Behind The Mask

Chapter 33

I can't help wrinkling my nose as we walk into the apartment that smells of damp mold and moth balls. To no surprise, the dishes in the kitchen is stacked high enough to prove that nothing must have been washed in at least two weeks, and the couch seems to have seen better days with the sponge sticking out at weird angles like a rat, or rats might have gotten to it.

"There's only the one bed," Chris says, gesturing to a bed behind a washed out curtain hanging from nails in the ceiling. The entire apartment seems to not be much more than the room we are standing in, with curtains and a counter partitioning off the different 'rooms'.

"You can sleep with me on it. Head to toes or something. The couch is the other option, but it's lumpy," Chris makes himself heard again before I can even answer him. "Not much to look at, but it's warm and dry."

I eye the double bed, which seems to be the only thing in the apartment that looks kinda clean, and at least a little comfortable.

"I think I'll be fine on the couch," I say as I wipe away a few crumbs from the once-upon-a-time-pink material of the couch that seems to have become a weird mauve colour over the years of its plain existence.

"Suit yourself. But like I said, it's lumpy," he answers walking into the idea of a kitchen to get two beers out of the fridge before returning and taking a seat in front of me on the coffee table, holding out one of the beers to me.

"I don't drink," I almost whisper.

"It's just a beer buddy," he mumbles, pressing the cold tin into my hands before taking a huge gulp from his own. "So, you and E.J. going steady then? I should have known he would want someone with a damaged face. Maybe if I'd known I would have melted my skin away as well."

I look at Chris, trying to see if he is joking, just honest, or trying to insult me, but nothing in his face gives him away. His stare has been blank ever since he picked me up at the park. Stone-cold, as if he has no emotions at all.

"I really love E.J. It's the only reason why I am helping you," Chris offers up another sentence.

"I appreciate it," I mutter, pulling out my phone, whilst simultaneously putting the beer down next to Chris, checking if I have maybe had a text again, but apart from a few notifications from YouTube and Instagram, there is nothing noteworthy to see.

"Well, my house is your house now I guess. The geyser is on the fritz, so it's cold water for the time being. The kettle broke a while back, so you can cook the water on the hotplate. And I leave at seven in the morning for work. Need to be there for all the hot guys coming in for their coffee before and after gym," Chris says with a grimace, getting up from the coffee table and making his way over to the makeshift bedroom.

He tosses a pillow to me which I catch, and then a blanket which I miss and have landed on the carpet next to me.

"Is there something I can do to thank you for your help?" I ask.

"Like what? Suck my dick?" Chris says with yet another grimace.

"I was more thinking getting us some takeout for tonight or something?" I answer, trying to ignore Chris' smug words.

"Sure," he answers before falling down on the bed. "This is fucktup you know."

"What is?" I ask as I order us some pizza, only looking up in between to see Chris emptying his can of beer and walking over to the kitchen to get another one.

"This entire fucktup situation. You know, I've known E.J. since forever," he mutters, opening his second beer and taking another deep gulp before putting it down and pulling off his shirt. "I have tried everything. Told him since forever that I love him. But he keeps on picking the creeps. Guys who can't love him the way I do."