Hellbent
Chapter 13
Night On The Clown
George and Susan Malone returned to their home in Swanton leaving Ashley and Blake to deal with Maxx and a hefty debt. Ashley sat in the living room and sighed at the plumbing and hospital bills, feeling completely hopeless and overwhelmed. Blake sauntered into the kitchen through the archway behind him.
Blake: “YOU’VE GOTTA BE SHITTING ME!”
He rasped. Ashley glanced over towards the kitchen with curiosity and worry.
Ashley: “Blake?! What’s wrong?!”
He cried, rushing into the kitchen through the archway to see a mouse bouncing off the tables and walls as Blake chased it around the room with Keke in his arms.
Blake: "GET IT, KEKE! GET IT!”
He commanded, holding her up to the mouse. The timid tuxedo cat jumped away in fright and ran off, huddling up to Ashley.
Ashley: “Oh dear!”
He cupped his mouth. Blake clicked his tongue with a bitter laugh at the irony and turned to him.
Blake: “It seems we have a pest problem, Ashley…”
He huffed.
Ashley: “...I know.”
He sighed looking up at Maxx’s portrait.
Ashley: “I don’t know what to do… It’s all my fault.”
He bowed his head.
Blake: “It’s not your fault, it’s that CLOWN!”
He huffed. Ashley pursed his lips.
Blake: “He leaves his food scraps everywhere, and now we have mice!”
He threw his arms up in frustration. Ashley tilted his head.
Ashley: “Huh? Oh! The mice! Right…”
His voice trailed off. Blake quirked an eyebrow at him.
Blake: “If your cat isn’t going to do her job, then I will be taking matters into my own hands!”
He stated, holding up a box of mouse traps.
Ashley: “Oh no, please don’t kill them, Blake!”
He knit his eyebrows, pleading with him.
Blake: “They’re pests, Ash! We have to get rid of the problem before it gets worse!”
He exclaimed. Ashley huddled himself.
Ashley: “I don’t know how much worse it can get…”
He mumbled to himself.
Maxx sauntered into the room dressed in a clashing neon pink and green ensemble.
Maxx: “OWWWH! Get ready ‘n rockin’ for tonight, A-Rad!”
He pointed at him with a fingerbang. Blake glared at Maxx.
Blake: “We have a mouse problem because SOMEONE is a lazy slob leaving their food scraps around!”
He hissed at Maxx. Maxx gasped at him.
Maxx: “Ohhhh, NAH-AH! Your brother just called you a fatass, A-Rad!”
Blake rolled his eyes at him.
Blake: “I was talking about YOU, you skinny shrimp dick!”
He fired back at him.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! I’M NOT A SHRIMP DICK!”
He screeched.
Ashley: “Uh, what am I getting ‘ready ‘n rockin’ for tonight, Maxx?”
He scratched his head.
Maxx: “YOU’RE takin’ MAXXY out on da town!”
He grinned at Ashley with a fingerbang. Ashley frowned.
Ashley: “Oh… I literally have no money, dude… I spent my last ten bucks on cat food.”
He cried. Blake glared at Maxx with hatred and disgust.
Maxx: “Ah-ah, no excuses, A-Rad, you promised you would do ANYTHING it takes to make it up to me! Just go to da bank ‘n get free money, gosh! It’s not hard!”
He scoffed and waved his finger in his face.
Ashley: “...What?!”
He gaped at him as if he had three heads.
Maxx: “Just ask ‘em for money ‘n they will put it on a free money card!”
He explained.
Ashley: “Really?!”
He gasped. Blake cut in with bitter laughter.
Blake: “There’s no such thing as free money cards, jester fuck.”
He huffed.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! Yes, there is, Mr. Doom ‘n Gloom!”
He pouted, holding up his personalized credit card with his pouty glamor-shot photo on it. Blake rolled his eyes.
Blake: “It’s not free, dumbass. Your parents pay for it.”
He spat hatefully at him.
Maxx: “Nah-ah! Da bank gave it to me for free cos I’m a super stud! Don’t worry, A-Rad! Let Maxxy work his magic ‘n I’ll get you a free money card!”
He grinned at Ashley. Blake gaped at Maxx and slapped his forehead.
