Why Should We Hide?

Alex stared up at the house he was going to be living at for a while. He had been living on the streets for the past two months ever since his ex boyfriend kicked him out and he was lucky that Jacen had found him on the streets three days ago. He didn't want to have to sleep outside with the weather getting colder and he was gratful that Jacen's parents said yes.

Dante was sitting near the window, "Someone is here guys."

Hearing his younger brother, Jacen quickly looked up from where he'd been sitting nearby, working on lyrics for a new song.

"That's probably my friend Alex." He said, getting up to answer the door, taking his notepad with him. "Hey, you found the place." He chuckled when he saw Alex, moving aside to let him in.

Alex smiled, "Thanks a lot again for letting me stay man, its a life saver." He said as he walked in, all he had in his three bags.

"Well it's better than having you freeze." Jacen said, shrugging his shoulders before closing the door. "That wouldn't really help anyone would it?"

"Still i'm gratful man." Alex aid with a smile.

Dante watched curiously.

"Well you'd hope so..." Jacen said as he turned around. "There's room for you in the study down the hall." He added, simply pointing instead of actually showing Alex any of the house.

Alex nodded as he looked down the hallway, he picked up his bags and started for the room.

Instead of following him, Jacen just sat back down where he'd been earlier, writing again. He didn't exactly have the best of manners despite being nice enough to have arranged to let Alex stay.

Alex stopped at a door and knocked, hoping it was the right door.

"What are you doing?" Said a voice nearby Alex.

Having heard him knock on the door, Artemis had stuck his head out of his own room, curious.

"I was looking for my room." Alex said turning to see the one he was talking to.

Artemis stepped out of his room, closing the door behind him before going over to Alex. "You're Jacen's friend?" He asked as he opened the door Alex had knocked on. "You have the right room, he didn't show you though did he?"

"No he just pointed down the hall." Alex said as he stepped into the room, "I'm Alex Shelley."

Artemis rolled his eyes. "Typical." He muttered before nodding. "I'm Artemis. I think I saw you around school...?" He asked uncertainly.

Alex smiled and nodded, "Mostly likely, i hung out with Jacen a lot."

Artemis nodded. "I probably have seen you before then..." He said, hesitating before speaking again, quieter than before. "...you aren't like him are you?"

Alex tilted his head slightly before it hit him, "Oh no, i'm not into smoking or drugs... I'm clean."

Artemis sighed, looking relieved. "Good. He...it's a pain to have to deal with..."

Alex nodded, "My ex was into drugs, i know how it is..."

"Your ex...?" Artemis asked curiously. "Who were they?"

"Austin...." Alex said quietly, he didn't like to talk about it.

"Wait...Austin as in the guy...?" Artemis asked after stepping into the room properly, closing the door behind him.

Alex nodded, "Yeah Austin as in a guy."

"Wasn't he known for being a jerk...?" Artemis asked quietly.

Alex ran his fingers through his short hair, "Yeah and he was a jerk... An asshole too."