, enjoying the last days of summer. Some of them hastened to their homes, where it waited for them a lunch and warm kiss from their wives. The other group hanged on their mobile phones, still working even if their shift ended few minutes earlier. Another ones went to a nearby pub to spend a nice evening among mates from work, or maybe just to killed loneliness by next cool drinks serving by familiar barman who never judge you and doesn't give you unnecessary questions.
Among them there was one young man who seemed to not fit into any of this groups. Instead of big beautiful house with fabulous garden after which should running retriever, he had small apartment in the old tenement, about what was difficult to say even one good word, and instead of gold-haired retriever there were rats occupying residents basements. There wasn't waiting for him wife with an angelic smile, asking him about his day. Instead of her he had a boyfriend who, unlucky for him, wasn't waiting for him. Today only waiting for him empty apartment and cold chicken in the fridge.
He was shaking his head every time when he saw somebody talking on the mobile phone, like they forget that day finally ended. He unbuttoned the first two buttons of his blue shirt and removed his jacket. Today he finished his work and didn't think about some extra hours spending with annoying clients. He was tired as hell and only desiring about how quickly throw himself in the comfy couch in the living room and get TV remote to his hand before somebody will have a chance to take it from him. He sighed heavy with frustration knowing how long the journey will take before he see though familiar bus station. He wanted a car from months but his boyfriend was unbending. We don't have money for a car. He always said, annoying him. You can always go for a bus. If you didn't notice before, we have a bus station not far from house. His boyfriend added coldly, unless wanted him to be more pissed off. But he wanted his own car! He didn't want spend another half hour in this dusty, stinky bus with this all people. He would be more exhausted than usual. It will kill me. Having a car has many benefits, you know? He always trying to changed his boyfriend mind, but for know he didn't reach any large results. The most he only more pissed him off, and must hearing his shouting before he landed on the couch when he crossed the magical line, which his boyfriend made. I started to think, you made this fucking line only for me! No one except me has a pleasure to meet with your dark personality! Sometimes he spits out some words without thinking. Dark personality? In this moment anger in his boyfriend voice made him shiver. Without any rebellious password and stupid thoughts he only going to their bedroom to took his pillow and finally ended on the couch. Maybe it won't be happen so often if his boyfriend said how far he can go without any consequences!
Some woman in a black leather jacket greeted him waving her hand, trying in the same time talking on a mobile phone, hiding her suitcase and finding car keys. In response he rolled his eyes and turned in the opposite street, enjoying the freedom. He didn't have suitcase unnecessarily aggravating his hand and small mobile phone which probably will break into pieces on the nearest street, knowing his lack of interest in anything which hasn't in his name word "bed" or "couch". Instead of this small oddments from work, he was squeezing gently tanned skin hand belonging to a small boy who in complete silence go with him. Boy's chocolate eyes shining slightly with interest as he was looking around, wanted to learn a new area. His eyes stopped on the nearest green garbage can where something was moving. He immediately stopped on his track, pulling down his dad hand. The man mumbled something under his breath, sending his son unappreciated look.
'What's now?' He asked, losing his patience,' don't tell me you have to tying your shoe, AGAIN. It will be the forth times.'
'No dad, I just saw a cat.' He answered politely, smiling gently.
'What cat?' He looked around, massaging his temples. It started to be ridiculous.
'He's there, dad. In the garbage can.' He pointed in that direction, jumping excited. The man rising his head and looking there without any interest. It was a normal cat. Small, black kitty with shining dark eyes, meowing sadly among some rubbish. Nothing special for him.
'Okay, it's a cat.' He started, suddenly feeling very tired. The cat didn't touch his heart. 'And of course you remember what we told you two years ago, right? No animals in our home.' He added firmly, glanced suspiciously at son.
'I remember that, dad! I'm not stupid,' he said, openly outraged, 'I just know that cat. It's Ms. Bates cat. Me and John Paul saw him last week in her apartment.'
'And what's your point?' He lifted his eyebrow, wanted to end this all conservation. He wanted to be in bed, now!
'We should take him dad and bring him to Ms Bates. He's very small and shouldn't stay so far at home without any food. He could be sick!' he said dramatically, waving his hand.
'Cats don't have a cold, Sean.' He sighed, shaking his head 'it's human disease. He'll be fine, we just need to go to home.' He trying to changed Sean's mind, but like always it didn't work. He was suck at this. The son silently staring at him chewing his low lip, something in his pose was telling him that Sean was strong as John Paul and didn't give up so quickly. It frustrated him more and more.
'Ms Bates will be very pleasant, believe me dad. Just think, she hates you and now you can bring her lovely cat. It's very good idea. Maybe you'll make up!' He smiling widely.
