Abandoned Tracks

Chapter Twenty Four: Shadows from the past

Arianna went downstairs and found Ethan's mother bustling around the kitchen. "Aunt, Ethan said he wants to sleep a bit more and have his breakfast later with Alex," she informed her.

Ethan’s mother paused and smiled warmly. "Oh dear, if Ethan says he'll sleep a bit more in the morning, it means he'll probably wake up at lunchtime. You just wait and see," she said with a knowing grin.

Arianna smiled back, though a bit disappointed. "Then why don't we have our breakfast first?" she suggested.

"Of course, let's not wait on them," Ethan's mother agreed, leading the way to the dining table.

Everyone took their seats and began enjoying the breakfast spread, which included freshly baked bread, scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, fresh fruit, and steaming coffee. The table buzzed with light-hearted conversation, but Arianna noticed Ethan's absence more keenly than she liked to admit. During a lull in the conversation, Ethan’s mother asked, "Arianna, what do you think about Ethan?"

Arianna hesitated slightly before replying, "He's a good guy. I'd like to get to know him better."

Ethan’s mother and the rest of the family smiled at this, clearly pleased. They continued talking and eating, the mood light and cheerful.

Upstairs, Ethan freshened up first, then waited for Alex to finish in the bathroom. As soon as Alex came out, Ethan wrapped his arms around Alex's waist and kissed him deeply, their lips meeting in a fresh, morning embrace. Ethan's tongue traced Alex's lips, seeking entrance. Alex responded eagerly, his hands finding their place on Ethan’s shoulders. The kiss deepened, their tongues dancing together, exploring and savoring each other's taste. They kissed until they were breathless, breaking apart only to gulp in air.

Breathless, Alex smiled up at Ethan. "We should go downstairs. It's already late for breakfast and almost lunchtime."

Ethan grinned mischievously. "Didn't we just have breakfast?" he teased.

Alex looked confused. "When?"

Ethan leaned in, his lips brushing against Alex’s ear. "Seems like you're not full. How about we have more?" He started kissing Alex again, his hands roaming freely.

Alex understood what Ethan meant and smiled warmly into the kiss. "You're insatiable," he whispered between kisses.

After another long, passionate kiss, Ethan pulled back with a cheeky smile. "It's almost lunchtime. Do you want to have your lunch too?"

Alex blushed, pushing Ethan away playfully. "I'm already full from breakfast," he said, feeling shy.

They both laughed and headed downstairs. Ethan's mother looked up as they entered the room. "Seems like you two had a nice sleep. You both look like you're in a good mood."

Ethan exchanged a secret smile with Alex, who blushed at the memory of their morning. "Yeah, we slept well," Ethan replied, trying to keep his tone neutral.

Sarah looked up from the kitchen. "Why don't you guys have some juice while we finish preparing lunch? It will be ready in a bit."

Ethan nodded. "Sure, take your time. We're not in a hurry." He leaned closer to Alex and whispered, "We already had our breakfast."

Alex nudged Ethan gently and whispered back, "Hush."

Sarah announced, "Arianna is going to make some special dishes for lunch."

Ethan's interest piqued. "Then I'm definitely going to taste them."

Alex, curious about Arianna, glanced towards the kitchen. When he got a clear look at her face, blurry images from the past flashed through his mind—men dressed in black and a woman among them. The images were hazy, but he could tell they were significant. He shook his head, trying to clear the confusion.

Ethan and Alex sat on the couch, sipping juice while waiting for lunch. Eventually, Ethan’s mom called out, "Lunch is ready!"

They moved to the dining table, where an array of delicious dishes awaited them. Alex took his seat first. When Ethan went to sit beside him, Sarah intervened. "Why don't you sit beside Arianna? You two can talk comfortably while having lunch."

Ethan hesitated, but his mother also encouraged him. Reluctantly, Ethan sat beside Arianna, directly opposite Alex. The smile from Alex’s face faded slightly.

During the meal, Ethan's mom noticed Alex wasn't eating much. She spooned some dishes onto his plate. "These are Arianna's special dishes. You should try them."

Alex smiled politely. "Thank you, Aunt." He began eating, appreciating the flavors.

As he ate, Alex felt something rub against his leg. He looked down and saw Ethan's foot playfully nudging his. He glanced up to find Ethan smiling at him. Alex returned the smile, feeling a warmth spread through him. Ethan continued to rub Alex's foot with his, fully immersed in the moment. Arianna said something to Ethan, but he didn't notice, too focused on Alex.

Arianna placed more food on Ethan's plate. "Try these," she suggested.

"Thank you," Ethan said absently, still smiling at Alex.

Later, Ethan placed some dishes on Alex’s plate. Alex smiled gratefully and ate them.

After lunch, Arianna suggested, "Why don't we go for a walk?"

Ethan replied, "Let me call Alex too."

Arianna countered, "He seems to be talking with Aunt. Why don't we go ourselves?"

Ethan's mother, who was talking to Alex, agreed. "Go ahead, dear. We'll be here."

Reluctantly, Ethan agreed and left with Arianna. Ethan’s mom continued her conversation with Alex. "Are you comfortable here? Is everything okay?"

Alex nodded. "It feels like home. Thank you for your hospitality."

Ethan’s mom smiled warmly. "That's how it should be."

They talked for nearly an hour, but Ethan and Arianna hadn't returned. Alex grew restless and told Ethan's mom he wanted to go outside.

"Are you sure you won't get lost?" she asked with concern.

Alex smiled. "I'm familiar with the area now. I'll be fine."

He wandered outside, looking for Ethan and Arianna but couldn't find them. As he continued walking, he accidentally bumped into a man dressed in black. There was something familiar about him. Alex looked up and realized it was Lysander, the man who had been with him during his flashbacks—the stranger in black.