Solitaire Game

The Little House on 24th Street

Chapter One
The Little House on 24th Street



A house does not make a home – Dorothy Parkin

Matt stared at himself in the bathroom mirror – the thin, bruised face clean of any makeup had a tired, sagging look that made him frown. He looked haggard. This wasn’t the way he’d wanted to meet David… all the other boy had done for him was help him. He was so good despite the fact that they’d never met… Why would anyone want to help someone who so clearly looked like he trailed problems around with him, someone who appeared incapable of really looking after themselves.

Yet when David had pulled up outside a red bricked apartment block with a black, corrugated fire escape like he’d noticed in the movies, Matt had been gently shaken awake by his friend as three other people ran out to greet them.

“DAVIE!!!” the only girl had shouted, “My god I thought you’d never get here!!!”

She was smaller than Matt and dressed in leggings and a loose grey jumper that came down to just past her bum and as she’d jumped into David arms, locking her legs around his waist, Matt noticed that she was only wearing slippers.

“Millie…” He heard David laugh into her brown hair as he kissed the side of her chin, “I’ve missed you too.”

“Hope you missed us as well!” A tall, broad man with short, shaven hair added with a grin.

They exchanged a friendly hand shake as Millie detangled herself from her enthusiastic embrace then the third stranger, a plump, baby-faced man with eyes that looked almost Chinese as he smiled moved in to give David a hug and a handshake.

Hesitantly Matt stepped out of the car, rubbing his neck where he’d been leaning on the window awkwardly. David noticed his uneasiness and moved to include him in the group, “Matt: this is Camilla,”

“Call me Millie please.” She begged, reaching out to give him a hug which he allowed for a brief second. Her large brown eyes seemed to note all the little details of him as she looked him over, he shivered and glanced down under the scrutiny until she declared, “Gawd you’re cute, hun, I’m sure we’ll get along.” And laughed, passing him along so that David could introduced him to the other two.

“This is Tyson,” He indicated the man with Chinese eyes, “And Stefan.” He introduced the guy that Matt would have pegged as a rugby player. They shook hands with him with a smile and a nod, “Guys, this is Matt, the friend from England I said I’d bring along. Be nice.”

Millie had instantly squealed, “You didn’t say he was from England. Where are you from?”

David shook his head and indicated that he’d be fetching his things from the car; Matt noted that the other two men went to help whilst Millie threw her arm around his shoulder and began to lead him inside. He tried to ignore the pain in his shoulders as she pulled him along.

“A place just outside London. High Wycombe. You probably won’t know it…” He smiled. He liked her. She reminded him of his sister a bit.

“Oh I went there!” She exclaimed, “Well – I went to West Wycombe to a party at the Dashwoods. Do you know them?”

“I know of them.” He replied, surprised, “When were you in England?”

“Oh about… eighteen months ago. I did a year there for my degree course.”

“That’s amazing. Where do you go to university?”

She giggled, “Oh I go to Art College here but I was in London for six months and then three months in Edinburgh. I felt so silly when I turned up – all the buildings felt so small and then there was the fact that I thought Scotland was in England. Totally silly. So would you like a coffee?”

By this point she’d managed to lead him upstairs to the second floor and was fumbling with the lock on the door.

He’d nodded, “If there’s any tea I’d love some.”

“Tea!” She’d squealed again, “Gawd it’s been ages since someone other than me wanted tea!”

From there he’d been ushered into a room with a double bed and a camp bed set up in it. It was decorated with posters and cards of artists work – he recognised an Ed Hardy between a Van Gogh and a collection of caricatures. He’d been told he could share the room with David for as long as he needed to stay because it was technically Millie’s room but she was sleeping in Stefan’s room whilst David was visiting and when Matt had tried to explain that he didn’t want to be any hassle he’d been told to shush and not worry since Millie and Stefan were dating anyway and didn’t mind using the excuse to sleep in the same bed. All in all, he’d been treated like he was a regular friend rather than an impromptu visitor. He couldn’t believe his luck it was like… this was the Italian family… like things were going right for him.

He stood in the bathroom, feeling the heat from his shower still sticking to him, “What a strange day…” he muttered to his reflection as he heard a loud, distinctly feminine cackle from the small living room down the hall.

Naked from the waist up, he trailed his crooked fingers over the bruises on his ribs, pressing tentatively to figure out if there were any breaks that could pose a greater issue. Then lower to check the yellowing marks around his hips, the greens that marred parts of his stomach from where sneakered-feet had kicked him before he could curl tight enough to protect himself. His fingers flinched back as he touched particularly sore points. He couldn’t believe how awful he looked, usually he’d had just a few painful reminders across one side or a couple of welts across his back – he was often smacked about but this… this was a beating that he’d never forget. The pallor of his skin made everything stand out the more, leaving him looking sickly and broken in the yellow light. As long as no one found out about all this, he was sure he could remain anonymous for a few days whilst he sort his only real friend in New York and then he’d be truly safe for a while.

