How It Goes - Interlude
#15 of How It Goes
I have continued my work on How It Goes after a two month hiatus.
I decided to upload this scene as an interlude, as it is perhaps most notable on its own.
Do enjoy, please. Thank you.
Bax drops off Scott right outside his home. "You two play nice, now. I'll be home in three hours or so."
"Thanks. Enjoy the cinema."
"Will do! You enjoy yourselves," Bax winks. He drives off, which leaves Scott on the pavement. He gazes up at the big building, while a tinge of anxiety presses against his chest. He walks up to the doorway and rings the doorbell.
"Scott," Oscar opens the door, his voice timid.
"Hello," Scott replies, smiling abashedly.
"Come on in. You doing better?"
"Loads, yeah, thanks." Scott takes off his jacket and hangs it up. He follows Oscar into the living room, which has recently been tidied. The bookcase has, logically, books of different varieties: multiple roleplaying rulebooks; books on programming; several series, some which Scott recognises, some which he doesn't; a couple of figurines and statuettes; and on top, a photograph of a very young Bax and Oscar, a large white bear, and a lioness who bears a sad smile.
"That's our mother," Oscar says, as he walks up to the wolf.
"I didn't realise you two were brothers."
"My dad married Bax's mum after a nasty divorce. I was three. Bax was eleven." He sighs. I" miss those days..."
Scott keeps quiet as he looks around the rest of the room.
"I'm glad you came," Oscar smiles. There's a hint of a flush on his cheeks.
"Me too," Scott replies softly.
"I..." Oscar takes a deep breath. "I guess I probably should get this question out of the way, but... but are you seeing anyone?"
Scott closes his eyes. "Yeah. I am."
Oscar sounds sad. "Yeah, I figured. Who wouldn't want you?"
"Apparently everyone does," Scott answers with a hint of exasperation. "I don't get why."
"Because you're..." Oscar stammers. He struggles to find his courage, but eventually... "You're gorgeous."
Scott's breath picks up as he gazes at the white bear. Oscar's lower lip trembles as he shifts back and forth on the balls of his feet. Quietly, the wolf bites his own lip as he glances away; the flush prickles his cheeks, and he splays his ears.
Oscar steps forward, twiddling his thumbs. Breathless, Scott watches the bear until Oscar's nose touches his own. The bear's eyes are mismatched, Scott notes. His breath smells of chocolate, sweet and thick.
"I like you," Oscar whispers. He closes his eyes and leans forward...
The front door opens violently, and it smashes into the wall; a picture falls to the ground, followed by the sound of shattered glass. Oscar's disappointment lines his face, his lips less than an inch away from Scott's. He sighs and steps away; Scott splays his ears, and both of them wander over to the entrance hall.
Bax swears profusely under his breath as he rummages through a cupboard to pull out a brush and dustpan. He glances over at Scott and Oscar rather furiously; his cheeks are damp and stained.
"What happened?" Oscar asks, rather timidly.
"Went to the Ox to meet up with Rick," Bax growls between gritted teeth. His grip around the dustpan handle causes an audible crack in the plastic. "The bartender, some new guy, broke the news to me. Found him in one of the bathroom stalls cheating on me."
Oscar inhales sharply; Scott looks away and mumbles, "Sorry to hear."
"Yelled at him until the bouncer threw me out," Bax continues. His growl grows louder. "I owe that otter one for telling me about it. I dumped Rick."
Bax swipes up the glass shards rather harshly. Scott and Oscar exchange nervous glances, before Oscar asks shakily, "Should we leave you alone?"
"If you could." Bax shakes his head and looks away with a heavy, dark sigh. Oscar grabs Scott's hand and gently tugs him into the living room; Scott doesn't resist, though he trembles at the bear's touch.
"Figures," Oscar mumbles as he walks over to the couch.
"What?" Scott asks as their hands part. Oscar flops into the sofa face-first, and he says nothing. "Are you all right?"
The bear rolls onto his side and looks up at Scott. His glasses hang askew on his stubby snout. "I thought we had a moment, but then I remembered you've already got a..."
Oscar, sullen, pulls his knees up to his chest. Scott splays his ears and sits down next to him.
"Not like you'd want me anyway," Oscar mutters. "I'm too small and too chubby and... all wrong."
Scott looks away. "You're not too small or too chubby, or... or all wrong."
After a moment's silence, Scott looks over at Oscar, who stares back. "You're just saying that..."
Scott lowers his head, and rubs his cheek. He twiddles his thumbs, checks his phone, glances over at the television... and then he takes a deep breath.
"Just this once," Scott whispers.
"This once-" Oscar is cut off mid-sentence as Scott's snout presses hard against the bear's. He squeals at first, but eventually shifts into a longing, soft moan. Scott gazes into his eyes, and nuzzles Oscar's nose slowly. Their breaths on one another's lips, they sink into the soft cushions...