Eyes that see into Infinity

Part 2

Chapter Sixteen

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Alexander do you wish to talk about it? I'm always here for you I hope you know.

Remorseful blue eyes never part from his incensed friend.

The new king's eyes flash back with loss as he turns to his lover at the entry of his palace room.

Hephaistion…The king miserably bows his head…my father is dead.

Hephaistion can only give him little comfort by holding his friend tight. I am sorry it had to happen this way. Tell me what you need from me?

Do you believe my mother had something to do with it? Did she kill him Hephaistion? Alexander buries his head in his friends shoulder seeking comfort but his friend doesn't respond and he pulls away.

They both stare into the other until the brunette looks elsewhere away from sad unforgiving eyes. Alexander moves slightly from Hephaistion deciding if he wanted to sit or stand as well as awaiting an answer he knew he wasn't going to hear.

You should rest Alexander, I will return later. Hephaistion turns to leave but he is stopped.

I don't wish you to go. I have you all to myself which hasn't happened for awhile. The vulnerable king muses. I have been tending much to my duties. I never meant to abandon you. Please stay with me. If you will.

The brunette only smiles and comes up to his king's side and whispers in his ear. You haven't been neglecting me Alexander, don't think that. You must do what you have to do.

A terrible sigh escapes the king's throat and frustrated he shuts his eyes. And become king? Never have I felt this scared before. Why am I so scared?

The sincere brunette strokes his friends soft face and removes the salty tears. It's natural to feel this way Alexander, but you are strong and will overcome it like you always do.

Alexander opens his watery eyes and laughs half willingly. Why do you always make me feel like this Hephaistion, like I can do anything? Sometimes I think you are just being nice to me even when I don't deserve it.

The brunette cups his face and stares into him deeply. You deserve everything from me.

Alexander smiles back with love.

Are you in need of sleep? The brunette asks him.

No. The king shakes his head pride fully. I just need you.

Then let us sleep. Hephaistion guides gently Alexander towards the bed. You look awfully tired and overwhelmed; please get some rest, my wonderful prince and king.

Okay Phai. I will sleep, for you.

Hephaistion watches his heartbroken king slowly drift off in heavy slumber.

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Alex watched fixedly with an absorbing stare as his new lover slept. Phai was wrapped in a bundle of blankets and for a boy who was only a young man; he was as handsome as any grown man would want to be. He smiled as he reflected more on his general and friend. "So it's true, you and I are supposed to be together." The blonde spoke lightly like he was keeping it a secret to himself. 'But why am I having difficulties in telling you what I want to say. I've known you for so long and it's amazing, yet you're still my perfect stranger."

It was an awkward place to fall asleep in just as much as it was an awkward place to talk to himself. He honestly couldn't think of many who dreamt of doing it in an abandoned shed placed in a meadow just minutes away from there neighborhood. But even if it wasn't exactly how he considered it, it didn't have him regretting anything that had happened that night. He wanted the brunette for so long, and now that his death didn't seem like a burden anymore, here he was with his Phai, this supposed general, just like he had dreamt of. Now all he had to worry about was maintaining him forever.

It was six in the morning and the sun was just rising behind the horizon causing the sky to turn a contrast pinkish blue color and always like a good California morning the air was warm.

Phai was never much of a heavy sleeper. He could awaken in the middle of anything and at the moment he awoken to the feel of the light coming through the open windows and loose cracks of the shed as well as sensing that someone wasn't sleeping.

The brunette peeked open a sleepy eye catching his new lover watching him curiously and Alex only smiled brashly after he had been caught. "Alex, you should get some rest, you look awfully tired." The browned haired teen murmured into the blanket.

No doubt escaped the blondes mind that this was indeed his general.

"For some reason, I remember you saying that to me before." Alex scooted closer to the brunette. "Did you sleep okay?'

Phai nodded and snickered adoringly. "Did you?"

"Yea." Alex answered bogusly.

