PART TWO by ThomasMcNab
Chapter One: "Call Out"
Chapter Two: "You're Welcome"
Chapter Three: "Company For The Day"
Chapter Four: "Who's That Girl?"
Chapter Five: "Play The Fool"
Epilogue: "Just The Beginning"

Previously on 'The Caliente Affairs':
Dina inquired about taking a paternity test so she could finally find out if her husband Mortimer Goth was the father of her baby, or if it was the result of her affair Ed Wilson. After finding an unlikely friend in the form of Lilith Pleasant, Alex Goth decided to tell his sister Cassandra Goth that he was gay. Though he backed out when it came to it, but Cassandra already sensed Alex was hiding something from her.

Chapter One: "Call Out"

It was almost a month since Nina's accident. Christmas and New Years had come and gone and Dina was beginning to show the tell-tale signs of pregnancy. It was for this reason she'd been avoiding contact with her twin sister. Nina didn't know Dina was still pregnant and Don hadn't told her. Dina didn't want to hide her news, but couldn't deal with the obvious complications that Nina would remind her about. Besides, Nina had just begun trying to get her life back to normal after losing her baby and Dina was anxiously awaiting the results of her paternity test... Or more specifically Mortimer's paternity test. Dina had taken the necessary samples for the test from him without his knowledge. All she needed was proof that her baby and him were related and her worries would be over... Unless of course, her worries were confirmed and the baby wasn't his. Trying to put this all aside, Dina was waiting for a phone call from her doctor.

Around midday it rang. Mortimer was out but his son Alex was at home, off from school because he had complained of a headache and upset stomach. He was in his bedroom so Dina was free to speak about the test results in private.

"What do you mean you need me to come down? What's wrong, I thought you said you could tell me over the phone?" Dina argued as she was informed a few more 'routine' tests needed to be performed. "Well when I get there and have these done you can tell me then, right?" Dina asked.

The doctor confirmed and asked her to come straight away. "Straight away? I might not... Okay, I'll see what I can do. I'll be there soon." Dina said, hanging up the receiver and sighing as she carried herself up the stairs to check on Alex. She was trying to be a model mother lately, on account of her own impending birth. She had told Mortimer he could go out for the day whilst she kept an eye on Alex. Approaching his room she hoped he was asleep so maybe she could sneak out without anyone knowing.

As she quietly opened the door Alex's smiling face greeted her. Dina's face was less than happy, but she faked a smile anyway. "How are you feeling?"
"Alright, thanks." Alex replied. Seeing him yawn, Dina tried to persuade him to rest.

"Thanks, I might just do that." Alex said. He had already been woken up this morning to initially go to school, but he couldn't stand another day of insults from Meadow and her clique. Almost everyone in his Year knew that Alex and Meadow weren't together anymore, and most of them knew it was because Alex was gay. Meadow had turned from his friend into his worst enemy, something he thought she would never be capable of. But he remembered she had warned him, and now she was spreading his secret around in order to rally sympathy for herself. None of his family knew though, in fact he had yet to tell them he wasn't dating Meadow anymore! So he had faked an illness in order to stay home, hopefully for more than one day.
"Do you want me to get you anything, a glass of water?" Dina offered.
"I'm fine thanks." Alex said.

As Dina left, Alex reached towards his bedside table to check his mobile phone. He had sent a message to Lilith telling her he was off, she sympathised and offered to collect his homework for him. Alex did actually enjoy school, the learning part anyway. Socially however was a different matter, he had never managed to acquire decent friends since most people saw him as the young kid that skipped a Year. It wasn't as if he hadn't tried, at one point he was hanging with the Goth kids and Meadow's clique all in the space of five days. But when he saw that he couldn't be part of both, he chose popularity instead of sincerity. But by that time it was too late; he had asked Meadow to be his girlfriend in hopes his desires for the same sex would fade, but they didn't. So he was left to keep up the pretence of fitting in when really he wasn't part of any group, resulting in a less than impressive list of friends. With all these thoughts, Alex couldn't even pretend to sleep. He shouted down to Dina, but got no reply..

