D E A D R O S E S

“It is, actually. At least, when some of the people do the reading.” Lia paused, and nodded. “Yeah, my manager gave me another double today, so it’s been a long day.” She laughed slightly, and nodded. “Oh, so in other words, like most men? Oh! Thanks, my grandmother named me. It’s her favorite flower.” Lia winced slightly at the memory. She never met her grandmother, but she liked to think that if she had maybe she would have had a different childhood. “Oh thats gorgeous. Any meaning behind it?”

"Ah yeah–– I can imagine. I’m sure there’s always a few slackers,” she laughed softly,  raising her brow. “That’s a long shift, after you,” she hummed, holding open the door to the cafe. “Yes exactly! like most men you meet,” she chuckled, alessa smiled softly at the other girl’s words. “Well, I’m sure she loved you dearly. It means Defender of Men in Greek, which is all kinds of ironic,” she laughed.

The man came closer and draped his shirt over his shoulder, picking up a remote and turning on the stereo some softer INXS playing in the background. “I always thought I was more of a raccoon to be honest” He added. “Okay, but don’t get weird on it. It’s Asriel- and yes, my parents were fucking hippies, I was so close to being called Moonbeam or Starchild”

She quirked a brow, making sure to not move off her coat. “Hmm–– or a rat,” she teased, her hues scanning the mess around his flat as she sat there, before turning back to him. “I mean–– it’s a name I’ve never heard before?” she hummed, swigging the beer in her hand. “I’m Alessandra–– but I prefer Alessa.”

Being a sailor, Nick was familiar with most of the seafaring wildlife. So, when he saw what he assumed was an injured something on the sand, he made his way over. Someone had beat him to it though, and he simply smiled at her question. “Yes ma’am, of course I’ll help you. Do we know what happened? Did a boat hit him?” Accidents happened sometimes. “A cake though, huh?” he chuckled, shaking his head, “I’m not sure what I’d do with a whole cake, but it’s very nice of you to offer.”

Nahla shifted, folding her legs under her as he made his way over. “I’m not sure–– I just saw the blood but because he’s a big sea turtle, I can’t lift or move him enough to have a look,” She sighed, her fingers running down the underside of the turtle that she could reach, feeling for any injuries or tears in the skin. “I mean it could be like a cupcake?” she reworded the offer, a small laugh passing her lips.

Asriel took a swig of his own beer and ran a hand messily through his long hair as he watched her “I’m pretty sure I ate all the pizza” He mused “Right now? Like seriously right now? As if you think this is bad…I wouldn’t go in the bathroom” He teased “Pretty sure the bathmat is alive” He added, taking another swig “You know, you never told me your name…”

“Ah–– fine just..” she stumbled her words like she did with the dirt, taking her jacket off, she walked over to his couch, putting her jacket down before sitting on it, taking a swig of her drink. “You’re a disgusting pig,” she told him, grimacing as she looked around. “Tell me yours first.”

Asriel pulled off his fitted black shirt, showing off more muscles and tattoos, the man heading over to the fridge and pulling out two beers “You gotta relax, doll…Who cares if it’s a bit cluttered?” He asked, leaning in the doorway and holding out the beer for her. “I’m sure you’ve gotten dirtier than this?” He asked.

She couldn’t stop her eyes from following his ripped figure. Drawing herself speechless for a moment as she stood with a pizza box in her hand. “Mud kinda dirty sure–– even swear but mouldy food?” she teased, quirking a brow as she took the beer, nodding a thank you. “I’m gonna clean your whole flat,” Alessa confirmed, dropping the pizza box in a pile and swigging the drink.

“I like that about you, really makes you different…” Asriel mused, sure he didn’t know her name, but he liked his mystery designer fox already. Asriel looked around the apartment “What’s really to clean?” He asked playfully, even if he knew he probably lived like an animal to most. “You want to clean when there is really so much more we could do?” He asked, lighting yet another cigarette “Well, I didn’t the last time I checked, I did have a bat in here one time though. Was super Rock and Roll”

“Thanks..” she didn’t know what else to say, but she watched him for a moment, a smile tugged onto her lips. “Alright–– get me a black bag and if you don’t have one of those, I’ll use your guitar case to shift this crap,” she smirked, tip-toeing through the crap before she started to pile rubbish, “you want to do more, you best make this place liveable, babe,” She retorted, raising a brow at him. She didn't even know where to sit or stand.

Good lord, you are full of surprises aren’t you, darlin’?” Asriel asked, okay he was now hating that she was perfect, even more so in her sarcasm. The man only shook his head and pulled her with him, leading her up the stairs to the dingy apartment and then unlocked the door, giving the door a couple of shoves before it eventually opened- the rocker throwing his keys to a ripped leather sofa. To say the apartment was a mess was an understatement of the century, it looked like a raccoons haven, vinyl records everywhere, beer bottles, pizza boxes, rock posters all over the walls….Just mess. “Home sweet home.”

“I try to keep people on their toes,” She sighed, letting out a soft laugh as he lead her. She felt comfortable in his presence–– like she didn’t have to impress him but she could if she liked. She didn’t touch the walls as she walked up the stairs, trying her best not to show her reaction in her facial expressions. But her jaw dropped when she stepped in the door, glancing around in horror. “Can I clean?” she asked, rolling up the sleeves of her cashmere jumper, frowning at him as she stepped inside. “First off–– do you have rats?” 