Turning, he tried to look over his shoulder at his back in the mirror. The bruises weren’t so bad… the cuts from the belting he’d had three days ago were healing already, they weren’t as deep as he’d originally thought which was a relief. A knock on the door sent Matt scrambling for his t-shirt despite knowing that he’d locked the door.

“Matty?” David voice called through to him, “You want pizza? We’re thinking of ordering.”

Matt felt his stomach grumble at the thought but he couldn’t help but think of the measly ten dollars in his jeans pocket.

“Hang on.” He called back, wriggling into his clothes and donning his cardigan again to cover up what he could, “I’ll be out in a sec.”

Giving the mirror a last look to make sure he didn’t look as feeble as he felt, he went to open the door. David was leaning back against the wall, patiently holding a beer in one hand and a phone in the other. Matt couldn’t help but admire his long term pen-friend for the thousandth time. He was casual but sophisticated and confident and as gorgeous as the photos had suggested. They’d not talked much in the car because Matt had been struggling not to fall asleep and eventually David had laughed and told him to have a nap before he started seeing things but Matt had noticed in that moment that he had the warmest eyes. No one where he lived looked like David. No one had that easy cool about them or the charm, certainly no one had ever looked at him the way David did. Now he was searching for it again and he found himself flushing as he realised that he was checking the older man out.

*

Stefan was curious. Since he’d been introduced by Millie to David all those years ago he’d always been struck with the impression that the man was a sensible sort even if he was a bit of a joker at times. If Millie hadn’t introduced him as her ‘gay best friend’ he’d never have guessed that the man wasn’t straight. If David hadn’t brought an eighteen year old English boy into the foray of their lives he’d never had questioned that his friend was anything other than reasonable. Yet there was something about the boy, Matt, that had thrown him. This was the penpal that Millie and David had joked and teased each other about, the boy that David had communicated with for years over the internet but never met or spoken to in person. This was a stranger that David had apparently felt obligated to rescue and bring into their home rather than simply give him advice or direct to a decent vacant youth hostel. He was curious… who was this boy with the blackened eye and the dirty, punkish clothing? And more importantly, what was he to David?

“David, I know you said he’s a friend but… what’s going on? You said nothing about bringing him before and…” Eventually he was the first person to ask about David’s visitor once the boy had been ushered into the shower.

“Who did that to his face?” Millie added with a concerned look at the door Matt had just left through.

Sighing, David shook his head, “I don’t know who did it but I think it has something to do with why he’s here in the States. As I said on the phone earlier, he didn’t have anywhere to go tonight but he had hoped to be able to go to his best friend’s house because she lives somewhere in Manhattan.”

“So you just picked up this guy you barely know from the airport because…?”

“I’ve known him since he was fourteen and I know you think it’s weird that I’ve only ever known him through email and written correspondence and stuff but I know him, probably better than a lot of people, and he’s my friend.”

“Is that all?”

“You think I’m going to try it on with him? He’s scared and alone and hurting for one reason or another and you think I’d try it on?”

Millie mused aloud, coming to Stefan’s rescue, “You did used to talk about love with him…”

“I’d be taking advantage if I was to do anything with him and you know me better than to suggest that I’d do something like that to anybody. I’m not-”

Millie hushed him, “We’re not saying you are. It was just a concern. It just was so out of the blue and… the boy’s cute.” She shrugged and grinned, “I don’t know that I’d say no.”

David felt the heat rise in his face, the others laughed.

Smiling in his pudgy cheeked way, Tyson added, “I think we should order pizza, for tradition’s sake, even if there is a fourth member this time.”

Everyone agreed and David was sent to see what Matt wanted. So far he was only waiting for the door to open, he’d been a little surprised that it was locked – none of the other’s generally bothered and he’d always thought of the house as open doored. He supposed it was slightly different with Matt being a stranger. Opening the door, Matt stepped out with a sheepish, slightly hesitant expression.

“So, pizza?” David asked with a grin.

He’d caught Matt’s blush and raised an eyebrow slightly and said nothing, using the moment of awkwardness to take in the frail looking boy that was now swamped in clothing that hung off him. Baggy pyjama pants with what looked like action heroes on them, a giant t-shirt with some unknown band logo on it and the still damp looking purple cardigan: he thought Matt looked childlike in them – his face was free of the black kohl around his eyes and his wet blond hair only added to the fragility he could see in him. Most of all he looked tired and there was a resignation in his eyes as he shook his head,

“I reckon I’ll just go to bed if that’s ok… I’m pretty knackered.” He said with a small smile and a yawn.

David nodded but frowned, “Have you eaten since you got here?”

“There was food on the flight. I’m fine. Really, all I need is sleep.”

“Well if you’re sure…” David begun to respond, figuring that Matt really was probably exhausted, but then there was a growl: from Matt’s stomach, “You are hungry.”

