& if it's fate, our paths will cross again x3

Chapter 15: 🅱️ince And 🅱️oo Chilling

The sound of kitchen utensils is waking me up. I look at the clock, half past ten. It's the first time in a while I don't have a headache interrupting my sleep, but I still find myself struggling to remember what happened last night. The memories are slowly coming back; our first real TV appearance, Vince not wanting me to drink. Vince... I don't think I've ever been alone in his bedroom. I get up and wince, my entire back is covered in pain. My curiosity leads me to a chest of drawers. Two of them contain nothing special, clothes mostly. I open another one and find old stuff he kept over the years, a collection of letters, souvenirs, notes for violin and oboe pieces. The things he collected from the Boys' Brigade truly catch my attention. His uniform, the badges, the pictures... I see Andy in some of them too. I'm surprised, not only because I never expected that from Vince, but also because I personally never bothered to engage that much in a religious organisation. Andy made me go there, too, from time to time. I've seen Vince, I knew that they were going together, but I didn't talk to him. I knew that Andy's really into it, going to church a lot and everything, but Vince?
All of a sudden, a piece of clothing that just hit my back is covering my eyes. "If you're looking for something to wear, try this," I hear Vince's steps coming closer, he's giggling. "Have you found what you were looking for?" I take the shirt off, it's mine. "I don't know," I turn around and see him still being topless, "You never told me you were religious, did you?" "I'm not... not really. Are you?" I don't know, am I? "There's a lot of shit happening in this world, you know," I finally reply, thinking of all the terminally ill people in church I prayed for who still died after all. "Well, yes... anyway, I wanted to wake you up for breakfast." I'm surprised he's not angry at me for rummaging through his stuff.

"Isn't your mum super religious? Because mine sure is." Vince's pouring orange juice in a glass and gives it to me. "Yeah but I can't really understand religion, to be honest. I'm still trying, though." "I've seen you a few times at the Boys' Brigade. Andy told me you wouldn't like it very much." Vince made a traditional full English breakfast very similar to the way I eat it at home. I'm not very hungry so I end up poking the bacon with my fork. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch him filling a cup with tea and placing it in front of me. "Are you okay?" I look up. Who will tell him that he can not continue writing lyrics for the band? That he probably has to go? "Yes, I sometimes just think it's bizarre to eat dead animals." He's obviously confused; of course he is, it's not the only food on my plate. "Try the eggs and vegs, then." I try the mushrooms and they're much better than I expected. "Didn't your mum ever tell you about your father?" That question was unanticipated. I take a sip of the tea before I answer: "No, I never bothered to ask her, either." "Sorry, I don't know how I'd react if my mum told me her husband isn't my father," he's lighting a cigarette and takes a drag, "I also don't know anyone else who experienced something like that." He does, but he wouldn't know. "What were you looking for?" "Sorry?" "This morning, in my drawer." I watch the ash of his cigarette fall in the ashtray. Vince rests his elbows on the table and gets nearer to my face. "I... nothing, really. I was just curious." A smile is crossing his face. "Do you think I'm hiding something from you?" I continue staring at him, knowing damn well I have no valid answer for that question. "It doesn't matter," he whispers after a while, "I know that you are hiding something from me." His face is so close to mine that I instinctively decide to grab it and give him a kiss. "No, don't worry." I get up and head towards his bedroom to get grab my clothes. I'm still in my underwear, simply because he is too. "Where do you think you're going?" He's still sitting at the table. "Getting dressed," I reply. A sudden rush of pain is crawling over my back, I forgot to check what I'd look like. I groan a little, continue my walk to the bedroom, grab my clothes and head to the bathroom.
The mirror is showing me reddened skin with several darker, swollen lines and imprints. They still hurt when being touched. "If you need some lotion for that, I can lend you some." Through the reflection I catch Vince standing in the door frame, still holding his cup of tea. "I guess that won't help," I answer, now touching the bruises on my neck as well. He's coming closer, puts his hands on my shoulders and rests his head in my nape. I keep staring at our reflection for a while and enjoy the heat of his body on mine. "I should get ready," Vince is looking up in surprise and it seems as if he's looking right in the eyes of my reflection. "Don't you want to take a shower?" His arms are wrapped around me. I'm not sure what to do, what if my mum's already worried? "I think I'll go home." I instantly regret that I said this out loud, not because I fear his reaction, but because I'm enjoying the warmth of his body and the feeling of his skin on mine. My skin... what will my family think when they see the bruises on my neck? "Shall I give you a ride?"

"Yes, thank you," I'm finally putting on the shirt I was holding in my hand. Vince leaves the room. I look at my reflection once more, the marks on my throat are still visible. Besides, the fabric is somehow causing my skin to burn. I put my trousers on and decide to go to Vince's room.

I find him standing in front of his mirror, fully dressed and combing his hair. I come closer without saying anything, he's seen me through the mirror anyway. I put my hands on his shoulders and give him a soft kiss on his head. I'm breathing in, I love the smell of his hair. "Can you lend me something to wear?" I only have a simple t-shirt and a jacket, neither do cover my neck. "Sure, just go on and pick something," he's pointing to his closet which is half opened. I find a sweater with a high neck, I hope it'll fit me; I'm putting it on and it's kinda loose. "It sure looks better on you than it does on me." I wouldn't know, I've never seen him wearing it. However, a smile crosses my face and I shyly look down to my feet. "You look great, too," I respond after a moment. He's dressed quite elegantly, I wonder if he plans to go somewhere today. Vince is looking at the mirror again, I catch him smiling as well.