Journey To Valencia

Chapter 2: Fletcher

"Fletcher! I need an ale! Hurry your ass now, slug." A man screamed out from a table he was serving. This man is a server. And from the mention of ale, he is a server working in a bar. A bar that is very popular for it's alcohol, good immediacy in service, and it's bartender, Jackson Fletcher.
"Ale on the counter." Jackson responded to the man as he set down a large mug of ale down on the counter. He only studied the mug for a moment before he turned to the man from before, waiting for him to come get the mug he demanded for. As he waited, his eyes peered down the counter at a drunken man, asleep with his head on the counter. This peaked his interest to see what was happening on the other end of the counter which he'd turn to right afterwards. And when he did so, he saw men flirting with women and other men just sitting and minding their business. He heard the sound of a mug moving and his glance went back to the mug that was in front of him. It was no longer there, but in the server's hand.
"Thanks. I also need a beer." The server said alrogether, not leaving time to break the subject into two. He rushed off with the mug of ale and shortly after, set it down in front of an old man sitting at a table. It was loud with chatter and laughs. That is why Jackson Fletcher liked working at this bar. That, and because he was good at his job. He got right to work on that beer. Though, it was a slow day, he still decided to work faster like usual. Just as his server was doing. He was rushing to do everything even though it was clearly not needed. Obviously gesturing to the several empty tables, signifying the lack of customers they had that evening. He set the beer down on the bar counter.
"Beer on the counter, Johnny!" Jackson yelled out so that his server would come get it. The server being Johnny Nijval. Johnny walked right up to the bar and grabbed the beer. Then he walked off. Jackson took that opportunity to yawn, as he had nothing to work on. That was, until William walked through the doors of the bar. Jackson's eyes landed straight onto William and he ended up forming a smile. William was drained however. He slowly made his way up to the counter with the wobble of a walk he had, and sat down on a barstool. And eventually, his head landed down on the bar itself. Jackson slide himself right in front of William and he leaned over him.
"William..." Jackson whispered in a timbre voice to drag out his whisper.
"Gimme my regular." William said with a muffled and cracked up voice since his mouth was facing the counter. It muted the sound of his voice. Jackson grinned at his response and he tilted his head a little, making his hair fall to one side of his head. He did not do as he was told. Johnny wondered over to the bar, only to see Jackson at first, but then he saw William.
"Yikes, you are harboring swampy rats at your bar now, Jackson?" Johnny asked as he looked at Jackson with confusion, intentionally insulting William. William's response was a small muffled groan. Jackson let out a small cackle before turning his attention to Johnny.
"No but seriously, why do you look wrecked?" Johnny asked William, as he sat down on the barstool beside William's. William did not respond. Johnny and Jackson stared at him for a moment before turning to each other. Jackson turned back to William and he poked his head. William let out a gasp and sat up quickly. He had fallen asleep and was unaware of where he was. So when he sat up at the speed he did, he fell completely backwards and to the ground. He let out a grunt to show he felt that landing. Johnny and Jackson had watched William's performance take place and they started to laugh. William rubbed his eyes and slowly sat back up, but on the ground this time. Then he lifted himself up to his feet.
"Did you stay up all night?" Jackson asked confusedly, as he calmed himself down from laughing g so much.
"Or did your students give you a hard time?" Johnny asked, assuming differently than Jackson. William shook his head no.
"I am mentally drained." William responded, answering the questions of the two men he seemed to know well. He slowly sat back down on the barstool tha he was on originally.
"What could you be doing to mentally drain yourself?" Johnny asked with confusion once again. That question made William wince and he turned to Johnny because of it.
"You don't know?" William asked. Jackson blinked a couple of times to show his awkwardness he was now feeling. He kept looking back and forth at William and Johnny. Johnny squinted his eyes at William.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Johnny said with a small shrug. William let out a soft chuckle.
"Of course you don't. I would assume you would've stopped it from happening if you did." William determined before he laid his arms down on the counter, in front of him.
"What are you on about?" Jackson asked awkwardly as he slowly set his hand on top of one of William's hands. William glanced up at Jackson and he let out a sigh right after. He turned his head to Johnny.
"Your father and my mother are trying to marry me and your sister." William informed. Johnny and Jackson flinched at the information given.
"What?" Johnny questioned. He was sort of shocked at the moment. William used his unoccupied hand to rub the bridge of his nose.
"Your father came to my classroom a week ago and I assumed he came to speak about your little brother. But then he popped the question of having me marry your sister. He later mentioned my mother. Now my mother has been hastling me over it and she won't stop." William explained the situation to the two men. Johnny was floored at that point. Jackson was irritated.
