How It Goes - Part 8
#8 of How It Goes
The grand canyon of drama is finally over.
Hopefully, future instances of drama will be more subdued.
...
There is not too much to say about this part.
I do hope you enjoy.
"Oy, Scott!"
Cecil hustles through the hallway up to Scott, who shoves a book into his bag. "Hello."
"I missed you yesterday."
Scott closes his bag. "Stuff happened."
"With your friend?"
Scott nods.
"Is he doing okay?"
"Better, yeah. Was there a geography test today?"
"Yep." Cecil bounces on the tip of his toes. "I think you'll be fine. Tectonics, fauna, glaciology, that kind of stuff."
"Mostly a de-rusting test?"
"Yup."
As they walk down the hallway, Travers and his gang pushes their way through students. A boar is shoved against the wall by Byrne, while Colton trips a small mouse. When they pass Scott and Cecil, Stewart stares daggers at the bunny, clenching his fist. Scott stares at Stewart as they pass, before he turns to Cecil.
"What was that?"
"Nothing much," Cecil shrugs. The smile on his lips dies a little. "Let's get to the test."
"Did I mention how much I hate fauna?"
Cecil snorts as he rifles through his geography book. "Not too fond of it myself. Biomes, though. Massive pain."
"It was a practise test, though, right?"
"Yup." Cecil looks up with a grin. "You're cute when you fret."
"I'm not fretting," Scott says defensively.
"How are things with the boyfriend?"
"I don't know." Scott opens Renaissance: A History of Art.
"You don't know?"
"We were..." Scott sighs, and sways his head in exasperation. " ...sex."
Cecil raises his eyebrows. "You were sex? What sort of metamorphosis did you undertake?"
With a flush, Scott buries his face into his paw. "We did... I don't know. Something something naked? It was less than ten minutes before I called you on Wednesday."
"Ah. Yeah, I imagine that's awkward. You talked to him afterwards, right?"
Scott bites his lower lip. Cecil smiles weakly and shakes his head. "Oh, Scott. You should call him."
"Yeah, I should. Only with everything I just couldn't..."
"Don't worry about it. Stuff happens, right?"
Scott finds his phone, and dials Theo. After a few moments, there's an answer.
"Hello?"
"Hello."
"You okay?" Theo's voice is distant.
"Yeah. Sorry for ... for Wednesday."
There's quiet for a moment.
"Ooh, who's calling?" Colton's voice calls from somewhere nearby, in mock sing-song.
"Probably his 'girlfriend'. Cocksucker," Stewart adds scathingly.
Theo's heavy breathing is prominent over the phone.
"Yeah, actually," Theo says, rather meekly.
"What'd you say? You have a girlfriend?"
"Boyfriend." His voice breaks slightly.
"Fuck, you're queer?" Byrne says, his voice barely audible.
"Holy. Shit."
"_Cocksucker,"_Stewart repeats callously.
There's a smack, and Theo whimpers in pain.
"Fuck you lying about it for?" Travers growls. Over the desk, Cecil stares at the phone.
"Okay, fine, guess what, I'm queer, okay?" Theo growls back. "Tell the world for all I fucking care."
"Who cares?" Travers says. "Great, you like sucking dick. Least now you're honest about it."
"You're... not mad?"
"What, 'cause you're a faggot? Don't hit on me and I really could not possibly care less. Lying about it, though? I thought we deserved better from you."
"What the fuck?"
Stewart roars in the background.
"Calm your tits." Travers voice is annoyed.
"Fuck no, what the fuck? He's a faggot and you're just going to act like that's okay!?"
"I don't mind." Byrne is quiet, but firm.
"Wouldn't say no if he wanted to suck my dick," Colton says. "Head's head, man."
"Don't think that's the point, Colton," Patterson adds. "But yeah, it's fine."
"Fuck no, it's not fine! How can you stand there and just let this fag- You're all fucking homos!" Stewart stomps away, loudly and clearly.
"And the award for most dramatic storm off goes to..." Scott can hear Travers sigh. In the background somebody performs a mock fanfare."A cunt. Whatever. I'm going for a burger."
"I'll join ya," Colton adds in the background. "You're still up for paintball on Sunday, right?"
