Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Boy on Page One ❯ A boy named Charlie Brown ( Chapter 9 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Hakuo was boxed-in by emotions.

Wall 1. Cry. Just curl up and let himself get swallowed by the pain that's throwing flashbacks at him of the face of that cold-eyed, muted voice, pornography solicitor, of the highest magnitude. Wall 2. Pass out from lack of oxygen; the shock of it all sucked his breath away, clenched his throat, collapsed his lungs, and left him unable to function correctly. Wall 3. Violence. He felt his fists clenched at his sides, held their by sheer willpower to not be jailed from putting his fist through the face of a man that would tell him something so disgusting but still think to ask him to take the money! Was he begging to die? Was his life so shit that this show of stupidity was his outcry for death? Swift and black is the bringer; while slow to depart from this world, but glad to look at his splatter of red as he leaves is the receiver.

Wall 4. Rage. It wasn't enough to hurt this man. He'd hurt them all! Every teller. Every waiting patron. Any dummy hearing the screams from outside, and comes in thinking they can help cease the violence that the humanized Hulk was bringing to them.

"Mr. Krenn?" calls the employee who'd brought him aside to see to the proper transfer of the money to the recipient. He need only to sign his name. He doesn't understand what the frozen shock is for. True. It is a hefty sum of money for a young man, but it certainly shouldn't warrant a system shutdown.

Hakuo's breathing suddenly became very heavy. "…I don't…" he swallowed to catch his breath, though it did no good, in fact, it only seemed to close his throat off more so that when speaking he had to shout over the dry clench. "I don't want it!"

"I'm sorry?" Surely he'd heard wrong? Who doesn't want a little past a quarter of a million dollars? Maybe he was one of those weirdos who'd complain if he won the lottery, fearing every hand in the county will come calling.

"Are you deaf as well as dumb?! I said that I don't want it!" He practically hollered.

"But, Mr. Krenn, this is quite a bit of money... What do you expect we do with it? Invest it for you?"

Hakuo had to stop himself from bursting through that rage seeking blockade, because it was seriously going to go Hulk on this man. No one can be this ignorant! They just can't!

"It's your fiduciary right to sign for this money," says the bank clerk. He's quite serious and is having the worst time trying to get this young man to take something more than half the population would do backflips for.

"First of all, that word sounds made up," he's just gonna let the smarmy bastard know that right off the bat. Fiduciary. Gimme a break. "And second, if it's my money than I should have the right to say no."

"That sounds right to you, but Mr. Krenn, you fail to understand the legality of the situation. Taxes. Trustee statements, beneficiary guidelines,"

All the foreign words were making his ears burn. He could just scream. In fact he will. Sucking in a breath he hollars in the man's face. "Will you shut up!?"

Shuhei just about jumped out of his skin hearing the commotion coming from inside the tiny office. What the heck was going on in there? His brother was so happy just a moment ago - one would even call it rollar coaster thrilled happy. Guess this is the part after the pause where one just screams with eyes shut, and a little fear inside comes out. After a quick knock he permits himself in without being invited.

"What's going on?" He sees one spooked bank clerk and a seething brother, barely able to keep himself in a neutral corner. "Hakuo?"

"Go ahead and tell him what you told me," Hakuo bosses the man to do this. "Tell him where the money came from."

The confused, and nervous clerk looked first at Hakuo, then his impressively sized… friend? Brother, or perhaps even cousin? They don't look like siblings to him. Swallowing, he remained silent.

"Tch. Now you wanna clam up?" He rolled his eyes. "Public enemy number one left me money in a trust, that I was to collect upon age 21. I had a right to decline within 9 months before turning that ripe old age, lest it be forced upon me outright - plus tax."

"Wait a minute, what?" Shuhei was still processing the first thing his brother said. Public enemy number could only be one person. Marissa Ashford. But there's no way, right? Why would she do something like that?

"Yeah." Hakuo says to the pissed look crossing his brother's face. "So sure was she that I'd be hers' ultimately, she made me this account using the money my ass earned being a sex slave."

The clerks eyes widened. "I'm sorry?" Now it was his turn to wonder if he heard right; this room apparently fosters selective hearing because everyone was catching a case of the: "say that again".

Hakuo is still coming to grips with owing the bank money for refusing the pile of shit. 15,000 dollars and adding onto, just from saying no. Holy shit. Even that is most of what he got in the hospital settlement; and he wants that saved so he and Nathen can have that cushion should things dry up between jobs, demotions, or emergencies. And a good deal of that came with the down payment of the apartment. They'd be in the red from just one single accident in life.

