theboywithtoomanynames

[theboywithtoomanynames]

Mind's Eye: Chapter 6

"I don't know how people used to dress like this!" "I know right? It's a bit stuffy." "I quite like it," says Harry. "It makes me feel superior." Billie laughs and rolls her eyes, but she doesn't argue. We're walking down the corridors of the 7th floor, away from the outfitter's. And I must say, we do look grand. Each of us is dressed as if we were walking around London in the 1950's. Proper suits and fat ties, flat caps and gloves. The girls wear bulky jackets and skirts, with short stubby heels and flowery hats leaning off the sides of their heads. Tony is fiddling with his collar, and Billie is wondering what to do with her oversized purse, but all in all they seem to be enjoying it. As we wait for the elevator, Harry leans towards Laurel's ear. "You excited to see her, mate?" He waves Harry away, annoyed. "I'll take that as a yes," says Harry, grinning. The bell goes "ding!" and the doors open. We all pile inside and Rose presses the button for the lobby. After a few seconds of near weightlessness the doors open again, and we are greeted with the morning hubbub of the casino. There's not many visitors, but the staff crowd the floor as they run back and forth cleaning up the mess from last night. We try not to get in the way as we make our way to the lounge, finding a few armchairs near a window where we settle down to wait. Here there are a few more people, I suppose they are guests at the hotel. Most of them are sat at the bar, having a light breakfast or cup of coffee. I walk over and ask for a glass of orange juice, surprised to see a familiar face behind the counter. "Jerry!" I say. "You're still here?" He grins from beneath his grey beard and wiggles his eyebrows. "You can't get rid of the oldest and best bartender in the city that easy! Besides, Mr Tygër likes his whiskey." "That is true. How do you feel about the changing of things around here?" Jerry places a glass on the rack behind him, then turns to me and shrugs. "I'll miss the others, but I've been doing this a long time, and there's always change sooner or later." I sigh and nod. "That's fair. I'm glad you're still around Jerry." "So am I sir, enjoy your day." "Thanks, you too." I walk back to the group in mid conversation. "So she's a manager?" asks Tony. "No," answers Laurel. "She's the founder of a publishing company for music and literature." "Ooh, that sounds fun!" exclaims Billie. "What do you think she prefers, the music or the books?" "Ask her yourself," Harry says, pointing to the door. And there she is, sauntering through the lobby and into the lounge. It's always fun watching people react to her. Some know who she is, and slip out their phones to take pictures. Others just take a step back and watch her walk by. But no matter how different their reactions, they all have one thing in common. They can't take their eyes off of her. The women are either impressed or put off by her sleek, black suit, and the men all look down at themselves as they realise she's wearing it better than they are. Her blonde hair is cut short, flirting with her shoulders as she walks. Her blue eyes scan the room until she finds us, and when she does she smiles a bright, white smile. She walks speedily towards us and greets Harry, Laurel and I with a big hug. "Everyone, this is Elizabeth! Elizabeth, this is Tony, Billie and Rose." She shakes each of their hands as I motion with each new name. "Lovely to meet you all, I adore your outfits!" We all mock bow and curtsie to that. "So," I say. "Should we head off?" "Sure," answers Liz. "I'm just gonna get a drink and say 'hi' to Jerry if that's alright?" "Go for it," I say, and settle into an armchair. "I'll go too," says Laurel. I watch them stroll over to the bar, and notice a waiter leaving the lounge. As he walks past me I ask, "Is Harvey in today?" He shakes his head. "He left late last night with a group of businessmen." "Ah, alright then. Thank you." He nods and continues with his work. I pull out my phone and contemplate calling Harvey. I should let him

