Chapter Five
Ding!
The chime grabbed him away from his writing and he read over his message from his boss.
It was a group chat between multiple people.
Emil, you have the night off. Meeting at 8:30 PM next Saturday. New location. The address is below. Do not be late.
Saturday seemed to have arrived faster than Emil could register it in his hectic mind.
Exhaling heavily as the pads of his thumbs tapped in the address, he calculated that his new travel time was even further, much to his disdain. He tapped his foot lightly against the grimy floor of the subway. His eyes floated over to the crowd of passengers awaiting their ride to wherever they were going. He stepped off of the subway and carried himself up the stairs that led him to a flourishing city of bustling crowds.
If he believed that his previous work area was busy, then now he would be proven utterly wrong.
The subway was further from the new nightclub. That could pose a problem if he were to run behind schedule in the future.
Smoothing down the strays of his unruly bangs, he mentally prepared himself to adjust himself to this new area of town that was filled with tourists.
The interior was astonishing; the flaming, pink neon lettering buzzed quietly against the building amongst the outside chatter.
"Oh my god, girl hurry." A singsong voice could be heard nearby, "This club is new and poppin'!"
For a second, Emil swore he'd seen this girl from his old city. Stealing a hasty glance, he confirmed that he knew her from mutual friends.
Oh great... Emil smoothed his hair once more and exhaled deeply.
Shrugging it off, he pushed past the glass doors and nodded at the towering, Swedish bouncer an unspoken greeting.
Over towards the back hosted a group of employees gathering at a table.
"Okay. Emil is here," Lars noted audibly as he watched the young man claim a seat nearby.
Vlad was already present; his grin displayed on his face at not being the last one to show up.
"Everyone needs to get serious," Lars started up while shuffling a stack of papers. "I'm hiring more employees now that we are in a busy part of town."
Vlad snickered at what his boss said. He didn't need to hire more employees. That would steal his regulars and soon to be regulars from him.
"Something funny, Vlad?" All eyes rested on the Romanian bartender.
"No, not at all. Just thinking about all of the newbies I will have to train." The cockiness spilled from his lips, effectively irking Lars.
"How confident. Perhaps I should allow Emil to train them. He's made faster progress."
Vlad swiftly looked away with heated cheeks; embarrassment on full display and a hint of resentment towards his younger coworker.
Emil's ashen blonde locks swayed in the autumn wind. He secured his forest green scarf around his neck as he stepped into a quaint library that he searched for on his phone earlier in the day.
His mind wandered back to how Lukas looked at him that morning as he rummaged through the fantasy section. With a shake of his head, he felt his face heating up.
Focus, Emil. Focus. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. Ugh, it's not like I'm head over heels for Lukas. No way, besides...
He sighed quietly, muttering under his breath when nobody was around, "He's my roommate. It's wrong ."
He groaned to himself as his nimble fingers danced along with the variety of colorful spines. The magic and folklore piqued his interest. His lavender orbs danced over to a book about trolls and fairies.
Ah, perfect!
He hastily snatched the dark violet hardback book. He loved to read books. It was the perfect escape from reality.
Before he managed to depart from the fascinating section of books, a deep-sea blue book on Norsk Mythology tugged him backward.
"I need to check out these books." He set the books on the counter in front of a sun-kissed woman clad in a royal blue blouse and thick, silver-rimmed glasses.
Muttering an exhausted "okay," she massaged them against a metal platform. After two beeps, they were pushed forward with ease. With a curt nod, he accepted them and pivoted on his heel to leave without another word.
The streets were rather busier than normal for a Sunday afternoon. Scanning the crosswalk area, he slapped a grey button to cross the traffic. Cars slowed down, screeching to a halt seconds before he stepped forward. As he was crossing with four other strangers, someone brushed past him in the opposing direction unintentionally.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Emil slipped his cell phone out of his pocket as soon as his foot hit the familiar sidewalk that would lead him straight back to the apartment complex. The unique cracks along the cement whispered their guidance as he tapped on the new text messages that flooded his inbox. It was an unknown number.
Emil! don't block my number again. Just hear me out ok? Your parents aren't mad at u so you should totally come back. U know how I feel about u and we had so much together
Heaving a huge sigh as he stepped over a chunk of missing cement, he reluctantly answered his ex-boyfriend.
I don't want you. Just leave me alone. I'm better off now… Emil frowned at what he typed. His thumb bounced against backspace and he retyped a different response.
Who is this? Emil pressed send and waited only two seconds before a sound indicated a new message. A chill raced down his spine and the tiny hairs on his neck raised, fear swallowing his sanity.
Don't lie to me, Emil. I like saw u cross the street
Instantly looking up in a pure panic, his orbs scanned the surrounding area as he hastened his clumsy steps towards the direction of a gas station that was in the opposite direction of where he resided. He pushed the glass door open, books clutched under his armpit with his quivering cellphone in hand.
