MAY 15, 2012

9:30 AM

Arthur hung up the phone.

He'd spoken to his friend, Kiku, who was a detective. Kiku had promised that he would find out who Alfred's boyfriend was. Arthur knew he was going against Alfred's wishes, but Arthur also knew that he was being irrational about his decisions. He shouldn't have to take the blame for a crime that he did not commit.

Arthur knew he'd surely be angry when he found out about Arthur turning in Alfred's ex, but he might forgive Arthur one day.

Arthur crossed his legs and tapped his foot. He didn't need to look at his watch to know that they were late. Again. What could be going on behind those doors? What made them so late every day? Why was Alfred always accompanied by three or four guards?

The door opened and this time Alfred marched in happily. He wore a grin on his face that spread from one ear to the other. "Hey, Arthur!" He chirped.

Arthur raised an eyebrow at him. "Why are you so cheerful today?"

"I'll tell ya in a sec." The guard in front removed Alfred's handcuffs and they left.

Alfred grinned some more. "I'm getting visitors today!" He nearly squealed in delight.

"Is that so?" Arthur let a small smile show on his face.

"Yeah! My mom might even make it. My sisters promised they'd be here." Alfred grinned.

"That's lovely. I'm so happy for you." Arthur smiled at him, glad that the poor man could have this one small joy.

"I'm so glad because I haven't seen either Emily or Amelia in months!" Alfred was still beaming.

"What are their ages in relation to yours?" Arthur asked, deciding that perhaps he just wanted to talk about his family today, which Arthur was completely fine with.

"Oh, we're triplets. Only boy in the family!" He gave a thumbs-up.

"And your father?" Arthur asked, now curious.

"Oh, he left our family when we were just two or three. I don't remember him very well."

"Oh. I'm sorry." Arthur said, feeling bad for bringing it up.

"Nah, it's cool. I don't really care. My mom has been great." He leaned back casually in his chair like always. He smiled sadly.

"What's she like?" Arthur inquired.

"She loves gardening and is super Eco-friendly. She used to be a real hippie when she was young. When we were little she used to teach us how to do really neat things like making friendship bracelets out of flowers and weaving straw hats... Probably why I turned out gay, I was raised with three women!" He laughed and smiled sadly again.

"What's the matter?" Arthur asked.

"She's... been ill." Alfred said.

"Oh, what's wrong with her?" Arthur said, kind of embarrassed.

He was quiet for a moment, just long enough for Arthur to realize just how serious it was. "Some type of cancer. I don't know exactly, but she's gonna die of it eventually..." Alfred's smile was gone.

"Oh Alfred... I'm so sorry..." Arthur said, his voice breaking a little while he said it.

Alfred just shrugged. "Nothing you can do about it, man. Anyway, ever since she got diagnosed when I was a freshman in high-school, our aunt and my cousin came to live with us."

Arthur was quiet. He didn't quite know what to say. His family lived in England, but they were all alive and well. Sure, his parents had gotten a divorce when he was six, but that didn't really hurt him anymore. At least he still had them, and knew he would for a long time.

"You know..." Alfred began. "The worst part of it I think is... the not-knowing. I don't know when it'll happen. It could at any moment. She has good and bad days... and honestly she could go on both."

"Alfred..." Arthur said. "We don't have to talk about this if you don't want to..."

"No, it's okay. I'll have to tell you eventually," Alfred took a shaky breath. "My aunt is always taking care of her, which is really sweet. Matt was always helpful too. He's my cousin."

Arthur was ready to cry. This man had such a sad life, yet he seemed perfectly well-rounded. He managed to smile, to laugh and make jokes. Arthur wondered just how much inner strength it took to forget your own pain in order to make others smile. It was only then that he realized how truly selfless Alfred was. Arthur wished that he could have been such a genuinely good person.

"Dude, are you alright?" Alfred asked, seeming concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Arthur swallowed a lump in his throat.

"Hey," Alfred stood and went over to Arthur. He knelt beside Arthur's chair. "You don't have to feel bad for me. I'm fine, really. I'm not crying right now, so there's no reason for you to." He showed his ear-to-ear smile again.

"Alfred, how can you be in such pain and still smile?" Arthur asked, bewildered.

"I guess I just don't want everybody to worry about me." Alfred shrugged.

"I really admire that in you." Arthur said.

"Thanks, I guess." Alfred smiled again, and Arthur knew just how much pain was hidden behind it.

After a moment's silence, Arthur cleared his throat and his face turned red again. "Well, it looks as if we are almost out of time... We should get something done today..."

Alfred chuckled. "Well, you know the whole story. I guess you'll have to just find out things you need to know, then ask me what you need to ask. Otherwise, I think we can just chat. Any more questions for me?" Alfred leaned back in his chair and folded his hands behind his head.

Arthur thought for a moment. "None that I can think of."

"Alright then. Anyway... tell me about your family. Do you have siblings?" Alfred smirked, but not in an arrogant way.

"I have a little brother, a little sister, and an older brother." Arthur said quickly.

Alfred whistled. "Big family. Who's the youngest?"

"My little brother, Peter. He's only thirteen." Arthur said. He really could not stand his little brother.

"Ah. Is he a lot younger than the rest of you?"

"Yeah," Arthur laughed. "My sister, Alice, is twenty. And Oliver, my older brother, is twenty-five. I guess you could say that Peter was an accident."

Alfred chuckled. "Weren't we all?"

Arthur smiled. "True, true. So do they live in England?"

"Yeah, I came here for college, and I stayed here."

"Glad you did." Alfred said, winking.

Arthur squinted at him. "Why did you just wink at me!?"

"Oh I dunno. 'cause." Alfred laughed.

"Git!" Arthur said, only making Alfred laugh more.

Then, the door opened and the guards stepped in.

Alfred stood quickly and said, "Talk to ya tomorrow, Arthur!"

Arthur managed out a small, "Bye..." and then he was gone. Arthur was trying his very hardest to disregard the pounding of his heart.