Chapter Two: "You're Welcome"

He called his step-mother's name again as he made his way downstairs. The house was quiet, Dina wasn't home anymore. Alex sighed and made his way to the kitchen to get a drink. He was kind of annoyed she had left him, he had just been thinking that maybe he should get some advice from someone older. Though he realised that if he asked Dina for advice he would have to spend most of the conversation explaining his actions. He pondered for a second at why he seemed to have no worries about telling Dina he was gay. He had bottled up in front of his sister yet Dina, his own parental figure, didn't appear to bother him. Maybe, Alex thought, it was because he didn't really feel close to Dina. Gulping down the last drop of water, Alex made his way towards the stairs just as the doorbell rang.

Dressed in only his underwear, Alex thought nothing of opening the front door to check who was there. He stepped out onto his front porch and found himself in front of a teenage boy he had never seen before. Before Alex could think twice the boy turned and saw Alex, beginning to walk over to him. Alex desperately tried to hide his excitement, though his dumb heart took over and he stood gazing at this mystery boy. Realising there was an uncomfortable silence, Alex scolded himself and snapped out of his ridiculous daydream.

"Can I help you?" Alex asked, his voice quivering as he worked up the courage to speak.
"Do you live here?" The boy replied with a question. Alex nodded and he continued, "Are your parents home?"
"Why, you're not going to try and sell them something, are you?" Alex pondered.

"Boy you see right through me!" The guy laughed as Alex smiled bashfully. "I just moved to Pleasanview a few weeks ago, my name's David Asher." He held out his hand and Alex smiled as he shook it.
"Alexander. Um, Alex Goth!" Alex said, stumbling over his words.
"So I was hoping to earn a small bit of money. You know, washing your car or your windows, random jobs like that. Do you need a gardener?"
"I guess so, I don't really know." Alex replied, unsure if his father or Dina had already hired a gardener.
"Well, are your parents home?" David asked again.

"No, it's just me, apparently." Alex sighed, realising that Dina had left him. Although, he hoped, maybe it was a good thing he was alone.
"Well I really ought to talk to your mum or dad. If I give you my number will you tell them I stopped by?" David said, getting ready to leave.
"Well, wait a minute, you look like you're all ready to go, can't I set you to work?"
"Sure, I guess. Are you sure though, I didn't just wake you up or anything?" David said, pointing out Alex's clothes.

"What this, no... I wear these all the time." Alex replied without thinking. "I mean, I don't wear my underwear all the time. No, I do wear my underwear all the time... Well, except on a couple of occasions, but you know how it is when you're in a hurry and nothing's clean? It's not as if anyone's gonna know and... I'm rambling!" Alex blushed, realising that in some sick and twisted way he and Meadow were actually more suited for each other than he first thought.

"Ha, it's okay. I didn't mean to embarrass you. If you want to wear that it's fine by me, Heck if you want to wear even less I won't object, as long as you're paying me." David said as he opened his eyes wide as Alex gave him a confused glance. "That came out rather more rude than I anticipated. I should get going." Alex wasn't sure, he had never been on the receiving end of someone else's advances, but for a second there he was positive David might have possibly flirted with him. Even if he was wrong and even if he made a complete fool of himself once again he decided that he'd rather take a chance then let it walk on by, possibly right out of his life.

"Well wait a second, I might not be able to hire you as our permanent gardener but if you're any good with plumbing..."
"This doesn't involve a plunger does it, because when I said random I didn't quite mean..."
"No! God no, what I was gonna say is our hottub is on the blink. I don't know exactly what's wrong with it, just that there's no bubbles. You wouldn't by any chance be able to fix it." Alex said, 'And possibly buy me some time to commit vandalism in my own house in order for you to stay longer' he thought to himself.

"I can take a look, I cleaned out the pool at this Motel I onced stayed at a couple of times and helped the Super repair the hottub. All though it wasn't so much as a hottub as it was a hole in the ground with warm water in it!" David laughed. Alex laughed too and felt his heart race, he was going to be entertaining his first ever possible boyfriend... Sure he was jumping the gun but Alex couldn't help it, he really liked David.

"Well it's just round the back," Alex pointed, "and the first room next to the pool has a bunch of clean swimming trunks which you're welcome to wear as you might have to get a little wet." Alex turned red once more as he felt sure Meadow was gonna jump out any second and yell surprise as she, David and about fifty kids from his Year laughed at him for ever thinking someone could like him like that.
"That's really nice of you, I would have just gone in wearing my underwear if you hadn't have said anything." 'Crap', Alex thought as he quickly rushed upstairs to get dressed.

