LOVER FOR PAY: The Escort & The Teacher (M/M)

by A. J. Blake

  “Fuck you!” Vivian shouted, storming out of the shop.

  “No thanks,” London called, “I have your husband for that.”

  He watched the blond woman storm out of the shop, knocking over a row of coat racks on her way. That was going to be the first and last time he’d let Vivian talk down to him like that. The next time she decided to do it again, he’d make sure her words would land her behind bars.

  The bell for fifth period lunch rang and the kids began to shuffle out of Marbell’s classroom. All but Henry. The boy wore jeans with a black and blue High School Sucks t-shirt, his same purple beanie topping his muddled black hair, one which he wasn’t supposed to be wearing during school hours, anyway, but teachers always let him slide with the dress-code violation.

  Holding onto the straps of his backpack, Henry stood in front of Marbell’s desk, and asked, “Are you coming back to the house after you get off?”

  The teacher stood from his wheeled desk chair and began clearing the board for the next class. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

  “Cool...um, yeah, cool.”

  Marbell looked back at his student, “Is everything all right, Henry?”

  “Yeah, everything is fine. I was just wondering. Don’t get me wrong, I think you and my brother can be a bit...annoying as fuck...especially at night. Hint, hint...but, London likes having you around, and I like seeing my brother in a happier place. So, I was just wondering.”

  Marbell smiled, glad to know just his being near was always enough for London to be satisfied. “I’ll be there. I promise. Once afternoon tutoring is over, I’ll be heading back to the house. Actually, now that I think about it, I should probably go to the store and get more clothes, since I don’t really want to go back to my house until I’ve ended everything with my wife. If you haven’t noticed, I’m wearing an old pair of London’s clothes that don’t fit him anymore, and their still a size too big for me. So, I’ll be back after that.”

  Henry nodded, a smile he seemed to fight perking up his lips. “Okay, awesome! I’ll see you at home tonight, then. I’m going out with Daniel to the mall after school. Bye.”

  “Bye, Henry. I hope you have fun.”

  Home.

  Marbell liked the sound of it.

  During his lunch spent in the empty teacher’s lounge on the second floor of the school, Marbell sat at a table overlooking the courtyard where all the students congregated. He whipped out his cellphone, already more nervous than he thought he’d be. Before coming to work, he personally coached himself on containing how scary he thought the idea of speaking with his father was going to be. But, he wasn’t going to back out now. There was already too much on the line for him to get cold feet. Besides, he had to do this. For London.

  He rang his father a second later and listened to the rings. He ended up having to call twice before anyone answered, and, as he should have guessed, the line was picked up by one of his father’s personal assistance. “This is Mister Rolland Matthews’ line; how may I help you?”

  “Seth,” Marbell said, “It’s me.”

  “Mister Marbell!” the boy on the other line exclaimed. “Sir, how are you?”

  “I am doing well. Is my father around?”

  “I’m sorry, sir, he’s just stepped into a company presentation. Won’t be out for a while. Can I take a message? I’ll deliver it to him the second he’s out of the office.”

  “That would be lovely. Could you tell him to give me a call back? I need to set up a time to meet with him soon, at least within the next couple days.”

  “Yes, sir, I will tell him the moment he is free.”

  “Thank you, Seth, don’t let my father overwork you.”

  “You’re welcome, sir, have a wonderful day.”

  Hanging up, Marbell sighed. He should have known it might be a hard time getting a hold of his father. After all, he did grow up with the man absent for a portion of his life due to business. For now, he’d just have to wait until he was given a call back, probably from Seth himself again instead of his own father. Marbell didn’t much care about who, so long as it was as soon as possible.

  After the work day at school was finally over, Marbell dropped down into his Fisker Karmaand started up the engine. Before he could put it in gear, he received a text from London that read:Could you please, please, please get Joyce from Mrs. Campbell’s? She lives directly across the street and I won’t be off for another hour. Mrs. Campbell has a dr.’s appt.

