Streetlight People

[Thomas Hallowell]

    The harsh laugh that left Thomas ended in a pained groan as he gently held his bruised rib cage. Well wasn’t that just great? The girl had a boyfriend… who apparently had a few other boyfriends to back him up. Of course, Thomas taunting the bastard probably wasn’t the smartest way to go, but he couldn’t really help it. The situation was just so stupid in his humble opinion.


    Really, if she was so interested in grinding up against another guy, shouldn’t that tell her boyfriend something? Either that or the girl was a fucking sadist who enjoyed watching the men who got too close get the shit beat out of them. He still hadn’t ruled out that option just yet. All he had felt from her was pure lust, and he’d used it to fuel his own. He was pulled away far too quickly by her jealous mammoth to be able to pick up on anything else.


    Thomas slowly picked himself up, taking care not to jostle his body too much. He sat up against the alley wall they’d used to shove him up against as they’d started pounding him with their fists. Such poetry to be found in that same wall being a support now. He grimaced and looked down at his phone wondering if he should call someone… then again, who the fuck was there to call? It wasn’t like he had a plethora of friends waiting at his beck and call. Thomas stared up into the sky, absently amused that he could see the stars while bleeding in a back alley and laughed once again.

[Lorenzo Frijas]

Enzo had taken the night for himself. He decided to go to a local café in town and study. His father had just called and gave him a long lecture how he needed to get his grades up or there would be consequences. At first, Enzo was cocky and wondered what his father could possibly do from Alaska that cold hurt him if he didn't? In his thinking he had changed and ignore his dad's warning. 

Sure enough, Lorenzo had forgotten something and the credit card was lowered to 30 dollars a week. With his appetite, he spent that in a day sometimes. 

Anyways, there he was walking back to school after a four hour, brain aching study session when he sees a boy laying the floor who had been beaten to a bloody pulp. Lorenzo couldn't see very well but he could tell the guy was hurt. Being himself he asked, "Who the hell do you owe money?" He offered a hand and then raised a brow. He recognized the guy from school. He didn't mention it though, he was so knew that no one really knew him yet. 

[Thomas Hallowell]

    Thomas looked up at the kid who'd stopped and studied him for a brief second. He felt a sense of general weariness and recognition from the boy. Huh. Must have forgotten him from somewhere. It was entirely possible, as Thomas typically didn't take notice of people unless he was interested in them for some reason. Though this kid was definitely attractive.  

    Thomas blinked at the idea that he owed anybody money and laughed once again, regardless of the intense pain that was caused by doing so, "Not yet, though I suppose I might owe a few doctors after this," he admitted wryly. As he laughed his split lip opened again and started dripping blood, but he didn't seem to notice or care. 

    "Or do I owe you something?" he asked with a half-smile as he took the guys hand in his own and pulled himself up. It was slow going and incredibly painful, but when he was finally able to stand he nodded his thanks.
    

[Lorenzo Frijas]

He smiled when the guy mentioned owing doctors. He nodded and pointed to the boy's lip. "Yeah you gotta little something right there". Enzo was nonchalant about the whole thing because the boy seemed to be fine. He looked worse than he acted. 

"No, not me... Just a humble by standard." He smirked at the guy and couldn't help but let out a night chuckle. "Seriously though, what happened? You look like you just got jumped. I saw a couple guys walking out--" He stopped himself when he realized, "Oh shit." Who knows what this guy could've done. Enzo was oblivious to his power so the possibilities were endless. 

He shrugged, "None of my business I guess."

[Thomas Hallowell]

    Thomas nodded, "I know, hurts too," he admitted easily. The pain wasn't something he entirely objected to though. In fact, right now, he was in a damn good mood. He'd just gotten the shit beat out of him, but he was happier than he'd been in a while. He felt like there was a certain clarity to things.

    Right now, at this moment, he felt real physical pain which was a lot more interesting to focus on than the internal war that often raged within. It was also easy to separate out his own feelings from the boy's across from him because he felt so goddamn happy. He perked up a bit when he felt wariness or almost fear perhaps from the kid talking, "Huh? Oh, nothing for you to worry about. I just danced with the wrong guy's girlfriend," he offered simply, his expression lighthearted and genuine.  