Blake: “You’re somehow MORE sheltered than the guy who was raised in a cult and cut off from the world.”
He shook his head at Maxx.
Ashley: “Oh?! What guy?!”
He tilted his head with intrigue.
Blake: “You, Ashley.”
Ashley frowned and looked confused.
Ashley: “Oh? Me?! I wasn’t raised in a cult and I dunno about ‘guy’… it feels weird to me?”
He pouted and shuddered. Blake took mental note, thinking of when Andreas couldn’t distinguish if Ashley was a man or a woman. He wondered if there was something to that.
Blake: “Ok, children. Time for school. There is no such thing as free money. Unless you’re a spoiled, rotten little shit whose parents hand him everything for nothing which ensures he’s a failure at life.”
He glared at Maxx. Maxx pouted and sneered at him.
Blake: “We ‘peasants’ need to work for our money and borrow it from the banks. Yes, borrow. You have to pay that money back. So, yes, your parents pay off your credit card debts, dumbass.”
He explained, rolling his eyes at Maxx.
Maxx: “Just don't pay it back then, gosh!”
He scoffed. Blake laughed at him and shook his head.
Blake: “Okay, then you will deal with late fees and debt collectors. They will repossess your belongings and property and you won’t be able to borrow any more money again.”
He explained. Ashley swallowed hard.
Ashley: “Oh… so, they'd take something like a portrait from you?”
He pondered, looking up at Maxx's portrait on the wall.
Blake: “Sure, why not?”
He shrugged. Ashley pondered on what could have happened between Maxx and ‘Nuklear Intoxikation’ to make them ‘repossess’ his portrait.
~
Later that day, Blake was pruning the hedges in the park. Someone stood behind him.
Man: “Excuse me, I was wondering if you could direct me to the cactuses?”
He said in a teasing tone. Blake turned around to see Andreas standing there.
Blake: “Andreas?”
He froze up when he thought of their humiliating previous encounter.
Andreas: “Blake.”
He nodded. Blake parted his lips and drew a long breath.
Blake: “I’m sorry about the other day. I’m so humiliated.”
He groused and shook his head. Andreas glanced at him.
Andreas: “Why are you humiliated?”
He pressed him.
Blake: “Because that clown made fools out of us and I don’t know how we can show our faces in that store ever again!”
He huffed, getting flustered.
Andreas: “Well, he only made a fool out of himself. Not you. What others do isn’t a reflection on us.”
He stated.
Andreas: “What you do is a reflection on you.”
He added, glancing at him and gesturing to their reflections in the lake water. He then turned back to Blake.
Andreas: “I think you already know that though and the true source of your shame comes from within you.”
He stated, poking at his chest in the location of his solar plexus. Blake reddened, taken aback. He felt a wave of vibrations rushing through his body to his touch.
Andreas: “If you wanted to come see me, there’s no shame in saying so.”
He teased with a hint of hurt when he thought of Craig. Blake’s eyebrows rose.
Blake: “Alright… so I did want to see you.”
He admitted in a small voice. Andreas smiled at him.
Andreas: “Alright, I lied too. I’m not here for cactuses either. I wanted to see you, too.”
Blake chuckled a bit and smiled.
Andreas: “How about we see each other at a café?”
He suggested. Blake’s eyebrows rose surprisingly.
Blake: “Oh? You want to go to a café with me?”
He gestured to himself. Andreas nodded.
Andreas: “Yes. I know the perfect place.”
~
Later that evening, Andreas and Blake sat in a cozy and rustic little café. The tables were in cozy nooks surrounded by bookshelves covering the walls. There were plant hangers with lights dangling from the ceiling shrouding the establishment in a warm and dim light. The smell of freshly brewed coffee permeated the air. It was quiet, except for the faint humming of classical music on the radio. Blake noted the ‘Banned’ poster hanging on the wall which depicted a photo of Craig snarling.
Blake: “Oh, good thinking. That idiot can’t disturb us here.”
He nodded. Andreas looked over at the poster and rolled his eyes.
Andreas: “Actually, I picked this place because they have good coffee and books. Craig’s ban is a bonus feature though.”
He explained, browsing the menu.
Blake: “What did that idiot do?”
