O m a k e IV: Cosmopolitan Baby

You only hold me up like this,

'Cause you don't know who I really am.

Sometimes I just want to know what it's like to be you. -Fall Out Boy "Of All The Gin Joints In All The World"

( iv )

The first time his lips hit the beer bottle, his life was doomed--

--even before he was born.

The day he was born, was nothing special, the weather was fine and everything went okay. It was special for them though, they cherished him as the beautiful child he was--

--he would never know what hit him when the day finally came.

The first time he came home drunk, he thought it was all a joke--

--it wouldn't happen again.

His mother had shooed him away and told him to watch television--

--there was nothing for him to worry about, his father was just having a stressful day.

The first time he hit her, she said it was all an accident--

--that she deserved it.

She always seemed to take the blame, all his life that was all he ever understood--

"It's my fault dear, don't mind your father. He was only playing around, he wasn't serious."

The first time he ended up drunk behind the wheel--

--his driving license was taken away from him for a month and he was fined.

He didn't think it was enough though, his mother was only thankful--

--it could have been worse, he may have ended up dead.

Then one day…

The first jab was all it took--

--for him to finally understand.

He finally understood what his father was--

--what his mother was hiding from him through all her false smiles and reassurances.

He was an alcoholic--

--all this time, he thought it was him.

The first hit though, knocked some sense into him--

--the brutal jab that took him off his feet and onto the floor.

The first bruise on his face--

--was his first piece of evidence that he was right.

How could he have known? With this mark on his cheek though--

--it was ready for everyone to see and know, especially him.

The first enquiry because of the bruise--

--made his face and the ruddy mark famous

The rumours had been spreading years before--

--they were spreading once again, but this time he didn't want it.

Everybody started noticing things and it was making high school harder for him.

And then one day he came, and that's when everything begun to change for him.

"Mr. And Mrs. Eve I presume."

The tall, lean and handsome man was now in our foyer. He towered above my own dad and mom, looking between the two expectantly. I merely stood behind them, doing my best to keep hidden. I didn't want to be seen, maybe they'd forget about me…but I doubt it. I knew why he was here, and I wasn't too anxious to see how they'd react.

"We are, and who are you? We weren't expecting company."

"I'm here to speak about your son, Adam Eve. If you don't mind, I'd rather speak to you inside, why don't we sit?" He's presumptuous and confident, but that's not a good thing. If I can, I'll slip my way back upstairs and leave them to talk. If I don't…it'd just be worse. Holding my breath, I back away slowly, my eyes flickering back and fourth between my parents' backs and the man. His gaze catches my own, I jump slightly but continue to back away as it is.

Just a few more steps and I'll be there, come on, you can do it. His green eyed gaze continues to hold my own but I don't do anything, neither does he. I stretch my hand back and feel the wood banister of the stairs. I'm free. Almost there…

"Perhaps you should join us Adam? I'd prefer if you heard this also." Dang, I'm caught. His lips tip into a slightly knowing grin, but it could just be me…or maybe not. Both my parents turn towards me, my dad eyeing me while my mom nods.

"The kitchen would be a suitable place for this…conversation then, please come along." With my mom suggesting this lightly, she saunters her way to the kitchen hastily, my dad lumbering behind her, that quick, irritated tinge to his walk. He's angry, I can tell. He thinks I did something wrong…but if only he knew. The man raises his eyebrows encouragingly, tilting his head slightly towards where my mom and dad had headed, he strides his way, his arm resting upon my shoulder momentarily, comfortingly almost.

I sigh lowly, following after the handsome man and making my way to the kitchen, watching my mom seat the man easily, pattering over him with questions. My dad merely huffed his way into the seat across from the man, mom planting a tall, cool glass of water in front of the man before settling herself beside dad. The tall, cool glass reminds me of the man, it suits him, why I don't know. I stood at the threshold, simply watching them and not knowing what to do.

"Take a seat Adam, don't shy. I promise not to bite, kid." He grinned my way, gesturing to the wooden chair beside him. I smile a nervous smile and shook my way towards him, silently sitting myself down, ignoring the silent glares and looks coming from my parents.

"What is it you want to speak with us about, Mr…."

