" Sounds like you've got your hands full!" Mattie's voice rang through my phone as I was leaving me house. "I'm telling you dude, the most beautiful human I've ever seen and I've SEEN a lot!" He just chuckled at me like he always was. Mathew was a quiet person and unlike me he liked to listen more than talk. That is unless it has to do with his career, he was scary to watch hockey with. " do you think you'll ever see him again?" He questioned making me look down at the leaves that crunched under my feel in the cool autumn air. " I don't know man, that was like a once in a lifetime thing. God I know I would like to see him again but slim to none." He just made a sound and then it was quiet. About halfway down the block there was a window open, a tray sitting on its ledge with a teapot and some crackers. As I walked by I looked in out of curiosity, what I saw made my heart jump. "Mattie I think "God" heard me dude. I'll call you back!" I said quickly hanging up on my brother and inching closer to the window. There he was sitting in the windowsill with his back to the world and a cigarette between his beautiful lips. "You just couldn't leave me alone could ya?" I said leaning my arms on the sill as he jumped, startled by the sudden change in sound."Jesus Christ! What the bloody hell!" His accent rang out with the loudness of his voice. "How the hell did you find me? Are you stalking me pervert!" I placed my hand on my heart and look offended. "Me a stalker! You move here to my street and I'M the stalker." I said smiling which only confused him. "What do you mean?" He took a slow drag of his cig. " I live right over there." I pointed to my apartment and he leaned out the window to look."Hell on earth." He said rubbing the bridge his nose. "Well you probably won't leave and I'm done with my smoke so would you like to come in?" He questioned which was answered with a nod.
His house was very nice, classy and clean unlike mine. His looked like somewhere that someone would feel comfortable and at home. Mine was like a pitstop for a change of clothes and one night stands. I took off my shoes and coat by the door then made my way over the the fireplace looking through the scattered pictures. " I've seen your face somewhere before, what do you do for a living?" I asked hearing him shut the window. "I model back home." He spoke in a quiet voice as if he didn't want to speak of it. "Oh cool. That explains the groupies last night! You must be popular."
---
I didn't know whether to be upset or happy that he didn't really know my name or face." Well I'm sorry my career isn't as entertaining as yours Mr.Hotshot hockey player. Coffee or tea?" He laughed even if I didn't mean to make him. " it's actually Alfred but I think modeling is pretty cool as long as you take care of yourself. Coffee please." This man always smiled even when I pretend not to have remembered his name.
"So. You obviously aren't from around here judging by your accent. Where are you from."
"Sussex, but I moved to London when I was 20. You ask too many questions." I said dryly but still he persisted on asking about what England was like and why I was here. When the coffee was done I brought it to him and sat down. He still stood, looking at the pictures up on the mantle. For the first time I got to look at him properly. He was tall and his back was huge. Muscles contrasting through his shirt with every movement. "What about you, are you from New York yourself or are you here just for your job."
"Nah. I grew up here." He said finally sitting down. " My brother and I were separated at birth. Mom died right after we were born and my dad wasn't in a good state right after so he put us up for adoption. I guess adults just don't give a shit about splitting sibling up anymore. Hell I didn't even know I had a brother until I was 13 when my adoptive mother said something. I met him by chance at a game in Toronto when we were sophomores in high school. Now he's my best friend." He smiled all I could reply with is a hum.
"If it makes you feel better I've never had luck with family either." Why was I tell a stranger this. " I'm the younger of 4 boys so my family was always a little crazy but on the outside we looked like a perfect family, two brothers in the medical field and one in politics so when I got my first modeling gig and didn't turn it down they took it quite badly.I'm shunned but I'm happy to be away from it." I tried to smile, I wasn't very good at it. My side of modeling never really had smiles it was about seriousness and even in interviews my smiles weren't always the best. "I guess we're both a little fucked up." He said blandly which made me chuckle.
"I guess so."