  Marbell texted back:Sure, I’ll take Joyce shopping with me. Is there anything else you need? Groceries?

  London: I have a list on the kitchen counter. Thank you so much. Love you.

  Marbell: Love you, too.

  With that, Marbell drove across town towards the house. He parked the car in front of Mrs. Campbell’s house and went up to the door. Giving a knock, it was answered a second later by a curvaceous African-American woman, and she wore a comfortable black dress, and a pretty red, gold, and orange patterned wrap was bundled elegantly around her dark hair. She looked Marbell up and down before realizing who he was. “Oh, you must be London’s boyfriend. I’m sorry, London is really the only boy outside of my family I ever get knocking on my door, and you looked like a Jehovah’s Witness.”

  Marbell laughed at the comment, seeing how that could be assumed what with the way he always dressed. “I am definitely not a Jehovah’s Witness, ma’am, but I am here to pick up Joyce.”

  The second her name was said, the bubbly little girl zoomed by Mrs. Campbell and hugged around his leg. “Hi, Bell!” she smiled.

  “Hi, sunshine, you want to go to the store with me?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  Marbell met Mrs. Campbell’s eyes again, “Thanks for watching her. London really appreciates what you do for him.”

  “Oh, I know,” the woman nodded, “Have a nice day. Bye, Joyce, I’ll see you another time.”

  When London finally got off work, he headed straight home. Henry was the only one around, but not for long. He grabbed the car keys the second his brother was through the door and out the next, barely hearing anything London said about obeying the rules of the road and not staying out too late. Alone in the house, he took a quick shower before checking the mail, and got a head start on making dinner. As he grabbed out a couple pans, he glanced at the letters on the counter when one in particular caught his eye.

  Some were bills others magazines he didn’t sign up for and coupons, but one was a personal letter sent from Laymen’s Correctional Institution. There was only one reason, one person who could have sent anything from a prison, his father, and London was almost afraid to open it. He hadn’t heard anything from his Old Man since he ran away, so six years had gone by. Never did he ever put any thought into contacting his Old Man, nor did he feel like he had to. But...looking at the letter addressed to him was too tempting not to read it. Tearing open the white envelope, London unfolded the crinkled notebook paper.

  London,

  It’s only been near two years since I landed myself in his place, but it was all the time I needed to reflect on the kind of man I’ve been. Which hasn’t been much of one. You are my first born and I treated you like shit from day one. I’m not going to beg for your forgiveness for being such a terrible father, but it also doesn’t hurt to say I’m sorry for all the things I did to you and Henry. I belittled you on a daily basis, called you a faggot and beat you all the time. That doesn’t deserve forgiveness, and I’m okay with that.

  Your mother came to visit me, said you’re doing just fine with Henry and Joyce. She even told me about the money she stole from you, which I called her a bitch for taking when it wasn’t hers. I’m sure that amount of money was supposed to go to good use. How is Henry, by the way? Is he alright? What about Joyce? Shame I’ll never be able to see my little girl grow up. Not that I deserve to. She’s probably better off not knowing her dad is a piece of shit. Anyways, I wanted to know if you would ever consider coming to visit me here at Laymen’s. I’m not
saying you have to, but it would do an old man good to see his family at least one more time. Think about it?

  Your Old Man.

  London stared at the hand writing on the page, part of him wanting to tear it to shreds and throw it away, while the other thought it a good idea to take the man up on his request. There was no way that sonofabitch deserved anything from London, or Henry, or anyone for that matter. He and Elaine could keep in touch and that’s the closest thing he needed to the corrupt family he destroyed.

  Crumpling the paper in his hands, London stormed across the kitchen to the trashcan and threw it inside. He stood there, disappointed in himself for actually thinking about it, and did his best to forget the letter and its content.

  Not long after he finished cooking the alfredo and vegetables, Marbell and Joyce showed up. Marbell carried in plastic bags of groceries and clothes, while Joyce hauled in a bag of toys and a new cape. Piling the bags on the dining table, Marbell said, “There’s a chance I may have over did it with the food, but your sister is very persuasive when it comes to cookies and snacks.”

