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Chapter Text

When the two half-brothers returned home, Paulino’s heart sank at the remains of his trailer. What little the fire hadn’t ravaged had been smashed and broken by vandals, and all that was left was a charred ruin with no windows, spraypainted both on the inside and out. “Bien hecho, mi hijo,” their father snarked and slapped Paulino’s shoulder so hard that the young man stumbled. He gulped and watched his dad walk away, knowing that the older man would not offer any help fixing the damage. Squaring up, the twenty-year-old pulled himself up straight and put a tentative hand against the blackened door. It had become unhinged, and when he pushed at it, it toppled onto the debris. There was a lot of glass on the floors, lots of burnt wood in the kitchen, too. The main room was a black mess. His radio-alarm had melted – as had the old phone, not that it had ever done its job. His TV was gone, he noted and sighed. He knew his clothes hadn’t survived the fire. All he had left was the stuff he was wearing. That he had been wearing for almost a fortnight now. He stank. His pants were grubby. His undershirt was stained and torn. The shirt and the trainers they had got at a charity shop when he had lost one of his thongs had come a long way, too. He had no socks and no underpants, and he felt dirty. The tiny bathroom didn’t look too bad, and he assumed that he still had running water. He ran a hand across his face and fought the tears, making his way to what was left of his bed. Alicia had gone back to her dad, and Paulino resolved to shack up with them, bring Waldo, too. His foot hit something sharp, and he reached down to pick up a broken picture frame with a picture of his mum. Huffing, he took it out and put it in his back pocket.

Alicia wouldn’t let them stay. Instead, she stuck him with a bill for her clothes, lost in the fire. “Five blouses?” he stared at her, and she shrugged. “I never knew you had five blouses!” Alicia grinned and raised an eyebrow, “There are many things you don’t know.” Because he was an idiot, she thought watching the young man scan her list. “Handbags? Shoes?” She nodded. “You only got those ratty canvas ones – and you never brought round any heels,” Paulino wailed, and the girl told him to prove it. “I can’t-,” he began, and the girl graced him with a mocking smile and waved at somebody behind him. “Lino? This is Tom,” she said, and a big bulky guy shoved Paulino out of his way to pull Alicia into a bruising kiss, “How’s my baby?” Right, the skinny man thought and trudged away. “Will she let us stay?” Waldo manifested, and Paulino gave a start. The kid should be a spy. He had an uncanny talent to appear from out of nowhere. He shook his head and ruffled the boy’s hair, “Come on, retard, let’s get a broom.”

“Why did you keep those fireworks in there anyway?” his neighbour asked, when Paulino hat finished piling up rubbish outside his trailer. He shrugged. It had been a good deal, and he had been planning on using it. Eventually. “You could have set my house on fire, too!” she reproached, “And poor Mr. Skittles. You gave him a real scare!” The woman scowled at the young man who just nodded and said he was sorry. He wasn’t. He hated Mr. Skittles, his neighbour’s fat old cat that would poop on his porch. Well, had pooped. Paulino looked at the hole in the trailer where his door had been. The wooden porch was gone, and he was using some crates for stairs. The kids kept stealing them, but he just stole them right back.

“So when is this gonna go?” another neighbour pushing a pram stopped and nodded at his pile. “Dunno,” Paulino said, “I haven’t really-“ She cut him off and called him lazy and brash, “A spoilt brat that should be taught some manners,” she nodded and walked away, and Paulino wondered how to dispose of the rubbish. His car was gone, and none of the neighbours would give him theirs.

“Lost the car, hé?” his dad laughed and took a swig from his chilled beer. Paulino’s eyes widened a fraction. He hadn’t eaten in two days, and he had just had stale water from the tap. His dad was watching his reaction, not offering him a drink. Paulino hung his head. He had got his brother back. Wasn’t that the main thing? “Can you ride him into work?” his dad roared at his joke, and Paulino shook his head. He had thought of cycling to the gas station. “Forget it,” the older man waved the idea off, “job’s gone. They’ve given it to a black guy.” Paulino closed his eyes, realising that he had lost everything. His home, his money, his car, his girlfriend and now his job, too.

“You’re pretty useless,” the old man said and finished his beer, "always have been." That stung. Paulino swallowed hard and told himself that it wasn’t true. He was poor (they had always been poor), and he had dropped out of school to take that fucking job at the gas station. He had wanted to be a mechanic, but they couldn’t pay him, and so they had just kept him around for odd jobs, and he had settled for that. Okay, he was lazy and not particularly smart. He had no big dreams. A home, a girl to welcome him into her arms, a warm dish every other day, a car. He had had all that. And he had lost it. To get his little brother back home. None of this was his fault, but still nobody would show him any pity.

The pain in his cheek roused him from his reverie. His dad had slapped him. Hard. Across the face. Paulino stared at the old man in a mixture of shock and utter disbelief. “You need to get off your ass, boy,” the father stated, and Paulino rubbed his cheek. He didn’t fight the tears then, didn’t try to stop his bottom lip from trembling. He just shook his head and left. He fled into the house, grabbed his wallet, and ran. Waldo skipped to his side, asking where he was going, and the young man rubbed his eyes and sniffed. “Dunno,” he rolled his shoulders and kept walking, “anywhere.” His little brother gaped and said that he couldn’t just leave, and that did it. Paulino stopped dead in his tracks and turned to the little boy, “Nobody wants me here. They all think I’m stupid and lazy. No one … loves me. So I’ll … just go.” The little boy opened his mouth, but the tall man had turned away already and stalked off with a quiet goodbye, Waldo.

“I love you,” the little boy said, but Paulino didn’t hear.

He had sat by the side of the interstate for about two hours when a shiny red car pulled over. The driver was a middle-aged woman in an elegant blue dress. “Hey, cutie,” she called out to him and asked where he was going. Paulino stood and dusted his jeans. He was sure that she could tell he had been crying, but she didn’t comment. At first. She let him get into the car and pointed a manicured finger at the glove compartment, “Tissues. And whiskey. Messy split-up? They’ll sure help.” Paulino offered a tiny smile and helped himself to the paper towels and the hip flask. He took a sip, then another and another. It didn’t take him long to finish the bottle, rest his head against the door, and fall asleep.

He woke when they were stopping outside a motel and the woman, Grace, shook him gently, “Gonna get us a room, sweetheart,” she purred, and Paulino gave a tired nod. He didn’t question the phrasing (room, singular) nor the fact that they were staying the night. He felt tired and lonely, and he just wanted to rest. Grace came back soon enough waving a key at him and opening the passenger door. Hooking one arm around his back and placing the other on his flat tummy, she ushered him inside and sat him down on the bed. Paulino didn’t question the fact that there was only one bed. He just flopped backwards, kicking off his thongs in the process and resting one hand across his chest. Drifting off, he just about made out Grace’s comforting promises that didn’t quite register.

