Chapter Two

What surprised me was how easy this was.

I had watched plenty of movies to know that when following someone, you had to pretend you were a nobody. Don't stare at the one you're following for too long or look too skittish or nervous. Somebody would take notice of you and get suspicious.

So that's exactly what I did.

I kept my hands by my sides and my eyes straight forward. When I felt nervous, I looked down at my phone and smiled even though nobody had texted me and nothing was funny. I wanted to look as normal and innocent as possible, and I'm sure I did as I silently followed behind Alfred down the block. It was too easy.

I must admit, the way I'm mentally describing myself makes me sound like a stalker. But I really wasn't, was I? I needed to know where Alfred lived so I could protect him if needed. What if some horrible person with horrid intentions followed him home from school? Someone like Francis. I was just being his bodyguard in secret.

Francis. He really struck my nerves today. Calling Alfred horrible things and acting as if he knew everything about Alfred when he didn't. Not even I do! But that wouldn't last, surely. Starting right now, I will get to know as much as I can without disturbing Alfred. Maybe, if I know a lot about him before hand, we'll be able to connect easier and he'll realize how he feels sooner.

For now, Francis was lucky that Fake Arthur had a reputation to keep. The current me would've...

Wait, what would I have done?

No - I shouldn't think about something like that. Think about Alfred. Alfred. I squinted a bit to observe what he was doing.

Alfred was lost in his own world, his head nodding to the beat his earphones blasted. What kind of music did he like? My parents hated loud noises, so the radio just sat collecting dust. Now, even though I don't have parents to worry about, music just sounds weird to me. I couldn't hear or think right when I did listen to it. My mind was for my thoughts and my thoughts alone.

Of course, if Alfred ever recommends a song to me, I would listen to it until the lyrics were engraved in my brain.

Oh, Alfred. I longed to run up next to him, hear his voice, and feel his touch again. Just the thought of it sent shivers down my spine, goosebumps racing down my arms. But for now, I had to settle for admiring him at a distance. I knew it would make him uncomfortable if he knew I was following him, and it would be too risky to approach him. Although I could tell him I lived around here as the reason why I was following him, but what if he asked to see where I lived? It could lead to future problems, for sure.

Thankfully, Alfred never looked behind him, but I found myself suddenly worried. What if some strange girl fancied him and followed him too? It was alright if I did it since I'm destined to be with him, but if it was someone else…

I squeezed my phone to calm down my racing thoughts. This feverish need to protect him wasn't wrong, but needed to be contained until an actual issue arises. I can't spook anyone who I dislike and have them run off tattling to Alfred. He might grow wary of me and dislike me. I couldn't have that.

I was so occupied in my thoughts, that I almost didn't notice that I had followed Alfred into a neighborhood – his new neighborhood. It was a cute one, the large houses all a few feet apart from each other. It was much nicer than my neighborhood and the houses were much bigger. His parents must be very well off.

I lingered by the street sign, and jotted the name down quickly in my notebook. I didn't want to risk looking around and looking even stranger, so I had no idea if someone saw me, but I'm sure it was alright. If I was seen, nobody called me out.

After writing it down, I walked quickly to catch up with Alfred who had just turned the corner.

Alfred lived in a large, modern house that looked similar to the other ones on the outside. They all had big, square bushes and a large tree. Automatically, I wrote down his address and returned the notebook to the pocket on the side of my backpack. It then occurred to me that I was done here. I now knew where he lived – wasn't that all I came for? Still, I wasn't close to satisfied. I itched to know more.

I wanted to know everything.

Without a moment to lose, I glanced around to check if anybody was around after Alfred went in, then dashed behind one of the bushes that were on the side of his house. A nicely sized window was there, and it seems as though they hadn't gotten around to putting up blinds. I could see everything. Alfred placed his bag inside a coat closet and slumped in a chair with a loud sigh, checking his phone and typing something.

Who was he texting? Was it a friend? A girl? It occurred to me that I didn't know if Alfred was homosexual or single. I could take care of the sexuality part, considering we're fated and it wouldn't matter, but how was I to prevent him from liking anybody else?

Wait, did he like anyone? I made note of that question in my notebook and underlined it three times. I would look into that later.

For now, I really wanted to know who was in his contacts. But how? I couldn't just waltz into his house and take his phone. The realization that there really was nothing I could do hit me and left me feeling nothing but despair. He could be texting someone who was interested in him, oblivious to their feelings. It just wasn't fair. How could I make progress like this?