know how much of an idiot he is for doing this deal with Tygër. But then I see the blondes returning from the bar. I get up and we all start to walk out. "How was the flight?" I ask Liz. "Got on a plane from Amsterdam 28 hours ago, had one stopover and now I'm here. I hired a car for the week, so you won't have to drive me around." "Oh alright," I say. "So you're staying with us?" She laughs. "Of course I am! How could I turn down such fun?" I smile as we exit the lobby and walk down the front steps. "Who's driving with who?" asks Harry over my shoulder. Liz looks at me, then at Billie and Rose. "Girls versus boys, see who gets there first?" Tony grins and steps forward. "You're on!" "Alright then." The girls dash off towards Liz's rental car, and I spin around to Tony. "Where's the car?" I ask. He grins sheepishly and shoves his thumb behind him. "It's in the back." I sigh. "Alright then, we'll go out through the back door." We rush back into the building, and I lead the boys through the staff only doors and the many passages until we burst through the back door and into sunlight. "There it is!" shouts Laurel, pointing to the right. We race to the car and jump inside, Tony and I in the front, Harry and Laurel in the back. Tony floors it before we've even had time to strap in, and there's a simultaneous "whoo!" from all of us as we round the corner and speed off out of the parking lot. It's about a twenty minute drive to get to the beach, down a mostly straight highway with few stops. I dig around the glovebox for some CDs, but Tony taps my arm and hands me his phone. Ugh. "I've got Spotify on there, put on whatever you like!" He makes it sound like I should be happy or something. "Is it Bluetooth?" I ask. "Course it is, I'm not a caveman," he says, having a quiet chuckle. I sigh and scroll through the endless playlists until I find one that seems suitable. 'Roadtrip Rock.' I press play. "Thanks for listening to Spotify! No really, you could've-" "Aaaaaaargh!" Finally the music starts playing, and pretty soon we're all headbanging. The buildings start to shrink, and soon the skyscrapers are replaced by two story beachouses and restaurants. Palm trees start popping up, and we leave behind a few clouds for a perfect blue sky. The blue-green ocean comes into view, and pretty soon we're parked up and looking for the girls. "I think we beat them!" exclaims Tony, taking a victory stance. "I wouldn't be too sure about that," says Harry. We watch him jump over the wall and down onto the sand. He starts walking down to the ocean, and that's when we see the girls, stood with the water up to their ankles. "Ah man! I totally thought we had em!" shouts Tony. We all laugh and jump down onto the sand. Pretty soon the sun is overwhelming us. We take off our jackets, shoes and socks and throw them in the car before continuing on our way. We walk along the beach for awhile, feeling the sun bake our faces as we chat and admire the sparkling blue. Soon we come to a stop, and Liz points out a thieving seagull flying out of a pretty little cafe. Rose goes off to find some pretty shells, and Harry, Laurel and Billie start drawing in the sand. Tony goes up to the cafe to take a leak, and Liz excuses herself to take a call. So I stand alone and listen to the sounds of the ocean. The waves. I used to think I hated the beach. Maybe I did. Sand would get everywhere, the salt would sting my eyes, and the wind would hurl abuse at me in all shapes and forms. But right now, the wind is gentle and cool. The water is glittering, rushing back and forth on the smooth, soft sand. And the sun is keeping me warm and happy, passing right through my flat cap and down to the sand beneath my feet. It's beautiful.

[theboywithtoomanynames]

Xhristopher Green:

"En cada momento infinito. Busco lo que escondes..." A soft voice sings in my ears. Latin percussion calls to me from all sides, the guitars creeping in and out to give the upright bass room to find it's groove. I'm swaying from side to side, imagining being able to dance to this song. I wish I could dance. I would start off slow, swaying as I am now, and then I'd begin to glide. My hair would probably get in my face, maybe I'd gel it back. The sun is starting to rise; and with it rises Hope. I see her walk into the room drying her face with a small cloth. Her wake up routine, a splash of cold water to the face. I usually just eat an apple, but I won't judge, each to their own. She waves and smiles, her eyes squinting against the morning sunlight. I return the gesture, still shuffling about in the middle of the lounge room. "Yo quiero estar donde tú estás. Amor eres tú..." Hope turns around and digs in the cupboard for the cereal. She finds it, and puts the box under her arm as she retrieves the milk and a bowl. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her look up. I spin about, and get a fright when I stop to see her right in front of me. She reaches up and slides the headphones off of my ears, looking annoyed. "Did you hear me?" "No," I answer. "What's up?" She sighs and hands me the headphones. "I wanna hear too!" "Oh, ok. Sorry." I turn off the headphones and walk over to the speaker. Soon Maye is serenading us both, and Hope starts to sway too. "This is nice," she says. "Would you add it to the playlist?" "Sure," I reply. "Thanks." She sits down at the kitchen counter with her bowl of cereal, and pushes a second bowl across towards me. A finger is pointed at me, and that same finger is then pointed at the chair opposite her and the bowl of cereal that comes with it. I sit down to eat. We both chew in silence for some time, listening to the music and rubbing our eyes. I look at the clock on the wall, 7am. "Are you going to the morning service today?" Hope asks. I nod, and spoon another load of sugary goodness into my mouth. "Put on some sunscreen before you walk down, ok?"  "I will, don't worry." I say. "Is William gonna be there?" She asks, grinning. I feign nonchalance and eat another spoonful. "Probably." "Pfft, come on! Give me a straight answer." I smile. "Yes, she'll be there. She said she'll save me a seat." "Well that's sweet. Better hop in the shower then." "Yeah, I'll get on that." I say, getting up and putting my now empty bowl in the sink. "Oh, and don't use too much of my new shampoo! I've barely tried it out." "I won't touch it," I lie. Can't have my curl game sub par if I'm going to see William in a half hour. 20 minutes later I'm out the door and on the road, enjoying the sun on my face. There's a light breeze ruffling my fantastic curls, and carrying purple flowers down from a row of trees lining the main road. After 10 minutes of pleasant weather and light traffic, I'm crossing the park and entering the church building. I walk through the lobby and into the coffee shop, immersing myself in the crowd. Grabbing a cup of water, I follow the people as we filter into the main hall, and say hi to a few people I recognise. Standing at the back, I scan for William. There she is, ahead and towards the left, waving at me. I glance behind me, and wave back. "Xhris! How are you?" she asks, giving me a quick side hug. Everyone does that here, no one hugs normally. "I'm good, and you?" I ask. "Really good! Here, I saved you a seat," she motions to a seat occupied by her cyan beanie. "Ah, lovely!" I say, and sit down with her as the service begins. Welcome, announcements, a finance talk, worship, the preach, and more worship. I'm glad for that, because I really do enjoy it. It's the easiest part of the service to feel a part of. I can sing, I can clap, I can jump. The words describe and remind me of the stories the pastor tells in his preaches, and the musicians do a good job of supporting the obviously newbie leader.

