Ecstasy

Chapter 14
Anthony sighed as brushed his hair before tying it back. He had tutorial this morning modern art, which usually involved lots of paint and clay so he thought better of leaving his hair down. The bathroom was steamy after he’d had a long hot shower just to pull himself together before going down stairs. He glanced up from the sink to the mirror and stared emotionless at his reflection. For saying he’d just shaved and cleaned himself up he still looked shocking, he sighed and grabbed his things before walking back into his own room. After putting his stuff away and hanging up the towel he pulled on his shirt, buttoning it up while walking around the room and collecting things he needed for the day. By the time he’d finished and collected everything he needed and placed thnto nto his bag it was 8:00am. As he walked into the hallway with his things he could hear people down stairs in the kitchen, no doubt Alex was up and about as she too had tutorials. Over last night it had dawned on him that living in this house was an experience and a half, and that he wanted to learn to live with it no matter what. He w det determined person and so Anthony was sure that he’d get used to and even eventually enjoy living here, as long as not to many people died on him. As he came to the bottom of the steps he sighed and glanced into the lounge room where, Jake and Alan were sitting along with Josh. Anthony took a deep breath and walked straight into the lounge room and put his stuff down at the side of the chair.

“Morning Anthony.” Anthony didn’t even look up as Josh addressed him. There was a stunned silence as Anthony gave him the finger and a death stare before walking off into the kitchen to get something at least half-edible. He smiled softly as Craig, Jason and Alex looked up at him from their positions around the kitchen table.

“Morning, there’s some bacon in the grill if you want some.” Craig stood up to wash his plates as Jason gestured towards the oven. Anthony nodded and picked up a piece of toast off the plate in the center of the table before heading over to the fridge to grab something cold to drink.

“So you heading to the doctors this morning?” Craig smiled at Anthony who nodded halfheartedly as he sat himself up on the kitchen bench next to where Craig was washing up.

“Yeah get it stitched up before tutorial.” Anthony sighed as he glanced down to where Alex was sitting reading the paper carefully and becoming more and more concerned as she continued to read. She was wearing a deep blue pants, wi tig tight T-shirt on that read 666 competed with her black twelve hole docs and a large black trench coat. Anthony admired her style so much, she was able to create and air about herself just by changing what she wore.

“Jesus.” Everyone fell silent as Alex dropped thper per on the table and glared up at Craig who walked over to her his hands still covered in bubbles from washing up.
“You alright?” Craig questioned gingerly as Alex stood up quickly grabbing her bag and rushing out of the kitchen without a single word to anyone. Everyone was a little stunned as Craig picked up the paper and shook his head at what Alex had been reading.

“What’s up?” Alan and Jake came into the kitchen quickly after seeing Alex’s quick exit. Craig held up the front page of the newspaper to Alan and Jake who shook their heads in disbelief.

“I think we’re being investigated people on suspicion of murder.” Anthony felt his stomach churn and twist as he read the headline above the gruesome picture of Steve’s bloodied body bag last night, with a small picture of master’s house next to it.
“Mass cult on University Grounds”
Anthony didn’t even notice Dawson walk into the room and over to stand by the side of him also staring at the picture on the front cover of the paper.

“Well I guess it’s going to be a long few months then.” Anthony jumped as Dawson spoke softly everyone nodding their heads in agreement. “Morning.” Dawson went to kiss Anthony lightly on the cheek but was surprised when Anthony moved away and glared at him before jumping down off the bench and moving to the other side of Craig. Craig watched as Anthony glared at Dawson, who looked suddenly from Anthony to Josh and then back to Anthony. “Any bacon left?” Dawson sighed heavily trying to change the subject as he walked over to stand in front of Anthony having a nosy into the grill. Anthony shivered and pulled away from Dawson forcefully as Dawson brushed past him to get to the plates.

“Get the fuck away from me.” Anthony breathed as Dawson looked at him strangely from his position next to him. Although Anthony had spoken softly everyone was aware of what was going on, and silence fell around the kitchen.

“What the hell’s up you’re arse this morning, Anthony.” Dawson snapped sharply as Craig looked at Josh and Alan who were glaring at one another.

“Shouldn’t that be the other way around?” Anthony huffed a laugh as he walked over to stand next to Alan, who patted him on the arm in an effort to calm him down.

“What the fucks that supposed to mean?” Dawson snapped again as Anthony past him to go out into the lounge room to try and give himself some space.