Another text message made him visibly flinch as he wandered through an aisle surrounded by snacks.
stop running from me. I saw u the other night at the bar. U think I'm like stupid don't u?
Leave me alone Leon. I will call the police if you don't stop!
"Emil?"
The two library books collided with the grimy gas station floor and his phone barely held on to his hand.
"No!" A surprised yelp tore through his throat when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist from behind him. Squeezing his eyes shut, he spun around once the constricting arms loosened their grip.
"Calm down," the familiar voice grounded him, "it's just me, Vlad."
His coworker.
It was just Vlad.
"Don't do that!" A growl followed after his demand. Vlad collected the abandoned books from the floor and handed them back. An expression of worry flashed over his usually happy-go-lucky face.
"Emil," his hand cupped the shorter male's cheek, "what's going on?"
Nothing, just leave me alone! "Nothing." Everything is wrong, can't you see?
"I don't believe you," Vlad countered, watching as Emil swatted him away.
"It's nothing for you to concern yourself with."
Vlad sighed at his reluctance while his amber orbs followed the retreating body out of the gas station.
Ten minutes rolled by before Emil stepped into the apartment with the two books cradled against his chest. He was still jumpy but managed to ground himself.
Lukas shut his bedroom door as the front door closed behind Emil. Their eyes locked for two seconds before Emil bit his bottom lip, looking away from his object of affection.
"Something on your mind?" Lukas inquired softly, eyes following Emil's motions. Something in his roommate's demeanor had changed since this morning.
"N-No…" The books flew down on the floor, creating a deafening clatter in the silent apartment. He tensed up as he unlaced his black converses, "I'm okay. Nothing's wrong."
Collecting the books, he scampered over to his sanctuary- his bedroom. The place where he could relax his shoulders, unwind behind a good novel, and daydream while writing in his journal.
Lukas hummed lowly, watching as his roommate fumbled with his bedroom key to unlock the door. He twisted away and set to work in the kitchen. He heard the beep of the preheated oven and opened the oven's door to push in a tray of raw cookies.
He knew Emil loved them.
Maybe my cookies will cheer him up, Lukas pressed against the cooking timer button multiple times to increase the time, last time I made them, he ate almost all of them.
The corners of his lips stretched upwards at the peculiar feeling that swirled in his chest.
After he set the cooking timer to the set amount of time, his feet brought him back into the living room. He grabbed the remote, powered up the television, and plopped down on the bouncy sofa.
Pulling out his phone, he checked for any new text messages. There were none.
"Huh," he breathed out with a raised brow as his eyes skimmed over the meme that Mathias had sent him last night.
Hm, that's strange. Mathias is always sending me texts.
He slid out of his text messages and tapped on his favorite game app. It was a strategy game. Fantasy characters going to war. Lukas found that boredom would strike if he didn't continuously multitask.
Bing!
Arching his brow, his curious eyes scanned over the text message from Emil. That was strange.
Lukas… I need to tell you something.
His heart raced at what he read, but he took a deep inhale and calmed himself. He didn't bother replying. Instead, he stood up and walked over to the younger man's bedroom.
"Emil?" Lukas knocked twice before the door slowly opened.
Lavender orbs were downcast, arms crossed against his chest, lower lip jutting out childishly. He glanced up finally and opened his mouth. Lukas held his breath. He became fixated on Emil's pouty lips for a moment.
Inhaling deeply, he sputtered out the first thing that entered his mind, "Wh-Where is my bag of licorice?"
Lukas deadpanned. Really? I thought it was something serious.
"I didn't mess with it. Are you sure you didn't eat all of them?"
Emil grumbled, face heating a bubblegum pink hue. He hated how his body knew no boundaries when he tried to control his emotions.
"Yeah, well…" Emil trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck and turning his face to the side. He read online that he could get his crush's attention by making conversation and being straightforward.
Damn that ridiculous Wiki article!
"Are you hungry?" Lukas arched his brow and smirked, "Ye seem 'hangry', y'know 'hungry and angry'."
Emil watched Lukas cross his arms and lean against the door frame. Some strands of blonde hair escaped his cross pin. Clearing his throat, he shifted from one foot to the other before pushing past Lukas. The door shut firmly behind him, hiding away all of his secrets.
He was beyond embarrassed to be called out. Moreover, he had honest intentions. He studied and tried to apply what he learned from the stupid article that he found online. Alas, one shouldn't trust editable articles.
Lukas shook his head with a smile that went unnoticed by Emil as he trailed behind him into the narrow kitchen space.
The fridge opened slowly and Emil bent over to collect the ingredients to make himself a sandwich: Meat, cheese, tomato, onions, mayo, and lettuce. The bread was stored in the cabinet above the stove.
