Home for the Unwanted

Chapter 17

I can see Bella, with her twitching which I see from the corner of my eye when I sleep. Peter, mumbling, at least it's not in my ear. Lauren with a faint smile and next to her, Rose with the same scowl on her face as always. I get all the blankets, except the ones from my bed, and lay it over them. Then I go downstairs.

I thought the bar would be empty and I could have a drink alone but I jumped out of my skin when I saw that Alec was still there, cleaning up.

"Hey Thomas, have fun today?"

"Yeah, they're all tired out and asleep on the new couch."

"Lemme guess, you came down here to help me because you knew old Alec was still awake cleaning up the bar." Before I could answer he burst out laughing, "Nah! You just wanted a beer in peace, didn't you?" I looked down and, to my embarrassment, I mumbled a quiet 'yeah'.

"Yeah well I don't blame ya." He said as he poured me a glass, "They're a loud bunch but good people. That's why I took them in like I did with you."

I watched Alec intently as he talked whilst cleaning the bar. I'd always found him an interesting person to talk to. Even if he was the one who was doing all the talking. He put away the rag that he'd been using to clean the cup stains of the bar table with and emptied out the cash drawer. His posture flattened a bit when he saw the amount that he had gained tonight. Even his voice faltered a bit as he talked. I had heard him mutter, "I can't up the price of the drinks anymore, they'll go crazy."

I asked if everything was alright. He said it was fine, the casual response. I asked again, just to check one more time. He sighed and turned to me, putting the money on the bar table.

"I'm gonna tell you the truth, Thomas. Things have been a bit tight here moneywise. It's been hard bringing in enough each night."

Worry started to stricken me, "What's going to happen?...You're not really suggesting that this place is gonna shut down, are you? We're not getting evicted, are we?"

Alec was silent for a bit. "Don't you worry about it Thomas, I'll manage. I've been getting by for quite some time now. I was a bit like you at your age. No home, on the streets. That's why I couldn't stand to see Bella and Peter all huddled up on the sidewalk that one night. And the same for Lauren and Rose when Rose asked if I had any spare change. I had a dream to open up a bar. And as for my parents, well parents just want you to become the same old doctors and lawyers. At least I can say I got there." He looked around and almost in an inaudible whisper he said, "I'm gonna be sad when it goes. That's if I can get by and avoid it being shut down."

I couldn't help but frown but Alec smiled at me in a caring way, "Now don't just sit there looking all glum. It'll be fine. It's not your place to worry about it, it's mine. I don't need a second hand for that job, but I do for this one. Since you're so awake could you just sweep the floors a bit. I've already locked up and I'm too tired to do anything else."

I groaned, "Can't I do it in the morning? I'll remember, I swear."

"You can't even remember whether or not you left your beer on the table. Besides, I know you teenagers: Sleep all day, up at night." He chuckled.

"Fine."

"Goodnight Thomas. Sleep tight. You'll need to, I heard that Peter likes to make himself into duvet burrito in the night." Called Alec, disappearing up the stairs.

"Oh believe me he does!" I called back. 

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We were all exhausted. We were all collapsed on our beds. Our days had been hard. Bella complained about how she had to break up four arguments today which were really hard. Peter told us of how he completely fucked up his art piece and now has to start all over. Lauren moaned about her shitty day of work. Rose sighed about how she's not getting anywhere with a poem she's doing.

A.N
Idk I don't have anything to say lol. Hope you enjoyed it, I suppose :3

Nelly Xx