Current song: Almost Lover, A Fine Frenzy
I don't own anything, including my soul.
And yes, this one will actually continue ^^ unlike so many stories before it
Chapter One
I've never believed in religion. The world to me has always been dog eat dog. I grew up knowing that if I kept a smile on my face nothing bad would happen to me. I grew up knowing if I smiled I would be safe.
Every day at twelve noon he enters the chapel, kneels down before the giant cross, and prays. His prayers aren't like the others I have seen, his prayers are like magic. He bows his golden head, arms crossed, and he talks out loud. He talks about all the things he does at school, he talks about his friends, he talks about what he plans on eating for lunch. It's refreshing really.
Every day at twelve noon you can find me sitting alone on the balcony listening to every one of his prayers and every day at twelve noon you will find me silently tearing my heart out.
It was a sunday, the sky was blue, the chapel silent as he entered. It was almost by accident that we came across each other. My father was a gambler, my mother a prostitute, his mother was a bakery shop owner, his father a salary man. We lived in different worlds.
I didn't realize that he was there until it was too late for me to hide. It was the first day he had come earlier than twelve, and because of that I was caught completely off guard. His sky blue eyes faultered as they met mine, and he stopped to look at me. My heart stopped. Those eyes were the most beautiful things in the world.
"Hello," he started a hand held out, "do you come here often?"
I didn't know what to say so all I did was take his hand and nod.
"Me too." He smiled at me as he shook my hand. His was warm, warm as his smile, warm as the sun. "Do you go to school here?"
"At the chapel?" My brow furrowed and he shook his head.
"No, the academy."
"'Course"
"Do you need me to walk you to your dorms?"
"No."
"Come on~ I know you don't want to walk by yourself."
"Why?"
"It's a long way."
I stared at him contritely brow furrowed as I tapped my foot. "And that's your reasoning?"
"'Course."
"You are weird."
"I'm awesome."
I gave him no comment as I stood wooden floor creaking below me eyes rolling.
"I'm Alfred F. Jones," he introduced himself as he headed out in front of me turning around to walk backwards facing me, hands behind his head, mouth in a relaxed grin.
"Arthur, Arthur Kirkland."
"Nice to meet you, Arthur Arthur Kirkland."
I rolled my eyes and folded my arms following after him. "You think you're so funny."
"That's because I am." He laughed at his own joke and opened the chapel door for me, warm sunlight streaming cleanly onto the floor. I headed out covering my eyes from the sun supplying even minimal shade to see through. The door shut and he was walking beside me. "I haven't seen you around, what part of the school do you go to?"
"English Department."
"I'm in sports." He smiled pleasantly eyes even more blue (if that's possible) in the sun.
"That would explain it."
"Explain what?"
"Your lack of common sense."
"Ooh, ouch. What was that for?" he laughed pleasantly. This guy was not easily phased.
"You are walking home a fully grown man in the middle of the day."
He eyed me up and down.
"How is that showing lack of common sense?"
"I'm perfectly capable of walking myself."
"Really now?"
"Of course."
"Would you find me smarter if I told you that I'm walking you home because there have been rumors of a pervert running around campus."
My brow furrowed. "I didn't know about that..."
"Because it's a lie." He winked. "Or is it?"
I punched his arm rolling my eyes. "You're an idiot."
"Or am I a genius? Sometimes it's hard to tell."
"No, it really isn't." I shook my head laughing, "You really are an idiot."
"Takes one to know one."
I huffed punching his arm again. He laughed and rubbed at it.
"Ouch dude, don't abuse me too much."
"It isn't abuse if it's deserved."
"Tell that to my arm."
"Not necessary."
"Hm, and why would that be?"
"My explanation would be futile."
He rolled his eyes corners of his mouth twitching up. "What do you English Department students do any way?"
"We learn English."
"That's obvious~" he rolled his eyes, "what I mean, is what do you do other than that?"
"Explain."
"In the sports department we play sports, which is obvious, but we also..." his sentence trailed off.
"You also what?"
"Promise you won't tell? It's top secret." He leaned forward conspiritoraly.
"Really, Alfred?"
"Yep."
I rolled my eyes. "I promise I won't spill your stupid secrets which I don't really care about."
"Say it nicer." He tapped my nose.
"I won't spill your bloody secrets you git."
"Niiiicer."
I rolled my eyes and he waited patiently. "I promise, " my voice softened a fraction, "not to spill your secrets."
"Very good! Maybe one day you will learn to be nice!" He laughed jokingly and recieved another punch to the arm.
"Are you going to tell me your bloody secret or not?"
"The secret is..." he leaned close again, "that we do nothing."
"..." I stared at him, "are you serious?"
"Always."
"You do nothing."
"Absolutley nothing."
"Why?"
"We'd like to say we are tired, or too busy, but in reality, we're just too lazy." He laughed strolling forward again cobblestone path scraping against the soft soles of his boots. Cream uniform rumpled, blue tie loose he spun around brandishing a pen. He bowed forward like it was the most beautiful present in the world.
"What in the world are you doing?"
"Presenting a tribute."
"Why in the world would you do that?"
"So that you'll give me something in return."
I raised an eyebrow arms folded as I looked at his smiling face from where he was bowing. "What do you want in return for your oh-so-special-" I eyed the pen "ball point pen?"
"All I want is for you to write something down for me."
"And that is?"
"Your number." He winked at me and slipped the pen behind my ear. It felt extremely cold compared to his warm fingertips. I rolled my eyes as we neared the dorm buildings.
"Not only are you an idiot, but you're cheesy as well."
"Like a hamburger."
"Like a wanker."
"Where do you come from?" he asked from out of the blue.
I raised an eyebrow.
"I know a lot of studen'ts transfer from different countries, and I'm just wondering what country you come from."
"England."
"I assumed as much."
I rolled my eyes yet again and he smiled leading me up the steps to the plaza which the dorms were on.
"You're on the left side correct?"
"Yes."
"Dorm number?"
"So now you want to know where I live too?" Another eyebrow raise.
"How else will I keep in contact with you if you won't give me your number?" His mouth quirked into a grin.
"Why do you want to keep in contact with me?"
"I find your large eyebrows incredibly sexy." He winked.
"I find your attitude impertinent."
"You love it."
"You love it."
"'course."
"Eighteen."
He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"I'm in room number eighteen."
He grinned and led me to the door.
"I suppose I'll see you around?"
"I suppose." Alfred held out his hand obviously waiting for something. "What?"
"Number?"
I sighed and rolled my eyes as I untucked the pen and wrote something on his palm. He watched my face the whole time I was writing, eyes pondering something, then I finished and stood straight heading towards the door. He looked down. A clear look of shock crossed his face as he read my simple message.
Go to Hell.