Lukas walked up behind him and accidentally brushed his backside with his hand. Emil's breath hitched as his body flinched and straightened up from the unexpected contact. Lukas stood closely behind Emil, placing his hands onto Emil's waist.
"You know I like to make your lunch," Lukas admitted smoothly, "Just go and sit down while I make us lunch."
Emil's heart throbbed in his chest and his skin crawled at Lukas's words. He rubbed the back of his head after he placed the food on the counter. "You don't have to make me lunch."
"I don't have to, but I want to. Go sit."
"I'm not a dog!" Emil fussed, cheeks burning as he obeyed, albeit begrudgingly.
Five minutes later, Lukas emerged from the kitchen and placed a plate down with a sandwich on it in front of Emil. He was reading a book in his lap.
Is that… Norsk Mythology? Lukas wondered when he caught a glimpse of Freya on one of the glossy pages. Interesting.
Suddenly his cellphone chirped at him and he placed his plate down on the glass top table. It was a message from his best friend.
Hey Lukie! I'm coming over lol
No.
OMW buddy
"Emil," Lukas started up as he claimed his spot on the sofa and picked up his sandwich, "Mathias is coming over in a little bit."
Emil nodded over the sandwich that he made for him. It was indescribably delicious. Lukas had a natural talent for cooking. He gulped the bite down and mumbled out, "Cool."
He didn't want Mathias over here. This would be the third day in a row this week. He might as well live here since he spends so much time with them- well, with Lukas.
Not even thirty minutes rolled by before Emil cringed at the beatbox against the front door. Mathias's voice was muffled by the thick door frame until Lukas unlocked it and pulled it towards him to let the extrovert inside of the apartment. More like a hyperactive bull in a glass figurine shop.
Mathias could be perfectly described as one of those rambunctious football players in high school- you know, the one who has all of the girls and guys falling head over heels for him.
"Man, Lukas. If looking sexy was a crime," Mathias started up his cheesy compliments when the door sealed close behind him, "then you'd be on death row."
The complemented blonde shook his head and padded his sock-clad feet over to the L-shaped couch.
Emil stared intensely at Mathias from the lounge chair, legs crossed with a book settled in his lap. Doesn't he get tired of this annoying idiot?
"What up, Ice-y!" Emil frowned at his new nickname. He had been given the nickname a few days ago when he stormed out of the living room when Mathias started to get loud.
He preferred quietness- not the overpowering voice of Lukas's best friend. They claimed that they were just friends, but the way Mathias acted around Lukas made him think differently.
"Stop calling me 'Icey'."
Mathias pouted and whined, "But, you are 'icy', Icey. You always give me the cold shoulder!"
Lukas shook his head with a soft scoff and walked into the kitchen to bring out a tray of buttery shortbread cookies for them to munch on.
As soon as the tray was set on the table, Emil's body leaned forward, sandwiching his book between his chest and lap to grab two cookies. He wouldn't admit it, but he loved Lukas's baking.
"Looks like someone likes your cookies, Lukie!" He plucked a cookie and bit down, humming in delight, and cleared his throat.
"I have an announcement to make!" He glanced from Emil to Lukas. "My lease at my apartment ran out, so I wanted to ask you, Lukas," turning to the named man, "if I can move in? You know I will pay rent and-"
Emil stopped listening to anything else proceeding with the words 'move-in'.
Like hell, he could stay here!
Lukas sighed over his half-eaten cookie, eyes traveling over to his roommate, and noticed the troubled look that Emil was not even trying to mask.
"Only if you pay on time every month. I'll figure out how much you will owe me." Emil's eyes widened at what Lukas said and his eyes flickered over to Mathias's grinning face.
"This is perfect. I already have my stuff in my car. Emil," he turned to the younger male who was avoiding eye contact, "I'm moving back into my room, so maybe Lukas can lower your rent."
Emil stayed silent.
Everything was crashing down on him.
All he wanted was to escape and hideaway. Now, Mathias was taking away his only place of security?
"Lukas," Emil spoke up finally after gulping stiffly, "I don't understand."
He didn't want to leave Lukas- no, he had the biggest crush on him, and now-
Now Mathias was coming into the picture!
"Emil, I'll lower your rent to one hundred dollars," he winced inwardly at the low price, "and Mathias, you will pay five hundred."
Part of Lukas hoped that the price would deter the Dane, but Mathias shrugged and smiled.
"As long as I have a place to stay, then I will pay for it. Five hundred? No big deal, Lukie!"
Emil's world was spinning backward. He felt nauseated.
Lukas sent him an apologetic look, but the payoff was worth it. Yes, Mathias worked a nine to five job, so Lukas would have to tolerate him from six until bedtime and the weekends. Emil worked evenings. Lukas would still spend time with Emil during the day when Mathias was away in the office.