When Paulino woke the next morning, he was naked. He stretched and yawned, and when the thin cover dropped, he shivered. He didn’t remember shedding his clothes and frowned. They weren’t on the bed or on the floor, so his best guess was that he had left them in the bathroom. He just couldn’t remember using the bathroom. “Good morning, sweetheart,” Grace greeted him, wearing another expensive dress that matched her red lipstick. “Morning,” Paulino replied and rubbed his face. He should shave, he thought rubbing the stubble, and he should take a shower. “Look what I’ve got you,” the woman held out a carrier bag, and Paulino blinked before he accepted it and unceremoniously tipped its contents onto the bed. There were two pairs of denims, a lighter and a darker one, undershirts and pants, socks and three beautiful shirts in different colours. The dark-haired boy liked the orange one a lot and reached out to touch the soft material. They were expensive shirts. He had never owned anything like them, and he wasn’t sure if they were him. “Model them for me?” Grace asked, and Paulino chuckled, feeling self-conscious and silly, and declined the gift. “Nonsense, pretty boy. You can’t keep wearing those rags. These’ll look good on you.” Paulino said that he couldn’t afford clothes like the ones Grace had dug up. He could never pay her back. “Maybe you can’t in money,” the older woman smiled and sat down on the corner of the bed, placing a hand on the young man’s ankle and running playful little circles up his leg, "How old are you?" Paulino slowly moved his foot out of her touch and cleared his throat. His face had gone all red, and Grace watched his reaction carefully. “It would be purely transactional. No one needs to know,” she said nonchalantly, and Paulino’s eyes widened at the suggestion, “I’m not a whore,” he stammered, and Grace smiled amicably, “I know. But you’re a sweet little thing and I would love to have sex with you.” - “You want me to sleep with you? In exchange for the clothes?” Grace shook her head and reached for Paulino’s thigh under the thin sheet. She felt the man tremble at the contact. “The clothes are a gift. They’re yours ... so ... what about a shower and a blowjob?” Paulino swallowed hard, feeling the blood rush to his groin. “I could lend you a hand,” Grace offered, and he shook his head. He wanted that shower, needed time to think. His eyes fell on the underwear. Fuck, he really needed the clothes. And on top, the woman would suck his dick. “Twenty-two,” he said quickly before she could change her mind, “and ... okay.”

He was out of the bath and ready in five minutes, a goner in another five, and he let the woman fondle him afterwards. She was good, he realised, knew where to touch and how, and he found himself grow hard again soon enough. She didn’t kiss him, just straddled him, lined him up, and sank down onto his length, riding him slowly and expertly. He came harder than ever before and his mind went blank for a second. Grace took care of his oversensitive body, cleaned him up, and put briefs on him before lighting them cigarettes and stretching out beside him. She hadn’t taken her clothes off, he realised, and she hadn’t smudged her lipstick too much either. Paulino gave her a befuddled little smile and wondered what it would take for her to kiss him.

He would find out two nights on. On another motel bed. Tied to the headboard and weeping from overstimulation. “P-please,” Javi begged (the name had been her idea. She seemed to have known a Javi before, and he didn't mind too much. Part of him even enjoyed the new identity. It made whateverthiswas less real). Grace let go of his nipples to focus on his balls. “K-kiss me?” he whimpered, and the experienced hands stilled as the woman eyed him curiously. Pretty boy wanted her to kiss him? She took in his plump lips that would often sulk or scowl to hide the fact that they were soft and pillowy. Grace wondered what he might taste like. Cigarettes, she mused. Chewing-gum, too. She decided to find out and brought her lips over his, coaxing them apart to demand access, licking into his mouth and making him moan into hers. He wasn’t a good kisser, but she would teach him, she thought and continued her ministrations until the young man was begging her to fuck him, which she gladly did.

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Grace stopped the car and nodded at the young man. “Well then, it’s been a pleasure, Javi,” she smiled and nodded at the passenger door, waiting for him to get out of the car. Paulino nodded vaguely. His mind was still processing the past six days that had been filled with sex, weird conversations, long rides, but mainly sex. Who would have guessed when he had got into the woman’s car almost a week ago? He offered her a timid smile, and she reached for her handbag on the backseat. The backseat, Paulino blushed at the thought and remembered how, two nights ago, she had had him just there. He had been tired, worn out really from the night before that, and he had stretched out as best as he could on the backseat. Grace had stopped in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night, and he had woken with her mouth on him. I need you, she had rasped and had fucked herself on his fingers. God, she had no shame at all, and the things they had done still made him blush, but he would be lying if he said he hadn’t enjoyed the trip. Grace pulled out a bundle of notes and handed them over, and Paulino raised his hands in protest. He didn’t want her to pay him. “It’s a gift, Javi,” she clarified and put the money into his hand, “to a good start.” She brought her hand up to caress his cheek, amazed at how soft and boyish it felt. Her thumb brushed the beginnings of a moustache, and she gave the young man a fond smile. He had done well, she mused, had kept up with her needs, had followed orders. He was a quick learner, and he smelled nice. He wasn’t the brightest of men, but he knew how to use his assets, and he’d be fine. “Have a good life,” she said, and he wanted to ask if he’d ever see her again, but she shook her head and placed a manicured finger over his lips. “Thank you,” she nodded and let go of him, and he knew that this was goodbye, so he thanked her too, grabbed his bag and his money, and got out of the car.

Paulino had never been … anywhere outside his hometown, and he felt overwhelmed and intimidated by the high-rises and the busy sidewalks. He checked the cash, found it to amount to a hundred bucks, and shoved it into his pocket. Uncertain about where to go, he turned right and started walking.

The young man had walked for an hour when he got hungry, and he entered a small café that looked inviting. Maybe it was the scale of it (tiny), maybe it was the chequered cloths on the tables. Maybe it was the lack of extravagance that lured him in. There weren’t many people inside. An elderly lady was sat behind a paperback novel, and somebody was rummaging behind the counter. Given the lady's empty coffee pot, he seemed to be the only customer right now, and that made him smile. He checked the menu to find food and drinks affordable (especially now that he had money), and for a split second he thought of Alicia. He could have taken her on a proper date, could have paid for more than a coke and a burger, could have got her flowers, too. He sighed and gave a start, when a kind voice greeted him and offered to take his order. The waiting girl was about his age and gave him a sweet smile. Paulino grinned sheepishly and ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I’d … like the waffles, please,” he said, “and a hot chocolate.” The girl smiled at the sweetness of his choice and asked it he wanted cream with his chocolate. “Sure,” he wasn’t, but he had never been able to afford cream before, so why not? “Mashmallows?” His face lit up, and he nodded so hard that the woman started to laugh. “Sorry,” she said and briefly touched his shoulder, “but you’re really getting carried away.” He beamed at the kind remark and blushed, and the waitress couldn’t help finding the reaction endearing.

Paulino enjoyed his pancakes and the fruit side that came with them. He loved the syrup and the chocolate chips, and he loved the rich taste of the hot beverage. It felt good to eat. On his own. Without the pressure to perform post-prandial coitus. It felt good to just be alone, even though he had no idea what to do with himself. He was staring out of the window, when he heard a muttered curse from the kitchen, and he turned to see what it might be about. The old lady had napped off, and he smiled at that. The café seemed like a real place with real people, so Paulino had no qualms to see for himself.