After the service ends I turn to William. "How do I join the worship team?" I ask her. She looks surprised, "Well, you could talk to Robert over there," she says, pointing to a man in a polo shirt. "Ok." I say. "What are you up to this week." She brightens up and answers, "I'm going away for the week. A friend of mine has this really big house, so me and a few other friends are going to go and stay there with him." "Oh," I say, "that sounds really fun!" "Yeah!" she beams. "Well, you enjoy it! And call me when you get back. I'd like to get together and do something fun, if you're up for it?" "Absolutely, I will!" she says, flashing her dimpled smile. "Alrighty." I give her a side hug goodbye and start walking. Out the doors, through the park, along the streets. Halfway home I take out my phone and call Hope. It rings twice before she picks up. "Hey, you alright?" "Yup," I answer. "Church is done, I'm on me way home now." "Alright. See ya soon, thief." Damn.

[theboywithtoomanynames]

Xhristopher Green:

It's 6:04pm. The summer sun is shimmering in the sky, slowly starting to descend below the trees and houses. There's a couple of kids on bikes and skateboards riding past us, shouting and laughing. I wish I still had my board, life would be so much more fun - and efficient.

Hope and I are walking down to church for worship practise. I told her I'm not going to play, just watch. She seemed happy with that, so here we are. Almost there, walking along the path through the middle of the park. As we walk I glance to the left, maybe for a bit too long. "This is where you first saw her, isn't it?" Hope asks, watching me. "Yeah." I say. "It was the first time I really took notice of her." Hope smiles and nods. For some reason I keep going. "She waved at me from over there" I say, pointing at a tree to our left. "I remember thinking she was pretty, and I waved back. Didn't realise her friend was stood behind me, also waving." "Ouch," she laughs. I smile at the memory, and watch the speedy kids disappear around a far away corner. "Have you spoken to her lately?" "Actually, yeah. We bumped into each other at-" "Hope!" calls a woman's voice from behind us. It's Jenny, one of the vocalists from church. A very sweet lady, always chatty and passionate about conversation and connection. A people's person.

"Jenny!" exclaims Hope, turning to see her old friend. "How are you doing my love?" asks Jenny, quickly catching up to the two of us. "I'm doing very well, super well!  I haven't seen you for awhile, it feels like it's been years. Have you met Xhristopher?" "Yes I have," replies Jenny. "We had a lovely chat last Sunday after church. A lovely young man, even if his name is a little odd." I just stand there and smile, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. It's getting a bit chilly out, and the warmth of the church is only a few steps away. Soon we continue walking, and I hold the door for the other two as they carry on chatting away. Closing it behind me, I follow them to the hall, where waves of sound hit me very suddenly. The bass guitar and kick drum thunder through my chest, and when I look to the stage I'm surprised. It kind of looks like the drummer and bassist are the only two onstage that are actually worshipping. The rest just look tired. Hope doubles back to check on me before going up onstage to practise. "I'm ok," I assure her. "Go." I find a seat just off to the left, near the middle of the hall, and settle in to listen. I watch Hope set up the keyboard next to the worship leader, who's stood straight as a pole with a pale acoustic guitar. There's an electric guitarist riffing away, enjoying his distortion pedals. For roughly 2 hours the band goes through 4 or 5 songs, jumping between keys, tempos and arrangements. The worship leader keeps trying to get the bassist to calm down, which isn't working. Funny to watch though. The drummer isn't bad, neither is the guitarist. I figure I'm probably better than both of them, but I couldn't do this. Worshipping with an instrument, paying attention to the Holy Spirit and watching the leader at all times, it's completely different to other kinds of live music. When it's all over Hope packs down her instrument, and we get going. It's too cold to walk, so we start jogging home. She moans that her breath keeps fogging up her glasses, I don't even have the breath to moan. Not as fit as I used to be. We stumble up the curb, through the gate, and bounce up and down as Hope tries her best to unlock the door quickly. When she does we dash inside and turn on the heater in the lounge room. Shoes off, the kettle and a few more layers on! After making some tea we sit on the couch with furry blankets and stick on a series. I see Hope look at me over her mug, thinking about something. "What were we talking about before, in the park?" she asks. "You asked if I'd spoken to her." "Oh, yeah. And?" "I did. Her name's William, she's 18." "That's an interesting name, I wonder why her parents called her that?" "Dunno. Probably has a fun nickname because of it though." "Probably."

[theboywithtoomanynames]

Xhristopher Green:

So. It's been three days, and I'm still here. Hope has been nothing if not loving, always smiling and making sure I'm alright. Her couch has no business being as comfortable as it is, and honestly, this has been the best week of my life.

