Chapter 3
The rest of the night was silent, there were no calls to reception, no complaints, just complete and utter silence. He wondered if they had eaten beforehand, if he should knock and ask if they wanted some food brought to them, but he decided against it.
You don’t ask, you certainly don’t just get.
In the morning they were sat at the guest table before the open kitchen, all poised and sat straight like they had rulers on their backs. They were not talking really, just a few remarks which were not very expressive in any way.
They were served what they ordered which seemed to be a disappointing but obviously high class palette of rye bread and eggs Benedict, Lily must have done well, they seemed satisfied enough.
The younger of the boys caught him watching them, he glanced over to where James was stood just behind a pillar before the open door. His brow turned up and his eyes turned quickly back to whatever his mother was trying to say to him.
Okay, James thought. That one was kind of attractive, in a strange way. He had an awfully good face. Too symmetrical if anything. The same eyes as his family, cold and knowing. His lips were rosy, it seemed to be the only colour on his whole body. He was a little bit more tired looking than the rest, perhaps he had the room with the dodgy radiator.
James scratched his head in thought and quickly pulled back when he saw them making their way over to him.
Mr Black approached him, a disappointed stare followed him. “We’re off in to the town, my boys will stay, do not disturb them, they’re studying for their second masters at the minute and silence is needed.”
”Understood.” He replied.
Mrs Black kissed each of the boys cheeks, “Be good darlings.”
It was a surprisingly motherly gesture from a woman who looks like her kindness stretches as far as a slap across the face.
The boys looked at each other, telepathically saying something James wished he knew.
Mr and Mrs Black left, the boys were in their room but as soon as the cabin door closed and the screeching of tires came, their door flung open.
James stared at the older boy sauntering towards him. Bollocks. A complaint already?
”I’m Sirius.” He says clearly, holding out a pale hand and a cheeky grin spreading across his face.
Oh?
“I’m James. James Potter.” He replies apprehensively.
The boy sniffs and then looks him over. “You have the fashion sense of a guy who’s never read a magazine.”
Ouch.
“You’d be correct.”
He laughs, a rich, but not mocking laugh, more childish, more fun.
“Excuse my mother and father, they didn’t want to be here,” Sirius tucks his hair behind his ear and leans against a pillar, a far too common of a gesture that doesn’t suit his appearance. “This is like… sort of a treat for me and my brother Regulus. You see, there’s a reason we chose to stay here.”
James raises a brow back at him. “Why is that?”
”We’re moving out and Mother wanted one last Christmas trip with us, and we agreed under the condition that I, and my brother could choose the place.”
Ah. So this is a gag joke on their parents to make them suffer in a commoners place?
“Why here?” He has to ask, the question, it was bugging him since the booking came through.
”You have a bar, and apparently this town also has a club and a,” He leans in furtively “Large homosexual population.”
James’ eyes widen. “Does it?”
North yorkshire… homosexuality? It certainly wasn’t something he was aware of. Then he was curious even more.
“You are interested in that?”
Ah. It was like that.
Sirius grins even wider. “I’m 24, this is my prime years and I’ve been stuck in Islington for years, which, by the way, has no homosexuality. I’m sure it hasn’t been invented there yet.”
James hums and then shrugs. “I had no idea.”
”Read forums about your town, it’s not in your face, it never is. But I know where to look and I want your help.”
His help? For homosexuality?
”I am not gay.”
”You’re definitely something.”
”How do you know?” James replies quickly. He is something, that was correct.
A few tumbles in college with rugby players and some more in university, but really, even Remus said he never ever would have been able to tell, something about his ‘vibe’.
“I always know.” Sirius smiles. “Don’t fear, I am not my parents, all I want is an accompaniment to join me into to town so I can smell it out.”
He has to admit, it sounds like fun, really. This was the sort of thing Remus would probably enjoy more, but Remus would probably say no, and he hates being in town as it is.
Besides, this was a good opportunity to get a bit more than a tip later, free drinks and a break from being huddled up here? It was certainly appealing, unprofessional but appealing nonetheless.
”What’s in it for me?” James asks, trying his luck.
”Well for starters, I have money, so much money its silly. And from the looks of this place, you need it.”
”Really, I thought it was-“
”Your carpets look like they were made in the 18th century.”
James laughs. “They were.”
Then Sirius laughs and its kind of staggering, 2 completely different people laughing over how shit this place is. He didn’t expect this, not even for one moment. He decided then, very quickly he would have to do it.
”I’m in.”
Sirius beams, like actually beams. If he was any paler he would be practically glowing.
”I’ll get my brother.”
”Wait- You didn’t say anything about anyone else.” He was apprehensive again, one was a risk, but taking them both with no idea where or when their parents would be back seems foolish.
“My parents have gone to visit a boring old church priest to discuss a baptism and then they are going to the only place they approve of here, which is a high society club where no doubt they’ll probably stay until at least early hours of the morning.”
”Oh.”