Andreas sighed and bowed his head as he entered his reverie.
~
Flashback to six years ago. A nineteen-year-old Andreas and Craig were sitting in the café. Craig shuffled restlessly in his seat as he drank his third coffee.
Andreas: “Thank you for taking me here, Craig… this is my favourite place. This is so thoughtful of you. Maybe you know me after all.”
He said softly with a smile on his face.
Craig: “FUCK YEAH! WICKED SICK! I got it right this time! GO CRAIG!”
He exclaimed, thrusting his fists in the air with excitement. The librarian waitress shushed him. She was a frail old lady dressed in black.
Craig: “O-oh, sorry…”
He shifted his eyes and then turned back to Andreas. He tapped his feet and drummed his hands on the table.
Craig: “So, how’s this place work anyway? Is it like Little Berserker Meals at Voyage Burger where ya get a book in your meal instead of a toy? Do ya get to choose the book or is it random?!”
He asked, continuing to tap his feet and trying to take an interest in his interests. Andreas chuckled and smiled at him.
Andreas: “Not quite-”
The library waitress interjected again, shushing him.
Craig: “OI, CUNT! DON’T SHUSH MY BOYFRIEND!”
He snapped and towered over the waitress. The waitress gaped and shuddered at his crass language and tone.
Librarian Waitress: “You’re going to have to leave now! You’re disturbing our other patrons! Don’t come back until you fix that rotten attitude of yours, young man!”
She waved her finger at him, ushering them out the door. Craig knit his eyebrows at Andreas as they were kicked out.
Craig: “Ah shit… sorry I got us kicked out, Andreas… sometimes I don’t realise I’m talkin’ too much or bein’ too loud…”
He fumbled and bowed his head.
Andreas: “It’s fine, Craig. That’s who you are. I appreciate the gesture, though.”
He said earnestly, holding his hand up.
Andreas: “...So, boyfriend huh?”
He smiled at him and blushed a bit. Craig froze and went beet red in the face, nodding in response.
Craig: “Yeah… you are… aren’t ya?”
He shifted his eyes. Andreas nodded and smiled.
Andreas: “Yes, and I’m glad you finally said it…”
He smiled at him and they leaned in to kiss.
~
Andreas snapped out of his flashback as the same waitress brought them their sandwiches and coffee.
Blake: “Wow, that jerk tried to do something nice?!”
He asked in astonishment. Andreas nodded.
Andreas: “He wasn’t always a jerk. I think he’s more insecure and lost than anything.”
He declared.
Andreas: “He had his good moments and his bad moments as we all do.”
He sighed, looking down at his long black coffee.
Blake: “Some people are just downright rotten though.”
He frowned, thinking of Maxx.
Andreas: “Anyway, enough about him, that’s in the past now.”
He said, taking a sip of his coffee.
Andreas: “I’m in the present now with you and I want to know more about you.”
He glanced at him across the table. Blake returned his glance.
Blake: “You want to know more about me, huh?”
He took a sip of his flat black coffee and smiled widely when he tasted it.
Blake: “Wow, you’re right, this IS good coffee.”
He said earnestly, taking another sip.
Blake: “I’m never drinking that shitty coffee at Voyage Burger again!”
He groused and shook his head.
Andreas: “Oh, I thought that was ashtray juice?”
He quipped. Blake smiled and laughed.
Blake: “Yeah, it is. I’m glad you can get good coffee around here.”
He nodded in approval.
Andreas: “I take it you had good coffee where you’re from then?”
He pressed, taking a sip of his coffee. Blake paused.
Blake: “Yeah, actually, we did…”
His voice trailed off. Andreas observed his shift in tone and body language.
Andreas: “Where did you come from?”
He asked with intrigue.
Blake: “Koala State.”
He said shortly.
Andreas: “Oh, all the way here from up North? Which part?”
He pressed him.
Blake: “Golden Shore.”
He stated, drinking from his coffee.
Andreas: “Ah yes, I’ve been to Golden Shore before. It’s a beautiful place. People flock there from all over the world.”
He nodded.
Andreas: “So, why did you leave there to come here?”
He asked. Blake paused and sighed, glancing down at his coffee.
Blake: “We wanted to cut old ties and start over in another place.”