She's brought me to church, and after that we were both invited to someone's house for dinner. We've sat under the trees in the park with icecream slowly dripping down our hands, and laughed about how long my hair is getting. Eventually she showed me how to tie it up, though at this point I think it's a bit too short to do all the time. When we were walking back to her house from the park we stopped by a tap outside someone's house to wash our hands. That's when I noticed the scars. I've been in enough fights to know you only get those if you've punched something - hard.  She the happiest person I know, or at least she seems it. But I think she's angry.

When we get home she kicks off her shoes and glides over to the speaker. She takes a moment to connect her phone, and soon Tom Misch is drifting through the house. I leave my shoes by the door, and slide on my socks across the tiled floor towards the kitchen. Hope has also been getting me to help with the food, and I enjoy it.

"So," she says. "So what?" I reply, knowing what comes next. "Have you had another go at talking to the girl from the park yet?" she asks, grinning. "I'm talking to her right now," I deflect. Rolling her eyes, she reaches out her hand. "Pass the pasta." I grab the bag from the shelf and hand it to her. She carries on in silence until I finally give in. "I did talk to her again, she's nice." She smiles. "Well done! Do you know her name yet?" "No," I grin sheepishly. "But I know she likes music and puppies." Hope laughs and shakes her head. "How can you have a crush on a girl you don't even know?" "I dunno!" I yell. What I do know is we need a pot of water to boil, so we can soften the pasta. I move around Hope and reach into the cupboard to get what I need. She shuffles to the side and looks down at me. "You should ask her what her name is. And then ask her to go out with you." "No ways," I say, grabbing the pot and walking over to the stove. "Why not?" she asks. I take a moment to answer that one. "I'm scared. And it'd be too tricky, right now all I want is you, and church, and whatever this is." I say, gesturing around the room. That makes her smile, but it's not quite a happy smile. "This," she says, "is home. And I don't care how tricky it gets, if you don't try and get to know her I will be forced to invite her round for dinner!" I laugh and lean into her, resting my head on her shoulder for a moment. "Are you ok?" I ask. Pause. "There's good days and bad days." she finally says. "Is today a good day?" "Yup." "Ok."

[theboywithtoomanynames]

Xhristopher Green:

11:34 pm. I've got a packet of jellybeans, and am taking great pleasure in a little game I've just created. Take the rubbish liquorice flavoured ones and throw them at the trees.

The park is quiet tonight. I knew it would be, that's why I came. Still, would've been nice if there were a couple of lads with a football, or those girls with the boombox. It's sad being here alone, since I often used to come here to solve that issue.

Bored? Go to the park.

Lonely? Go to the park.

Hungover and regretting your life choices? Go to church, cry a bit, then go to the park.

I cross over the grass, leaving the see-saw and slide behind me to freeze over in the cold night air. I step over the fence surrounding the pathway and start down the street towards a mate's place. Her name is Hope, she's the one who brought me along to church the first time. She never ceases to remind me that her door is always open, her couch is always free, and her fridge will always be stocked. Not with alcohol though.

I think I'm going to spend a day or two more here, then I'll leave. Her house, town, I dunno. I just want to leave. Go somewhere I'm not. Find something else.

As I near her place, I see the sliding door on the second floor balcony open up. There she is, looking down at me, smiling.

"You alright luv?" she calls.

"Shh!" I hiss. "The neighbours will throw a fit if you carry on at that volume!"

She smiles and goes back inside. I let myself through the gate and wait at the door. I hear her come down the stairs, and soon she opens the door.

"Thanks." I say.

"You want some tea?" she asks.

"I'm alright," I reply. Sitting down on the couch, I unlace my boots and shove them off, along with my coat. Hope joins me, and we silently agree to sit in silence, staring at the blank TV screen across the room, and watch our reflections.

[theboywithtoomanynames]

Xhristopher Green:

11:41. Cinnamon crunch chocolate and a renewed fascination with the 1D boy's music is keeping me up.

I'd like to keep an innocence about my subtle insolence. Break a rule for a better outcome, smile in silence to keep myself from saying something too important. It's better that way.

My friends might get upset with me. Something to do with my character, personality, or actions. But at least they won't know too much, because they wouldn't be able to handle that. Immaturity and delusion on their side of the bargain, and a destructive habit of practical reasoning on mine.

But I do love them. I hope they know that.

Zayn Malik, Better. Great track.

[theboywithtoomanynames]

"This year is going to be good for you," he said, with a hand on my shoulder.

"I hope so," I replied, not entirely convinced.

I went home and slept. Woke up the next morning, went about my day and around half past ten at night I got into bed and remembered that moment. He didn't say this year would be good, he said it'd be good for me.

I'll tell you what, this year is going to be awful. But that means I'll have opportunities to grow, to learn, and to be better.

This year is going to be good for me. I'm pretty sure of it.

[theboywithtoomanynames]

She

He watched her sitting in a group of friends while she laughed freely at something she’d said, wishing he could hear that sound for an eternity.

He watched her sitting across from him at the table running her fingers through her hair, dreaming of a time where he would be brave enough to reach out and wrap the tendrils around his fingers 

He watched her getting lost to music in her ears, swaying to the beat, hoping that one day he could hold her and join in on the symphony.