“It means you’re a bastard Dawson a cheating lying arsehole.” Anthony lunged at Dawson now unable to keep his anger to himself as he sent Dawson recoiling back into the kitchen cupboard with a massive left hook. Everyone was quick to react Alan and Craig jumping onto Anthony like lightening while Jake and Jason covered Dawson in an attempt to stop him retaliating.

“Fuck you Anthony.” Dawson screamed as blood dibbled from his noes and split lip. Anthony sighed and shook his head smiling wickedly as Craig and Alan tried to pull him out into the lounge room.

“No Dawson not anymore.” Anthony crowed before spitting in Josh’s face as they past him standing in the doorway.

“For god sake calm down.” Craig snapped as he and Alan sat Anthony down on the chair in the lounge room. Anthony looked ashamed to the ground as Alan sat down next to him on the couch.

“Look just relax a little and then we’ll have a walk down to the doctors surgery to get you’re hand fixed up before you go to tutorial okay?” Anthony sighed heavily asn smn smiled at him questioningly as Craig brought over a glass of bourbon for them all. Alan glanced up at Craig as they watched Anthony down the whole glass in one go, not even stopping for a breath before nodding his head lightly in acceptance of Alan’s offer.

“You two better get going then.” Craig smiled down at Anthony who smiled as best he could despite all the anger he had built up inside of him. Alan helped Anthony to his feet as they both grabbed their stuff for the day ahead. Craig walthemthem to the front door and watched as Anthony glanced hesitantly into the dining room, where Dawson was being carefully being tended to by Josh, Jake and Jason. Anthony held his breathe as he saw Josh kiss Dawson softly on the lips before continuing to dab his noes and lip.

“Come on Anthhe’she’s not worth it.” Alan took hold of Anthony’s arm and guided him out onto the gravel courtyard outside the house.

“See you two for lunch, I suppose.” Craig smiled and nodded as he watched Anthony and Alan walk off together towards the campus grounds.

Alan took a large drag from the cigarette before passing it back to Anthony who stared out at the water. They’d spent about half an hour in the doctor’s surgery, with Anthony getting six stitches and a tetanus needle for safety’s sake. Now they’d decided to sit by the river for a while just until 10:30 when Anthony’s tutorial started.

“You alright now?” Anthony broke his distant gaze from the city on the opposite bank of the river back to Alan who spoke softly.

“Yeah sort of, never thought things would come crashing down so quickly.” Anthony took another drag from the cigarette before blowing an even plume of smoke out from his noes and mouth.

“You and Dawson must have been together for a while.” Alan inquired gingerly as Anthony put out the cigarette and flicked the but in the garden.

“Yeah since the start of Uni, he was sort of a life line and someone to cling to after all the beatings and abuse from high school. I guess I really never got over all the hurt and was just to damn scared to come out.” Alan felt so sorry for Anthony, his own coming out had been an unusual time for all involved, but eventually he’d been accepted for who he was and had never once been ridiculed for doing so.

“It must have been hard, I’m assuming Dawson wanted to be out in public?” Anthony nodded and sighed heavily before playing with the strap on his bag lying open next to him. “I’m sorry about Josh, he’s not one for taking things slowly. When he sees something he likes he tries his hardest to get it and he doesn’t care what gets in his way. He and I have been on again off again lovers for a long time, I’m kind of getting sick of coming second to all his love obsessions.” Anthony glanced across at Alan, who was all but apologizing for what Josh had done.

“Hey don’t worry about it, Dawson and I have never seen eye to eye. Josh has just helped me see it for myself that we’re not compatible so to speak. Well as lovers anyway.” Anthony was still extremely mad about the whole thing, he and Dawson had been together for so long and now they had nothing. Secretly he was hurting inside, Dawson had always been there for him when he’d come home with bruises and bloodied noses for having the crap beaten out of him after Uni but he guessed that that was what had driven Dawson away from him.

“God look at us sitting here talking likeody ody wet poofs. So what we loose a lover at least we can party to our hearts content now.” Anthony and Alan laughed it was true they sounded like typical poofy males in touch with their feminine side. “Tell you what after you’re tutorial I’ll meet you in the canteen and we’ll have lunch. Then I’ll take you down to see a couple of mates of mine at the Gym and we’ll go beat some crap out of a punching bag.” Anthony smiled, that sounded pretty good for relieving a little stress and anger.