He pursed his lips. Andreas nodded.
Andreas: “I understand that. I moved here from Norway with my dad when I was fifteen.”
He explained. Blake’s eyebrows rose.
Andreas: “When my mother died, we wanted to start over somewhere else for a better life.”
He added. Blake paused.
Blake: “I’m sorry for your loss…”
He offered and pursed his lips.
Blake: “That’s something else we share in common…”
He added. Andreas glanced up at him.
Andreas: “I’m sorry you lost your mother, too.”
He sympathized, locking his gaze on him. Blake looked away.
Blake: “...Both of our parents are gone.”
He murmured in a shade above a whisper. Andreas leaned forward and gently placed his hands over his on the table.
Andreas: “I’m sorry…”
He whispered back, feeling the tension in the palms of his hands.
Andreas: “What happened if you don’t mind me asking? You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
He pressed him gently. Blake drew a breath.
Blake: “Something terrible happened to them and we never saw them again.”
He finally said, exhaling his breath.
Blake: “Ashley believes they’re still out there, safe and alive somewhere…”
He glanced down at their hands on the table.
Blake: “I wish I could believe that, too…”
He pursed his lips. Andreas locked his gaze on him.
Andreas: “...What do you think happened?”
He asked in a low voice.
Blake: “I don’t want to think about it…”
He closed his eyes. Andreas nodded and pressed his lips together.
Andreas: “I understand… if you want to discuss this some other time, we can do that, but if you don’t, that’s fine, too.”
He assured him.
Blake: “Thank you… “
He said softly, impulsively stroking his hand. Andreas paused and reddened.
Andreas: “Thank you for opening up to me…”
He smiled up at him, glancing down at his hand placed on his. Blake blushed at him and froze when he realized what he just did. A pulsing sensation he had never felt before rushed through his body as he felt their hands intertwined. He didn’t know how to identify it or respond to it.
Blake: “Oh… um, thanks for caring…”
He awkwardly drew back in his seat, withdrawing his hands from the table and looking down at the ground. What the hell was that?! He thought to himself, overwhelmed with feelings he had never felt before.
Blake: “I’m so sorry!”
He exclaimed.
Andreas: “Sorry for what?”
He asked.
Blake: “Making things awkward. I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately… I apologize.”
He rubbed his temples. Andreas held his hand up.
Andreas: “You didn’t do anything wrong and have nothing to apologize for. If you did anything wrong, I would tell you.”
He assured him. Blake’s worry melted, but his confusion remained.
Blake: “I’m glad of that…”
Andreas observed Blake’s behavior, noting his uncertainty and confusion. Ashley isn’t the only one who is sheltered and inexperienced, he thought to himself. He didn’t want to push him into anything he wasn’t comfortable with. He had to come to these terms on his own in his own time.
Blake glanced out the window, noting the sky was getting darker. He couldn’t help but wonder what the awful clown was putting Ashley through tonight.
Andreas: “Is something wrong?”
He pressed him.
Blake: “You do spells, right? Is there a spell to make someone fuck off forever?”
He huffed. Andreas stumbled over a laugh.
Andreas: “If there was, Craig wouldn’t be pestering me anymore.”
He twisted his mouth.
Blake: “Touché.”
Andreas: “You can’t bend another’s will. It’s outside of your control. No one has the power to control another. Craig can’t make me love him again and I can’t make him forget me.”
He stated.
Blake: “Well, that clown has Ashley bending to his will. We’re fucked and stuck with him now.”
He huffed, folding his arms across his chest.
Andreas: “...What do you mean? What happened?”
Blake sucked in some air.
Blake: “...That day I came over on your birthday… I came home to the house destroyed because that fucking bozo flushed a spare rib down the toilet.”
Andreas: “What the fuck? Why?”
Blake: “Because he didn’t want to eat it and wanted to ‘spare’ his feelings.”
He rolled his eyes.
Blake: “Ashley finally had enough of him and kicked him out and I was so proud and relieved!”
He smiled a bit.
Blake: “But then, the clown fucker gets the ‘genius’ plan to eat Ashley’s peanut cookies so he would go into anaphylactic shock and pin the blame on him! He cried to his mommy and daddy to blackmail him into bending to his will and weasel out of his debt to us! His father is the prime minister and his mother is a piece of work! Either she ruins his life behind bars or Maxx ruins his life in his own home. It’s the lesser of two evils.”