'No, we don't.' The man replied coldly, knowing he'll never make up with this stupid cow who really like pissed him off from the first day as he has moved in. 'Sean, we're going home. Now!'
The boy gave his dad unappreciated glance.
'Please, daddy. He needs our help.' He made puppy-eyes and sticks out his lip like a petulant child. It has always worked better on John Paul or his best friend Chloe than him. But today Sean had lucky. The man finally gave up and sighed heavily, waving his hand lightly.
'Fine.' He said quietly with closed eyes, hoping he didn't do another stupid thing for which he'll pay later. Sean immediately ran to the garbage can and rose up small kitty, few seconds later hugging his delicate body.
'Hello sweetie.' The man welcomed the cat, gently stroking his small head. In response he heard loudly meowing. His face broke into smile.
'He's cute, isn't he dad?'
'Yes he is.' He agreed reluctantly. 'I guess firstly we have to visit Ms Bates.' He added unhappy. Meeting with Ms Bates was the last thing he wanted now.
'Not quite daddy.' The boy answered quietly, avoided his dad look.
'What you mean, not quite?' He immediately asked, feeling the worst. He crossed his arms against chest, gazed at his son suspiciously. Maybe for once Sean will stop thinking about him as a 'buddy' and starts respected him. In the end he was his biological father not John Paul. I've never understand why he always listen you, not me. He doesn't take me seriously. He always complaining, wanted to know how John Paul deal with not humble Peter. But in response he always heard: And who does, Craig? Show me though one person. He hated that conversation, cause John Paul was right.
'She's not at home, now.' Sean answered carefully, hiding kitty under his red jacket.
'I guess you know where she is and how long she'll stay wherever she is.'
'Yep…She's visiting her sister in Wales.'
'In Wales?!' Craig yelled angrily, flustered. 'You're kidding me, right?'
'But she's coming back in Monday, dad. It's only three days.' He added quickly, smiling sheepishly.
'John Paul is coming back in Monday. If he see this cat, he'll kill me before I say a word. We don't have place for animals!' He run his hand through his thin hair. 'We leave this cat here, Sean.'
'But John Paul will return in the evening. We bring cat to Ms Bates in the afternoon, dad. Don't worry about it. John Paul know Oz, so he'll not have anything against it and he won't kill you, cause he loves you.'
'Oz?' He lifted his eyebrow, looking puzzled.
'Ms Bates cat's name,' the boy rolled his eyes, 'sometimes you could think.'
'Oy, I'm still your father so don't talk to me like that.' He said annoyed.
'Sorry dad,' he mumbled slightly, shrugging his arms, 'but cat stay with us? Please dad, you won't notice him.'
'If I say yes, we finally can go to home?'
'Yes.' He nodded.
'Fine, but in Monday afternoon we are going to bring this cat to Ms Bates, without any complain.' He glanced at him suspiciously.
'Of course dad.' He smiling widely and let his dad took his hand again. 'So firstly we'll give him a milk, then I wash him cause he's stinking as a dead fish, and I find for him something to sleep. Do we have a basket?'
'I don't know. Maybe John Paul has one in bedroom, in this tiny wardrobe.' Craig answered, leading his son to the home.
'But you share bedroom with John Paul,' Sean said slowly, 'so how can you not know that?'
'Look, it's John Paul who still cleans up at home, not me. So believe me, I can.' He smiling to himself with some proud. Although one was able to challenge to his boyfriend. John Paul never force him to clean the apartment. There is no way!
'You should help him, dad.'
'I have more important things to do, like how to get money to keep our apartment.'
'Yea, right. John Paul do this too and have time to clean up.' Sean noticed. 'Maybe instead of sitting in front of the TV and eating unhealthy crisps, you can wash the floor.' Sean suggested gently. 'John Paul will be very pleasant.'
'Oh, thanks Mr. I Know Everything. I really need your help.' He snapped angrily.
'I just give you advice daddy. Do whatever you want. It's you who sleeping with John Paul, not me.' He blurted out.
Craig opened his mouth in shock, stared at his son with unbelieving.
'How…How do you know...' he rubbing nervously his neck, didn't know what to say.
'Chloe said me a week ago, when you told me to go to her, cause you have important matter to discuss with John Paul. When I said her about it, she smiling and said that you're going to sleep as always when you have a bad day or work up John Paul from the morning.'
'I see she's very informed.' He said through his teeth, feeling embarrassed.
'It's nothing wrong with that, daddy. Everybody must sleep, right? You shouldn't be shame, cause you're afraid to sleep alone. It's normal.' He shrugged his arms and stroking kitty's head.
'What?' He raising his eyebrows, didn't understand what's going on.
'It's normal,' Sean repeated slowly, 'I always sleeping with my toy bear, even now.'
'Oh, yea,' Craig nodded quickly, 'I don't like sleep alone. That's why I sleeping with John Paul. That's it!'