He watched her with remorse, because all he had were stolen glances, and she had his heart

[theboywithtoomanynames]

Masterlist

Mind’s Eye: Chapter 1 Mind’s Eye: Chapter 2 Mind’s Eye: Chapter 3 Mind’s Eye: Chapter 4 Mind’s Eye: Chapter 5

[theboywithtoomanynames]

Mind’s Eye: Chapter 5

Ding!

The elevator doors open to a collective gasp from the group. I step out and take a few steps, before turning around to see they're all still stood in that box. "The doors are going to close," I remind them, to which they all scramble out. Harry stares down the corridor, taking in the soft carpet and white walls. Billie jokingly reaches for the chandelier above us, and Rose runs for the massive double doors leading into our home for tonight. Tony walks slowly, keeping an unimpressed mask on, securing his excitement. Laurel runs to the door, then back to me. "Do you have the key?" he asks, bouncing about like he needs the loo. I laugh and walk down to the doors, taking out my key card. I wave it over a small black box next to the doors, and wait for a soft click before reaching for the handles and pushing both doors open.

As soon as we enter the first room we are faced with two options. Along the curved wall there are two doors, one on the left and another on the right. We split up between them, and on the count of 3 burst through them, running to see what we'll find. Our door on the right leads us out into the right side of a large room, near what looks to be a bar. Stools are pushed under the marble countertop, and the shelves are packed with every liquid imaginable.

To our left is a massive fireplace, closed off by a pane of glass that lowers down into the hearth. Comfortable looking couches are positioned to face it, with a small coffee table separating them from the flame. Near the far left wall is the other half's door. They have found a table with several pamphlets and cards welcoming us, and the entrance to a corridor, which presumably leads to the many bedrooms. I'm glad to see one of the pamphlets confirms my hopes, 24 hour roomservice is on the cards.

In the middle of the room there are a few steps leading down to more couches, or maybe beds, and windows that touch the floor and the ceiling. Through them we look out onto the roof garden and the city beyond. From here we can see tiny little toy cars driving around the city streets, boats in the harbour, and a handful of late night hikers on the mountain.

Now, we have more decisions to make. Who gets what room? It seems Rose and Billie have chosen to share the room with two double beds, and Laurel and Harry are quarreling over who gets the next room on. I laugh and shake my head as I walk past them and start to take off my tie. Down this corridor and to the left, right at the end, is Dreamland.

A 10 by 10 foot bed, low to the ground, sits in the centre of the room. As you enter there is an en suite on the left, with a tinted glass wall separating the guest from any pervy pigeons. On the right is a walk in closet, with four bathrobes in varying sizes and an assortment of slippers. I kick off my black dress shoes and socks and slip a pair of the slippers on. Then I hang up my jacket and tie, and place my cufflinks and chain on the bedside table. I unbutton my shirt a bit as I walk back to the lounge, bumping into Billie and Harry on the way. They have both donned their white bathrobes, and laugh at me as I pass by them.

"What's so funny?" I ask. Billie covers her mouth with her hand, suppressing another giggle. "It's just, you look so serious and cool, and then there's those fluffy slippers!" she laughs. I look down at my feet and back up at the two of them, grinning, and continue on my way to the considerably darker lounge room.

Tony is stood in the middle of the sofa-beds, waving his arms and grinning like an idiot. "What happened to the lights?" I ask, sitting down and immediately sinking into the cushions. Tony turns to look at me, with an even bigger grin than before. "Watch this!" he says, jumping off and walking toward the window. Pausing for a second, he takes a deep breath and then taps the centre of the glass twice. Suddenly it lights up, and several icons pop up all at once! Google, YouTube, Netflix, Instagram... I don't believe it! "It's like a freaking Smart TV! But as a window!" exclaims Tony. "That is nuts!" shouts Harry, rushing forward. And so the chaos insues...

"Do you think they have Disney+?" "Who cares? Let's watch the new MrBeast video!" "But I wanted to watch Loki!" "How about the Witcher?" "Not a chance."

After a bit of back and worth we decide on a Hallmark Christmas movie, and settle in. A few minutes into the movie I notice Harry and Billie are sat close to each other, whispering funny comments every now and then. It's a good time for me to leave, so I slip out quietly and make my way to bed.

the next morning...

"Wake up! We've got an hour until she arrives!"

I see Harry sit up slowly next to me, rubbing his right eye. It seems Laurel won that other room last night, and Harry thought the bed was big enough for the both of us. He's not wrong, but sometimes I do wish I could get away from him. "You don't have to yell," he yawns, stretching. Laurel and Rose are sat at the foot of his side of the bed, throwing pillows at his head. I laugh and get out of bed, checking my watch. It's 6am. Smelling the sweet fragrance of pancakes and syrup, our bedroom congregation float down the corridor to the lounge room, where we see Tony and Billie wheeling a trolley from room service out into the roof garden. He hands her one of the waffles, and smiles as we all walk in.