What was all of this information about his town that he knew and James had no idea about? This wasn’t a high society town. Well, he also didn’t think it had any gay people in either. Perhaps he was being blindsided by this whole thing.
“Well, I’ll get him. But, be warned he is not as friendly and fun as me. Quite the opposite, he enjoys doing sudoku on his phone.”
”Sudoko?”
”Yes,” Sirius rolls his eyes, approaching his room, “If he insults you, it’s a good thing. He doesn’t care for anything or anyone.”
James nods, watching him disappear. He thinks back to what his parents said and their degrees and wonders if she was lying, and then wonders what would happen if they were caught. He would obviously have to take the blame. His business really was important to him, and his parents worked so hard to make it through several awful years for money.
But Sirius did say he had money. Would he protect him? Who knows, one conversation doesn’t mean he’s not just as awful as his parents seem to be.
The door opens and Sirius and his brother walk out. His brother doesn’t even look at him.
James breathes out firmly, “Okay so before we go, I really need you to know that if we get caught we have a plan.”
Sirius goes to say something, before his brother looks up and meets not his eye, but gestures to the window, the snow falling heavily still. “I’ll say I got sick. I needed medicine. Don’t worry or do, I don’t really care.”
Right. How pleasant was he.
”Okay… I’ll drive us?”
Sirius throws a comedic thumbs up. “Excellent.”
They don’t say anything about his beat up truck, or his embarrassing number plate.
P0T13R (dads idea)
Sirius talks endlessly through the drive and James actually finds out some really interesting information about them.
They’re from Islington London, they both attended Eton (duh) and are both working towards their second degree in Classical literature. Sirius is 24 like James and Regulus is 22, they’re bothered by loud noises and hate their parents but tolerate them to inherit what James has come to realise is a stupidly big trust fund.
”What about you, James Potter? What have you done with your life?” Sirius asks.
Regulus looks up, only momentarily from the backseat, he catches it in the cars mirror. For some reason it makes him feel insecure. He hasn’t truthfully done much. Not anything.
”I have a degree… in sports science.”
Theres a long silence.
”And I own this bed and breakfast… I like food and I love my job.” James adds very quickly.
It’s all he can really give.
”Parents?” Sirius asks after another long silence.
James looks straight ahead at the road. “Dead.”
“Tragic,” Sirius sighs. “Sorry about that. I dont mean to be intrusive, I love talking and my parents hate talking so I’m just rambling and I-“
”It’s okay, it was a while ago now… we best get out here.”
They were at a small restaurant car park, a small walk from the main town. They all get out and the walk now is silent. He wishes he just lied, dead people always ruin conversations.
”So… do you know where any of these places are?” James asks cutting the silence as they reach the main street.
Sirius nods, leading them with his phone down a lot of twists and turns and dodgy alleys. Up into a bar where James has actually been before.
“Garrets… this is not a place where you’ll find men under 80.” James states, doubting their whole plan. Maybe they didn’t know what they were talking about.
”Wrong,” Sirius smiles, “On Saturdays there’s a karaoke night.”
Yes there was. Lily always wanted to go but no one ever agreed. It sounded awful.
They go in, Regulus looks embarrassed, James is embarrassed but Sirius struts his way in and surprisingly the crowd is different. Sure there’s a few oldies dotted about, but it’s a sea of short skirts and men with anything but the normal yorkshire wear.
Weirdly, it was only 3pm.
The lights were off and the disco ball was on, a high volume of techno music blares throughout.
He was gobsmacked. Nothing about this day was what he was used to, it was kind of enticing, to do something so different and rebellious too, he did miss being a little bit naughty here and there.
They go to the bar and Sirius insists he pays, which James doesn’t decline. But he realises if he wants one more he’ll have to ditch the car.
They sit at a booth and Sirius sighs happily settling in with his Gin and tonic, Regulus has a soda water, staring blankly at the people dancing. ”It’s 3pm.” He says plainly.
Sirius rolls his eyes at his brother. “So?”
”So… who does this sort of thing anyway.”
”Me.”
Regulus rolls his eyes back at him, going back to his phone.
James looks around and then back to Sirius. “What exactly are you looking to get in here? Friends or… more?” He asks carefully.
”Men and pleasure.” He replies happily.
He’s taken aback, but then he thinks about it, he’s obviously closeted to his parents and god knows when or where he would be able to go back home for expressing himself. He gets it. He really does.
”Cool,” James replies and smiles. “Very modern.”
”Yes but, I must warn you… I have a bad type in men.”
James laughs and laughs. “Go on.”
“Tall, skinny and beautiful.”
”Thats not that bad!”
”Oh but it is, I fall in love with anyone over 6 foot who shows me an inch of attention.”
James laughs again. His own love life is pitiful the towns not tiny but small enough that he knows nearly everyone, or know someone who knows everyone. No one is interesting here, not interesting enough anyway. It was all high school and primary school memories. Good and bad.
“What’s your type James?” Sirius asks.
