Overlook
So....hi. i haven't written anything in quite a long time and i apologize for that. if any of you still have me waiting in your updates thats amazing and i thank you! School and work and all that jazz are crazy and i need to focus on that but i also dont want to neglect this cause i enjoy myself when i write and i enjoy that you guys like my stories enough to comment :)
so here it goes! an unrelated story for reasons!
A junker of a mustang sat up on the ridge, parked with a birds eye view of the sunny little burb. Beyond the streetlights and distant blinkers ran the calm featureless desert. Summer Springs might have been named for an actual body of water, but now it was no more than a quaint gimmick.
If you came to this town on a trip, you made a wrong turn. Of the three roads that took you out of town one advertised Vegas sitting comfy in the mid eighties in terms of miles away, and the grand canyon say at a firm ninety. The other road, didn't bother with the dream of a vacation, though a friendly cactus would wave you goodbye just the same, his sunglasses wholly unnecessary and impossibly balanced on a lack of ears.
atop that mustang sat two guys, too old to be called boys, but not yet ready to be men. These halfway-grownups were mid weekend ritual, a collecting pile of cigarette butts at their feet which hovered only inches from the gravel. The taller of the two made up more than half the pile, a clear sign of a successful, if busy week. The smaller one might not have out smoked his friend, but he was comfortable with the level of smoke in his lungs and beer in his belly.
It was cheap beer of course, no halfway grownup in town was rich enough to get much else or ballsy enough to raid a father's supplies. Still, the stale taste and fresh air coupled with a warm belly and good company did wonders for the recent stresses.
Resting on the roof of the car sat graduation caps, one for each of the delinquents. In the car were half crumpled robes they had neglected to cherish for even a moment. Of all the rituals that had taken place that day, this was by for the most revered by either one.
Ron, the smaller of the two flicked a used butt into the pile and lay back along the hood. He might have hated small town living, but he always loved the stars. Light pollution was a foreign concept, crystal clear constellations was the norm. When he was younger he remembered trying to learn them all, his father thought it was inquisitive, his mother thought he could spend his time better than literally day dreaming. Despite his lack of perfect memorization Ron always had a fondness for the clear night sky.
He couldn't help but smile until he set his eyes on his quiet friend. The doberman was going on nearly ten minutes of total radio silence. Ron might have asked him about it sooner if he didn't respect the quiet time Eddie found so important. Still...three cigarettes in and Ron felt he might need to intervene soon. Alot had happened recently that was supposedly going to change their lives.
Ron sighed quietly and went back to staring at the night sky. He had just planned to give it two more minutes when Eddie spoke up.
"Sorry for the cold shoulder." the doberman spoke coolly, his breath a rolling fog of smoke and the effects of a cool night. "Just...a lot going on." he grinned without looking back at his partner in crime.
Ron shrugged like he had only just noticed the silence, "It's whatever, toss me a beer?" Eddie leaned down the the ground and grabbed the last two of their last six pack. It was room temperature which did nothing for the taste, but there was nothing to be done when Eddie had to hide it in his car all day just to get it to their weekly drive.
"Can you believe we're finally done?" Eddie asked, not for the first time that day. He seemed so struck by the idea. His tone sounded numb, but to Ron's well trained ears he could tell the dobby was excited. shocked,
"It's hard to believe." the otter agreed, only taking a sip of the beer before setting it aside. He sat up again, eyes glancing over the town he had spent his whole life in. From up on the ridge it seemed larger than it felt, but painfully isolated. He could name every street and make out the school and grocery store in the distance because they were the largest features in town. They had a church, but it was a glorified steeple.
Silence filled the space around them again. Which was typical. Neither of them were particularly talkative. Ron had always been the quiet little nerd. He didn't have too many friends growing up and didn't party. Eddie was the stoic type. big and imposing but a man of few words. Despite his 'popular' status as a football player he hardly attended the parties or the drunk festivities of his teammates.
"You remember sophomore year when i pulled your ass out of your locker?" Eddie asked with a toothy grin. He knew Ron hated that story. the otter nodded with a pouting frown. "Did you think it would come to this?"