"Yeah, no way. John, tell your sister to buzz off." Jackson demanded in irritation. Johnny and William looked at Jackson weirdly.
"We all know you want Will to yourself, but remember, I'm his friend too. And if I told my sister to buzz off, my father would kill me. No more friend." Johnny explained, now growing irritated at well. William started to frown irritated as well, just from sitting there without the drink he'd asked for, minutes ago.
"I don't have a care for you at the moment, Johnny. If your sister marries Will, I won't have him. And I need him to survive." Jackson explained sternly.
"You do not! And at least, if he marries my sister, he'll be free from your dirty hands." Johnny argued.
"Are you fucking with me right now? Your sister is a snob! I'm better than her!" Jackson yelled in retaliation. William looked at his two seemingly to be friends in frustration. He sat there for a minute more before he stood up. This did not break the arguments. They didn't even notice him. So William just went around the bar counter, to the entrance made for the bartenders to enter behind the bar. He looked around at the drinks and he found a bottle of fermented beer. He grabbed the entire bottle and just left the building. When the door shut, Johnny and Jackson turned to it and that's when they noticed that William was gone. Johnny turned to Jackson.
"Good going Fletcher." Johnny muttered. Jackson scoffed at the remark of Johnny's mutters.
"It's your fathers fault. Not ours." Jackson spoke realistically instead of going along with the irritated thoughts in his head, wanting to fight with Johnny some more. Johnny frowned at the fact stated by his friend. He nodded.
"I'll talk to him. Will you talk to Will?" Johnny asked. Jackson nodded. And then they continued their work of the day.
   When night rose and hid the blue sky, Jackson made his way through the village to find the Kratos family home. He worked when the sun came up and leaves when the sun goes down. When he got to the cottag, he knocked on the door of the cottage and awaited a response. And there was one. The door opened to reveal Emily Kratos, the second daughter of the Kratos family. She is 12. She stared at Jackson for a long moment.
"Hey, Mr Fletcher." Emily said nicely once she noticed who was at the door.
"Hey Emily. How are you?" Jackson asked nicely, greeting the young girl. Emily lifted a smile to her face.
"I'm great! I got to play with my friends today because mother was too upset to clean. Which means I didn't have to clean." Emily cheered delightfully. Jackson smiled at the response.
"Is Will home?" Jackson asked, finally getting to the point. Emily nodded her head.
"Lemme get him." Emily said before she turned around. But she didn't move. She had no reason too.
"WILLIAM! MR FLETCHER IS HERE!" Emily screamed loudly, emphasizing why she didn't need to move. Jackson chuckled as his reaction. Only moments later, William came into Jackson's view. He stood at the end of the hall looking at Jackson. Jackson waved his hand at him. William sighed and walked over to the door.
"Emily, go on." William spoke out as he grabbed his jacket from behind the door. He slipped the jacket on over his shoulders and then took the door handle. Emily waved goodbye to Jackson before she returned to whatever she had been doing before. William stepped out of the cottage and shut the door behind him.
"What is it, Jackson?" William asked, keeping his eyes down to the ground in front of him. Jackson tilted his head slightly.
"I wanted to see if you were ok." Jackson responded simply. William looked up at Jackson.
"I am." William said. Jackson almost had a feeling of disappointment in that reply. His eyes didn't leave William at all.
"Ok." Jackson mumbled. William didn't like that. He looked straight at Jackson.
"What? Why are you pouting?" William asked strictly, almost as if he was annoyed.
"I am not pouting." Jackson countered.
"You are."
"Am not."
"Yes you are."
"Ok so what if I am?" Jackson asked as he walked right up to William. William looked at Jackson.
"I don't want you to pout." William answered. Jackson's eyes pierced into William's. He lifted his hand up and he set it against William's cheek.
"Why?" Jackson asked with a grin now forming on his face. The way he asked that question seemed like he was speaking a spell, or a trance. And William was falling for it.
"You know why."  William responded in a caring tone. Jackson's grin turned soft.
"Yeah, I do." Jackson whispered as he leaned forward. They were both moments away from locking lips when Emily ran out of the house screaming William's name. William and Jackson quickly pulled away and turned to the direction they heard Emily scream. William sighed and turned to Jackson.
"I will probably see you tomorrow." William said. Jackson nodded slowly.
"Yeah... until then." Jackson said. William smiled a little and then went towards Emily. Jackson just stood there in silence until he watched the cottage door of the Kratos home shut after William and Emily went inside. He looked down and stared at the ground for a moment before he turned around and started towards his own home, the Fletcher household.