The Chezdon Chronicles: The Continuing Saga--New Plot (bxb)

Chapter 3: The Morning After Pill

Chezdon awoke the next morning feeling all the promise of a new day. He'd forgotten to set his alarm, but it made little difference. Awake was awake.

He looked at one of the windows and recognized the need to open the electric shade if he was to see the sunlight flooding the city. In an instant, sunshine filled the room with light. It was the best of all worlds, Chezdon thought. Sunshine without heat. He loved it.

After the usual activities on arising, Chezdon headed into the kitchen, the emptiness of which reminded him that Mel was away on a business trip. No breakfast already prepared awaiting his gastronomic verdict. No placation of the growling from his stomach. No caffeine surge to force his brain awake, never mind the smell of the ground beans setting off his olfactory system. Nope, none of that. Just a kitchen devoid of anyone.

A look down the hall told Chezdon that Jayden was not yet awake. Or at least not awake enough to be bothered with breakfast--as apparent by the closed guest bedroom door. He wondered what Jayden had been busy with last night. The discussion over breakfast would be interesting, assuming that Jayden didn't sleep much younger. Chezdon has places to go and people to see, and he wanted to get on with the day.

Eggs? Check. Sausage? Check. The meal wasn't anywhere near the equal of Mel's, but it would do, Chezdon thought. He couldn't wait for her return.

While he was eating, Chezdon was organizing his day. Austin and he were supposed to go out on a date. Hopefully, he thought, Austin's calmed down by now. If not, a discussion with him would need to be the first item of the day's tasks. He went and got his mobile. Hmmm, he thought, Austin wants to talk. Good.

"Hello?" a groggy Austin said answering the unwelcomed ringing of his phone.

"Austin, it's Chez. I hope I didn't wake you."

"No, Chez, I'm always up at 7 AM on a non-school day." He yawned.

"I saw your text, mate, and thought you wanted to talk as early in the day as possible. I'm sorry if I woke you up." Chezdon thought, if? It's not a question. I woke him up. Great start to the day, Chezdon.

"Oh, yeah. Thanks for calling." Pause. "I wanted to let you know that something's come up and I won't be able to sup with you tonight."

Chezdon took a deep breath. The day was off to a shitty start. Did Austin now not want to see him at all?

"I'm sorry to hear that, mate. I was looking forward to it." The disappointment was clear in Chezdon's voice.

"Chez, we've a date for this afternoon, right?"

"Yes, Austin, we do." Chezdon relaxed a tad. He's forgotten about the afternoon. Maybe his concerns were premature after all.

"I've got some things I need to discuss with you. They'll hold until we get together.'

Chezdon started to become apprehensive again. What did Austin mean "need"? "OK, Austin, we'll talk then. Is there anything that it would be better to talk about now?"

"No, mate, I don't think so. Look, Chez, I need to figure out if I'm going to go back to sleep. Bye."

Chezdon wasn't sure what to make out of the conversation. He hated short ones. One thing he knew: it was hardly reassuring.

No sooner had Chezdon finished his call with Austin than Jayden appeared wearing his bathrobe and little else. Chezdon silently chuckled. Jayden had no sense of clothing at all. He didn't have chiseled features, but the bathrobe took his looks down at least notch, maybe even two. It's not as though the boy lacks in-style clothing. He did—after all, they had originally been Chezdon's. At least many items had been.