Chapter 5
Alexzander wandered streets lost; yesterday he’d been a professional acrobat with a big bright future. Now he was poor, wandering aimless streets to find some work. All places asked questions like you any experience, or do you have any previous employment? When he quite rightly said he was Alexzander Yeasa he got cold hard laughter and then ushered out the door with replies “Alexzander Yeasa died in the circus fire kid, go waste someone else’s time.”
All this time he realized that if it wasn’t for Jared he could still be famous, not dead and soon to forgotten. It’s only when you’re dead you realize you maybe should of acted different. How was he to know he would lose it all?
He walked the streets his eyes heavy from lack of sleep and backpack tiring him out.
He had no money and no means to earn any.
Was this to be the story of Alexzander Yeasa dying in a gutter?
No one caring, no good Samaritans,
all his dreams and hopes lost.
What burnt more than hunger or fatigue was his last chat with Tea had been arrogant, and then when he saw her bathing it was like all he had said then was wrong. Was this lust or love? What did it matter she was dead, why couldn’t he just die without remembering her like that?
Alexzander sat down on the ground,
he couldn’t drink this sorrow away,
nor could he just forget it by talking to people.
Was he the most pathetic person on the planet right now?
Was he being punished for his arrogance?
Would he even be missed? After all everyone thought he was dead so why not complete the lie and make it a truth?
Alexzander sighed and took a quick look at his life. An arrogant acrobat dies losing all. How poetic. He lay his head down on the hard ground and began to cry.
Alexzander barely cried but with no sign of anything or anyone saving him. He couldn’t see any other alternative but to give up.
A noise broke his thoughts. A figure approached him and bent down “Yer okay fella, yer sure 'ave a looks like yer’re depressed.”
Alexzander quickly sat up bewildered “W…wh…who are you? He stammered.
“Calm dahn kid, I’m guessin' yer’ve lost all… Oh and me name Quinn.”
“What’s your game Quinn, get me to trust you…?”
“but let me warn ya," he said, his eyebrow raised and a look in his
eyes that said "you wouldn't last two seconds". "It's not a right good idea ter be alone. Especially on these streets..." and with that, he walked away, his manner annoyingly superior.
Alexzander stood and pleaded, “No please don’t go, I don’t think I could last a night!”
Quinn turned round it was at this time Alexzander fully saw him scraggly blond hair with hints of dirt throughout; his street experienced eyes, cyan. He was wearing about five layer of clothing—all ripped. His nose had a long bridge and was very narrow. His cheeks though dirty were still red. The main thing Alexzander noticed was his hands could never stay still.
Quinn smiled “I wouldn’t of really left ya alone, because face it… erm” Quinn looked at Alexzander sheepishly “What ya name?” Alex noted Quinn had a very feminine voice and long legs for a boy, but maybe he just got a lot of exercise.
Alexzander examined Quinn suspiciously. He didn’t even know Quinn fully or know anything about him. What was to stop Quinn slitting his throat at night and stealing his rucksack, because now Alexzander was starting to understand that in this world it was survival of the fittest! Then again, Quinn had come to him, so maybe he could trust him. After a long pause, he answered “Alex…” He had thrown away his life so why not his old name to?
Quinn grinned “Well Alex one fin' ya need ter know, and that is no geezer cares for ya so let’s punish them for their disrespect ter us.”
Alex looked at Quinn confused “Huh… What do you mean, and how?”
Quinn looked up sceptical and asked, “Alex 'ow ya fink I’ve survived so long…?”
Alex gave helpless shrug and replied, “Luck!?”
Quinn’s expression turned to bemusement, “Luck! That’s all yer fink it takes ter survive on street, then, mate? Boy, right, yer’re in for a shock.”
“Well what then?” screamed Alex, now getting frustrated with Quinn.
Quinn put his hands on Alex shoulders, “Calm dahn… I’ll tell ya, right, but please quit screamin', I’d ravver not 'ang about wiv some bloke 'oo loses it so easily.”
Alex sighed and shut up.
Quinn smile returned almost immediately after he had stopped shouting, “I’m a fief, a rogue, a beggar, call me wot ya will.”
Alex had to smile; you sure would believe that Quinn was in all these positions with all the clothes he wore.
"So, do ya fink I'll stick a dagger in ya back now?"
Alex hung his head and looked at ground. How had Quinn known he was worried about this? Then again, it was obvious he’d been worried about Quinn hurting him, so nah Quinn just notices things. He lifted his head from the ground and smiled at Quinn.
Quinn grinned back then “Ya’re not actually finkin' of kippin' out ‘ere, right?”
Alex shrugged awkwardly, “Well I can’t exactly afford a six star hotel.”
Quinn nodded and grinned, “Ya’re right there Alex me mate, but still doesn’t mean yer canne do better than kippin' ‘ere.”
Alex lifted up his rucksack and replied “Well take me to this place, where I can sleep better.”
Quinn begun to walk away, indicating Alex to follow.
Alex followed. He was curious about Quinn’s behaviour. He seemed to have manner of a thief, but then there was like something more intellectual about him. Why was Quinn helping him? Alex asked himself.
He followed, but there was something about Quinn, he just couldn’t place his finger on it. Nor could he understand why Quinn was doing this.
The streets were near empty by now all the low-lifes were coming out their alcoves. Prostitutes stood within alleyways. One when they passed her purred, “The usual Quinn?” He waved his hand in dismissing gesture and replied, “I can’t luv I’ve got wee Alex ‘ere.”
Alex then saw horrified this was a man; he shuddered to think what the usual was. The man winked and smiled suggestively, “There enough of me about Quinn I wouldn’t mind two.”
Alex shook his head at Quinn pleading that they would not stay here. A male prostitute he had heard of them, but never gay ones. Quinn grinned. “Sure ya wouldne mind Marius” He winked, “but lets give 'im a day or two settle in. He needs ter see that we do 'ave a certain dignity.”
Alex watched as Marius and Quinn talked about various things. He kept asking who was Quinn in his head. The man he was clearly enthralled with would have had his clothes ripped off for any spare change, yet Alex could tell by way Quinn was talking he loved him and that disturbed Alex. The man had a great build with strong muscular arms clear in view. He had ivy green eyes; his strawberry blonde hair was tied up in a ponytail. He was wearing a blue blanket over his dirty white shirt, open down to last three buttons. He wore ripped trousers. Quinn stopped talking to him and they both put their mouths together and kissed. Alex fidgeted with his hands uneasily, trying not to watch. Quinn held him close as they made out. Alex coughed awkwardly blushing a deep pink. They stopped embracing once last time. Marius smiled and purred, “Come back when you’re alone Quinn.”
They walked off, Alex embarrassed. "What was that?”
Quinn smirked “That’s me sayin' allo ter him.”
Alex frowned “Couldn’t you have waited till I was gone to do that, and why not a woman?”
Quinn carried on smirking, “Variety is spice of life.”
Alex rolled his eyes “Well… I guess in the street hard to get a decent looking girl, and also I’ve a feeling he’s keeping a tab for you.”
Quinn expression changed at that moment to depression and he mumbled “Is that all I'm to 'im…, isit?A tab…, isit?Brass…?”
“Huh…? You say something Quinn?”
The depression melted away immediately “No, never mind, we’re almost there now.”