"...Yeah, 'course." Theo sounds confused, and meeker by the moment.
"See ya."
"Laters."
The stillness sets in for a long while. Eventually...
"I... I don't know how to feel about this."
"You're alive?" Scott suggests.
"Yeah... are you busy this weekend? Only I want to see you."
"Tomorrow evening?"
"Do you want to spend the night?"
"Yeah."
"Tomorrow evening. Okay. Talk to you later."
Theo hangs up. Scott looks at his phone, before he glances at Cecil. The bunny's expression is resentful.
"What's the matter?"
"Stewart," Cecil says simply.
Scott blinks.
"We were friends," he continues. "Emphasis on past tense. Of all the dicks in that gang..."
Scott lowers his head. He bites his lip again. "You busy this evening?"
"Was going to go dance, but to be honest I'd rather throw a bus into a wall right now."
"I'm going to play some games with Tom tonight, only I thought if you wanted to join..."
Cecil averts his gaze. "I think I'd be shit company. Can I take a rain check on that?"
"Of course."
"Think I'll head home. Sorry."
"Don't be. Please."
"Thanks. I'll see you over the weekend." Cecil gathers his belongings, and leaves in half a hurry.
Radiohead can be heard from Brian's room as Scott enters the apartment. "Who's there?"
"Me," Scott replies, taking off his shoes.
"Oh. Scott." Brian looks at him from the doorway. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah." Scott walks into the living room. Two empty cans of beer stand on the living room. "How are you?"
"I had a few," Brian admits, looking at the table. "I'm fine. All things considered."
"Did something happen?"
Brian slumps his shoulders. "Beth dumped me."
Scott looks at the bull. His eyes are a little puffy, and there's a wistfulness in his weak smile.
"She found out about me and Tom. I'm surprised Fran didn't tell her sooner." He sneers. "The bitch. Don't look at me as though I deserved it."
"I don't..." Scott shakes his head exasperatedly. "Why didn't you tell Beth yourself?"
Brian rolls his eyes, but shifts uncomfortably. After a moment, he sighs.
"I know. I deserve this. I fucked up." He buries his face in his hands. "I fucked up royally."
He drags his hand across his face before he slumps and leans against the frame of the doorway. Scott walks over to Brian, and hugs him.
"How much does Tom hate me?"
Scott shakes his head up against Brian's chest. "He doesn't hate you."
"I don't get why he's so..." Brian nuzzles between Scott's ears. Scott nips at his chin, before he buries his face into his neck.
"You broke his heart."
"...I did?"
Scott nods quietly. Brian lets out a long, embittered sigh. "I did. Of course I did."
Brian opens a second can of beer, leaning into the couch. "I don't get it. Why'd he fall for me?"
"He likes burly," Scott says with a small shrug. "And, well..."
"Well?"
"The bet."
"The... oh. That bet. What does that have to do with anything?"
"Home conditions? Religious upbringing, gays will burn in hell?"
Brian does a confused gesture. "Are you going somewhere?"
"Tom's ashamed of himself. His parents would go on about how queers should die, and, well. He thought something was wrong with him, and he ended up repressed."
"I can see that... but what does the bet have to do with that?"
"He likes burly."
"Why is that relevant? You're confusing me, Scott."
Scott rolls his eyes, but splays his ears. "Sorry. It's just... Theo mentioned that there was a party at their place - when he was with Fran, that is - and on a dare, he went and snogged Tom." As an afterthought, he adds: "Twice."
Brian spurts out a bit of beer. "Okay, did not see that coming."
"After the party, when Theo was in a drunk daze, Tom went downstairs and they fooled around for a bit more."
"That sounds familiar," Brian mutters. "So he likes burly. And the bet?"
"It's the first time a guy's ever talked about having sex with him."
Brian moans. "And of course I win the bet and he's all excited about gay sex. No wonder he brought it up at New Years."
"Can I even ask..."
"What happened?" Brian shrugs. "I was drunk. He was drunk. He stuffed his hand down my pants. I, uh. Might have told him to suck it. He did. He mentioned the bet. We concluded the bet. Then he just left after, for whatever reason. Never got why."
"He was confused, and terrified."
"Did he tell you, or are you just assuming?"
