Chapter Text
Time had flown by quickly since Amanda and I moved into the house in the cul de sac. We had made this house a home in the few months we lived in it together. Amanda quickly made friends with most of the neighborhood kids. She's a social butterfly that she is. It took me a longer to become friends with some of the dads, well except Craig. Boy has that one changed since we graduated college. We reconnected fairly easily. Of all the dads I met at the barbeque, the one I will forever cherish meeting is Damien Bloodmarch.
When I first met him, I do admit I was a little apprehensive. I didn't want to go to the barbeque, meeting new people makes me so anxious. Amanda's been trying for years to get me to be more social, with minimal luck. She definitely took after Alex. Anyways, so the two of us go to the barbeque. I was instantly drawn to him. The way his long, black hair hung over his back and shoulders, the makeup that enhanced the beauty that is his face, and the clothes. Don't get me started on the clothes. Not once in my life have I ever seen a man so unique and exotic as him. He's so much different than Alex was, which is good. I don't think I can handle loving someone like him without comparing them. I knew nothing about Damien, nothing at all.
It was obviously Amanda who convinced me to get Dadbook. Still had to get her to help me set it up. I hate social media, it's not like the entire world needs to know what I'm doing. Being social in general just sucks. Anyways, I added the other dads in the cul de sac, but the first one I messaged was Damien. I was a little surprised that he messaged me back. I didn't think he would be overly interested in talking to a guy like me. I mean, he's so interesting and I'm well, not. When he asked me to come over to his house, I was a little shocked. This man is full of surprises.
So the weeks went by and Damien and I went on a few dates. The time we spent together was amazing. I never once felt like I had to be something I wasn't. I was a little scared at first. I hadn't dated anyone since I lost Alex. I wasn't sure if I was ready, but it was so nice to be with someone again. I actually had a dream after our third date. I was back in the old house, and in walked Alex in all his glory. We embraced, it felt like I had remembered. He even smelt the same. Alex looked at me and said he was glad I found someone. That it was about time. It was a damn good dream, though I was sad to have to wake up.
He was the first one I invited to Amanda's surprise grad party. She got accepted into the art school of her dreams. Nothing was gonna stop her. Well, Damien and I have been doing great. He's such a sweetheart, my Victorian Prince. We have been spending a little less time together with me working more, but I make sure to give him the attention he deserves. He's very understanding.
Time seems to fly so quickly. Amanda's been attending college for five months, leaving the house quiet. It hasn't been easy, I'm struggling to pay the bills. I know Amanda got a scholarship, but it doesn't cover everything. I can barely afford to make minimum payments on everything. Last month I nearly got my phone disconnected. The few extra shifts I picked up just aren't cutting it. So I went and I got a second job. By day I'm a clerk at the local bookstore, by nights I'm a bartender at a popular bar. I don't want to burden my Manda Panda with all this, and I sure as hell can't have Damien know. I love the man and all, but I have to be able to support myself. It's the sad reality of adulthood and parenthood. My time with him has drastically decreased with the second job. Sure I sacrifice a bit of sleep to spend time with him, but it still weighs on me. I don't want Damien to think that I don't love him.
I know I've pulled myself thin. Much too thin, yet I don't overly have a choice. Bills do not pay themselves, the shopping doesn't do itself. I've been exhausted constantly. I don't have much time to do laundry, I made sure my uniforms were clean. I felt bad for neglecting Damien so much lately. I have a day off coming, so I'll rest as much as I can. I promised to take Damien out on a date of his choosing that day, and I'll be damned if I break that promise.
So, I just got home from my day job. I plan to munch on some of the leftover pizza Damien and I got from the day then sleep before heading to the bar. I dropped my stuff on the floor and shuffle to the kitchen. Everything was so bright it made my head hurt. As I stepped into the kitchen, my vision begins to darken around the edges of my vision. It'd been happening on and off for a month now, so I'm not overly concerned. All of a sudden, my knees buckled and darkness enveloped me.
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Lucien sighs as he walked down to the Harper house. His dad had asked him to see if one of his books was over there. Why Damien didn't go himself is beyond him, but whatever. Ash seemed sort of cool any ways. Didn't judge or anything. Didn't force shit upon him or make him respect him or anything. He did back up his dad and support him which is kinda nice.
As much as he didn't seem to care, he was happy to see his dad happy. After his mom left them, Damien didn't really get back in the dating game. It was the two of them for a long time. Lucian thought it was a little weird having the other man around but it wasn't his problem.
When the silver haired teen got to Ash's house, he knocked. When he didn't get an answer, he just walked right in.
"Yo Ash. Dad wants to know if you got a book of his. Don't know why he didn't just come over himself. Ash?" the teen called out. All he met was silence. He knew the other man was home, the car sitting parked in the driveway. Lucien stepped further inside. He checked the bedrooms, not finding him. He headed to the kitchen when he saw a spot peeking past the cupboard. The spot was thick looking and red. When he got closer to it, he paled. Freaking out a little, he got his phone and called his dad.
"Dad, it's Ash. I think he's dead."