“Yeah alright.” They both stood up shaking hands on the subject before grabbing their stuff off the ground and looking up towards the canteen. Anthony swallowed ahrd as he saw several police officers floating around, with notebooks and so all making notes and questioning some of the students. “What do you think there here for?” Anthony whispered as he and Alan began to make their way up to the canteen to cross through it to get to the art tutorial rooms.

“Probably looking for evidence to convict Alex, they’ll be here for at least two months being sneaky and secretive gathering evidence about Alex and us.” Alan lowered his head as one of the police officers looked up at the pair as they walked swiftly through the canteen out the other side.

“Do you think they’ll find anything?” Anthony breathed as they finally lifted their heads to once again face the direction they were going.
“Nup, they never do. If Alex is a mass murder she’s definitely an expert at covering her tracks.” Alan smiled, as Anthony looked across at him slightly concerned by Alan’s last comment.

“She’s not likely to do it though, is she?” Alan laughed and shook his head at Anthony’s concerned face as they walked up the stairs to the tutorial rooms.

“I don’t know Anthony, she’s a secretive little bugger but my personal opinion would be that she’s not the type of person to give anyone like Steve the time of day let alone take time out of her busy life to kill him.” Anthony nodded it was true why would Alex be bothered in rubbing out some preppy football stud like Steve.

“Yeah well thanks for getting me here, I’m sorry about the upset this morning I kind of lost it.” Alan smiled and shook his head before patting Anthony on the arm.

“Hey I’d have done the same if he’d talked to me like that. I’ll see you at lunch.” Anthony smiled as Alan quickly kissed him on the cheek before running off to catch his own psychology tutorial before the lecture closed the doors on him. It kind of made Anthony blush a little as he brushed his hand over where Alan had kissed him softly on the cheek. Deep inside he prayed that nobody saw it just in case but he felt suddenly liberated at the same time at having a little bit of affection shown in public by another guy.

Anthony yawned and put his paintbrush down before sitting back on his little black stool admiring the work he’d done. It was a still life of a large bunch of black and red roses all arranged in a deep blue vase surrounded by coloured silks with coloured flower petals scattered around. Still life had always been the boring part of art he’d had to endure throughout Uni, what with him having a section on it nearly ever year he’d done modern art. He was more for the impressionists paintings and sculptures, the one’s you’d have to interpret rather than just look at it and know what it was straight away. One thing the art tutorial had done for him apart from making him drowsy was to calm his own anger at Dawson. Art was always a way that Anthony found to calm himself down and make him relax, even in the toughest times his paintings and sketches seemed to bring his stress down to a manageable level. He sighed and pushed his selves back up again before turning around to wash his brushes in the turps pot behind him. As he dried his brushes off on his rag he glanced up to see lea leaning against the wall, sitting on her own stool staring at the canvass in front of her. She’s been deep in concentration for most of the lesson, he eyes glancing up from her canvass every so often to look at her subject before going back to her canvass again. It had been interesting to watch her work, he eyes working over the canvass only seconds before her hand would follow with soft perfect strokes. He hadn’t really spoken to her at all today after she’d made the quick exit from the house this morning. Anthony sighed heavily as she wiped her hands on her small rag lying in her lap, before continuing to wash out her own brushes.

“Very nice Mr Fox, you’ve got an eye for colour.” Anthony turned around quickly as a stern voice addressed him from behind.
“Yeah it’s okay.” Anthony whispered as the tutorial master walked around behind Anthony looking intently at his painting. It was making Anthony feel a little uncomfortable having most of the other members of the tutorial all now staring at his work. Quite frankly Anthony hated it, he wasn’t confidant at all about what he’d done. It just wasn’t him, he preferred to be creative and go out on a limb rather than stick to precise rules of art. Being an expressionist and an impressionist was such a better aspect to art than this was, although it was a requirement of all artists to complete the course he just wished he could spend all day creating works out of his own mind.

“Well anyway, well analyze our works tomorrow after the lecture. Apart form that you’re free to go.” There was a chatter that broke out around the class as everyone began to pack up their stuff and leave. One thing that had always bugged Anthony about tutorials was that they were always so silent, everyone deep in concentration as they painted or created what ever. He’d enjoyed having a little conversation while he painted it made him feel more human rather than a stiff upstart artist. “Miss Fells you’re portfolio from last year is now being displayed in the gallery, you should take a look it’s quite amazing how they’ve enhanced you’re own style by using block mounts.” Anthony smiled at Alex softly as she nodded at the tutor who was addressing her.