"Welcome my friends! On this fine morning, we shall feast like Kings and Queens!" Harry stumbles through the doorway, and grabs an apple from the fruit bowl. "So remind me again," he says, looking at me. "She gonna meet us downstairs?" I open my mouth to speak, but Laurel jumps in excitedly. "Yes. She'll meet us downstairs, and then we're going to go for a walk along the beach." He's smiling way too much for such an early hour. Anyway. "After the beach," I say, "she, Harry and I are going to have a rather formal conversation over lunch. After that, we'll meet you guys back here and drive home. She'll be coming along for dinner, and might stay the night, but she hasn't given me a straight answer about that yet." "As usual," mutters Harry, with a smile. "Chinese?" asks Tony. "Yeah," I nod. "We could order Chinese." "Nice."

I pour a little syrup onto my stack of pancakes. "We've got to eat up quick and get downstairs. Our outfits for the day are down on the 7th floor. I called in last night, and sadly they had no form of any usual attire." I grin. "What does that mean?" asks Billie, worried. I shrug. "We'll just look a little... different. No biggie." Rose meets my eye and grins, excited. I return the look, and add a little more syrup.

[theboywithtoomanynames]

Mind's Eye: Chapter 4

"So, are we going to gamble?" I ask. 'Well, legally I can't," says Harry, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "You didn't say much to Harvey just now. Why not?" Harry grins. "If I had he'd have remembered I'm not old enough to be on the floor." "You could've just lied to him, he wouldn't have known," I say. "Sure, but I don't like lying to people," Harry says, frowning. I raise an eyebrow. "But you do lie," I say, and nod in Billie's direction. He slumps down into his seat and mutters to himself. "Only when it matters."

I hear him.

A waiter comes over and asks if we'd like something to drink. I say yes and order a pina colada. Harry asks for a coke zero, and the girls decide on lemonade. As the waiter goes to leave I stop him.

"Sorry for keeping you, but do you know what happened to the old staff? I noticed that most, if not all of them have been replaced." He stands up straighter than before, with a sense of pride. "Yes sir, you're quite right. Myself and the rest of the new staff were brought in from Tygër Collective when the deal was made." I straighten my posture too. "Tygër Collective? As in Edward Tygër?" I say. "Yes sir," he says, and walks away.

I turn to the others. Tony and Laurel have sat down across from me, their cheeseburgers almost gone. Harry and Billie are lost in their own world, chatting away about some new band. But Rose heard me, and my conversation with the waiter.

She leans in and whispers, "Do you really think-" "I hope not," I say, cutting her off. "If he has then Harvey must be in trouble." "Maybe he knows what he's doing?" she offers with a weak smile. I sigh. "Even if he does, it could still be bad." Rose nods, and then sits up straight, her eyes wide. "It's about to get worse," she whispers. "Huh?" I say, sitting up and looking around and-

“Funny seeing you here."

Pandora Tygër. Edward Tygër's only daughter, and my only ex. She, like her father, is involved with the casino business. More so the hotels connected to his many fine establishments. We met through a friend, who she then screwed over and bought out, earning brownie points from her father and a steady distrust from everyone else. I rise from my seat to greet her.

"It's not at all funny, I'm here on serious business," I reply, coldly. "Aren't we all," she slurs. Too much of the bottle, once again. I'd blame it on her friends, but it feels better to blame it on her. "Did you know that I am now a shareholder of this casino?" she asks, flashing what was probably meant to be a dazzling smile. I smirk. "If you really were you'd be over here at the private tables, not over there playing Black Jack with the drunkards. Besides, you didn't cut a deal with Harvey, your daddy did." "He did it in my name, so what's the difference?" she replys, slyly. "The difference is you're a spoiled brat who wouldn't know what to do with those shares without your father to help you out." She eyes me up and down and shrugs. "Work smarter not harder," she says, in a sing-song voice.

She walks to the table and leans against it, looking at my friends and resting her gaze on Rose. "I don't believe we've met, but I'm sure you've heard of me," she says, extending her hand. "Yes," Rose says, shaking it. "He's said a lot of things about you." I chuckle and move behind her, leaning on the back of her seat. Pandora fixes her chocolate brown eyes on me. "Is that so?" she says, really leaning heavily into her icy death glare. She huffs. "I suppose I should be going," she says, pushing herself away from the table. "Important people to see." "It was lovely seeing you again" I lie, and wave. She stands with her weight on her back leg, her dress framing her hips and revealing her pale white shoulders. She glances at Rose before leaving with a final remark. "I like your anklet."

I exhale softly, sitting back down. Rose looks at me guiltily. "Sorry, I should have tried to hide it." "Nah, don't worry about it. I think you scared her."

With that her face lights up, and she relaxes into her chair. The waiter brings our drinks a moment later, but we delay our toast so that Tony and Laurel can get their own. Soon with a cider for Tony and a virgin margarita for Laurel, we raise our glasses and the fun begins.

We play poker, dominoes, black jack, rummy cub and snap. We don't use real money, but Laurel is still very proud when his stack of chips towers over ours. After the games we go to the buffet and begin a new competition, who can stack their plate the highest? We all laugh as we pile absurd food combinations onto our plates. Lasagne and sushi, cheesecake and curry, but best of all is fish and chips with chocolate mousse. By the end of the meal Tony has stacked the small sideplates from the sushi bar higher than his head, and Billie is starting to feel a little sick. Harry guides her out of the restaurant and to the elevator, with the others following merrily.

