#jazzemon

Title: Torn Jeans and The Crystal Mask

Freewood

“We got an invitation!” the older step-brother shouted as the mail arrived that morning. His brother came to the door and read the letter out loud, declaring a masquerade party at the Haywood Mansion.

  “This is incredible,” Ray shouted. His brother, Michael, agreed. Gavin, the son of the deceased parents that once owned the house had come out of the kitchen with a book in his hands. His mother had passed first, leaving his father in a continuous loop of trying to find someone to replace her and eventually got married to an American man who became the devil himself when his father died.

“What’s the shouting about?” Gavin asked, he had to keep pushing up the sleeves to his button up shirt. It was two sizes too big and once belonged to Michael.

“We’ve all been invited to a masquerade party at the Haywood Mansion,” Ray replied.

“All, but, not you!” Michael shouted at him. Gavin expected the outburst from Michael.

“It says all! I can at least come to this one!” Gavin countered.

“No Gavin,” a deep voice behind him said.

“I-I-I understand Mr. Burns,” Gavin gave in and went away. He walked the house made of marble. It was his fathers and now he felt like a stranger to the rooms and hallways. His room, once the second largest in the house had become a  reading room and his room was moved to the attic. Not that he minded very much, it was quiet, except when Michael decided to use a  broom to hit the ceiling. Gavin fell upon his bed, sad that he wouldn’t be able to go to another event.

He wanted to sleep, or take a nap, but Michael screaming for him to go out for groceries . Gavin sighed as he went to the front door, collected his money and picked up his bike and headed to the grocery store.

“Hey Dan,” Gavin greeted to the cashier at the store. Dan has been his friend since they were children and now they worked at the same grocery store together.

“Hey Gavin, not too bad at home?” he always asked. Making sure his friend never came to him with bruises.

“Have you heard about the big party at the Haywood Mansion?” Gavin asked as he counted the bills as he saw the total on the screen.

“Everyone has. My parents were invited. Parties aren’t really my forte,” Dan replied as he took the money from Gavin’s hand. “See you at your shift tomorrow then?”

“Yeah, see ya Dan!” Gavin picked up the bags and put them in the basket attached to the back of his bike.  He didn’t match the neighbourhood he grew up in anymore. From where he rode, he could see the mansion on top of the hill. He sighed, he would never get the chance to get there.

“Gavin! Dust the dining room before your shift!”

“Gavin! My laundry has to be done!”

He was exhausted before his own shift. He put products on the shelf to his own pace. At least his step-relatives couldn’t bother him here.  Dan would look at him from afar, watching his tired body put cans on the shelf. There was nothing he could do, at least, he thought there was nothing.

He dialed the number on his cellphone to Gavin’s favourite relative.

“I’m on my way,” the voice said on the other end.

“Thank you,” Dan replied before hanging up.

The date was coming closer and closer, and Gavin had gone through his wardrobe ten times to see if he could manage something decent to wear. He found the old suit he wore at his father’s funeral. It saddened him as he pulled it on. It fit him pretty decently. The arms were a little too short and the pants didn’t fit right. He didn’t have much a shirt left.  He tried putting his messy hair into something manageable but it was no use. He heard a knock at his floor and he quickly changed out of the outfit and into his jeans and t-shirt.

“Do I look good?” Ray asked Gavin as they prepared themselves for the party.

“You always look good,” Gavin replied with fake enthusiasm. He was fixing up his bowtie to the best he could. It was a new one, the silk wasn’t something he owned before. He flattened out his jacket and removed any lingering hairs.

“I’ll get the eyes of Mr. Haywood,” Michael boasted as he fixed up his collar.

“No way, I will,” Ray countered.

“You both will get his eyes,” Mr. Burns announced as he came into the dressing room in his best attire.  “Now, hurry, our ride will be here soon. Gavin, I hope you aren’t going in those rags.”

“Excuse me sir?” he asked.

“Well, I can’t take you anywhere if you think you can get away with wearing that.”

Gavin took his cue to rush up to his room to put on the outfit he put together and rush back down. He was glowing with hope until they all started laughing and he felt his heart fall into his stomach.

“Oh c’mon Gavin, did you really think we would let you come with us to the party?” Michael asked as he walked up to Gavin and ripped off his bowtie from his neck.

“Why do you have to be so sentimental?” Ray knowing very well  the suit he was wearing was precious.

“I-I-You liars!” he shouted as he stepped back.  Their laughs echoed in his ears until he fell back and laid on the ground in frustration and embarrassment that even trusted them for a minute.  He heard the door close and the laughs fade. He laid on the cold tiled ground what felt like hours when he heard a car brake outside and the rushing of feet. He thought he was delusional when he heard the door unlock and voices.

