The boy slowly opened his eyes, struggling to focus on something. He was feeling so dizzy, in a light-headed manner but strangely empty.

Leaning against the wall, he took in the desolate shower curtain, the bathtub and the silver faucets. Solitude took place once again in his mind and he slumped down further onto the floor.

He lived alone in the apartment: his parents had gotten it for him when he turned sixteen. He sometimes wished he had a loving mother who would’ve bought him a nice carpet so he wouldn’t have to step on cold tiles after his shower. Or a father who would proudly thump him on the back because he could take care of himself.

No, screw that. He wanted them here. He wanted to be a normal seventeen year-old so he could bitch about his parents or sneak out at night if he didn’t have the permission to go to a party. To eat homemade meals even if he barely ate, to have talks about his future even if he didn’t worry about it, to know that –no matter what- two persons in the world would never judge him and love him forever.

He almost hated his independence, he almost pined for his parents to just barge in and prevent him from doing everything he wanted. Just to show how much they cared, how much they worried about his getting hurt. At least, someone!

He was being unfair. Faye would always be there for him but sometimes, it felt like she wasn’t really present, as if her soul was wandering elsewhere and only her body remained, like an empty shell.

He shakily rose, stumbling to the sink and blankly stared at the bloody handprint on the mirror. Raising its replica of flesh, he posed it over the other. He looked at the trail of red disappearing under his sleeve, the fragile wrist, and the rubber bracelets. He glanced at the reflection in the glass: a pale waif-like boy with messy straight hair and dark-looking eyes lined with smudged eyeliner. He wiped the traces of tears on his cheeks and thought of how much he looked like shit. His own blood seemed grey and had probably been used to paint the walls of this godforsaken place.

Matthew sighed then proceeded to clean the mess up.

---

- Faye? Faye!

The girl was reading, curled up on the kitchen’s window sill, and unconsciously ignoring the person calling her. She blinked and looked up when a hand was laid on her shoulder.

- I really wish you’d stop putting your feet in the sink, hunny.

Faye didn’t respond, her eyes going from her mother’s face to the book in her lap with an undecided expression. She opted for the latter and resumed to her previous occupation.

Mrs. Waybourne was used to Faye’s peculiar behaviour. She always seemed to be walking on the moon, unaware of her surroundings. The girl had her soul up in the clouds and rarely came back to reality, speaking in random outbursts, tuning in and out of conversations and living according to a secret, scattered schedule. She made people wonder what was going on in her head but whatever it was, it was surely beautiful to captivate her so.

The microwave loudly beeped, the sound not even reaching Faye’s ears. She continued reading on quietly without moving the slightest.

- The water for your tea is ready, Mrs. Waybourne cautiously declared.

She was always afraid to abruptly shake Faye out of her dream world by giving her a heart attack. It hurt to feel her daughter so close yet so far, in a sort of alternate dimension no one could reach.

- I have to meet Siyamak, Faye suddenly said before leaping down and planting a kiss on her mother’s cheek.

Siyamak.. The weird nickname she had come up for her friend. From what Mrs. Waybourne had gathered, it meant “man with dark eyes” in Persian although they were actually the colour of gold. Sometimes, Faye would call the boy Satu, “fairytale” in Japanese. Her mother wasn’t even sure if he was her best friend or boyfriend. They were quasi always together: Faye spent more nights at his place than at home.

Mrs. Waybourne had met Matthew several times and had always been disconcerted by the shyly defiant but sad look in his eyes.

- But it’s already past midnight, she faltered.

- I love you, Faye simply replied, strolling calmly out of the room.

When she wasn’t with her only friend, Faye could be seen walking in the streets or sitting in the park with a smile on her lips. Some persons thought that she was simple-minded but it was far from the truth. Actually, no one really knew what was what. The girl had a high IQ but pathetic grades and couldn’t seem to manage focusing on anything that she didn’t consider important. But what was important in Faye’s world?

---

A slow steady beat rose like in the opening credits of a movie before exploding into electric disorganisation as the camera films above the crowd.

A boy coated in sweat drank greedily from a bottle of water, watching a girl dancing by.

- Nice tits, a voice commented in his ear.

Even with the loud music, Keenan had no trouble hearing and his face lit up with a smirk.

- Nice ass, he pointedly replied, turning around to face his girlfriend.

Aubrey nodded in agreement. Her usually perfect blonde hair was sagging on her shoulders in a matted mess but she still looked lovely.

- Have you been fucking? Keenan inquired.

- Why, yes. I have been. But you knew that, I saw you watching, you nasty pervert.

- Can’t help it, love. Especially when you’re against a wall and looking at me.