“I’m fine. I don’t have much US money at the moment and I already owe you and your friends enough as it is…”

He knew from their correspondence that Matt had always had a bit of a thing about asking for help and that he usually tried to deal with things himself but he couldn’t quite believe that the boy wasn’t going to eat because of it. Glaring slightly he shook his head, “It’s not fine if you’re starving hungry. I can pay for a pizza and you can pay me back at a later date.”

“I don’t want to be a hassle.”

David raised his hands, “No hassle. We’ve had this conversation. I don’t want your friend thinking we’ve not been showing you a good time.”

He could see that Matt was struggling to understand just how his luck had changed. He’d been hit, that much David could figure out from the bruised eye, and had fled from home, probably out of fear (which made him think that perhaps Matt was more hurt than he appeared). He’d flown across the Atlantic to find protection in a friend (that David was sure must be extremely special to him) only for that friend to be impossible to get hold of and thus the boy had been stranded in a foreign country with apparently no money and no guarantee of a place to stay or a safe-hiding place from his demons. Then the almost mythical pen-pal that he’d likely never expected to actually meet (he knew he’d never expected to meet Matt) had miraculously rescued him from the cold, given him a lift and place to stay and was asking nothing of him. He could see why it might seem impossible but he didn’t want his friend to think that he couldn’t ask for what he so obviously needed. The boy was a rake and he looked about ready to faint.

“Seriously, you and I can order a large dominoes and we can go half and half if it’ll make you feel better. So what topping you want?”

Matt frowned but couldn’t refuse as his stomach rumbled again. He glanced up with a fresh blush on his cheeks. Damn the boy was cute, “I don’t know what toppings there are…”

David grinned and moved to wrap and arm about Matt’s shoulders, feeling slightly alarmed as he realised how thin he really was: “Well… I’m having a Mighty Meaty but I remember you said you liked barbecue food right? So why don’t you get Texas BBQ Chicken?”

Nodding and shrugging, Matt said nothing as he was led back towards the living room where David sat them both on the floor and leaning back on the sofa that Millie and Stefan had taken over.

It was a warm room with yellow walls and a few paintings of brightly coloured flowers that Millie had proudly announced her own. The threadbare sofa was a pastel green with blue trim and clashed terribly with the dusty purple armchair that now held the squishy looking Tyson. The floor was a strange colour that Matt couldn’t place but had mostly been covered up with a huge fluffy rug that Tyson had collected on his gap year in India. Matt squished his toes into the softness and yawned sleepily, unconsciously drooping his head so it lightly rested on David’s shoulder. He could barely focus on what the others were saying or what the TV was playing so instead he dozed off to the amused looks of his companions.

*

“He’s exhausted, poor kid… do you think we should put him to bed instead of waking him?”

“No. He needs to eat first.”

“Aw but Davi look at him…”

“Trust me, he needs to eat first.”

The blurry voices slowly seemed to register in Matt’s head as the wafting smells of warm, greasy food drifted through his nose. He tried to curl away from it, he didn’t want to wake up for food. His head hurt he was so tired and he wanted to sleep here in the warm, soft place he’d found. He didn’t recognise the voices though he guessed he’d managed to get to one of the houses down the road. Greg wouldn’t have let him sleep at all…

“Matty… hey now, wake up kiddo.”

“Nuh uh.” He grumbled and he heard a titter of laughter. Who was here?

He lifted his head wearily and began to peel open his eyes. He could see white. Was he in heaven? Confusion made his head spin and he lurched back, stiffening when he heard more laughter. Looking around he remembered where he was and who he was with. He saw the white t-shirt that David was wearing and blushed profusely as he realised what he had done.

“I’m so sorry. I should have stayed awake. I…”

He stopped when he realised that everyone was laughing at him and he realised that no one cared.

“It’s fine. We didn’t mind. You’ve had a long trip so…” Tyson chipped in as the others fobbed it off and David passed an open pizza box to him, “Or at least, David didn’t mind.”

This time David’s cheeks coloured and Matt smiled slightly, a small quirk of the mouth that showed his amusement.

“Oh just shut up and eat.” David nudged him with his shoulder playfully and he did as he was told. He was too tired t argue now.

*

There’s no sinner like a young saint – Aphra Behn

*

David ended up half carrying the sleepy Englishman to his bed. He ended up giving Matt the double because he figured that the boy needed a good nights sleep and he might not be that comfortable on the camper. Gently he tugged off the cardigan as he slid the blond into the covers. There were more bruises around his upper arms and wrists, as if they’d been held so tightly that prints had been left. Sighing, he couldn’t help wondering how much Matt was hiding and had to restrain himself from prying. Tomorrow he’d try and help him find his friend. He’d do anything he could to make Matt safe in New York whilst he could. Yet… still something bugged him and as he moved to his own bed, he knew he wouldn’t be enjoying a restful night.