Chapter 2

I'f you haven't read chapter one I definitely recommend it, otherwise you will not quite know what's going on. I hope you enjoy this chapter, I've been working hard on it!

Chapter 2

James turned the ignition key and pulled the Camaro away from the alley and into the streets, where despite the late hour numerous cars were busy queuing up and blocking the roads, a sight typical to Manhattan. I stopped thinking about the traffic however as my attention turned to the car itself; the engine humming and roaring as it moved along the still busy roads, and the plush leather interior complete with under seat heating!
‘James, how do you even afford this kind of car? It must have cost thousands.’
‘Well, after high school I took up a course in cooking, and I was eventually recruited by the Delmonico restaurant as a chef,' He grinned and looked over at me, 
'The pay’s good, and I was able to buy this baby earlier this year,’
‘I never knew you were a chef, I didn’t even know you liked to cook!’ James simply smiled at me, not taking his eyes off of the road. His smile revealed his teeth this time, and I couldn’t help but admire how clean they were, and in combination with the rest of his well-groomed self it was clear that he took care of his appearance.

‘Well Zack, sometimes people have the strangest ways of surprising you,' he took a moment to divert his attention from the road and look at me, 
'Take you as an example; you are on the streets, yet you speak so well, which doesn’t make sense in many people’s eyes,’ I tried not to look offended, but I knew what he meant.
‘James, before I was on the streets I used to be one of the best in my English classes. and I did try to keep my knowledge of speaking fresh despite my situation,’
‘Which is good to hear!’ He had pulled up in front of a large apartment building, and turned off the engine. ‘I’m glad you kept on learning, it shows you have hope,' he paused so he could get out of the car, then he focused on me,  
'And with your talents in the world of academics I’m sure you’ll be able to go far in this world.’
‘I’m not so sure, it’s been a while. Is this where you live? This is where the rich people live,’
‘it’s one of the perks of my line of work. I’ve got a studio apartment overlooking the city, do you want to see it?’
‘I don’t even know why you’re asking me, of course I do!’ James again took the liberty of taking my things and carrying them inside, with me following him to the elevator, which took us to the eighth floor.

Outside the lift was a single corridor going directly towards an oak wooden door, which I assumed to be James’, unless he lived inside the walls which was more what I’d do. The corridor itself was quite bare, and it’s only decorations were a single light on the ceiling and a photo of the New York skyline during the summer, which I began to admire whilst James unlocked the door. James grinned at me, showing he beautifully clean teeth once more,
‘Are you coming in Zack, or shall I leave you to admire that photo a little but longer?’
‘Sorry. I got a bit distracted. it’s a stunning picture,’
‘I got it recently from a work colleague, he dabbles in photography as a hobby, and I wanted some pictures to spruce up the place,’

He opened the door to his apartment, and he stood aside to allow me to go in first, letting me get the first glimpse of what I thought was nothing short of a masterpiece. The apartment was mainly one large room, complete with a lounger, dining area and kitchen, and all of it was covered in polished oak panelled floors and lit up with small crystal chandeliers. Just beyond the lounge area was a large window which opened out onto a balcony looking out to the skyline itself; it looked very much like the picture in the corridor,
‘James… did your friend take that picture in the corridor from your balcony?’ he looked over from a small side corridor and smiled,
‘Yes, yes he did, I was wondering if you’d notice. it’s a perfect view isn’t it? I’ve spent entire evenings just admiring it,’
‘It is beautiful, I’ve never seen anything quite like it,' I turned my attention from the amazing view and looked into his eyes, and smiled.  
'Thank you for taking me in James, you’re like a guardian angel, you saved me from myself.’ I sat myself on one of the mahogany dining chairs and began to cry, however I cried more out of happiness than sadness or anger, and after a moment James came and down sat next to me.

‘Are you ok Zack?’ He asked, while he held onto my hands, which caused me to bring myself together,
‘I’m fine, sorry I’m just so happy. I’ve never known someone to treat me so well, not in years,’
‘You don’t have to tell me, but what happened to you to make you, of all people, end up on the streets?’ I looked at him, and he looked right back at me, his eyes staring into mine, somehow with more tenderness than before.
‘It all started two years ago, just after my eighteenth birthday. By now I’d been out for just over a year, so I was used to hatred, but that wasn’t the problem.' I paused, and took another deep breath before continuing,
'About a week after my birthday my Mother was stabbed in the street, and she passed away later that day; her death drove my Father insane, and after the funeral he used up his funds and my college fund to pay for alcohol. and to make it worse he started to gamble,' I wiped some tears off my face, and stifled a cry. I knew I had to tell him everything, it was the best thing to do.
'That summer he lost the family car in a poker game, and he didn’t stop there. He gambled away the furniture, any remaining money, and the house, and I soon social services took me away and put me in a foster home,’

