Chapter Two - Breakdown

Convivencia:

(n.) lit. "Living together", in the sense of living or working closely with other people with whom you share feelings, desires, or a common purpose.

Chapter Two – Breakdown

----------

It wasn't until the boy had left my office that I finally realized what I had done. Not only had I put off all of my other appointments, I had also promised him that I would come by his house. And all just because he had the face of an angel; sweet and soft.

I don't know why he had affected me so much by just looking at me, but I somehow agreed to him. Never before had I offered someone to come by myself and to see what was wrong with this person's products. And how was I going to tell Charlotte that I was going to be late because of a client that wanted me home. Surely she wouldn't mind it one bit, neither if it was a girl or a guy. But the thought made me uneasy.

Why am I even thinking about this? I'm surrounded by men and women all the time, almost literally 24/7. The clearing of a throat makes me look up at my secretary and I give her an apologetic look as she waves my schedule at me.

'What were you thinking when you threw your whole agenda around so you could go by him yourself, sir?' Her voice sounds patient and understanding as ever and I can't help but give her a cheeky reply.

'You don't work enough Grace, I thought I would make things interesting for you if I canceled everything.' Her only reply is the shake of her head as she walks out of my office with a smile on her face. As if Charlotte knew what was happening my phone rings and I immediately pick it up as I see her name flashing on the screen.

'Good morning sweetheart,' I say to her as I put the phone to my ear.

'Oh Alexander! You will never guess what just happened to me!' Charlotte's voice seems excited and I can just imagine her jumping all over the place.

'I cannot guess it indeed, but I am guessing you're going to tell me, not?' I can almost hear her rolling her eyes and I let out a chuckle as she lets out a frustrated sigh.

'You're so funny.' She mumbles sarcastically, but her mood changes immediately when she starts telling me about what just happened to her.

'My boss just walked into my office, Jared you know, the one with the big nose? Well, he offered me to come with him to a conference in New York.'

I look around my office in confusion, Charlotte has never been one who likes to travel or get away from home.

'How nice sweetie and what did you say?' I try to keep my voice as light as possible, as if I'm not looking anything after her boss's question.

'I said yes. I mean, I don't like travelling, but this is an amazing opportunity. I just wanted to check if it's okay?'

I don't even know how to respond to her, I actually don't want her to go. It will be weird to be alone in the house, while not being able to do anything except from watching TV. Usually I spend my nights with her, playing stupid family games and watching soaps.

'Of course it's okay. It will be great, I am sure of it. When will you be going?' I am surprised by my answer, I don't seem to have a filter today.

'Thank you! Umm, this evening actually and then we'll come back within five days.'

Charlotte seems genuinely happy with this and I wouldn't want to be the one who would ruin it for her. I seriously need to con-sider searching for hobbies though, since I really don't do any-thing with my life

'That's great baby I'll have to go now, but I will see you around six. Love you.' She replies back with a simple love you and with that I place my phone back on my desk.

I let out a frustrated sigh as I open my agenda and see how much I still have to do today.

---

A knock on the door makes me look up from my computer, my eyes are a bit unfocused as I have been watching to the screen for over five hours.

'Come in,' I say as Grace's head sticks through the door.

'It's five sir, I think it's time to go home.' Grace says before disappearing again. She always lets me know when it's five since I always forget the time when I'm working.

I make sure to put everything away before standing up and get-ting everything together for departure. As I walk into the hall I say my goodbye to Grace and some other colleagues, before making my way downstairs.

In no time I'm at the front door of my house and for the first time in a long while I take a deep breath before opening the door. I just don't want to fight about something we don't need to fight for.

She needs to go to a conference with a creepy guy that always tries to take advantage of her. But it's for work, I remind myself. I am very careful as it comes down to Charlotte's safety. I will never put her in danger on purpose and I will never let anyone hurt her.

Before I can open the door, it opens on itself and a cheerful looking Charlotte stares at me with a bit of confusion.

'Why are you standing outside?' Her question seems a bit rhetorical, because she turns around without waiting for an answer and walks back inside.

I slowly follow her and it's not until I'm in the living room that my patience begins to slip. That stupid bastard, Jared her boss, he's sitting in my living room, on my couch. I put my suitcase next to the door and kick off my shoes, all the while I don't take my eyes off of him. Though he seems oblivious to my burning gaze. Despite my harsh feelings towards him I try to be as nice to him as possible.

'Good afternoon, Jared. I hope you'll take good care of my Charlotte. Otherwise I'd have to hunt you down and shove you head so far up-' I don't even know if it's a luckily or unfortunately that Charlotte walks in, but I don't put much thought in to it.

'We'll be going Oliver, will you pick me up from the airport once I'm back?' She asks sweetly as she walks over to me. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her a bit tighter against me.

'Of course, love.' I respond before pushing my lips on hers.

I almost let out a growl of annoyance as I hear Jared clearing his throat and I slowly pull away. Charlotte turns around, picks her bag up and walks back over to me.

'See you soon,' she says before walking out of the house with Jared following her like a lost puppy. As the door closes I let out a frustrated sigh and run my hands through my hair, tugging at the ends frustrated. I quickly walk to the bedroom and pull my clothes off, leaving me in just my boxers. I carelessly throw every-thing on the ground and pull a pair of fresh clothes from my drawers.

In a pair of ugly, worn-out sweatpants and a way too small shirt I walk back into the living room. I pick up today's newspaper and roll it up while strolling into the kitchen. Within half an hour I'm seated at the bar in our kitchen with a plate of pasta in front of me. While chewing the pasta I open the paper and I almost choke as I see the header of today.

'Gay boy gets killed, God will punish the ones who sin.'

It almost shouldn't surprise me anymore that things like this appear in the local paper, since this place is homophobic as hell. Oklahoma has never been very 'gay-friendly', especially in the region we live. And still I don't think it's so bad as people make it out to be. Maybe it's because I don't believe in God, but probably be-cause I feel like I'm human.

As I read on I get more and more uncomfortable and my eyes almost sting with tears as I look at the pictures. A boy lays on the ground, his skin as pale as ever. His eyes are dull and the blood on his body covers the fact that he's just like me, just like any boy who lives here.

I push my plate away, my hunger lost, and throw the paper on the ground. I try to forget about the image that keeps coming back to me.

I stand up and walk into my small office where I immediately walk up to my desk. With shaking hands I pull open the drawers and push everything aside until I see what I'm looking for. I pull the packet of cigarettes out of it and look for the lighter on the other side of the desk.

As I gather them I run outside and I take a deep breath from the fresh air. It somehow feels as if I was suffocating inside those walls. Pulling one cigarette from the package I put it between my lips and throw the rest on the ground, I'll make the evidence dis-appear before Charlotte gets back.

I put it on with the lighter and take a deep breath, inhaling the smoke into my lungs. The almost burning feeling relaxes me and I sag onto the ground, scraping my bag against the harsh stone of the house.

Maybe I'm worrying about nothing and I should just accept that this happens, but then again I really don't want to. I have already lost too many people in my life and I have seen too many people be killed because of this.

I take another deep inhalation of smoke before resting my head back against the wall, I am too frustrated to think right now.

----------

A/N: So... how do you like it so far?

I am eternally grateful for your comments and votes, it means a lot to me to see that people are actually reading this! So please leave one behind?

Words: 1752

~Noortje ^^