The nice waitress was crouched on the kitchen floor struggling with a gas cylinder. “Can I help?” he offered and squatted down beside her. “You really shouldn’t-,” she began, but Paulino shrugged the comment off and reached for the bottle. The woman had unsuccessfully tried to remove the tube, but he could see that it was stuck to the valve, and he asked her for a pipe wrench. She nodded and got off the floor to fetch the tool. Paulino expertly unscrewed the tube and put the safety lid on the cylinder. Then he attached the pipe to the new gas cylinder. He was done in mere minutes. “Wow,” the woman smiled, and the young man bit his bottom lip. “You do know your way around gas cylinders,” she stated, and he confirmed and added that he was looking for a job. “Oh,” the woman dropped her gaze and said that there were no jobs at the café. Paulino nodded. It would have been too good to be true. “Where are you staying?” she asked, “I could … call you … if anything pops up.” He smiled and said that he had nowhere to stay. They were standing in the kitchen, and the waitress was worrying her apron, while the dark-haired man scratched the surface of the worktop with one thumbnail. “You could stay with me,” she said, and he shook his head and laughed, “No, I … can’t.” She insisted that he could, that she was sharing with three others, “Tom won’t mind. It’s his flat.” Paulino froze at the man's name and at a vague idea of what Tom might ask in return. He forced a smile as he declared that he would not sleep with Tom for letting him shack up with him. “He would never expect you to … he wouldn’t say no if you wanted,” the woman hesitated, her voice rising just a pitch, and Paulino realised that she was wondering if he swung that way. He shook his head and said no, which seemed to come as a great relief to her. She liked the quiet stranger. The tall man seemed shy and nice, and maybe he was boyfriend material. She resolved to get him a job and asked his name. “Paul,” he said, adding Javi to some in his mind and opting for “Paulino to most.” She liked the name. He looked like a Paulino to her. “I’m Kate,” she said and held out her hand, and Paulino shook it, and when he looked into her shining eyes, he felt he was welcome.

Chapter Text

Kate had put in a word with the Reverend, and Paulino had moved into a quiet place off the beaten track run by the YMCA. He didn’t mind his housemates’ mental problems, he even befriended a handicapped boy and helped wash and feed him. He shared a bunkroom with Jason, a quiet black boy from Minnesota. They got along fairly well, and Jason also got Paulino a job as a waiter at a small Italian place. The young Hispanic was happy, and for the first time in his life, he was able to save up. He sometimes thought of little Waldo and of his dad, and he wondered if they were doing alright for themselves, but at the same time he was relieved to live a life of his own for once. He was putting aside money to take Kate out. The girl was nice, and they got along well, and on a walk around the neighbourhood, she had pointed out a particular restaurant to him. It was a family-run place with candles on the tables, and she had deemed it romantic. It was a cosy place, nothing fancy or upmarket, and the boy was planning to take the girl there, if he would ever muster up the courage to ask her.

He also did the shopping for the community kitchen and carried out repairs, and when he got some time off, he went to see Kate at the little café. She was always happy to see him, and she would smile and (briefly) hug him. Paulino always imagined holding her tighter, but he never did. “Paul!” she beamed, when he closed the door, and he returned her smile. He found he enjoyed being Paul for the time being. Kate brought her arms around his neck, and he briefly hugged back. “Same as always?” she asked, and he nodded. He loved her chocolates, and she enjoyed his gratitude and genuine appreciation. “How was your day?” she asked and placed the chocolate in front of him. “Uneventful,” he hummed and asked if she wanted something. She shook her head, unsure if he could afford it, and Paulino coughed. “I’d -erm- I’d love to buy you one … one day,” he said sheepishly, and Kate laughed whole-heartedly, “I’d like that.” Paulino gaped at the girl and felt the heat rush to his cheeks. She would like to drink chocolate with him?! “Maybe we could go … somewhere else though,” she added and explained that she would love to go somewhere outside work. “Oh,” Paulino hadn’t thought of that and nodded. Where would she want to go?  “There’s … a café at the art gallery,” Kate became flustered when she spoke about the exhibition she would have loved to see. “You know art?” the young man felt dumb and uncultured, but Kate assured him that she just loved looking at paintings, “I saw this ad – and I really liked the colours. I would love to go there and see the pictures. Do you like art?” Paulino blushed and wondered how to respond. He didn’t know a thing about art. He had read a fair share of comics, which hardly classified as art, and there was Arthur from the garage. The old man had created this massive mural, but he also painted portraits of the trailer park family. He remembered Arthur painting his mom and his dad, piss-drunk, grabbing her hand and dragging her home. He had broken her wrist, and he had given her a black eye, but she had told Paulino that it was nothing. I fell, he remembered her telling him with a sad smile, and he had pretended to believe her, because he had thought that if you believed a lie really hard, it would become true. He shrugged off the memories of his mother and said that he knew nothing about art, “But I’d go with you.” Kate smiled and reached out to touch his arm. She stopped mid-movement and pulled back, and Paulino couldn’t help thinking how different from Grace she was. “When would you want to go?” he asked, and Kate said that she was free on Thursdays. Paulino nodded and sipped his cocoa. “I like the haircut by the way,” the girl blushed, and Paulino found her adorable. He ran a shy hand across his spiky head and grinned, blushing a little in return.  Kate noticed and turned away to hide the fact that her cheeks had gone a shade darker still. She liked the quiet boy with the toned skin. He had been through a rough patch, she could tell. He never spoke much about his background, but she had gathered that there was a younger brother that he had left behind and that he missed. Paul was a nice guy, and she found his nickname Paulino endearing and rather fitting. He was beautiful, she found. She had admired his slender frame more than once, and when he had, accidentally, wrapped his long arms around her during a basketball game in the park, she had felt safe. He smelled nice, and he took care of himself. He shaved except for the fluff covering his upper lip and some patches along his jawline (there was no doubt that he was working on a beard). He also used after-shave, and Kate knew that his facial skin was smooth and soft. He didn’t have that many clothes when she had first met him, just a  plastic bag holding his change. Over the past weeks, Paulino had bought more (Kate knew the clothes to be hand-me-downs), and whenever he dropped into the café, he made sure to be wearing something different to the visit before. “How’s Alan?” Kate specifically asked about the disabled boy, because Paulino had wheeled him in a couple of times. Alan could neither walk nor use his right arm. He managed to feed himself using a spout cup, and Kate had served his hot chocolate in it. He had great difficulty forming words, and most of the time, he just grinned or wailed to communicate. Paulino and he had bonded, and the dark boy would tell Alan random stories which made him laugh. Kate’s heart had warmed at their interactions. “Good,” Paulino answered and smiled. Kate said that she found the boys’ friendship amazing, but Paulino just shrugged and said that his little brother (“half-brother,” he would correct himself) was a “retard,” too, “Has a crazy imagination,” he smiled, “always makes up stories and characters … he gets seizures … sometimes. It’s gotten better, but … it still happens.” He pulled up his shoulders, and Kate tilted her head. It wasn’t the first time that she’d heard him speak of his little brother. He would brush him off as a kid, now a retard, but the tone in which he spoke of the child was fond. “Jay says hi,” he added, changing the topic, and Kate rolled her eyes. She had met Jason a couple of times, and he had struck her as a loudmouthed youth, too cocky for his own good. He had talked a lot, and quiet Paulino had barely got a word in and had seemed lost. “He’s got a crush on you, you know,” he chuckled, and Kate stared back and said that Jason was not her type. Paulino swallowed hard, wondering what her type might be, but the girl just looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “Me?” he pointed at himself, “I’m your type?” Kate noticed the goose pimples on the honeyed arms and maintained her silence. “I … uh … thank you,” he stammered. Then he rose and handed over the money for the chocolate. “I gotta get back,” he sighed and explained that he still had to shop for groceries. Kate gave a nod and took the money, pocketing the small tip he had left (he always insisted on tipping her) and placing the rest into the till. Paulino watched her tiny smile die and her shoulders hunch and felt bad about doing a runner, so he turned back, knowing she’d look up at the little ding of the door-bell, and quietly said, “Y-you’re m-my type, t-too, you know.”

