Il libro di Jaylos

Promises Broken - Chapter 4

Carlos began to worry when he didn't see Jay for the rest of the week, his usually rational brain telling him stories that it had all been a joke, to make the young De Vil look the fool but he blocked those thoughts out with another chocolate.
It was finally Friday night, Evie had created an outfit just for his date; dark denim shorts turned up at the cuff and embroidered with red silk, short sleeved red button down and black waistcoat with silver buttons.
"Carlos!" Cruella screeched from somewhere in the house.
The young De Vil immediately tried to hide behind the boiler, no longer hot, holding his breath while listening to his mother stomping around the house looking in every room for him; eventually the door slammed open.
Carlos froze, trying not to make any movement, watching Cruella's shadow creep about and the moment he thought she was going to leave her sharp fingers grabbed him tightly around the arm.
"stop hiding from me runt." She snarled in his face, smelling of stale cigarettes and alcohol.
Cruella dragged her son from his dusty hiding place, held him tightly as he stumbled down the stairs and into the dark kitchen, "make some food." She demanded.
Nodding slowly, eyes on the floor, Carlos looked in the fridge; it was practically empty, some eggs, mouldy cheese and something suspicious looking in a box.
The only thing he could make was egg white omelette, his mother's acceptable favourite and while he cooked away, his stomach clenching with hunger, Carlos suddenly saw a light from the driveway.
Thinking his mother was leaving the young De Vil peeked out of the window to see a motorbike parking in the uneven driveway; Jay shook out his long, windswept hair before regarding Hell Hall.
Without even thinking twice Carlos ducked below the window, not wanting to be seen with dust and cobwebs in his hair and clothes or with a hungry look in his eyes.
All too suddenly Jay was tapping on the kitchen window, the only window with a light on, peering inside but couldn't see anyone.
Carlos didn't know why Jay would be calling for him now, it was Friday night not Saturday like they agreed but the young De Vil knew he had to get Jay to go away before his crazy mother saw; slowly coming up from his hiding place he managed to opened the creaking window.
"what are you doing down there?" Jay laughed sticking his head through the open window, he scrunched his nose at the egg white omelette cooking in the pan.
"you said we were going out tomorrow." Carlos hissed, glancing at the door.
Jay raised an eyebrow, "I know but I didn't see you all week."
"who's fault was that?" Carlos sighed.
Laughing again the older boy took Carlos's hand, "I know, I suck when it comes to school." He said, "sorry." He smiled softly.
Feeling Jay warm hand covering his own smaller one made Carlos feel fuzzy inside and he found he couldn't stay mad at him, "you still have to leave, my mom will go crazy if she catches you here."
Jay grip tightened, "come on then, lets go." He said pulling out from the window, not letting go of Carlos's hand.
The young De Vil tried his best to pull back but Jay was strong, "I can't just leave." He hissed and then smelled the omelette burning.
Carlos felt all the blood drain from his face and his heart plummet into his stomach; Cruella was going to beat him when she saw the burnt food.
"she can't touch you at mine." Jay's voice broke through Carlos's panicked mind.
The younger boy had never had a safe haven before, even hiding in cupboards and closets Cruella always seemed to find him, so as he heard a door open from somewhere in the house he climbed out of the window and into the cold night.
"I need my coat. And my book." Carlos whispered as the older boy started to pull him towards his waiting motorbike.
Jay gave him a look like he was crazy, "that stuff isn't important." He said in a rush.
"it is to me." Carlos stressed, knowing nothing would be safe from Cruella's wrath.
From the light of the kitchen both boy's saw the shadow of Cruella storm into the kitchen to find the pan emitting black smoke and began shouting Carlos's name like a rabid animal.
"okay, fine, stay here." Jay sighed before bolting into the house.
Carlos stood in shock in the driveway, watching his mother crash about the kitchen, wondering how Jay could possibly find anything in the hazardous mess of Hell Hall but moments later the Tourney player returned, before Cruella had even left the kitchen, with a bag slung over his shoulder.
