Home for the Unwanted

Chapter 7

"C'mon! I wanna be the first to introduce him to Alec!" Said Peter, strilly, taking my arm and leading me inside.

"Ok...Hang on, hang on, hang on, who's Alec?" I hollered over the loud noise of the bar, staggering against Peter's quick pace. "He's the person who runs this place." Lauren said, next to me in almost a whisper.

"Oh."

The bar was a myriad of beating music, flashing lights, projecting screens and sparkles and glitter. So many people of all genders, laughing, chatting, flirting. Everyone happy.

Such a world in such a small, cramped space.

People seemed to know us. Rose sure did know some people. Every now and then someone gave her a hello and she seemed to know them back. 

"Alec! Alec! Guess who?!" Bella called, as we made our way to the bar. A man's (who was working there) face lit up when he saw us,
"Ah Bella, Peter, Lauren, Rose! Come sit, sit! Plenty of room here! Ah, who's this new friend your with?" The man winked at me. He was about wore a tight t-shirt with old ripped jeans.
"Oh how could we be so rude?" Peter fake flabbergasted, "This is Thomas."

"Yeah, ur, you see he had nowhere to go so we thought we'd sorta...you know... take him in. Because he's like us. So, if that's ok by you." Said Lauren in nearly a mutter.

"Of course it's alright by me! He's perfectly allowed to stay here with you guys. The more the merrier! So what happened kid? Got kicked out cos of the gender thing?"

I scratched my neck awkwardly. I've always been awkward about meeting new people,

"Well I wouldn't really say kicked out-wait, hang on, how did you-"

"Oh I know everything about the community." Alec waved off, "Care for a drink guys?"

Everyone nodded.

"On the house?" Inquired Rose. Alec chuckled, "On the house. Straight to the point as always, Rose," He smiled, "What can I get for all of you?"

"Beer." Sniffed Bella, "Don't know bout you guys but I'm craving one." We all nodded in agreement.

"Beer it is. There you go."

Wow. My first beer. Ever. This sure has been one hell of a night. I stared at the thick, frothy glass in front of me. This was exciting. And scary. And everything in between. I put the glass to my lips and took a sip. Then winced at the bitterness stabbing my tougue.

"Ooh looks like someone's having their first beer. I can so tell. Swing it down champ!" Cried Peter. Everyone laughed at his gesassiness.

Never in my life had I felt more at home.

I have this feeling. This feeling of sercurity. A feeling that I've never felt. Like a new chapter in my life. A new beginning.

I learnt a lot that evening.

Bella, Peter, Lauren and Rose were all like me. They ran away from home or got kicked out because of the same reason. Bella encountered Peter on the streets. Lauren encountered Rose on the streets. Then they encountered each other on the streets. They made many friends. And they stayed with them for a while, always on the run. Always together as a group, like the tiniest travelling circus. Until, one night, they encountered Alec. He took them in and gave them a room to stay in for life. 

He was once the same. He ran away from it all, normal deskjob work, the pressure of his parents. He had this dream to open a gay bar, and he decided to let that happen. Seeing those kids in need of help called a voice in his head that he couldn't ignore.

They made a deal: They'd help Alec with his work and they can live here. In Alec's protection from the harshness of the world on the group of lost teenagers. I, being the newest member to the group. The newest lost teen.

"Goodnight Alec."

"Goodnight Thomas, it's nice to meet you."

I followed the rest. They lead me to the back storage room and up a flight of creaky wooden stairs. We came to a landing and in front of us was a door. The kind of door that you find in an office. Those ones that might have the boss' name painted on it.

Lauren reached for the rusted, loose handle: she turned it all the way round, which was odd. Then all the way the other way round. Then she pushed the doorknob in, then up, then about 90° left...

A.N
I kinda left it like that because the chapter was getting too long. Hope you enjoyed as usual. Any feedback tell me. Super duper stressed right now so may not be doing my best work or updating as much. Sorry bout that.

Nelly Xx