"Hey, mom. Yeah, I made it home."

He was talking to his mom now, it seems. I pressed my ear to the window and focused on his voice to hear the conversation.

"Huh? It was alright. I did, I did! Yes, you're right." That adorable laugh tumbled out, and I smiled. "Uh huh. Uh huh. Now? Right now? But I just got home!" He was whining now, but it was a lost cause, for his expression shifted to defeat. "Alright, I'll wait for you outside." Alfred groaned and placed his phone on the chair he sat in.

Outside.

An emergency siren blasted in my head and I quickly dropped to my stomach, listening carefully. I could hear the door close, the rumble of a car as it pulled towards the house. That must be his mother. I couldn't tell what she looked like from down here, but I could see the license plate clearly. That went into the notebook.

Just in case.

Once the car drove off, I went back on my knees and brushed the mulch off my shirt. There was no point being here if Alfred was gone. I only wish I knew where he was going.

With a sigh, I used the window to help me up, only to slip as my hand no longer had a surface underneath it. I glanced over to see what happened and discovered a small, dangerous mistake the Jones family had made.

The window had been left unlocked.

My heart was pounding, and my conscience instantly began berating me. Arthur Kirkland, you leave that window alone. You could get in trouble for trespassing. This is a criminal act. A violation of privacy. Alfred wouldn't like this, It said, and I wanted to listen. It would be easy to close the window and walk home. It was getting late anyways.

But I couldn't tear my eyes away from the gap. With trembling fingers, I lifted it to see how high it would go. Yes – if I went in head first and crawled in, I could fit. Being this thin finally would come in handy.

It was fine to do this kind of thing once in a while, right? It wasn't like I was causing any harm. I won't steal any money or trash the place. I just wanted to look – take a quick little tour and then be out before they come home. I would even lock the window on my way out. My mind made, I removed my notebook from my backpack so I could record anything if needed.

"It's fine, Arthur." I murmured to myself as I carefully put my head in through the window, my hands touching the cool hardwood flooring, the other gripping my pencil and notebook as I eased myself in. "We're just taking a look. There's nothing wrong with this."

A thrill shot down my spine and I couldn't hold back a small smile. The whole danger factor along with the fact that I was practically breaking a law was actually exciting. I felt like a spy or a ninja, sneaking into the enemy's liar to exploit their secrets. Of course, Alfred was no enemy, and I only wanted to check his phone and maybe his room.

No, definitely his room.

Not for any inappropriate purposes, of course. I wasn't exactly a pervert. However, the thought of feeling Alfred's skin on mine and hearing his soft pants was one I wouldn't deny enjoying. I was only going to take a look then leave.

I walked across the room to the chair quickly and silently, as if somebody would hear me. I chuckled softly to myself; this was all so silly and fun. The idea of being caught was now almost like a game.

I grabbed the phone and cut it on. Luckily, Alfred didn't put a password on it, and I checked his messages and scrolled to the most recent.

He had been texting someone named Matthew. After skimming through their messages, it turns out they're stepbrothers. Matthew was currently in Canada with Alfred's father. Alfred stayed with his mother for the move and to start school on the first day. Matthew would start next month. Another recent text message was from his mother, who congratulated him for making the football team. American football, of course. He must have gone to practice for it.

Matthew was no threat, so I checked Alfred's contacts for a female name. If he had a girls number, then that was a bad sign. Girls usually gave a boy their number when they were interested, right?

The phone looked new, so I hypothesized that was the reason for the lack of numbers. None of the names sounded female, so I cut off the phone and placed it exactly where I found it.

After jotting down his number, of course.

I wouldn't call him – that would just be strange. Alfred would wonder how I got it, and then I would be in a heap of trouble. I wouldn't risk it. 'So why did I take it?' I asked myself. I don't know. I just felt like I had to have it.

I didn't have any time to waste, so I went upstairs to where I guessed the bedrooms would be. I knew I was right, and finding Alfred's bedroom was easy. A license plate with his name on it was pinned to the door. How original.

The door creaked as I opened it and I peered in. It was a mess; half unpacked boxes lied in a corner of the room and clothes lied on his bed and in a hamper. I felt the urge to clean it up for him, to look after and take care of him, but I knew it was best I didn't. I made note of his untidiness.

But it was still Alfred's room.