"Good." Phai said and Alex swore he could see a slight blush appear onto Phai's flawless face. The brunette then narrowed his eyes almost in a shy manner.

Alex couldn't resist any more and felt his body towering over Phai's, while the brunette took him gently by the shoulders and reached up to give him a good morning kiss.

"It's Saturday and your sister will be home soon won't she?" Alex mentioned while placing small kisses down his lovers neck.

The brunette smirked lightly. "Are you scared that Callista might come out here looking for me and catch us both naked. Is that why you are awake so early?" he teased.

"I haven't been awake that long." Alex looked under the covers realizing he had forgotten they were both still very humanly naked. "I'm not scared, but I think Callista might be if she does she us like this."

The brunette chuckled surprised at his openness and lifted his body from the blankets. "Fine you baby, fetch me my clothes." He ordered, yawning and bringing his hands to rub his face awake.

The two boys got dressed and left the field back to their homes. Alex walked with Phai in silence up to his house. "So I guess this is goodbye again." Alex frowned playfully, shoving his hands deep into his pant pockets.

Phai grinned and said a quick "I'll see you later" before silently slipping behind the front door into his house and then the blonde headed towards his own.

Alex necessarily didn't have to sneak in because it wasn't like his father gave a rats ass anyway but was surprised nonetheless when he walked by the living room towards the stairs and his father asked him where he was. He wasn't expecting his father to be up this early seeing as he was prescribed with sleeping meds but then again who could sleep through the pain he was going through.

He wasn't just talking about physical pain from the accident but emotional and mental pain as well. His father was obviously depressed and not at all in his right mind. He was going to be out of work for awhile, he was bored most of the time and Alex could already see his future of drinking himself into oblivion. Also the split between him and his wife wasn't all that painless either no matter how much his dad wouldn't admit it.

Alex stood quiet at first and just shrugged at the question making his way into the room where his dad was. Then he sat down on the couch across from where he was laying. "I was out on a walk, with a friend."

The blushing and sudden delight in his son's expression didn't go unnoticed. In fact it became discerning to his father. "It's almost six thirty. Isn't that a little early to be out with a friend? She must be very special." Phillip assumed.

Alex normally fidgeted with his hands or scratched the back of his head frantically if he was nervous about something but this time he sat composed and unruffled not being able to stop his smiles from growing wider. "You have no idea."

It wasn't something he never saw so often in his son, perhaps not at all but for once he actually noticed his son happy and in love dare he think it. "I hope it's not that Roxanne chick." Phillip sat up and swinging carefully his messed up leg off the couch and stretching his muscles.

"Believe me, it isn't Roxanne. It's never been her." The last part Alex whispered quietly.

"What time did you get in last night?" Phillip asked not really concerned but feeling like he needed to keep up a conversation before it got uncomfortable with to much silence.

He still had to get used to the fact that he never really had a normal conversation with his kid.

"I didn't, I slept outside in the shed." Alex thought he could be truthful about it.

"Kids these days, always try to be independent. I should have made you a damn tree house when you were younger."

The blonde's eyebrows shot up in mock. "You? Build something for me? Get out of dodge."

Phillip was caught off guard by his reaction. "Are you being sarcastic with me child? I built you plenty of things when you were younger." He answered in his own defense.

"Oh yea, like what?" Alex challenged.

"I don't know your crib." The dad shrugged carelessly while bringing a smoke to his mouth.

Alex laughed shaking his head. "I'm fine anyway. I got everything I need." Alex said optimistically before standing and stretching himself.

"No one has everything they need." The old man grumbled under his breath as he tried to find a committable position to sit before his back started to knot up and his body beginning to cramp.

"There's only one thing in life people need and that is someone to care for and to share their life with. You had something but you let it go. I have something now and I will never let it go and whatever you say or do will not interfere."

"You should have been a fucking poet."

"It's not like I would have had your support anyway."

