A Spark

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Alexis was baffled, all she could get out of him were stuttered fragments and a lie or two, and he seemed perfectly at ease with James. Was it because she was a girl or was she doing conversation wrong somehow? "Thank you for coming, I agree was good to meet you." She said as the car pulled up and stopped.
 
"You too..." he said, blushing quite visibly. He leaned over towards her, about halfway to a hug, then awkwardly extended his hand for a handshake instead, still blushing.
 
She put her hand in his shaking it firmly, blushing a little at the fact that something as common as a handshake or hug had somehow been made to be embarrassing. It must be that he wasn't used to girls she decided.
 
He saw her cheeks redden, and he blushed even deeper, hastily leaving the car. He walked up to a small house, pulling a key from the doormat. He unlocked the door and opened it, before turning and giving one last wave, before he hesitantly closed the door behind him.
 
James pulled away from the curb and out of the neighborhood taking Alexis to a row of trophy homes. Back in time for dinner.
 
Felix walked into the house quickly, charging up the stairs, past a man lying on the couch in a drunken stupor. He took the stairs two at a time, walking down a short hallway and entering his room. He flopped onto his bed, sighing, a content smile on his face. She was so perfect, the very personification of all things an angel should be. And so kind too. He smiled to himself, thinking of the way she twirled those golden locks.
 
Alexis sat at the table for an hour, picking at her food while her mother accused and corrected and ranted about her unacceptable behavior and rebellion. But it was standing in her fathers office for questioning that was worse. Did she understand what was expected? The reasons they were disappointed and upset? The consequences of her actions on all those involved herself, the family, the company?
And finally came her list of punishments, quirky and infuriating. First James took the bike to the Brass Rim, who bought it back "used" and returned the credit card which was now working again. As she apparently had no interest in the library she would be banned from them for an entire month. She seemed anxious to spend money on transportation, she could take cabs everywhere for the two weeks instead of using family vehicles. And she could use cash as the credit card was not to be returned until she was deemed responsible enough to handle it. And last but not least her quota of weekly social event attendance was raised from four to six.
Alexis thought she was going to cry, but held off until she was safely in bed for the night. She had tasted freedom and lost it. She would spend busy days with the same kind of self centered people as always. Unless Felix appeared, he was very different than the rest and she hoped he would.
 
Later that evening, Felix laid on his bed reading a handful of comic books. They were his release, an escape from his own droll but frightful life. He heard the raucous laughter of his father's friends downstairs. They were gambling, again. And drunk as all get out. These gathering were almost nightly. Felix would hide out in his room while the drinking and gambling commenced. He would bury himself in his comics. In their world, he could be whatever he wanted. He didn't have to be a scared, scrawny, teenage boy, hiding from the demonic effects of alcohol and money. He sighed, turning the page. He got up from his bed, walking to a small table by the window. He pulled a small picture frame from a drawer in the table. It showed a beautiful woman. Her eyes bright blue, her hair golden, her face kind and understanding. She looked similar to Alexis in a way, but a few decades older. Maybe that's why he felt so uncomfortable around Alexis, Felix thought. A small tear dripped onto the face. Felix sniffed, wiping his eyes, staring at the picture longingly. He quickly shoved it back into the drawer, as his father's drunken voice bellowed, "FELIX! GET YOUR LAZY ASS DOWN HERE!" He quickly left the comfort of his room, venturing down the stairs, awaiting what fate might be in store for him.
 
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Alexis went to bed early and slept restlessly. Somewhere in the dark hours she took a journal and tiptoed to the far side of the house, curling up on the couch in a spare bedroom to write about the day. But she didn't dare write Felix' name, not the most general description of him, but she found she couldn't leave him out completely without it seeming like the dullest of tales. So He stepped between her the angry mechanic. He lied and got on the bike even when it petrified him and his reaction scared her to death.
 
((Before I go on, I failed to ask, are you okay with language? Please know that I don't use it freely, and only to help show character qualities))
 
((If you will please keep it to a minimum and follow your own guidelines you won't give me anything to complain to you about. Thank you for asking.))
 
He quivered under his father's hate laden, drunken stare. "Where have you been you lazy fuck? We're outta booze!" At this, the gambling buddies cheered uproariously, excited by the prospect of being wasted away on more cheap alcohol.
"But dad, I'm not old enough to buy it..."
With this, his father became red with rage. He raised his meaty hand, giving Felix a cruel blow across the jaw, sending him sprawling.
"You'll do what I tell you, little bitch!" Felix stumbled back into the wall, knocking down some picture frames. At this, raucous laughter erupted from the gamblers. Felix rushed to his room, rubbing his aching jaw. He quickly grabbed his wallet from under the pillow, rushing back downstairs and out the door. He walked down the street. The sky was dark, and a large blanket of ominous clouds rolled in. Felix ran, hoping to not be caught in the rain. Soon, he came to the liquor store. He counted his money, only a meager five dollars. All he had to his name. He observed the grimy doors. Even if he did have enough money, he couldn't buy anything. So it was either steal again, or go home and suffer the wrath of his drunken father. But stealing would most likely mean getting caught, and that meant....well, he didn't want to relive that. The last time he had stolen from the store, it had been very unpleasant. Plus, they knew his face now. He sighed, slumping down against the wall of the liquor store. He hugged his knees, burying his head in between them. His stomach growled, and a few tears rolled down his cheeks. Either way, this night wasn't going to end for him. Felix stood and approached the door. He wavered for a few moments, trying to decide. Suddenly, he took off running. He didn't know where he was going, just away. With five dollars in his pocket and the clothes on his back, Felix ran through the rain, desperate for something better.
 
