Kisses after midnight (WICKED #0) | ✓

19

MATEO HAD TO GET out of the house at night. Though Gabriela had told him everything was fine, that didn't keep him from worrying and when the sun went under, his house had felt too empty for him to stay in. His mother worked long nights these days, anything to make ends meet, and he hated that be couldn't do anything to help. Worst of all, he hated that he felt so hauntingly alone when she was gone, so left alone with his grief, that he had to go outside and look for a fight where he could.

The past years the pain had faded a bit and he didn't go out every night any more. It had gone from daily to weekly and nowadays he could even go for a month without necessarily needing a fight, if only because St Joseph provided him with enough brawls.  Still, night never had been a pleasant time for him. He was left alone too much with his thoughts, all those he had tried to hide away and those he didn't know he had. So he always practically jumped out of bed to see Gabriela's face first thing in the morning and when he heard her voice, all the tension in him immediately dissipated.

At times like these he couldn't keep himself from going though, from keeping himself from self-destructing. He glanced at Gabriela's window, curtains shut and window ajar, and left then. On his motorcycle he felt like he was alive, the world whizzing past him as he headed towards the city.

He had been right in the middle of a bad neighbourhood he had decided to stop in when someone grabbed his shoulder. His elbow spun around in a second, ready to hit whoever it was right in the face, but the person caught it with ease.

"It's just me, son," a familiar voice laughed.

His entire posture changed when he turned around then, warmth filling him at the sight of St Joseph's principal. The intimidating man stood out even in this crowd, his muscles and scars causing most people to give him a wide berth. Behind him stood Jay, looking mortified and entirely as if he was here against his will.

"Hey," Mateo grinned, some of his pent-up tension fading away," what are you two doing here?"

"I was getting a new tattoo," the principal said, waving with a hand at the bandage on his arm," and then I found Jay here."

Mateo looked at Jay, surprised. "You come here often?"

Jay nodded stiffly, the most friendly reaction he probably could have given.

Of all the people Mateo had expected to meet in a neighbourhood like this, the famous ambassador Ryder's son wasn't one of them. With all his fights and his tattoos, he supposed Jay wasn't the typical snob though.

"Well," the principal said, pulling Mateo closer so that he had his arms around them both," this could only be fate which caused me to find you both. So let's go get something to drink."

Jay blinked. "You want us," he said slowly," to drink something with you?"

"Don't pretend like you don't, kid," the principal grinned as he ruffled his hand through Jay's hair," this isn't a part of town where you come to drink chocolate milk."

"Hey," Mateo protested," don't hate on chocolate milk."

"Please God," Jay began, a silent prayer in his eyes when he looked up to the skies.

But the principal had already dragged them along, his smile wide as they entered a small pub on their left. The bartender greeted him by name and he nodded, before ushering them to a place at the bar in the back. There were black booths everywhere, with a bordeaux-colored floor and wooden walls covered with black and white pictures. The whole place was filled with loud people, raven-haired girls and bulky guys, all with so many piercings and tattoos that Mateo couldn't help but look at some of them.