I felt a rush of embarrassment and excitement all at the same time. I knew I should hurry up and leave, but I didn't want to. Instead, I did what was probably the most shameless and typical thing ever: I snuggled my face in his pillow.

I breathed in over and over, memorizing what he smelled like with every inhale, and then exhaling in long, shaky breaths. I felt like I was getting drunk off of it, my mind and body felt warm, dizzy, and happy. It's not until I felt my crotch begin to ache that I stop. I didn't want to stoop to such a dirty level. I pulled myself away and occupied my mind on something else to calm down.

I peeked into his dresser, his drawers, and the opened moving boxes. All I found were clothes, some dejected looking stuffed toys, and posters. Nothing special or out of the ordinary. I sat on his bed for a handful of minutes, and then decided it was about time I left. I stayed long enough.

I got up, fluffed his pillow so the outline of my face disappeared, and was about to walk out until a piece of fabric poking from under his bed caught my eye. I probably shouldn't pry, but I did anyways. It turned out just to be a sweatshirt he probably tried on then discarded. I lifted it to the dimming sunlight to examine it, and then sniffed the fabric. A slight sharpness and the strong, musky smell of sweat.

It smelled like him, but this was even stronger than the smell of his pillow.

I want to take it. It was plain and looked rather over worn, and its original blue color looked faded and a bit gray. He wouldn't miss it. He could always buy a new one just like it. Right?

You promised you wouldn't take anything, Arthur. Don't you break that promise! You're not a thief!

But it wasn't a big deal. Plus, it wasn't as if it was an expensive watch or a treasured picture. It was just a piece of clothing. Just one sweatshirt. I wasn't planning on doing anything perverted to it either. I just wanted it. I wanted something of his to get through the lonely nights without him.

I pass it over my head. Of course, it didn't fit me, and sagged on my shoulders. My arms and neck tickled where the shirt touched, and I take it off as quickly as I put it on. I then fold it and tuck it under my arm, taking it out of his room with me, making sure to close the door behind me.

I slip through the window again and lock it behind me. I was lucky that I wasn't found out, but I still felt a bit guilty as I tucked the sweatshirt into my backpack. I decided to walk out of the neighborhood by cutting behind the backyards. I feared I would feel a bit exposed and alone as I walked back, but with Alfred's sweatshirt with me I felt as though he was right next to me.

My mind seemed to zone out as I walked back home. To think all of this had happened in one day was so magical and interesting. It's not every day someone meets their true love, is it? I must be lucky. Perhaps God was apologizing for treating me terribly in the beginning with my parents.

I tore out the history notes in my notebook and reviewed what information I collected. As I walked, I decided to write more about his room. What his interests appeared to be, what I found in his trashcan and under his bed. Finally, I wrote today's date in big characters above all I collected and circled it.

It was practically our anniversary now. I knew anniversaries only counted once you started dating, but we were already acting like a couple, weren't we? I even went into his room.

The way home was long, but it didn't feel that way. My mind was full of Alfred and all of the things we did together. I'm reminded of the pictures I took of him, and once I take them out I gaze longingly at them as I cross the street to my neighborhood.

When I get home, I feel this indescribable feeling of nothingness. How long would it take until Alfred realized his feelings for me so we could be together forever? I can't stand having to hold in my feelings and it's only the first day. I'll have to make progress fast. But how?

I can't be patient for something like this. I won't be. And as I lied in bed, Alfred's sweatshirt right beside me, I thought of something once told to me:

"Sometimes you have to fight for love instead of letting it take its course. "

Yes, that's right. Just like with mom and dad.

If something was in the way, I couldn't show the slightest sign of mercy.

I had to have Alfred as soon as possible, and I would have him. Even if I had to sacrifice some along the way. But it would be fine, right? To die for love is surely a respected fate. It would be for a good cause. Maybe they would even go to Heaven? Unless, of course, they intentionally got in the way. For that, they would definitely go to Hell.

I'd make sure of it.

A/N: Ahh, this chapter is kinda short, I'm sorry! The beginning of a story is always the worst. I have so many ideas for conflicts and the resolution but I have to come up with filler instead for the time being. I'm actually trying to speed things up without rushing the story. But in the end, it all comes down to how much muse I have.

I ended up making Arthur have sort of a mixed love/lust feeling for Alfred. Arthur won't go to far or force anything inappropriate on Alfred, it'll just stray into his mind once in a while. He couldn't possibly dirty his oh so precious Alfred. Or could he?

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Just kidding.

Author out!