[Lorenzo Frijas]

"You look like you'll walk it off." He joked with the guy. He would obviously be fine just some bumps and bruises. Splitting your lip also was a pain. Enzo remembered a bicycle accident he had as a kid as he examined the guys wound. Racing down one of the many gravel-filled roads of Alaska. He remembered crashing and hitting his lip on his handle bars, thus splitting it open. The reason this registered so well was because it kept reopening all the time. When it finally healed it left a small scar which faded out of existence throughout the years.

A breeze came through the alley way and the boy shoved his hands in his pockets. "Woo getting a little chilly" He stated with an exaggerated shiver and chattering of his teeth. 

It was strange how the boy seemed to almost enjoy what had happened to him in an almost psychotic way. Psychotic? Was that the word? Strange. Definitely strange. "Ah. Quite the ladies man are ya?" The guy was peculiar but Lorenzo kind of liked him; couldn't put his finger on it.

[Thomas Hallowell]

    Thomas merely shrugged. The cold had never bothered him much. He didn't necessarily like it, but it wasn't something he often took notice of. "Alcohol should warm us up. There's a party nearby, and while I'm not up for mingling, I could definitely use a drink," he admitted with a grin. In his current state, he was an absolte bloody mess... literally. But he didn't mind. They could stare if they wanted, as he was well aware they'd find things far more interesting to focus on throughout the evening.

    Thomas laughed at Enzo's question and shrugged, "I'd certainly like to think so, though I like guys just as well to be honest," he told Enzo with a suggestive smile. Thomas had never given a damn about how others thought of his sexuality. Then again, he didn't tend to give a damn about much nowadays.
    

[Lorenzo Frijas]

Ah, alcohol. It should warm them up indeed. 

Growing up in Alaska there wasn't much to do as you can imagine. Lorenzo found most his nights at parties going hard till the sun came up the next morning, so he'd like to think. He thought his parents never knew about his little late night festivities.

Enzo found himself oh-so clever with his various excuses to be away from home: 'Sleeping over at a friends house' or something as simple as 'traffic'. Where he had lived there were two lane roads overcrowded with people to the point of almost stopped traffic the entire way to his house. Perfect excuse. 

The guy mentioned the party and Lorenzo smirked. He liked this guy; they had just met and he was already getting party invites? Sick. Sure, he would know absolutely no one there. But, he was sure this was a good way to make friends; to find the fun people. He guaranteed himself that mainland parties were better than those in Alaska, he was sure of it. The thought of vodka running down his throat and warming his stomach, formed a craving. Plus, a party to go with it? He hadn't been to one since he had arrived and found himself curious about the partiers of Kalispell. 

"Party sounds great..." He checked his watch tot see it was reaching around 8:00. Most parties didn't even start till around then. "Since you're giving me parties invites so soon, I guess you should know my name." He extended and hand and nodded, "Lorenzo--Or just Enzo". The last part out 'liking guys perfectly well', Lorenzo seemed to ignore. He defiantly didn't shoot that way, but didn't feel like shutting the guy down right then. 

[Thomas Hallowell]

    Thomas grinned at the boy's response, "Excellent. The place isn't too far from here. We can easily walk, unless you prefer the bus?" Thomas asked with shrug. He didn't mind either way, as he knew exactly where he was going. He had never been to Addison Sloane's household before, but he was good with directions, and Kalispell was much smaller and easier to navigate than his hometown of Spokane. 

    Thomas then nodded at the introduction and kept his handshake firm and brief, "Nice to meet you Enzo. I'm Thomas." Thomas easily picked up on Enzo's attempt to ignore his last comment and smirked, "Don't worry, you're not my type," he assured the younger boy easily with a friendly grin before turning and making his way towards the party. Thomas' movements were slow and painful but he was still making progress. Besides, walking it off sometimes helped. Sometimes.  

    Drinking would help so much more.