Phillip sighed in regret. "You're a smart boy Alex but we all know we can't hang onto something for so long. Things happen, life interferes and next thing you know everything swings in the wrong direction, but we don't know if it is wrong or just fate doing its job."

"I am living two lives already dad. One in my dreams and one right now. But I have the chance to learn before anybody, I am gifted with the opportunity to change things before they go wrong. People fall on bad days but I will hang on as long as it takes."

The teen abruptly cleared his throat once his dad stared awkwardly at him like he was on a very strong drug. "Sometimes I don't even know what you are talking about son."

The blonde took in a deep calming breath and then changed the subject as fast as he could. "I'll make you breakfast since you're up already. Also remember today while it's still cool outside we go for our thirty minute walk around the block."

Phillip only snarled and reached for the remote to turn on the TV. "Whatever."

"You want to feel better don't you? Besides the sooner we get it done the better before the sun really sets high."

Alex only heard the mumbling from a grumpy man and took it as a yes but before exiting he watched his dad engage in smoke and TV. He then smiled sadly. "When everything gets better, you are going to tell yourself that it didn't feel so bad."

He didn't realize he was telling mostly himself.

xxxxxx

Phai was sprawled on top of his bed and turned to face the window thinking of everything that had happened as of late and everything Cassy had told him about Alex and Roxanne had gradually slipped from his mind.

The dark skinned girl was one of the reasons why he stayed away from Alex his whole childhood, thinking he was already taken by her and thinking he would be ignored by him. But now his life was exactly where he wanted it to be. Roxanne was becoming less of a threat to him but he was still ashamed of his own jealousy towards her.

If I wasn't in your life would Roxanne be the one you decide to love? Phai had been asking himself that question more often than not. There was a lot to be jealous of her about. She had everything going for her life. She already knew what she wanted to do for a living. She wanted to be a dancer, she was rich, she was smart, strong mannered and beautiful and he had no doubt she would be very successful further on down the road. Now he thought of his own life and where he would end up but his thoughts only lazed around.

His mind suddenly shifted elsewhere and couldn't believe how much Alex had changed and it had him smiling inexplicably. It wasn't something he could get over in a day or even a week but he finally had him. Now all he needed was Cassy to get off his back and Roxanne to get a life and go find someone else. As long as those two were around, there would be enough trouble for both him and Alex.

Within minutes of his own time he was still thinking about last night. His eyes became unperturbed in a day dream and he was staring at his bedroom ceiling.

He was in deep love with him.

Further thoughts were interrupted when he heard his wild sister enter his room and all he wanted to understand was why she was home so early, unless he had been in a daydream for over two hours and it was already eight o clock in the morning. "It can't be" the boy covered his face mumbling after looking at the clock and how fast the time flew by.

"Phai!"

He turned over to his side and flipped on his radio and the Foo Fighters song My Hero blasted on.

Callista plopped onto his bed next to him turning on her back mimicking his same position and ranted about how great the sleep over was. "It was super cool."

"I'm glad you had fun little sis."

Phai caught himself off guard when he responded earnestly.

"How was your night yesterday, did you win the game?' she asked bobbing her head to the music.

"Uh, we were going to." Her brother said almost embarrassed to mention it.

"So you lost the game?"

"No, just disqualified."

Callista gave him an odd look. "Disqualified? She questioned. "I expected more from you young man." She reprimanded.

"Sorry, next time I will do better." He gave a sweet smile.

"Good. I have to show off my cool brother somehow to my friends."

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"My friends don't talk to me unless I have something cool to talk about. I guess gory video games and vampires aren't as cool as who can apply the most makeup."

"Callista they are not friends if they expect something more from you. Okay?"

"Okay." She approved. They bumped fists. "Who should I hang out with then? I don't have friends like you do." She moaned.

"Well you can hang out with me and my friends anytime you want. Besides your favorite Barbie organizer is back."

xxxxxxxxx

Phai rushed downstairs after smelling the breakfast being cooked in the kitchen.