“It’s student development theories–it’s rather interesting, but it’s hard to stay away when you’ve been working since 6am.” Lia smiled before raising her eyebrow. “Oh! You’re married, congr–er, well if you’re ignoring him, perhaps that’s not the best thing to say. Why are you ignoring him–if you wanna share. Not that you have to.” Lia quickly added and ran her hands through her hair nervously. She didn’t mean to pry, but she had always had a penchant for asking questions. “Oh, well thank you. It’s short for Magnolia, but people say it’s much too long of a name and Lia is easier.”

“I see, I won’t lie it’s been far too long since I’ve been in education but it does sound interesting. 6am?” she frowned, shaking her head slightly. “I’m barely alive at 7am, so well done you.” She laughed, ruffling her hair as she walked. “Oh he’s just a man with an ego and a small penis but a perception of it being large,” Alessa shrugged, glancing at the blonde. “Oh I love Magnolia–– that’s so pretty. But I relate to the lengthy name part. Alessa is much better than Alessandra.”

The man smirked and he clinked his keys in his hand and put his guitar into its bag, offering his arm to her as he slung his guitar over his shoulder “Then I look forward to it, do you even drink beer?” He then asked, only smirking himself when he saw her smirk. Though in his mind all he was imagining was her drinking a beer wearing only one of his band T-shirts. “You’re lucky I live near by” He added, gesturing to a small apartment above an old dry cleaners a few feet away.

The brunette took his arm, her hand resting lightly as she glanced at him. “Shockingly–– I do drink beer,” she gasped, once again –– overly dramatically. Her hues rolling playfully as they walked. “Oh wow, I must say it’s endearing,” winking at him as she kept her feet moving, her free fingers brushing the hair out of her eyes, intrigued at what she was going to see.

“Oh I should?” He mused, still keeping his gaze fixed to her, God she was so different, she was like an oasis in a desert of women. “That sounds about right” He then scoffed, before pushing off the wall and slipping out some keys to his apartment “Well, since you’ve not walked away yet, I’m guessing you are some how enjoying this conversation. But I want a beer. You’re welcome to join me? I don’t have a pool, so you don’t have to worry about any raunchy action with a pool boy.”

“Well, you should come more often…” He mused, his breath only then hitching when she ran her hands on her trousers, the mans pupils dilating ever so slightly with the arousal of her slender fingers against the fabric. “Oh?” He asked. “So how do you have your fun? A stable life can’t always be a fun one unless you’re getting your kicks? What do you do to push your buttons, Legs for Days?” 

Absentminded fingers were brushing along the cream colored fur of the kitten’s neck. He’d had them all his life so he knew little tricks to help ease a jittery feline. “I can’t fathom anything but the unfortunate luck of losing him.” His head shook before a startled laugh built up and escaped him just as quickly. Her brash words rang true to his opinion on how he thought such cruelty should be treated. He was a gentleman, however, and he was taught better than to say such things. “My sentiments, exactly.” Agreeing with her with his eyes looking to meet the woman’s after taking in the cute dog watching the animal in his arms. “Hm, well, this does make things trickier. I think your friend there would like to help in some way.” William attempted with a soft joke. Whether it was amusing or not was highly debatable. 

“Coffee is a miracle, that’s for sure–especially for my 4pm seminar. Without it, I’d never make it through Student Development Theories.” She grinned at her new friend. “Alessandra? That’s a beautiful name.”

“Oh really? To be honest that sounds like quite the lecture. It’s also great when you’re busy ignoring your husband,” she laughed, raking her fingers through her hair once more. “Thank you–– so is Lia,” she hummed, it wasn’t a name she’d heard before.

“Is this gonna be a game of cold and warm?” He asked, the man only lighting himself another cigarette, a coy little smirk on his lips, she wasn’t leaving and he acknowledged that- she had to be some sort of interested in him “Then you don’t have to, love. It’d just be nice to get to know someone I probably won’t have the opportunity to see again in this place” He almost purred at her. “A lawyer? Legs and brains…” He nodded, blowing out a wisp of smoke slowly. “I have a pretty face, but school didn’t agree with me…Though with a body like this, I could probably find work if I really wanted it. I’m happier focusing on my music and cruising, I like the mystery each day brings. Money ain’t happiness for this stallion”

“Story of my life,” she replied with a laugh, her arms remained crossed as she watched him, shifting her weight from one foot to another. “Who says I haven’t been down here before?” she quipped, exhaling slowly as she listened to the disgruntled argument of someone behind her. “Not just a pretty face,” she soothed, running her hands down the legs of her trousers. Teeth pulling at her lesser lip. “Hmm living life by the day–– I guess I like knowing I’m stable,”

Lia sighed–she didn’t tend to open her life up to people she just met. But for some reason she felt like this woman might help–if only to just listen for a few moments while she complained about her dumb boss and his scheduling issues. “I–coffee does sound so good. I suppose one cup won’t hurt.” She nodded. “I’m Lia, by the way.”

Alessandra tugged the bag onto her shoulder, a small smile formed on her peach lips as she began walking. “Sometimes it can do the world of good. Coffee is my lifesaver, sometimes. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Alessandra,”