"No. You know what… I'm the one who should apologize. I'm not quite used to being upset." Confessed the unwanted wealthy young man.

The clerk looked taken aback by the fact that the young man apologized just for the fact that he let himself become angry. Not at how he'd said it, not by the way he's threatened him, or his shoving the documents all over the floor before the big blond guy walked in, but that he showed he was upset. It's very strange.

"It isn't on you how I conduct myself." Taking a seat in the chair at the desk, he reached for a pen stuck to a bubble chain then signed his name on any dotted line. "I'll take the money."

…..

Shuhei knows his brother well enough around people to know that Hakuo is still seething with rage. It seems the more polite he becomes the more he wants to harm whomever is making it so. It was the way he smiled so sweetly, told the man he was just doing his job, and that he was sorry for causing trouble, that Shuhei knew the man was seconds away from having a broken nose and missing teeth. The clerk didn't have to see the dead expression on his brother's face after he bid him a good afternoon.

The older Krenn thanked whatever forces that stopped his brother from going to jail for assault - especially to a bank employee, when they've got enough problems from fear of gun-toting, "your money or your life" situations around each corner of everyday. They'd throw the book at him!

"What did I ever do, that all the world wants to treat me this way? Hmm? Is it that I'm mixed? Is it that I'm gay? Is it that I see humans as walking mulch? I'd really like to know." He heaved a sigh as held the door open for an elderly woman making her way up to the door.

"Thank you, young man."

Smiling sincerely and sweetly, he replied. "Anything to assist when seeing such a nice face smile."

The elderly woman laughed, saying that not even her own husband has the courage to compliment her like that. She then said he was sweet and continued away. Releasing the door released Hakuo's pleased expression as if it were a tooth on a string, and he has it pulled away with the door. It left his brother wondering if Hakuo's kindness was sincere or an auto-pilot type situation. Because he's genuinely nice to everyone.

Walking across the parking lot, the hot-checks in his hand; he had the money split and received two checks to sign for. The fuming Krenn asked either his brother or the universe. "Who am I, Linus?!"

Shuhei got mono-brows from that mistake. Smiling, he corrects good-humorously. "I think you mean Charlie Brown?"

"Incorrect." Pulling at the car door without successfully popping it open until his brother pops the lock with the button, Hakuo says. "Charlie Brown is optimistic, despite all those little shits coming down on him over any little mishap - most of which they create by their own ignorant mischief, he's always going out for that football despite Lucy, which shows that he never gives up. And he's good-natured, and loves animals." Climbing into the car he buckles up while further explaining his point. "Linus is a dream crushing, arrogant little piss, who sucks his thumb, carries a blanket, and regardless of being Chuck's friend, he still feels the need to dogpile him with the others, when he waits for a friggin' pumpkin spirit - don't you tell me he's not the loser of that group."

Shuhei couldn't help but laugh. It was a funny observation. He just hopes his brother knows that he isn't laughing at him. The scowl on his lips expressed that Hakuo was still angry. And he remained as such for most of the ride to the Taco Bell. Shuhei knows he asked his brother to treat him, but the older Krenn figures Hakuo needs some cheering up food. So he'll suck it up and eat the junk, and play nice to better his mood.

"I'm going about this all wrong," he says quietly to himself. He isn't Linus! And he won't let the world treat him like he is! He's gonna live like Charlie Brown, or at least he'll try it out! Starting now. "Shu, after lunch can you take me to one more place?"

Surprised by the neutral, though leaning on happy tone, he nods. "Of course."

"Thanks." A grin spread across his face. "Things are gonna be looking up from now on." Declared the once down.

...

Nathen Small was practically skipping down the corridor towards his apartment. It's after work and he's realizing that he just came home to his own home. His home! He is a man! He can have girls over without his mother peeking in and going "aaww" as she had when he was dating Felicia the year before. Or his father asking him after her departure if he'd had protection? My gawd, who wants to hear something like that from either parent - ever!? Ugh. He had a hard time looking his father in the eye after that. It went on for a month. He doesn't like the idea of his parents thinking about him having sex. Muchlike with them, it's better to remain in the know-without-knowing category.

Turning the key, he called out that he was home while dropping his keys on the hook by the door. It's for jackets but they set the keys on the remaining two rings since it's a four coat deal, and they're only wearing their individual one.

"Hakuo?" Nathen cocked his head when seeing his friend seated at the table eating a bowl of cereal, his posture slumped, hand on his cheek. How is he swallowing without choking because of the slight lean? He wondered. "What's up? I thought I'd come home, and find you butt-naked and rolling about the money pile."

"Meet my depression, you two haven't been introduced yet." Shifting his lean to the other hand that was once holding the utensil, he says. "S'up."