  Not saying a word, London unpacked the bags, storing everything away in the refrigerator and pantry.

  Marbell picked up on his silence, and said, “Is something wrong?”

  London was about to lie and say ‘no’, but held back when his cellphone went off. He leaned back against the stove and answered. “Hello?”

  “Is this Henry Dawncraft’s father?”

  London’s forehead creased in confusion. “No, I’m his brother. Where’s Henry? Who are you?”

  “Sir, I’m calling from Bale Moore Hospital. Your brother was in a severe accident this evening and has been transported into the ER.”

  XIX – Hospital

  “WHAT!?” London’s mind raced, blood pressure rising. “Is he – is he going to be okay? What happened?”

  “Officials are calling it a hit and run, but your brother should be fine. He’s suffering from four broken ribs, and began hemorrhaging from the impact. Once surgery is done, I’m sure he would like to see a familiar face.”

  “I’m on my way!”

  London hung up the phone and rushed for the door. His mind was running so fast he hadn’t realized he wasn’t even wearing any shoes, and he hadn’t his own source of transportation. “London, what’s wrong?” Marbell asked, worry sinking around him. “Where’s Henry?”

  “The hospital. He’s in surgery. I have to go.”

  Marbell grabbed London by his shoulders before he could reach the door, “Wait–.”

  “What do you mean wait?” London was shaking when he pulled away. “He could – Marbell he could die. He’s my brother, my responsibility. What if he doesn’t make it out of surgery like they said? I have to go!”

  “I know you have to go,” Marbell said, “But you can’t leave without your shoes. Take a breath, London, I don’t want you driving like a maniac trying to get there in a flash. Breathe, baby, if the hospital said he’s going to be fine, then have faith in that. Here,” he handed over his car keys, “You go. I’ll stay here with Joyce.”

  When the keys were in London’s hand, he kissed Marbell and was out the door in a second. He tried his best to keep calm in traffic, but it was like everyone knew he was in a rush so decided to drive extra slow. His heart hadn’t ceased racing since he got the call, and he couldn’t stop himself from thinking the worst. He wanted to have faith that Henry would be perfectly fine by the time he got there, and be waiting for him in the recovery room, but what if he wasn’t?

  “Fuck,” London let out at a red light. “Please, be okay. Please.”

  At the hospital he found a spot to park quickly and ran inside. The waiting area wasn’t packed with patients upon his arrival so he darted to the front desk. A woman was sat behind a computer when he approached. “I’m here for Henry Dawncraft. I was told he was emitted here after an accident.”

  Another nurse who’d been nearby waved him around the counter. She said, “This way, Mr. Dawncraft. Your brother was just taken to recovery.”

  “Thank the Lord.”

  He followed the woman down white halls that seemed endless, and through a pair of double doors to a block on the third floor. Outside the room door, the nurse said, “He’s sedated pretty heavily so probably won’t wake up for another hour or so. He’ll be in a fair amount of pain for the next couple days, but we’ll take care of him, and he should be able to go home in a week.”

  London nodded and then entered the room. It was dark with just the light above the bed’s headboard on. Henry lay sleeping with an I.V. and heart monitor hooked up to him, shirtless as his small framed chest was wrapped with medical bindings to protect his fresh stitches and ribcage, black hair sleek and a bit muddled atop his head. The rhythmic beep was the only sound. It was hard to look at his brother like this, but London was just relieved that he was going to make it. There was no telling what London would do if he ever lost is younger brother, or anyone, for that matter, who was of significant meaning to him.

  Taking a seat at the bedside, London brushed Henry’s fringe out of his face and kissed his hair. He was breathing lightly, and his eyes flickered beneath their lids as if he were stuck in a dream. “Wake up,” London said, the crack in his voice brought on by respite. “Don’t you dare ever think about leaving this world before I do.”