“I will thank you.” Her voice was once again back to it’s normal level as she politely thanked the tutor before he left the room leaving the rest of the students to make their own way out. Anthony quickly put the rest of his stuff away in his bag before taking a deep breath and walking over to stand just at the side of Alex’s canvass. He watched as she looked up at him and smiled before standing up and grabbing her coat from the back of the easel. “How the hand?” Anthony relaxed a little as she finally acknowledged his existence with some sort of conversation.

“Alright, sore as all hell though. Got six stitches, tetanus jab and a lollypop for being a good boy.” Anthony glanced across at her as she laughed a little at his joke. “So are you going to go take a look at your work?” Alex shook her head as they began down the stairs to the ground below.

“No I’m not one for gloating about work, I’ll just watch from a distance and let others admire it. You should go and have a look then you can tell me the truth about what it’s like.” Anthony raised an eyebrow at her questioningly, it wasn’t often he was asked to be a truthful judge on other peoples artwork.

“Yeah I might take a look.” Alex shivered as they walkedng tng the river towards the canteen. “You cold?” Anthony inquired still a little astonished that someone who always seemed to be cold to touch could be actually shivering with the cold.

“Just a bit, no doubt I’m coming down with a cold. I always get them at the start of the year.” She whispered softly snuggling down into her jacket as they walked together.

They walked in silence the rest of the way up the bank and into the canteen where everyone sat around the table all talking and eating lunch. Anthony sighed again as the whole canteen stood up as Alex past their tables to get to her own. It was such cruelty even the police officers that were still hovering around looked on a little stunned as almost instantaneously everyone stood up at the arrival of Alex.

“Alex baby, Anthony come and sit down.” Anthony smiled as Craig stood up gesturing for them both to pull up a seat to sit down on. Alan smiled as Anthony sat down in between him and Jason, while Alex sat down on Craig’ee see snuggling into his chest as he wrapped his hands around her waist. Anthony could see out of the corner of his eye Dawson and Josh sitting silently together on the other side of the table, while Jake came back over to the table with some various drinks for everyone.

“So you’re still on for this afternoon?” Alan inquired as everyone went back to their own conversations.

“Yeah, looking forward to beating the shit out of something.” Anthony smiled as Alan nodded and drank from his orange juice, watching as Anthony took out a cigarette and lighter.

“Where you two off to then?” Jake joined in the conversation after over hearing them making plans.

“Gym for a work out before having to try and chew Craig’s cooking.” They all looked across to where Craig was whispering something to Alex, who was snuggled, into his chest looking a little sick. Craig looked up suddenly as he realized everyone was looking at him.

“Fuck off it’s not that bad.” They all laughed as Craig gave them the finger before going back to whispering to Alex.

“Cool do you mind if I come along, I’ve got nothing on and Josh is at a tutorial, Jason’s at a lecture and no doubt the other’s have got things on.” Anthony shrugged his shoulders and looked at Alan for his opinion on the subject, after all it was his idea.

“I don’t mind, do you Anthony?” Anthony shook his head and smiled as Jake nodded his head, quite pleased with facing no rejections.

“Right we better get a move on then people.” Jason announced as they all got up from the table to go their separate ways. Anthony closed his eyes tightly as he stood next to Alan and watched as Dawson and Josh walk off hand in hand.

“It’s alright Anthony, it’s alright.” Alan whispered as Anthony finally opened his eyes to look gingerly down at Alan and Jake that were staring at him sadly. Craig sighed as Alex snuggled into his side, looking extremely sick and wobbly on her feet. Anthony was now positive she’d probably got a virus or something just by the way she looked so pale and cold
“We’re going back to the house, dinner will be around seven issh.” Jake, Anthony and Alan all nodded as Craig smiled at them before walking with Jason and Alex back towards the house, obviously to fix Alex up.

“Yeah well we’ll head back there to grab some stuff, towels and clothes and such then we’ll make our way up to the Gym alright?” They all agreed to Alan’s suggestion before heading off behind Alex and Craig. Anthony couldn’t help but glance around the canteen and watch as all the police officers eyed them off as they walked away. It scared him a little to have people watching his every move, but he decided that if everyone else could cope with it so could he.

Tbc............