“Ah shit, I got here too late!” he heard an older voice say. There was the sounds of a bag moving in the background of the voices.

“He’s still breathing, calm down,” a familiar voice said. Gavin tried sitting up but the light was too bright.

“Hey! Gavin, buddy! It’s me, Uncle Geoff, your Godfather,” he felt his cheek being slapped a little as big arms lifted him up. He opened his eyes and Dan and his Godfather were over him. “I can’t believe you wanted to go to the party in this old thing. C’mon, wake up you English prince, we’re getting you to that party.”

Gavin was lifted to his feet and brought to his room. “Put this on. We’re already late.” Gavin quickly put on the suit.

“I bloody told you it’ll fit!” Dan told Geoff as Gavin fixed himself up in the mirror. Geoff fixed up his hair the best he could.

“The final touch, can’t go to a masquerade party without a mask,” Geoff pulled a mask with a long pointed nose, very traditional and pristine white with crystal detailing. “Stupid fucking thing actually fits your nose.”

It was as if the mask was made for him and especially his nose.

“C’mon, it’s already ten, the party already started. I couldn’t get a limo for your big entrance but this will have to do,” Geoff said as they walked outside to see his old beat up Mustang from the 60s. They all got in and Geoff stepped on the gas. “Dan made you a fake invitation if you need it.” Dan slipped into Gavin’s hands. They got to the front gates.

“Now remember, when the clock strikes midnight, I’ll be picking you up.” Geoff warned him.

“Why?” Gavin asked.

“Because… just do what I tell you! I am your Godfather,” Geoff argued. Gavin nodded before leaving the car and rushing up the steps.

There was no need for an invitation for the part had already begun. His heart was beating a million miles an hour as he looked around at the unfamiliar masked faces. He was alone, unlike everyone else there. He heard whispering.

“Sir, care for a drink?” a butler asked and he nodded and took one. He walked around awkwardly around the room, thinking perhaps it was a mistake coming to this event without knowing anybody.

Little did he know that he had caught eyes with the host from across the room.  The older man sipped the rest of his champagne and made his way through the crowd much to their stares to the young man who had entered late.

“Excuse me, but are you with anybody this evening?” he asked as he held out his hand. Gavin blushed like mad as he took it.

“No, but not anymore,” he replied.

There was something in how the younger man fascinated Mr. Haywood, he was always careful in his steps, in his words. He never spoke of family, or his daily life. He always turned the questions back on him. He left an air of mystery as his accent didn’t match the county he lived in.

“I think the music is too loud, we should get a place more private,” Mr. Haywood suggested. Gavin only followed him to the balcony. The air felt nice compared to the stuffy ballroom. “Tell me about yourself.”

“I am nothing special, Mr. Haywood,” Gavin said.

“Of course you know my identity, but behind that mask, you can be anyone.”

“I am merely someone trying to escape reality for one evening.”

Mr. Haywood heart was struck by the sincere words. Whatever this young man’s life was, he wanted take him out of it. Take him home. Take care of him. His green eyes held so much life.

“At least give me one dance,” Mr. Haywood asked. Gavin obliged and the man put his hand on his waist and his own on his shoulder. They danced to the music from inside.  Mr. Haywood pulled him closer to himself. Gavin’s heart couldn’t calm down and at the nonexistent space between them he was sure that he felt it.

Gavin felt like he was in a dream. A lucid dream about going to the fanciest party he could imagine. To be part of a fairy tale of meeting his saviour in a castle. He didn’t know how long it could last but he’ll absorb it all while he could still move his legs.

His cell phone vibrated in his pocket and he had to pause the dance to check that it was in fact midnight and he had to go.

“I am terribly sorry, please, we’ll meet again someday, good evening,” Gavin broke away and ran across the room. He could feel the ribbon from his mask loosen and it slipped off his face and fell. Mr. Haywood was calling behind him and he left the mask behind him and rushed into Geoff’s car and drove away.

“Did you lose your mask? You idiot!” Geoff yelled at him.

“I swear it wasn’t my fault,” Gavin defended as he pulled on his seatbelt.

“How did it go?” Geoff asked.

“I danced with Mr. Haywood himself,” he smiled sheepishly. It really felt like a dream and the words coming out of his mouth made it feel even more unrealistic.

“You lucky son-of-a-bitch. Anyways, your step-father called the house once for you and Dan managed to answer with his best impression of you and you’re on the clear, for now, but he’s going to be home any time now and you’re still in your suit, got that?” Geoff spoke quickly. Gavin could only nod in response. Geoff dropped him off at his house and he quickly unlocked the door and rushed to his  room, pulling off the jacket and shirt as fast as he could off his body and slipping on his pyjama pants over his pants. He heard the door open and his name being called. His quickly shoved the clothes in his closet and pulled on a t-shirt. He calmly walked down the steps to greet his relatives.