It was true- Mathias and Lukas discussed these matters two weeks ago and he told him he needed time to think it over. He weighed the pros and cons of the situation. It was a close tie, but Lukas found more positives than negatives to his decision.
I can't believe this is happening. Don't I get a say in any of this? Emil sweatdropped, watching as Lukas and Mathias wheeled in his two gigantic red and black suitcases.
"Icey, come help me move your stuff out!" It wasn't even a question.
Emil grumbled under his breath. That was the last thing that he wanted to do!
By the time he folded the last shirt into his suitcase and tucked away his journal, he pursed his lips from exploding in a fit of anger. He was at a disadvantage. Mathias was Lukas's best friend and prior roommate.
Emil refused to remove the obvious scowl imprinted on his face. Mathias was ruining everything in his life. His life with Lukas. He was a rival in Emil's eyes.
When Mathias was settled in his old bedroom, Lukas placed a hand on Emil's shoulder.
"Emil. You have options." Lukas beckoned Emil to sit down with him on the sofa. "You can sleep on the sofa, move out, or stay with me." His cheeks burned a little at what he said. Emil couldn't look Lukas in the eyes after he heard that silken voice say, "My bed can fit two people."
The smaller male slumped his shoulders. He was not thrilled about the second option. The first one was the best answer since the third option would give off the wrong message.
"Let me think it over, Lukas." He huffed, cheeks warming up, "I'm sorry, but I'm not happy about this."
Lukas stayed quiet. He liked having Emil around, so he decided to let him take his time with his decision. It was a lot to handle.
"I guess," Emil started up, eyes glued to his suitcase pressed up against the armchair, "I want my privacy. It's hard to have that when Mathias took it from me."
Lukas leaned forward to adjust himself. Emil realized how close they were sitting and a furious blush painted over his cheeks. He hesitated, "I… I don't know… I guess I'll stay…" He couldn't finish his decision and stood up nervously. "I need to use the bathroom."
Lukas's eyes shook from left to right, scrutinizing his roommate for any signs that he might want to choose the third option. But Emil scurried away to the restroom, slamming it behind him.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Indigo orbs flickered over to Emil's dejected phone bouncing against the glass surface. Glancing around suspiciously and leaning forward, he scooped it up and tapped on the screen to read the previews of the multiple text messages. Part of him was curious and then the other part regretted his snooping nature.
WTF! Why do u leave me on read?
I know where u work and u can't hide from me
U think your so smart
I miss u…
Emil! Answer me
wtf? This is totally not cool
Are u w/ someone else?
ANSWER ME EMIL
The person on the other end was sending the messages mere seconds apart. There was no way a rational human being could respond to the irate sender.
Then, a new message popped up. Lukas's heart sank south at what it read.
Fuck u stupid whore. I really hate u! Nobody will ever love u like me cuz u are totally worthless. You can't run from your past forever... Ur parents never approved of us cuz YOU failed them. I'm the one for u so don't forget that
Engrossed and thrown off guard from the last message, Lukas didn't hear Emil's footsteps approaching from the bathroom into the living room. It wasn't until the phone filled with psychotic abuse was ripped out of his hands that his spirit jumped out of his skin.
He stammered, looking away from Emil. "I was going to find you and-" He paused, "I didn't read too much."
Emil ignored his roommate's excuse, although he felt betrayed. The phone quaked in his hands, eyes skimming over the grey bubbled messages from Leon. Emil's face scrunched up, eyes watered, and bottom lip quivered.
"Emil…" Lukas hesitated briefly before he bolted up to take Emil into his arms.
Petting his head gingerly, he shushed his roommate. "You are safe with me, Emil. Look at me." His voice was barely above a whisper as he drew himself back to wipe away the hot tear that escaped.
"You're safe," he reassured firmly and guided them towards his bedroom.
"Why are we going…" Emil squeaked out with a few sniffles, "to your room?"
Stopping abruptly in front of his bedroom door, he placed a hand on Emil's shoulder, "I don't want you to be alone. I can see it in your eyes, Emil."
Silence.
"I know you're hurting… but you're not alone, okay?"
Emil's throat constricted at the softness of Lukas's tone. "I will never hurt you, Emil. But, if you don't want to, then you don't have to."
Emil never experienced this side of Lukas. Was this the same person he's been living with?
Taking a moment to let it all sink in, Emil released a shaky breath. His life was getting worse. Leon was hot on his trail and Lukas's best friend was living with them now.
Emil accepted his invitation and trailed behind Lukas as they passed through the threshold.
Please… don't lead me on, Lukas.
Emil accepted his invitation and trailed behind Lukas as they passed through the threshold. The third option was the final one.