"Mr. Bale but please, call me Ewan. I'm sorry for having barged in at such a time but what I wanted to speak with you about, is of importance." Ewan paused for a second, the anxious; eager looks on both my parents' face showing him to continue. I could feel him watching me but I merely ignored his gaze, looking down at the glass tabletop, playing with my fingers. "Things have been being spread at the school Adam attends, and when accusations such as these are heard, the school board checks on things like this--"

"What are these…things?" My dad almost sneers questioningly, his hovering almost glare directed at me, I can feel it, but I don't do anything about it, I ignore it.

"Adam has been coming to school with bruises recently, he states it is of no worry and he has only fallen down the stairs, idle things of the sort. Do you know of this, Mr. Eve?"

"My son is clumsy, it's not of any surprise to see him fall down the stairs or trip over chairs. That's just how he was made, you can't prevent accidents." My dad states in a taut expression of glee, but knowing him, the tight clench of his jaw shows the irked anger he's trying to hold back. It's all an act.

"But of course, but you can prevent abuse Mr. Eve." At hearing this, my dad's act immediately drops, eyes wide and face turning a slight tinge of red, starting at the tips of his ears. Please don't get mad…he's making this worse.

"What are you trying to say here?" My dad asks tightly, looking expectant and glaring. My mom beside him watches nervously, biting her bottom lip.

"Nothing Mr. Eve, I'm not saying anythi--"

"Are you trying to say I abuse my son? If you are…"

"Your sourly mistaken Mr. Eve, I'm only suggesting. I never accused you of abusing Adam but I must think towards it, only because of what I've seen."

"You're from social services aren't you? You're planning on taking away our son from us aren't you?!" My mom's abrupt, hysterical questions catch us all off guard, her questions having broken the ice. She breaks down, large, plump tears starting in her eyes. I looked up slightly, choking back on the tight gulp stuck in my throat. My head remained down though, I didn't want to see any of their faces…especially his.

"Please, Mrs. Eve, let me explain--"

"You don't have to explain anything. We know exactly why you're here and your reasoning is fucking stupid! Where you get these ideas…I don't know. But whatever it is, I want you to leave. You've hurt my wife enough as it is, and tainting my reputation! Leave," My dad's yell and husky command momentarily howled over my mom's cries, a taut and crackling air hovering over us. I could just feel the hesitance in the handsome man beside me, "leave my house at once." The finality in my dad's voice was scary angry, and this scary angry isn't good for me either. Once the man leaves…I'm the one who'll take the brunt of his anger, only because he can and he blames me.

"I'm not leaving without your son." Hearing this suddenly, it brings my head up, my widened and surprised gaze shooting to the handsome man beside me. What is he trying to do? Get me killed…his unwavering gaze is locked on my dad's blazing eyes, making me look between them nervously, catching my mom's wavering damp eyes on them and me.

"What did you say?"

"I'm not leaving without your son, Mr. Eve. If I left him here, god only knows what you'd do to him now. I'm not wiling to take that risk, whatever the consequences." This only makes my dad furious, his whole face red now, eyes ablaze and lips set into a tight line. The younger, handsome man merely watches him with a cool and calm gaze; I would think he'd be scared out of his wits by now…he's brave…and stupid all in one.

"Do I-I have any s-say in this…?" Why I stammer this out, I don't know, but I do and I can't take it back. All eyes dart to me, angry, hesitant and everything else mixed into one. I don't like this attention, this awkward not-knowing-what's-going-to-happen-next feeling either.

"Yes, of course Adam. I only hope you make the right decision…" the look he the younger man gives me causes me to tremble slightly, making me nervous and hesitant in everything I think and do, and everything I will have thought and did. I didn't like it, green eyes like his shouldn't be legal, comforting but pleading, I can see it, if only faintly. It doesn't make things any easier…

The first time he entered the lair--

--he was ensnared.

Six years later, he's grown and things have changed. How he's ended up like this, he doesn't know--

--perhaps it's the comforting feeling of knowing he can prevent another drunk, another night, and another kid getting ruined.

I pity him. He was only trying to help, and look where it led me…back to the beginning except I'm the one who's making them like this. I'm the one giving them this terrible elixir, which later on in turn burns another essence of life…I still love him though for trying.

( iv )

Bottoms. Up. Adam. N. Eve.