A Tasteful Thank You

At her question, Zak gave Tina and empty stare. Was his family hard to be around? Kendall wasn’t. But she wasn’t what he counted as his ‘family’ when he said they made him miserable. He was never masculine enough for his dad: just the other day, Brice had commented that Nicolette had more of a masculine side than he did. Well, that couldn’t be helped: she enjoyed her fair share of sports. Unlike Zak. Nicolette had her hockey, but him? He had his music. But whenever Brice heard Zak listening to his preferred genres of music he got called slurs, so he decided not to approach that.

It was hard to go home when he felt so broken, like there was something wrong with him. When he went out on his own he didn’t feel like such a mess, especially when he was with Fallyn.

”Yes.” He said, and he didn’t elaborate. He wasn’t going to open up to Tina of all people. When she complimented his relationship with Fallyn, Zak shrugged. ”It’s basically us against the world, by this point. No matter what people say, forget other people,” he said. It was odd to think that Tina didn't picture herself with Victor, yet that they basically acted like a couple. That... was very odd, but he decided not to comment. All he'd do was insult Victor, and this was her treat. he had enough sense not to keep insulting her friends when she was doing something... kind for him.

His soup was completely gone now, and he wiped his face with the napkin. The staff kept giving him odd looks, and when he met their gaze, he glared. He really didn’t like restaurants. They were all probably talking about him in the back. What a big fucking joke he was, doing here. He glanced over at Tina and scoffed. ”There’s all these people in the world, and no one cares about anyone but themselves. Maybe they care about a few other people. Just because the world’s full of people doesn’t mean everyone wants to talk to you,” he shrugged. ”Besides, why even bother talking to people? Sometimes it’s easier to be alone.”

Zak placed his poon in his bowl and wiped is lips with his napkin, acutely aware of the staff’s eyes on him. A couple entered the room, dressed up fairly well, the woman in a nice dress and the man in a fitted suit. Zak stood out like a sore thumb in his silver chains and makeup, but that was how he was used to being. He liked standing out, it was a way to make an impression and be remembered. He hated people, but wanted to be remembered.

He shoved his hands in his pockets, his boots tapping on the floor. He watched as the waiter nodded at Tina and went to grab the bill. He stared at the guy when he returned. The guy didn’t so much as look at Zak when he came over – Zak was glaring daggers at his skull the whole time.

He glanced over at Tina, as she handled the bill. Part of him felt bad for her treating him, but then the other, more sensible half reminded him he couldn’t afford to pay for the bill based on his stupid supermarket salary. He raised his eyebrows at her next question. When she suggested he may feel differently if he had a supportive family, he glared.

”No. I can’t imagine what I don’t have.” He said. Kendall was the only supportive family he had; his parents being supportive? Yeah, right. Nicolette wasn’t even supportive, and she was his goddamn twin. He leaned forward slightly. This girl really didn’t understand, did she? ”Do you think you’d feel the way you do if you were a disappointment to your family, if you were bulled every fucking day at school? You’d probably be more like me: the concept of solitude is a relief when all people ever do is call me a faggot, or tell me to become a fucking carpenter. Can you picture me as a carpenter?” Aghast, he pointed at himself, as though this was a ridiculous career. And it was. God damn his dad, trying to pick a ‘suitable’ career for him. Zak wasn’t any good at carpentry.

He rose his eyebrows, shook his head, and looked away. ”Being alone is better than that.”