Ron took a moment. Eddie wasn't the brightest bulb but he could be pretty damn philosophical when he wanted too. "Come to what?"
Sometimes it was just better to clarify.
"All this." Eddie responded as vaguely as before. "This friendship, me passing fucking math and chem." he shook his head and took a last long drag of his cigarette. "I would be going to school another year if it weren't for you, you know. and all it cost was not being a dick to the little guys." he shook his head. "Storinski would be pissed if i told him that." he added, referring to the defensive end that would have lost his scholarship if it weren't for the pity of an old teacher who curved his test so significantly nearly everyone else got A's.
"You could have passed without me." Ron waved it off, "If Storinski could pass im pretty sure anyone would have."
The dobby nodded and shrugged, but scooted back a bit on his car. "I mean it though. I'm going to college because of you. A good college. I can get away from home because you. and it started with pulling you out of a locker."
Ron groaned, "I hate that story!" he announced, "And if memory serves mister chivalry, you definitely left me on the ground to go make out with Annie after you kicked her boyfriends ass three ways to sunday."
The canine barked a laugh, "fucking Annie Reinhart thats right." he scratched at his neck, "She was a terrible kisser i really shoulda just started our conversations a few days sooner instead." he grimaced, "All tongue, and she had this moan that just made you feel uncomfortable."
"I'll take your word for it." the otter chuckled.
Still, the positive energy in the air felt strange and unnatural. It was forced and awkward. They both knew what they wanted to talk about and they hadn't drank enough to really bring it up it seemed.
They both took long gulps and tossed their cans.
They both lit up new ciggs, sharing a single red bic.
Their first puffs followed each other into the sky over the little burb, twisting into nothing.
"When do you leave again?" Eddie asked, the question was firm and required effort.
The otter scratched his head with a free paw, not looking at his friend, "End of the month for those summer classes and i'll only be back for a few days before -"
"Yeah yeah, and by then i'll be gone." Ed put the cigarette to his maw but didn't take a drag. "Gotta get to that technical school really early."
He nearly spat the word 'technical'. Earlier that evening at a celebratory dinner Rons mother had made it clear to everyone around them that Ed was attending a community college and her son was attending a large scale university. She never liked that Ron had befriended Ed, and to the very end she made that painfully clear.
"Ignore my mom." Ron spoke up, giving the dobermans arm a little shake, "You are going to a great school for being a mechanic and you even got scholarships."
"I couldn't give any less of a rat's ass about what snide remarks Mrs. Ackerman throws my way." there was no edge to it. it was more of a fact than anything else but it didn't even sound like a joke. It sounded very tired.
"Then cheer up big guy!" Ron stood up, walking towards the edge of the ridge, the night air cool on his face. "the world is our oyster and we are out of that damn hellhole!" he tried to lift the energy. He heard Eddie stepping over to join him at the edge but he didn't say anything else.
"Screw this town!" Ron shouted into the night, both hands cupped over his mouth. "Fuck it!" The otter only now realized how desperate he sounded and felt. His heart was racing. The idea of leaving Ed for months was hard to bear and it had been sad before but it was so apparent now. the thought sat like a rock in his stomach which did not go well with the beer.
"But you'll be gone." Ed spoke quietly, sounding almost teary eyed. Ron looked on horrified as his friend looked on stoic and in tears. "You wont. be here. Who am i going to talk too for the next few months before i go?"
There was no real answer. Nothing to be said. Just a looming question. Ron lowered his arms and looked out over the town trying to get distracted. He wanted to say something. anything helpful even remotely and he couldn't.
"I really have no idea what to do." Ed finally finished, throwing half a butt over the edge.
"Did you get responses from MVCC?" Ron asked, knowing full well that if the doberman had he would already know. It was the more expensive alternative for Eddie but only a twenty minute drive between there and Rons own MVU.
"Nah, we sent the application really late remember?"
"I'm painfully aware." Ron breathed out, so distracted he hardly noticed the light in his paw getting a little too close to his fur.
Again silence fell.