She narrowed her eyes in a way that reminded of a cat but the teasing smile on her lips showed she was amused.

Aubrey and Keenan had been an item for two years now but that didn’t prevent them from fooling around with others. The rules were clear: they could fuck whoever they wanted. Both of them always came back to the other though. After all, the two were in love even if most didn’t think it could be possible given their “decadent” ways.

They had always been two flirts and self-proclaimed sluts. At first, they had started seeing each other because the sex was fabulous and they had similar views on a lot of matters. Gradually, the feeling had developed into something more and they had started doing everything together as an item.

Nevertheless, neither felt inclined to be restricted by the other. They both felt the need to please and discover strangers, as well as taking up the challenge of seducing difficult cases. Aubrey needed the rush of caressing lusty eyes, who were just begging for a second look, and Keenan was in love with new bodies, adoring the feel of unknown skin against his own.

They were a match made in heaven.

---

Matthew was perched on the terrace railing, listening to the sounds of a party in the warehouse down his street. The screams and drunken laughter gave him an impression of claustrophobia even though he was sitting in pure air all alone.

After cleaning up, he had changed into another long-sleeved shirt, a hoodie and some baggie jeans. Faye was supposedly staying over for the night but he wasn’t too sure anymore as it was almost two am now.

As if to contradict him, a soft rap suddenly came from his door and the doorknob turned to let Faye in. He had given her a key but as she always lost it, he generally just let the door open as she never came when she was expected.

She lightly walked over to Matthew, her hips swaying in her fairy way. She always seemed to be dancing and every gesture was a soft hesitation.

- I saw a hot air balloon today, Faye said, shivering. It floated above our house and I went on the roof to watch.

Matthew slipped his hoodie off and made her wear it. She was usually clothed in the least adapted way: light summer dresses when it was cool, sweaters when it was warm. Faye was always aware of the weather but the climate she preferred was cold and for some reason, she had then concluded she could wear whatever she wanted in that case.

- It was amazing, Satu, she continued. There was the fire of Life up there.

- When did you leave? Matthew asked, glancing at her blue lips and tank top.

She didn’t answer and leaned on the railing, absently watching the few persons moving in the warehouse’s parking lot. Matthew sat down, his legs hanging over the edge and lit a cigarette.

- I want to go see, Faye finally replied, nodding towards the noise.

- Eh, we can do that if you change into something warmer, Matthew quietly retorted.

She immediately headed towards the boy’s closet, rummaging until she found one of his tighter pants. They were too long and still a little large for her but it didn’t matter. Matthew discreetly turned away, waiting for her to change.

- Your cigarette looks like a Christmas tree covered in snow, Faye suddenly remarked with a smile.

Matthew jumped a little, surprised to see she had crept so close without his noticing. She gently took his hand and helped him to his feet.

---

- I’m exhausted, Aubrey happily proclaimed to no one in particular.

Keenan caught her lips in a deep kiss before letting her walk to the car. She stopped in her tracks then opened the door.

- Get in the car and look to your right, she whispered to Keenan.

- Your word is law, Milady, he joked. What do I have to- Oh.

- I know, Aubrey nodded.

- Which one are you staring at, the boy or the girl?

- Both.

They silently looked at their –seemingly- new preys. The boy was lanky with pale skin and dark hair even though he was so horribly dressed, it was impossible to figure out what he looked like underneath all those baggy clothes. The girl had big dreamy eyes and was apparently slender but attired in the same frustrating fashion.

- Hot, Keenan briefly said.

- They definitely radiate from sexual presence, Aubrey agreed.

- It’s kinda hard to see what they have to offer, he sighed, cocking his head to the side.

- Come on, you can tell. The boy oozes from “fuck me” vibes, not to mention the girl has very sexy lips.

- And a very sexy ass, I bet.

They watched them quietly talk, sitting on the curb of the sidewalk. The girl leaned down to write something on the boy’s pants, making the two share a private smile.

- Are they at our school? Aubrey frowned.

- I’d be damned if I’ve ever seen them in my life.

- They must be, there is no other in this city unless they go to the private one.

- No way, Keenan rolled his eyes. They don’t really look like those rich preps.

- Either way, I’d fuck them.

- Who would you start with?

- I really don’t know, Aubrey mused. I tend to prefer guys but the girl has a definite appeal. Look at her move!

- Mmh, Keenan bit his lips. Totally, totally. And the boy has a shy thing going on that I really like.

- How about we strike up a conversation?

- Sounds like a plan, Keenan smirked, getting out of the car without further ado.

---

I couldn’t help starting another story. I already have some plans for this one though. Hope you enjoyed! I’m going to go update Belmont now. Ciao.