Leather & Chains 1987

Page 42

"Is mom okay?" Laddie had made a weird face, "I'm not sure, she's just staring off..."

"Oh no," Marcie looked at him concerned, "what?"

"It's a mid-life crisis."

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"Where the hell did you two go?" I walked across the boardwalk looking for Paul and Marko after they disappeared, "Marko, Dwayne!?" I looked to the side, looking out at the beach annoyed, "how the fuck do I lose two grown men," I stopped after bumping into someone, "Oh I'm so sorry I wasn't looking," I blurted out my words in a haste as I turned to face forward, "oh my..." My name fell from his mouth and my shock turned into a bone chilling sense, "Rune?" I gulped subtly pinching the side of my leg almost like it was a TV show and I would wake up from a fake dream. "Alan?"

He mumbled some words trying to speak, "you're here." I blinked a few times before my face twisted slightly, "what, why are you, Alan?" He scratched the back of his neck, "surprise I guess," my eyes turned a little teary, "how are you," he interrupted putting his hands up to stop me, "it's a bit of a story, I uhm, I turned a few years after you did." I shook my head baffled, my hands a bit fidgety, "I turned in 1987 Alan," he licked his lips looking to the side for a second, "I know, I know," I pushed his shoulder, "how the hell did this happen? Look at you."

"Edgar and I, after our parents moved us we started hunting, for real this time, well at that time we started hunting for real..." I felt sad for him, he looked the exact same, like he was still seventeen and I knew he never wanted to be like us in the first place, "there was this big coven rave type party situation, hard to explain. Basically I was forced to drink from some guy and I turned, Edgar, didn't make it." I licked my lips and shook my head, "so what are you doing here?" I looked at him in absolute confusion and shock, "what am I doing here?" He nodded, "Sam said you left a long time ago, didn't know where you were..." I shook my head overwhelmed, "I was visiting with Laddie... It doesn't matter, what the fuck Alan? You're dead and you ask what I am doing here? Seriously."

"It's okay Rune," I smacked his arm, "no it's not, you're supposed to be an old man right now with like eight kids Alan, not here looking like this." He pocketed his hands, "I didn't have a choice." I felt bad suddenly, sighing I calmed down, "sorry I just, if you turned? When you turned, why didn't you tell me?"

"I couldn't, I lost contact with Sam right before all this happened, I couldn't have," I nodded, biting the inside of my cheek at the thought of my next question, "And Edgar? How did it happen, was it bad?" He nodded, "it got nasty really quick, there were drugs mixed with blood, had to be over thirty fangs in there, it was a lot... He died because of me." I furrowed my brows, "it couldn't be your fault, Alan it's," he interrupted me quickly with clenched hands stuffed away left unseen, "they kidnapped me and he was only there to find me." I looked down before stepping forward slowly, "I am so sorry Alan..." I hugged him and he pulled his hands from his pocket to wrap around me in an embrace, "it's okay, it was a long time ago," I nestled my face into his shoulder, "it's not though Alan," he tightened his hold, "I know... I know"

"I missed you... You smell really good though." I smiled, huffing a teary laugh, "I know, I always do," he smiled against my hair, "do you still carry candy in your pockets?" I scoffed, "I raised a kid, no chance." He made an 'ahh' sound, "how is the uh," I rolled my eyes, "Laddie? He's fine, has a girlfriend, she's super sweet, really cute, really nice hair..." He laughed at that, "still obsessed with hair huh?" I pulled away, "old habits die hard, you would know wouldn't you?" I fingered his dog tags and he pulled my hand away, his free hand holding itself above me against the light post we stood under, "hey, how come you're here huh?" He licked his lips looking down at me, he was a bit taller than I remembered, "I felt like I had to come back, I'm not sure, I got here a few days ago... Why are you?" I tilted my head observing his face, "Laddie wanted to see his home, show Marcie where he was from. We got here a few hours ago..."

"So, why did you leave?" I bit my lip, shifting under his gaze, "long story, David basically replaced me, so I left," his eyes are flicking between my own and I started realizing I feel embarrassed making my body warm up a few degrees as I turned a bit shy in front of him. "Dick," I nodded agreeing with him, looking over his features with a few glances, his brown hair fluffy and dark like his eyes that were still warm and deep, his skin was still tan and the heat he produced was warming my front with how close he stood, "so, comic books?" He didn't say anything, didn't laugh or smile, it was like he didn't hear me say anything at all, "Alan?"

I was so close to just poking him or waving my hand in front of his face to catch his attention when he leaned down suddenly, his hand on the pole bracing himself as his free hand grabbed my cheek. He kissed me and I froze, slowly warming up to it and wrapping my own arms around his neck as a zap of electricity or something struck my entire being underneath my skin. I kissed him back and his arms moved, pulling me closer by the waist as my own moved, my hands coming to rest on his cheeks.