Aurora Borealis

As the two friends began their trek back to the Frobisher Inn, Zack turned to face Jack. He was smiling weirdly, and Jack couldn't tell if it was a smirk or a genuine smile.

"Is this what you came here for?" The more athletic of the two asked. "To hook up with boys, go on dates with them, and then once they hopelessly fall in love with you, you'll leave them to go on your next big adventure?" He was being sarcastic, of course, and Jack knew this. But for some reason, the handsome man couldn't help but be a little bit hurt. He was insulted that his friend would even think so little of him, let alone attempt to be humorous with the concept. But he didn't make this vocal. Instead, he rolled his eyes.

"You're a piece of shit, ya know?" He retorted.

Zack grinned stupidly. "I'm only asking." They were silent for a few moments after that, as they walked slowly back to their hotel. Jack didn't say anything for some time, not knowing what he should say. Finally, as they were just rounding the corner of Astro Hill, Jack spoke up once more.

"Do you think that this is a bad idea?" He asked, suddenly worried. Zack looked at him, his eyebrows raised.

"That what is a bad idea? This entire trip? Yes."

"No, no." Jack shook his head, a little perplexed with his friend's sarcasm. Usually, the raven-haired man would have found it amusing. But his anxiety inhibited him from appreciating any of Zack's whit or charm. "I mean do you think it's a bad idea that I go out this kid?"

"The Alex one?"

"Yeah."

"Do you really want to go on this date?"

"I mean... kind of."

"So, if you want to, then yeah, do it. But I'm just saying, it would suck for him to get attached to you, only for you to leave the territory on your next big adventure."

"Well, yeah, but..." The man thought about it, and he wondered whether or not he was even romantically attracted to Alex. There was definitely a sexual chemistry between them, and he wouldn't deny that he was curious about the artist. Despite this, Jack wasn't sure if curiosity was truly equivalent to romance. He had never had a serious relationship with somebody before. He was a complete novice to these new feelings, and he was at a loss as to how he should be processing these sentiments.

"But what?" Zack inquired, after a few long seconds of silence from his friend.

"I don't even know if I'm romantically attracted to him. I mean, he's kinda strange, and I like strange people, but that doesn't mean that we'll end up in something long term."

There was more silence, Zack letting his mind digest the words that Jack had spoken, and trying to come up with an appropriate response. He shrugged his shoulders eventually, not having any definitive opinions or helpful answers. "Do what you want, then." He said. They didn't speak any more about the issue afterwards. It seemed that that was the conclusion, no matter how anti-climactic it was.

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Alex had been sitting in a chair at Tim Hortons for the past 10 minutes, holding his warm cup of coffee, and letting the heat from the cup permeate through his hands. He was alone, at a small table for two by the window, waiting for Jack. He was surprised to have even found himself there; he nearly decided not to show. After he had returned home, he had debated with himself for hours, wondering if he should show to the coffee shop and meet with the handsome yet arrogant man. He thought about it as he walked his dog, as he began a new soapstone carving, as he watched TV, as he did anything. On the one hand, he had felt mainly disrespected by Jack ever since he met him, and the stranger vaguely reminded him of someone he once knew about a year ago. Alex couldn't explain why. Perhaps it was the dark hair, or the pierced ears, or maybe it was his crooked, cynical smile. Alex vowed to never get close to someone like that again after last year's series of events. He wasn't prepared to break that vow.

In truth, he had more reason not to show up than he did reasons to show up. Tonraq used to tell him to always trust in his instincts. If his intuition ever told him that there was something sinister within a person, or that nothing but bad karma would come from an accepted invitation, the old man would say to listen to it. Alex smiled slightly, remembering what Tonraq had once said to him with a sort of stern kindness.

"Follow it with blind faith," he had said, and then he laughed "otherwise, you might end up like me."

The last time he ignored the Wise Proverb of Tonraq, it had not ended well for him. And yet, despite all of his anxiety and trust in the teachings of his mentor, he still found himself in Tim Hortons. Even as he had sat down, he considered leaving. But he remained where he sat nevertheless, and waited patiently for Jack's arrival. Eventually that said man, albeit quite late, did in fact arrive to the coffee shop. He searched the perimeter of the restaurant, his eyes finally falling on Alex. He grinned, and walked over to join him.

"So you finally decided to bless me with your presence?" Alex spoke up, trying to match Jack's cocky smile.