I go to the desk and ask for my usual suite. "I'm sorry sir," the new receptionist says, "but suite 26 is occupied." "Ah, that's alright. How about number 29?" I say, hoping for the best. "Also booked, sir." Damn. "How about the penthouse? I'll only need it for tonight." "The penthouse is available, sir." she says brightly. "Wonderful. Charge it to my account," I say, and start to walk away. "I'm sorry sir, what is your name?" Of course, she's new. Stupid Tygër. I turn back and go to give her my information. She eyes me with amusement. "You know sir, you wouldn't have been able to get in either way. I didn't give you the key." I smile and give her my card. "I don't need the key."

She raises an eyebrow, until she reads the card. That's when the other one lifts too, and the only thing that comes out of her mouth is, "Oh." I suppress a smile and walk away for the second time, toward the elevator. We all pile in, and I press the button for the top floor. "Living large are we?" remarks Harry from behind. "Oh yeah."

[theboywithtoomanynames]

Minds Eye: Chapter 3

We're out of the house, in the cars and on the road by 8pm. Harry, Rose and Billie ride with me, Laurel rides with Tony. They've got the fast ride, but we've got everything else. Plush leather seats, air conditioning, surround sound and smart lighting. Tonight the carpeted floors are bathed in a soft blue, reflecting off of Rose's new anklet.

I glance at Harry, who's sat in the passenger seat. He's doing it again, tapping away to some unknown song that only he can hear. He doesn't seem to realise he's doing it. I smile and check the rear view mirror. Rose and Billie are chatting away, talking about tonight and who will be there, complimenting each other's dresses, and promising one another that they won't touch a drop of champagne.

The stars are out tonight, in the sky and in the city. As we pull up to our destination we see actors, athletes, musicians and influencers. The red carpet is lined with flashing cameras and photographers shouting for attention, all hoping to get the perfect pose, the perfect picture. I park the car in the front lot, minding the similarly expensive vehicles, and take a deep breath.

"Here we go!" I say, looking at the others.

Billie grins and nods, "Here we go!"

Harry and I get out, button up our jackets and open the back doors for the ladies. They step out, take a hand, and we start walking. Billie on my arm, Rose on Harry's. He looks relaxed with her, but his eyes are on Billie. We glide across the red carpet and into the building.

The first thing I notice in the glitzy lobby are the staff. I recognise none of them, which comes as a surprise because a week ago I knew them all by name. I knew their faces, their jobs, I probably knew them better than their boss. Speaking of which, here he is now. Strolling down the quartz stairs in his second best tuxedo, with a gold bracelet on his left wrist and a matching ring on the wedding finger of his right hand.

He raises an eyebrow and flashes a toothy grin in my direction.

"Good to see you, my boy!" he exclaims, coming to a stop in front of me.

I grin and shake his hand. "I'm glad I could be here Harvey, I believe you've met my friends before?"

"Ah yes, of course! How could I forget your lovely companions?" he says, moving to greet them personally.

As he does so I scan the room for another familiar face. Harvey must notice, and leans in to reassure me, "She's upstairs at the Black Jack table in the corner. No need to worry."

I look down at him and nod grimly.

Harvey leads us up the staircase into the heart of his business, the casino floor. A massive hall big enough to fit a Boeing 747, with tables and machines grouped together in different sections. Crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and a soft jazz number plays through the speakers in the corners of the room. There are no windows, preventing the average gambler from realising how much time they've spent in this luxury trap. Smiling faces, frowning faces, cheers to the left and sighs to the right. You can practically hear the money pouring into the big man's pockets, but you'll rarely hear it trickling out into the eager hands of a few lucky players.

Harvey owns three casinos, but this one is his pride and joy. "The Bélle Diamante" is legendary, attracting anyone with a supposed lucky streak like a moth to a flame. Presidents have sat at his poker tables, scientists at his slot machines, and a certain lieutenant lost millions at the "Lucky Draw." I'm a proud shareholder in this particular casino, and I must say I'm glad I met Harvey when I did. Thanks to his generosity and a bit of my own cash, I now own forty percent of the joint. Which means I've been able to get a job I enjoy and I don't have to worry about what it pays. It also means I can take care of Harry.

"I take it you're staying the night?" Harvey asks, as he leads us to a private table.

"Yes," I say, as I pull a chair out for Billie. "We've got a friend coming to town tomorrow morning, and if we had to commute all the way from the suburbs after tonight it would've been a disaster."

"Wise choice," he chuckles. "Now, I wish I could stay, but I must go and greet our other guests. Anything you want is on the house, as always!"

I shake his hand as he goes to leave, "Thank you, old friend."

He matches my grip for a little while longer than usual, and it takes me a moment to see why.

"I see you're wearing the cufflinks," he grins.

I smile, "That I am. Rose gave them her stamp of approval."

He smiles at her and bows slightly, thanking her for her good taste, then turns and makes his way back to the front of the room. As he disappears down the staircase, I see Tony and Laurel pop up, a cheeseburger in each of their hands.

"Of course," I mutter to myself, and wave them over.

