NEXT TO YOU😍 - Chapter 4 - Part 2 - The Birthday Evening with Friends

Chapter 1 - Link https://app.t2.world/article/clwlzw2gj6649541zmcp8hdxiqf

Chapter 2 - Link https://app.t2.world/article/clwvy2wyb79658520mcupnhvzsg

Chapter 3 & 4 - Link https://app.t2.world/article/clx5hbzfd12907420mc7tt057d9

Jack felt a bit smug “Define truth, isn't truth whatever you want it to be these days??”

Kimoko stared daggers at him. Jack couldn't help but laugh. “I had no idea I was going to enjoy tonight so much! No there are no plague victims as far as I know. This is just an old hostel”

Kimoko actually looked around the room. Actually taking it in for once.

“Holy fuckballs Jack! This place is yours? This doesn't look like any sort of hostel I've been in”

The ceilings were high. The walls had intricate inlays, an old dusty lopsided chandelier with only 2 bulbs in it on one side causing the lean and the large window at the end was stained glass, far too dirty to see all the details but in it's day it must have cost an absolute fortune.

“Well, yeah” continued Jack. “before becoming a hostel it was a seminary or something. This was the chapel.”

“I think we just found where we're having dinner! Lets bring a table in here”

Heather was still in the doorway, chewing her fingernails.

“I can see a table out here in the hall, we can use that and someone can get the stuff from the kitchen”

Kimoko wasn't going out in the dark by herself “If you think I'm going back to the kitchen in the dark by myself, you can all fuck off”

Jack strolled into the hall and turned on several switches and the whole hallway was lit up. The girls all came out to see.

“Mother fucker Jack, how do you own this place?” Kimoko was now impressed.

“Well Kimoko, it's beautiful but it's a falling down shithole. After I sold my farm I thought it would be a nice project. I've managed to get it watertight but now it's too much for me I'm afraid”

“Fuuuck!! I've left he soup on the stove!” Luna tore off back to the kitchen and the rest followed.

The soup was beyond repair but Luna wasn't put off. She started again with different ingredients. Kimoko and Heather planned how to make the chapel a great feasting room, Jack kept everyone topped up with alcohol which didnt help the speed of progress. It was after 10pm before everyone was sat at a magnificently set table in the old chapel. Heather somehow found a huge cache of old candles and had rather overdone the lighting of them. The table rectangle table was in the centre of the room. Candles covered and surrounded them on the floor. The whole scene looked like something out of a film. Maybe a vampire movie but a film nonetheless.

Jack was at one end of the table, Luna at the other and Kimoko and Heather both down Luna's end. Everyone was quite tipsy.

“Luna, this soup is magnificent. Maybe because I'm a little bit drunk and starving but still, magnificent.”

Kimoko added some spice to the conversation.

“are you a chubby chaser Jack”

How was he supposed to answer that?? All eyes were on Jack. Heather had a more alarmed look on her face as Jack searched for words. He guessed sometimes simple was best.

“No. Can't say that I am”

“Interesting. Because the gossip at the market was that you called Heather a high class prostitute”

Luna had a spoon of soup travelling toward her mouth at an unfortunately placed part of the journey. When she laughed the soup on the spoon blew everywhere.

“that's not quite fair, he was trying to protect Heather's honour”

Kimoko was having fun. “funny way of doing that, shouting out to teenage boys she's too expensive for them to afford. I just wondered if Jack wanted her for himself. Thanks for the extra soup by the way bitch”

Heather was now looking at Jack nervously.

“look Jack, I'm really thankful for the invite to your party but I'm sorry I don't have feelings for you in that way”

Fucks sake.

“Thank you Heather you're quite safe. Kimoko is just stirring”

“am I?? Do you think Heather is too fat?”

This was definitely because of the ghost story.

“If Heather is happy how she is, that's no one else's business”

Kimoko wasn't happy with that reply.

“Straight talking Jack not so straight talking after a few whiskey's. Tell us what you really think”

Fair enough. Why not.

“Alright. First of all, I do think it's Heathers business. Heather, are you happy with your weight?”

Heather thought about it.

“If I'm honest. Not in the slightest”

Kimoko and Luna both jumped in to console Heather. Luna put her hand on Heathers as she spoke.

“Don't you dare think that. Like I told you before the trailer incident. We're all made of stardust. Miracles of the universe and you Heather, are a miracle”

Kimoko made similar consoling sounds.

“Just how you are you're beautiful”

Jack called them out.

“So straight talk you want? You 2 are full of shit. What is the difference between what you're saying and the boys teasing Heather at the market? They were outright being arseholes. Showing off to each other. You two are actually not much better in a different way. Lets face it, Heather, sorry for talking about you like you're not here, but Heather is the one that gets up in the morning and would need to stand so far back from the bathroom mirror in order to fit in it that she'd need a telescope to see herself”

Shocked silence. Then Heather nodded. “That's true. Excuse my language but I'm fat as fuck”

Jack continued “ok, so I was being a bit harsh on you 2 but my point is not saying the truth isn't always helpful. Heather you said you don't like being fat?”