He huffed and clenched his fists into balls of rage.
Blake: “I underestimated that fucker and I won’t again. The ONE time I wasn’t there! If I had been there, this wouldn’t have fucking happened! I shouldn’t have allowed Ashley to keep that clown around! This is my fault!”
He rubbed his temples.
Andreas: “It’s not your fault. This is not your responsibility or doing. You can’t always be around, you have your own life to live. You can be there for Ashley and help them through this, but you can’t fix their problems for them.”
He assured them.
Andreas: “You wanted Ashley to decide for themself to kick Maxx out, right? Well, they did because you allowed that to happen. If Ashley was already going to kick Maxx out, that means they see the light now. They will be determined to find a way to claw themselves out of this dark tunnel and into the light again… only they can bend their own will.”
~
Maxx led Ashley into a dark alleyway. Ashley cuddled into his faux fur coat, feeling uneasy.
Ashley: “Uhh, Maxx? Where are we going?”
He shifted his eyes, alert and with caution to their surroundings.
Maxx: “It’s a surprise, A-Rad!”
He grinned, leading him towards a neon pink light at the end of the alleyway. As they drew closer to it, they could see a sign flashing “Pussy Passion.” Ashley’s uneasy feelings melted away and he brightened at the building.
Ashley: “OOH! I had no idea Selene Valley had a Cat Café! Ah, that’s why it’s in the alley! Alley cats! Sure, dude, if you want me to get you a cat, I can do that-”
He beamed with excitement. Maxx's scoff echoed through the alley.
Maxx: “PFFT, not THAT kind of pussy, A-rad!”
He rolled his eyes and barged into the building with Ashley.
They were smacked in the face with heavy rock music and the hazed concoction of cigarettes and cheap perfume in the air.
Maxx: “THIS kind of pussy! Maxxy’s kind of pussay!”
He beamed and gestured to the bikini-clad women dancing on stage to burnt-out caricatures of sleazy old men. Ashley froze up to the uncomfortable overstimulation.
Ashley: “Uhh… Don't you have a girlfriend?! What about Jaclyn, dude?!”
He awkwardly ran his fingers through his hair.
Maxx: “So? Maxxy ain’t exclusive to just ONE hot lady babe! I’m a Polygon-sexual, gosh! Besides, Jacky-babe ain’t been puttin’ out. I gotta get my sex, A-rad!”
Ashley gaped at him, appalled.
Ashley: “...Uh, you mean Polyamory. And… this isn’t what poly is, dude… poly is loving more than one person… you’re just… cheating on your girlfriend with a stripper… see, lots of people were poly in Sunshire—”
He awkwardly scratched his head. Maxx interjected with a scoff.
Maxx: “Whatever, A-rad! Stop tryin’ to weasel your way outta this! You OWE me! You got NO room to judge me when you almost MURDERED ME!”
He snapped and shrieked. Ashley heaved a defeated sigh and forced a strained smile.
Ashley: “Ok, dude… anything for you!”
He waved his hands around. Maxx had that twinkle in his eye when he spotted something across the bar.
Maxx: “Oohohoho, I want THAT one, A-rad!”
He grinned, gesturing to a slim woman in a red bikini with long platinum blond hair down to her waist.
Ashley: “Uhh, okay, so go talk to her and give her some flowers or something?”
He scratched his head. Maxx laughed like a hyena.
Maxx: “Oh, A-Rad! You’re so naive! She’s a stripper, gosh! You don’t gotta give them flowers! Just tell her Maxxy Malone of Sex Beest wants to fuck her and she’ll fuck me!”
He waved his hand.
Ashley: “W-what?!”
Maxx shoved Ashley at her, causing her to knock over the flute of wine in her hand. She yelped as it smashed on the ground and turned to Ashley. Maxx cackled with amusement.
Ashley: “O-oh no! I’m so sorry! Let me get you a new one!”
He pleaded with her. The woman smiled at him.
Roxy: “Thank you, sweetie! I’m Roxy Majors!”
She chirped in a saccharine tone.