  An hour had gone by and still Henry hadn’t come to yet. London lay in the bed next to him, unwilling to let his eyes close for even a moment in fear of missing the teenager wake up. During the quiet hour, he had called Henry’s friend Daniel to tell him what happened, and the other sixteen-year-old had been hysterical, promising to visit sometime soon.

  After a while, London pulled the blanket down a little to see the white bandages wrapped around Henry’s chest just over his ribs. London could only imagine how scared the boy had been when he lost control of the car, of how much pain Henry must have been in until paramedics arrived to help him.

  London laid the blanket down again, tucking in the warmth, and sighed. “Come on, boy,” he said lightly, “Talk to me. Who did this to you?”

  A moment later the boy twitched and he furrowed his brow as if displeased by something. As London watched him, anticipating his awakening, Henry grumbled something under his breath, an argument. London couldn’t tell what he was saying, it was filled with too much rasp. “Henry?” London said, “What is it?”

  Henry balled a fist into the blanket under his left hand, talking angrily in his sleep, and said, “Fuck off, Daniel, boybands are cool.”

  “What the hell?” London chuckled, tapping his brother’s cheek. “Henry, wake up.”

  The boy slowly came to, finally, eyes taking in his surroundings, and then he looked towards London lying beside him. “What happened?”

  London sat up, fixing Henry’s fringe with a run of his hand. “You were in a pretty bad crash,” he said. “Four broken ribs, kid, but you’ll be alright.”

  At the news, Henry tried to sit up but winced in agony at the soreness of his torso.

  “Don’t move,” London advised. “Can you tell me anything about what you might remember? A license plate, maybe, or even just the model of the car? This fucker kept driving when you lost control, and I plan on making them pay with everything for putting you through this shit.”

  Henry peeked at the bandages wrapping his body, and said, “I don’t remember anything before hitting that fucking tree. Surprised my neck isn’t broken. London,” his voice lowered and his eyes began to glisten with tears, “I thought I was going to die. I called out for you, but you weren’t there.”

  London’s heart ached hearing that. “Don’t think about it,” he said, wiping Henry’s tears away. “You’re alive and that’s all that matters. They said you should be out of here in a week just to make sure you heal properly. You’ll be home in no time, okay?”

  Henry nodded.

  “I’ll be right back. Just want to give Marbell a call to tell him everything is fine.”
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br />   “Mr. Matthews was worried about me?”

  London paused at the room’s door and furrowed his brow at his brother. “Of course, he was worried. Why wouldn’t he have been?”

  Henry tried to make himself comfortable in the bed, adjusting the angles of the bed before putting a pillow behind his head. “I don’t know why I asked. It’s just...I think it’s nice to finally have someone else in our family who actually gives a fuck about us. It’s pretty refreshing.”

  London couldn’t agree more. After the door to the room was closed, he stepped further into the hall and found a chair across from the nurse’s desk up the way. He took a seat and dialed Marbell.

  Back at the house, Marbell couldn’t sit still for longer than five minutes. He was riddled with worry for Henry’s well-being, and needed to know if the boy was going to be okay so his hair wouldn’t start falling out. He could imagine what Henry was feeling upon impact, the broad fear as everything spiraled out of control around him. Marbell placed a hand over his chest, the grisly scar marked across his skin that’d been left behind after his own traumatic event. He hoped then, that Henry wouldn’t have any scars to remind him of this night, because Marbell sure as hell wished he didn’t have to wake up with his every morning. London was always keen on convincing him there was nothing wrong about the wound stretched across this entire torso, but, personally, Marbell just wanted it out of his sight. He didn’t want Henry to ever have to feel that way.

  Resting his legs, Marbell took a seat on the couch when his cellphone rang. It wasn’t London as he’d hoped, but his father finally returning his previous call. “Hello, father,” he answered.

  “Good evening, Marbell,” Rolland Matthews said, his voice a bit husky on the other line. “I understand you needed to speak with me?”

  “Um, yes, father. It’s about Vivian. But I can’t have this conversation over the phone. I need to talk to you face to face as soon as possible.”