Rons mind raced with all the worry and doubt that it had been for weeks. He had helped the dog cram for test after test, found time to study himself and held down a job at the convenience store despite his mom wishing otherwise. He had helped Eddie prep for the SAT's and apply for colleges in his field. The dog had a knack for machines and even physics but trig and chem were nothing he could focus on. He sat up with the dog all night waiting for grades to be emailed out, keeping quiet in the otters room while his parents slept. He had been there for Eddies worst breakdown about his scumbag father who refused to be a parent, and had nearly stayed up for two days straight to make sure the dog was alright.
This doberman, his best and potentially only friend, had done plenty in return. He had lifted Ron from a swirling depression, helped him discover himself and break the rules. Got him to live outside his crazy mothers ideals. Ron had attended parties and had driven at a hundred miles an hour in the desert. He had a sense of purpose he never had before when he was just simply told what to do and he could never fully repay Eddie for that.
Especially with all his guilt. Up until relatively recently Ron never told Ed that the 'queer' and 'faggot' rumors had any merit. The dog was wholly accepting on the subject but it didn't lessen the guilt Ron had accumulated in three years of sneaking looks and casting glances.
Ed was downright dreamy. He was a six foot muscle dog with the typical lean muscle of his ancestors. He filled his shirts and from what rumor told his jock. The football thing was forever attractive and to top it off, he wasn't a total ass! though he had one...
Ed groaned out loud, turning to the car and kicking one of the cans he had tossed aside. "Fuck it all. get in we're leaving." he huffed, startling the otter. They picked up what they could and drove off towards home. It was a crummy way to end such a big night.
"You're parents are out and about right?" Ed asked, driving as recklessly as ever. Ron said yes, they were out with family that were in town for the graduation.
"Why?"
"We are going to your place then. I don't want to be at home." The canine huffed and stuck his head out the window.
"Sorry that i couldn't help." Ron spoke up, his mind on the guilt and thinking about their whole situation. It seemed so obvious that he could have done more. kept them together.
They pulled into driveway and left their things in the car under blankets as to hide them from Ron's mother. The Ackermans had a nice home, two stories with a pool and open plan. Ron locked the door behind them and tossed the keys in the bowl, turning to see Eddie standing by the large grand piano in what could have been a second living space just off the entryway but now consisted of that piano, the bench and a single bookshelf with pretentious selections such as 'Medicinal herbs' and 'Robert O'Briens guide to Tropical birds'.
Ron hadn't sat at the piano for years, not seriously anyway. It was one of those skills his mother was trying to get him to showcase for school but he never got good enough to compete against others.
"Can you play something?" Ed asked, "I think you only ever played the one time while i was around."
That was right. Ron had played for Eddie exactly once, the first time he had ever had scotch. he blushed under his fur. "You know i'm not very good." he stated flatly.
"Can you just play please." Ed asked in his ever convincing way. The otter rolled his eyes, trying to act like there were normal circumstances and this didn't feel like some unofficial goodbye.
"What do you want me to play?"
The dog shrugged, flicking the metronome to life. "Whatever you still remember how to play."
Ron sighed and set up his paws, over thinking the entire process. He messed up the opening bars and started over twice with a grumble, but as soon as he got passed his head, the song fell out of him and into the room.
It was a somber song with a few moments of fancy fingerwork to lighten the tone. it lasted far longer than Ron remembered it going, he was unsure if he even did it right but Eddie clearly wasn't about to criticise his skills.
The song ended with a last drawn out rumble and after a few more moments Ed stopped the metronome.
"How many times did this thing knock?" The doberman asked, carrying the awkward little device around the room.
"What?" the otter asked, following the dog around from his seat.
"Ron you aren't a fuck head!" Ed barked, "Why do you think so little of yourself huh?! It doesn't make any sense anymore! stop being so down about yourself! im the fuck up one!"
Ron had no idea how to respond.
"What? you think because you didn't tutor me twenty four seven its your fault we're not at the same school?" Ed continued to shout out of character, " 'I'm sorry i couldn't help.'" he mocked, "are you kidding? you are the ENTIRE reason i'm going to school you ass hat! Fuck me! i mean really?" he set the metronome down.
