Pègre

Chapter 1

The hum of his computer was the only thing breaking the silence in Gary's room. He lay on his bed, eyes tracing the familiar contours of the milky white ceiling. The room was suffocatingly dark, except for the faint glow of blue and green lights flickering from his dresser. A vibration cut through the stillness, the screen of his phone lighting up with a notification.

With a groan, Gary reached over, sliding his finger across the screen. The light illuminated his face, revealing caramel-colored skin and tired hazel eyes that scanned the message. Tim: "Heading out. You coming?"

He sighed, the weight of another night out settling on his chest. He typed a quick reply, thumb hovering for a moment before locking the screen. Darkness reclaimed the room, wrapping around him like a familiar blanket. But it didn't feel comforting—just empty. He lay still, the soft buzz of the computer and his own thoughts the only company he had.

Something felt off tonight, like the air carried a weight he couldn't explain. A flicker of unease whispered in the back of his mind, but he shook it off and swung his legs over the side of the bed. With a grunt, he stood, the silence trailing him as he opened the door and left his personal dungeon.

The apartment's hallway greeted him with the faint scent of takeout. As he rounded the corner, Joshua—his roommate—was lounging against the kitchen counter, an easy grin on his face.

Joshua was the picture-perfect Californian surfer: long, dirty blond hair that looked like it hadn't met a comb in days, blue eyes that always carried a mischievous glint, and a neatly trimmed goatee that somehow made him look more charming than lazy. You'd swear he spent all day on a surfboard if you didn't know he'd never left Louisiana.

"You get Tim's text?" Joshua asked, cracking open a soda and taking a swig.

"Yeah. You coming?" Gary responded, rubbing the back of his neck.

Joshua shook his head, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Nah. Emily's here. We're gonna watch a couple flicks and, you know... hang out." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Gary smirked knowingly. "Enjoy your movie night."

Joshua chuckled and tilted his head toward the living room. "Tell the guys I said hey."

Gary waved toward the couch, where Emily gave him a polite smile. She was pretty, with vibrant red hair, pale skin, and freckles dotting her arms like constellations. The two had never talked much—just polite exchanges in passing.

He headed toward the bathroom, flipping on the light switch with a click. The fluorescent glow flickered once, twice, before steadying, casting his reflection in the mirror. He stared at himself, taking in the details: the lean muscle beneath his fitted white T-shirt, his caramel skin that caught just enough light to give him a golden sheen, and his hazel eyes—sharp but tired.

People used to ask where he was from, what he was mixed with. He'd heard it so many times it became a running joke among his friends. But down here in Louisiana, his "exotic" look didn't raise many questions. He blended in more than he ever had in California. Maybe too much.

With a flex, he rolled his shoulders, watching the muscles bunch and shift beneath his shirt. He had started working out just before they moved, hoping to channel the chaos of the move into something productive. Had it already been five months? He wasn't sure anymore.

After brushing his teeth, he splashed cold water on his face, as if the chill could clear the heavy feeling that lingered in his chest. But it didn't. He turned off the bathroom light and grabbed his keys from the counter by the door.