'You're weird sometimes.' The boy stated, giving his father suspiciously glance.
'You too,' he snarled in response, 'bus station. Few minutes and we'll be in home. Finally.' He sighed with relief.
He had already opened the door of the apartment, when he heard familiar quite clacking. Few moments later in the long staircase appeared low woman with messy short black hair, waving in her right hand some papers. She was smiling widely to Craig, her silver bracelets clanging loudly.
'Not now, Chloe!' Craig barked immediately, not feeling up to talking with her. Knowing her, she'll probably start to throw words at a rate of machine gun, not giving him to get a word in, destroying the remnants of his good humor. He couldn't understand how John Paul enduring her daily visits.
'But, Craig…'She started, not giving up.
'Daddy, what are you…'
'Forget about it!' Craig added and quickly pushed his son to the apartment. Before Chloe had to reach the door, he closed it with loudly slam and closed on all locks. Exhausted he took a place on a brown couch which standing in the centre of the room.
'You're okay, dad?' Sean asked, his voice full of concern.
'Yes, I am. Give me a moment and I'll cook dinner for us.'
Sean didn't say a word, just put small kitty on the nearest chair and opened the fridge, searching for some milk.
'Do we have small bowl?'
Craig opened his one eye and began to ponder over something, frowning his eyebrows.
'Bottom left cabinet.' He finally said.
'Wrong,' Sean said, 'there are plates.'
'How?' He asked puzzled 'John Paul again was boring and decided to move some things in the cabinets?' Annoying seething through his voice.
'No, they've been there since we moved here.' Sean rolled his eyes and sighed heavy. 'I don't know how you exist it? At least it's good you know where you have your clothes.' He added sarcastically, looking to another cabinet.
'Ha, very funny. I always love you and John Paul a sense of humor.'
'I find a bowl!' Sean announced with gloat, removing from the middle cabinet blue bowl. He put it on the blade and pour a little milk there.
'Thanks for listen' Craig sighed heavy and rose up. Slowly he approached to the fridge, opening it. There were only chicken pieces, waiting for frying, some salad and bit of butter. He bit his low lip with resignation. He hate cooking.
'What about dinner?' Sean asked curiously, stroking kitty small head, when the cat was drinking a milk. Craig thanked God, John Paul wasn't here. If he see a cat drinking milk on the table, he'll have serious troubles.
'I'm in the processing of information about the contents of our fridge.' Craig replied unhappy, suddenly missing John Paul.
'You're doing what?!' Sean was clearly confused.
'Nothing, Sean…Look, you like pizza, right?'
'Yes…' Craig smiled with gloat, 'but John Paul said it's very unhealthy and I shouldn't eat pizza.' The smile on Craig's face dropped down.
'We have a crisis situation, Sean,' Craig started carefully, 'and if we want a dinner, we have to order a pizza.'
'John Paul won't be happy if he find out about it,' Sean pointed, smiling craftily, 'sometimes some words can spits out. Maybe if you buy me a roller skates I remember to not tell him about it.'
'You're threatening me?' He asked shocked, didn't believing in what he heard. His own son threatening him?!
'Of course not, how could I?' he gave him innocent look, 'I just tell you what may happen if I won't be careful.'
'You're threatening me!' Craig yelled angrily, gritted his teeth, 'forget about roller skates you never get it from me or John Paul. He'll be disappointed, when I tell him about your behavior!'
'And I tell him about Oz!' Sean said firmly, crossing his arms against chest.
Craig was speechless. He didn't know what to say, he only stared at his son clearly shocked and irate.
'When did you learn how to threaten somebody?'
'Last month when I stayed with auntie Mercedes, she told me about some things which really help in life.' He replied proudly.
'I should know that!' He shaking his head. 'It was the last time when you stayed with her alone.'
'I tell John…'
'Fine. Tell him, want to call him now?!' He yelled and took his mobile phone which lied on the table.
'No I don't want,' he mumbled, frightened. For the first time in his whole life he pissed off his dad so much, and he didn't know what to do or say.
'I order pizza,' Craig announced, when he headed to the small bedroom on the left, 'and you sit down and be quiet, otherwise Oz lands in the yard!' He threatened and closed the bedroom door with slam. Craig hated this day more and more. Without John Paul everything was destroyed -starting with his humor, by the house, until his own relationship with son. How one person could change his life so much?
Loudly knocked to the door, awoke Craig from the snooze on the couch. He rubbed remaining sleep out of his eyes and slowly getting up. When he passed by the table, for moment he looked at his son, who silently sitting on the chair, hugging his new small friend sleeping peaceful in his arms. Craig sighed quietly, his anger disappeared in the blink of an eye thought it has never been. The knocked repeated again, so Craig, though reluctantly, went to it and opened. He screamed terrified when before his eyes appeared Chloe's pale face. He didn't expect her here.