Ashley: “I’m Ashley Sabatini! Nice to meet you!”
He smiled and waved at her as he bought her a new drink from the bar. Maxx gaped at him.
Maxx: “What are you doing, A-Rad?! Don’t buy her a drink! Get her to fuck Maxxy!”
He hissed at him, nudging him. Ashley drew a long breath and turned to the woman.
Ashley: “Umm, so… I was wondering if you wanted to make love with–”
He meekly scratched his head. The woman giggled at him.
Roxy: “Yes! Of course! I have time for a private session now. Right this way, cutie.”
She chirped, gesturing for him to follow her toward the hallway. Ashley shifted his eyes over to Maxx. Maxx grinned and licked his lips, following them.
~
She led them into a dimly lit pink room with velvet pink walls and a heart-shaped bed at the centre of it.
Roxy: “Don’t be shy, sweety, take a seaty!”
She cooed.
Maxx: “Ohoho, don’t worry, baby! Maxxy ain’t shy!”
He grinned, jumping straight onto the bed, posing suggestively for her. Roxy turned on her heel and gaped at Maxx incredulously.
Roxy: “...Who the heck are you?!”
She pouted.
Maxx: “I’m Maxxy Malone of Sex Beest, baby! In da flesh! Ready to ride da beest?”
He grinned, handing her his glamour-shot photo.
Roxy: “...Oh, I thought I was having sex with you…”
She sighed at Ashley, looking disappointed. Ashley gaped at her, taken by surprise.
Ashley: “Huh?! Me?! Oh, no, no, I’m a virgin!”
He gestured to himself. Maxx laughed at Ashley.
Maxx: “PFFT! Gosh no! Fret not, baby, you're fucking Maxxy, not him!”
He purred at her, stroking the bed. Roxy frowned.
Roxy: “I’m sorry, I’m going to have to decline.”
Her bubbly demeanor shifted into one of firm no-nonsense.
Maxx: “W-WHA?! NAH-AH! You can’t do that, baby! You’re a stripper!”
He scoffed and pouted.
Roxy: “Yes, I can. I can choose my clients.”
She said firmly.
Maxx: “WHA?! B-BUT you get to fuck THE Maxxy Malone of Sex Beest?! What more do you want, baby?”
He shrieked, stamping his feet. Roxy took a step back, holding her hands up.
Roxy: “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
She said firmly. Maxx flared red with fury. Ashley swallowed hard.
Ashley: “I’m sorry, Roxy… Come on, dude, let’s go…”
He sighed, gesturing for him to follow him out.
Maxx: “Gee, thanks a lot, A-Rad! You ruined it! You’re gonna have to find me ANOTHER lady babe now!”
He huffed, storming out of there. Ashley sighed and bowed his head.
Ashley sat at the bar, looking deep in a trance, sipping on a colorful cocktail and munching on mozzarella sticks.
Maxx: “Ohoho! How about this one, A-rad?”
He grinned, slipping a coin into a stripper’s panties. The woman groused and threw a drink in his face, storming off to a large bald man by the door. Ashley gaped at Maxx, appalled.
Maxx: "Owwh! Feisty!"
Suddenly, the bald man marched up to them, towering over them.
Bouncer: “We’re going to have to ask you to leave.”
Maxx: “Wha? Why? Cos he’s a fatty?! How dare you discriminal-nate against my best buddy!”
He pouted and gestured to Ashley. Ashley froze and slunk into his seat, shoving away his mozzarella sticks.
Bouncer: “NO, dickhead! The girls have been complaining about YOU! Leave or I’ll kick your ass, mate!”
Ashley: "Uhh, I think we should go, dude…"
He knit his eyebrows at Maxx, heading for the door.
Maxx: “Pfft, this bald asshole is just jealous of me, A-rad! I ain't going nowhere!"
~
Maxx flew through the air as the bouncer kicked him into the alleyway.
Maxx: "YARRGH! OWWWWWH!"
He wailed, landing with a hard thud on the pavement.
Bouncer: "Get outta here, dickhead! Never come back! You're banned!"
He bellowed at him, slamming the door on him.
The door opened again, more gently as Ashley emerged from the club.
Ashley: “Dude–”
Maxx turned to Ashley, seething with rage.