"Holy crap I'm hungry."

He almost wanted to ask his parents if having sex made people hungry afterwards but felt it would reveal too much, plus Callista still had virgin ears and who at the very second was also entering the kitchen behind him.

"Why are you so hungry Phai? I would think you would be full after the dinner party yesterday." His mother answered. "By the way how did the game go?"

"It went…well." Phai replied with delay.

"They got disqualified." Callista budged deciding to let it out there.

"Aw, how did that happen?" both parents said at the same time.

"Um, a fight broke loose." Phai answered innocently.

The mother put her hands on her hips. "And who started?"

"The other team."

"Yep that's what they all say." Amyntor expressed after ruffling his sons hair after passing by him.

"I hope you didn't join in Phai." The mother said with a wise approach. .

"No I didn't, I kinda just stayed away." He lied perfectly.

"Well isn't Cassy the head of the team. That boy is always looking for trouble. Sometimes I worry about the friends you hang out with."

"They are actually Alex's friends more than mine."

"I can't believe Alex is back. Can I go say hi?" Callista asked her mother who was flipping through a cook book looking for an interesting recipe to cook up for dinner.

"Sure sweetie but maybe wait a little longer. He might not be up this early." She said kissing her on top of her head.

'Trust me he's up." Phai responded out of the blue while taking a seat next to his dad.

Amyntor looked at him accusingly. "How do you know?" His father asked with a goofy smile.

"Because he's a vampire. We've been over this." Callista responded surely.

"What she said." Phai answered back.

"He seems to be popular in this household. What did I miss when I was at war?" Amyntor said while fumbling with an outdated newspaper.

"Phai and Alex are like really good friends dad." Callista mentioned.

"Great I'm glad you have a friend Phai." His father replied with sarcasm and the boy only rolled his eyes paying attention to the food in front of him.

"We told Alex you had a game and to go watch you play Phai. Did he show up?" the mother asked her son who was getting close to his second helping of already large buttermilk pancakes and a tall glass of orange juice.

"Yea, it was umm… a surprise." Phai had an overly happy look on his face.

"What I have met of him so far, he seems like a pretty decent kid, a little weird but decent." Said Amyntor drinking his coffee. It was always in his father's nature to observe and audit who his friends were.

"Oh, you've met him already?" Phai asked almost timidly.

"Yes. Why is that bad?" his father now looked upon him with suspicion towards his son's behavior.

"No reason." Phai was quick to answer and could see his father smirking behind his cup like he had already figured it out.

"Son you seem to be in a really good mood today? Care to share why?"

Phai shot his head up and his eyes were wide with fault. "No reason!"

"It's because Alex is back dad." Callista confirmed. "Duh. Where have you been lately?" She exited the kitchen with a plate of food and ran it up to her room leaving her brother speechless and desperately trying to hold in all signs that he was in love with his friend and in front of his parents was even harder.

"Ah, I see." Amyntor gave his son a cheesy grin before exiting the kitchen himself and patting his son on the shoulder.

"Mom what does he see?" Phai asked nervously with his mouth half full as if the food was too difficult to chew.

"I dunno. Your dad is just being weird like he always is. Doing nothing in the middle of a war will do that to you." She replied. "Ignore him."

"Right." The brunette stood from the table clearing his empty plate to the sink and headed back towards the stairs.

"Wait Phai!" his mother called him back.

"What mom?"

"Tolem called earlier and wanted to go over with you and the rest of your buddies the welcome back party for Alex."

"Thanks mom, I will call him back."

"Okay and chew your food please, don't want you to choke on it!"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cassy only kept his eyes on Phai as Tolem discussed out loud a proper welcome back party for Alex.

"We should have it at my place. My house is the biggest." Roxanne replied arrogantly.