Chapter Text

Paulino felt slightly out of place at the art gallery. He had put on his best outfit and had slicked his hair back. At the trailer park, everyone would have found him a real looker, but walking down the narrow corridor with Kate he just didn't belong. Everyone else was either older (more the Grace type of people) or students. They looked like money, and they talked to one another in an effortless way that made the young man feel small. Kate had adapted (or maybe she had just chosen lucky) and did not turn heads in her dungarees and tote bag. She had told him that she had been to the library before, and she had shown him the two books she had taken out, but still Paulino wondered about the look. He followed her into a room full of paintings, and he groaned inwardly. He didn’t know where to look, how to look or how long to spend on each picture. He wasn’t even sure what it was that he was looking at, and Kate told him to concentrate on the paintings at the other side of the room. Paulino gave her a confused scowl, certain that she was making fun of him, and looked across the room. The paintings showed landscapes, beaches mostly, and he tilted his head before glancing back at the painting next to him that was basically a wild mess of strokes. Kate said that she had read about Impressionism and that painters would capture atmospheres by using colours, “It’s not like a photo, you have to guess what you see.” Paulino raised an eyebrow at the closest pictures, then focussed on the ones far away again. A young man joined them and began talking to Kate, and the girl responded and let the other one lead the way. He made some daft compliments, then eyed Paulino questioningly. Kate made the introductions, and Paulino held out his hand, but the other man ignored him and turned away in a swift movement. Kate frowned and watched Paulino clench his jaw. His nostrils were flaring ever so slightly, but his eyes were sad and held no fight. “Oh,” Kate took Paulino’s arm, “we can go grab that drink later, love,” and she leant in and put a sweet kiss to his cheek. The student’s eyes narrowed at the public display of affection, then he stood the two slightly younger people in front of a painting and took his leave. “Thank God,” Kate muttered under her breath, and she let go of a grinning Paulino. “Love?” he said in a low voice, and Kate blushed, “What was I supposed to say? He wouldn’t leave us alone!” Paulino chuckled and stated that she was welcome to call him that any time. They wandered round the room, each figuring out what they were looking at, pointing out little details they had noticed, and then Kate asked which painting was Paulino’s favourite. The boy hummed and looked around, but then he decided on a faded yellow painting that showed a dry summer not unlike the ones at home. He smiled and said that it felt almost like a photograph. Kate wondered if the memories it evoked were happy or sad ones, and Paulino said, a bit of both. He wouldn’t give away more, and when they had had enough of the exhibition, they relocated to the little café.

Paulino bought them hot chocolates, and they sat down at a table at the far end of the room. The date part, the young man thought and swallowed, suddenly shy and self-conscious. What was he supposed to talk about? Kate smiled at him, seeming to sense his hesitation. “So what was your favourite subject in high school?” she asked innocently enough, and Paulino flinched. He hadn’t really paid any of it great mind. Scrunching his nose he replied, “Track and Field. I was a good runner.” Kate beamed and said that that was great. “Oh! I liked Housekeeping, too,” he remembered suddenly, “lots of girls … who wouldn’t let me near the pans, but they had me taste all sorts of amazing shit.” He remembered the Christmas baking and two very enthused girls stuffing him with their produce. They had had a bit of a crush on the lanky boy, and he had been happy to be their play thing. “I liked Book Club best,” Kate said and admitted that it had allowed her to travel, “in my head at least, if not in real life. Oh, the places I’ve gone to!” Her eyes took on a dreamy look, and Paulino smiled. “I liked Spanish, too,” she added. For the same reasons. His face fell. “Español,” he mouthed, “muy bien.” – “No,” she laughed, “no bien at all. I love hearing it, but I cannot speak.” Paulino offered to teach her. “You speak it at home?” she wondered, and he rolled his shoulders. They did. His dad had never warmed to the English language, and he would switch between the two depending on the situation. When it was not speaking to his dad, he basically fell into his mother tongue when it came to emotions. He’d curse in Spanish, and he’d use terms of endearment in the bedroom. He was a quiet person, but Alicia had been pleasantly surprised to find him a VERY talkative lover. He had no hold on his speech then, no filter. Whenever he became aware, he found his babbling annoying, but the only thing he could usually do was bite his tongue (or his partner), and so he just accepted it and showered them with praises. He voiced none of that, and Kate asked about his hobbies, "Like what do you do in your free time?" He would almost have snapped that he only ever had free time, but she hadn't been accusing him of being lazy, and she couldn't know that jobs were so far and few between that he would spend his waking hours smoking, flipping through car (or porn) magazines, blowing up things with his fireworks, looking for food (or work) and fucking. He pursed his lips and said that he liked cars, "I get the magazines from the guy at the garage, and I like looking at wheels I'll never get to drive." - "What about the movies?" Paulino said there was a drive-in some twenty miles out, and he sometimes took Alicia, but they only ever ended up making out, missing the film, and he'd curse himself for spending money on something he could have had at home. He said that he rarely went, but he didn't elaborate. Kate told him about a small screen down the street from her café. There were movie nights for just a dollar, and they were Bring Your Own Drinks. She said they could go, and Paulino wondered if she had ulterior motives, but it seemed that she was just into films and not planning on sucking him off in the backrow.

