Unhinged √

18.

We may be damaged but we are not doomed.
- Rebekah Mikaelson

      Peace is essential, peace away from the maddening crowd and their deafening judgements. I woke Saturday morning not as an escape from a nightmare for the first time in a long  while.

I knew it wasn't always going to be like that but I was willing to ride the peace train for as long as it ran. I cleaned my apartment for hours before showering and heading to Baring for brunch.

The place was packed as I had expected but no one spared me a glance as I walked up to the counter/bar and took a seat.

"Hi! What can I get you this bright morning?"
I slowly looked up at the sound of his voice.

"Albert". His sunny smile quickly dropped. I had forgotten that he worked here but it was okay, I had to face him eventually.

"I'm sorry". I apologized.

"You guys fooled me. I honestly thought we were going to be besties". He looked more hurt than heartbroken.

"It wasn't Jake's fault. I asked him not to tell you about our history, I should've been honest with you. I kissed him, everything that happened between us happened because of me and I'm sorry  but don't take it out on Jake".

He held my eyes for a while.
"You didn't force him to do anything, Travis, he did it out of his own freewill. He told me everything and honestly, I can't compete with that".

"Look he didn't..."
"It's fine Travis, really. I always kinda knew Jake and I were never going to work. He hates beaches and I want a mansion by the ocean". He shrugged with a small smile and I relaxed in the uncomfortable bar stool.

"Well, he and I ain't gonna work either".
He scoffed.

"Come on, he's crazy about you. He talks about you more than he does football. I had my suspicions but I just didn't peg you to be gay.

Jake is a great guy, Travis and if dark and brooding is his spec then the has my blessings but all I ask is that you do better for him. He might seem like he has it all on lock down but the truth is that he is still figuring a lot out".

"He is better off without me".
Albert laughed.
"I agree but he wants you, for some reason". He gave me a  look that made me laugh.

"So. What can I get you this bright morning?"
"Burger and fries". He frowned.

"You are so painfully basic, aren't you? Don't worry love, I'll fix you something delicious". He disappeared to the kitchen and came back a while later with a huge bowl packed with food.

"You tryna kill me?"

"I know you think you are buff but honestly you look like a skeleton with muscles and no flesh". He placed his hands on his waist like a mother scolding her child.

"I could be a model".
"No, love. I could be a model, you'd be a stagehand".

He moved on to another customer, greeting them with his huge grin.

       I ate everything, the rice, the eggey chicken, the veggies and everything else he managed to stuff in that bowl and when I was done, he said it was on the house and sent me off.