Heart and Desire (boyxboy)

Chapter Eleven

I found Leo in the living room, asking his parents for the car keys. The cinema we liked to go to was on the other side of town, an hour's walk away. It was easier to drive there, although I did enjoy walking. Leo's dad handed over the car keys hesitantly, telling him to be careful. Technically, Leo didn't yet have his licence. So, technically, Leo shouldn't be driving without an adult in the car. Technically...

The fifteen minute car journey was filled with a choking tension. Neither of us knew what to say to one another so we silently listened to the radio. The movie was less awkward. Leo held my hand through most of it, peering at me out of the corner of his eye every so often. I hadn't been focusing on the plot at all and I doubt Leo had been either.

After the movie had finished we left the cinema, my hand still in Leo's. Some people gave us disgusted looks, others muttered nasty words at us as we passed. A few people smiled at us. I smiled back at them, glad to see there were a few decent people in the world. We climbed into Leo's dad's car just as my phone buzzed. I took it out of my pocket and opened the text message.

"So, Ash just texted me. 'Hey, change of plans. Meet me at Garrett's asap. The door's unlocked, just come straight in. Garrett's room is the second room to the left, on the second floor.'" I read the text message aloud, confused.

"That's strange." Leo commented. I mumbled an agreement. Leo was right, why would Ash want me to meet him at Garrett's two hours early? "Is there an address?"

"Yeah, here." I showed Leo the address at the bottom of the text, still staring at my phone in confusion. I shrugged it off, "He must have finished helping his mum early."

"Want to go there now?" Leo asked, typing the address into the in-built sat-nav.

"Please." I replied.

Leo started driving, following the sat-nav. I grew excited. I'd finally get to see Ash, and meet his friend Garrett. It had been almost a week now since I'd seen him. We drove for about five minutes until Leo pulled up outside a very big house.

"This is it." He announced, gesturing at the house. It was huge. Probably three stories, with a white stone exterior and a sloping roof.

"They must be rich..." I said, suddenly becoming nervous. This Garrett kid already seemed better than me. Is this what I was competing with? Although, Ash had promised he wasn't cheating. I stayed in the car for a few minutes, finding the posh house oddly intimidating. Leo nudged me out of the car, growing impatient.

"Call me if you need picking up later." He said, pulling away slowly from the curb. I thanked him and watched him drive away, leaving me alone with the house.

"Here goes nothing." I chided myself before walking carefully up the driveway.

I reached the heavy wooden front door, the chunky wood reminding me of my own front door when I'd lived with my mum, and I raised my fist to knock. But before I could knock, I remembered Ash's text and hesitantly pushed on the front door. Sure enough, it was unlocked. The first floor was open-plan and huge. The outer theme of white continued inside. White walls, white tiles, white couches, white staircase, white vases. Stupid white vases. I'd always regarded white as an arrogant colour. I instantly disliked the house, though that could be partly due to my jealousy.

I stepped lightly up the stairs and, much to my annoyance, they were just as perfect as the rest of the house. No creaks, no scuff marks. I stopped a few stairs from the landing, scuffing my shoes on the steps until my Converse left heavy black marks on the glossy white step. I smiled in satisfaction, sticking my middle finger up at the now-dirty white staircase when I reached the top.