They talked about films they liked, and eventually, Kate said that she was glad they had come to the art gallery, “I enjoyed the paintings and looking at them together.” Paulino blushed a little and shrugged. She had wanted to go, he had played along. It wasn’t a big deal, he thought. “Not everyone would have come,” she admitted and told him about her ex, who had laughed at her interests. Paulino frowned. The guy had made fun of Kate? Why? “He thought that going to a museum won’t make me a brainiac. He said,” Kate replied, and Paulino shook his head at the cruel remark. “I don’t want to be brainy. I just like looking at things,” she gave him a timid smile, “and I could never paint like that!” He bobbed his head. Yeah. Those pictures had been pretty amazing. “What about your ex?” she tilted her head, “There is one, right? Or you wouldn’t have come all the way from-“ – “Kansas,” he filled the gap and smiled, “and yes, there is one … two actually,” he blushed and wondered how to put into words what was on his mind, “Waldo … my little brother … he burnt down my trailer, and he lost my car. He … ran away, and when I got him back, my girlfriend had dumped me.” – “He burnt down your trailer? Why?” Paulino pulled up his shoulders and shook his head. He had no idea. “I … met someone else … by chance,” he chose to say, “and we had a fling, nothing serious … it was … good, and we didn’t fight or anything, but she … let me go.” Kate gave him a look full of compassion and mouthed that she was sorry. He mirrored her earlier smile and said that it was okay. He wouldn’t have met her if he’d stayed with Grace. Kate agreed that that would have been a shame. “A real disgrace,” he confirmed, and both laughed at the off-joke. “So … you had many boyfriends?” he asked, and she shook her head. Just two. Chris, the last guy, had lasted two years. “That’s impressive,” Paulino found. Alicia and he had been together for a bit over a year, and they had fought a lot, money always being an issue. “You wanna settle down, get married, have kids, that sort of shit?” he winked, taking off the edge, and Kate rolled her eyes and said she didn’t know, “I don’t really see myself as a mother.” Paulino cocked his head and pushed out his bottom lip. He could picture her with babies, but he didn’t dare say. “You want kids?” she asked back, and he said, yeah. He had always wanted little versions of himself populating the world. He liked sex, and he was comfortable with his part in procreation. He might not be the ideal dad, but he would make sure to spend time with his offspring. He’d be a good father. He wouldn’t repeat the mistakes his dad had made. Kate was surprised, but watching the boy in front of her, she mused that it made sense. He was a quiet person, someone who would be a good listener, maybe a provider, too, one day. She could see him as a father, flipping through picture books with a child on each knee, pressing gentle kisses into their hair. “So what about now?” she said and rephrased immediately, blushing so furiously that her face was almost purple, “I mean, what are you going to do now?” Paulino hadn’t even taken her question as an offer, but he caught up and chuckled, “Buy condoms,” he said, and she slapped his arm. “No, seriously, I’m good. The job’s … a job, I’ve got a room, enough food … company. Wouldn’t want to change any of that.” – “You’re saying: you’re staying?” she inquired, and Paulino nodded. For the time being, he would be.

Chapter Text

Things between Kate and Paulino moved slowly, but their relationship gradually moved towards something sweet and tender that outsiders would more and more often mistake for love. How is your boyfriend, the old lady would ask, and Kate would blush and shake her head. She had stopped correcting the woman however and would just say that he was alright. “Sweet young man,” the old lady would say and advise Kate to keep him. Kate would smile to herself thinking that she would – if they ever became an item. She liked Paul a lot, and he was always attentive. He was a nice boy, and he wasn’t pushy or demanding. He just enjoyed spending time with her, and he would come to the library or the café to walk her home (never asking to come in), walk with her in the park, share fries sitting by the river or help her out by grabbing groceries when the café ran out of milk or eggs. He still dropped in for his chocolates, and so did Jason, but Kate never mentioned the room-mate fearing that Paulino might think ill of her. She liked the dark-skinned boy less and less as he was rude and braggy. He kept complimenting her curves and her hair, and she kept telling him to stop that, but he wouldn’t listen. Paulino’s compliments were much more welcome, and he would go all flustered on her.

Paulino knew that he had to act. He had been seeing Kate for four months, and he hadn’t made a move yet. Perhaps she was growing impatient. Perhaps she was beginning to think that he wasn’t interested. She never invited him into her home, and they never met anywhere that wasn’t public. He would have loved to take her to the movies, maybe hold her hand or put an arm around her. He had also kept that little restaurant in mind; he could buy her a necklace, something cute that would remind her of their friendship, and he would take her out. Smiling to himself he put the laundry in a basket, half-tuning out of Jay’s stories. The guy was really full of himself, and sometimes Paulino just needed a break. “Yo, I’m gonna put the moves on that café chick, man,” he said, and Paulino nodded. “She’s hot,” Jay continued, and Paulino smiled. “Hey, you fancy her?” Jay leant in, and Paulino had to admit that he hadn’t been listening. “Man! That Kate bitch. She’s hot shit,” Jay declared, and Paulino’s blood ran cold. “Ah,” he said slowly, “sorry, man, gotta stop you there. She’s … with me.” Maybe his choice of words could have been different; maybe he shouldn’t have lied, and Jay didn’t take the information well. “You what?!” he squealed, and Paulino shrugged and said that he had been seeing Kate for a while. “Behind my back?” Jay made a threatening gesture, and Paulino pursed his lips. “Sort of-,“ he managed before Jay’s fist collided with his left eye. The second blow got his mouth, and then the Latin boy fought back, throwing his full weight into the other person so that both of them stumbled to the floor.

***-***

Normally, Paulino would have dropped by about four times a week, plus he’d show up at the library or after hours to see Kate home safe. The waitress had been under the impression that the boy was working up to going to see her every day, waiting for the right moment to ask her out. When Paulino hadn’t shown in four full days, Kate began worrying about him. She didn’t have his number, maybe he had no phone (she had never seen him use one), so she couldn’t call him, and eventually she just went to his house after work. It was a quiet Thursday, and the city was slowly getting into the festive spirit. Kate had brought her bicycle and headed straight for the front steps of the cosy old brick building. She locked her bike to the rails shielding off the basement stairs and climbed the steps into the main house. It smelled of cooking, lasagne, she mused and smiled, and she walked through to the kitchen, finding Alan and two other young men busy filling plates, and she frowned and asked for Paulino. “Who?” the taller boy scowled, and the other just shrugged, “Never heard of him.” Alan made a wailing sound and hung his head, and Kate watched him with worry, “Where is he? I really need to speak to him,” she explained, and the handicapped young man’s lips turned into a sad pout as he shook his head. “What about the Reverend?” she tried. “Through the back,” one of the youths said, and Alan grunted some cheerful noises of affirmation. Kate thanked them and walked through the backdoor to find the man putting a sturdy rug on a lemon tree. “Might be too late for that,” he smiled when he noticed the girl, and Kate sighed and wished him good luck. Then she asked for Paulino. “Ah, I’m afraid he moved out,” the Reverend said, and Kate must have made a horrified face that made the man flinch. “When?” she asked, wondering why the boy hadn’t told her. She also wondered where he had gone. “Monday,” the man said, and Kate’s eyes bulged. That had been four days ago! “Why?” she asked. Paulino had been happy at the house. He wouldn’t just move out. The priest huffed and made an inviting gesture. Kate followed him back into the house and crossed her arms, and the cleric explained that he had asked Paulino to leave, “He got into a fight.” Kate stared. No, that couldn’t be true! “It was provoked,” the Reverend conceded, “but he fought back, and as this house has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to violence, I really had no choice. I had to let both of them go.” Both? “Jason, his room-mate.” – “Jason?!” Kate gaped. This didn’t add up at all, she thought. Why would the boys fight? And where had Paulino gone? “I honestly don’t know,” the Reverend said, “he took his bag and left. I’m sorry.” No, he wasn’t, Kate wanted to say. The man didn’t give a thing about poor Paulino who didn’t know a soul in this city! Well, that wasn’t entirely true, he knew her, but he hadn’t turned to her whatever reason for. Kate resolved to go looking for him, and knowing that he preferred late shifts, she went round his workplace. She was afraid to cause a scene and went round the building to speak to some other staff, and she was lucky and found the manager smoking outside and asked him about her friend. “He’s gone,” the man said, and when Kate frowned, he added that he had fired him, “showed up with his face beaten to a pulp. Not a pretty sight if you’re waiting tables. He did offer to work in the kitchen, but there’s enough staff, so-“ So he had let Paulino go, and he didn’t care about the boy either. It wasn’t so much the loss of his livelihood but the injuries that worried Kate. His face beaten to a pulp, the manager had said. Was that true? If so, Paulino had to be in terrible pain. So where could he be?

