Chapter 5 Invite Me In

• Using his still wet shirt, he wiped his eyes clean, fuck, he must look like shit. Looking around the room he wondered where to even begin. He has been eating and sleeping in a dumpster for days.
• How does anyone live like this?
• He picked up a box and began picking up the bottles. He was at his sixth bottle when his phone began to vibrate again. Fuck, he had become such an alcoholic. Putting down the box he walked over to the made bed and picked up his phone. It was Easton, probably returning to the room. He dropped the phone and rushed over to clear the bottles. A foul stench filled his nostrils, twisting his facial expressions into that of disgust. His eyes scanned the room for the source and soon found the many boxes of unfinished foods and pizza boxes with rotten slices sticking everywhere.
• "Fuck, Alex!" He cussed, putting down the box of bottles. The bottles weren't very important anymore, he needed to get rid of those rotten foods, fast. As he hurried to gather the many boxes, each had food left in them, he realized how less and less he had eaten the last few weeks. It's like his eating habits had gone down to zero, as the last three days boxes he bought were kept untouched but opened on the table. Like he had prepared to eat them but had forgotten.
• With hands filled with food boxes, a knock returned to his door and he walked over to the bin to dump the rotten things. Realizing the bin was full, he forced them in nonetheless, using hands and feet to shove them inside and the knock at his door wouldn't stop. He still had a lot to do but he couldn't keep Easton waiting out for much longer so he went over to the door, unlocked and pulled it open.
• Easton smiled and he forced one of his own. The man smelt like spring water and shaven cream. Dressed casually in black jeans on a white long-sleeved shirt, a brown boot on his feet. In one hand he held a bag and in the other, his phone. His wandering eyes returned to gorgeous blue eyes, thick lashes and brow, and finally to his all laid-back black hair.
• "Invite me in once you have finished, accessing my look."
• He choked on air and shook his head, clearing his jumbled-up brain. "Oh, sorry. Please come in, be careful where you step, I was cleaning up." Easton walked in smoothly, he walked over to the recently cleared table to place the bag and his phone then he was heading to the windows. It was when he began to pull thick curtains aside and opened the windows that Alexander realized he hadn't even opened them to let the foul stench out.
• Stupid.
• "Are you going to just stand there or are you going to help me get this place cleaned up?" His eyes fell into those seas of blues and he smiled despite himself. He doesn't deserve a friend like Easton. Having dedicated his entire existence to Maria, he hadn't made a single friend. Didn't go out for parties or hang out with friends or even coworkers. Only when it's inevitable that he attended one of the gatherings his ex-bosses held. Even then he didn't socialize that much with coworkers but somehow, Easton had noticed him and liked him since then.
• Who would have thought?
• He bent down and began picking up bottles, while Easton packed up whatever was left of the food boxes, his shoes, and socks, then his many clothing lying around at every corner. They cleaned up silently and not once did Easton make a remark at how smelly the room was or how messy the place was. He never said a word, he just helped him clean up and in no time, the room was squeaky clean. Dishes were done and kitchen sinks rubbed down clean. Dirty clothes in the washing machine. His carpet and rug swept, fresh air flowed into the room. "There, all done."
• Alexander smiled. He looked around the room and nodded. "Thanks." Easton waved him off.
• "Go get out of those wet clothes and take a bath, I brought lunch." He pointed to the bag he had placed on the table and Alexander nodded without a word. Like a good boy he walked into the bathroom, got cleaned up, and by the time he returned, Easton had already set the table, lots of healthy food, fruits, water, and orange juice but he felt sad as he didn't seem very hungry. "It's alright, Xander, just a bite will do but drink lots of that orange juice and some water." He nodded again, drew a chair close, and sat down. They both ate in silence, only sharing a few words here and there. What they didn't finish, Easton packed up and placed into the refrigerator. "Get changed, we are leaving." He announced once he returned from putting away the leftovers.
• "Leaving?" Alexander asked, tilting his head to look at the other man.
• "Yeah, we are getting you out of this room for a change."
• "But, I don't feel like it."
• "I didn't ask." Easton walked over to his closet and began sorting out clothes for him. "The weather is warm, a perfect day to go frolicking by the beach. So some shorts and cotton would do." He picked out his outfit and threw it to the other who sat still and just watched without a smile. "Get dressed, that's an order."
• "Fine." He replied begrudgingly and began to change into the new clothes. "Why the beach?" He inquired and Easton snorted.
• "You love the beach."
• "How did you know that?"
• "I just know."
• "Have you been stalking me?"
• "Yeah, you wish." The other denied and walked over to sit by the end of the bed, his phone in his hand.
