Desperate Measures (On Hold)

Chapter 6

He couldn't go home. His mom would question why he wasn't at work which meant coming up with another lie, leading to more questions. But he had a few hours to kill and didn't know what to do with himself. 

He decided to just walk around aimlessly, looking at the Christmas lights lighting up downtown before he couldn't stand the sight anymore and kept his gaze locked on the ground. He ended up walking down to the boardwalk. It was colder there, the ocean wind sweeping by him and bringing with it the salty scent of the sea. He leaned over the railing, watching the waves lap up against the pier.

He wasn't sure how long he stood there until he felt a presence behind him and looked over his shoulder. Julian stopped next to him, his strange green eyes focused on something in the distance. 

"What are you, following me?" Reese snapped.

"You're an awfully angry person, you know that?" 

As if proving Julian right, Reese's temper flared but he only looked back at the water. The truth was, he couldn't remember a time when he wasn't angry. Even since he was a kid... No, he remembered now. He wasn't always angry. He remembered being happy. But that was before. 

"Hey, I didn't mean it like that." Julian said, making Reese look at him again. "What are you doing out here, anyway?"

"Enjoying the view." 

Julian raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem like you're enjoying yourself."

"What's it matter to you? You've been stalking me since the coffee shop."

"If you must know, I come here every night after work. If anything, it seems like you're following me."

Reese was about to snap a retort when he noticed Julian's smile and realized he had only been teasing. He turned away. "I'll leave you to it then."

"I didn't say I minded the company."

Reese stopped and they settled into a comfortable silence. Reese couldn't help but steal glances at him every so often. He had never met anyone quite as beautiful as Julian. He had a unique beauty with his bright eyes contrasting against his darker skin. He had a large nose that others may have found unattractive but it paired well with his angular features. A light snow had fallen, resting in his hair and Reese shivered, realizing that he could probably go home now. 

"I should go." 

"Would you like a drive?"

Reese was about to nod. He hated taking the bus and he dreaded waiting around for it in this weather but he suddenly grew suspicious. "Are you trying to find out where I live?"

"It was just an offer. Besides, you know where I live."

That was true. When a particularly cold gust of wind blew by, Reese nodded and together they walked to where Julian had parked his car. Reese had never known car brands but he could tell this one was expensive and well kept. Again, he wondered what Julian did for work. Especially if he was only twenty-two. 

On the way home, Reese learned a bit about his music tastes. It seemed Julian liked a bit of everything from R&B, classical, country and rap. He had never met someone with such a diverse taste in music. 

"Where are you from?" Reese blurted. Every time Julian spoke, he detected a bit of accent that he couldn't place and the curiosity had gotten the best of him. 

"I've been living in Peru for the past few years but I'm originally from Nigeria. I only just moved here a month ago for work."

"What do you do?" 

"Careful or I might think you're interested." Reese was about to respond when he realized Julian was only teasing him. Again. 

He scowled. "I'm just curious."

"My father's a CEO. I work with him until he retires then I'll be taking over the company."

"Oh."

Julian cut him a glance. "Are you from here?"

"Yup."

"And you work at a coffee shop."

"Obviously."

"What do you like to do outside of that?"

Reese was about to say coke but didn't think Julian would appreciate the joke. Especially with how much truth it held. "I use to play football."

"Not anymore?"

Reese shook his head.

"What happened?"

Reese shrugged, indicating he didn't want to talk about it. Julian let the subject drop and a few moments later, they were pulling up to Reese's house. But before Reese could leave, Julian held out a piece of paper. Reese took it, reading the number scrawled across it. 

"Considering we keep bumping into each other." Julian smiled and Reese's heart did something funny in his chest. 

He left quickly, tucking the number into his pocket. He refused to let himself feel anything like that again. After all, it was only a matter of time before Julian realized how disgusting Reese was and wouldn't want anything to do with him.