Jack was eyeing Aster as they exited the hospital, he noticed a small streak of blood that ran down his back from his shoulder.
"Hey Aster," Jack spoke up.
Aster looked over at Jack who seemed to be avoiding him, "Yeah?"
"What happened to your shoulder?" Jack pointed to Aster's shoulder.
Aster glanced at his where Jack was pointing, "Oh that, I forgot about that." Aster smiled as he continued to talk, "Crazy story, some old lady shot at me."
Jack's eyes spread open, "Why hadn't I noticed before?"
Aster shrugged, "Ya've been feelin' distant maybe?"
Jack made a pouting face, "I have not."
Aster laughed, "Okay, well anyway, it don't hurt, so its not really mentionable."
They stood outside the entrance to the hospital, Jack looked at everyone.
"How are we getting to my house guys?" Jack asked everyone.
His mother replied, "Well, I only have enough room for us in my car. How about you two take a taxi and we'll follow."
Jack nodded, "Sounds good." Jack went to pull out his phone to call a cab.
They pulled into Jack's driveway, his family right behind them. Jack paid the taxi driver with a hefty tip for going slow to let his let his family follow. Jack and Aster stepped out of the car. Jack stretched his arms and inhaled deeply. The Taxi pulled away and Jack's family stepped out of their car.
Eathan was the first to speak, "When you said a house, I was expecting a shack." his tone bitter.
Jack mumbled that only Aster heard his voice, "Thanks."
Vivian slapped Eathan's arm and glared at him before smiling at Jack, "It's a lovely house, Jack."
Jack smiled at her, "Well, thank you! C'mon, Let me show you inside!"
Jack lead the way to the front door, Aster trailing close behind. Jack opened the heavy door and stepped inside, holding it open for everyone.
"Make yourselves at home everyone, feel free to raid the kitchen."
The kitchen is the first place Franklin went to, Vivian following behind.
Eathan held a grim look as he stepped in, not caring who noticed his displeasure in Jack's well-off situation, "Well, show us around."
"Oh, right!" Jack said cheerfully. He gestured to the luxurious looking living room, "This is the living room, and if you'll follow me," he started to walk down the hallway, "This is the bathroom,"
Eathan saw the broken toilet seat, "What happened there?" he motioned with his head towards the toilet.
"Oh," Jack thought for a very brief moment, "I slipped when the floor the wet." Jack walked down the hall more, "On your right is what's supposed to a bedroom, its kinda just filled with boxes right now." Eathan hummed, Aster nodded along with Jack's mother, "The door to your left is in fact a bedroom. And the door to your right is another 'supposed to be bedroom', but it serves as an office area now." And last-but-not-least the door here, leads to my bedroom," Jack lead them into it, "Its not too much right now, but it does have a huge closet." Eathan held his look of discontentment towards Jack, while Aster and Jack's mother were happy he was doing so well by himself. "And! I forgot the kitchen and backyard! If you'd please follow me again." Jack exited the room, walking to the kitchen.
As Jack got the kitchen threshold he was bombarded by a teenager, "Jack, can I have this?!" Franklin was holding up a fresh package of mattake mushrooms.
Jack looked at the package, then to Franklin, "Well, it a special occasion of sorts," Jack heard Eathan snort at him, "I think so, how about we grill them over some burgers or steak?"
Vivian came up behind Franklin, "Did I hear someone say 'steak'?"
Jack nodded his head, "You heard right." Jack turned to Aster, "Would you pull the steaks out of the fridge while I go start the grill?" Aster nodded, and walked followed Jack into the kitchen. Jack pointed to fridge, "Top shelf," Jack turned around, "This my kitchen, complete with a table!" Jack turned and made his way to the door, adjacent to the fridge, "Oh, um, you guys can go make yourselves comfortable on the patio," Jack motioned everyone to the sliding glass doors, "I gotta grab the charcoal and lighter fluid."
"Jack, these are really good!" exclaimed Franklin, Vivian nodding her head in agreement.
