Alex's Pov:

I cannot go back into that shop. Another day and John will find me and see me and judge me and leave me just like everyone else in my life.

I'll just pretend I left the state or some shit.

I rested my head on the now icy wall, my mouth agape and watering.

Do I know I look weird?

Yes.

But I'm thirsty and there isn't much I can do.

I kept getting weird looks so I fixed my posture trying not to die.

I closed my eyes feeling the icy wind blow past me.

"Alexander?"

My head shot up in fear.

"Yeah," I said, my throat hoarse.

"What're you doing out here?" John said stuffing his gloved hands in his pockets.

"Dying,"

"Ummm, and how does one respond to that," he said making me bury my head into my arms.

"You don't," I sighed.

"Well, but ya see," he crouched down to my level, "I only must,"

"Now, I'll ask again, what're you doing out here.....wearing the same clothes as the first time I met you,"

I sighed, "are you that oblivious,"

"What?"

"Did you not, like.....put the pieces together or are you just extremely oblivious,"

"Wait, gimme a sec," John said before doing this thing:

He suddenly faced palmed making me flinch.

"Oh my god, I am so so sorry," he said grabbing my hand.

"It's fine," I stated blandly waiting for him to leave.

The silence was awkward.

"You could come live with me," he said suddenly.

"Wait, what, of course...not," I hesitated making a decision, "I couldn't,"

"Except you could," he said standing up.

"At least let me help you tonight, you can take a bath, get some actual food, well takeout, and get mew clothes... if you want....."

My eyes stared watering, "umm, I-I don't," I sighed, "okay?" It came out more like a question as I watched John smile at me.

<ITs tImE sKIp tImE>

"You're not for real?" I said looking around.

"I mean, yeah," he said scratching the back of his neck.

"Thank you thank you thank you thank you," I yelled wrapping my arms around his neck.

"...Your welcome," he said, "now, come on, I'll show you the bathroom,"

He led me across the hallway to a  wooden door which he swiftly opened.

Inside was a shower, a separate bathtub, 2 sinks with a granite counter top and a giant mirror over it with lights. On top of that he had 2 ply toilet paper with a clean toilet.

"Holy shit," my eyes widened.

"It's something?" He said surprised by my reaction.

"Holy shit, I think I love you," I mumbled.

"What?" His face turned a crimson red.

"I mean, this, I love you for doing this for me,"

"Your welcome, now I'll leave you alone to shower....or take a bath,"

"How does this work?" I asked walking forwards.

"Just," he went in front of me turning a knob inside the bath plugging it and letting it fill up.

The water was a light clean teal.

"You have bath salts, bath bombs, soap bars, body wash, shampoo, conditioner-" I cut him off.

"I don't know what half those things are, and doesn't salt water make your body dry up."

"These are different," he said going under the sink and taking out a small pod.

"Vanilla bath salts," he looked at me opening to container and taking out a small bag.

He spilled its contents into the bath I watched it bubble slightly.

"I'm gonna give you bubbles,"

"Like a bubble bath," I gasped.

"Yep," he grinned squeezing vanilla scented bubble bath.

"There is a robe behind the door and your room is across the hall, I'll leave you some clothes on your bed,"

"My bed?"

"Yeah, whose else,"

"I don't know," I shrugged.

"Welp, I'll leave you to it," he said closing the door.

I sighed and then realized that the water was still on.

I turned around turning the knob like John did which made it spray harder  I quickly turned it the other way to make it stop.

It was overflowing with bubbles and what looked like happiness.

I looked at myself in the mirror sighing and moved to undress myself.

I removed my shoes hissing in pain as it brushed past supposed blisters. My socks came off next, my skin peeling along with it from sticking so long.

I almost screamed out in pain, letting put a sob.

I did the same to my next foot almost crying as I observed my feet.

I went to unbuckle my old Jean's, I looked at the indents of the Jean's made on my thin skin breathing out as it felt like they let go of my skin.

My boxers were ripped underneath.

I took off the ripped sweater suddenly feeling cold.

I gently took the shirt off of my top half. Tears kept making their way down my cheeks.

I took off my boxers and breathed in and out trying not to cry anymore.

I hissed as I stepped into the bath, slowly sitting down.

I remembered my mom as I closed my eyes, how she would give me a bath to make me calm down. To make me feel safe. Afterwards she would rinse me down to make sure every spec of dirt came off me.

I laughed slightly remembering her as I let another tear slip down my cheek.