To Love Me: A Laven 7

The next morning, Allen smiled at the money on his nightstand.

Score.

He flinched slightly as he got out of bed. He could hear the cars rushing by on their morning commutes. His spindly legs carefully walked to his nightstand and he stared at the paper. But it wasn't the money, it was the business card Lavi had given him.

Lavi…

For the past few days the white haired boy could do nothing but think about the redhead…why was he so magnetized to him? What was so special about Lavi? Allen continued to stare blankly at the card. Didn't he say he was a photographer? Maybe that would help him get out of this business…Maybe..

Allen swallowed his apprehension and pride for just long enough to pick up the hotel phone and dial the number.

-----

Lavi smiled behind the camera as a model slipped and fell; still trying to make it look like it was done on purpose. What an idiot. Suddenly, his cell phone began to vibrate. He tried his best to ignore it before sighing and standing up, holding up a finger to signal he'd be back soon.

"Hello?" he answered.

Allen froze. What should he do? What should he SAY?!

"Th..This is Allen." He said plainly, mentally hitting himself for sounding so idiotic.

"Oh, hello Allen, considered anything?"

"Excuse me?" Allen asked, eyes widening in slight innocence.

"I mean, would you like to talk this over dinner or something? I have a very busy schedule today, it'll be very hard for us to talk..so I'll come by around 7? That sound good? Okay, Good Bye."

Allen stuttered out a quick, "G-Goodbye!" before he heard a "click". His heart was racing at over a thousand miles per hour and he felt like hyperventilating. He fell back into the hotel bed and closed his eyes and felt a small smile overtake his face.

Tonight.

But it wasn't long before his excitement was trampled on. What about tonight's clients? He needed the money to stay in this hotel…Was Lavi worth it? Allen felt his eyelids get heavier and heavier before he finally closed them, spiraling into a dreamland where he could escape the harsh reality of everyday.

-----

It was already 7 PM and Lavi waved goodbye to his coworkers as well as some questionable models on his way out. His car beeped twice as he unlocked it from a few feet away. He got into his sleek black car that shined in the rising moon and setting sun and began to drive to an all too familiar place.

Lavi felt his heart strangely flutter as he envisioned the thin boy with feathery white hair and piercingly soulful eyes of mercury. He had finally arrived at the door which was ironically: room 169. He knocked once, twice, three times. No answer.
He knocked again. No answer…Now he was starting to get worried.  

Finally, the redhead cautiously opened the door…only to find a sleeping Allen.

Should I wake him?

Lavi quietly walked closer to the peacefully sleeping boy. He didn't even look like a prostitute, he looked just like any other boy that went to school, hugged his mom, tried to please his dad…watch over a younger sister.

He didn't seem like one to stoop to such a level as this.

His emerald green eyes widened before softening at a few streaks of dried tears trailing a path down Allen's face.

Evidently he did not choose this occupation for fun.

Lavi had the urge to do something…anything. He wanted to protect this boy. He wanted to make sure he was safe and he wanted to punch all the men that made him do the things he had to do. He wanted to shake those thin shoulders and yell that Allen did not deserve this. He did not deserve to be denied his childhood. He should be in school, his only worries should be about whether he had finished his homework-not about whether he'd have enough money to eat the next day, the next week.

Allen did not deserve any of this. And Lavi knew it.

The photographer's hands slowly curled into fists, angry that such a world of opportunity could produce such a monstrosity of a fact.

He knew even then, that his life was different. He would fight for this boy. He would fight.

But for now, all he could do was

Lean

In

a little

closer

and place

a small

kiss upon those lips..