Ghost town

Ghost Town By: Jax Buchanan
11/ 22/1920
I was strolling outside when the two things decided to cycle on that lovely day that I experienced. The leaves changed and formed into crunchy brown ones, which is a very different look from their original green and I suppose soft look. The other cycle was winter. Winter began to make an entrance into my town. Only issue was, my town isn't the best." Everyone called it a "ghost town." where the cars are speeding to get from one place to another, with little to no law enforcement, and where you have to be a bit cautious about your neighbors. But it still has some of my favorite places to visit. The Shake Shop where everyone goes to hang out with their pals and where some creepy off-putting guys sit in the corner booth and smoke cigars while chugging beer and playing poker. Except I didn't have many friends so I sat in the bar part with the tall stools and drank my favorite milkshake, chocolate yum! I went to the shake shop twice every week and continued the same cycle. It was my favorite thing to do after my lousy job as a marketer. The office was always so stuffy and quiet except for the noise of typing or printing, nothing interesting, just boring, dry, empty noises. I have never really taken interest in many hobbies other than running because then I feel free and not stuffed into another office cubicle around other mindless folks. After my work hours, I would go home just to eat and run some then the cycle started over again, it was getting unbelievably bland and that's when I found The Shake Shop with the best damn chocolate shakes around. Yeah, food or great drinks can't solve your problems but the spirit of this place gave me more hope, always so colorful and the employees were active and grinning at the faces of other people. One day, I saw a man who looked around my age by himself at the bar. Damn, he was handsome but no one would approve and with that, I have never told anyone about who I like. Maybe one day there will be relationships where a man can kiss a man or a woman can kiss a woman and it's not judged by an angry mob of Christians or normies. But until then I sat silently trying to introduce myself to him at the bar.
"Hey" I spoke quietly.
"Hello there!" He responded with a grin. I was so drawn in by his adorable smile that he pointed out the milkshake split on me a bit. He laughed and told me
"imma go grab some napkins for you." Completely embarrassed, I simply told him "Thanks." God damn it that boy made me lose my train of thought. Then he comes back with the napkins leaning over to clean up the mess I've made and he comments
"Didn't catch your name, you are? I responded
"Oh! sorry I'm henry nice to meet you." It took a lot of napkins to clean up my mess. Goddamnit, I'm so clumsy as he made his way to throw them in the trash bin he replied smiling "Hello Henry, I'm Phillip nice to meet ya, I see you in here sometimes drinking your shake." I can't believe he would notice someone like me. I'm a friendless idiot and have no status whatsoever. So I comment flustered trying not to look at him
"Oh? Do you? Well, I come here twice a week to enjoy a chocolate shake." He thought that was interesting and slid me an address saying
"Well if you need a buddy I don't have many either you can send me some letters or drop by." And I said that's a possibility and lent him my address as well. Wow, he was so cool that I wish that his confidence could become mine instead of a twelve-year-old boy asking a girl out on a date for the first time. Jeez, I'm such a wimp. But I made my way home to get some rest after drinking the rest of what was left of my milkshake. The next day was Saturday, the day that is most haunting of all because there was nothing to do and boredom mocked me all day. But then I remembered the address in my pockets, wondering if it would be a good idea to hang out with Phillip. We just met. Would it be crazy? Or risky? Meh, probably not. I'm just overreacting and being scared again. My oddly shaped bike was leaning against the walls so I took it and started riding it down to Phillip's place. Holy shit the houses kept getting bigger the closer I got to his house 59, 61, 63, Aha! 65 Rainway Drive holy shit! He had a pretty nice house but it was a bit unsettling, I am too hesitant to knock on the door but before that happens- "Henry! You are here, nice to see you again, come in, come in." He says with enthusiasm.