Confused and a bit shell-shocked, Kate went home, wondering what had happened and wondering where the dark-haired boy had gone. He wouldn’t have returned to Kansas, she decided, at least she hoped that he would not have left without saying goodbye, but she couldn’t be certain. She hoped that he was alright, feared that he was badly hurt, but most of all she feared that he might have gotten into trouble. He was a country boy after all, and even if he was sort of street-wise, he hadn’t been born in the city. If he had got drunk, he might have walked into traffic and got himself killed or he might have been so desperate to have jumped into the river. He might also have been robbed of his meagre possessions, and he might even have been stabbed or beaten to death in some backstreet. Kate hoped that he was alright, but she feared that she would never see him again.

Chapter Text

It could have been Fate or Chance that helped Kate along another day later. She would have had the Saturday off, but Mary, the other waitress, had been sick and had phoned and asked to change shifts. Kate had been happy to help and had hastily got ready, and because she was running late, she had taken the short-cut through the park. She wouldn’t normally cross the park alone, especially not on a Saturday morning, but she didn’t have a choice, and she walked as quickly and briskly as she could, only stopping short when she passed a figure half-covered in a damp blanket. It was the pink hoody that caught her eye. Just a hooded jumper, she told herself. Nothing spectacular, just like the jeans and the trainers. But the person was resting on a canvas bag the colour of the one Paulino had chosen a while ago, and the brown blanket looked just like the one her grandfather had bought. She had given Paulino the rug only recently when he had told her that his room was freezing at night. She stopped and took a step towards the sleeping man. He was lying on his side, and the left side of his face was badly bruised. His lips were cracked, and there was some stubble along his jaw. Kate’s eyes fell on a little tattoo on the man’s left hand, and she knew that it was him! “Paul?” she crouched down and gently touched his shoulder, and the young man startled awake and half-sat up. “K-kate,” he stammered and closed his eyes with a groan. “What are you doing here?” she asked, and Paulino pushed himself to a sitting position and brought the blanket around his shivering form. “Never mind,” she added and wrapped an arm around him, “You’re coming with me.” She reached for his bag and nudged him to stand. Paulino swayed a little, and she supported him on their way to the café. Up close his left eye was black and the side of his face heavily discoloured. She could also smell the filth and damp of the last couple of days on him, as he didn’t seem to have shaved or washed in a while. Kate sighed to herself and, once they were at the café, dropped the man onto a chair. She made him chocolate and also heated a sandwich for him. The starved young man devoured the bread in seconds and then hugged his mug and pouted, “I can’t afford this.” –  “Don’t worry about that. I’ll get the med kit,” Kate promised, and Paulino moaned, but the woman returned with a warm wet washcloth and the first aid kit. She gently cleaned his face before putting some ointment on his injuries, and Paulino closed his eyes, grateful for the careful touches. The ointment had a soothing effect, and he opened his eyes to look at the woman. “Bad?” she asked, and he shrugged. “On a scale of 10, 10 being the worst?” she insisted, and he mumbled, “Five.” If the injuries were a week old, he must have been in terrible pain before. He shivered and brought the blanket around his form again, and Kate took in the damp clothes and hair. He would catch a fever if he hadn’t already. She thought that he should be in bed and touched his shoulder. Then she weaselled into the kitchen to ring her boss. She explained the situation and promised to be back within the hour, and the café owner agreed to Kate taking care of her friend.

She waited for him to finish his chocolate, frowning at his dark expression and feeling sorry for him. If even his beloved chocolate didn’t help lighten the mood, things had to be really bad. Picking up his bag, she said that he needed sleep, “In a proper bed.” He huffed, and she said that she was offering to house him. “No,” his eyes grew wide as he shook his head, “I can’t take you up on that.” She insisted, and when she poked his shoulder, he shivered again and caved in.

Once in Kate’s little abode, the girl offered the boy a hot shower and said that she could also give him dry clothes her ex had left, “John was bigger than you, but not as tall, so I’m not sure if these’ll work,” she blushed, and Paulino assured her that anything dry would be fine, even her clothes, and he coughed and disappeared into the tiny bathroom. When the girl heard the shower, she laid out some of her ex’s things, a hooded jumper, some soft grey shorts, and a pair of sweatpants, and she was wondering if he'd need socks, when he re-emerged with a towel around his narrow hips. Kate smiled and gestured at the clothes, and Paulino tried to copy her expression and pulled on the baggy sweater that looked huge on him, and Kate stared at the toned legs and long and narrow feet. Paulino winked and reached for the underpants, putting them on, then dropping the towel. He placed it on a kitchen stool and put on the sweatpants which were too short, and he let them ride low on his hips. Kate told him that she needed to go back to the café, but she wanted him to know that he was welcome to help himself to food and drinks. “Lay down, get some rest,” she said, and he furrowed his brow looking around for a couch. “Oh, there isn’t one,” Kate said and pointed at her fold-out. “That’s … your bed,” he stated, and she saw a lovely pink creep up his neck. She nodded and grabbed the throw pillows before folding back the colourful rug and shrugging at the bedding. “I changed the sheets last night, so I’ve slept in them once. If you mind, I could-“ Paulino shook his head and said he didn’t mind, “I’ve spent those past days on a park bench.” That made the girl chuckle, and she smiled and wished him sweet dreams, before she picked up his bag and said that she’d make sure he got his clothes back clean and dry. She left the pain relief on the kitchen counter and told him to find some ice in the freezer. He just gaped at her, and she found that he looked adorably lost in the unflattering outfit. “Hermosa,” he said when she had reached the door, and she turned back, “thank you.” She smiled at him and said she’d be back at around three.

Paulino could hardly believe the girl’s kindness. Sure, there was this undeniable mutual pull, but the girl had just offered him her bed! The boy padded into the kitchenette and drew some water. He forewent the ice and slid under the covers, inhaling Kate’s scent. It was strangely intimate, and he felt blessed and cared for. He closed his eyes imagining the girl next to him, and he drifted off with a faint smile on his lips.