"Yes Jack, these are very good." Jack's mother said softly.
Eathan had barely touched his burger, "They're fine." His tone held resentment towards Jack.
Aster gave Eathan a strange look before looking to Jack, "These are good, thank ya'"
Jack nodded his head, swallowing his food before he spoke, "I'm glad you guys are enjoying my cooking." Jack turned his attention to his mother, "Mom, where are guys staying at while you're here?"
She dabbed her lips with a napkin before she responded, "Well, we were going to stay the hotel near the hospital."
Jack shook his head, "Nonsense, stay here."
She gave Jack a thoughtful look, "Jack, you have only one bedroom."
Jack considered this, and pondered for a moment before he gave her a bright smile, "Give me a couple hours, and I'll have three extra bedrooms instead of one."
She looked thankful, "Jack, you don't have to do that."
"Not a problem!" Jack looked over to Aster then back to his mother, "Me and Aster here will run a quick errand and you'll guys be set up."
Eathan snorted, "Because you can do that."
Jack glared at Eathan, "You know what, I can. Thanks for reminding me." Jack snapped at Eathan.
Eathan's face was placid, "You're welcome, fa-"
Jack's mother cut Eathan off, "Eathan! Watch your tongue. Or I'll do it for you."
Jack held his hand up to settle his mother, "No Mom, wait," Jack's eyes scowled at Eathan, "What were you gonna say, Eathan?"
Eathan looked away for a second, then turned to Jack, "Nothing. I wasn't going to say anything."
Jack nodded his head, "I thought so." Jack stood, and looked at everyone's now baron plates, "If everyone's done, I can take your plates." He waited as everyone passed them down to him. He turned to his mother, "Would you help me the dishes?"
She smiled, "Sure, Jack." She stood and followed Jack as he walked into the kitchen.
Jack set the dishes in the sink and turned on the hot water. He grabbed a dish towel and handed it to his mother. He opened and closed his mouth several times before deciding to not say anything.
"Jack, What's wrong?" His mother had noticed his internal debate.
Jack grabbed the sponge and put soap on it, "Nothing's wrong." He could feel his mother's stare as he started to scrub a plate and decided he best not lie, "Why does Eathan hate me?"
"Oh Jack," She gave a sympathetic smile, "He doesn't hate you."
Jack scoffed, "You say that, but he almost called me a faggot."
She sighed, "He's just angry," She paused in thought, "and frustrated because he doesn't know why you left."
Jack hummed sadly, "Do you know why I left?"
She shook her head, "No, but why you left isn't a concern of mine," She dried a clean plate and set it in the other side of the sink, "I was worried. Scared for you."
Jack set the plate he washing down and leaned his head on his mother's shoulder, thankful she was the same height, "I missed you. I thought you guys would all hate me for leaving like I did."
She leaned her against his, and placed a hand around his shoulders, "We never hated you. We were all worried about you," She sighed, "We just woke up one morning, to find you gone, no note." She laughed slightly, "You must've walked pretty far to get here."
Jack resumed his washing as he spoke, "I did. I walked for a long time. I fell asleep walking and woke up walking."
She dried another clean, "Oh, Jack." She smiled sadly, "You know, you should've called your mother to let me know you were safe."
Jack laughed bitterly, "And say what? 'Hey, sorry I ran away. I'm really far away in a city I don't even know the name of.'"
She swatted his arm, "Stop it. You know what I mean. The call I was expecting shouldn't have come from the hospital telling me my son was in the hospital."
Jack smiled, "Sorry about that. I hadn't really been planning on getting hit by a car."
"Well, I'm sure." She smiled and nudged his arm as his handed her another plate, "But it is nice to see you."
Both of them turned their heads as Vivian came in through the sliding door.
"Hey, guys. What're you talking about?" She asked she closed the door.
Jack shrugged, "Not much, just how its nice to see everyone."
She nodded, "That's cool. So, um, Jack…I gotta say, your boyfriend is really attractive." she blushed just the slightest amount.
Jack blushed, "Thank you."