Maxx: “PFFT! Thanks a lot, A-Rad! You cramped my style!”
He huffed, rising to his feet and dusting himself off. Ashley recoiled at him.
Ashley: “Me?! What did I do?!”
He gestured to himself.
Maxx: “YOU scared away all da hot lady babes with your weird awkwardness! And chicks don’t like fatties!”
He pointed his boney finger in his face. Ashley stepped back and gaped at him.
Ashley: “Dude, YOU scared them away being a total creep!”
He fired back at him. Maxx’s jaw dropped.
Ashley: “Like… WHY would you say that stuff and do that stuff with a coin?!”
They shuddered and turned away from him. Maxx gasped at him with a shriek.
Maxx: “WHAT?! Nah-ah! Dats how strippers are, A-Rad! Clearly you gotta watch more American Pizza!”
He scoffed. Ashley gaped at him.
Ashley: “I don’t think real life is like that movie, Maxx… Girls don’t like being treated like that…”
He shook his head in disgust.
Maxx: “Girls don’t like YOU, A-Rad!”
He fired back at him. Ashley drew back and recoiled.
Maxx: “What would YOU know about real life?! You grew up in a CULT!”
He scoffed and laughed. Ashley flinched with hurt across his face.
Ashley: “Sunshire was NOT a cult! What would you know?! You grew up in a mansion spoiled by your parents!”
His voice rose, echoing through the alleyway. Maxx took a step back.
Maxx: “Woah, woah, calm yo shit, A-rad! That’s not very Sunshine of you, gosh!”
He waved his hands around as if he were warding off flies. Ashley froze and went silent for a moment. He retreated into himself and suddenly his demeanor shifted.
Ashley: “It’s Sunshire, not Sunshine… and you’re right. I’m sorry…”
He said numbly and forced a strained smile. A wide grin spread across Maxx’s lips.
Maxx: “Dats da spirit buddy!”
He patted his back.
Maxx: “Now, let’s get this show back on da road again!”
He grinned and led them out of the alleyway and back onto the main road again. Ashley sighed with relief.
Ashley: “Thanks, man… I’m so ready for bed!”
He smiled a bit, pulling out his car keys. Maxx gaped at him and laughed.
Maxx: “WHAT?! Oh, no, no, we aren’t goin’ home until Maxxy gets some hot action!”
He stamped his feet and thrust his pelvis. Ashley’s shoulders slumped and his face crumpled.
Ashley: “...Great… we’re never going home.”
He moped and bowed his head.
Maxx: “Then stop crampin’ my style, A-Rad!”
He huffed and dragged him down the next alleyway to the next dinghy club. The neon sign flashed ‘Klittiez ‘n Tittiez’ with metal bars over the windows.
Ashley drew a long breath. Here we go again, he thought and rolled his eyes. A large Aubergine building caught his eye peeking over the alleyway.
Ashley: “...Hellbent?”
He whispered to himself and swallowed hard. Maxx snapped him out of his daze, shoving his silver goon sack in his hands.
Maxx: “Hold my goon sack, A-Rad, I gotta take a piss!”
He scurried over to the trash cans in the corner of the alleyway. Ashley shifted his eyes over to Hellbent and bit his lip. When Maxx was out of sight, he dropped the sack to the ground and crept away.
~
Ashley sauntered into ‘Hellbent’ nightclub eager to see Makayla behind the bar, but to his disappointment, she was nowhere in sight.
Ashley: “Ohh… she’s not here.”
He sighed and turned around to leave. A pair of hands grabbed him from behind, tickling his sides with long nails.
Ashley: “HeheheheheheeheheHEHEHEHEHEHHEAHAHAHA!”
He giggled and melted, feeling his spirits lift.
Makayla: “Looking for someone?”
She teased, whispering into his ear, making him shiver.
Ashley: “Oh… um… maybe, haha.”
He blushed and brushed his hand through his ombre tresses.
Makayla: “Oh? Who might that be?”
She smirked. A woman's deep voice chimed in.
Voice: “Makayla.”
They turned to see Savannah in her ‘Hellbent’ uniform matching Makayla’s.
Ashley: “Yep! That’s right! Hello there, I’m Ashley!”