"Why're you depressed? Was there a mix up at the bank?" He removed his work shirt exposing a navy undershirt. He gave the removed garment a sniff, shrugged, then balled it up and hurled it in the direction of his bedroom. Whether it hit floor or furniture he doesn't care, as long as it's where it needs to be. "Did the papers actually say Hakuo Grenn or something?"

Hakuo smiled. "That little change would make the difference, but no, the money was for sure ours. But, it's gone. We don't need that money."

"We kinda need that money."

"Nathen, that money came from a disgusting place. A hurtful place. It was an accumulation of the money my ass earned in front of the camera and offscreen. Marissa made a trust for me."

"Why would she do that?" He scrunched his whole face up, as he realized the first part of what Hakuo had said.

"You look like you just ate a bag of Warheads."

"I'm sorry, but what you said just sank in." He rubbed his friend's back.

Nodding, Krenn went back to eating his cereal.

"That's rough, buddy."

"Right?" Done with his meal, he looks at Nathen. "She abducts me, and she's so sure that I'll have become so warped by her that I need such things like online schooling and trust funds. She's such a piece of shit." He nods. "She can't be a pile, a pile feels like company. She needs to be just a solitary piece of shit." Scooping up his bowl, he cleans it and places the dish in the sink. Turning around, he's got an impish grin on his face as he leans against the counter and simply stares at his friend. His grin turned into a chuckle. "I commend you for your ability to be too polite to ask me what I did with the money."

"I don't know what you mean." He blushed, he knows exactly what Hakuo means, and he knows that - at least to himself - he wondered it. "You only offered to share it with me, but it was your money. You could do what you like with it, it's none of my business." He heads into his room to change his clothes.

Returning to the kitchen to eat the food Hakuo cooked for him, before he got home; he's halfway through fixing himself a plate of herb and butter rice, a chicken leg from the market's grab-and-go kitchen area, and a side of thick cut green beans. There was just enough food cooked to empty the pots once Nathen was through removing lids and spooning portions.

"I'll wash once I'm done." He says to his roommate.

Hakuo joined him at the table to keep him company. He ate dinner at 6:50, knowing that Nathen gets home by 8pm. It's not as hard as he thought it would be. However, he still felt hungry for something sweet so he fixed a bowl of Nutter Butter cereal.

Nathen ate, chewing and chewing. After he swallowed, he sighed. "Alright. You win. I'm curious. What did you do with the money?"

"I gave it away to charity." He smiled proudly. "I gave some to ending hunger, and some to ending violence against children."

Nathen looked at his friend, astonished. "That's really beautiful."

"I turned something dirty into something pure. And I gotta tell ya, I feel really good about having done it."

"Then why were you depressed before?"

Hakuo shrugged. "Sometimes it happens…"

Nathen felt sad, but he covered it up by eating his dinner. "Wanna talk about it?"

"I'm therapist shopping."

"That's not an answer."

"It kinda is." He leaned his cheek on his hand. "We can talk about it, if you'd like to hear; but I don't expect you to have any clue what to say afterwards. If you still wanna hear, I'm cool with it."

"Is it alright if I ask questions?" Inquired the listener. "I know you must be tired of thinking about it..."

"At nauseum, but for you, I'll answer it."

And so they talked as Nathen ate, then ignored, then ate his dinner. It was different hearing the variations of what was told on the news compared to the truth, now that he's an 'insider'. He felt so much closer to Hakuo. He actually feels closer to him than he's ever felt to anyone. Most of his friends aren't that deep, and whenever they have anything to share, they don't usually want to share it unless it's good news.

So, yeah, like a concerned but happy parent he peaked in on his roommate as he slept; and he said a little prayer for him that no more pain befall his troubled head.

Sunday morning.

Hakuo walked out of his bedroom to the sound of Nathen talking to himself. He may not have his gift anymore, but he can still sense that there isn't anyone in the apartment aside from them. Poor guy must have gone low-key insane from all he's learned. That, or the amount of money loss has shaken him up. But, upon entering the kitchen on his trek to the fridge he sees Nathen's cell phone sitting on the counter filming him. Oh. That's why. He's filming for his vlog again.

Pouring himself some orange juice, he wondered who'd wanna watch a stranger make breakfast. 'Oh wait, that's literally what a TV chef is doing, being a watched stranger that's cooking.' He cocked his head to the side when the at-home-chef lifts the camera aiming it at him.

"Kinda makes me wanna make a wish, and then blow on your head," laughs the director.

Sipping his orange juice, he says. "The nip in the air frizzes me right up." Trying to smooth his hair down only fluffed the flyalways further.