Paulino slept soundly and dreamed of home. Snuggling into the soft cartoon sheets he snored and grunted his way through peaceful images of country roads and yellow fields of wheat. He didn’t notice Kate return home, and the girl smiled at the gentle sounds, not missing the slight rattle in his chest. She watched Paulino sleep, his dark hair soft and ruffled, and found him cute. From time to time, he produced little snorts, but he lay calm and relaxed. Kate beheld his face, the unshapely nose, the discoloured cheek, the chapped lips. He had shaved, but he hadn’t made an effort, and there was some dark stubble dusting his jaw. Sharp bones, she thought, and she remembered how soft his skin had been, when she had rubbed the pain relief on him. She placed the bag holding Paulino’s laundry on a stool and the take-out on the kitchen counter, then she settled on a cushion on the floor and picked a book. She read until it became too dark to see without turning the lights on, and she cast the sleeping boy a longing look and rested her head on her forearms. Closing her eyes, too, she fell asleep.

Paulino woke with a start, uncertain what it was that had startled him, and sat up. He frowned at the sweater, then remembered where he was. He looked around and found Kate sitting on the ground. No, no, no, he thought. That wasn’t right. He threw off the covers and got out of bed. He got on his knees and carefully touched the girl’s shoulder. She made a little wailing sound and blinked at the round little face in front of her. For a split second, she thought that she was dreaming, then she saw the dark marks on his face and she remembered inviting him into her home. “Oh,” she said, and Paulino sat back on his haunches, the girl missing his closeness immediately. “You shouldn’t sleep on the floor,” he croaked, his voice heavy with sleep, and shook his head. “I could hardly get in with you,” she said, and he shrugged and pointed out that it was her bed after all. “You looked so peaceful. I didn’t want to wake you.” Paulino said that he was awake now, and he rubbed his hands. Kate asked if he was hungry. She had brought tapas, but they were cold now. She had also got his laundry. The boy beamed, grateful for her kindness and offered her a hand to pull her up.

They sat on the kitchen chairs, and Kate handed her guest glasses, plates and cutlery. Before they set to it, she insisted on putting more cream on Paulino’s cheek. The boy hummed at the gentle caresses, and when Kate tipped his nose, he laughed. He didn’t let on that the playful touch had gone straight to his groin. With a sigh, he served his host, then himself, and dug in. It felt great to get some food into his system, and he moaned at the first bite. Kate giggled and shook her head, then poured them lemonade.

“I can’t … repay you … straightaway, that is,” Paulino munched, and Kate said that she wasn’t expecting him to pay for her hospitality. He nodded and heaved a heart-wrenching sigh. “We could watch a movie,” Kate suggested, putting off the inevitable moment they would have to address their sleeping arrangements. Paulino nodded eagerly, and they had a look at the few DVDs that Kate owned. The young man picked an action movie, and they made themselves comfortable on the floor, leaning against the bed, their legs covered by a rug. Kate had filled a bowl with crisps, and the two young people shared the snacks. Their shoulders would touch, as would their fingers in the bowl, and their legs touched anyway, but the contacts didn’t feel awkward to either of them. “He’s an idiot,” Paulino laughed at the hero, and Kate joined in. She agreed. But he was handsome. “You think so?” he was shocked, and Kate nodded, ignoring the way the skinny boy shifted in the baggy sweater. “You like them packing?” he cleared his throat, and Kate bobbed her head sideways. She liked muscle, but not too much. The hero was easy on the eye, sure, but Paulino had a nice face, too. “What about you?” she pointed at the female lead, a slender actress with big boobs. Paulino averted his gaze and wondered how to put into words that he preferred small breasts. “I like the hair,” he said, and Kate laughed. Her hair?! The boy gave a nod. “Long hair’s … real cute,” he shrugged, and Kate blushed a little. They continued making fun of the plot, and when the titles rolled, Kate suppressed a yawn, and Paulino took the bowl from her grasp. “I can … stay here,” he offered and nodded at the floor, and Kate spun around and stared at the boy, “Nonono, you really don’t need to,” she began, but he waved her off, “As much as I loved your bed … you should have it.” – “I can share,” the girl said quietly, and the boy swallowed and bit his lips. He eyed the soft and inviting bed and accepted the offer, and Kate jumped up, grabbed her PJs, and dashed for the bathroom, “Your clothes are in the bag!” She threw the information over her shoulder, and Paulino stared at the bag. She must have seen all his clothing now, he blushed furiously, and he picked up the bag. He took out a grey t-shirt and shrugged out of the sweater. He also decided to kick off the sweatpants. When Kate returned in her colourful pyjamas, Paulino was putting the comforter back on the narrow bed. The girl stared at his ass for a moment, admired the toned legs and the long straight back, then she gave him a hand and fluffed up the pillow. Uncertain how to proceed, both gestured, and eventually, Paulino got under the sheets and scooted over. Kate slipped in, and they lay side by side. “Goodnight,” Kate said, and Paulino hummed, “This is nice … sleep well, Hermosa.” She smiled and rolled onto her side just when Paulino turned his face, and their noses almost brushed. “This is nice,” Kate confirmed, and the boy asked if he could hold her. Kate nodded and turned away, and Paulino pulled her back into his chest. He kept his hold light, and Kate reached for his hand and took it. Paulino held his breath for a long while, then he exhaled and nuzzled the back of the girl’s head. Her body was radiating a comforting warmth, and she smelled nice. Closing his eyes, Paulino imagined them being lovers. He could let his hands roam then, touch, explore, and the girl might touch him back. He exhaled shakily and snuggled into her back, and soon, he fell asleep to the steady rhythm of her breath.