'You have to give me money for this turpitude.' Chloe said firmly, giving him a pizza box.
'You're working on the Pizzeria?' He asked puzzled.
'No, but I saw young fellow in the staircase who carried a pizza. I guessed that you ordered it, so I paid for it and offered I'll give you that.' She smiling with satisfaction. 'So finally I'm here!'
'I don't see anything funny in this.' Craig said dryly, when the woman passed by him and threw herself on the couch. Bloody couriers! Is she looking like a Craig Dean?!
'So now you're eating dinner?' she asked happily, as always.
'Actually I'm going to submit a complaint at this idiot, who let you took a pizza for me and ruined me all evening.' He slammed the door with too much force.
'Ah, very nice. Craig Dean is coming back!' she said sarcastically, turning on the TV.
Craig opened the box and gave his son a piece of pizza. When he turned back, he glanced at Chloe angrily.
'Would you mind to turn it off?' he said, trying to not explode. 'It's not your TV!'
'John Paul said that it's my apartment too.' Chloe replied, smiling maliciously.
'Exactly, when John Paul is here. That's the point!' He grabbed a TV remote from her hand and turned off the TV.
'Hey, I was watching this!' She yelled, trying to took the TV remote from Craig hands.
'Sit down Chloe!' He barked and pushed woman on the couch 'and shut up!'
'Your boyfriend is more friendly than you!'
'Good for you, otherwise you won't be here every day.'
'Give me TV remote back, Craig. I have my favorite serial now.'
'It's bullshit not serial.' Chloe gave him heavy glare.
'John Paul always watching this 'bullshit' with me, so piss off!'
'He's not here!'
'His spirits is still here' She said sharply crossing his arms against chest. Craig gritted his teeth, he was angry as hell.
'Even a word and your spirit will join him in the strict sense of word!' He threatened, waving his hand in the direction of the front door. 'Out, now!'
'God, why you're so nervous today?' She turned toward table. 'Can I have a piece of pizza before we start to discharge these funny print?' She removed some creased papers from the back pocket her black trousers and waving them in front of Craig's face. The man pulled it back angrily and gave her irate glare.
'We?' He lifted his eyebrow with a snort, 'I won't touch it even with my finger. Forget about it!'
Chloe wrinkled her eyebrows, looking around. Suddenly her eyes stopped on Sean.
'You have a cat?' She asked surprised, 'I'm sure that John Paul doesn't like cats.' She turned toward Craig, smiling craftily. He couldn't believe in his lucky. That was the second person who blackmail him today and the worst he knew that with Chloe he didn't have any chance. She had an Ace in the sleeve, which, in contrary to Sean, she'll use without blenching.
His son gave him apologetic glance and mumbled something, which sounding like 'sorry'. Craig sighed heavy with resignation.
'How large piece of pizza you want?' He asked reluctantly, giving her this time win. She smiled with gloat.
'Not much.' She replied kindly, putting her papers on the coffee-table, trying to smooth it.
'You want them in that state cast to the bank?' He made sure, giving her a plate with pizza.
'Yep.' She nodded, taking a bite her pizza 'Mmm, delicious Craig. You should cook more often, you know.' In response Craig only sticking out his tongue.
'The bank doesn't receive creased documents, Chloe.' He informed her firmly, pointing at the table.
'If they won't receive my documents, they can kiss me on the ass!' She yelled angrily, 'I won't pass by their all stupid procedures, again!' Craig rolled his eyes.
'They're not stupid, and stop kicking my table!' She gave him heavy glare and leaned back.
'Do you have a pen? A black one. I don't like blue.'
'Can be green?' Craig asked jokily.
'If you don't have blue, can be green.' She replied, Craig staring at her disbelieving. 'What? Already they can't be look worse.' She added.
'Then you don't have to go to the bank.' Craig said, sitting next to her 'Move, you stupid idiot. I complete this print.' He mumbled angrily removing from his pocket a pen.
'You want to help me?' She asked nicely surprised, her eyes brightening.
'Not you, only myself.' He replied sharply 'If I don't help you now, you'll come back later with another prints, wanting to destroying me another night.'
'Very clever, I didn't think about it.'
'Fortunately I think for us both' He added maliciously.
'Yea, right' She mumbled, looking at document which Craig completing. 'What you wrote here?' She asked puzzled.
'Anna' He replied coldly.
'Why you wrote here Anna?!'
'Cause it's your second name, idiot' Craig rolled his eyes, covering his face in arms. Three days…Three fucking days, before John Paul come back. God, I go crazy here! I never thought how much I can miss him. He shaking his head, for the first time on his life wishing to end the weekend. He needed Monday, he needed his lover again.