Alastor pulled out his keys and prepared to get his car started but another vehicle came speeding from around the corner. A cream colored convertible with strawberry pink streaks on the side. Just one glance at the car alone was how Alastor recognized the driver before he even made himself seen and the manner of which the car was being driven confirmed his assumption. When car was finally parked, it came a little too close to the sidewalk and knocked over a cart of fruit. This spurned the car's owner to come out in such a fit.

"Who put this damn fruit here?!" Per usual he would try to blame anyone or anything other than himself when he screwed up. "I'm alright if anyone's concerned!"

He had barely changed in appearance. Same Italian jet black hair bleached white, same tight and revealing clothes to show off his "flawless" body, same touch of feminine fashion to show that he had good taste, and same flamboyant manner whenever he walked. To those who just met him he was a total fruit basket but to Alastor he was literally his only friend. So instead of ignoring him like most people would, Alastor got out of the car to re-introduce himself to him.

"Good afternoon Angel." Alastor greeted with a smile.

The unusual man's rage turned to joy as soon as he saw his old, bespectacled friend.

"Alastor! Al! It's great to see ya!"

He would have hugged Alastor but Angel knew that other people's touch wasn't the man's forte.

"I was sure that the last time I would see you it would be at a trial hearing." Angel said.

"Oh no, don't tell me." Alastor said. "Your father got you in trouble with selling drugs again?"

"No. I moved out after high school. We all did . Arcangelo, Molly, and myself. We finally left the old man and never looked back."

"That's great. Is that when you moved here?"

"No. I moved here a year ago because I had footed involved with this guy named Travis. I wasn't really interested in him but I was lonely after Molly went off to college so I just hooked up with him for fun. But get this, not only was the freak married but when his wife caught us in the act, the son of a bitch told her that I had drugged him. Can you believe that?"

"Well knowing that he was married, yes."

"So next thing I know she's calling the cops and having me arrested for rape."

"How did you get out of that situation?"

"Lucky for me Travis was stupid enough to think that the police wouldn't run a drug test on him. He came up totally clean, charges were dropped, and last I heard he had a one way ticket to divorce court. But my reputation was officially ruined so I had to split town."

"No offense Angel but I don't think the reputation you had before the unknowing adultery, was anything prized by society."

"I know I'm talking about the fact that I slept with a married man. I'm talking about the fact that I slept with Travis in general. The man was no catch. He looked like something that was hit by a truck and then pissed on."

"So why the relationship with him?"

"As I said I was lonely. And sometimes when I get lonely I get desperate. But don't worry I learned my lesson. Never be desperate." He put a cigarette to his mouth and lit it. "But what about you? Have you gotten your lance dirty yet?"

"Angel!" Alastor blushed.

"I knew it. You still have your V card."

"Angel please do not start that again."

"I'm just curious, what's going on down there? Why hasn't it turned on yet?"

"I'm warning you Angel. If you don't stop I'm going to pretend I don't know you."

"Fine. Anyway I've decided to switch back to chicks for awhile. See if it'll work out better with them now than back in high school."

"Didn't you lose your virginity in high school? To a girl? What was her name?"

"Heather Downs."

"Yes that's her."

"She was captain of the cheer leading squad and the eleventh grade slut. She only went out with me to make her boyfriend jealous."

"I remember. I warned you about her. I told you that she had a boyfriend, that he was the star quarterback , and that he was on steroids. But did you listen?"

"No."

"And where did I find you the next day after the night of your first time?"

"Beaten, tied up, and jammed into a gym locker. Forced to look at your smug face."

"What can I say? I told you so."

"Nobody likes hearing that."

"But plenty love saying it."

Angel rolled his eyes and took another smoke.

"You know Al, you and I have the same problem."

"Oh? And what's that? No positive male role model?"

"Well yeah there's that but we share another problem. We both cannot seem to find that right person who was designed just for us. I mean think about it, neither one of us have ever had a really serious relationship. I mean yeah I've had good sex but none of my partners have ever really cared for me. It was all about sex for them."

"Wasn't it all about sex for you?"

"Yes but when you spend eleven years just doing it for sex you find that it gets really boring. I'm not looking for marriage mind you but I am aching for a little tenderness. But the point is we both want somebody but while I am trying too hard, you're not trying at all."

"Whatever gave you the idea that I want somebody?"

"Career Day, ninth grade, you were literally the only boy in the entire school who actually mentioned wanting to get married. You said your career was to be a radio host with a loving wife and children."

"That was ninth grade Angel. I don't want that anymore. Well I mean I still want to be a radio host but no marriage, no kids."

"Yeah right. You always wanted a big happy family. Something to make up for the one your psycho stepdad ruined."

"Beth is enough to make up for all of that."

"Oh yeah? And what happens when she grows up and leaves you to live her own life? You know she can't stay with you forever."

"I know that and when the time for to leave comes, I will be perfectly content living by myself. Human contact is not required for happiness."

"Tell that to the guy who got stranded alone on a deserted island and started talkin to a soccer ball."

"For once can we not talk about relationships? Why is it always relationships with you? Don't you have anything else in your life?"

"Fine. Here's something. You remember my novel? Exploring Different Desires? Well I showed it to my editor and she says that it has potential."

"Your editor? You don't have an editor."

"Yes I do."

Alastor looked at him skeptically.

"Alright I have Molly but she's majors in journalism and she knows this publicist who's looking for new material. If I can get my story to him and he likes it, I'll finally get my novel published. Problem is he's not willing to come down here to see it so I have to go where he is. Which is in New Jersey and I need a plane ticket."

"And?"

"And I can't afford one."

"I'm not giving you money."

"I wasn't going to ask you for money."

"No but you were thinking about doing it. I know how you work."

"Well maybe I would have asked for a few bills but the truth is I don't need your money. I have a job that pays very well."

"That's great. Where are you working?"

"You know that circus that's opened up here? I now work as their custodian."

"You mean you clean up after the animals?"

"Pretty much." Angel groaned. "Don't judge me, it was the only employment that would take me. Everyone else is suspicious because I have a record."

"Fair enough. So what's it like over there?"

"Not too bad. Just animals and people wearing weird costumes and make up, doing tricks that would mostly cause the average man excruciating pain. But really the only downside is my boss Val. The man is a major dick."

"You say that about a lot of men."

"Well I mean it this time. He's demanding, violent, acts really creepy, and he'll swipe my pay if I'm not careful."

"Carnies." Alastor said. "They're just not right."

"Well actually the other employees are okay. I haven't met all of them yet but they don't really seem as freaky as advertising plays them up to be. Maybe you should see one of their shows sometime."

"Not a good idea. I've just been hired by Rosie Calhoun and she's in competition with that circus."

"Oh yeah. I've met her. Nice lady but I wouldn't dare let her find out I'm working for Val. She might break every bone in my body, tie me up, and use me as shark bait."

"Has she ever done that to anyone before?"

"No but we never did find out what happened to that spy Valentino sent to pose as one of Rosie's waiters."

"Listen Angel I have to get back to Beth. She's been alone all day and hasn't really been able to have any fun yet."

"Okay. See you around Alastor."

"You too."