Chapter Text

When Kate woke up with a smile on her face, it was past 10 in the morning, and she stretched at the welcome feeling of sleeping in. She was warm, and a moment later she realised why that was. Paulino’s arm was still resting over her side, but his body lay at a respectful distance. She could still feel the heat his body was giving off, and she found it nice to wake up with someone beside her. She nestled back into her pillow, and a hoarse voice croaked a sleepy ‘good morning.’ “Good morning,” she yawned back and turned over to look at her guest, and when she did, she forgot to breathe for a second. Paulino was beautiful. His little face was creased from the crumpled pillow, and his eyes were heavy-lidded. His mouth looked so soft, and she would have loved to reach out and cuddle him. She smiled lazily instead, and Paulino ran a hand across his eyes and said that he needed to get up, “Need the bathroom.” Kate grinned and pulled up her legs to give him enough space to move past. The boy reassured her that he’d be back, then dashed for the tiny bathroom. Kate heard the flush moments later, then the tap, and she assumed that he was brushing his teeth. She was right about that she realised when he returned with a radiant smile across his features, and she scooted over to let him return under the covers. Paulino climbed into bed and hummed, “This is nice. Let’s just stay in bed all day.” Kate laughed, but she liked his thinking. Maybe he was right. There was nowhere that they would have had to be, and lying in with the cute boy sounded like a dream come true. “You don’t think we’ll get bored?” she asked, and Paulino shook his head, “I’ll fall asleep before I will. We could talk or I could look at you or I could do this-,” he bent over Kate, and she thought uh-oh, anticipating something quite different, and then Paulino was tickling her. Kate squeaked and tried to wrestle out of his touch, but he was unrelenting, and eventually, she decided it was better to beat him at his own game, and she found ways to poke him or tickle back. Paulino grunted and chuckled and tried to dodge the playful assaults. They ended up panting and in giggles, and Paulino pulled Kate against him and just held her to allow both of them to calm back down again. He heaved a content sigh and pressed a chaste kiss to the crown of the girl’s head, froze briefly for fear of having overstepped, and relaxed, when Kate’s hand found his waist and gave a little squeeze. “This is really nice,” she said quietly and leaned into his touch, and the boy was glad that she wasn’t pushing him away. He was about to say something, when she stopped him by placing her hand over his heart, asking how he felt. “Much better … I … can’t thank you enough, really!” She shook her head and repeated that it was alright. She was happy to help him out. “Just go out with me again,” she asked, and Paulino sighed and said that that would have to wait, “Jason took my savings. I’m … broke. And I haven’t even got a job anymore, so-“ – “So you’re back to when you came here.” He snorted. Hardly. He’d had the money Grace had given him. Now he had nothing. “You’ll find a new job,” Kate said, and Paulino scoffed, but she patted his chest in a reassuring way, “you’ll see!” He sighed and hoped that she was right. He wanted to take her out, buy her that necklace he had in mind, kiss her properly, eventually, and be her boyfriend. “How much was it?” Kate wondered, “If … you want to say, I mean … it’s none of my business.” Paulino covered her hand with his own and held it, “No, it’s ok … I had saved 280 dollars.” Kate made an impressed sound. “I knew what to do with the money. I was planning to get gifts. Waldo … he’s never had proper Christmas presents, and I thought about getting him those Transformers toys. And a good coat for myself, you know, not the crappy one I got, a really warm one,” he hesitated, then he added that he had wanted to get something for her, too. “What was it?” Kate squealed and beamed at him, but Paulino shook his head and wouldn’t say. He swallowed hard and thought about the beautiful necklace he had seen in a jeweller’s window. He had never had the money to buy real jewellery before, and, truth be told, he had never dreamed of giving a girl something as precious as a gold necklace. The one that had caught his eye had a little sun attached to it. It wasn’t the most expensive item, but it cost a sum he had never saved before. He had wondered about getting the little heart, but he was too shy to choose it. Maybe it would be the better choice. He looked at the girl and gently caressed her waist. “Would you,” he faltered, “be my girlfriend?” He closed his eyes and cringed at the phrasing, and he missed the happy smile crossing the girl’s features. He didn’t miss the sweet peck to his lips, and he stared at her in a mixture of bewilderment and shock. “Yes,” she whispered, “I thought you’d never ask.” Paulino blushed and held her tighter. Did she expect another kiss? He wondered what to do and rubbed a thumb along her side, slowly pushing up the fabric of her top until skin met skin, and the girl buried her nose in his hair and stroked his back. It felt nice and loving, and Paulino didn’t want to ruin the tender moment by jumping her, so he tried to relax and lose his erection, and Kate kept moving her hand in a circling motion. “I think I love you,” he mumbled, and Kate grinned and said that she had hoped so, “I love you, too.” Paulino’s thumb stilled, and he carefully pushed the girl away. When had she realised that? She bit her lip and avoided looking into his eyes, “When you fixed that gas cylinder-“ Paulino gaped. That had been his very first day in the city! He had known her for barely an hour then. “Maybe it was the way you looked at that hot chocolate,” she added, and Paulino rolled his eyes. “You’ve got great eyes,” she explained, “soulful and expressive. And you looked so happy when I served you the drink. I don’t think any of my customers has ever shown so much … gratitude.” Paulino gulped and looked away, “I thought you were sweet the moment I walked into your café.” Kate beamed and saw the colour creep into his cheeks. She brought a hand to his face and made him face her again. “Have you had many girlfriends?” she wondered, and Paulino shrugged. No, not really. He wasn’t that experienced, but there had been Grace. “Just two.” Kate made an impressed face and disclosed that she had had just one boyfriend. “And how many have you slept with?” she poked him, and Paulino giggled. He remembered the girl who had given him a sloppy kiss and a hand-job behind her parents’ trailer. Did that count? He decided that it did. He had fingered Mary-Ellen from Science Classes, and she had insisted to label him her boyfriend until she had hooked up with someone else, and then there had been Alicia. And Grace. “Four,” his shoulder twitched, and he specified that things had been pretty chaste with the first two. “No penetration,” Kate deadpanned, and Paulino nodded, feeling confused, “Nothing to knock them up.” Kate grinned and said that she had fooled around with two boys from school, “Just kissing and groping really – and I slept with John, which was … okay, I guess.” Paulino raised an eyebrow. “What about you? Was it … good?” she asked, and Paulino heaved a sigh, realising that sex with Alicia had been okay, too. Being seduced by Grace had been … exhausting, but also rewarding in so many ways. The woman had known what she wanted, and she had taken what she needed from him. He had learned one thing or other about the female anatomy, and he grinned and said that it hadn’t been too bad. Kate smiled, but she couldn’t help feeling a little self-conscious about him having had more practice than she had.

Paulino closed the gap between the two and claimed the girl’s lips in a deep kiss. He also drew her closer and rolled onto his back to pull her on top. She straddled his thigh, and he felt her breasts through their clothes. One of his hands wandered to her bum while the other remained at her waist, and Kate slowly rocked into the boy who eagerly licked into her mouth. Her body felt bony and firm where Grace’s had been softened by age, and Kate’s hands were shaking which Paulino found extremely arousing. Kate felt the boy’s erection strain against her lower belly and shifted her weight so that her hipbone kept grazing it, and Paulino moaned into their kiss. “You … gotta … stop that,” he panted, not quite breaking apart, “or you’ll make me come in my pants.” Kate grinned and rolled her hips again, and Paulino growled and tried to grab hold of her love handles to still her. He missed, and Kate toppled to the side, landing on his bits, and he saw stars. His head fell back with a pained groan, and Kate sat up, kneeing him again in the process, and the boy gave a yelp and reached for the abused section of his body. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” Kate rested her hands on his belly, and Paulino grunted, eyes squeezed shut, “I can get some ice to cool them,” she offered, and Paulino moaned and bobbed his head. Kate jumped out of bed and got a bag of crushed ice from the freezer. She wrapped a kitchen towel around it and gently placed it in the boy’s crotch. Paulino’s body jerked at the contact, and he picked up the bag and scowled at the girl, “Shit! That’s cold!” He slowly sat up, taking deep breaths and cupping himself. Once in an upright position, he took a peep. Then he carefully held the ice against the hurting parts and closed his eyes. “I’m sorry,” Kate repeated and touched the boy’s arm, and Paulino nodded and eventually shook his head, “Fuck. That hurt.” Kate smiled at his lopsided grin and touched his cheek asking how she could make it up to him. He quirked an eyebrow and said that she could just go through with her original plan, “Make me come in my pants … would have been less mortifying than this.” Kate assured him that there was nothing for him to feel embarrassed about, but the boy sighed and hung his head. “Cuddle?” she offered, and he shot her a filthy look. He agreed, though, and lay back down to let her snuggle up. At least, this outcome answered his unvoiced question if their making out session would lead to full-on sex.