And the day is nippy. It's the reason why the month is always filled with the title March Madness. One minute it's hot then it's cold, then it's windy then calm. It can drive one insane when trying to predict the weather in a pinch. All the world learns the striptease of sweater-on then sweater-off in March.

"I made enough," says Small now aiming the camera at his food. "Masterpiece." Taking the plate to the table he brings the camera with him, then shifting it around is made easy by a wooden phone holder that's shaped like an elephant with the phone resting in the curved trunk.

Hakuo was craving toaster waffles, but with his new policy, he'll eat the fried potatoes and Spam. He'd had a bad dream last night. He was seven-years-old, in bed, staring at Marissa who stared back, believing she was unseen both due to the darkness in his bedroom and that she was using her gift to shield herself from him. The glamour never worked on him; the memory wiping never failed, until he made up Mamoru. But the glamours were a laugh. Sometimes she would caress his hair. Sometimes she'd kiss his cheek, now and then peck his lips. The horrible shit of a woman.

He woke up with a stronger resolve. And so, because of that, he took the mail from yesterday and tossed it into the trash. No good can come from it. So why bother with it anymore? Anyone in urgent need to speak to him can call or locate him now, not yesteryear.

Eating his fill of the delicious greasy chunks of potato and peppers with onion, he wondered if there were any eggs?

"What are you doing today?" Nathen asked.

It took Hakuo a minute to realize Nathen had spoken to him, not from having zoned-out, but because he figured Nathen was talking to the camera again. "Oh. I'm gonna be hanging out with Gev; don't know what we're doing yet, figure I'll play it by ear." Giving him a nod of: "And you?" He dug back into his meal.

"I will be spending my day off editing with Hugo. Oh," he jumped from the table then dashed into his bedroom. "Before I forget again, or spend it, ahehe,"

Hakuo snickered at Nathen's sly comment.

"And, well, spend it on your Gev." Putting his camera away after turning it off, he hands his roommate an envelope.

"Ooh, Got Items." He says with a laugh as he imitates the little voice in Mario Party that tells you you've just gotten an item. "Wow, Nathe… did you rob a bank?" He thumbs through the bills inside the envelope. "There's six hundred dollars in here."

"That is from the videos you made, from YouTube. Not… well, it's from YouTube."

"Don't tiptoe" he sings, "through the tulips with me." He then sighed in exasperation that it will happen sometimes, that voice, whether anyone means to use it or not. "I knew what you meant, my directing friend." Setting down the money, he asks. "You can make money from YouTube videos? How does that work?"

Nathen explained how, then commenting. "What do you think all that like and subscribe is about?"

He had noticed Nathen or one of the others saying that at the end of videos. "I just thought it was a grievance for viewers to share the video. Ya know, a popularity contest."

"I'm not that confident." Nathen smiled.

Nodding; impressed with the whole deal, he says offhandedly. "I would have tried harder if I knew it mattered towards anything but fun."

Small shook his head. "You're doing a good job. People think your deadpan is a hilarious gimmick."

'That's good - wait a minute…' Hakuo made a momentary look of disgruntled confusion before shaking it off. If it works, it works. "Want me to get the dishes?"

"Sure. I gotta shower."

"Hey, how'd you meet Hugo, anyway?"

"I dated his sister," he calls from the bedroom. "She wanted to stop dating me, but didn't wanna tell me, so she asked him to do it. He saw me filming Mike and everyone at the mall, and said he liked my videos - but my editing isn't as sharp."

"Sort of a sibling trade off."

"What?" Having closed the door to strip down, he only somewhat heard Hakuo.

"I said it was like a trade-off!"

"Oh. Yeah." Clad in nothing but a towel around his waist, he walks into the bathroom.

The dishes are cleaned and put away; Hakuo then dressed and smoothed down his wild-kingdom look, tying it off into a half ponytail. Ten o'clock. Okay. People are definitely awake at ten. He then recalled his knowledge of Gev, and the goth's favorite night activity of being awake until damn near two o'clock in the morning, and sleeping until noon.

'Tough nubs, London, you're getting up and coming out whether you like it or not.' Decides the coming visitor. "Later!" he called to the whistling bathing beauty.

"Bye!"

…

"We've been in the car for twenty minutes; do you know where we're going?" Asks Gev, while stretching his arms over his head the best he can in the low ceiling vehicle.

"Yup." The car began to slow, then came to a standstill in an empty lot.

Looking around, London shrugged. "Am I gonna like where this is? Or do you plan to kill me then dispose of my body in the woods over there?" He nods in the direction of the forest on the right of them.

