Thomas

“You better stop this Amanda or I will interfere myself.” Dad commanded. Amanda looked shaken by the way dad stormed into her office. It’s not every day you see 2 black cars park on both entrances of The Devil’s Alley. Not to mention men in trench coats going inside past 2am.

Despite my constant self-promises to stop being indulged in such situations, I get dragged without trying. Though, this time, it was personal. I had to take matters in my own hands.

“I see my nephew is here” Aunt Amanda smiled cynically at me, which I returned with a scowl. I never liked aunt Amanda.

“Do not dodge my words sister, that never ended well when we were younger, won’t end well now” Dad threatened.

Her office reeked of the smell of burning ink and fresh paper.

We were at her main office in Wonder Works; also known as the place where you can get any official document faked.

“You think you can come to my office and throw threats at me like a mafia lord, Alfred?” Aunt Amanda, sarcastic as ever. No wonder my sister was so much like her.

“You’re gonna control your son, or I’ll let someone else control him”

“You know how he is! If I were able to control him I would have done that ages ago”

“I don’t care what he does, long as he stays away from-”

“Awe, he’s scaring your sweet boyfriend?” I hated that she used that term, and I hated that she used it in front of dad. I didn’t know where dad stood on me having interest in a guy, and I didn’t want to try dad.

“First of all, the boy is not my boyfriend,” I denied it for 3 reasons: one is that I don’t want to try dad like I said, two because I didn’t want him to be known as my boyfriend for they will try to hurt him more, and three he wasn’t my boyfriend.

“Your son is gonna end in a bullet, mark my words Amanda”

“What do you expect me to do, tie him up to the couch or something? He never listens and having so much power in his hands makes him listen even less.”

“Well just so you know, the kid is in my territory, and if your son ever thinks of trespassing, he will deal with my men, and when if the time comes, I’ll put a bullet in his head myself.”

No matter what happened, nothing was gonna hurt Raiden anymore, even if I had to take the bullets in my own chest.

<><><><><><>

“Aren’t you cold? It’s freezing out here” Raiden wasn’t even wearing a jacket, and it was chilly.

He looked away of his sketchpad and gave his surroundings a look around. “I didn’t even realise it had started snowing. Drawing takes my mind off everything” 

“Wooh Raiden sweetie, aren’t you cold?!” Maggie shuffled with her shawl and rubbed her hands together.

I smiled warmly at her. “I was just telling him the same thing”

“Don’t worry about me I’m fine” He stood up and dusted his pants, which actually had snow on it instead of dirt.

“Bullocks!” she said through foggy breath. Once Maggs was involved, there’s no stopping her. I gave her five minutes to have Raiden wrapped in a blanket with a hot chocolate in his hands.

That was what happened less than five later.

Raiden was in a pair of sweatpants of mine, because his jeans were wet with snow. Seeing him in it drove me crazy. He looked so cozy and comfy in a blanked and sweats, his hair was disheveled and the chimney illuminated his features and even though my eyes weren’t crying, my heart was.

If only I could tell you, how much I want to have you in my arms, Raiden.

We hung his pants next to the chimney for it to dry up faster.

"Can I use your phone please? I've been outside since I woke up and Aiden should be worried by now" Raiden asked coyly. He still was without a phone, and I can't stop imagining how the pile of cracked up phone parts in the corner of his bedroom happened.

"Of course."

I gave him my phone then my attention went to a knock on the cottage's door. It was strange because Maggie was in the kitchen, her husband was taking a nap, and Raiden and I were in this room. No one else comes here except-

"I knew I'd find you here" dad said. I smiled. Maggie's cottage was my favourite place in this whole establishment.

"I love this cottage" I said. His eyes shifted to Raiden, who was now by the window speaking to his brother.

"How's our Raiden doing?"

"Don't refer to him as 'our' he's not a property" I scowled. Dad liked to joke in inappropriate times. "And he's doing alright"

"Fine lad right there" dad added which urged me to ask him.

"Do you like him?" I asked courageously. With dads, you have to show that you're not scared or hesitant, and it always gets you where you want. "I mean as a person? Or a friend? Or a -"

"A boyfriend?"

My eyes widened. Dad and I never discussed relationships of any sorts. Not even when Rose and I were together. We didn't even have "the talk" or anything. He just wasn't the kind of father that has casual conversations or ask about your day. He had a really busy life and honestly I don't blame him.

"I mean-" I stuttered but dad took over the conversation again.

"Let me ask you the same question. Do you like him?"

I was looking at him the way I used to look at Rose, which both scared me and enticed me. I never thought I'd look at someone that way after her death.

"I got my answer son"

He took me outside where we were instantly hit by the cold atmosphere. The cottage was so warm.

"Are you disappointed with me?" I wanted to know where he stood. I didn't like not knowing.

"I would've been disappointed in you if you lead the guy on for nothing"

"What do you mean?"

We walked towards the edge of the cottage and then left into my garden. The small fountain in the corner was flowing despite the snow, curtesy of Maggie's husband. He knew his way around tools.

Dad cupped his hand and let the water flow into it. "you know... Love is like a river. It flows and flows inside of you. Sometimes things happen and you have to shut your emotions out. You build a dam and everything stops flowing. But love is water. A dam can hold it back only so much. Eventually the dam will crack, and the water will flow. Maybe slowly at first, but then it'll flow just like before."

His hand was turning blue so he removed it from underneath the fountain.

"I knew you had a thing for him the day we found him in the alley."

"Are you implying a cliché love-at-first-sight scenario?" I said.

"No. I don't believe in love at first sight. But I believe that sometimes your soul knows what it wants way before your mind catches on. The irony is that others notice it before you do." I hated dad's talks because they were always deeper than the grand canyon and held more folds than a stack of Maggie's pancakes.

"Blake won't hurt him anymore, right?"

Dad looked at me with a stern face. "If Blake even tries to lay a rose petal on him, I will hang him from his balls"

And that was the most vulgar thing dad has ever said. He trudged away from the cottage, his black coat following a second late behind.

Though with the right speed of wind, the coat would fly enough for you to see the gun tied to his waist.

First chapter of 2018! Merry New Year for everyone! Don't forget to vote. We need to get this story ranked. #hmh #rivertown