”I like… well anyone. I don’t really see gender in my vocabulary either. I just like who I like.”
Men. Women. Both. Neither. He had a lot of time in his teenage days to figure that out.
”Now that is modern.”
Regulus looks at him and raises a brow. “You’re pansexual?”
”Nah,” James replies, “I’m not anything truly. I just like who I like.”
”Sounds like you’re pansexual.” His voice is lulling and bored. Perhaps rude but he didn’t really mind.
“Regulus, stop labelling.” Sirius snaps.
”No its fine. What about you Regulus? Is your phone your lover?” James jokes and expects a scold or at least a roll of his eyes, but instead he smiles.
And oh he had a nice smile.
A really terribly nice smile.
”Something like that.” Regulus replies softly.
The next few hours are full of conversation with Sirius and too many drinks. It was 5pm when the Karaoke started and Sirius was so excited it was almost impossible not to get into it with him.
”I love karaoke.” He says excitedly downing his gin and standing up. “Right well I’m obviously going first.”
James sits back in his chair, moving to see the stage. He watches him strut up to the front and talk to a group of girls who obviously fancy him and leave their rendition of Taylor Swift for later.
”He cant sing.” Regulus suddenly says, spooking him a bit. He hadn’t spoken since James’ joke.
“No?”
”Not at all.”
”Well, that is usually what happens at karaoke.”
”No, like, he really cant sing.”
James bites his lip as ‘life on mars’ begins to play. Now this was a hard song for a professional, and if Regulus was right. This was going to be god awful.
And it was.
It truly was so awful.
His posh voice was so offensively bad, even worse being compared to Bowie’s. He was completely tone deaf.
It was brilliant.
James had never laughed so much, and the girls that had been there earlier were now cringing in their seats, as Sirius belts and belts and gives it his absolute all.
”Told you.”
“You did,” James looks at him, perhaps he was a but tipsy but his eyes seemed kinder. “You next?”
”I’d rather be shot.”
”Funny.”
Sirius finishes and bows, he even gets an applause perhaps everyone was just happy it was over, nevertheless he dances over, laughing happily.
”What a rush!”
”That was great!” James lies and laughs with him.
”I know!”
Regulus laughs, a very small laugh but it was enough to make James’ stomach do a strange swoop in his stomach.
Oh.
Was that?
No No No!
“More drinks?” Sirius says.
”No! God I cant, I’m already seeing two of you,” James replies and rubs his temples. “I cant drive back.”
“I’ll drive,” Regulus says, “I’ve not drank. Have another.” He says it cooly, but it was kind.
Assertive too, which was kind of endearing.
Sirius takes that with a grin and pulls James to the bar, and of course they drink too much. Way too much. Vodka. Gin. Beer. Wine. He was absolutely as drunk as a teenager. And god he hadn’t had this much fun in so long. They were dancing and singing, talking to anyone and everyone around them.
He’d been so busy with the business and adult life, he forgets how young he actually is, and just how long it’s been since he’s had fun. With 2 strangers he was convinced were arseholes, were now becoming a little bit of a new release for him.
It was midnight when Regulus came to them, walking over and barely looking them in the eye. ”We should go.”
”Nooo!” Sirius whines.
“No!” James says and looks at Regulus and licks his lips. God. He was troubling.
”Shut up. Lets go.”
They follow him, obviously. Stumbling down the streets and laughing at people scowling at them. It was all just terribly funny.
In the car Regulus refuses radio and instead says, “Shut up please.”
Which surprisingly does shut them both up, perhaps it was the please.
When they get back Sirius begs James to come to their room, but legally he can’t actually do that, no matter how drunk, he knows that.
”James?”
He whips around and see’s Remus standing there with a shocked look on his face.
“I’ve been calling you for hours?”
”Phone’s off.” He replies trying to pull himself together but its tactless, if you were blind you’d just smell the drink on him.
”Hello gorgeous.” Sirius suddenly says, leaning against the pillar, smirking at him.
Remus uncomfortably mutters a hello back, then looks back to James. “You’re an idiot.”
”I know.” James says.
It was idiotic. He didn’t even realise how stupid. But he was too drunk to care and too happy with his night to be apologetic.
Regulus had gone to his room and James was sad about it. Although he didn’t talk much, his presence was actually quite warm.
“Get to bed.”
Sirius pouts at Remus. “Fun police.”
Remus scoffs. “Incase you forgot, your parents are due back and James actually has a job to do around here.”
James quickly nods. He was right. “Sirius you should shower. I’ll do the same. I’ll give you my number?”
”Okayyy!”
They squint and fumble as they try and make a contact detail. And Remus walks off, he’s angry, probably not at James but more about the fact he’s being reckless. Something he doesn’t do.
But when he gets back to his room he’s not sorry, he showers, his head spins and he lays on his bed, smiling.
Life was boring, it really was. This job was a pain. But tonight, he cant be sorry about.
He loved it.