Chapter Three: "Company For The Day"

When Alex emerged a mere ten minutes later from his bedroom he smiled as he walked out on to the patio, seeing David relaxing amongst a very bubbly hottub.
?I see you got it working then.? Alex said as he made his presence known. David jumped and stuttered over his words.
?Oh! Well, It didn?t take all that much really. It wasn?t anything mechanical like you made it sound, just something to do with the electronics.? David explained.
?Electric and water? I heard those two don?t mix very well.? Alex joked.
?Yeah! Can you believe there used to be a time when hottub?s didn?t exist??
?Balderdash!? Alex exclaimed. A wry look from David made him mentally kick himself in the gut as he promised never to say that word again. Trying his luck, Alex attempted to charm David. ?Mind if I join you??

?Really?? David asked as he reached over to the hottub?s panel and switched off the jet stream. ?Why exactly?? David innocently asked. `I can think of a few reasons? Alex thought to himself. Unfortunately Alex realised how overly-strong he was coming on and changed his tactics.
?Sorry, I was letting my mouth do the talking but my brain was elsewhere. How about I whip up some food to repay you for fixing that?? Alex offered.
?Well, I kind of wanted paying in cash.? David cautiously asked.
?Oh! Sure, I just thought you might be hungry.?
?I am! Let me just dry off and I?ll join you.? David smiled as he hoisted himself out of the tub and walked off to get a towel, not noticing Alex?s admiring gaze from behind. Snapping himself out of his daydream, Alex rushed to the kitchen to make some basic food for himself and David.

?That was fast!? David said as he sat down to eat with Alex. Alex smiled as he intently watched David chewing and eating his grilled sandwich. But after one bite, David looked up from his plate with a concerned glance. ?I need to leave.? He said as he placed down the sandwich. Before he could sit up Alex hoped he could intervene and change David?s mind.
?Why, did I do something wrong??
?No, nothing wrong. You?ve been super nice, but I thought I might have overstayed my welcome.?

?Not at all.? Alex replied. ?You?re here as my friend.? Alex didn?t hesitate to say. David smiled as Alex corrected himself. ?We are friends, right??
?Yeah. Although I don?t really know all that much about you. How long have you lived in Pleasantview?? David asked, resuming his meal.
?All my life. My family are a pretty big part of the town?s historical background. Apparently we?re one of the two original founding families.?
?The other?s the Pleasants?, right?? David asked.
?Yeah, they still live here.? Alex replied.

?I know. Mrs. Pleasant was round our house a few weeks ago to welcome us to the neighbourhood. She seemed pretty uptight, I definitely know my mum didn?t like her much.?
?Oh well, she has a lot of town pride, it sometimes comes across as arrogance.? Alex laughed as he thought about her. ?Why don?t you think your mum liked her??
?I just could tell. I?m pretty close to my mum like that. I have been since, well, forever I guess.? David said, hesitating a bit towards the end Alex sensed, making him want to find out more.
?That?s nice. My mum disappeared when I was little? I don?t know why I just told you that, I?m sorry.?
?No, it?s okay. I?m sorry.? David shuffled uncomfortably.

?You weren?t to know. I?m glad you do, it saves me talking about it later.?
?Were you close, before she went missing??
?Well, she was my mum. I wasn?t very old but, looking back on the times I can remember, we were happy. It was a shock when she left.?
?She left?? David asked, noting how Alex had said different before.
?Well, my dad won?t admit it, but I think it?s pretty obvious she left. I always just guess she walked out without telling us because she couldn?t bear to say goodbye.?

?Us?? David asked.
?My sister, Cassandra, she pretty much raised me after that. My dad kind of had a break-down I think, but that was ages ago and he?s re-married now and I?m expecting another sibling soon.? Alex said, smiling for the first time at the thought of his baby brother or sister.
?That?s nice. Do you live here with all of them?? David enquired. Alex told David about his recent time with the Caliente sisters and Don Lothario, and how he lived here with his dad and Dina now. ?Wow, you?ve almost travelled as much as me!?