“Hate it, correct”

“Right. So lets help. I'm no dietician but I've got a full garden out there, how about we get you eating only good food? Nothing processed? You only eat what Luna and Kimoko and I give you”

Heather slowly nodded. “ok, it's worth a try”

Luna had her elbow on the table, chin resting in her hand, studying Jack.

“how are you mean but kinda nice at the same time Jack, it's kinda infuriating in one way”

The drink made Jack less cautious.

“We all get a lot of time on this planet. Some things just take forever. We fall into routines we don't necessarily like but carry one like we have all the time in the world. And we do. Until we realise we have very little and it's gone. We look back and think how much more we couldve or shouldve done. Being a bit more honest is one of those things. It makes you braver”

“Come on Jack!” Kimoko didn't like the morbid tone things had taken. “You sound like you're on deaths door!”

Jack smiled. The smile stayed on his face but sadness filled his eyes. Kimoko and Luna noticed. Heather less so.

“I know I'm supposed to be on this new diet and everything but I'd kill for some desert”

They all laughed. “Well said Heather, whats a birthday party without.... ICE CREAM!!”

Jack could do with a bowl of ice cream about now. Too much whiskey.

Luna stood at the head of the table. “Jack you stay there, I'll bring us all ice cream”

Someone started to clap and the other 2 joined in. Luna curtsied and left the room. Kimoko watched and waited till Luna was out of earshot

“Jack, tell me why you're single”

“Actually I think I just did”

Kimoko nodded. “what happens if Luna moves in?”

“Luna, amazing Luna... and you can stay as long as you need you know. It's not like I don't have the space, although as you can see saying it's run down is an understatement”

Jack wasn't picking up on the real question Kimoko was asking. Heather wasn't picking up on any of it.

“That's really kind Jack, I'll think about it. I'm quite happy where I'm living right now. I'm not sure my boyfriend will be happy if I move in with another chubby chaser”

Kimoko stifled a laugh and that set Jack off completely so they were both laughing uncontrollably when Luna entered with desert.

“I don't know what's so funny but desert is served.” She theatrically danced around the table, delivering a bowl for each person.

Jack looked down at the bowl. It didnt look right.

“Which freezer did you get this out of?”

Luna tried to be flippant. “don't worry about it, just eat it”

Jack was slowed by the whiskey but not that slow.

“Right. So this is... Vegan?”

Kimoko was enjoying hers. “just eat it dick”

Luna was disappointed he realised it was vegan.

“how did you know? Just try some and see what you think”

Jack dipped the spoon in. Covered it with whatever was in the bowl. Brought it to his mouth and in it went. Everyone watched as he moved it around in his mouth tasting then swallowing.

“Extraordinary!”

Luna beamed.

“yeah?”

“Yeah. You must be the best saleswoman in the world to sell this shit.”

Luna's smile was short lived.

“You know it's not compulsory to be always so bluntly honest. You're not autistic”

Kimoko chimed in too. “Yeah, it's called not being an arsehole Jack, try it sometime”

“yeah that's fair. Sorry Luna. You're always so positive sometimes I can't help myself. I'm just a grumpy old man. If I was a few years younger...”

Luna wasn't letting him get away with that. “that's the second time you've said that. If you were a few years younger then what? You think we're 18 or something? We're pushing 30 so what? Pretend you're 30 right now, what you gonna do?”

Kimoko carried on the tease “yeah Jack, what you gonna do?”

Heather had scraped the last of the icecream from her bowl. “What I'm gonna do is get more ice cream. You finishing that Jack?”

“No I'm getting some real ice cream”

Luna wasn't impressed. “so swift to promise, even quicker to forget”

It took Jack a moment to remember. “Oh fuck, that's right. No real ice cream for a week. What about just a little bit since it's my birthday?”

Luna raised her eyebrows with a challenging look. Yeah, unfortunately he wasn't autistic. He knew what that meant.

“sorry Heather, I am going to finish my delicious ice cream.”

“booo” replied Heather.

“If you girls are up for what I mentioned earlier, helping out with Heather's goal? Part of what you have is serotonin receptors that will be all fucked up from all the food and sweets. Gonna be tough”

All the girls nodded including Heather as she carefully, jealously watched Jack eating his bowl of ice cream. “Yeah, I guess no change means no change and change isn't easy”

Luna loved the idea. “of course we're in Jack, it's actually a really nice thing you've setup”

Kimoko agreed. “True. Not bad for a murderer. I guess you've earnt my birthday present to you”

Jack was trying to like the ice cream but it was hard work. “I don't need any more presents. The best present today has been the presence of you all. Thank you for tonight, it's been great”

“Yeah enough of that shit, you just have to agree to a couple of things before I setup. Do you consent to my present?”

That sounded ominous. “sure”

“ok but you have to properly consent, and these two are witnesses” Luna's smile was back. “you'll love it Jack. This is about a $500 present I think”

Kimoko was still giving instructions which included a safe word. “I think I can handle it Kimoko, safe words not required I reckon”

Kimoko jumped up. “I'm going to get ready. Amuse yourselves for a while. I'll be back in.. 10mins. Just before midnight. Fitting” and with that she left.

Team

• Blaze
• Impostor
• Tansi