She nodded again, "And Franklin seems to like him too."
Jack smiled and handed his mother the last dish, "That's good to hear."
She smiled back at Jack, "Sorry about Eathan though."
Jack shrugged, "It's fine."
She walked and placed a hand on Jack's shoulder, "If it helps, he really is happy to see you." Jack gave her a disbelieving look, "No, really, He was the first ready to leave to get here."
Their mother chimed in, "It's true."
Jack glanced out the glass door behind Vivian, "What are they talking about?"
She looked behind her, "About what Aster does for a living," She smiled and swatted Jack's arm, "An artist? Really Jack? You found an attractive Australian artist?"
Jack smiled proudly, "What can I say, I know how to pick 'em."
Jack removed her hand and walked over to open the door. He waited for Aster to finish talking before he spoke, "Hey Aster, you ready to go?"
Aster nodded, "Yup."
Jack made sure everyone was comfortable staying at his house while he was gone before he and Aster left to the furniture store.
"A truck 'ay?" Aster asked as they pulled out of the driveway.
Jack smiled, "Yup, I bought specifically so I wouldn't have to hire movers."
"Hmmm, Its nice."
"Well thanks."
"Dodge, right?"
Jack sat straighter with pride in his purchase, "You bet it is!"
Aster smiled at Jack's peacock-like display and placed a hand on Jack's thigh. Jack blushed, and made no effort to move Aster's hand. Aster grinned happily that Jack let his hand stay.
Aster thought a moment about earlier events before asking Jack, "I got a question for ya'"
"Shoot."
Aster looked out his window, "Was there something in the hospital room with us earlier?"
Jack slammed on the brakes, thankful no one was behind him. He looked wide eyed at Aster, who feared for his life at the sudden stop, "Why do you ask?"
Aster pondered, the fear left him before he responded, "I thought I saw somethin' is all."
Jack's mouth was slightly agape, "In your peripherals right?"
Aster gave Jack a perplexed look, "Yeah, actually."
"Hmmm…" Is all Jack said as he accelerated again.
It wasn't until they pulled into the parking lot of the furniture store did Jack speak again.
"About what you saw," Jack waited a moment before he found the words to articulate his thoughts correctly, "I'm take a wild guess and say what you saw was a black mass, right?" Aster nodded in concurrence, "Yeah, things like that, seem to follow me around."
Aster thought, he thought about had happened just a few days ago, "Like that thing that was in my kitchen?"
Jack stayed silent and just nodded his head as he exited his truck. Aster got out shortly after, following Jack into the store.
Jack walked straight to the bed department. He looked around at the beds until a salesclerk came to help. Jack explained he wanted three queen beds. Jack laid on several different beds before deciding on one that felt as comfortable as his own, which was as comfortable as he imagined a cloud covered with silk and pillows would be.
The salesman was obviously new, as he tried to convince Jack to get a payment plan. Jack had to decline a plethora of times before the salesclerk stopped his persistence.
Jack and Aster loaded the three boxes of beds into the bed of Jack's truck. The drive back was silent, both Jack and Aster in deep thought.
Jack reversed into the driveway, stopping when the end of the bed of the truck was at the walkway to the front door. Jack and Aster stepped out of the truck. Aster went to the end of the truck and opened the tailgate. Jack paused in his walk to front door.
Jack pointed with his thumb over his shoulder, "We have to move all the junk out of the other rooms before we set up the beds."
Aster closed the door, "Ah, right."
I just noticed That the Page Breaks I Was putting In myself weren't Showing up! I'm terribly Sorry if that Confused Anyone! SO! I'm using the these Horizontal Lines...Thank you 'guest' for Reminding me Aster was Shot. I completely Forgot about It. That is why I need feedback! I forget things like That! At one point I forgot Aster's loft was wasn't in a Hallway full of Doors...And that He didn't have a door with a Doorknob..I caught myself THANKFULLY! ANYWAY! Enjoy This Chapter! And Have a wonderful whatever time it is when You Read This!