"Come now; I'd make you get out so I could chase you around for a little while first." He grinned cheekily.

Gev flicked him on the shoulder. "I might like you, but, I'd turn the tables and become the hunter." Winking at him, he says. "Believe me."

Hakuo believed him. Popping the door open, he climbed out of the car. Gev watched Hakuo walk around the car, and he wondered if maybe the little nut was sincerely going to chase him through the woods. Hmm… this could end in sexy results. He turned his head when his door pop open. He betrayed his earlier words about becoming the hunter when his gaze checked Hakuo's exposed hands for a weapon.

"Come on, get out."

Full of wonder, he complies, becoming all the more confused when Hakuo took his seat. Before he tugged the door closed, he pats the driver's seat. He can't mean? He can't be serious? Is he serious? The pair lock eyes, a smiling dual-colored gaze dueling an ice-cold gray glare. London put his foot up high enough to retrieve a knife from his boot.

Holding it out to a confused Hakuo, he says. "Just run me through. It's a better alternative than that."

Taking the knife, he cocks a brow as he stuffs it into the glove compartment. "That disturbs me on so many levels. Now get in the driver's seat."

A smarter person would have locked the door receiving the look that Gev was firing through the windshield, but Hakuo merely flicked his fingers instructing him to hurry it along. The pissed goth was doing his people proud with the anger level, but he's going to comply. Why? Because despite his uneasy feeling, he doesn't want to look like a punk in Hakuo's eyes.

Rubbing Gev's thigh to comfort him, he says. "Relax. This is gonna be awesome."

"Did I not just hand you a knife? Do you really wanna die along with me?"

Shaking his head, the confident Krenn replied. "Nobody's dying. You know how to drive, you're just uneasy about it. I'll teach you. You'll be a great driver by the end of this." He grinned assuredly. "So Spongebob, what's the first thing you do when driving a car?"

Gev released a sigh. "I thought we were just gonna go for a drive around here and around there." He turned the key - or started to.

"Uh-uh. Turn the silver part, not the key itself."

"Right." Correcting his mistake he starts the car.

"Perfect. Now, foot on the break, then gear shift to drive."

Wetting nervously dried lips, he does as instructed.

The pair were in the vacant lot for twenty minutes, going around and around and back and forth. It was easy! And, surprisingly really fun. Hakuo was making him, instructing with laughed out words to watch out for this or he hit that or whom. He didn't cry about him wrecking his car. And after twenty minutes of built up confidence, Hakuo told him to head out to the busy road.

The driving instructor was talking casually to the nervous driver about this and that, trying to keep him from panic mode. It was sort of helping. Sort of…

"Are all goths such cowards?"

"Yyyeah! It's why we dye the hair and wear the makeup. 'Don't look at us' is rule number one. A lazy attitude keeps us from heights," he scoffed hearing the passenger's chuckles. "Zip it, Krenn, my sucking might still crash us."

"You're doing really well. Maybe you could go a peg faster later on, but, no pressure to." Pointing, he requests. "Take this right."

"Fuck you, right turns," Muttered the uneasy driver.

The wheel turns in his very form grip. Hakuo grabbed the wheel and gently shoved the it back upwards a little to prevent them going over into the grass from the hyper turned wheels, prepared for a unplanned u-turn. Gev wasn't gonna lie, the gentle silence and teasing but offer of help, was really turning him on in a strange way. He can't recall ever having tingling in his stomach from anything. Butterflies of giddiness… that's newborn love stuff. All the dirty shit he's done, who has time for the playground? But here he is, on the merry-go-round like a giddy little kid after his first taste of sugar.

He braved a glance at Hakuo, who turned to look at him when spotting his movement from the corner of his eye. He smiled at him, then offered a thumbs up. Gev smiled back. Then returned to driving with focus. Hoping soon that they'd reach their destination.

# #

"Easy pulling in," says Hakuo as the car rolls up into the lot of a convenience store.

Gev smiled at how dirty that sounded, yet, the passenger didn't seem to notice - that, or he didn't care.

"Pull into the first empty space you see,"

Again, Gev snickers at the innuendo. Looking around the lot he sees a couple spaces but he's gonna be sandwiched in each one. Why is every other car gone instead of two at a time, he needs space to parallel park. Hakuo watched Gev's expression as he debated where to park; another car pulling in honked at him.

He muttered. "Shit."

Looking over his shoulder, the passenger waved the impatient driver around them. "Ignore it. Take your time." Rubbing Gev's knee he says, "And by the gods, man, breathe evenly." He gives an example.