I stopped my story and began to cry, I’d buried these memories in my sub conscience for two years, and to bring them up again ruined my already unstable emotional state, but James continued to hold my hands, and look into my eyes
‘It’s ok, you can stop if you want to. I know I can never truly know the pain you’re going through, but I want you to know something…’
‘No, I need to say it; I need to finish this story. I’ve kept this out of my mind for years, and it’s about time I faced it,' I sat back, and stopped my tears, while James simply held onto my hand to support me.  
'My life did get worse after I was moved, the home I was in was horrible, and my new ‘parents’ were more like dictators, contrary to how I thought they would be, considering that they let me stay there despite my age! I stayed there for a couple of months, after which I couldn’t take it anymore, so I left and tried to find a new life in the city,' James smiled at me, but deep down I could tell he knew what I was going to say next, and after I shuffled in my seat I took another deep breath and spoke,
'It didn’t work out, I had no money and no real qualifications, and because of my emotional situation many people felt uncomfortable around me; I ended up on the streets, and that’s how I remained for the past eight months, until you came along,’ I didn’t cry when I finished, it actually felt good to tell someone, it gave a sensation similar to a weight being lifted off my chest, which was an amazing thing to feel.

James let go of my hand and pulled me into a hug, his slow breathing soothing me and his big hands gently rubbed my back, giving me the same feeling his eyes did when he looked at me.
‘Zack,’ he said, in a tone close to a whisper, ‘You interrupted me earlier, but that’s ok. I want to make a promise to you, one that I will always keep, no matter what,’ I looked up at him with a blank face, and an open mind.
‘Zack, what was your surname? I didn’t ask that either,’ I chuckled,
‘Williamson, I don’t have a middle name so that’s my full name,’
‘Well then, here goes. Zack Williamson, I promise that from now until the end of my life I will be there for you, to watch and protect you, and to love you no matter what happens,’ I initially smiled as he said this, but then I put my head into my hands, and released a single tear.

‘James… I can’t do this. I don’t want to hurt you, but I just can’t love you,’
‘What do you mean? I don’t understand, what’s wrong with me?’
‘It’s not you James, it’s me!' I paused and wiped more tears from my eyes, which were now hurting from crying so much. 
'I’ve loved people in the past, and they have either betrayed me, or I have left them behind. I have hurt and been hurt so many times, and I can’t stand to hurt someone else, let alone you, I wouldn’t be able to bear it,’ James gave me a solemn look, and reached for my hands again. I knew I had to make my point clear, so to avoid hurting him more I moved my hands away, stood up and took a step back;
‘I really like you James, but I’m not ready for this. Please just give me time, maybe I will change,’
‘For you Zack, I’d wait a thousand years,' James stood up and walked over to a small side corridor, where a striped rug covered the floor. 
'Your bedroom is just down the corridor, first door on the left; it has a bathroom so you can clean yourself up. How about we get some rest and talk this over in the morning?’ I nodded, 

‘Maybe I could also give you a tour of some of the city as well? I know you’ve probably seen most of it but it would be nice to spend some time with you,’
‘I’d like that, see you in the morning,’
‘I’ll make breakfast tomorrow, I hope you like bacon and eggs!’ I think he knew I did, and I couldn’t help but grin at the thought of such a meal. I retreated down the corridor and found my room, a luxurious suite containing a king sized bed, a crystal chandelier and a wardrobe large enough for ten people. Through another door was a large bathroom, made mostly of white tiling and a wooden ceiling, also I noticed that both rooms contained various mahogany tables and cupboards for books and other luxury items.

I showered and shaved off my small beard, and decided that I would need a proper hair cut soon, to make myself look myself again. Once I had shaved I found my way into the bed, and snuggled into the velvet duvets, which were the most warm and comfortable duvets I’d ever slept in, and as I began to drift off to sleep my mind went back to James; I did like him a lot, but I couldn’t hurt someone, not after other people had done the same to me! My father cast me aside, my friends cast me aside, and I’m not going to hurt James by casting him aside, I would never be able to forgive myself for it. I soon forced myself to count sheep, and after sheep number six I drifted off into a deep sleep, something I’d not had for a long time.