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Splattering rain against the windows lured Alexis from the couch. Unlike her's, this room had a balcony, the girl pulled open the doors letting damp fresh air pour in. She collected a pillow and the blanket from the back of the couch then stretched out on the carpet to watch the rain. The cool breeze flying in across her face made her blink and before long she was drifting back to sleep.
 
Felix slumped down exhaustedly, his clothes soaked with rain. He sat on a park bench, next to a litter filled pond. Occasionally a few cars would pass by, but he was mostly alone. Just him, his thoughts, and the pelting rain. He sighed, his stomach grumbled. It'd been all day since his meager breakfast of some old bread and bologna. He shut his eyes, laying on the bench, trying to keep his mind off of the hunger and the cold. He thought of Alexis, and everything else faded away. He felt warm, he didn't feel hungry anymore. He smiled to himself, thinking of her melodic voice. This vision was suddenly shattered by the realization that sooner or later, his father would come for him, and there would be hell to pay.
 
Alexis awoke thinking mornings were dreary on this side of the house. But it was the weather itself, overcast and damp that set the tone. She wandered back to her room to choose an outfit, just for the sake of being ready if she managed to think of something to pass the time.
 
Felix approached the library. The sun began to rise slowly through the gloom. He had spent a sleepless night at the pond, and now he would spend his day at the library. The library was like his sanctuary, a haven from the dreariness of his life. He walked inside, and found himself to be the first patron. The librarian, a kind smile on her face, greeted Felix, "Good morning sweetie, and how are you today Felix?" He smiled back at her nervously, "Good miss M-*sniff*" He sneezed loudly.
"Oh my poor dear! Let's get you dried off!" The librarian was quite accustomed to Felix coming in like this. She often took care of him during the day, caring for him and even feeding him. He was a bit like the son she never had. She handed him a soft, warm towel, and he retreated to his favorite chair, where the sunlight would play down his back, warming him as he escaped from the world.
 
Alexis arrived in the breakfast knoll with just enough time to catch her father in the last bitter swallows of morning coffee. "May I come to work with you today?"she asked standing by the edge of the bench so that he had to answer now. "You should be our making friends, not business connections." He told her. She stepped back feet pounding with displeasure. Standing up he wrapped am arm around her, "Why not plan some event with Mackenzie, she is always good for that kind of thing." He suggested. "Oh can I?" She responded with mock enthusiasm "If you plan the event yourself, it can be something you will enjoy." We said leaving her to the meal still warm on the table. Mother had already vetoed a visit to James at the factory, and with the library banned it was going to be a long day.
 
Felix cut quite the curious figure. He sat in his spot, just as he had been all morning, a scrawny, wet boy, wrapped in a towel, curled up in an oversized armchair. He had been there for half the day now, absorbed in his comics, completely unaware of the patrons who had filtered in and out of the library by now. However, he was beginning to find it difficult to concentrate. He couldn't stop thinking about Alexis. Eventually, he reached his breaking point, and walked to the librarian.
 
After breakfast she lingered in the kitchen, but it was hardly exciting watching the woman prepare for a straight forward chicken dinner. She moved on to the shelves of books in the study but thought better of it, she would save these books for when she was really desperate at the end of the month.
Finally she picked up phone and calendar and started making plans. She scheduled the week with meetings at coffee shops, malls and even a brunch. She let herself be talked into an open mike night which she fully indeed to leave from early. With genuine remorse she canceled her reservation at the school library year round book club. There wasn't enough to keep her out of trouble with her parents but it was a start. She kept half an eye open for 'normal' things, scowering the newspaper for upcoming events and wondering what a comic reader would find cool.
 
Felix approached the librarian hesitantly. "What can I help you with sweetie?" she asked kindly. Felix paused for a few moments, thinking about something.
"That...that girl who came in yesterday, with the blonde hair and the blue eyes....what...what was her name?" The librarian frowned briefly, then said, "Her name is Alexis. She's with the bookclub here."

"Do...do you uh...have her phone number?" The librarian frowned a little more.

"Felix...sweetheart...are you sure this is a good idea?" He nodded furiously. "Alright, just please be careful, I don't want to see you get hurt." She pulled a ledger from behind her desk, finding a page where the patrons signed their information. She copied down the contents of one particular page. She handed it to Felix, still frowning. He took the paper, smiling like a small child, before fishing a dollar out of his wallet.

"Do you have change in quarters Ms. Mary?" She nodded, smiling sadly, handing him four quarters. He pocketed them carefully, rushing out the library door. He sprinted nearly a block to the nearest payphone. He crammed the first quarter into the slot, dialing the number. He put the receiver to his ear, listening to the dial tone, crossing his fingers.
 
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