• Alexander laughed, he worked with the man a few months ago so of course, he should know because he would always speak about how he finds this certain calmness whenever he is walking by the waters, feeling the warm sands on his feet and seawater constantly brushing up against his skin. Like a gentle caress, a reassurance that everything will be alright in the end. Only it never was. He didn't know Easton paid attention to his rantings. It's like the man took great details into knowing all about him. Like he knew he needed someone to be there for him and he was always there.
• Their relationship had blossomed quickly the night he had caught him crying sitting alone in his car.
• **********
• "Easton?" He was knocking on the windows until the other man wind down and unlocked the car door so he could get in. "What's the matter."
• "Gia left me."
• That had to be the fourth relationship he has had in barely six months. If he could recall correctly, first it was Benson, then there was Olly, and Michelle and now Gia, he only just met her.
• "What happened?" He didn't understand why it always ended so quickly. He also didn't want to push him before now so he hadn't asked. If there was something to talk about he was certain he would have mentioned it or told him, himself, so he didn't want to pry.
• "Please, don't judge me if I tell you this." Alexander saw the pain in his eyes and he wanted to take all his sadness always so he would bear them for him. Persons of Easton's type and sadness don't mix. It's like trying to blend fire and water. "They all left me because of one reason."
• "What reason?"
• "Sex."
• "Sex?" Alexander asked, his brows twisted in confusion. "Is something wrong with you... healthwise?" He was cautious with that question, he didn't wish to offend him any more than he already was.
• "No, it's just, I don't... I don't..." he inhaled and held it for a long time. "There has to be more to a relationship than sex, right?" He breathed out.
• "Yeah, of course, love isn't sex and doesn't always have to be sexualized."
• "Then why does everyone at the end of our third date just assume it's time for sex and when they don't get it, they feel offended, and they won't stop pushing to have it. Then they asked if I'm not attracted to them. Of course, I am, I wouldn't go out with them if I wasn't, right?"
• "Right." Alexander nodded.
• "I'm greyace, Xander. I just want to be loved and find love. I want to be happy with someone, and spend the rest of my life with them, but not necessarily about the sex. I know I sound like a broken record but I'm twenty-eight and not once have I experienced love, I fear I would be lonely forever. You know what Olly said before he walked out on me?" Alexander shook his head negatively and the broken man continued. "He said, 'if you don't want to have sex then you shouldn't be getting into any relationships. It's not fair to those who love and want you' he made it sound like just because I'm ace, I don't deserve to love or be loved like there's something wrong with me."
• "Okay, I'll stop you right there, I can listen to you say anything but not you say something is wrong with you. If anything is wrong with anyone, then it should be those little-minded people you've fallen for who have refused to see the man that you are but are clouded by their own lust for a passing moment of pleasure. That isn't love, Easton, it can't be love. Love doesn't see any of those things, love sees you and I tell you something, you haven't found the one for you, when you do, you would see for yourself, that what these people had offered wasn't even close."
• "I'm not sex-repulsed...it's just-"
• "Limited." Alexander finished for him and he smiled.
• "I suddenly feel so warm and calm, thank you, Xander." Easton hugged the man. "Thank you."
• "Hey, you also might want to put that out there when next you find someone you're attracted to, it's best you know what they want before you get too attached or even better get someone who understands you, a wonderful human under the same umbrella."
• "Look at you being all sentimental on me." Easton teased and his friend laughed. "But, you're right, it's my mistake, it should be put out there."
• Alexander patted his back and nodded in agreement.
• "We all can't be the same, Easton, understand that. That idea was why I tolerated Maria and her personality. I loved her, still do even, I'm ashamed to say but things like this just don't fade away but my point is, stay true to yourself, don't compromise for anyone or anything. If it mattered to the next person then they should be willing to make sacrifices too but if not, then you move on, it will hurt, like it's hurting you now but, you will get over it in time and look forward to the brightness ahead."
• "Had dinner yet?" Easton asked and when Alexander replied with a no, he turned the keys and drove them out of the parking lot. "Let's feed the sharks."
• That night marked a new beginning for both of them. And in their relationship.
• **********
• "All done," Alexander told him once he had finished wearing his clothes.
• "Let's go!" The other echoed and they both laughed as they walked out of the room together.
• Both men chatted away softly with warm laughter as they locked up and walked down the hallway. Neither of them noticed the older woman trailing behind them until she spoke...
• "This fine gentleman paid all your rent and even more, did you thank him, Mr. Alex?"
• "Whoa... Mrs. Takahashi!" They both jumped at her voice and sudden appearance.
• She was right. He hadn't even remembered to say thanks.
• "Thank you, Easton."
• "You bad man!" She smacked his back where her little hangs could reach and Easton came to his rescue. He grabbed her hands and pleaded that she give him another chance.
• It was all laughter and small talk as all three walked down the flight of stairs together.
• ******************