"your room is tiny." Jay commented handing the bag, coat hung over the bag too.
Following the older boy to the motorbike Carlos coloured with shame at Jay seeing his pathetic little room that only had a bed without a sheet and an ottoman for clothes.
"Carlos!" Cruella screamed from the door, her huge fur coat blocking the whole doorframe, her wild eyes staring menacingly at her only child.
Without missing a beat Jay practically lifted Carlos onto the motorbike before swinging on himself, revving the engine loudly, causing the younger boy to instinctively grab Jay around the middle and he took off into the night.
Carlos felt the icy wind whip his bare face, his bag wedged firmly between him and Jay but he could feel the older boy's heartbeat; they weren't on the road for very long before they stopped outside a rundown, second hand shop with the lights still on.
"you okay?" Jay asked as he climbed off the motorbike.
Nodding Carlos tried to get some feeling back into his exposed shins and followed Jay into the shop; inside was filled to the brim with bric-a-brac, there wasn't an inch of visible shelf or counter, there was a slightly buzzing noise from several CCTV cameras following their every move and from somewhere he heard a radio.
There was a musty smell about and a thin layer of dust sat on most things but there was a price tag on everything, "does your dad own this place?" Carlos asked.
"yeah." Jay laughed, "kind of a crap hole but it's home." He led Carlos through the maze of things and dust till they came to a steep set of stairs.
All the hallways were narrow, Jay taking up most of space, but the older boy's room was spacious; filled nearly as badly as the shop downstairs there wasn't a bare space, every surface had clothes or trophies on them, walls covered in posters and an unmade king sized bed with a thick duvet.
The whole room screamed Jay and it made Carlos smile, "it's all very you." He complimented.
Jay smiled widely at him, "thanks. What you want to do then?" he asked flopping down on his bed.
Carlos stood awkwardly at the doorway, he'd never been to anyone else's house, so he wasn't sure how to act and especially now Jay was being so charming to him.
Gingerly the younger boy sat on the bed, enjoying the softness of the duvet and mattress, his eyes darting all over the room, taking in every item, bag still clutched to him; Carlos felt Jay move to sit closer to him.
"so, you're mom's a bit crazy then?" the older boy said slowly.
Carlos shrugged, he didn't talk about his personal life, even Evie didn't know the full story, "you get used to her." He muttered.
There was silence for a while until Jay pulled Carlos to lie down on the mattress and peeled his bag away from him; the bedding smelt like teen boy sweat and cheap fabric softener but it was comforting.
"let's watch a movie." Jay said flicking the light off and sweeping some clothes off a television set on a battered chest of drawers; the static filled the darkened room before the drumroll of a movie started.
Jay climbed over Carlos to sit behind him, allowing the younger boy to remain laid down; the movie was a generic action movie with explosions, panty shots and general manliness.
The young De Vil wasn't interested in the plot that was filled with holes or the basic pretty love interest but he was enjoying being there with Jay, until he began to pet Carlos's hair.
Carlos stiffened, Cruella petted him whenever she was trying to control him, a fake form of affection she used on him to do anything she wanted, "don't do that." He whispered harshly.
Seeming to snap out of his film stupor, Jay's hand flinched back, "sorry, didn't mean to do that." He said softly.
"it's fine, you just spooked me." Carlos lied, relaxing again, getting mesmerised by the movie.
Before he realised it the young De Vil felt his eyes slipping shut; the warmth from Jay, the softness of the bed and the comforting smells around him were overwhelming; eventually Carlos fell asleep.
Carlos felt strange waking up the next morning, the previous day fuzzy in his tired brain, he was encased in warmth and he felt safer than he'd ever been before.
Moving the thick duvet from his face the young De Vil peeked around the room, spotting sports items before remembering Jay had taken him away from Hell Hall and there the older boy was sleeping soundly next to him; long black hair was wild about the pillow, face content and breathing soft.