Jack shrugged, attempting to act nonchalant, though he truly looked apologetic. "What can I say? You don't just wake up with stunning beauty such as mine. You could say that I'm fashionably late."

Alex smiled again, and even snickered lightly. Jack, in fact, was anything but fashionably late. He was in the same attire he had worn to his art show; tattered work boots, light blue jeans, a black t-shirt that appeared as if it should have been ironed weeks ago. But even as the brunet took in the older man's overly casual appearance, he couldn't deny that there was something comical, maybe even charming, in Jack's simplicity.

"I can tell. Your shirt definitely screams 'fashionista' to me" He chuckled, deciding to play along Jack's joke.

"So does your oversized flannel." Jack said, grinning devilishly.

"At least I ironed it before I got here."

Jack feigned shock and gasped, putting his right hand over his heart. "You went through all of that trouble for me? I'm so flattered."

A light shade of rouge tainted the younger's pale cheeks, and he giggled shyly. His previous concerns and anxieties seemed to settle gradually. His heart rate slowed, and his muscles loosened. Jack had a strange, somewhat unnerving effect on him. The thought of him made the brunet's stomach twist and turn, and the memory of the night they had spent together last weekend brought him nothing but shame. And yet, he couldn't help but come back for more. That same hubris and sly attitude that angered him also held a funny winsome and alluring quality. Whenever he was around him, the older man always somehow managed to make him feel calm, even relaxed. Jack was just so strange. But then again, so was Alex.

"Tell me about yourself." Jack said, pulling Alex out of his thoughts.

The younger man shrugged. "There's not a whole lot to say."

"I don't believe that."

"Well, why don't you tell me about yourself."

Jack grinned, sensing that Alex was trying to challenge him. He sat up straighter before he spoke. "Ok. I'm from Florida, and I absolutely hate the sun. That's kinda the reason why I came to Nunavut, besides the fact that I've never seen a whole lot of the world."

"Why do you hate the sun?" The artist inquired.

"Too hot. Too bright. Too gross."

Alex nodded, though his face showed that he disagreed. "Fair enough. What else?"

"I like the colour black, like to get drunk sometimes... That's kinda it."

"I feel like there's more to you than just that."

"Maybe, but I'm the mysterious enigma from a foreign land, so you'll have to find out the rest yourself." His smile grew wider, showing his teeth. "But now you need to tell me all about you. That's how this works. How'd you become an artist?" Jack asked.

"I've always been into art. I went to college for it and everything. I kinda just started by selling some stuff online and developing a little following on instagram. Eventually, I started showing my work in galleries. It all just kinda happened naturally."

The older man smiled. "That's pretty cool. Do you make good money selling art?"

Alex shrugged, taking a sip from his coffee. "It really depends." He started. "Sometimes I won't sell more than 2 art pieces in a week, so I won't get a whole lot of income. Other times, I can sell up to 6 things, usually online, and on top of that I do commissions. So my income and profit varies."

Jack nodded, taking in everything the brunet was saying. "So do you think you're gonna make and sell art full time then? Is it a career for you?"

"I hope I can make it last that long. This is my dream. It took me a while to make this a job."

"I'm sure you'll do fine. You're a really good artist."

Their conversation and laughter continued throughout the night, and both men felt they had a new understanding about the other. Eventually, when it reached nine o'clock, a Tim Horton's employee informed them that the shop was closing in 30 minutes. It almost hurt for Alex to admit that he was disappointed their time was coming to an end, but in another sense, he was glad he'd be able to get home soon. The two men were going to go their separate ways outside of the coffee shop, but then Jack suddenly had an idea.

"Can I walk you home?" He asked the younger, watching the other man get flustered.

"Um, I suppose... It's a little ways away." Alex stammered.

Jack shrugged. "That's fine, I don't mind at all."

"O-ok, I guess. If you want."

The two took off walking to Alex's apartment building. When they arrived, right before he was to open the door of the complex, the artist turned to Jack to bid him goodnight. Jack smiled at him, and lightly grabbed the artist's shoulders.

"Can I try something?" He asked, and Alex nodded nervously.

The kiss they shared was slow, leisurely and unhurried. Alex's stomach churned, and his heart felt like it could have broken through his ribs, but he didn't pull away. He didn't want to pull away. He didn't feel repulsed by Jack's forwardness, and this kiss wasn't like their first one, which was full of nothing but lust, the fight for power, and intoxication. It had no motive to go further, and held no other purpose or meaning greater than itself. It was only a kiss, and that was just the way that Alex wanted it.