~*~

A year went by and i slowly became the young man my father wanted me to be. after i left school, my father had to realise that i would never be college material, even if i had not flunked out of school, which in my eyes was a big achievent, then my father decided that i wasnt gonna just waste my days, he had needed a heir and he would have one, so slowly i began my training in beeing a politician, i think it made him proud so see me change that much, only i knew that something are hard to change, and i had still not forgotten my promise to Early.

Colt and i continued to see eachother, we kissed and touched outside the clothes, he was always the one to initiate it, but he nver wanted to see it through, leaving me frustrated beyond his wildest imaginations, and this day had been no different than others, he came by we had lunch, both Gladys and father was out, so we went to their bedroom where the bed was wider and they had a bigger stereo. if only my father knew how many times Colt and i had made out in his bed.

But as it turned out, this day was different than others, in the middle of it all, Colt sat up. he looked nervous and sweatting, i looked up at him and smiled, reaching out for him to pull him in for another kiss, but he refused. "what is wrong?" i asked.

"i have to tell you something" Colt said, looking everywhere but at me. i just nodded, "Remember Flora?" he said, "the girl with the freckles?"

"I do" I said, "Your sisters buddy" Colt nodded and sighed, reaching for something in his pocket. i felt like he kicked me in the crotch as i saw what he had in his hand. "A ring?" i whispered.

"Yes Floras" He put the ring back on his finger, and reached for me, but i slapped his hand away. "We have been engaged for almost a year" he said.

"but we.." i mumbled, trying to understand what it was he was telling me, "I thought that.."

"I know, and i didnt want to make you cry" he said, reaching for my hand once again. "We are getting married next month, and i thought i would tell you myself, before you got an invitation in the mail"

what the hell? he didnt want to make me cry? of all the presumptious assholes! "thank you, that is very considderate of you" i hissed as i got off the bed, swatting his hands away one more time.

Maybe Colt and i would be friends again at some point, but attending that ceremony was terrible, i had thought that Colt really liked me, really liked me in 'that' way, but yet again i was prooven that i was not enough, and as i walked from the wedding to the house, i wondered what it took, with Early i think my problem was that i didnt put out enough, and with Colt i think i wanted it too much, what the hell was it they wanted? all i knew was that it was me who always ended up being fucked over, and left for dead.

Two days later i came home from my job early, and found Gladys kissing another man, i wasnt really surprised, but what i failed to understand was that she would do someting like that being 5 months pregnant, i knew how much my father and her had tried for a baby, even from before i ever arrived, and now it finally happend and she was kissing another man. she grabbed my shirt and pulled me in the next room, looking me right into my eyes. "Cain" she said "never tell anyone of this, promise me"

"only if you tell me who he is" i demanded

"he is Dorian, the chief of police in Simcity" she said, grabbing my shoulder, "you cant tell Frederick about this, it would destroy everything"

"so the baby?..." i said slowly, realising what it was she was telling me.

"is not your fathers, no. But he dont have to know that Cain, he wanted another child so badly" she said, and for the first time i saw something other than the upper class bitch Gladys, i saw the real woman that hid under all that hideous makeup and expensive image.

"my lips are sealed" i finally said with a whisper. smiling as i saw her relief.

But Dorian came by one evening when Gladys was not there, he walked into the house like he owned it, before he turned and looked at me with a faint smile "Cain... i know what your kind is like" he drawled. "i saw your record and i heard the rumours"

"oh" i just breathed, backing up as he walked towards me, why didnt i like that look he got in his eyes, maybe it reminded me of the way Benjamin had looked at Early, like a piece of meat on sale.

"so whats your price pretty boy?" he said, cornering me in the hallway.

"I am not what you think" i desperatly whispered.

Dorian placed a hand on each side of my face, leaning on the wall behind me, trapping me. "really? so that is why you were picked up several times with druggies and prostitutes? and that is why the garder paid you, not to mention the tutor you had"

I was angry at him for saying these thigs, but maybe he was right, maybe this was a thing that never changed, i had never had sex with anyone that didnt pay up, not because i nevr thought about what it must be like, and i had thought that i would have tried that with Colt, he would have been my salvation... and so i did it again, i gave a price, i felt nausious as i did it, wondering if i was about to pass out. but when he kissed me, i had expected his kiss to be as hard, hateful and demanding as his words, but it was soft and nice, which confused me.

When Dorian left and i was in the shower, i got that strange feeling, his touches had been light and considerate, he had made me feel adored, maybe just for a little while, and maybe i had only ever let him touch me because he had paid, but the attention that he gave me i found that i wanted more than anything i the world. up untill now i had not realised how lonley i had gotten after Colt had married tha vile woman. and this was wrong, but maybe it was better than nothing.

and he did come back, i felt a little happy knowing he came to see me, not Gladys. only for me.

Some months after i had first slept with Dorian, i went back to the house, it felt strange to go there in my own car, feeling all grown up. the feeling dissapeard as i walked up the little staircase to the door, and i halfway expected Early to yell for me from the second floor to hurry up. I opened the door and peaked inside, it looked the same, nothing had changed in the time i had had been gone. but everything had changed for me, i was a completely different person than i was when i lived here, and yet i werent. To my surprise i was met by Lucille as i walked into the dining room, she was the only one i knew who had stayed behind to help other kids in the same position she had been in once. it was strange to see her all grown up, even if she looked completely like herself.

He pulled me through the dining room and into another room, and there she was. "Layla!" i cried, hurrying over and wrapped my arms around her.

