When Skeletons Live

I jolted awake, regretting it the instant my eyes opened to harsh sunlight streaming in through a window I did not recognize. My head was pounding—I only had like six shots, granted I never asked what they were. I glanced around the room I was in, modern with a touch of masculinity. There were a few boxes piled up in the corner, leaving or newly arrived? Either way, I probably wouldn't ever see him again. I turned to my right, huh, an empty bed. I was usually the master of getting out before the other person woke up.

I sat up, rubbed my eyes and sucked up the initial moment of wanting to puke. I glanced around for my things, scattered all around the room—what the hell did we do—besides the obvious. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, that's when the bedroom door opened. My eyes went directly for his—green—oh my god, I knew those eyes. His own widened gaze let me know the acknowledgement was mutual. Talk about awkward.

“Morning Abe.”

I bit my lip and gave a slight nod. I glanced around the room again, eying my clothes spread about.

“Not getting shy on me now are you?”

I finally eyed the cup of steaming liquid in his hands, he noticed and gave it a slight wave.

“Unless that's for me, eff off Jim.”

He took the few steps from the doorway to his bed and offered me the cup of coffee. Black, just the way it needed to be. The first sip was vile but by my sixth it was beginning to feel divine. He sat down next to me and flopped down on his back.

“You know this creates a problem.”

I groaned into my cup, downing the rest. I placed it on the nightstand and turned to face him. Yes, it did create a problem, a huge one—one I didn't need.

“So what do you want me to do about it?”

He looked up at me—he shouldn't still look so tempting—and shrugged.

“Don't speak of this to anyone, do you know how much trouble we'd be in, I would be in?”

I rolled my eyes.

“How'd you even get in there last night? You're only sixteen and what the hell are you doing in a place like that to begin with?”

I stood up in my naked glory, blatantly observing the way his gaze drifted along my body. I took a few steps over to his dresser where my boxers had been flung. I slid them up my legs, watching him watch me. He so still wants me.

“You had to know who I was, you're the one that looks different. Charlie'd flip a lid if she realized who we ended up with last night.”

“Shit.”

I smirked at him as I gathered up the rest of my clothes.

“She's going to kill me, I blew her off for sex.”

I smirked at his obvious discomfort with that statement. Charlie, well she's a force to be reckoned with and Jim, Jim's been away for two years.

“Some brother you are.”

He groaned and sat up, staring at me intently. It was a weighted gaze, I could feel it seeping into my very core.

“What?”

He broke our gaze, glancing down at the floor then back up at me. He climbed to his feet and took the three steps it took to reach me.

“Can I try something?”

I nodded. He reached out and pulled me to him, pressing his lips against mine and wrapped his arms around me. It took me three seconds before I was responding, closing my eyes and putting my own arms around him, kissing back with just as much whatever this was. When we pulled apart he simply stood there, arms still around me, eyes shut and breathing hard. I bit my lip—this definitely complicated things. His cell phone interrupted whatever he was about to say.

“Shit.”

His eyes opened, wide and afraid. I recognized the song and the look on his face—guilt. He raced to his other nightstand and answered--Hey, baby, I miss you. That was all I needed to hear. I quickly threw my clothes on, double checked my pockets, I had my keys, and promptly left. No backwards glance, no falter in my step as he called out my name, just a huge slam of his apartment door.

-x-

“You're a hard guy to track down.”

I felt a hand ruffle my hair and a body slide down onto the ground beside me. A shoulder nudged my own and I finally glanced over at my solitude interrupter—Charlie.

“Jimmy wants to see you, says he's missed you. You are his favorite friend of mine. But talk to me, you've been out of it these past couple days. Ma wants you over for dinner ya know.”

I gazed out at the people passing us by on the sidewalk and sighed. Of course Jimmy wants to see me—he owes me, a lot.

“What time's dinner?”

She squealed and pulled me to her side in an awkward hug.

“Ten minutes actually, your dad said you were out here and sent me down to fetch you. So you coming up or what?”

I nodded and she let go of me and climbed to her feet. She offered me her hand and pulled me up. I dusted myself off and followed her back inside our apartment complex. We waved at Alfred, the doorman and headed through the lobby to the elevators. She hit the number for her floor and we went up. As soon as we made it to her door I took a deep breath, I didn't know what to expect.

“Abram Joseph, I know you have not ignored coming to see me these past few days. Get over here and give me some love young man!”

I grinned as I shut the door behind me and followed the voice into the kitchenette. I let the petite woman pull me in for a fierce hug and kiss my cheek.

“I'm even making your favorite, just 'cause I haven't seen you in a while. Jimmy's going to come by, he'll be here soon. What's got you in a funk pumpkin? You've only done this once before.”

Her voice quieted down with the last bit. She knew about the last time that she's referencing; she witnessed the aftermath.

“What's going on in here?”

She backed off, putting on a smile and turning to glance over my shoulder.

“Nothing Chuck, just giving Abe some much needed love. I've missed him. No disappearing on us like that again.”

There was a knock on the door and then it flung open.

“Ma, I'm home!”

I froze as the door slammed shut and footsteps hurried into the kitchenette. I forced a grin as Jimmy pulled his mom in for a hug, then as he and Charlie tackled each other in a fierce hug. He glanced at me over her shoulder and smiled. My stomach erupted in butterflies—the other night shouldn't have happened.

“Hey Abe.”

He walked over to me put his arm around my shoulder and then ruffled my hair. I bit back a scoff—I wasn't the little brother the other night while he was pounding into me. Charlie distracted him, catching up on the past two years of their lives. I got up and offered to help with dinner, stirring the sauce and adding spices that I thought needed adding. At some point Jimmy and Charlie disappeared, leaving me with their mom.