Gev cast him a "Whatever" expression, but fixes his breathing regardless; during their hour long drive he had been off and on holding his breath. The car behind them honked again, then maneuvered around. He shouted something illegible on the way by as he easily took a spot in the lot. Hakuo's car rolled slowly forward, the wheel turning in the driver's death grip. Again, Gev's stomach flutters butterflies in his chest over Hakuo holding the wheel to assist.

"Meanwhile, for all his chest puff, he sure kept that window up to shout at us." Grinning fiendishly, the Asian-mix added. "Think we made him nervous?"

Gev almost didn't answer, too distracted with parking. "Probably thinks we'll slash his tires,"

"That's stupid, why would we slash his tires? We were sorta at fault - if anything he should wanna slash ours." Looking out the window and down, he says "Lift your foot off the gas and straighten the wheel."

Doing as he's told, finally - finally! The car was brought to a stop, the engine turned off. Gev vowed that if he makes it through today, he'll never watch porno again. He'll give smiles to polite strangers instead of sneers, he'll go all Clark Kent instead of Gothicman in life. Just please, don't let him have to do that again. His heart can't take it, worrying that they'll crash and burn or get into an accident and only he'll walk away… Stress!

"You killed it," cheered his driving teacher before he hopped out of the car.

Insane. Hakuo Krenn truly is insane. It took him a moment to get his barings but the shaking driver followed him out of the vehicle and into the store. Gev wandered about the shelves and grabbing Flaming Hot Cheetos, a can of beer, a Pure Leaf tea for Hakuo. He felt that he got what was needed. Looking over the low shelves, he spots his companion over in the chips aisle.

"Hak', what are we getting?"

"I'm just getting some cakes, and sandwiches," replied Krenn then whispered. "Of the cookie variety." Glancing up over the shelves looking at Gev's back, he smiled to himself that he gets to have such a casual exchange with Gev. It felt so natural hearing his name shortened from such a friendly tone.

"Hey, tell your friend or yourself," Because he didn't know which of them was driving the car. "to learn how to drive," Says the man from the lot when he came up at Hakuo's side.

Smiling, he replied. "I have been. He's pretty good, ain't he?" His pride for Gev is sincere, even though he's jesting with a salty demeanor. Plus, he's not gonna let some pushy dick pluck his nerves, because he knows that it's all this idiot is trying to do. "Pretty soon, he'll be parking without assistance." And that truly is his goal, to teach Gev how to drive.

"Well, some of us are in a hurry," snarled the man, trying to sway the younger man's good mood. Nice try.

"Says the guy whose been in here ten minutes after arriving, and is currently taking time from that 'hurry' in a pitiful attempt to chew me out."

"That's just because I wanted to be sure to tell you it's..."

Cutting him off he says, filling in the blank. "Dumb how you're fishing for anything to say. I agree with you there." Glancing at the shelf, he snags a box from the line up. "Peanut butter chocolate cakes - let's go boys!" He cheered with the box held joyously in the air. Seeing the man is still at his side, he says rather blandly. "You're still here? How embarrassing for a grown man. Good afternoon."

Walking away with his snack cakes, he heads over to Gev. That guy can argue with the shelves if he wants. He was sure the Little Debbie boxes would all flip themselves over so the little girl on the logo didn't have to hear the distemper of the man too. It's gonna be the next ghostly activity caught on security camera. Agitated box art flips itself around to avoid having to hear a disgruntled idiot.

"Should we make ramen or get a burrito heated up?"

"For what? Lunch? We're not going out somewhere?"

Hakuo looked surprised; shaking his head, he asked. "Why would we? It's a waste of mo-"

"My treat."

Against the idea, mainly because this is their first date, and he'd like to keep it simple, he gives in. "Fine. …How's Taco Bell sound?"

"Lame. We could at least go to The Hut."

They walk their items over to the checkout counter. Looks like mister quick, fast, and in a hurry is still wandering aimlessly around the store. Moron. Like Hakuo figured, the man's trying to spread his bad mood around town like the flu.

"I do enjoy a good pizza. Hey, do you get a discount at work?"

"Of course,"

"Then we can eat there," he thanks the man behind the register counter, then lifts the bag into his custody. Heading for the door, he looked over his shoulder and loud as can be, scaring the man - and a couple others - to jump up a few inched from the floor, he shouts. "Hey you! Speed it up! Other people wanna shop in here!" Throwing his head back with laughter, he exits the store.

Gev only briefly saw the other patrons looking at the man who'd been shouted at, as they wonder what that was all about. The parking lot jerk's embarrassment overshot his anger, and he lowered his head and charged for the back of the store by the refrigerators. Not exactly a hiding place, but whatever.

He's so bold. Gev liked Hakuo more just then.