"Ed i-"
"No, nuh uh. i'm going to prove you are smart and worth something before i leave here." the dog vowed. "How many fucking times did the thing chime huh? from start to finish."
"I don't know eddie can you calm down?" Ron was never afraid of Eddie after they started to hang out. He had hardly scared the otter when he had ranted on and on about his drunk father. but this time was getting close to being the exception. His frustration for the first time ever was aimed AT Ron and not just spoken to him
"No, thats bullshit. how many times huh? you're a damn prodigy. you helped ME study and still aced every test this semester. you smoke and drink and got to make the speech at graduation. scholarships for two years at a university somewhere that matters how many-"
"Fucking....two hundred and ....sixty ish ok?" Ron spat, red in the face. Ed knew he hated when people called him a prodigy. It was why he never had any friends before the big buff doberman moved into town and beat up his bullies.
"What day was i born."
"Augus-"
"No no no, like that movie we watched, what day of the week was August 19th 1992." the doberman was leaning down over the piano now, his face getting closer to Rons.
"Wednesday." The otter said flatly without missing a beat.
The dog chuckled at him, poking him the chest. "Don't you give me any of that crap about you trying harder. I'm the fuck up ok?"
"No," Ron spoke up now, standing from the piano bench, "Thats bullshit, you try so hard."
"And i get these results yeah? what does that say?" Eddie tossed up his arms. turning away and walking a few steps before turning around his finger wagging. "I wont let this friendship peter out because of me ok? i promise." he said now, tears in his eyes again.
It was dark in the piano room, the hall light only shining in. It caught Ron's eyes enough that Ed was just a shadowy outline approaching. He was about to speak up. maybe shout for effect. Show Eddie that he was not to blame and didn't have to sacrifice any more than he already had. The otter looked up and watched in confusion as Eddie got too close.
Ron took a step back into the piano, as Eddies arms wrapped around him. It wasn't a hug. He didn't pull him close. Ron was switching his question to 'what are you doing?' just as Eddies lips planted themselves firmly on his own.
There wasn't any talking. The silence fell naturally. They broke away from the kiss just for a moment before they did it again. Eddie's hands dropped more comfortably down Rons back, resting just above his tail. Eddie tried his best to get up on his toes and bridge the space, his mind spinning, still half stuck up on what they were just talking about.
Eddie was a very physical guy. Ron had watched time and time again as he 'hooked up' at parties. a little kiss turned into this big display in moments. It had always made ron chuckle, but he understood the appeal.
The otter found himself being moved around the room until his back was against a wall and one of his paws was firmly pressed into the wall above his head. There was never any question about how far Ron was willing to go with each new thing. Eddie broke the kiss every time he switched things up as if asking permission despite Rons already increasingly energetic responses.
Ed kissed his neck, broke away. Kissed his ears, broke away. pinned the otters arms so high it started to hurt, though he was too distracted by the canine's tongue to really care.
Ron could not think straight. Half of it was the beer in his belly, but the other half was that every time he tried to organize his thoughts to form a sentence or a coherent idea or theory Eddie found a way to distract him. Soon he didn't even have a shirt on but he wasn't exactly sure when it came off.
The dog got low then, getting a startled 'whoa' from the otter as he was quickly lifted up between Eds arms, his feet wrapped around the canines waist and pressed ever so gently into the wall. Ed kissed and licked and rubbed his face into Rons available belly. The otter did his best not to make any little noises he might regret. He was trying so hard to almost seem like he knew what he was doing.
But it was all too much at once. too much surprise, too much flustered spinning in his head. "Wait..." Ron spoke up. Ed's ears dropped and he looked like a deer in headlights. The muscle head almost dropped Ron on his ass he was so surprised.
"Fuck..." was all the dog breathed out, near panting. "fuck fuck fuck too much? oh fuck me..." he grumbled setting Ron down. The otter gave up all inclinations to standing immediately and sat on the floor, his knees felt like jelly.
