Hurt

I glare at him, swiping my eyes down his half naked body.

"What a surprise, really." He cocks a sly grin, laughing.

"Oh. shut up. I was kicked out and this is kind of the only place I know where to go." I shift on my heels. His face lights up a bit, the metal in his mouth and eyebrow glinting in the dim light shining through his door from the lamp that was sitting on the end table next to his couch.

"Well, by all means, come in," he replies and opens the door. "You know, I don't usually do this for people I just met three hours ago." He laughs as I set my suitcase by his couch, him going into his small kitchen to get a glass of water.

"Yeah, well I don't usually ask assholes to live with them, but beggars can't be choosers, right?" I sigh and unzip my suitcase, grabbing my laptop out of it.

"You seriously think I am going to let you sleep on my clean couch, with your dirty clothes?" He gets serious now, walking over to me and setting his glass on a coaster on his wooden coffee table.

"Yeah..? Where else would I sleep?" I snark.

"You could sleep outside," he adds, correcting himself. "But you will need to take a damn shower, dude. My house is clean, and I won't have it be dirty again. You got that?" He then raises his eyebrow, flexing his biceps out of habit.

"Yeah, whatever." I sigh and get up. "Bathroom?"

He points down the hall. "Right in there."

I walk in there and close the door, looking at my new bathroom. It was bigger than I expected for an apartment, and cleaner. The shower curtain was all black, and there was a small mirror on the wall. The sink top had two sinks, almost as if it was for a couple or something. I shake my head and strip off, my shower running.

I spend my shower thinking about my mother and how she will survive on her own. How she will do anything on her own, really. It is no problem that concerns me, but still. She really can't be this stupid, to kick me out and all. I mean-

"Hurry up, newbie. My hot water's a privilege... Not a luxury. Get out." His fist hit the door three times in loud thuds and I jump.

I turn the water off and dry off, changing into some sweats and a Metallica shirt. I walk out and sit down on the couch, fixating my glasses on my face while I get my laptop open, logging on and searching for apartments.

"So, you don't want to stay here with ol' Harry?" He grins and sits back down on his chair.

"Can you please put some pants on?" 'It's distracting..' I snap, but just say the last part in my head.

"This is my house, not yours. So cool it, man. You don't want to see me half naked, then don't live here. It's fucking simple as shit." He gets up, slamming his glass of water down so that it spills over the rim of the glass and onto his wood floors.

"You can clean that shit up, I'm going to bed." He growls and disappears into the hallway, all of his lights still on.

I cross my legs and shake my head. "Unbelievable. My first night here and he is already a douche." I whisper to myself and look through my list of apartments that I bookmarked. My eyes started to get heavy and started to droop, so I closed my laptop and took my shirt off, folding it in my bag and zipping it, drifting off to sleep by staring at the ceiling tiles.

*The next morning*

h a r r y

"Newbie." I shake him.

"Get the fuck up, newbie." He groans and turns over, his bear back showing to me.

"Michael, whatever your name is, get up. I am going to work." He turns over and looks up at me.

"Okay..? Why the fuck do I need to know that?" He groans and rolls back over, bringing his knees to his chest.

"Nothing.. Uh, nevermind.." I sigh and open the door, wading down the metal staircase and into the bar area.

"Thanks, Athena. You can drop now." She nods and leaves, and I grasp her towel in my hand wiping off the bar top as the door opens.

"So, you are working again, eh?" I glare and keep wiping the bar top.

"Harry, you don't have to ignore me, you know.." The voice fades out as the person sits at a table out on the floor.

"Harry, stop ignoring me. You know that we are something and that we are both you know, meant for each other. Don't doubt your sixth sense." He laughs.

I turn around and fix the crooked alcohol bottles, my face turning a little red from the anger that is boiling up inside. He walks behind the bar, putting his hand on my shoulder. I look over at his hand and bite my lip, preventing me from beating the shit out of him.

"Only employees are allowed back here, sir. I will have to ask you to exit the premises." I flinch away from his touch, walking out to the tables and cleaning them off with the wet towel I was using before on the bar. He follows me and pleas for him to stay.

"No, you know what, Lance? Just get the fuck out. Like, seriously. Nobody here is enjoying your presence and there is no point in wasting your breath on something that will never happen, God you're pathetic. You are so fucking-" Before I could finish, he has me pushed against a wall, his forearm on my neck so my breathing is paralyzed for a moment.

"You listen here, Harold. I really don't care if you don't want my presence here. I will come to this damn bar if I fucking want to," He snarks. "You are not the damn police. You are scum. That's it." And with that, he spits on me, letting me go.

"Fuck you, Lance." I walk away and cuss to myself because I know he is stronger than me, and I can't just strangle him because he would beat the shit out of me.

When I look up at the staircase, Michael is standing there, with wide eyes and a mouth that is touching the floor.

Notes

n e w c h a p t e r .

enjoy guise.

w i t h l o v e .

gracee x x