He smiled and waved at her. Savannah scrutinized Ashley. Makayla looked over at Savannah and smiled at Ashley.
Makayla: “This is my friend, Savannah!”
She exclaimed.
Ashley: “Nice to meet you!”
He chirped. Makayla giddily jumped over to him.
Makayla: “Guess what?! We’re playing at ThrashThrillerFest.”
She beamed.
Ashley: “Oh?! What’s that?”
He smiled and tilted his head.
Savannah: “You never heard of ThrashThrillerFest?
She quirked an eyebrow at him.
Makayla: “It’s the biggest thrash metal tour in the world!”
She exclaimed.
Ashley: “OH?! You guys are touring around the world?!”
He beamed and clasped his hands. He noticed her expression dampen a bit.
Ashley: “Is something wrong?”
He reached out to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Suddenly, a commotion came from the dance floor. They all turned toward the crowd and saw Maxx flailing his arms and legs chaotically, clearing out the dance floor.
Maxx: “EVERYBODY DO DA SEX BEEST!”
He swelled his chest out, kept his elbows to his side but spread his forearms out and made fists. He then stomped his feet and thrust his pelvis. People gawked at him and laughed. Ashley froze and swiveled around in his barstool, turning his back to him.
Ashley: “Dio mio…”
He exhaled under his breath and lowered his head out of view of him. Makayla and Savannah glanced at him and looked over at Maxx, who locked his green eyes onto them.
Maxx: “OWWWWWH!”
He hollered in their direction, stumbling over towards them.
Makayla: “What do you want, Maxx?”
She asked with exasperation in her tone.
Maxx: “Hey, ladies! Lookin’ for a rockin’ time?”
He purred and thrust his pelvis, not noticing Ashley hiding in the corner. Savannah rolled her eyes.
Savannah: “I told you, I don’t play for that team.”
She shook her head.
Makayla: “If by ‘rockin’ time’ you mean throwing rocks at you, then yeah.”
Savannah laughed. Ashley stumbled over a laugh.
Maxx: “Ohoho, feisty! I think you mean, throwing my cock at you, baby!”
He purred and swayed his hips. Ashley swiveled around to Maxx, glaring at him.
Ashley: “Dude! Don’t talk to her like that!”
He snapped at him. Makayla turned to Ashley, locking her gaze on him.
Maxx froze, taken aback to see Ashley there.
Maxx: “A-RAD?! YOU DITCHED ME IN DA ALLEY, YOU FAT ASSHOLE!”
He snapped at him. Savannah gaped at Maxx with disgust, shoving him.
Savannah: “Hey, man, take a hint! She wanted to get away from you! She’s not into you!”
She scolded him. Ashley paused and tilted his head. Maxx looked dumbfounded.
Maxx: “WHAT?! NAH-AH! I’m not into HIM!”
He shrieked as if she’d just insulted him. He then turned to Ashley and laughed.
Maxx: “Pfft, they think you’re a chick, A-Rad!”
He cackled. Makayla rolled her eyes at Maxx.
Savannah: “Oh! My apologies!”
She said to Ashley.
Ashley: “Oh, no, it’s cool!”
He assured her with a smile, holding his hand up.
Makayla: “Whatever the case, Ashley doesn’t want to be around you!”
She huffed at Maxx, putting her arm around Ashley. Ashley shifted his eyes and his heart thundered in his chest. Maxx’s jaw dropped and his skin started to turn red with rage.
Maxx: “Fine, A-Rad! If dats how it is, I’ll talk to mommy-kins!”
He sniffled, stomping over to the payphone. Ashley’s heart sank and he went after him.
Ashley: “I’m sorry, dude, I do want to be around you!”
He pleaded with him. Makayla and Savannah gaped at him.
Maxx: “Of course you do, A-Rad! Come on, let’s go to da strippers!”
He grinned, throwing the phone to the ground and putting his arm around Ashley, leading him out of the club. Ashley tensed up and forced a smile.
Makayla: “...What.”
She twisted her mouth.
Ashley: “I’m sorry, Makayla… I gotta go…”
He bowed his head, too ashamed to look her in the eye. Makayla looked hurt and her head spun with confusion. Savannah glared at them both as they left.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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