Phai glared at her knowing what she was hinting at. Phai's family was wealthy but his house wasn't the biggest of the group and she saw that as poor. Infact she saw it as dirt poor.

"That's a good idea Roxanne." Tolem nodded while the dark haired girl smiled pompously.

Thais sighed dreadfully like she had seen a same move five times in the same day. "But we always go to your house Roxanne when we have parties. Besides I am over there twenty four seven watching you do your hair."

"We should do something more exciting. I agree." Leon said and Roxanne gave them both a mean glare.

The teens were hanging around the deck of the little pond after Tolem had gathered them.

"I say we rent out a place." Suggested Crater. "You know like a party room at a recreation center."

Phil agreed almost instantly. "Yea we can have a swimming party and see hot girls in bathing suits walk around. Good idea."

"This isn't a birthday party or a party to satisfy your own needs. This is a welcome back party for Alex." Tolem answered back.

"Are you saying that Alex wouldn't want to see hot girls in swimsuits? Where's the logic?" Cleitus intruded and plopped down onto the deck.

"I think Alex would enjoy a more private party. Besides that costs too much money." Phai answered responding to the recreation center idea.

"Well, well! The pretty boy finally speaks. What do you suggest then?" Crater responded defensively.

"Maybe we should take him out to a nice restaurant?' Thais said.

"Now that's boring." Roxanne responded hastily and the tomboyish girl shrugged it off.

"How about we have the party take place at your house Phai." Cassy interrupted. "I mean it's only convenient for the rest of us. Right next door, your mom loves Alex, not to mention you are really, really good friends with him." The snobby teen emphasized.

Phai shifted foot to foot in an uncomfortable posture but said nothing in return to Cassy only redirecting his eyes to the ground.

"That's another great idea!" Tolem announced excitedly. "Phai, it's brilliant!"

"Yea, I'm not so sure about it guys. Maybe we should just stick with Roxanne's house." Phai seemed unconvinced that it was a good plan.

"Why, what's the problem Phai, are your parents worried we will bring alcohol inside. Don't worry, we will sneak it in." Cleitus assured putting a tall piece of hay grass in his mouth to chew on.

"That has nothing to do with it Cleitus." Phai said while they all heard Leon randomly ask if Callista was going to be there but was ignored.

"Then what Phai, surely there has to be a valid reason as to why we can't do it at your place." The sharp green eyed boy smirked. He knew Phai didn't want him in his house concerned of what he might try to do.

"Speaking of the devil." Perdicas said. The group of friends turned to see Alex approaching them and it wasn't a surprise to any to see that Roxanne was the first up and over to him.

"Alex might as well keep a leash with him all times." Phil joked with Crater.

Phai looked over to Alex and back away leaning against the wooden barrier attached to the deck and suddenly felt like the outsider, not like he had ever been the insider. "We should just have the party out here then. I can distract him at my place while you guys set up."

The boys stopped and looked up at Phai like he should have suggested that in the first place.

"Now were talking." Leon uttered.

"Now that's excellent. A night party out here?" Tolem nudged Phai coming up by his side.

"Yea, he will like that." Phai replied solidly instinctively tugging on his own shirt.

"Not bad." Cassy sneered and Phai immidietely faced him for a long while with an unidentified expression but in his eyes articulated all the hate in the world.

"Okay guys here he comes, so don't mention it." Tolem advised and leaped over towards his girlfriend who was lying lazily on the ground.

"What are you guys doing?" The blonde had an amused smile on his face once approaching.

"Just talking and hanging." Roxanne said clinging to his arm and walking with him over to the deck where the rest were trying hard to act like they weren't hiding anything.

Cassy looked fascinated at the blonde and then back at Phai. He never had such a challenge until now.

"So what do you guys normally do on a lazy weekend?" Alex asked. "I just got done taking my dad for a walk. We should do something."