Only their breathing could be heard now, Ed staring down at the otter and Ron trying not to look up without having something to say. Finally he had it. the grandest of all things, the most perfect summery of how he felt in that moment coupled to his long time friend and crush.
"What the hell was all that!?" he exclaimed with all the grace he could muster, which consisted of a little spit flying off his lip. Eddie didn't respond. verbally anyway. he took a step back and rubbed his neck with an embarrassed look. "Well?"
"I don't know!" The dog huffed, crossing his arms. "Shit i mean...i couldn't be more obvious right?" he asked then as if Ron had asked a stupid question. "What do you think...well what are you doing!" the dog tossed back the question as if the blame for what just happened fell on the otter.
"I'm...well...hell if i know!" Ron tossed up a paw, trying to stand up and succeeding with his back propped against the wall for support.
More strange silence.
"How long has this been a thing?" Ron asked, "I mean, i think i should ask that for starters if you're gonna pretend 'what just happened?' was a stupid question." he was recovering his regular level of sarcasm despite himself.
The dog shrugged, "Probably only a serious idea since around christmas." he shrugged, sitting back on the piano bench and laying so he looked up at the ceiling and not at Ron.
The idea that Ron could have been kissing Eddie under some mistletoe was both appealing as a daydream and frustrating as a missed opportunity. "Why didn't you..."
"Say something?" Eddie finished. "The hell if i know. it's not like you would have called me names." he stuck out his tongue in the annoying older brother kind of way that got Ron fired up.
"Piss off! im being serious..." Ron breathed out, looking up at the corner of the ceiling as if the off-white wallpaper were interesting. "What do we do now?"
Eddie sat up. eyes not meeting Rons but halfway there. "Well...i figure with the time we still have we can see what happens." he said rather glumly.
Ron could have slapped him. "What? No thats stupid." he tossed the idea aside. "I'm not leaving for months with a big question mark hovering there between us." he was the one about to cry now. His mind raced with so many different things.
he had it.
Ron walked over to Eddie and pulled him up so he was standing. the otter glared at the doberman. angry and happy and frustrated. "We are going to bed." he said simply.
Eddie started to follow but made a face. "You want... to sleep off the distance?"
"No. there is no point in worrying about this now." the otter huffed. tomorrow i will be all over the MVCC website. we will get you in and we will not be a damn question mark." the otter retorted, feeling both proud of himself and embarrassed that he might have sounded like every stereotypical sassy gay in front of Ed.
They had slept in Ron's room a million times but this time felt different. They were already shirtless, and slowly with embarrassed little glances they crawled into one bed instead of Ed taking the futon in the corner.
They held each other close. testing the waters. liking how it felt.
"I love you you know." the doberman breathed into Rons ear. The otter looked up, catching the flustered face of a doberman.
He smiled, finding a nice place on Eds chest to rest his head.
"You're adorable."
"shut it..."
~`~~~
If they had made plans to keep their secret hidden they would have been for nothing. both numbskulls had left their discarded shirts on the floor for Ron's mother to find. After a LONG and PAINFULLY awkward conversation that involved a lot of heated words from Ron's mother, His father was ultimately the one to calm her down and assure the two they had a place in their home.
Ed got waitlisted at MVCC. it was a painful letter to get but Ron whipped the dog into shape and even though they had graduated, Ed spent every night for two weeks studying for a make up SAT and practicing for the college football tryouts despite his reluctance to play in college.
Grades were good and all, but being athletic was just as appealing to the selection board. Ed would start in the fall.
Ron went away for the summer classes, he got a two day visit from Eddie which did wonders for all his inner worry. Despite their soon to be reunited relationship come fall, it was a long summer without his good friend.
Eddie found an apartment complex only a block from Ron's campus, and after a bunch of re-organizing funds and many signed papers regarding living arrangements Ron and Eddie were living together off campus with a handful of other students.
Ron sat up one night as Ed fell asleep. It had been a long week for both of them in classes. The otter glanced around and really breathed in how much had actually changed and how big a direction he was going after graduation. Maybe not in the way everyone who told him so had expected, but in a way he was more than happy with. With a content smile, he fell asleep dreaming of whatever life had in store for them..