“Had a good evening?” he asked while yawning.

“Oh, you’re home. There was someone at the party that looked like you, but like a real prince,” Ray told him.

“That’s nice, but I’ve been at home all this time, I have a shift tomorrow,” Gavin countered. Mr. Burns looked at him carefully and didn’t say a word. He was excused to go back to bed. Gavin sat back in his bed, feeling the pants fit uncomfortably under his pyjamas, but it was a close call.

‘Did you make it home on time?’Dan texted him.

‘Yeah’, Gavin texted back. He slipped out of his pants and carefully hid the suit in a box.

Meanwhile, Mr. Haywood picked up the mask from the ground, running his fingers over the crystals. He was going to find him, no matter what it took. The rest of his guests stared at him as he held the mask tightly in his hands. He cursed himself for never getting his name.

“Have you heard? Mr. Haywood is looking for the mysterious young man with the mask from his party,” a woman mentioned as Gavin helped bagged groceries at the cash. Dan could barely contain his smile as he told them their price and give them their change.

“Look who’s making the news,” Dan whispered.

“Shut up,” Gavin blushed.

Gavin hadn’t stopped thinking about that evening and how much he could love Mr. Haywood if they could spend more time together. He would be more of an escape, he would be a dream. A week had passed and more rumours circled around the neighbourhood in search of the man whose nose could fit the mask. Many had tried, none had succeeded to date.

While Gavin was getting ready for work, with his apron around his body and his dirty jeans and his cleanest white shirt under his old plaid-shirt when there was a knock on the door. He slipped on his sneakers and opened the door. Surprised to see Mr. Haywood in front of him with the mask.

“Mr. Haywood! Don’t mind him, he’s going off to work, may I help you?” Mr. Burns greeted. Gavin let the man in. Mr. Haywood didn’t drop his eyes from him. Gavin felt embarrassed not being in his best to present himself to the man. “Gavin, you may leave.” Mr. Burns directed.

“No, let him stay. I have to make sure.” Mr. Haywood replied. Gavin, wide-eyed and and nervous, closed the door. Gavin didn’t dare speak a word.

Mr. Burns made Michael and Ray try on the mask first. Michael’s head was too large and it could barely sit on his face properly. Ray’s nose was very much too small and it slipped down. Gavin gulped as the mask was placed on his face as comfortably as that evening. The ribbon tied perfectly around his head.

“Those eyes, I can’t forget eyes that green in my life,” Mr. Haywood smiled. Gavin could hear the shock over his step-father’s face. “Talk to me, like you did that evening.”

“Now that you ask, I have many things to say,” Gavin replied. His accent was unforgettable. Mr. Haywood could dance again, to find the young man in the mask. As the older man stood up, Gavin slipped off the mask and rushed to the door. “But please, I’m already late for my shift.”

“Wait, before you go,” Mr. Haywood followed him out of the house. Gavin stopped in his steps.

“Gavin, my name is Gavin David Free, my shift ends in six hours, I work at the grocery store on the 6th avenue,” he teased before he took his bike and pedaled away. He hated himself for being such a tease but his heart was overworking and he didn’t think he would be able to last very long. He needed to see Dan.

“Why the hell are you here then?!” Dan shouted as Gavin took a box to put on the shelf.

“I couldn’t! I’ve met the guy once, and now we’re hopelessly in love. This isn’t a fairy tale, and I still have my own life to tend to,” Gavin argued, not caring about the customers around them.

“Should’ve stayed and bloody spoke to him! You have no excuse being here,” Dan argued.

There was no convincing him otherwise and Dan was frustrated, but as the clock struck eight pm for their shifts to end, Gavin was already out on the sidewalk when the car pulled over.

“Hey,” Mr. Haywood greeted as he sat next to him on the steps. “Call me Ryan, please, Gavin.”

“Okay, Ryan, listen, I’m sorry I broke the whole magical aspect of our meeting, but, there’s so much to tell you. You could be my escape, but I don’t want only that. I really like you, I could love you,” Gavin took a deep breath as he spoke too fast.

“It’s okay, one step at a time, but I want you out of that home,” Ryan explained. Gavin was first to place a kiss on Ryan’s lips. “Take your life into your own hands.” Ryan whispered through his lips. Gavin knew he was right.

That evening, he didn’t even bother taking off his shoes when he started to pack his boxes.

“What are you doing?!” Mr. Burns asked as he heard the boxes gather up.

“I am leaving this place, I’m moving in with Geoff, my Godfather,” he announced. With that, Geoff came through the door to help with his boxes.