"Alright hehe, hey- how ya doing?" I asked and he told me he was good and we settled off for the day. We had so much fun together going places like the park and seeing the beautiful scenery around us while I sat there admiring him looking like a total idiot. Maybe I was but this boy had me wrapped around his finger. How could someone not want a person as handsome as he is? They would be dumb not to be friends with him. A voice called out
"Hey hey, earth to henry." as soon as the voice came closer it made me realize I was spacing out for a while probably staring right at him, oh god I'm such an idiot ugh!
"Whoa- heh sorry about that my mind sorta drifted elsewhere for a bit." I told him embarrassed but trying to not make it obvious. He leaned closer to me and whispered in my ear "Seems like you were staring at someone." Phillip smirked. I was panicking so much it was very obvious and I was as red as a rose god damn that was so hot. Did he just do that?! Did he just do that!? "I wasn't staring! Y- you were." I pouted trying not to seem dumbfounded by this boy.
"Yeah hah sure bud if you say so." he pulled me closer than before, our lips almost touching my breath running rapidly near his then he moved away and said,
"That's what I thought." Phillip laughed and smirked after ditching me like that, damn he was teasing me what an asshole.
I mean does he like me? or is he just messing with me as so many people have done before? Just because I'm gay random people would pay someone 20$ to try and get them to ask me out, so how could I know if this was just another guy with bitchy friends pranking me.
"You're an asshole," I said quietly, standing there shaking. He stared at me and said,
"I know." He did not apologize for being a jerk which just made him more of one ugh, he had the hair and body of a god but the personality of an asshole. But I kinda liked that about him. I mean I am into people being rude toward me so what can I say he would be a perfect match. But there were many doubts I had because of what had happened in the past but maybe this time someone liked me. And he was amazing but yet sometimes such an idiot but that's what I loved so much about him he had a personality and looks no one can forget. After our date, he walked me back home because he said some areas were more dangerous than others. I told him he did not have to but he insisted. The next day I had to go back to my boring job and it was duller than the other days that were ever spent there.
"Hey, can you work overtime?" A voice said as my eyes glanced towards it, of course, it was Katrina, my boss on the most dreadful day asking me to work overtime.
"Oh sure, no problem," I responded. She had to have a good reason and I didn't want to trouble her and decline but my head was feeling rather fuzzy and I was not in the mood to do any more work. " Thank you so much, Henry, that's why you're my favorite!." She told me, smiling and walking away. But in fact, everyone there knew she said
"you're my favorite '' to anyone willing to take overtime. Everyone left and the place was dark and inactive and kinda creepy. Just 30 more minutes in this dump then I'm out of here I thought to myself. What felt like an eternity only lasted a good amount of minutes of my night. Typing, printing, filing, and more. When I was finally done I realized my bike was missing and remembered Phillip walked me home and I forgot it there guess I was too tired to notice I biked this morning to his house as well. Oh jeez what a wreck so I walked straight home, ran past the creepy parts, and found my bike sitting near the garage with a note saying "
Hey you left your bike dummy so I gave it back so it would not get stolen -Phillip." He had very nice writing and I was relieved to know that it was not stolen. I guess I owed him a thank you or even a surprise. I went to sleep late in the night and tried to call off for work the next day hanging upside down on my bed trying to sound sick. But I was just super exhausted and my job was not any better at keeping me awake with its boring bland cubicles and robot-like people. I was successful and my boss told me to get well soon. So I decided to make a necklace for him with the charms that were on my desk. I decided to head towards Phillips's house and offer him the necklace as thanks for returning my bike. On my way, it was already getting dark since it was fall and the days were getting shorter as time gets longer. As it got darker I was heading towards his house but had to cross the dangerous areas first. I heard a deep voice and saw a tall shadow creeping in the distance and from that came more. As one jumped in front of me with a knife he yelled
