A/N: This is my first piece of writing I deem as "good". I'm surprised the others got positive reviews because when I reread them I have a little "Oh my holy god, I let that get published?" moment. Thanks to all you who thought I did a good job, but here's where the real stuff kicks in. Shoot me a review as the whether it should have fluff or smut, I wrote both XD
Oh! I do not own the italicized song lyrics, that's Dirty Little Secret by the All-American Rejects. Love the song, and I was listening to it when I wrote it, Not as many lyrics in upcoming chapetrs, but it is going to be stuck in Alfred's head for a bit.
Chocoholic:
The bittersweet tale of a closet addict hoping his love realizes his feelings before its too late…
The corner of Broad and Marie hosted a small convenience store with the typical logo depicting a large number 7 and the word "eleven" written on it in trademarked colors, with a clean glass storefront and a sign that proclaimed that indeed, the shop was open and would remain that way for the rest of the night. A red pickup truck pulled up outside, slowing to a stop on the rough pavement, the bumper reflecting lights which illuminated the American flag proudly stuck to the back. A slightly rumpled, blond-haired man wearing a sweatshirt and jeans with ragged tennis shoes poking out from underneath the hems, got out and slammed the car door shut, locking the doors with a click of his remote. He pushed open the doors and searched around until he came across a display of chocolate bars. A voice sang from the radio of the small store, lost amid the hum of the refrigerators and barely audible.
Let me know that I've done wrong
When I've know this all along
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you
Unwaveringly and without hesitation, he took the entire box from the shelf. The minimum wage worker behind the counter had seen stranger behavior and barely glanced up from her copy of a popular tabloid depicting celebrities and their scandals except to ring up the purchase and complete the transaction. The customer muttered a quick "thank you" before leaving. As he returned to the cracked leather seat of his vehicle, turning his keys and switching into gear, a melody leaked out of his lips.
Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to know
After driving several miles, the car stopped in front of a small suburban rancher with an ill-kept lawn sporting several high oak trees. The engine switched off and the man jumped out with his bounty in hand, still humming the tune of the song.
I'll keep you, my dirty little secret
His hands fumbled for the keys in the dark, finally finding the right one and sliding it into the lock. There was the click of the deadbolt and the faded green door swung open, allowing it's owner passage into his dwelling. Among the stacks of papers, video games and his curious cat that he spared a scratch on the head, a brown leather couch floated among the debris like an island of relief. The man sighed as he flung himself in a well-executed jump onto the sofa, his bag of chocolate still in hand.
Who has to know?
When we live such fragile lives
It's the best way to survive
He tore open the wrapper of the first bar and gobbled it down quickly, as with the second and the third. On the fourth he broke it in half and sucked on it, allowing it to melt slightly before chewing it up and gulping it down. His cat looked up at his troubled master, the puff of black fur around its neck springing about as he jumped on the couch.
Life is a lot like chocolate, he thought, it never lasts, it's great until it ends, and it leaves you with a bittersweet taste. His mind turned to the thought of emerald eyes, and he choked back sobs as the wrapper of his fifth bar landed on the ground.
I'll keep you my dirty little secret
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
My dirty little secret
The fifth bar disappeared as quickly as the first. The sixth was chewed up and allowed to turn to liquid before being swallowed, coating the palate with a sweet, delicious taste. Love is like getting a piece of chocolate, but if you're too afraid of it disappearing to take a bite you've lost it forever. Once you turn away, it's gone and taken its business elsewhere.
These sleeping thoughts won't lie
And all I've tried to hide
It's eating me apart
Trace this life out
The seventh bar was slowly melted square by square, allowing some cognitive processes to move on. Chocolate, it's like everything in the world in a tiny bar. I want more. I'm just greedy I guess, but I don't think anyone will blame me. A tear emerged at the corner of his eye. Damn.
I'll keep you my dirty little secret
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
My dirty little secret
Dirty little secret
A few more silver drops of sorrow trickled down his cheeks, falling onto the wrappers of past indulgences. If only my problems stopped with a chocolate obsession, damn it all.
Dirty little secret
Who has to know?
He got up; discarding of the wrappers into an overflowing trashcan, shutting the top best he could and collapsing back in the sofa, face down on a pillow, staining it with tears. Not like they'd know, I guess I'm so oblivious no one thinks it's out of the ordinary for me. I hide everything, what am I expecting? I've only got until the end of term before I'll leave forever, and what am I doing? Crying my eyes out after eating chocolate. He hugged the pillow tighter.
Who has to know?
I'll clean out the house tomorrow; today's just my self-pity day. Then it's back to normal. He took a deep breath and pulled a blanket from the edge of the armrest over himself. Goodnight. Here's to a tomorrow of angst, sorrow and disappointment… The cat sympathetically nuzzled his chin and curled up next to him, his ears tickling the nose of Alfred F. Jones, closet chocoholic and unrequited lover of Arthur Kirkland.
I'll keep you, my dirty little secret… Alfred fell asleep with the tune on his lips.