"Bit of both. I don't think I'm wrong, though." Scott folds his arms and leans back into the cough
"Confused, why?"
"He'd built it up in his head. It was going to be wonderful. His first time. It would solve everything."
"Funnily enough, it didn't." Brian looks blankly at the floor, with one hand at his temple. "Terrified?"
"He had to go home. After you almost split him in half. He was scared his parents would find out."
"Then I went and fucked it all up anyway, and they did find out in the end." Brian closes his eyes and takes another sip from his beer. "Here's to ruining everything."
"Don't say that," Scott whimpers.
"Oh well." Brian finishes the beer in one long chug. "You'll be spending the eve with me, right?"
"Actually, I ... I only came by to pick up the Xbox. Going to hang out with Tom."
"Oh." Brian looks away, disappointed. "But tomorrow night?"
"I... I'll be sleeping over at Theo's."
"Figures," Brian mutters through gritted teeth.
"What about tomorrow afternoon?"
"Got work. Opening and closing the café."
"I could come by and keep you company while you're at work."
Brian throws a sideways glance at Scott. "Yeah, I think I'd like that."
"And I could ask Theo if we could sleep over here instead."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not?"
Brian shakes his head, and reaches out for the wolf. He pulls Scott into his lap and nuzzles his forehead. "Let's leave it at that."
Scott wraps his arms around Brian and presses up against him. "I missed this."
"Me too." Brian kisses him between the ears. "How was your day, anyway?"
"Theo came out of the closet."
Tom drops the Xbox as he moves toward the telly. "He did what?"
"In front of his friends."
"You're joking." He studies the Xbox for a bit before he looks up. "How badly did they murder him? When's his funeral?"
"Travers punched him for lying about it. Colson, Patterson and Byrne didn't care. Stewart went into a right rage and raged at all of them, before storming off."
Tom remains quiet as he finishes setting up the Xbox, and he hands Scott a controller. "They're still cunts."
Scott smiles faintly. "What are we playing?"
"MvC3."
"Don't destroy me." Tom crawls up into the couch and presses up against Scott. Biting his lower lip, he strokes the otter's cheek. "I'm tired."
Tom looks up at him. "How?"
"You know, like...like that..."
Tom nods and nuzzles the wolf's chin. He presses his head into Scott's chest, and gestures at the telly.
The coffee shop brims with people as Scott and Theo enters. Brian stands by the counter, hastily taking orders with a panicked look on his face.
"Hey, Scott," Brian calls over the queue. People look confused and disgruntled. Scott heads towards the corner booth, and Theo abashedly follows.
"Is something the matter?" Scott asks as he slips out of his jacket.
"No. Well... only, this is the place where the gang..."
Scott sighs. "Don't worry about it."
The bear looks around. "Is this place usually this crowded?"
"Nope." Brian's by their table, with two cups of hot chocolate. "S'on me. We got a guitar act coming in at eleven, and I'm guessing these are fans. Need to get back to the counter. Excuse me."
The two of them glance around the shop. In one of the corners there's a small makeshift stage. Those who stand in the queue glare daggers at them. Scott closes his eyes and lays his head on the table.
"Didn't sleep well?"
"Tom had nightmares. He kept kicking me." Scott grimaces. "In the face."
"Lucky bastard," Theo mutters.
Scott raises an eyebrow. "Who, him for having nightmares, or me for being kicked in the face?"
"Sorry," Theo sighs. "Only, from what I gathered, you and Tom sharing beds is a recent thing, and I've only shared beds with you once."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I know. Tom needs it more than I do."
Quietly they enjoy their hot chocolate. The queue thins, and people settle down by their tables. The shop bell rings and the crowd grows restless. There's a cheer, a lot of talking, and within half a minute a mouse and a degu, both with guitars, settle down on top of the makeshift scene.
"They're tiny," Theo whispers.
"Comparatively to you and Brian? Yes," Scott whispers back.
"Hello, everyone," the mouse says, performing some chords. "I'm Amelia, and this is Wally."
Wally the degu is tuning his guitar absent-mindedly. Amelia works through some riffs and barre chords. Within the minute the two of them commit to a hushed conversation. There is a moment of silence, before music starts to pour out of their guitars, their voices in accord.