“Yup, about time too,” Geoff said as he brought boxes to his car. Mr. Burns was quiet, watching Gavin leave his childhood home.  

“And Mr. Haywood?”

“Oh, we’re together, nice gentleman if you ask me. Though, still working out some flaws,” Gavin shrugged as he genuinely chuckled in years.

“No need to rush,” Ryan said as he pushed up his sleeves to help with the remaining boxes. He placed a kiss on Gavin cheek before heading out the door. When all was done he shut the door behind him and walked into the moonlight he never got to see.

‘Thank you Dan, see you tomorrow?’ Gavin texted his best friend.

‘3pm-8pm’ Dan texted back. Gavin chuckled at the usual response.

Gavin couldn’t leave Dan behind, never in a million years. Geoff couldn’t let him go once he was in his apartment with him. Geoff had told him he had tried for years to get him to leave, but he was caught in a loop of numbness that he couldn’t shake him out of.

                When he looks into his eyes, he knows he’s under the spell.

                Those beautiful eyes. Those entrancing eyes that sparkled with something Lord Haywood couldn’t identify.

                Mischief? Excitement?

                It confused and enthralled Lord Ryan.

                He caught himself staring more often than he was willing to admit. 

                As he kneeled at the red carpeted, golden throne, he bowed his head, submissive to his king. 

                “Your highness,” he would praise, not daring to look at the shining light of his life during this moment.

                The higher would look at this scene and smile.  He couldn’t help but think how perfect the man looked this way.

                Head bowed.

                Knees on lush carpet.

                Rough hands meaning no harm.

                One on his sword, the other on his heart. 

                Perfect.

                “Rise, Lord Ryan.  I commend you for your formality, although it is not needed.”

 The man stood, but still did not gaze upon him.

“Why do you hesitate to look at me, Ryan?” The omission of the title sent a shiver down the knight’s spine.

                “I don’t feel I am worthy, sire.” A half-truth spun into a compliment. On days like these, where the wind blew pleasantly through the open air throne room and the sun was beginning to set, bathing the king in hues of pink and orange and making the scene magnify itself into an overpowering beauty, the knight didn’t know what he did to deserve such a sight.

                The king chuckled; a sound that rang through the younger’s ears and echoes around the deepest sentiments of his dreary mind.  “You’ve sacrificed yourself for my sake countless times. You are more than worthy of meeting this ugly mug eye-to-eye.”

                Slowly, Ryan raised his head.

                A feeling he couldn’t identify hit him like a thousand stampeding horses. Something stole his ability to speak or even form coherent thoughts. Every thought he had were the same brilliant flashes of his king’s sparkling eyes.

The higher stood, silent, on the steps of his throne.  He carefully traced every inch of his handsome knight’s person.  He found himself staring at his perfectly full lips, his muscle toned body, his eyes.

His eyes that flickered away, ever so slightly as blue met blue.

                The king smiled.

He glided down the stairs slowly, like a predator.

As if his prey would break like glass.       

Lord Ryan watched him carefully.

Every step. Every breath. Every eye movement.

“Well I would give my life for you, my king. I swore that long ago.” Ryan mumbled under his breath just so the higher could hear.

The king looked down, as if reminiscing. “For this, I am eternally thankful, humble knight I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“I could say the same, sire.”

“Geoff, please.”

“Geoff.” The loss of formalities made the knight feel as if the safety net had been ripped away, leaving him to dance lightly or free fall.

                Because it was it was a dance this moment. And every moment between them. A sexually charged spark inducing dance that neither dance that neither dared to walk away from. The passion was too much.  Too addictive.  Too dangerously toxic. The two would dance, impossibly close, breath mingling together and eyes captivating each other, lost in their own world where nothing mattered.

Then the song would change.

And they would be whisked off to their responsibilities.

Different partners.

Both longing for each other.

Just one more step, until the dance was over.

The song would end.

People will interrupt.

One more stair.

All Ryan could think was whether he would take it or not.

Every second felt like lead on his shoulders.

                He didn’t want to let the king decide, let everything stop and hang by a thread because of how it would look.

                Lord Ryan reached up, grabbing the older forcibly around the neck. Before he could stop himself, he softly pressed his lips to his king’s.

                The kiss was soft, gentle at first. Definitely a more addictive drug than dancing. They stood there for what they both hoped was forever, frozen in this place.

                Geoff was the first to break away, albeait reluctantly.  He looked at the other in absolute awe.

                Ryan backed away, distancing himself from the throne and his love who stood there. “I’m sorry sir. I shouldn’t have-“

                “Stop.” Geoff said simply, and Ryan did so.

                Geoff smiled his sweet smile.

                “I needed that, Ryan. You have no idea how much I needed that.”