The Power of Zero by Jackie Keswick

Author:Jackie Keswick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Coming of Age fiction, gay fiction, LGBT+ fiction
Publisher: Jackie Keswick
Published: 2017-06-17T00:00:00+00:00

Shortly after eight the following morning, the key turned in the lock to Jack's door. Jack stepped out a few moments later, as if pulling the door wide and taking those steps across the threshold had needed a deep breath and a prayer. He was pale and much thinner than he'd been while he slept in Rio's basement, but he'd gotten out of bed under his own steam and he wore the clothes Rio had left in the room for him: black jeans, t-shirt, fluffy socks, and a thick, deep green, fleece hoodie. He even looked up at Rio with something hinting at a smile.

"Good morning. May I please have breakfast?"

"Sure." Rio didn't tease Jack about his pretty manners. The wary look hadn't faded from the silver-green eyes and, like a suspicious, feral cat, Jack was ready to run at the first hint of a threat.

He wasn't ready yet to be teased.

Rio picked up his coffee mug and turned towards the kitchen. "Come on then. Ah'll even let you watch me cook it for you."

Watching Jack sit at the breakfast bar, unable to decide between cornflakes, porridge, or eggs and toast, shoved another lump into Rio's throat. He swallowed it down, squeezed three oranges and handed Jack the glass of juice and the bottle of pills.

"You need to take two every mornin' and evenin' until they're all gone," he told him as he picked a carton from the shelf. "They're the antibiotics to treat your bronchitis. Do you like scrambled eggs?"

Jack shook two pills from the bottle and swallowed them while Rio watched. "I like eggs," he said, replacing the lid on the pill bottle.

"Good. Chelle says your stomach might be delicate for a while from the pills. Scrambled eggs aren' too heavy."

Jack nodded again, accepting the explanation without question. "I like hot chocolate, too," he confided after a while, almost as if he was trying to make conversation. "And fresh bread, and baked potatoes with cheese. And pizza."

"No' one for fruit an' veg, are you?" Rio teased, before it occurred to him that, with Jack living on the streets, fast food would have been easier to come by than fresh vegetables. He wanted to take back the words or apologise for his ignorance, but there was no need. Jack wasn't in the least bit bothered by Rio's words. He was examining the pineapples and mangoes Rio had ripening in a bowl with bright interest and little else.

"The green one's a mango, in case you're wonderin'," Rio said when Jack picked the fruit up and sniffed it. "You had the juice yesterday. These fruits need a couple more days until they're good to eat."

Jack put the mango back. "I like apples," he stated.

"Well, help yourself." Rio waved a hand around the kitchen. "To anything you feel like eatin', okay? You don' have to ask or wait until Ah'm around."

"Why do you even bother with me? I'm a zero."

"Oh really? Tha's good to know." Rio broke three eggs into a bowl and reached for a whisk.

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