Walking over to the car, he can see Hakuo is still in the passenger's seat. He can't be serious. 'Still!?' It's going to be a long day. Getting in on the driver's side, he says. "Take two."

"It's more like Act Two."

And Hakuo would know, since his best friend is into the business. Nathen is even enrolled in a fancy computer school, mostly for programming. But he learns other things in the field as well.

"Bite?" He leans the cake to Gev's mouth.

Taking the offering, though he isn't a sweets fan when it comes to snacking, he chews it thoroughly. Once he steadied his nerves, he moved the car out of the space and back into traffic flow.

…..

"I can't believe I'm here on my day off. I'm seriously Spongebob today. You're dorking me up, Krenn." Because only Spongebob Squarepants would go to the place that he works to eat.

Hakuo looks over the menu. "How's the steak?"

Before Gev could answer, a jovial voice came up to them booming with good cheer. "You're here on your day off? What, you wanna get paid for advertising that our food is so great, even the staff swings in lunch?"

"Could I?" Gev teased the manager.

The man laughed. "And who's this?" He asks about Hakuo.

The guest was watching the interaction with interest. Gev can be friendly like a corn-ball it seems. He must have a whole bag of tricks Hakuo has never experienced from his hopefully-more friend. He knew then that he'd like to see all of Gev's sides, even the false ones.

"Bernie, this is Hakuo," he says to the manager. "Hakuo, Bernie, the manager."

"Hi." Greets Krenn.

"Nice to meet you," he rubbed his girth then says to Gev. "Tell you what, London, this meal's on me. Get anything you guys want."

"Okay." He wondered why the boss man was being so generous, but gift horses don't take well to getting looked at in the mouth. "Suddenly he's a gift horse," Gev says once Bernie is gone.

"Speaking of horses," Hakuo asks. "Is it 'horse bath' or 'whore's bath'?"

"What?" Gev's pierced brow furrowed. It's noisy inside of the place what with music and chatter going, but he still questions whether he'd heard Hakuo right or not. "Are you saying horse funny? Or whores with a W?"

"Whores, with a W."

"Oh. Why?" it was such a random question, it made him curious.

Hakuo shrugged. "I just heard it somewhere and wondered."

"Oh. Yeah, it's the one with a W."

Hakuo set his bottle down after sipping some tea. "I wonder why it's a whore's bath?"

Gev laughed. "You're cracking me up; you've gotta put more inflection behind it. It sounds like you're saying 'horse'."

Hakuo muttered "whores, whores" as their waitress arrived. She cast him with a look that said he'd better not be talking about her. Then she wrote out their order.

"I hope she doesn't spit in my food." Worries Krenn.

"She knows better."

"Doesn't mean she'll do good by it."

Gev doubts that. Andrea is a pretty mellow person. She wouldn't do something like that. "What's with today? Why am I doing all the driving? You wanna claim the insurance or something when we crash?"

"No. I wanna teach you how to drive." Hakuo explains. "You know so much in life, and I don't really know anything. But, that I know. That I can do for you. Besides," he thanked the waitress, briefly but thoroughly inspects his food once she leaves the table, then cuts himself a forkful porterhouse. "Anyone can go to the movies or to an amusement park. Not many people give each other life lessons. It's not a very good date, but it's a practical one."

That was so stupid, it was charming. Gev wanted to kiss Hakuo right then. But he doesn't. He can't. He won't slip like last time.

"A few more weeks of Sundays and you'll be ready to get a license. Think of the comfort level in the rain on stormy days, and the nice boxed-in heat during the winter… Nice, right?"

It would be nice. Thinks Gev. He felt strange as he ate lunch. Like… the butterflies were turning on him, causing him to feel… guilty instead of giddy. Why is that? He's not doing anything wrong. He watched himself so he wouldn't. He's probably just imagining things. New sensations always fade and make one a little queasy by the end of it. Yeah. That's all it is. His butterflies are settling.

# #

"I'm almost embarrassed to say it," Gev says after taking a Cheeto from the bag. "but, I really got the hang of it. Driving around isn't so tough."

Hakuo gave a nod.

"How much did this cost?" Asks the Russian pointing to the rather cheap looking plastic sleeve housing their entertainment.

They're parked in the vacant lot again; in the backseat, with their snacks all laid out beside them - Gev with the salty and Hakuo with the sweet. Before them on the back of the passenger's seat is Hakuo's tablet, playing live television so they can watch a rerun of Supernatural.

"I just doubled up on some plastic wrap and sewed it to the seat."