---
Arthur sat there quietly after that, as if in his own world just staring out the window. His feet were curled under him where he sat, probably cold from the lack of socks in the chilled air. I did t know whether to speak or just let him sit there. The coffee he made was dark and bitter, the kind that kept you going for days and I knew the taste well.
"Sorry, I went off in my own little world."
"Oh, uh no it's all good."
"I'm usually just so busy that I never get time to think!" He laughed softly.
"I hope the coffee isn't too bad, it's the only way I knew how to make it." I just smiled and shook my head. The awkwardness in the room was heavy, like two strangers in being put in the same room.
"So who was that man from the other night?"
"Oh Kiku, he's a friend of mine I met when I first started modeling. He chose the athletic life over one of looks. He skates for Japan's national figure skating team. Isn't an Olympian but he aspires. We all have dreams don't we?" He smiled at his cup of coffee. I completely understood. Since the day I'd met Mattie and the first time we played I knew what our hopes and dreams were. Everyday we try to push towards that dream. The olympics were 2 years from now and by god if we made it our lives would be complete. "Kudos to your friend, I understand where he comes from." Suddenly there was a buzz in my pokey.
" Shit I knew I forgot something!" I mumbled before answering
"Coach?" Answered by immense screaming from the other side of the phone. I was suppose to train today, no it wasn't a team practice but I've always had shoulder issues that sometime effected my game. It wasn't anything new going to "training." A nicer word coached used for therapy.
"Of course, see you then." I managed out before pinching the bridge of my nose.
"Something wrong?" The Brit spoke quietly.
"I completely forgot I had training today! Got distracted by my little visit!" My smirk was met with an eye roll.
"You better get going then."
"Shooing me out so soon Artie?"
"That is not my name. You have an appointment."
"I haven't even helped wash the cups!"
"I never said you had to."
This guy was a hard ass and a half. All I was trying to do is clean up after myself for once in my life.
"It's the least I can do Arti- Arthur."
After helping clean the cup I used and the one he had used I made my way to the door with him in trail.
"Thanks again for inviting me in." I smiled at the British man leaning on the door frame.
"Glad I could make your actual acquaintance." He smirked a little ." Come watch another game sometime, there's one next weekend at the home arena, trust me you don't want to miss it."
"Cocky little bastard, maybe, if I have time that is." I just laughed and waved as I went out the door and back into the chilling air of the city.
The fact that I had even forgot about training made it worse on me. Coach was pissed and I was on the receiving end of that wrath. For a stubby old man he was so loud and so angry' I guess that's why he's such a damn good coach. He use to play, a long time ago but he knew what he was doing. Coach always pushed us, especially me because im the youngest in the team,trying to make us cave but I like it. The feeling of pushing my body harder and harder everyday. Run a little farther, skate a little harder, add more weight to the bench. The ice was my escape and the gym wasn't far behind. So what if painkillers and ice baths became part of my daily diet. So what if I bruises all over my body and the shoulder so sore I couldn't even get the front door to my apartment open. So what right? Well there is always limits, some are great to break but others. Others decide your career and if I had the slightest shot at the olympics then I needed to stay right below those limits.
"Jones what happened last game." Coach pulled a chair is next to the bench I was at.
"I don't know what you mean coach?" I puffed out between every press.
"You were distracted, never seen you that way before. Something catch ya eye?" A snort escaped my mouth. Something? Try someone coach!
"No I just couldn't see quite well, I didn't play with my glasses that time." I smiled coming up with something off the top of my head.
" son I have a question." His tone suddenly got more serious and his normally lively voice low and still.
" you have big dreams don't you." I sat up and shook my head
"Don't let people, feelings, get in the way. Trust me on that one." Coach was drafted to play hockey with the national team and his wife was so excited but not only two years into training she passed away in a car accident and he lost it. He doesn't really go into detail about what happened but it devastated him
"Coach, like I told you. It was nothing."