"Cain" she said as she too embraced me, "you look good, your new life suits you"

"maybe it does" i said with a little smile.

"I saw you in a magazine for some time ago, who would have thought youd be the mayors son" she said as she smiled back.

"no me thats for sure" i grinned. and then i went silent for a moment.. "Layla, i wondered.. i mean the reason that i came here is.. oh man, i dont know how to explain myself, but i need to find Early"

"I dont know where he went" Layla said, "he left here with the cops, and i havent seen him since"

"and Opus? did he go with him" i said hoping i sounded less nervous than i was.

"he came back" Layla said, frowning slightly "found himself a replacement"

she nodded to her left, and then i saw a young blond kid, he was indeed a pretty boy and for a moment i understood why Opus wanted him around, but then i felt like a pervert, this kid was nothing but a yea kid. he would be 16 tops, which made me sick to my stomach to know what kind of person Opus was, and in how many ways he could and would pervert this beautiful boy.

Layla pushed me gently towards him, and standing infront of him i could have sworn he was the most beautiful i had ever seen, "I am Cain" i said "I used to live here, together with Lucille actually, i just camto say hey, and Layla wanted me to meet you, you must hava made quite the impression"

"I am Harlan" he said, "and yea i heard of you"

"from who?" i said, feeling my hope flare for a moment.

"Opus, Lu, Layla" he said.

"Opus? i cant imagine he as alot of posetive things to say about me" i heard myself respond.

"oh but he does, he speaks highly of you and a guy named Early, never met any of you untill now that is" Harlen said with a little smile.

"Harlen" i said, as my voice turned serious "whatever he is offering its not worth it" i said.

Harlen Frowned, "let me be the judge of that" and with that our conversation was over, he turned on his heels and left.

As i stayed for dinner, i saw as Opus arrived, and i saw Harlen running to him like a playfull kitten, whispering and nodding before they left the kitchen to go upstairs. i looked at Layla who just shook her head "Im not their mom you know, do you really think im that stupid that i dont see it? dont you think i knew waht you and your friends did?"

i blushed slightly as suddenyl three kids looked at me. "you're right its not your problem" i mumbled.

Opus came downstairs soon after and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, "Cain" he whispered "fancy seeing you here, the mayors son and all" i shrugged his arm off me and turned and looked at him, not noticing that Harlen came down the stairs behind me.

"you destroyed Early, you took my best friend and turned him into your pet, now you tossed him aside for whatever reason, and what do i see? you're doing it again, he is way too young man, you cant ruin him like that, i wont let you" i growled.

"i didint toss Early, he dissapeared, and neither did i destroy him, nor will i destroy Harlen" he said with a smile "He is asking for it, just like Early, but i guess you didnt know that about your precious Early did you? he asked me for that hit, and he asked me to come to bed with him, he wanted it and he wanted me, maybe if you had waved your lilly white ass in his face, you might had gotten lucky, mate"

"liar!" i cried., "he didnt want you or the drugs, i dont believe a fucking word youre saying"

"and since when did you get an interest in Harlen?" Opus asked, looking straight into my eyes "you want him too?"

and that was when i noticed a precence behind me, i turned around and saw Harlen stand behind me pale and frowning, he had heard it all. "maybe i do" i said with a crooket smile, trying to save face infront of Opus, i wouldent let him beat me at this game. i leaned in and whispered "call me, Layla as my number" in his ear. Before i almost fled that house, it held so many happy and terrible memories that i jsut had to escape.

Shorty after i went back to my rutine, having Dorian over every tuesday and friday, he paid every time, which made me a little sad, i had thought that he wouldent need that anymore, but maybe that was really what i was to him. but i had gotten so used to his touch and so at home in his arms, that i sometimes entertained myself with the thought that we would be lovers one day. I didint love him, i just didnt want to be alone.

Layla called on a sunday. telling me that she had met Ade, and that she had his adress. i wrote it down and went to tell my father i had to go somewhere, he was very dissapointed because he had wanted us all to go to the contry club, and i promised him that id do that the following sunday instead. but his was really important, and in the end he let me go.

I almost got lost as i tried to find Adrian's house, he had moved far from the city, to where the houses was fairly cheap, it was a nice house he had, and as i discovered a nice wife. Ade had done well for himself, steady work, his own house and a baby on the way, really things couldent be better. and then i came by, as a stain from his past that was impossible to wash away.

We had dinner that tasted perfectly, and really Ade seemed glad to see me, asking how i was doing, and chit chatting about whatever we had done after we had left the house, it was a really nice afternoon.

But as i was about to leave, the talk fell on Early. Ade got upset "I dont know that lousy junkie anymore" he said sounding very annoyed.

I tried to get him to look at me but he refused, "where do you think me might have gone, come on Ade, i promise i will dissapear out of your life, leaving you to your little perfect exsistence here, just tell me what you know, its important to me"

Ade turned around and hissed "in jail or home" he said. "home is the shanty town right outside the city limit, his mom is named Mary-Sue, you can easily find her, they all know her"

"thank you Ade" i said turning to walk away, but i turned around again when i got t my car. "congratulations" i yelled as i waved "the baby and all"

Ade smiled and waved, and generally looked as someone who couldent wait to get rid of me. And so i left his house driving home, listening to popular music in the radio i hummed along, i would go ad find Early's mom tomorrow. and hopefully him too.

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OUTTAKE:

this is Cain and Dorian & Glady's kid.. see this is why there are no pictures in ths story including this poor unfortunate child. even his ear is deform.