Gev marveled at the thrifty cheapskate. His grey gaze wandered, looking first at Hakuo's lips then at his profile since the guy's zombie-style focused on watching the stars try at stop a grim reaper from curing one person while killing another. He really wants to kiss him, but the settling butterflies are preventing it, while also begging him for it. Looks like second best will have to do. Lunging, he hugs Hakuo's side.

The ambushed smiled briefly before his expression soured. "Umm, rules." He says about the hugging.

"Just let me do it." He closed his eyes, breathing in Hakuo's scent. He smells new these days. No longer like a cookie, but instead like a spring… an Irish spring, getting a deeper whiff Gev surmised that it may actually be Irish Spring soap with just a dash of something else.

Caressing Gev's arm, as if the Russian is the one who needs the comfort - which is how Hakuo is understanding this hug assault, he asks. "But why?"

"Because I like you, and kissing you is too risky. It'll only lead me to wanna fuck." Admits the guilt-ridden, hornier than ever after admitting it.

Hakuo unconsciously tilts his head to expose his neck to Gev, who kissed it. Just one should do. His scent filled his mouth a bit, the taste was familiar. Is that pear? Well, one way to find out. He brushed the tip of his tongue against Krenn's neck when placing another small kiss there.

"What lotion is that? Pears?"

"Yes, but I'm not wearing lotion, it's a bodywash. I wouldn't let you kiss me if I had lotion on - that could be toxic." Turning his head, he cursed himself beause he locked eyes with Gev in doing so.

Gev isn't the only one trying to be good. Not that Hakuo thinks it's bad to kiss, makeout with, or even have a few moments of wandering hands against flesh with the attractive goth. He's actually yearning for it. However, he's living like Charlie Brown. Getting Gev to want him is like kicking that damned football. It's going to keep being tugged away the more he wants it. So he has to make the ball stay in place. That, he sees as his path for victory. He's been too careless, leading Gev to believe that it is a one-way street when it's not. He wants more than friendship or to rub up against his body. He's horny for him, but that's just nature.

Hakuo's going to turn that fire into an emotional one, not just a physical one. ...Eh, maybe the next time.

The pair couldn't place when they'd exited the car, wandered up the stairs to the apartment that was shared with Nathen Small, or when they unlocked and went through the door because their faces are smashed together as they mauled like animals consuming - but sharing - a fresh kill between their lips. Hands cruise around beneath any bit of loose clothing like a wandering tourist to touch skin landmarks: hips, dips, moles or birthmarks, anything placed anywhere.

Hakuo broke the kiss and shoved Gev onto the couch, he was just about to remove the guy's shirt when his glance fell into Nathen's bedroom where he and Hugo are sitting on the floor infront of his best friend's laptop. Fuck.

"Why're we stopping?" Asked Gev, practically foaming at the mouth.

"Nathen's home, and he's with somebody."

"Haku' is that you?" Called that very person.

It was such a boner-killer having someone around. It went from a climbing 68% to a negative zero. They must be like women down there because of the unwanted inhabitants. It felt like they have fallen through a falsely frozen pond, then when they came up for air someone throws ice water in their face instead of saving them. That's how dead the mood is.

"Okay." Getting up from the couch, he wrapped his arms around Hakuo, hugging him once more. "See you next Sunday?"

"Yeah. We'll practice U-turns."

"Okay." Exiting without looking back, he left the building, got on his bike then sped home.

At least the butterflies are gone now. Which is weird, because he feels less guilty wanting to fuck Hakuo than he does by just having a good time with him. What is going on with him?

"Hey, it is you," Nathen exits his bedroom seeing his roommate standing and staring at the door until he turned and looked at him. "You have a good date?"

"I did. It seems like it's working too."

"What is?"

"Getting in Gev's heart."

Hugo felt the need to pipe up then and called out. "You're gonna make me gag,"

"Go for it; ignorance makes me gag, too." Remarked Krenn. "Maybe if you chill out, you won't make youself sick so much." He yanked his hair, causing Nathen to laugh.

"I have a class at three today. Are you cooking, or should I pick something up?"

Walking to the front door, he grabs the knob. "Pick something up, I'm probably gonna take a nap later."

"You're leaving again?"

"No. I left my tablet in the back of my car, I'm gonna go get it." Pulling open the door he stumbled to a stop to avoid slamming into an unexpected guest. "Ai.. What are you doing here?"

x x x

Commentary: Thank you everyone verbal or quiet for reading this. I hope you have a good week. I am, I found a pizza that I can eat and I'm just losing it with joy. There is so few things that I can eat outside of healthy this or that. It may not be a big deal or even a care to you, but it is to me. So I'll stop TMI bombing you, and just be happy, huh? Ahaha. Alright. You're all the best, until next time!