As I turn to sit, I notice Harry has taken the seat next to Billie. Good.

[theboywithtoomanynames]

Mind’s Eye: Chapter 2

The moon is behind the house, blocked out by the trees. The air is still warm, and the siblings are still asleep when Billie and I stroll back to the house. Tony and Laurel have crept around them to get a drink, so when we walk into the kitchen there's an ice cold beer and a mojito on the side. I grab the beer as I glide past the boys' very interesting discussion regarding crypto, and go to wake Rose and Harry. We've got to get ready for our night out. Rose stirs first. "Huh?" she mumbles, propping herself up on one elbow. "It's time to get ready for the casino," I say. "That dress isn't gonna wear itself!" "OK," she says, running a hand through her hair. "And wake up Harry will ya? He won't be as upset if you do it." I walk back to the kitchen to find the boys have moved on from crypto and dived into the mystical world of motorsport. I nod along to their conversation, but really I have no clue what they're talking about. After awhile I let them know I'm going to go shower, and head to my bedroom to strip off and grab a towel. Billie'e using the shower in the main bathroom, so I head to the master bedroom en suite. I turn the water on, and hop in when it gets lukewarm. Shampoo, rinse. Conditioner, brush, rinse. Body, rinse. After 10 minutes I'm out, walking over to the mirror with my towel wrapped around my waist and my hair in a bun. 5 minutes to do my skin and clean up my stubble, then I'm strolling back through the corridors to my room. Now I've got to decide what to wear. It's a formal event more than a party, but I don't want to rock the generic suit and tie tonight. I've got the bottom half sorted. Black suit pants with striped sides, a leather belt with a silver buckle, and some lovely square toed dress shoes, in black of course. I can't decide what the top half's gonna be. Time for a fashion show. I walk down to the girl's room with several options, and knock twice. Billie opens the door and, immediately understanding my predicament, ushers me inside. Rose is stood at the mirror drying her hair, and sees my reflection walk in. "You need my help again?" she grins, spinning on the balls of her feet. "You're the expert, " I shrug. "That I am," she says, sitting down on the edge of her twin bed. "OK, show me what we're working with. "

And so we go through everything. Shirts, waistcoats, ties, bow-ties, cravats, jackets. There's an assortment of accessories too, chains and bracelets, cufflinks and rings. In the end we decide on a white shirt, with the top buttons left undone. A black suit jacket lined with red silk, paired with red cufflinks. One is in the shape of a heart, the other in the shape of a club. They were a gift from a friend of mine in the casino business. A silver chain rests loosely on my collarbone, glinting slightly. And finally, red socks with black polka dots to tie it all together. I walk over to the mirror to inspect myself. Rose stands behind me, peering over my shoulder, and nods. "You look good." "Thanks for helping me." "You're welcome. Now get out, I've still got to help myself," she says, shoving me towards the door. I laugh and gather up the spare clothing. I'm out of the room and down the hall when I hear Rose calling after me. "Do you still have that gold anklet?" She's talking about the one I bought for Pandora. "Yeah. You want it?" I yell back. "Yes please!" "Alright then."

[theboywithtoomanynames]

Mind’s Eye: Chapter 1

It's a hot day. The curtains are drawn shut, dancing with the slight breeze drifting through the open windows. The fan in the corner of the room is swivelling slowly, with a soft "clunk" whenever it stops and changes direction. It's blowing Laurel's hair into his eyes, again. He grumbles and flicks his wavy locks away. Sat on the red couch next to him is Tony, who's sporting a pair of glazed eyes that would make any regular at the local morgue jealous. The last few weeks have been a bit rough on him.

Sitting in the armchair in the corner of the room is Owen. Despite his exhaustion, he still manages to challenge the peaceful, quiet atmosphere of the room with his tales of adventure. Luckily we've got Rose here, who prefers the quiet, and let's Owen know with a subtle glance. He shuts up pretty quickly. She rolls over, satisfied. Laying on the mattress in the middle of the room, she turns up the volume on the speaker. And there goes Harry, lying next to her, singing along and tapping his fingers on the soft memory foam. His long, dark curls are flowing out above his head, and the top buttons of his shirt are left neglected thanks to the heat. Not a bad look.

Then there's me and Billie, lying toe to toe on the 4-wide couch. She's got pink bunnies running around her navy blue socks, which are pulled down just below her ankles. A loose strand of her hair is stuck to her lips, and she let's out a breathy giggle as she tries to blow it away. I lean over and brush it off, my hand softly glancing her cheek. And there's that smile, cue the dimples. I fall back onto my side of the couch and close my eyes, smiling.

When I open them, it's darker. I lift my head and look at the others. Laurel and Tony are looking at each other's phones. Rose and Harry have fallen asleep facing each other, her knee pressed against his stomach. The armchair is empty, and as I turn to Billie she whispers, "Owen left." I nod, and lay my head back down.

And then I decide to get up, reaching for Billie's hand and nodding towards the window. She lets me pull her up and we tip-toe outside, into the cool evening air. Up we jump, onto the wall, and there we sit ... watching the sky go from yellow, to orange, to pink.

And then, a final, dark blue.