They all fell silent like it was the hardest question to answer. "Urm… shopping." Tolem replied a little on the slow side hinting to the rest that they still needed to go get Alex a present. "Yea, we shop all the time on Saturdays even if we don't necessarily bye anything."

Alex chortled. Tolem was still his same nerdy friend. "Sure sounds fun. Window shopping is a good touch."

"Great let's go!" Tolem rushed everybody and they all started heading out towards their homes to go get their parent's money.

Alex looked over at Phai who seemed despondent compared to the rest. "Hey Phai are you coming." Alex called over and when Phai turned to see him he smiled.

"Yea, I will be right there."

The blonde made sure the rest were a good distance from them before coming up to him.

Phai felt Alex slip behind him and his warm arms wrap around his waist twisting up his thin shirt. "I won't let them bother you. Come."

"How do you know what's bothering me?" Phai asked derisively trying to act like nothing was actually troubling him. "How can I be bothered when I had such a good night?"

"Because I know you and I know them." Alex was talking in the further sense of his visions.

Alex's lips curved up against his neck and kissed right under his ear lovingly and Phai smiled lightly while shutting his eyes. "What is this I feel?" the brunette asked meekly.

"I dunno, maybe love."

"Do you want to come over later tonight?"

"I don't think your dad likes me."

"He just thinks you're weird."

Alex smiled giving him his best playboy model voice. "Do you think I'm weird?"

Phai snickered and answered honestly. "Yea, you can be. Actually you always were."

"Okay then, it's a date at your house."

"You two coming?" they heard the sharp voice of Cassy.

"Come on Alex!" Roxanne yelled.

Alex and Phai parted quickly and of course saw the two people who were going to make their lives a living hell waiting for them.

They jogged up catching up with the rest and while Roxanne snatched Alex away Cassy walked by Phai's side. "So are you embarrassed to know me Phai."

The question came out of nowhere and Phai frowned in annoyance. "What are you talking about this time Cassy?"

"I have a feeling you are trying to keep from Alex our time in your bedroom."

"There's no reason to mention it because nothing happened."

"You're a liar."

Phai stopped. "Excuse me."

Cassy glared at him. "You are a liar." He defined plainly.

"So you still think I have feelings for you?"

Cassy came in close contact with him and his eyes stirred from where Alex and Roxanne were and back. "You know you're not as beautiful as you think you are."

Phai folded his arms gaining little patience. "Cassy I have no feelings for you, I never have."

Cassy grimaced evilly. "Patience is a virtue."

Cassy. Let me tell you something about Cassy. He's as sneaky as a mouse and quick at making moves. He lacks any sort of social skills and any amount of feelings towards anyone, and if he does indeed have any, he hides them very well. He's eager to express himself, very honest in his opinion of you and very jealous of me, for many reasons. But no reasons is as recognizable as the one he has for Phai.

I still don't know if he was ever in actual emotional love with Phai. He's admitted to his good looks and possibly possessed by his beauty but what it comes down to is that Cassy wanted to finally feel how it was to be me. In simplicity, Phai loved me and not him.

Cassy once told me that I had everything in life, so why couldn't I just give up Phai. He told me that I had no heart in me, that I was this invulnerable selfish person towards his feelings and that Phai deserved much better. In the small term better he meant himself. He told me that before he had no reason to think that of me when I was a shy kid until I became a man.

As much trouble as he has caused he's been my friend and general for as long as I can remember. We've had our arguments and fights but the one though I can never forgive even if the gods willed me too, is her. Roxanne. The Dark Queen. For what she does.

Alex glanced over at Cassy having what seemed like a very preoccupied discussion with Phai and saw the quick glint Cassy sent him. His body tensed up greatly like a breaking force which even had Roxanne detect and back away from him.

"Are you okay Alex?" she asked with concern as she saw the piercing stab in his eyes but he was quick to overcome it.

"Yea I'm fine." Before she could say another word he was already far ahead of her. She turned to see the cause of his sudden angst and felt a strong fury burrying in her soul.