"STOP. Do. Not. Move..." All I felt were pairs of hands on my arms grabbing me tighter, pulling me to the ground with the knife to my throat. He said "Scream and I'll slice your throat". He reached his bulky arms towards my wallet and stole the cash then threw it in the dumpster that was in the alley. He took off with the others in a hurry, deeper into the darkness of the alley. My arms were bruised, my body was shaking, and I was all beat up but worst of all with no money. My house rent was due soon and me being stupid enough not to own a bank account finally got me that was all the money I owned. So I went back on my track towards Phillip's house and was concerned that my state would worry him. Limping slowly to his place and wondering what he would do when he saw me, his house was now in front of me. Knocking on his door was my bruised and busted hands when he took a peak from the hole he then opened the door wrapping me in his arms. I then felt very tired and passed out in his embrace. When I woke he was next to me staring worriedly as he examined my bruised body from head to toe but I did not tell him I had nowhere else to go. So I told him
"I was gonna give you this." Then I lent him the necklace with a sad glance, the only thing they haven't stolen. Phillip asked what happened. I said I was mugged by people within the alley then they ran and now there is no more cash. I can't make up my money right now so I am not allowed to enter my house. They stole all the money that I had. He understood and said he did not mind an extra guest cause he was pretty lonely. He wet some rags to put on my wounds so they would not get infected, it seems like he knows how to help people out when they get hurt. He said "Why were you going out that late at night? You know that there are dangerous areas around." Phillip commented, squeezing my hand and looking away. Knowing that's why I had chosen to stay here after getting attacked. But he was right. My sense of caution was not that great and made me feel more guilty. So I responded
"Yeah, I know, I'm probably bothering you. I'm so sorry I just wanted to thank you for your kind gesture." Making my way towards the door when he pulled me back and said,
"I told you it's fine if you stay here for a while plus, you have nowhere else to go and no one wants to see you more harmed then you already are." He said not letting my arm go. Man, he was dangerously worried it made him look so adorable, I mean, makes sense if it were him, worry would be the first thing on my mind. He has a spare room. He told me it's mine and he does not use it. I told him plopping onto the bed
"Thank you so much I would not have a place to go if it weren't for you." Phillip smiled and told me "The pleasure is mine. I haven't had anyone else over in a while, oh and by the way you are staying home tomorrow." He gave a forced look telling me to not leave until I get better.
"But I can't just stay in your house and not pay you the favor back in any way." I exchanged the glance he gave me before. He told me "I'm not letting you go back. I don't wanna force you but I won't let you get hurt." Phillip said laying next to me. The next day it was cold out, this early in the fall. That was quick. I checked to see where Phillip was and he was at the table eating breakfast. He told me to join and that a plate was made for me already. Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage, and a chocolate milkshake from Shake shack. Wow, this man knew how to make a killer breakfast. It was so good. He asked me
"How are the bruises and scrapes?" I responded,
"Much better now actually most of the scrapes are pretty much gone and the bruises are getting smaller." Phillip looked so relieved to find good news can't blame him. I commented
"I'm going to work now" and sprinted towards the door. He was already ahead of me and stopped me in my tracks.
"You seriously thought that was going to work." He chuckled and I never realized how tall he was but he made me feel super small compared to him. I hid my embarrassment and begged him
"But I can't just not help you- you have helped me so much just let me go to work." he replied
"No, if they hurt you before they will most likely try to do it again. I'm not trying to force you to stay but it's just safer this way." he said looking down at me. I told him I would stay but just because he was so fucking adorable when he had those sweet puppy eyes. Damn someone could get lost in those eyes. I forgot how red I was. Phillip teased
"What's wrong with you short tomato?" He smirked knowing what he was doing. I tried to move away so his height wouldn't intimidate me. As I was moving away from him I realized that I was staring at his adorable eyes because he kept repeating
"Earth to Henry are you there". As soon as I stopped staring into his gorgeous eyes I finally agreed to stay and went back to the table and finished my breakfast. There is a saying to not kiss the cook but I really hope there are some exceptions cause hot damn. He wanted me to stay and he made it clear it was kinda adorable the way he asked.