Carlos stretched out in the bed, used to being cramped in a closet, enjoying the comfort around him, even though his belly was empty and didn't want to move for any reason.
"Jay!" the door burst open to revel a wide set man with tanned skin, a receding hairline and in a very stained pair of lounge pants, "I need your help in the shop." The man exclaimed clicking on the light.
The younger boy immediately hid under the duvet, away from the sudden bright light, holding his breath from the intruding adult; Jay stirred at the invasion of light too, groaning softly and joining Carlos.
"Jay you lazy boy." The man shuffled into the room, trying to avoid various mess on the floor, "get up."
"go away dad." Jay snapped, his hot breath filling the small space under the duvet.
All too suddenly the duvet was pulled from the bed and Carlos stiffened; the older boy sat up angrily, "go away! I'm not helping today." He was still groggy from just waking.
Jafar's eyes tracked from his bare chested son to the smaller figure in the bed, he raised an eyebrow but didn't say a word; Jay pulled the duvet from his dad's hands and covered them both back over.
"I'm going out today." Jay told him.
"with him?" Jafar gestured to Carlos's still figure.
Very slowly the younger boy sat up, adjusting his twisted t-shirt as he did, he couldn't bring himself to look Jafar in the eye and Jay sighed deeply, climbing from the warm bed.
The older boy guided his dad outside the bedroom, snapping the door shut as he did, Carlos could hear talking from the other side; hushed whispers in low tones and sharp answers that went on for ages before Jay finally came back into the room.
"sorry." The older boy sighed, ruffling his messy hair, "I usually help on Saturdays." He explained.
Carlos shifted guiltily, "I don't want you to get in trouble." He whispered.
For a moment Jay regarded the young De Vil, his dark eyes tired but kind and he gave a lazy grin, "I won't, dad will get over it." He sighed and climbed back into the bed, pulling Carlos with him.
Being hugged was something different for Carlos, the only person who ever hugged him was Evie and she usually had a mouth full of pins when she did; the heat from Jay was immediately calming, his heart thumping rhythmically against the younger boy's ear and his smell almost overwhelming.
"go back to sleep, it's still early." Jay yawned, almost immediately taking his own advice and falling asleep.
Carlos listened to Jay's heartbeat slow and didn't think he could fall back to sleep but, just as the night before, he felt his eyes slide shut and when he woke next Jay was pottering around his room looking for clean clothes.
"morning sunshine." Jay grinned, sniffing a grey vest before deciding it was clean enough to put on.
Hot around the head Carlos sat up, his whole body relaxed and he couldn't seem to focus on anything until Jay placed a small stack of pancakes in front of him.
"I already ate, managed to save these those." The older boy told him with a smile.
Sniffing the sweet breakfast Carlos's mouth watered and his stomach churned, even though he was starving sometimes eating made the younger boy feel sick so he slowly chewed on the good, fresh food given.
"I grabbed the first set of clothes I saw in your room." Jay told him, picking Carlos's bag off the floor, "hope they're okay?" he pulled out the newest clothes Evie had made.
Carlos nodded, "they're perfect." He said though a mouthful of pancake.
By the time the younger boy had finished breakfast and got dressed it was gone midday, "what did you have planned?" Carlos asked, book in his lap.
Jay stretched, all his muscles tightening and showing off his well-toned body, "well, the fair is in town." He told the younger boy.
Carlos had never been to the fair, he'd seen the lights from the windows of Hell Hall, smelt the candyfloss on Evie and heard the excited talk all around school.
"sounds amazing." Carlos said truthfully.
Standing the young De Vil was suddenly aware of Jay staring at him, his face soft and an unidentified smile on his face; he snapped out of it when he realised he'd been caught staring, "you look really cute." Jay told him with an embarrassed laugh.
Carlos blushed bright red, not used to be called cute, he pulled at the shirt and couldn't stop a smile creeping onto his face, "thanks."